April 2, 2016
- Fire Saturday at Richard Petty Museum: Statement from Richard Petty Motorsports: There was a fire today [Saturday] at the historical site of Petty Enterprises and now the current site of Petty’s Garage and Richard Petty Museum. The fire was contained to a portion of the building and was controlled quickly. There were no injuries and minimal damage to the structure. The Petty Family is grateful to the first responders.(Richard Petty Motorsports)(4-3-2016)
- Happy Hour (final) Practice for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#42-Larson 95.648
#18-Busch 95.338
#14-Vickers 95.304
#31-Newman 95.304
#78-Truex, Jr. 95.280
slowest: #6-Bayne 92.910 & #32-Gase 92.710. All 40 drivers practiced.
most laps run: #27-Menard, 85 & #18-Busch, 83
See fastest speeds, laps run, and more on the Martinsville Practice 3 Speeds page (pdf).(4-3-2016)
- First Saturday Practice for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#5-Kahne 96.073
#31-Newman 95.849
#78-Truex, Jr. 95.694
#14-Vickers 95.661
#27-Menard 95.636
slowest: #46-Annett 93.341 & #32-Gase 93.084. No speed: #55-Sorenson.
most laps run: #27-Menard, 70 & #31-Newman, 69
See fastest speeds, laps run, and more on the Martinsville Practice 2 Speeds page (pdf).(4-2-2016)
- Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #22-Logano chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #5-Kahne took pit stall 2.
#14-Vickers, who starts 3rd took the 11th pit stall,with an opening in front of it.
The 42nd and final pit stall [43 is not being used at Martinsville] was taken by #16-Biffle, who starts 14th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(4-2-2016)
- Larson feeling fine after Auto Club accident: #42-Kyle Larson says he feels no ill effects from a heavy crash two weeks ago at Auto Club Speedway, despite soreness in his upper body and legs that lingered for a handful of days after the impact. Larson declared himself fit Friday in advance of Sunday’s STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway, where he’s running double duty this weekend in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series. “Yeah, I feel fine,” said Larson, who opted out of an extracurricular sprint-car race in his home state of California last week to rest up and heal. “I was only sore for just a few days. I’m pretty surprised I healed up as quick as I did. I was definitely pretty sore right after it and the next day, but then I got a lot better. Went and saw a chiropractor and after that, I was pretty good.”(NASCAR.com)(4-2-2016)
- Earnhardt Jr. to donate brain for concussion research UPDATE: Following in the footsteps of many NFL players and extreme sports athletes, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Saturday [via Twitter] he plans to donate his brain for concussion research. It’s a major announcement, because Earnhardt is NASCAR’s most popular driver – and has been the past 13 years. Earnhardt, 41, like many veteran NASCAR drivers, is no stranger to hard crashes and head injuries similar to what football players endured before being diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) post-mortem.(Sporting News), Earnhardt missed two races in October 2012, at Charlotte and Kansas after being diagnosed with a concussion following the Oct. 7, 2012 race at Talladega.(3-27-2016)
UPDATE: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. discussed his decision more in-depth Friday at Martinsville:
AS FAR AS THE TWEET ABOUT DONATING YOUR BRAIN TO SCIENCE, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO DO? OR IS THAT SOMETHING NEW? WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE PEOPLE WOULD LEARN FROM YOUR BRAIN?
Earnhardt, Jr. “Hopefully, they don’t have to look at my brain whenever I pass away they have learned enough science to study the brains of living adults. Hopefully, the science has advanced enough to where they no longer need to be poking around inside my brain. I was inspired really by Brandi Chastain (professional soccer player) and the Raiders guys that donated their brains in honor of their teammate. I went through my experience in 2012 and met some amazing doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Mickey Collins was one of those guys. They gave me the confidence going through that process that I could be successful and get through it. I have. I have been healthy and successful and I learned a ton. I may be even a better race car driver today and I’m definitely getting the results on the track that I’ve always wanted. I will be donating or pledging my brain is what they like to say to the Concussion Legacy Foundation. They are in partnership with Boston University where the brain bank is. I was a donor already for many years, as my driver’s license would attest. It seemed like a reasonable thing to do for me. Anything that I can do to help others, but hopefully the science has advanced far beyond where it is today and they don’t need it. It was something that I didn’t have to ask myself whether I wanted to do it or not. Going through that process in 2012 I learned so much and have so much respect for the work that those doctors are doing and really were inspired by some of the athletes that have pledged their brains before me.”
WAS YOUR TWEET THE OTHER NIGHT A SPUR OF THE MOMENT THING?
Earnhardt, Jr. “I saw a story, we obviously had the week off, and I was just sitting around reading Twitter and saw that story about the Raiders donating their brains. I just thought that was amazing that those guys did that in honor of their teammate. I read where Brandi (Chastain) had done that maybe a month ago. That just was really inspiring and I saw someone mention, I don’t even know what the context of the Tweet I was responding to was. I probably should have, Mike Davis (JR Motorsports Public Relations) would prefer me to have done that in a more put together fashion where we could have put together a release or whatever. I just was in the moment of conversation and that is sometimes the comfort that you find yourself in on Twitter sometimes and I didn’t expect it to turn into the story it did, but by all means if it raises more awareness and inspires people to donate their brains and pledge their brains. They don’t need just athletes. They need everybody. I’m going to give up all the organs that are worth anything when it’s over with. They can have it all.”
