March 31, 2006
- Sad News: Veteran NASCAR Crew Chief Butch Hylton’s, Mother, Patsy Hylton past away yesterday afternoon. She had been recovering from major aorta aneurysm surgery on 12/19/2005 and been in the hospital ever since the surgery, fighting for recovery. Family and Friends are invited to her Memorial service at 12:30pm on Monday, April 3, 2006. It will be held at her church: Epworth United Methodist Church, 1030 Burrage Road, Concord NC 28025. There will be a reception for Family and Friends at BKB2 Motorsports, 41 Odell School Road Suite A, Concord NC 28027 immediately following her memorial service, a celebration for her life. Patsy’s request for donations should be made to Epworth United Methodist Church- Building Fund at the address already given.(3-31-2006)
- Craven to run race in Maine: Ricky Craven will hop into a Johnny Clark Motorsports car this summer, returning to his roots with the 34th running of the prestigious TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway. It will mark the first time Craven races in his home state since 1992. “I’m really excited about this,” said the 39-year-old Craven, who has no other racing on his calendar this year. “This race has been such a big part of my life. I sat in the grandstands and watched it in the ’70s, and I fulfilled a dream when I won it in 1991.” Though no concrete plans have been laid out, Clark and Craven expect to test the car on a couple of occasions before the race weekend. Even then, Craven will be in attendance all weekend to participate in the numerous practice sessions for the 250.(Maine Today)(3-31-2006)
- Rusty teams up with Microsoft: Rusty Wallace and Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006 with GPS Locator are teaming up to help families embark on successful and stress-free road trips this spring and summer. While Wallace hung up his racing helmet at the end of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season, he has hardly put it in park. After driving around in circles for over 20 years, Wallace is now helping travelers explore the open road with a wealth of road trip tips and tricks. From planning ahead with a trip-planning tool like Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006 with GPS Locator to taking the time to enjoy the interesting stops along the way, Wallace’s tips — available at www.microsoft.com/streets/rustywallace — will help ensure that everyone in the car enjoys the ride this travel season.(Wireless Dev Network)(3-31-2006)
- Goodyear Martinsville Tire Notes: This is Goodyear’s short track tire set-up for 2006 . . . this is the first time Goodyear has brought this combination to the track . . . Martinsville is the only track at which Nextel Cup teams are scheduled to run this exact combination of left- and right-side tires . . . Cup and Busch Series teams will run this right-side tire code (D-4044) in all four tire positions on the road courses this season . . . Craftsman Truck teams will also run this set-up at Mansfield in May . . . as on most ovals less than one mile in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Martinsville. Estimated Nextel Cup Pit Window: Every 145-155 laps, based on fuel mileage.(Goodyear PR). See the codes, numer of tires, more notes on my Martinsville Race Info/Rundown Page.(3-31-2006)
- Mrs. VA to best guest of #01 Army team: Rose Lopez-Keravuori, the reigning Mrs. Virginia will be a guest of the U.S. Army team at Sunday’s DIRECTV 500 Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. It will be the first NASCAR race for Lopez-Keravuori, who was crowned Mrs. Virginia last May. A 1997 West Point graduate with degrees in Spanish, French and Computer Science Engineering, Lopez-Keravuori spent six years of active duty in Germany as a military intelligence officer. She currently serves as a military intelligence captain in the U.S. Army Reserve and holds down a full-time job as an intelligence analyst with BAE Systems. Lopez-Keravuori is an avid outdoor enthusiast and adventurer. She and her husband Eero have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, surfed in Bali and gone ice climbing in New Zealand. Lopez-Keravuori resides in Arlington, Va. and travels the state to promote her platform on education.(MB2 Motorsports PR)(3-31-2006)
- Johnson wins pole at Martinsville: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the Budweiser Pole for the DIRECTV 500 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 96.736mph for his first pole of 2006, his 9th career pole in 153 races and first in 23 races, since Chicago last July. #26-Jamie McMurray will start on the outside pole, followed by #20-Tony Stewart, #12-Ryan Newman and #9-Kasey Kahne. #24-Jeff Gordon will start 8th, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start 29th. #14-Sterling Marlin was the highest qualifier of the go or go homers, and will start 6th. #18-J.J Yeley is the highest starting rookie at 18th. #49-Jimmy Spencer couldn’t get the BAM Dodge up to speed and will miss the race along with #74-Cope, #61-Lepage [first dnq of the season], #78-Wallace, #89-Shepherd and #00-Sadler. No wrecks or major incidents.
For pole progression, qualifying speeds, order and starting lineup, see my Martinsville Starting Grid/Qualifying Page.(3-31-2006)
- Martinsville Qualifying News and Notes:
• Jimmie Johnson won the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Bud Pole for the DIRECT 500, lapping Martinsville Speedway in 19.575 seconds at 96.736 mph. Tony Stewart holds the track-qualifying record of 19.306 seconds, 98.083 mph, set Oct. 21, 2005.
• This is Johnson’s ninth career Bud Pole in 153 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races.
• Johnson posted his fifth top-10 start his 2005. His only non-top 10 came at Atlanta (14th).
