April 1, 2016
- Logano wins Martinsville pole: #22-Joey Logano won the Coors Light pole for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway with speed of 97.043mph for his 1st pole of 2016, 3rd at Martinsville and 15th of his career.
#5-Kahne is on the outside pole followed by #14-Vickers, #27-Menard, #31-Newman, #47-Allmendinger, #18-Busch, #11-Hamlin, #20-Kenseth, #24-Elliott, #2-Keselowski, #21-Blaney.
Logano was fastest in all 3 rounds.
Only 40 cars were entered so everyone made the race.
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Martinsville qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Martinsville Starting Lineup page (pdf).(4-1-2015)
- Martinsville Speedway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
Joey Logano won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 67th Annual STP 500 with a lap of 19.513 seconds, 97.043 mph.
This is his 15th pole in 261 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and fifth top-10 start in 2016.
This is his third pole in 15 races at Martinsville Speedway.
This is Logano’s third consecutive pole at Martinsville. He is the first to accomplish the feat at Martinsville since Jeff Gordon in 2003-04.
Logano is the fifth driver to win three straight poles at Martinsville. The others are Glen Wood, Darrell Waltrip, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon.
Kasey Kahne (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2016 and his ninth in 25 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Brian Vickers (third) posted his fourth top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his first in four races this season.
(NASCAR Statistics)(4-1-2016)
- First Round of Qualifying for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#22-Logano 97.237
#14-Vickers 97.212
#47-Allmendinger 96.973
#27-Menard 96.944
#4-Harvick 96.909
the rest of the top 24: 21 16 78 2 20 18 31 42 24 13 41 11 17 5 23 88 43 1 48;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 19 44 95 10 3 15 98 6 38 7 83 34 32 46 30 55
Drivers who will miss the race: none as 40 cars were entered for 40 spots
(4-1-2016)
- Friday Practice for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 80 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#14-Vickers 97.182
#11-Hamlin 97.108
#22-Logano 97.088
#31-Newman 97.053
#42-Larson 97.023
slowest: #7-Smith 94.656 & #46-Annett 93.715. All 40 drivers have been on track.
most laps run: #17-Stenhouse, Jr. 67, #6-Bayne, 51
#6-Bayne wrecked as the session ended when his brakes locked up going into turn 1.
Qualifying is scheduled for 4:15pm/et this afternoon. There is a chance of rain later in the day. If qualifying were to be rained out, speeds from this practice session would set the lineup.
See fastest speeds, laps run, and more on the Martinsville Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(4-1-2016)
- Qualifying Order for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted. 40 cars/drivers are listed.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #10-Patrick.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #44-Scott.
The order is set by a random draw, how cars park on pit road before they qualify, held about an hour before the first practice.
After the first round, the cars line up by speed.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com’s Martinsville Qualifying Order Page (pdf).(4-1-2016)
- NASCAR’s Richest Teams and Drivers: Forbes has released its annual ranking of Sprint Cup teams and drivers based on earnings. Once again, Hendrick tops the charts. The top 10 teams and drivers and their estimated value:
Highest earning NASCAR teams:
Hendrick Motorsports $375 million
Joe Gibbs Racing $256 million
Stewart-Haas Racing $195 million
Richard Childress Racing $175 million
Roush Feneway Racing $155 million
Team Penske $140 million
Chip Ganassi Racing $75 million
Richard Petty Motorsports $55 million
Front Row Motorsports $26 million
BK Racing $24 million
Highest earning NASCAR drivers:
#88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. $23.5 million
#48-Jimmie Johnson $22.2 million
Jeff Gordon $21.6 million
#4-Kevin Harvick $15.5 million
#11-Denny Hamlin $15.1 million
#18-Kyle Busch $15.0 million
#10-Dania Patrick $13.4 million
#14-Tony Stewart $12.8 million
#19-Carl Edwards $12.1 million
#20-Matt Kenseth $11.9 million
Total earnings equals salary/winnings plus endorsements and licensing
In addition, Forbes estimates the actual cash value of a NASCAR charter to be $15-$17 million.(Forbes)(4-1-2016)
- Special Axalta scheme for Earnhardt, Jr. at Michigan: Four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and FOX NASCAR analyst Jeff Gordon visited the University of Michigan on Wednesday to announce a new research partnership between the school, Axalta Coating Systems and Hendrick Motorsports. The partnership is a five-year agreement will allow students of the Walter E. Wilson Student Team Project Center to explore the professional racing world, as well as conduct research involving the coating industry. The research will be financially supported by Axalta, which will give students the chance to learn more in-depth about various elements of coating technology. The partnership will be officially launched when NASCAR visits Michigan International Speedway in August. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will also drive a special Michigan Wolverines-themed paint scheme sponsored by Axalta for that race weekend.(FoxSports)(4-1-2016)
- Martinsville Pole Notes & Facts:
� Curtis Turner won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Martinsville Speedway in 1949.
