April 2016 News Archives
News from April 30, 2016
- Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway have been made.
Pole sitter #24-Elliott chose pit stall 3, which is the first available pit stall in use this weekend.
Outside pole sitter #3-Dillon took pit stall 17, with an opening in front of it.
#88-Earnhardt, Jr, who starts 3rd took the 39th pit stall, with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #48-Johnson, who starts 5th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(4-30-2016) - Chase Elliott wins Talladega pole: #24-Chase Elliott won the pole for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway with speed of 192.661mph for his 2nd pole of 2016, 1stX at Talladega and 2nd of his career. He also won the pole at Daytona this year.
#3-Dillon will start 2nd, followed by #88-Earnhardt, Jr., #20-Kenseth, #48-Johnson, #17-Stenhouse, Jr., #2-Keselowski, #11-Hamlin, #19-Edwards, #27-Menard, #5-Kahne and #78-Truex, Jr.
Ty Dillon qualified the #14 for Tony Stewart in 14th place. Stewart will start the race, so he will fall to the rear of the field, then turn the car back over to Dillon early in the race.
#3-Dillon was fastest in the first round with a speed of 192.796mph and will start 2nd.
41 cars were entered. The only team to not qualify: #30-Wise.
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Talladega qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Talladega Starting Lineup page (pdf).(4-30-2016) - Talladega Superspeedway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
Chase Elliott won the Coors Light 21 means 21 Pole Award for the 47th Annual GEICO 500 with a lap of 49.704 seconds, 192.661 mph.
This is his second pole in 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his second pole and fifth top-10 start in 2016.
This is his first pole at Talladega Superspeedway.
Austin Dillon (second) posted his fifth top-10 start of 2016 and his second in six races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr (third) posted his 15th top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his second in ten races this season.
Chase Elliott (first) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(4-30-2016) - Brian France attends Drivers Council meeting: NASCAR chairman Brian France was busy meeting with drivers Friday, first privately with Tony Stewart and then he attended his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Drivers Council meeting Friday night at Talladega Superspeedway. France was criticized by Stewart in January for not going to the meetings, which typically are attended by other NASCAR top executives. Stewart also was fined $35,000 last week for the tone of comments critical of NASCAR’s commitment to safety in reference to its not policing whether lug nuts are tight on wheels. “It was very productive and at least from Brian’s perspective, it was well done and he was happy he did it,” NASCAR spokesman David Higdon said late Friday night. The meeting with the nine-member drivers council was held in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage and went past the time the garage was closed for the night. As he waited for a gate to be unlocked so he could leave the garage, France was asked if he delivered a message to the drivers. “No, we just had a good discussion,” France said about the drivers council meeting. The meeting went on for nearly two more hours after France left for another commitment. NASCAR spokesman David Higdon would not go into specific topics but said the meeting covered items for 2016 and 2017 and there were not discussions about Stewart’s fine.(ESPN.com)(4-30-2016)
- Golden Corral returns to the #7: Golden Corral returns for their second race of the 2016 season with Tommy Baldwin Racing, driver Regan Smith, and a brand new car design. The car design features a new bold color scheme and the logos of two charitable organizations – Camp Corral and DAV (Disabled American Veterans). Golden Corral supports both of these organizations as a way to honor our nation’s men and women in uniform. Founded by Golden Corral, Camp Corral is a free, one-of-a-kind summer camp for children of wounded, disabled or fallen military service members. Over 10,000 children have been served at Camp Corral and the program has expanded to 21 camps in 19 states.(Tommy Baldwin Racing), see an image of the car on the #7 team paint schemes page.(4-30-2016)
- Richmond TV Ratings UPDATE: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Richmond earned a 2.9 overnight rating on FOX Sunday afternoon, down a tick from 2014, when it aired on a Saturday night (3.0). Overnights also dropped 6% from last year, when the race was postponed from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon (3.1). The 2.9 overnight is the lowest ever for a Sunday Sprint Cup race on FOX, falling below the previous mark of 3.2 for Bristol one week prior. Regardless of day, it is tied as the second-lowest for a Sprint Cup race on FOX – matching Texas last year and ahead of Texas this year (2.5). Head-to-head, the race edged ABC’s competing Spurs/Grizzlies NBA playoff game (2.7) but was no match for Warriors/Rockets later in the day (5.4).(Sports Media Watch)(4-25-2016)
UPDATE: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Richmond earned a 3.1 final rating and 4.7 million viewers on FOX last Sunday afternoon, down 6% in ratings and 16% in viewership from 2014, the last time it was run as scheduled on a Saturday night (3.3, 5.6M). Last year’s race, which was postponed from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon, had a 3.3 and 5.2 million. The 3.1 rating is the lowest ever for a Sunday Sprint Cup race on FOX, falling below the previous mark of 3.4 for Bristol one week earlier, and the third-lowest regardless of day. The past three races on FOX rank among the network’s five lowest rated ever, with Texas dead last, Richmond third, and Bristol fifth at 3.4.(Sports Media Watch) see race-by-race TV Ratings for 2016 and a comparison chart on the 2016 TV Ratings page.(4-30-2016) - Ty Dillon still working on Sprint Cup plans: Ty Dillon talked to the media Friday at Talladega Superspeedway;
HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK GETTING CHOSEN FOR THIS HIGH PROFILE JOB REPLACING TONY HAS HELPED YOUR PROSPECTS OF GETTING A FULL-TIME CUP RIDE? WHERE DOES IT STAND WITH WHAT YOU HAVE LINED UP FOR NEXT SEASON?
“I think it’s helped a lot. I was hoping to maybe be full-time this year in the Sprint Cup series about this time last year. That is where I kind of had my goals set, my eyes set, but the opportunity didn’t come along. I can’t thank Stewart-Haas and their organization enough for giving me the opportunity to fill in this year with Tony being out. Not only has it helped me with my career and getting better as a race car driver, but it’s helped me show people that I can get the job done in other equipment too.”
ANY UPDATE ON NEXT SEASON?
“I can’t tell you that (laughs). No, there are a lot of good things going on. That is about as far as I’ll take it.”
MANAGEMENT TOLD ME LAST WEEK THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU IN A CUP CAR FULL-TIME, BUT THEY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO FIND SPONSORSHIP THAT WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT CHASE ELLIOTT HAD. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT AS FAR AS SPONSORSHIP GOES?
