March 31, 2016
- It’s Richard Petty Day in North Carolina: Beginning last year, Governor Pat McCrory proclaimed March 31 “Richard Petty Day” in North Carolina. Petty was born July 2, 1937, in the Level Cross community of Randolph County. After watching his father on the race track, he joined NASCAR and in 1959 was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year. Upon retirement, he had earned a record 200 career victories and 7 NASCAR Cup championships. Governor McCrory visited Victory Junction in July of 2013 in Randleman. The camp is in memory of Adam Petty who died in a crash at the New Hampshire International Speedway while practicing for a race in May 2000.(3-31-2016)
- Buescher unsure of 2017 plans; Erik Jones has a plan: Rookie Xfinity Series driver Erik Jones said Joe Gibbs Racing knows what they plan to do with him in 2017. “There’s a plan in place that will be in motion here later in the year,” Jones said Wednesday at Texas Motor Speedway’s Media Day at Gilley’s. “There’s a plan in place and really, my performance this year isn’t going to be indicative of where that’s going to end up.” Jones didn’t give specifics on the team’s plan. The 20-year old driver is five races into the Xfinity season with the #20 team for JGR after winning last year’s Camping World Truck Series title for Kyle Busch Motorsports. All four Sprint Cup rides at JGR are filled, but the team formed a technical alliance with Furniture Row Racing before this season. Furniture Row Racing owner Barney Visser has expressed interest in fielding a second car. “It’s the first time in my career where I’ve been in a position like this, where I am set in my future at this point at least, and that’s a great feeling as a young driver, not to really have to really fight every week,” Jones said.
It’s a slightly different story for defending Xfinity Series champion Chris Buescher. The Texas native is in his first full-time Sprint Cup season, driving the #34 Ford in a partnership between Roush Fenway Racing and Front Row Motorsports. The 23-year-old driver doesn’t know yet where he’ll be competing in 2017 but said the possibility remains that he could be right where he is a year from now. “We don’t have anything figured out yet beyond this year,” Buescher said. “I’m still under contract with Roush as a development driver. I do not know what next year holds. It could be the same, could be different. We haven’t gotten that far, we’ve barely gotten far enough as to discuss how this year is all going to work out.” Buescher would be surprised if he learned his fate any time soon.(NBC Sports)(3-31-2016)
- Goody’s on the #44 of Brian Scott at Martinsville: Brian Scott and the #44 Ford team are looking to build on the momentum built from Scott’s season-best finish at Auto Club when they head to Martinsville this weekend, where Scott will race in his first Cup Series race at the half-mile track. Scott earned a 12th-place finish in California before the off-weekend, which tied for his career-best finish in the Cup Series and was his best finish since the fall Kansas race last season. For the first of two races, Goody’s and Goody’s Mixed Fruit Blast Powder will be featured on the hood of the #44 Ford Fusion this weekend in Martinsville. Goody’s Headache Powder temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to headaches, arthritis, colds and fever. Scott will boast the Goody’s Mixed Fruit Blast flavor this weekend, which works fast like Goody’s but gives it a whole new taste.(Richard Petty Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #44 team paint schemes page.(3-31-2016)
- STP returns to the #43 at Martinsville: After an off-weekend spent with family and friends, Aric Almirola is ready to get his Ford Fusion back on the race track. Martinsville Speedway is a track that the #43 car has historically run well. “The King” Richard Petty won 15 races at the half-mile oval, and the last five of those races saw the iconic STP paint scheme in Victory Lane. Almirola is ready to bring those colors back to Martinsville Speedway when he races the #43 STP Ford this weekend in the STP 500. A sponsor of Petty and his race team since the 1970s, this will be the first of two races in 2016 in which STP will adorn the hood of the #43 Ford. Almirola is 13th in Championship Point Standings going into the weekend.(Richard Petty Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #43 team paint schemes page.(3-31-2016)
- 100th Cup start for Bayne: #6-Trevor Bayne will make his 100th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start on Sunday afternoon. In 99 previous starts, Bayne has recorded one victory, the 2011 running of the Daytona 500. Upon taking the green flag Sunday, Bayne will become the 197th driver to start 100 NSCS races.(Roush Fenway Racing)(3-31-2016)
- Martinsville Track Notes & History:
� Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States.
� The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville was on July 4, 1948.
� The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was Sept. 25, 1949.
� The track was paved in 1955.
� The first 500-lap event at Martinsville was in 1956.
� Concrete corners were added atop asphalt in 1976.