“I got in touch with the Concussion Legacy Foundation and they help me understand exactly what the process is and it’s very straight forward. You get a card, basically like you would carry around a driver’s license where it says you are a donor on the license. There will be a card in your pocket that you carry like your driver’s license. Your family can refuse. Nothing is binding so it’s really just a promise in a way.”(Chevy Racing PR)(4-2-2016)
- Johnson favors tougher concussion tests: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s decision to donate his brain to scientific research has added another layer to discussion about concussion issues in auto racing. Six-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson weighed in on the topic Friday at Martinsville Speedway, saying medical evaluation equipment that reversed a concussion diagnosis that kept IndyCar driver Will Power from competing in a race last month should be available at NASCAR tracks. Power missed the IndyCar season opener at St. Petersburg, Fla., after he crashed in practice, experienced nausea and then was diagnosed with a mild concussion Sunday – race day and two days after the initial crash – by IndyCar medical personnel. Later, tests at the University of Miami hospital’s Concussion Program showed that Power did not have a concussion but probably was suffering from an inner ear infection. Power had been experiencing problems with his inner ear since early March, including at a test at Sebring, Fla.
“Whatever they have in Miami needs to be at every racetrack to make a better decision – whatever that stuff is,” Johnson told reporters from USA TODAY Sports and NBC Sports.com. “That’s the bottom line. You’re dealing with someone’s career — someone’s life, in a couple of ways, good or bad. If somebody does get cleared to race, and they did have a concussion, if they did pass that first test, I think it’s important to get whatever they have in Miami at every racetrack following our series (and) the IndyCar Series.”
In both NASCAR and IndyCar, officials can sideline drivers who don’t meet concussion protocols. “The bottom line there is concern for the athlete, for the driver,” he said. “I think it all stems from a good place. Unfortunately, mistakes are made. We’re trying with the baseline concussion tests we now take. That’s hopefully a tool to help make a better decision.(USA Today)(4-2-2016)
- Martinsville Driver Notes & Facts:
� NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty has the all-time most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Martinsville with 67; Dale Earnhardt Jr. has the most starts among active drivers with 32.
� Ryan Newman leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Martinsville Speedway with a 9.3. Denny Hamlin (9.8) is the only other active driver with an average starting position at Martinsville inside the top 10.
� In total 60 drivers have made their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Martinsville.
� Chase Elliott (03/29/2015) and Michael McDowell (3/30/2008) are active drivers that made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Martinsville Speedway.
� Four of the 13 have won three consecutive poles at Martinsville: Glen Wood (Fall of 1959 and 1960 sweep); Darrell Waltrip (1979 sweep and spring 1980); Mark Martin (fall of 1990 and 1991 sweep); Jeff Gordon (2003 sweep and spring 2004).
� 12 drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Martinsville Speedway; the last two most recent are Scott Riggs (4/10/2005) and Tony Stewart (4/18/1999).
� 48 different drivers have won at Martinsville Speedway, led by Richard Petty with 15; Jimmie Johnson leads the series among active drivers with eight wins.
� 24 drivers have multiple wins at Martinsville Speedway; nine drivers have won five or more times.
� 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Martinsville Speedway. Fred Lorenzen won four NSCS races straight (the most) from the fall of 1963 through the spring of 1965. Jimmie Johnson is the most recent driver to win consecutive races (fall of 2012 / spring of 2013) at Martinsville.
� Ryan Newman competed at Martinsville Speedway 20 times before winning in the spring of 2012; the longest span of any the six active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
� Two active drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Martinsville Speedway: Kevin Harvick (19) and Ryan Newman (20).
� 11 drivers posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was Ricky Craven (10/15/2001).
� NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in runner-up finishes at Martinsville Speedway with seven; Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with five, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray and Matt Kenseth with two each.
� Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 30; Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with 18, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 13.
� Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon lead the series in top-10 finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 37 each; Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with 22, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr with 18.
� Two active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series average finish in the top 10 at Martinsville: Jimmie Johnson (7.5) and Denny Hamlin (8.1).
� Greg Biffle has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway without a DNF (26).