“Right now anything suits my brand. If we can get that kind of sponsorship I’m fine with supporting anything and exposing anything. That is definitely our goal is for RCR is to find a sponsor that we can grow with over the next couple of years similar to what Chase has done. There are other opportunities that could come along to provide me to be able to run full-time in the Sprint Cup Series. I feel like I’m ready to be in the series full-time as a driver mentally and physically. This year I’m focusing on winning the Xfinity Series championship. Hopefully, make my prospect a little bit better and hopefully that opportunity comes along.”(Chevy Racing PR)(4-30-2015) - Bobby Labonte Foundation’s “Tour de Reason” on the #32 at Talladega: Bobby Labonte and Go Fas Racing announced that the Bobby Labonte Foundation’s Archdale Drug Tour de Reason will be featured on the roof, side quarter panels and decklid of the Go Fas Racing #32 Ford Fusion this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Rimrock Devlin, a Jacksonville, Fla., based company, returns as the primary sponsor this weekend and will support the Tour de Reason in August. Registration is now open for the sixth annual cycling event scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27 in Thomasville, N.C., and for the first time, the 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion has added an evening cocktail reception and silent auction to the weekend’s activities on Friday, Aug. 26, at The Gallery in downtown Thomasville. Last year, more than 225 riders weaved their way through one of the either 63, 35 or 12-mile-fun-ride courses that toured scenic Davidson and Randolph counties. The start and finish lines are bookended by the quaint Thomasville Main Street shops and businesses and participants will experience a sponsor festival featuring music, food and various vendors after crossing the finish line. Registration for the Tour de Reason is $25 for a single entry or $160 for a team of eight. The 2016 edition of the Bobby Labonte Tour de Reason racing jerseys are also available for an additional $65. To register for the Tour de Reason bicycle ride, visit the Bobby Labonte Foundation website or call 336-434-1800. All proceeds from the event will benefit High Point Young Life, Victory Junction and Bicycling in Greensboro. Labonte is also wearing a special firesuit this weekend paying tribute to Josh Comstock, CEO of C&J; Energy Services who recently passed away, and will auction it off to honor his niece, Miranda Labonte. Miranda Labonte is currently battling breast cancer and all proceeds from the 10-day auction will be donated to the Northwest Triad Affiliate of Susan G. Komen in North Carolina. To bid in the auction, fans are encouraged to visit the Bobby Labonte Facebook page.(Breaking Limits)(4-30-2016)
- Hendrick named Charlotte Chamber 2016 Citizen of the Carolinas: The Charlotte Chamber has named local car dealer and NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick its 2016 Citizen of the Carolinas. The chamber said that Hendrick was chosen for the honor for his contributions to Charlotte’s business community, his influence within NASCAR and his work with local organizations, including Levine Children’s Hospital and Together We Feed Charlotte. “Rick embodies the collaborative spirit that sets Charlotte apart from any other major city in the United States,” chamber CEO and President Bob Morgan said in a statement. Last year, the chamber gave the award to former White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles. Other past honorees include former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan. Hendrick, at age 26, became a Chevrolet dealer in 1976 with his first franchise in Bennettsville, S.C. By 1978, he moved to Charlotte and purchased City Chevrolet, which now serves as the flagship location for Hendrick Automotive Group. The privately-held dealership group employs more than 10,000 people and operates more than 130 retail franchises across 14 states. In a statement, Hendrick said he was humbled to receive the award. “We’ve been fortunate to call Charlotte home for nearly 40 years,” he said. “It’s been such a wonderful place for our family, and now our grandchildren are growing up here. I cannot imagine a more giving community or a better city to live and do business.” The chamber will present Hendrick with its most prestigious honor at the organization’s annual meeting in December.(Charlotte Business Journal)(4-30-2016)
- Talladega Pole Notes & Facts:
� Bobby Isaac won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Talladega in 1969 with a speed of 199.466 mph. Isaac won the first three poles at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.
� 38 drivers have Coors Light poles at Talladega, led by Bill Elliott with eight.
� Seven active drivers are tied for the most poles at Talladega with one – Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers, Brian Scott, Michael Waltrip and Bobby Labonte.
� 11 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Talladega. Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive poles at Talladega with six (1985 – 1987).
� Six drivers have posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Talladega; the only active driver to post his first series career pole at Talladega is Brian Scott (05/04/2014).
� 13 of the 93 (13.9%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the Coors Light pole.
� The No. 2 starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (20) than any other starting position at Talladega.
� 33 of the 93 (35.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the front row: 13 from the pole and 20 from second-place.
� 65 of the 93 (69.9%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Talladega have been won from a top-10 starting position.
� 8 of the 93 (8.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
� The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Talladega was 36th, by Jeff Gordon in the spring of 2000.
� Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway five times; most recently fall of 2013.
(NASCAR) - NASCAR explains Talladega finish: Elliott Sadler’s Xfinity Series victory Saturday in the Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway took five minutes to be declared official by NASCAR officials. Xfinity Series director Wayne Auton held a news conference after the race explaining the process of how eight officials in the scoring tower determined Sadler, who collided with leader Joey Logano off the final turn, was ahead of Brennan Poole and Justin Allgaier when the yellow flag waved. Poole took the checkered flag in first but was ruled to have finished third. Though Sadler’s #1 Chevrolet went below the double-yellow line after Logano’s crash, Auton said NASCAR ruled it didn’t advance a position and had been forced low by the contact.
What was your view of the finish?
Auton: “At the end of the race there, we knew everyone would be jockeying for position trying to get that win to get into the Xfinity Chase with the Xfinity drivers. We use every resource we can. Our main goal is to make sure that we got it right. It took us a little time up in the tower. We feel 100% we got it exactly right. We used film. We used eyes, which mine are about wore out watching these cars today. These guys done one exceptional job today with a great race. We took our time in the tower. All of you saw (Sadler) and (Poole) come and set at the start-finish line, which was pretty cool of both drivers just sitting there really calm, knew that we were checking it. We used every bit of film we had. Slow down, speed up. Slow down, speed up. We arrived at the finish we did by using every piece of technology that we had to our availability.”
How much did NASCAR use video in determining the finish?
Auton: “We used video today every means we could from inside and outside the track and aerial as soon as the caution was out to position the cars at the time the caution was displayed.”
Were there any problems with teams being required to fasten five lug nuts?
“I’m so proud of this garage. It’s really cool to see the talent, not only the drivers and crew members, and they all done a great job today. We had no issues with the lug nuts today. Everyone had them glued up as they were asked to do prior to the race and kept them glued up all day.”
Sadler went below the yellow line; did his contact with Logano make that allowable?