� 59 drivers have Coors Light poles at Martinsville, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip with eight; Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman lead all active drivers with three each.
� 13 drivers have won two or more consecutive Coors Light poles at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was Joey Logano sweeping both poles last season.
� 21 of 134 races (15.6%) at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; four of those 21 wins came from active drivers: Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2012, spring 2013) and Denny Hamlin (2010).
� The Coors Light pole is the most proficient starting spot in the field at Martinsville producing more wins (21) than any other starting position.
� 36 of the 134 (26.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the front row: 21 from the pole and 15 from second-place.
� 96 of the 134 (71.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
� Seven of the 134 (5.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20 – including both races in 2015.
� Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions eight times in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was the fall race of 2011.
(NASCAR)
- Derek White Targeted in Tobacco-Smuggling Operation UPDATE: NASCAR driver Derek White was among almost 60 people targeted by Quebec and Ontario police in the biggest tobacco-smuggling bust in North American history, according to law enforcement officials. Authorities said some of the suspects arrested early Wednesday have links to biker gangs and organized crime, buying tobacco in the U.S. and illegally importing it into Canada through three border crossings. The tobacco was ultimately sold on the Kahnawake and Six Nations reserves, according to police. Ingrid Asselin, a spokeswoman for Surete du Quebec, the provincial police force, declined to confirm that the Derek White they arrested is the NASCAR driver. Law enforcement officials, who requested anonymity because of restrictions about commenting beyond the scope of the warrants, said it was the same man. White is listed as one of the top ranking members of the smuggling operation, according to a chart provided by police. Dwayne Zacharie, Kahnawake’s chief peacekeeper, said investigators from Quebec contacted his police force early Wednesday and said they had arrest warrants for three members of the tribe, including NASCAR driver Derek White. Zacharie said his office informed the three suspects of the warrants and told them to contact Quebec police. Lieutenant Jason Allard, spokesman for the Quebec provincial police, said the tobacco operation was tightly organized. It bought shipments of tobacco leaf in North Carolina, trucking them north and reselling them in Canada. Profits from tobacco were used to purchase cocaine, and some of the money was laundered abroad, in Europe, he said. The tobacco shipments were not declared at the border and disclosed to government officials, thereby avoiding taxes and allowing the cigarettes to be manufactured and sold for less money.(Bloomberg)(3-30-2016
UPDATE: NASCAR driver/owner Derek White turned himself into authorities Wednesday and faces seven charges in connection to the biggest tobacco-smuggling bust in North American history, NBC Sports has learned. Sgt. Daniel Thibaudeau of the Quebec Provincial Police told NBC Sports that White was being interrogated Wednesday. White, who turned himself in after learning of an arrest warrant in his name, was expected to be arraigned Wednesday night. Thibaudeau said that the seven charges White faces are: Three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud against the government; Three counts of fraud toward the government; One count of profiteering as a criminal organization.(NBC Sports)(4-1-2016)
- New Truck team to debut at Martinsville UPDATE: Faith Motorsports has prepared to make their NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway this coming weekend. The team will run the #62 Toyota with owner/driver Donnie Levister behind the wheel. Kansas City based real estate management company, Property Pro’s will be the first primary sponsor on the #62. Property Pro’s is owned and operated by Faith Motorsports team owner Shane Lamb. Another partner of Faith Motorsports will also be making their NASCAR in 2016. Shawn Magee Design (SMD) is the official graphics partner of Faith Motorsports and will serve as a primary sponsor in the upcoming racing season. The crew chief will be Matt Carter and engines are scheduled top be supplied by TRD. Faith Motorsports plans on attempting to run the remaining Camping World Truck Series races in 2016.(Faith Motorsports)(3-30-2016)