• It is Johnson’s first Bud Pole and fifth top-10 start in nine Martinsville races.
• The last Bud Pole by a Hendrick Motorsports driver was at New Hampshire in July 2005 by Brian Vickers.
• Jamie McMurray posted the second-quickest qualifying lap of 19.583 seconds, 96.696 mph – and will join Johnson on the front row for the DIRECTV 500. He posted his third top-10 start in 2006 and his third in seven races at Martinsville.
• This is the second Bud Pole for Chevrolet in 2006. Dodge also has two Bud Poles and Ford has one. Qualifying was canceled at Bristol.
• Tony Stewart (third) posted his third top-10 start this season, all third or better and all in the past four races. It is his eighth top-10 start in 15 races at Martinsville.
• Ryan Newman (fourth) has three top-10 starts this season, all in the past three races. This is his ninth top-10 start in as many races at Martinsville.
• Kasey Kahne (fifth) posted his first start better than 15th in five Martinsville races. This is his third top-10 start this season – all top fives.
• Chad Blount (43rd) became the 52nd driver to make the field for a race this season.
• Six driver qualified for their first race at Martinsville: Stanton Barrett, Chad Blount, Clint Bowyer, David Stremme, Martin Truex Jr., and J.J. Yeley.
• Six of the seven Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year candidates qualified for the DIRECTV 500. Brent Sherman did not attempt to qualify. Yeley (18th) was the highest qualifying rookie contender for the fourth time this season.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(3-31-2006)
- Ramblings – Martinsville: Jimmie Johnson becomes our fifth different pole winner in as many races (we got snowed out last week if you remember) today at Martinsville Speedway as he captured the Bud Pole for Sunday’s DIRECTV 500 with a speed of 96.736 mph (19.575 sec). This is career pole #10 for JJ.
Jamie McMurray will join Johnson on the front-row. This is his best starting spot since he had the pole at Pocono last July.
Sterling Marlin (6th….and with the pressure on) has his best starting spot since he timed in 3rd at Bristol in August of 2004.
Scott Riggs (11th) has his best starting spot since he lined up 7th at Talladega last October.
Tony Raines (12th) has his best starting spot since he qualified 4th at Rockingham in November of 2003! (only 14 races)
Ken Schrader (19th) has his best starting spot since he timed in 7th at Bristol last August.
Chad Chaffin (31st) has his career-best starting spot this weekend. His previous best was 35th at Phoenix last November (this is only his 4th career NEXTEL Cup start).
STREAKIN….Kurt Busch has 5 Top-10 starts in a row.
Greg Biffle has 8 Top-10 starts in the last 9 races.
Jimmie Johnson has 5 Top-10 starts in the last 6 races.(StockCarFans.com)(3-31-2006)
- State Water Heaters sponsors #61 at Martinsville: Peak Performance Motorsports announced that its #61 entry will be sponsored by State Water Heaters for the Direct TV 500 at Martinsville. “We welcome State Water Heaters to the Nascar Nextel Cup family,” said team owner Jeff Stec. “We are expecting an exciting race at Martinsville and thankful for the opportunity to brand such a fine product”, said Stec. “I’m looking forward to giving State Water Heaters their first Martinsville race and want to thank all the folks at State for stepping up this weekend to make this all possible”, said Lepage. More info on State Water Heaters at statewaterheaters.com.(Peak Performance Motorsports PR), see images of the car on the #61 Team Schemes page.(3-31-2006)
- Memorial Service for Campbell at RIR Today: The family of Kenneth Campbell will hold a memorial service for him today, Friday, March 31 at 5:00 p.m. The service for the longtime VP of Public Relations at Richmond International Raceway who passed away last Friday will be open to friends, family and business associates of Mr. Campbell and his family, and not the general public. The service will take place in the media center in the Richmond International Raceway infield. Upon Mr. Campbell’s retirement in 2001, the building was renamed the Kenneth Campbell Media Center in his honor. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his name to the Victory Junction Gang Camp at 4500 Adam’s Way, Randleman, NC 27317.(Richmond International Raceway PR)(3-31-2006)
- Jay Robinson Hires Radio Host: Jay Robinson Racing has announced that Britt Pope has joined the team as Public Relations Director. With an extensive background in broadcasting, Pope will continue as WIXE Radio’s Sports Director and co-host of Jay Robinson Racing’s very own radio show, “Inside the Pit”, heard on 1190 WIXE every Monday afternoon at 4 P.M.(Jay Robinson PR)(3-31-2006)
- Parrott Joins Ganassi: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today veteran NASCAR crew chief Brad Parrott has joined the organization. Parrott will serve as the crew chief for the remaining seven NASCAR Busch Series races scheduled for driver Casey Mears.(CGRFS PR)(3-31-2006)
- Matt Puccia named crew chief of third Roush truck: Roush Racing has announced that Matt Puccia has been named crew chief of it’s #50 Ford, beginning with the April 1 event at Martinsville Speedway. The truck will be driven by ‘Roush Racing: Driver X’ standout, David Ragan.(Roush Racing PR)(3-31-2006)
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