Auton: “The rule is you can not go below the double yellow line to advance his position. He did not advance a position. And he was also forced down there when (Logano) and him made contact. In our eyes, he did not gain any positions. He was already there. It was legal by the rules.”
Why was the caution thrown instead of letting the race play out?
Auton: “That’s real easy to answer. Our No. 1 job is safety of these drivers, crew members, fans. When you see a car turn hard right, and in the years I’ve been in this business, it’s pretty scary. And with all the safety features, we applied the SAFER walls around our tracks now on the exterior, and the safety features inside the car, our No. 1 concern was when (Logano) hit to make sure Joey was OK. Automatically, we put out the caution. We felt it was the right time. Another car made contact with (Logano) when he come off the wall, but we needed guys to roll out of the throttle for the safety of all the other drivers who finished the race all the way to the line.”(NBC Sports)(4-30-2016) - Logano talks about Talladega finish:
WHAT HAPPENED?
Logano: “We crashed pretty hard. It is just typical superspeedway racing in the XFINITY Series racing for the win at the end. I know Elliott (Sadler) is a great speedway racer and he knew what he had to do to win the race and I knew what I had to do to try to keep him behind me. He went to make the move on the top and then he pulled it down to the bottom and got it underneath me and then I was a little late to the block. He was already there. Around I went and hit a bunch of other stuff along the way. Overall, I was proud of the effort of the team. We had a couple issues during the middle of the race. We had to come down and fix our car and we drove all the way back to the lead. It was a lot of fun out there. I am glad everyone is okay. Thank God for safer barriers and the way these seat belts are. That was a heck of a frontal hit for me. To get out and walk away and feel okay says a lot about our sport right now.”
IS THAT JUST RACING AT THE END?
Logano: “Yeah. I don’t feel like I got dumped. I haven’t seen a replay yet at all. I am sure he was there and I turned down. It is just a racing thing. Superspeedway racing is what it is.”
THE 48 WORKED WITH YOU A LOT AT THE END. WAS THERE ANY CONCERN WORKING WITH SOMEONE THAT WASN’T VERY EXPERIENCED?
Logano: “There was a concern until I started working with him and the kid is good. He did a tremendous job being able to lay to the back bumper and not slam into the back of you. He was really consistent the way he hit you and that is why he stayed up front all day. Brennan Poole did a great job. He deserved to finish up where he finished.”
WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING UP FRONT LIKE THAT HERE, DO YOU ALMOST EXPECT THE MAYHEM?
Logano: “Unfortunately yeah. It is part of it. It is part of speedway racing. It is what it is. That is speedway racing. If you put 40 cars in a pack going 200 mph racing for a win we are going to crash. Let’s be honest. It is exciting though and our cars are really safe. That is the hardest hit I have ever taken. I am impressed with the way the car held up and the way Team Penske built my Mustang they made sure to make safety first and that says a lot about us. Yeah we hit hard, yeah the ego is a little hurt but I am okay.”(Ford Racing)(4-30-2016) - Elliott Sadler wins XFINITY race at Talladega: #1-Elliott Sadler won the Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his 1st XFINITY Series win of the season, the 11th of his XFINITY career and locks him into the Chase for this season.
#22-Logano was leading coming to the checkered flag, but he moved up to block #48-Brennan Poole from taking the lead, then came back down and made contact with Sadler, sending him into the outside wall. He finished 27th. Several other drivers were collected and NASCAR had to review video to determine the finishing order. Although #48-Poole got back to the start finish line first, NASCAR determined that the caution came out prior to that, freezing the field. Sadler was credited with the win.
#7-Justin Allgaier finished second, followed by #48-Brennan Poole, #51-Jeremy Clements, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #2-Austin Dillon, #19-Daniel Suarez, pole sitter #18-Matt Tifft, #88-Chase Elliott and #98-Aric Almirola.
There were 6 cautions for 29 laps and 20 lead changes among 13 leaders.
The average speed was 132.477mph.
Complete results are on the Talladega race results page (pdf).
(4-30-2016) - Talladega XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Elliott Sadler won the 25th Annual Sparks Energy 300, his 11th victory in 305 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his first victory and eighth top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his second victory and fifth top-10 finish in eight races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Justin Allgaier (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in six races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2016.
Brennan Poole (third) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Brennan Poole (third) was the highest finishing rookie.
Elliott Sadler leads the point standings by 0 points over Daniel Suarez (tie breaker is wins).
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(4-30-2016) - XFINITY Driver standings following Talladega:
1) #1-Elliott Sadler [1 win], 314
2) #19-Daniel Suarez, 314
3) #3-Ty Dillon, 281, -33
4) #7-Justin Allgaier, 280, -34
5) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 279, -35
6) #33-Brandon Jones, 273, -41
7) #20-Erik Jones [1 win], 263, -51
8) #48-Brennan Poole, 251, -63
9) #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., 229, -85
10) #16-Ryan Reed, 221, -93
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(4-30-2016) - Matt Tifft on XFINITY pole at Talladega: #18-Matt Tifft won the pole for the Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 181.168mph. It is his first career pole. #19-Daniel Suarez will start second. The rest of the top 10: #2-Austin Dillon, #20-Erik Jones, #3-Ty Dillon, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #16-Ryan Reed, #22-Joey Logano, #1-Elliott Sadler, and #44-J.J. Yeley.
#18-Matt Tifft was fastest in the first round of single car qualifying runs with a speed of 180.652mph.
Did Not Qualify: #70-Derrike Cope, #74-Mike Harmon, #40-Carl Long.
The starting lineup is posted on the Talladega starting lineup page (pdf).(4-30-2016) - Talladega Qualifying Notes:
Matt Tifft(i) won the Coors Light 21 means 21 Pole Award for the 25th Annual Sparks Energy 300 with a lap of 52.857 seconds, 181.168 mph.
This is his first pole in six NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2016.
This is his first pole at Talladega Superspeedway.
Daniel Suarez (second) posted his ninth top-10 start of 2016 and his second in two races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Austin Dillon(i) (third) posted his fourth top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his seventh in eight races this season.