UPDATE: According to the teams Facebook page, they had trouble in pre-race inspection and were forced to withdraw.(4-1-2016)
- Cole Custer fastest in final Truck practice: #00-Cole Custer was fastest in final practice for the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 95.694 mph. He was followed by #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #41-Ben Rhodes, #18-Kyle Busch, #23-Spencer Gallagher, #33-Kaz Grala, #24-Kyle Larson, #9-William Byron, #21-Johnny Sauter, and #4-Christopher Bell. All 38 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Martinsville practice 3 speeds page (pdf).(4-1-2016)
- Ben Rhodes leads second Truck practice: #41-Ben Rhodes was fastest in the second practice session for the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville Speedway. His speed was 95.448mph. #9-William Byron was second, followed by #00-Cole Custer, #29-Tyler Reddick, #23-Spencer Gallagher, #33-Kaz Grala, #88-Matt Crafton, #17-Timothy Peters, #19-Daniel Hemric, and #51-Daniel Suarez. All 38 drivers were on track during the session. See complete results on the Martinsville practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(4-1-2016)
- William Byron paces first Truck practice: #9-William Byron was fastest during opening practice at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 95.309 mph. He was followed by #17-Timothy Peters, #18-Kyle Busch, #21-Johnny Sauter, #00-Cole Custer, #02-Tyler Young, #88-Matt Crafton, #19-Daniel Hemric, #41-Ben Rhodes, and #24-Kyle Larson. 35 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Martinsville practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(4-1-2016)
- Talladega names XFINITY race sponsor: Sparks Energy Inc., an electrical operations and restoration company based out of Decatur, AL, has partnered with NASCAR’s Most Competitive and Energized Track – Talladega Superspeedway – to become the entitlement sponsor of the Sparks Energy 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday, April 30. The Sparks Energy 300 will be a high voltage battle between the best drivers of the NASCAR XFINITY Series against some of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars that could provide an all-but-guaranteed spot in the Series’ season-ending Championship Chase. Since 2007, Sparks Energy Inc. has provided services on high voltage powerlines and industrial systems across the United States with a focus in transmission and distribution. Their services include; storm response, transmission and distribution construction, live line maintenance, line clearing, substations and engineering. As the leader in the high voltage industry, the company is proud to sponsor the Sparks Energy 300 at the mammoth 2.66-mile track this spring and looks forward to making its debut in NASCAR, exposing the energy brand to Talladega Superspeedway’s fans.(TSS)(4-1-2016)
- Jana Kramer in concert at Dover: Rising country music artist and actress Jana Kramer will perform a free concert at Dover International Speedway’s Victory Plaza prior to the “AAA 400 Drive for Autism” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, May 15. Kramer’s show will begin at 10:00am Kramer’s most recent album “Thirty One” came out in 2015 and features the hit “I Got the Boy” and latest single “Said No One Ever.” Her self-titled debut album was released in 2012 and included the popular track “Why Ya Wanna.” Kramer, 32, first hit the spotlight as a cast member on The CW’s drama “One Tree Hill,” where she played actress Alex Dupree. Kramer has also appeared on HBO’s “Entourage” and NBC’s “Friday Night Lights.” Also in Victory Plaza, on Saturday, May 14, country music artists Sam Grow and Tom Dixon will appear for free concerts prior to the NASCAR XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash race.(Dover Speedway)(4-1-2016)
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