(NASCAR)
- Sad News – Ryan Shea: Ryan Shea, car chief for Chip Ganassi Racing’s Xfinity Series team, died overnight, NBC Sports has confirmed. He was 34 years old, according to his Facebook page. According to his LinkedIn page, Shea joined Chip Ganassi Racing in Jan. 2015. He was a car chief/mechanic at Michael Waltrip Racing from 2007-15. Shea began working in NASCAR in Feb. 2001 when he was hired by BAM Racing. He later worked for FitzBradshaw Racing, Carver Racing, ppc Racing and Braun Racing. Kyle Larson and Justin Marks have split time driving the #42 car this season.(NBC Sports)(3-31-2016)
UPDATE: Chip Ganassi Racing is sad to report that Ryan Shea, car chief on the #42 NASCAR XFINITY Series team, passed away last night at his home in Troutman, N.C. “It is a sad day for our team as we mourn the untimely loss of Ryan,” said Chip Ganassi, team owner. “Ryan was a dedicated worker and a great friend to those on our team, as well as others in the garage. Our hearts go out to Ryan’s family and friends during this difficult time.” “Ryan was a tremendous asset to Chip Ganassi Racing and the No. 42 team and will be sorely missed,” said crew chief Mike Shiplett. “My thoughts go out to his wife, children, family and friends in this time of mourning.” Chip Ganassi Racing will communicate further details regarding funeral arrangements and memorials as they become available.(Chip Ganassi Racing)(3-31-2016)
- Napier to make Trucks debut at Martinsville: Bryce Napier will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 this Saturday at Martinsville Speedway. 16 Year old Napier will sport the colors of the #1 Lilly Trucking, ASAP Appliance Service Chevrolet for MAKE Motorsports. Bryce is a High School Junior from Scotts Valley, CA. He has raced since the age of 5, starting in quarter midgets then moving up the ranks. In the Mini Cup Racing Series Napier won an Impressive 4 Championships. At the age of 14, Bryce moved into the Late Model Racing circuit, where He was named the Stockton 99 Speedway Rookie of the Year. Most recently Bryce competed in the Super Late Model Series at Loan Mart Madera Speedway. He has also competed in the Pacific Challenge Series (PCS) Super Late model program throughout California and the West Coast. Bryce Napier had the honor of being a member of the 2015 Inaugural Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP). Bryce spent the entire year speaking to the fans about Alan Kulwicki and doing promotional events. He went above and beyond with this task, even racing part of his season in 2 different commemorative Kulwicki race vehicles including the #7 Hooters car and Alan’s 1991 Daytona 500 Army car. Associate Support for Bryce Napier will continue to be SupportMilitary.org and the BeHero2Hero Program.(MAKE Motorsports)(3-31-2016)
- Paige Decker in the #74 at Martinsville: Paige Decker Racing announced that Paige Decker will be piloting the #74 Mike Harmon Racing Dodge in the Camping World Truck Series race April 2, in the ALPHA ENERGY SOLUTIONS 250, at Martinsville Speedway. This will be Paige’s 3rd time at Martinsville, where she came in 30th at the fall race. Paige Decker was the first female to win a feature TUNDRA series race and first female Rookie of the Year of the TUNDRA series. Paige has also been a part of REV Racing, the home of NASCAR Drive for Diversity. Paige knows what she is up against “I understand it will be an uphill battle. We have limited resources but I have been in this truck twice now and Mike has worked hard this winter to give me the best piece he could. I feel very good about our chances of making the race and racing this truck up the field. Decker’s primary sponsor will be longtime supporter Fennetti Community center with associates from Amsoil, Best Western, and 20 local business from her home town in Eagle River WI.(Paige Decker Racing)(3-31-2016)
- No Limits Checkered Past craft beer to be available at Texas: Texas Motor Speedway will become the state’s first professional sports industry entity and arguably the country’s first sporting venue to own its own beer with the unveiling of the No Limits Checkered Past craft beer. The rapidly growing Audacity Brew House in nearby Denton created the No Limits Checkered Past session craft beer that will be sold at all major events at the world-renowned motorsports facility in Fort Worth as well as through retailers in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. No Limits Checkered Past officially will debut during the April 7-9 Duck Commander 500 weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The appropriately named No Limits Checkered Past craft beer, centered around the speedway’s “No Limits, Texas” marketing campaign, is a versatile, light-bodied Texas steam beer that provides low bitterness and a character that revolves into a toasty, rustic finish that remains perfect for year-round consumption. The beer is carefully crafted with pale barley and lager yeast to provide a light, malt character that is aged for three weeks and cold filtered before being transferred into the signature No Limits Checkered Past can. The 12-ounce can features a diamond-plated look with the iconic No Limits, Texas skull logo adorned at the top with the No Limits Checkered Past logo across a race tire and pistons. Beginning with the upcoming Duck Commander 500, No Limits Checkered Past will be sold throughout Texas Motor Speedway. Following the race weekend, No Limits Checkered Past will be available at various local retailers. No Limits Checkered Past will become the 12th beer on Audacity Brew House’s lineup of popular craft beers. Audacity Brew House, which began operation nearly a year and a half ago, has exploded onto the popular craft beer scene after becoming Denton’s first brewery when it opened in 2014.(TMS)(3-31-2016)
- Melissa Joan Hart to drive pace car at Martinsville: Melissa Joan Hart, star of God’s Not Dead 2 will lead the field to green as the Honorary Pace Car Driver in Sunday’s STP 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. Having made her first national commercial at age four, Hart is now a veteran of television, film and theater. She is best known for her starring roles in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Clarissa Explains It All, and Melissa & Joey. On the big screen, Hart starred in the romantic comedy Drive Me Crazy, for which she won a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award and she made a memorable appearance in the graduation night comedy Can’t Hardly Wait. It was recently announced that Melissa and Paula Hart’s Hartbreak Films will be collaborating with 44 Blue Productions to develop the docuseries, Sweet Harts. The docuseries will follow the Hart family and its journey as they open their dream dessert shop.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-31-2016)
- #43 Smithfield Ford placed in Monster Monument at Dover Victory Plaza: Seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty and Aric Almirola, the driver of the #43 Smithfield Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports, were among the guests at Dover International Speedway today as the new stock car for the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza presented by Smithfield was unveiled. Smithfield Foods has entered into a three-year deal with Dover International Speedway as presenting sponsor of the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza, the 46-foot iconic statue that features a stock car in the structure’s right hand. Officials from Smithfield, Autism Delaware and the Monster Mile unveiled a new “Petty Blue” #43 Smithfield Ford for assembled media and fans on Wednesday. The event also coincided with the start of “Autism Awareness Month” in April and precedes the “AAA 400 Drive for Autism” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, May 15.(Dover Speedway)(3-31-2016)
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