Erik Jones (fourth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(4-30-2016) - Michigan launches Fan Appreciation program: Michigan International Speedway has launched this year’s Fan Appreciation program. Through this summer’s events at MIS, all guests have the opportunity to win prizes online at www.MISpeedway.com/goldenticket. All guests who purchase a ticket to the any of the track’s June 10-12 and Aug. 27-28 events including the FireKeepers Casino 400 or the Pure Michigan 400 may enter online for a chance to win. Guests in their party, even if they’re not account holders, can also try. In its ninth year, the Fan Appreciation Program continues to grow and reward fans with prizes and experiences. Prizes range from one fan being selected as the Ultimate Winner for June or August. Other prizes include NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cold garage passes for the weekend, Busch Acceleration Club tickets, FanVision rentals, “Michigan Money” food vouchers, NASCAR XFINITY Series garage passes, access to the XFINITY Series drivers’ meeting and an invitation to the XFINITY Series open garage session, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series cold garage passes, access to the truck series drivers’ meeting and an invitation to the truck Series open garage session, Racing Electronics scanner rentals and more.(MIS)(4-30-2016)
News from April 29, 2016
The order is based on the fastest single lap speed posted in the combined practice sessions Friday.
Qualifying at Talladega will consist of two rounds of single car qualifying.
#7-Smith will go out first. The final driver out will be #1-McMurray.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com’s Talladega Qualifying Order Page (pdf).(4-29-2016)
#22-Logano 196.290
#21-Blaney 196.238
#24-Elliott 196.185
#10-Patrick 195.094
#44-Scott 195.003
slowest: #15-Bowyer 187.978 & #30-Wise 186.209. 35 drivers have been on track.
most laps run: #88-Earnhardt, Jr. 30, #41-Busch 24
notes: Qualifying is scheduled for 12:30pm/et tomorrow and will be televised on FS1 and covered via radio by MRN/SiriusXM.
There is rain in tomorrow’s forecast. If qualifying is rained out, today’s practices determine who makes the race. There are 41 cars entered so 1 team will not qualify. The open (non-charter) teams that make the race are determined by fastest single lap speeds posted from the combined practicestoday by the open teams – #21-Blaney, #30-Wise, #35-Gilliland, #55-Waltrip, #98-Whitt. Because Josh Wise had the slowest speed in both practice sessions, he will not make the race if qualifying is canceled.
Charter teams would start the race based on owner points standings, not by practice speeds.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap average on the Talladega Final Practice Speeds page (pdf).(4-29-2016)
#1-McMurray 199.737
#24-Elliott 199.729
#41-Busch 199.409
#10-Patrick 199.384
#6-Bayne 199.317
slowest: #47-Allmendinger 191.708 & #7-Smith 187.820
most laps run: #88-Earnhardt, Jr. 37, #17-Stenhouse, Jr. 36
notes: Final (happy hour) practice is this afternoon at 4:30pm/et.
Qualifying is scheduled for 12:30pm/et tomorrow and will be televised on FS1 and covered via radio by MRN/SiriusXM.
There is rain in tomorrow’s forecast. If qualifying is rained out, today’s practices will determine who makes the race. There are 41 cars entered so 1 team will not qualify. The open (non-charter) teams that make the race will be determined by fastest single lap speeds posted from the combined practices today by the open teams – #21-Blaney, #30-Wise, #35-Gilliland, #55-Waltrip, #98-Whitt. Charter teams would start the race based on owner points standings, not by practice speeds.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap average on the Talladega Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(4-29-2016)
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE WHOLE LUGNUT CONTROVERSY, WHICH HAS BEEN RESOLVED WITH THE RULES CHANGE? WHAT WENT INTO YOUR DECISION TO MAKE THE DONATION TO THE AUTISM SOCIETY?
Stewart: “I’ve been trying to figure out how many more $35,000 rules changes I want to make (laughter). I’m glad that something has been done. Scott Miller is a huge asset to NASCAR right now. And from what I understand, he’s the one who spearheaded getting something done. You hate to have to pay $35,000 to get somebody’s attention to do something, but apparently that’s what it took. I’ve got questions that I’d like to have answers to. I’m still wondering why I’m paying a $35,000 fine for something that got changed three days later. But, it is what it is. I was gone that evening when the announcement came out that I was getting the fine and the Driver Council, we all have a chat that we get in and when I was able to get back on my phone for 90 messages of discussions of what went on with those guys and I realized what they had done at about three in the morning. I didn’t want to take their money. I appreciated their support and I think they made a huge statement about what the Driver Council is about and the fact that they didn’t believe what I did deserved the fine. And with that, that’s why they decided to support us and help split the fine with me. I didn’t feel comfortable taking the money. And so what we decided as a group was to put the money together and give it to a great charity. Artie Kemper (founder of Autism Delaware) is a great friend to everybody in NASCAR and is somebody that we all as a group know personally and we thought that would really make a big difference. So that’s why we chose that charity. But we did it collectively, as a group; and that’s something I’m really proud of with this Driver Council is how the drivers are united about everything that we’re doing. This was the first time something had happened where somebody on the Council got a penalty for speaking an opinion and for them to show that kind of support and show that we’re all one unit; and that’s something that you don’t normally see and we haven’t seen in this sport. Guys talk amongst each other, but somebody gets in trouble for something where the rest of the drivers, privately, will support it but can’t publicly support it. So this was the first time that we’ve seen public support like that and I think it went a long way.”(Chevy Racing PR)(4-29-2016)
� 441 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega; 306 in more than one.
� Dave Marcis and Terry Labonte lead the series in starts at Talladega with 61 each. Tony Stewart leads all active drivers with 33 starts; followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 32.
� Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega with a 9.750.
� A total of 68 drivers have made their first series start at Talladega; Jamie McMurray (10/06/2002) is the only active driver to make his series debut at Talladega Superspeedway.
� 45 different drivers have won at Talladega Superspeedway, led by Dale Earnhardt with 10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with six.
� 2012 series champion Brad Keselowski (04/26/2009) and Brian Vickers (10/08/2006) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins at Talladega.
� Nine drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Talladega; Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series in consecutive wins at Talladega after posting four-straight from the fall of 2001 – 2003.
� Brad Keselowski is the only active series driver to win at Talladega in his first appearance.
� Matt Kenseth competed at Talladega Superspeedway 25 times before winning the fall of 2012; the longest span of any the 11 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
� Matt Kenseth (25), Tony Stewart (19), Kevin Harvick (18), and David Ragan (12) all made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Talladega.
� Kurt Busch leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Talladega without visiting Victory Lane at 30; followed by Ryan Newman with 28.
� Buddy Baker and Tony Stewart are tied for the series’ most runner-up finishes at Talladega with six each.
� NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-five finishes at Talladega with 23. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with 12.
� Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-10 finishes at Talladega with 27. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with 16.
� Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 12.200.
� Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Talladega with 960 laps led in 32 starts.
� Three female drivers have competed at Talladega in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Patty Moise and Danica Patrick.
(NASCAR)
See complete results on the Talladega final practice speeds page (pdf).(4-29-2016)
See complete results on the Talladega practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(4-29-2016)
News from April 28, 2016
UPDATE: Four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers concluded a two-day Goodyear tire test Wednesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For three-time series champion Tony Stewart, it wrapped up what he said would be the final tire test of his career. Stewart joined last weekend’s winner Carl Edwards, Aric Almirola and rookie Chase Elliott among drivers involved at the Brickyard, helping Goodyear officials determine the proper tire compound for the Sprint Cup Series’ annual visit on July 24. Stewart was fresh from his season debut at Richmond International Raceway. “I’m actually having fun up here,” said Stewart, an Indiana native. “This is my last tire test as a driver, so I’ve been having fun working with the Goodyear guys and it’s been kind of fun because three of the main guys here when I started here are at this test, which they don’t always get to come to the same test together. It’s kind of nice to be working with them one last time.”
Edwards’ more immediate focus was to provide feedback to Goodyear engineers after a battery of tests at the historic 2.5-mile track. “There’s a lot of stuff to learn here,” Edwards said. “This track, it’s difficult for a number of reasons, but really for me, just the weather today versus yesterday, it’s hard to determine how much of it is the weather. As the track changes, the Goodyear rubber lays down, it changes. The challenge for us is as we make these changes with the car to try to separate the track changes and the temperature changes from the actual changes to the car. So it’s a pretty difficult place to test and to figure things out, but that kind of makes it fun.”(NASCAR.com)(4-28-2016)
� Construction began on what was then known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 23, 1968.
� The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on Sept. 14, 1969 – won by Richard Brickhouse.
� The name changed to Talladega Superspeedway in 1989.
� Fourth repaving completed on Sept. 19, 2006.
(NASCAR)
News from April 27, 2016
In addition, the #48-Johnson and #14-Stewart teams were given written warnings. The #48 team failed template inspection twice The #14 team failed laser inspection twice. Both violations were found in pre-race inspection.
See the Richmond Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(4-27-2016)
UPDATE: Brandon McReynolds will be making his first career NASCAR XFINITY Series start at Talladega Superspeedway. The #24 Toyota will sport the colors of two sponsors for the running of the Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. Hard rockers Monster Truck will be featured on the hood of the #24 Toyota. “Don’t Tell Me How To Live,” the first single from Monster Truck’s recently released album, SITTIN’ HEAVY, is now #23 at Active Rock radio. In the band’s native Canada, “Don’t Tell Me How To Live” catapulted into the Top 5 at Canadian Rock radio just three weeks in. As part of an ongoing relationship with FOX Sports, Monster Truck will be filming segments at the track this weekend involving the #24 Toyota and the band – which will be aired during Saturday’s race. Also joining the #24 Toyota this week is the Redneck Rivera brand which will be featured on the upper rear quarter panels. Redneck Riviera has developed into a lifestyle brand that celebrates the everyday Americans who “Work Hard and Play Hard”.(Integrity Sports Marketing), see an image of the car on the #24 team paint schemes page.(4-27-2016)
Sunday’s National Anthem for the GEICO 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will be complimented by a C-130 flyover. Housed at Maxwell Air Force Base (Montgomery, AL), the plane is a 1985 Vintage H-2. In addition, the traditional patriotic pace lap by Johnny Ray – which features his iconic semi-truck displaying a giant American Flag blowing in the wind – will once again make its way through the tri-oval to the excitement of fans young and old alike. The Star Spangled Banner will be performed by the 313th United States Army Band, comprised of 30-plus citizen-soldiers who train and perform as Army musicians. The event’s military theme will continue with Master Sergeant Larry D. Nix, the Grand Marshal for the GEICO 500, bringing the field to life with the command to start engines, while Senior Airman Maxime V. Copley, Aerospace Medical Services Technician, will be serving as Honorary Starter and will waive the green flag to get the event started. Following the race, the Freedom Trophy, one of Talladega Superspeedway’s newest and most unique patriotic traditions, will be presented to the race winner by Commander Daniel G. Straub of the soon-to-be commissioned USS Montgomery. Earlier on Sunday morning, the United States Air Force will conduct a DEP (Delayed Enlistment Program) swear-in on the pre-race stage, located on the frontstretch near the start/finish line.(Talladega Superspeedway)(4-27-2016)
News from April 26, 2016
“It’s going to be really cool to see that car on the track again at Darlington,” said Martin. “It’s always been one of my favorite paint schemes and we had a lot of good times taking that car to victory lane and leading a lot of laps during that time. I look at it as a tribute to all the guys that put the hard work in on those cars and gave us the opportunity to go out and compete each week.”(Roush Fenway Racing). See an image of the car on the #6 team paint schemes page.(4-26-2016)
France explained on “SiriusXM Speedway” how Stewart crossed the line. “I think we have to make judgment calls and how we look at the tone of what someone says, how they’re saying it,” France said. “They have ample opportunities, particularly with safety, to deal with us directly on that. But to insinuate that we’re taking the sport down a road that doesn’t care about safety or we’re trying to hurt people, those kind of comments, that goes to the integrity of the sport and we’ll have to deal with that. We go way beyond what any other league would allow in terms of how far people can go in voicing their view. There’s just a little line out there that is a bright line and everybody is aware of. Every once in a while we’ll have a driver or somebody else that gets over that line and we’ll just have to deal with it. It’s not a big thing. We deal with it. They understand it and we move on. That’s how it goes.”(NBC Sports)(4-26-2016)
.a All tires, wheels, and all five lugnuts must be installed in a safe and secure manner at all times during the event.
.b NASCAR reserves the right at any time to require any Competitor to report to pit road to inspect for any noncompliance.