� Danica Patrick is the only female driver to compete at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
(NASCAR)
- Gaulding to run limited XFINITY Series schedule: Though former Camping World Truck Series driver Gray Gaulding has not made a NASCAR-sanctioned start so far in 2016 there’s plenty to be excited for in terms of his future career. Gaulding will announce his plans to run select XFINITY Series races this season “next week,” saying he is excited to finally make the decision public. “[I’m] really looking forward to it,” Gaulding told Frontstretch Friday at Martinsville. “I have some good tracks I’m going to go to and be able to run that I’ve ran before. I’m looking forward to announcing my team.” A native of Virginia, Gaulding is a winner in the K&N; Pro Series West Series and has 13 CWTS starts to his record, earning a best of fourth at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in 2014. Making 38 starts in the K&N; Pro Series East from 2013 to ’15, Gaulding had three runner-up results.(Frontstretch)(4-2-2016)
- Kyle Busch wins Truck Series Race at Martinsville: #18-Kyle Busch won the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at the Martinsville Speedway on Saturday. It is his 45th series win and his 1st at Martinsville. He led 123 of the 255 laps. The race was scheduled for 250 laps but went into overtime.
#8-John Hunter Nemechek finished second, followed by #9-William Byron, #24-Kyle Larson, #17-Timothy Peters, #23-SPencer Gallagher, #88-Matt Crafton, #92-Parker Kligerman, #13-Cameron Hayley, and #98-Rico Abreu.
Pole sitter #41-Ben Rhodes was caught in a late accident and finished 16th.
There were 11 cautions for 68 laps and 8 lead changes among 4 leaders. There were 2 red flags for track cleanup after the final 2 cautions.
The average speed was 61.811mph.
Complete results are on the Martinsville race results page (pdf).
(4-2-2016)
- Martinsville Truck Series Race Fast Facts:
Kyle Busch won the 18th Annual Alpha Energy Solutions 250, his 45th victory in 130 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his first victory and sixth top-10 finish in nine races at Martinsville Speedway. It is also his first NASCAR national series win in 31 starts at Martinsville.
John H Nemechek (second) posted his second top-10 finish in six races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his second consecutive runner-up finish at Martinsville.
William Byron (third) posted his career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series top-10 finish.
John H Nemechek leads the point standings by 3 points over Parker Kligerman.
(NASCAR Statistics)(4-2-2016)
- Truck Series Driver standings following Martinsville:
1) #8-John Hunter Nemechek, 83
2) #92-Parker Kligerman, 80, -3
3) #17-Timothy Peters, 77, -6
4) #02-Tyler Young, 67, -16
5) #13-Cameron Hayley, 66, -17
6) #81-Ryan Truex, 66, -17
7) #19-Daniel Hemric, 65, -12
8) #86-Brandon Brown, 62, -21
9) #23-Spencer Gallagher, 62, -21
10) #41-Ben Rhodes, 61, -22
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(4-2-2016)
- Truck Series Owner Standings following Martinsville are posted (pdf).(4-2-2016)
- Ben Rhodes on Truck Series pole at Martinsville: #41-Ben Rhodes won the pole for the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 96.322 mph. #18-Kyle Busch will start second, followed by #21-Johnny Sauter, #13-Cameron Hayley, #24-Kyle Larson, #51-Daniel Suarez, #9-William Byron, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #29-Tyler Reddick, #88-Matt Crafton, #23-Spencer Gallagher, and #00-Cole Custer.
Rhodes was also fastest in the second round with a speed of 96.073mph.
#24-Kyle Larson was fastest in the first round at 95.854mph.
#44-Tommy Jo Martins backed into the wall during the first session. He will go to a backup.
Did not qualify: #22-Austin Wayne Self, #66-Jordan Anderson, #50-Travis Kvapil, #6-Norm Benning, #78-Chris Fontaine, & #14-Natalie Decker.
See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(4-2-2016)
- Martinsville Truck Series Qualifying Notes:
Ben Rhodes won the Keystone Light 21 means 21 Pole Award for the 18th Annual Alpha Energy Solutions 250 with a lap of 19.659 seconds, 96.322 mph.
This is his first pole in seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his second top-10 start in 2016.
Kyle Busch (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2016 and his fifth in nine races at Martinsville Speedway.
Johnny Sauter (third) posted his 12th top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his second in three races this season.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(4-2-2016)
- Hawg Heaven BBQ Melt available at Texas: Texas Motor Speedway and Levy Restaurants are making it easy for race fans to enjoy an entire barbeque meal, including those delicious comfort food sides, with just their hands. The Hawg Heaven BBQ Melt is the next generation of the highly successful, bacon-infused Hawg Heaven line and is sure to entice Texas BBQ lovers to check out the latest creation by Levy Restaurants Executive Chef Lincoln Engstrom. This oversized sandwich features: Texas BBQ pulled pork braised in Texas Motor Speedway’s recently released No Limits Checkered Past craft beer produced by the Audacity Brew House in Denton, Texas, Creamy bacon jalape�o mac & cheese, Texas 1015 sweet onions, and Fried spicy pickle chips. All of those ingredients are wedged between two slices of griddled jalape�o cornbread and garnished with a bacon-wrapped jalape�o. The Hawg Heaven BBQ Melt, which will sell for $12, makes its debut at next weekend’s Duck Commander 500 NASCAR doubleheader weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The item will only be available at the concession stand on the concourse inside the Gate 4 main grandstand entrance.(TMS)(4-2-2016)
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