.c Any loss of a wheel(s) beyond the exit of pit road may result in a penalty…
Violation of the section, resulting in the loss of a wheel, could result in a mandatory minimum four race suspention of the crew chief and tire changer and tire carrier.(4-25-2016)
UPDATE: NASCAR’s updated rule states that if any missing lug nuts are found on a wheel before the race it must be corrected immediately and is listed as an unapproved adjustment, forcing the competitor to start at the rear. Any tire intended for race use without all five lug nuts glued to the wheel must be fixed immediately. If the issue is found after a Sprint Cup race, the crew chief will be suspended for one race, placed on probation and fined $20,000 on the first offense. Multiple events will result in escalated penalties. The penalty in the Xfinity Series is a one-race suspension for the crew chief, probation and a $10,000 fine. In the Camping World Truck Series, the penalty is a one-race suspension, probation and a $5,000 fine.(NBC Sports)
AND: “Our job is whenever there’s a safety improvement to make or a policy to enhance things, we will just do that,” NASCAR CEO Brian France said Monday during an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “It’s as simple as that. There’s not a controversial thing. Our whole system is based on safe and competitive racing. If we can make an adjustment to make things safer, we just simply will.” (Associated Press)(4-26-2016)
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr 93.8
#48-Jimmie Johnson 89.5
#20-Matt Kenseth 88.5
#41-Kurt Busch 88.0
#2-Brad Keselowski 84.4
Brian Vickers 84.0
#11-Denny Hamlin 82.9
#42-Kyle Larson 81.9
#22-Joey Logano 81.5
#4-Kevin Harvick 80.6
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2015 races (22 total) among active drivers at Talladega Superspeedway.
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)
UPDATE: With Kennedy taking over the #33, Grant Enfinger, who earned the 2015 ARCA championship for the team and began the season with a pole in the #33 entry, posted on his Facebook page that he would remain with the team for multiple truck starts.”A lot of people have been asking about my racing plans lately so I am going to give an update as best I can. The only confirmed truck races that I will be in the seat of a GMS Racing truck as of now are Kentucky, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Talladega. There is still hope to add to that schedule, and everyone here at GMS Racing is working hard for that. I am still working here at GMS Racing everyday and the relationship continues to be great. I can’t wait to get back in the truck, but when I’m not I will continue to help all of my teammates here at GMS Racing. I am proud of what we have accomplished to this point, and I’m grateful for the past, present, and future at GMS Racing.” (4-26-2016)
News from April 25, 2016
.a All tires, wheels, and all five lugnuts must be installed in a safe and secure manner at all times during the event.
.b NASCAR reserves the right at any time to require any Competitor to report to pit road to inspect for any noncompliance.
.c Any loss of a wheel(s) beyond the exit of pit road may result in a penalty…
Violation of the section, resulting in the loss of a wheel, could result in a mandatory minimum four race suspection of the crew chief and tire changer and tire carrier.(4-25-2016)
Q: Can you take us through the final lap and how close things were with Kyle Busch?
Edwards: “So going into the white flag Dave (Rogers, crew chief) said something on the radio basically like, ‘Get your butt in gear and go get him.’ So, I thought, ‘Heck, I’ll drive down there in turn one really far and it looked like Kyle (Busch), his car got real slow that last lap like his tires were just burnt up. He did a really good job keeping me held at bay ’til then but then we went down the back straightaway and I saw him spin the tires. So, going back down the back straight away I thought, ‘I’m going for the bottom. That’s where I’m going.’ He went down there and just parked it and his car was sliding and I was just so much faster I had to give him a little tap and we got by him. I didn’t think I was going to get him hard enough. I thought it would just be a bump and go but we got the win. We both got wins so it’s just racing hard and having fun.”
Q: How much more difficult is that situation when it’s a teammate you’re racing for the win?
Edwards: “It’s really difficult. I didn’t want to touch him at all. I just decided I was going to run the bottom and I went down there and I was like either I’ve got to lay on the brake and slow down or I can just kind of keep my momentum going and touch him. We were so much faster there at the bottom. If he’d have gone high I don’t know, I might have just got by him but it just looked like – I’d have to talk to him but it looks like his car just gave up like he’d just used up his tires. I couldn’t catch him up to that point, I thought it was over with about five to go.”(Toyota Racing)(4-25-2016)
Q: Moving forward, will you hold back on any of those opinions?
STEWART: “No. I understand what NASCAR is trying to do, but I’m always going to speak my mind. I don’t know what the key word or key phrase was that got me fined. But when it comes to safety, I’m not going to hold back. That’s $35,000 well-invested if it makes it safer for these guys. I think they’re (NASCAR) doing something different today with rules on trying to keep everybody … making sure we get enough lug nuts on the cars. You just don’t want to be in a position where, with 20 laps to go and you’re leading the race and you haven’t won a race and you need that to get in the Chase, to have to make a decision as a driver whether to come in or whether to ride down and hope it stays. That’s not a good position for us to be in. I think some of the people at NASCAR took it the wrong way. They’ve done an awesome job with safety and this is one thing we still need to look at. It wasn’t saying they’re not doing their job. I just felt like this is one thing they dropped the ball on. So, they’re doing a good job. They’re looking at it. They’re going to address it and make it right, and down the road, we won’t have to worry about this again, hopefully.”(Fox Sports)(4-24-2016)
UPDATE: ESPN’s Marty Smith says: [I] asked Tony Stewart what it said to him that his peers backed him up so staunchly this week: “It told me I was right. I won’t back down on safety.” Smoke also told me he hears, in the aftermath of his safety rant, that NASCAR is working now to fix/alter/change the rule.(ESPN.com)(4-25-2016)
Total number of commercials: 112
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 52
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 93
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 49
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 19
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 12
Number of times Fox utilized ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during this broadcast: 4
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:22 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 202
Minutes of race broadcast: 160
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 42
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 9
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 2 (1 described, but not shown)
Total race brdcst time 160 Total comm. brdcst time 42
See past races, more info on the commercials with links at CawsnJaws.com.(4-25-2016)
John Wes Townley returns with the #05 team;
John Jackson will be in the #13;
Benny Gordon will drive the #14 for Tri-Star;
Travis Kvapil is again entered in the #15 for Rick Ware;
Matt Tifft remains in the JGR #18;
Brandon McReynolds will drive the #24 for JGL;
Bobby Gerhart is entered in his #85;
The #97 is again TBA. Ryan Ellis has been in the car recently.(4-25-2015)
See the complete list on the Talladega entry list page.
Wile, promoter of one of NASCAR’s most successful events of the 2015 season – the Bojangles’ Southern 500, will transition from leadership of Darlington Raceway to President of Daytona International Speedway. In just two years as President of Darlington Raceway, Wile transformed the facility’s identity and impact on and off the track. He spearheaded a five-year strategy to reinvent Darlington Raceway with an inaugural Throwback Campaign during NASCAR’s return to Darlington on Labor Day weekend, in addition to re-engaging the local community hosting nearly 15 annual events. In his new role, Wile will oversee promotion and operation of the new motorsports stadium beginning with its first major event, the Country 500 over Memorial Day weekend, followed by the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola.(ISC)(4-25-2016)
News from April 24, 2016
#18-Busch held on for 2nd followed by #48-Johnson, #5-Kahne, pole sitter #4-Harvick, #11-Hamlin, #20-Kenseth, #22-Logano, #78-Truex, Jr., and #41-Busch.
#14-Stewart, in his first race of the year, lost a lap early but battled back for a 19th place, lead lap finish.
There were 22 lead changes among 8 drivers and 8 cautions for 49 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 97.070mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more [NOTE: money/winnings are no longer reported] at:
Unofficial Race Results page (pdf)
Lap Summary Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
Pit Stop Times (pdf)
(4-24-2016)
Carl Edwards won the 62nd Annual Toyota Owners 400, his 27th victory in 418 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his second victory and eighth top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his second victory and 12th top-10 finish in 24 races at Richmond International Raceway.
Kyle Busch (second) posted his 16th top-10 finish in 22 races at Richmond International Raceway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2016.
Jimmie Johnson (third) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 29 races at Richmond International Raceway.
Chase Elliott (12th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Carl Edwards leads the point standings by 7 points over Kevin Harvick.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(4-24-2016)
[after Richmond, race 9 of 36]
1) #19-Edwards [2 wins], 331
2) #4-Harvick [1 win], 324, -7
3) #48-Johnson [2 wins], 310, -21
4) #18-Busch, [2 wins], 302, -29
5) #22-Logano, 299, -32
6) #41-Busch, 279, -52
7) #88-Earnhardt Jr., 278, -53
8) #11-Hamlin [1 win], 258, -73
9) #2-Keselowski [1 win], 255, -76
10) #78-Truex Jr., 246, -85
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
[after Richmond, race 9 of 36, 16 drivers for the Chase]
Set by most wins, then by points standing
1) #19-Edwards [2 wins], 1st in driver points
2) #48-Johnson [2 wins], 3rd
3) #18-Busch [2 wins], 4th
4) #4-Harvick [1 win], 2nd
5) #11-Hamlin [1 win], 8th
6) #2-Keselowski [1 win], 9th
no wins, in by drivers points standings
7) #22-Logano, 299
8) #41-Busch, 279
9) #88-Earnhardt Jr., 278
10) #78-Truex, Jr., 246
11) #24-Elliott, 234
12) #3-Dillon, 234
13) #1-McMurray, 224
14) #5-Kahne, 222
15) #20-Kenseth, 212
16) #31-Newman, 205
(4-24-2016)
Q: Moving forward, will you hold back on any of those opinions?
STEWART: “No. I understand what NASCAR is trying to do, but I’m always going to speak my mind. I don’t know what the key word or key phrase was that got me fined. But when it comes to safety, I’m not going to hold back. That’s $35,000 well-invested if it makes it safer for these guys. I think they’re (NASCAR) doing something different today with rules on trying to keep everybody … making sure we get enough lug nuts on the cars. You just don’t want to be in a position where, with 20 laps to go and you’re leading the race and you haven’t won a race and you need that to get in the Chase, to have to make a decision as a driver whether to come in or whether to ride down and hope it stays. That’s not a good position for us to be in. I think some of the people at NASCAR took it the wrong way. They’ve done an awesome job with safety and this is one thing we still need to look at. It wasn’t saying they’re not doing their job. I just felt like this is one thing they dropped the ball on. So, they’re doing a good job. They’re looking at it. They’re going to address it and make it right, and down the road, we won’t have to worry about this again, hopefully.” (Fox Sports)(4-24-2016)
UPDATE: Veteran IndyCar Series driver Oriol Servia was confirmed Saturday to the #77 Honda of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for next month’s Indianapolis 500. The team co-owned by Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson fields full-season cars for James Hinchcliffe and Mikhail Aleshin. Schmidt also considered Gabby Chaves, Katherine Legge and Jay Howard. At one point NASCAR driver Brian Vickers was considered for the SPM ride, but he has been focused on serving as the temporary Sprint Cup Series replacement for Tony Stewart, who is returning this weekend from a late-January back injury.(Indianpolis Star)(4-24-2016)
� There have been 119 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Richmond International Raceway, one NSCS event from 1953 – 1958 and two races per year since 1959.
� 486 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond; 316 in more than one.
� Petty Enterprises has the most wins at Richmond in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 15; followed by Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing with 10 each and Richard Childress Racing with nine.
� Nine different manufacturers have won at Richmond. Chevrolet leads the series in wins at Richmond with 37 victories; followed by Ford with 31 and Toyota with eight.
� Only four of the 119 races at Richmond International Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions: spring of 1962, spring of 1977, spring of 1982 and spring of 2003.
� Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Richmond International Raceway was the (09/12/1998) race won by Jeff Burton with a MOV of 0.051 second.
� There have been two NSCS races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Richmond International Raceway: spring of 2008 (400/410) and spring of 2013 (400/406).
(NASCAR)
News from April 23, 2016
#48-Johnson 120.849
#5-Kahne 120.622
#18-Busch 120.493
#4-Harvick 120.374
#19-Edwards 119.979
slowest: #46-Annett 115.321 & #30-Wise 114.446
most laps run: #41-Busch 122, #3-Dillon 99
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap average on the Richmond Final Practice Speeds page (pdf).(4-23-2016)
Pole sitter #4-Harvick chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #2-Logano took pit stall 7.
#48-Johnson, who starts 3rd took the 27th pit stall, just before the start-finish line.
The 42nd and final pit stall was taken by #44-Scott, who starts 20th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(4-23-2016)
UPDATE: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Bristol (TN) earned a 3.4 final rating and 5.5 million viewers on FOX last Sunday afternoon, down 26% in ratings and 27% in viewership from 2013, the last time the race was run as scheduled (4.6, 7.5M). Both last year and in 2014, FOX aired only brief snippets of the race due to extensive rain delays. The network drew a 3.3 and 5.1 million for less than 15 minutes of racing last year, and a 4.5 and 7.3 million for 45 minutes of coverage in 2014. Despite the lower numbers, NASCAR on FOX was still the most-watched sports broadcast of the weekend – edging ABC’s Pistons/Cavaliers NBA playoff game (5.4M).(Sports Media Watch)(4-23-2016)
Q: How special was last week’s finish for the entire BK Racing organization?
Devine: “It was special for us and I know you saw it on pit road, we were all so emotional. We have a lot of confidence in this guy (Matt DiBenedetto) right here and I say he’s kind of like, ‘my guy,’ because we found each other along the way. We were excited to put him in a race car and we kind of took a chance on him, but he deserves it and I think he showed it last week. Think about, we’ve been out here for five years and that’s our best finish and it was real emotional. Even that last lap, we’ve taken the white flag in 10th by the way and came back 25th, and this time we took the white flag in sixth and came back sixth. It was really special for us and I can’t say enough about him and about this race team. It really speaks to how hard these guys worked all winter putting the cars together and their commitment to make something happen. Now that we’ve finally had some success with it, it just felt great.”
Q: How insistent was J.D. Gibbs that you hire Matt DiBenedetto to drive for you?
Devine: “I’m glad you asked that, the first person that mentioned Matt DiBenedetto to me was J.D. Gibbs and he said, ‘Ron, this guy is special.’ I have a lot of respect for the Gibbs organization – Joe (Gibbs) and myself have been friends for many, many years so I said, ‘Let’s take a look at him.’ We looked at his test when he was over there and then we started just examining him and J.D. was the first one that said, ‘Hey, we really like this young man and we think he’s something special and you should get him.’ For that, we thank you J.D. Gibbs and we wish you all the best with all that you’re going through. That organization and us both being Toyota, we have a great relationship anyway, but he is just a great friend and he was very kind to send him our way.”
(Toyota Racing PR)(4-23-2016)
� NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Richmond with 63. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with 33 starts.
� 50 different drivers have won at Richmond International Raceway, led by Richard Petty with 13. Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in wins at RIR with four; all of which were spring races.
� First Career NSCS Win At RIR: James Hylton (1970), Neil Bonnett (1977), Kyle Petty (1986), Tony Stewart (1999), Kasey Kahne (2005)
� Eight drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Richmond International Raceway. Richard Petty leads the series in consecutive wins at Richmond after posting seven consecutive wins from the fall of 1970 – 1973. Jimmie Johnson (2007 sweep) is the only active driver with consecutive wins at Richmond.
� All of the active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Richmond International Raceway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart won at Richmond in their second appearance.
� Greg Biffle leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Richmond without visiting Victory Lane at 27.
� Bobby Allison and Richard Petty are tied for the lead in runner-up finishes at Richmond with nine each. Kyle Busch leads all active drivers with five.
� Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Richmond with 34; Kyle Busch leads all active drivers with 14.
� Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Richmond with 41. Kevin Harvick leads all active drivers with 18.
� Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Richmond International Raceway with a 7.095.
� Two female drivers have competed at Richmond in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Danica Patrick & Janet Guthrie
(NASCAR)
The total number of laps changed this year due to the implementation of the Dash 4 Cash. With Dash 4 Cash, NASCAR added a 15 minute break between the two heats and a 15 minute break between the second heat and the main event. To compensate for the additional time it was estimated the race would take, the number of laps was shortened. In addition, according to a press release from the track in January, “The total number of laps at RIR will be 210, which puts the event at nearly 250 kilometers (based on where the line is measured).”(4-23-2016)
#2-Ty Dillon finished second and captured the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus. The rest of the top 10: #1-Elliot Sadler, #19-Daniel Suarez, #2-Austin Dillon, #5-Cole Custer, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #11-Blake Koch, #22-Brad Keselowski, and #48-Brennan Poole.
The race ended after one attempt at NASCAR Overtime. A late race accident collected several drivers at the front of the field with less than 10 laps to go.
The first caution of the race did not come until 15 laps to go.
Pole sitter #20-Erik Jones was involved in both of the cautions on the day and finished 34th.
There were 2 cautions for 20 laps and 4 lead changes among 4 leaders.
The average speed was 93.623mph.
Complete results are on the Richmond race results page (pdf).
(4-23-2016)
Dale Earnhardt Jr.(i) won the 29th Annual ToyotaCare 250, his 24th victory in 137 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his fourth victory and fifth top-10 finish in six races at Richmond International Raceway.
Ty Dillon (second) posted his fifth top-10 finish in seven races at Richmond International Raceway. It is his fifth top-10 finish in 2016.
Elliott Sadler (third) posted his 11th top-10 finish in 26 races at Richmond International Raceway.
Brennan Poole (10th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Daniel Suarez leads the point standings by 9 points over Elliott Sadler.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(4-23-2016)
1) #19-Daniel Suarez, 279
2) #1-Elliott Sadler, 270, -9
3) #3-Ty Dillon, 260, -19
4) #33-Brandon Jones, 249, -30
5) #20-Erik Jones [1 win], 244, -35
6) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 242, -37
7) #7-Justin Allgaier, 241, -38
8) #48-Brennan Poole, 212, -67
9) #16-Ryan Reed, 210, -69
10) #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., 201, -78
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings (pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(4-23-2016)
The starting lineup is posted on the Richmond starting lineup page (pdf).(4-23-2016)
#7-Justin Allgaier was second, followed by: #19-Daniel Suarez, #22-Brad Keselowski, #2-Austin Dillon, #42-Justin Marks, #4-Ross Chastain, #11-Blake Koch, #16-Ryan Reed, and #39-Ryan Sieg.
Erik Jones, who won the first heat, will start the main event from the pole because he had a better starting position than Ty Dillon in the two heat races. Finishers of this heat race will lineup on the outside of the feature in even-numbered starting positions.
Ty Dillon and Justin Allgaier, the top 2 XFINITY regulars in the heat, will join Erik Jones and Brennan Poole in running for the Dash 4 Cash bonus in the main.
Results are posted on the Richmond XFINITY Series Heat 2 results page (pdf).(4-23-2016)
#88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr was second, followed by: #18-Matt Tifft, #48-Brennan Poole, #1-Elliott Sadler, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #33-Brandon Jones, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #5-Cole Custer, and #44-J.J. Yeley.
After the second heat, the complete lineup will be set for the 140 lap main event.
Erik Jones will start the main either first or second, depending on who had the best starting position in the two heat winners. Finishers of this heat race will lineup on the inside of the feature in odd-numbered starting positions.
Erik Jones and Brennan Poole, being the top 2 XFINITY regulars in the heat, will run for the Dash 4 Cash bonus in the main.
Results are posted on the Richmond XFINITY Series Heat 1 results page (pdf).(4-23-2016)
See complete results on the Richmond practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(4-23-2016)
News from April 22, 2016
41 cars were entered, #98-Whitt was the only car to not qualify. He failed to qualify by being the slowest open team during Friday practice.
See the complete starting lineup on the Richmond Starting Lineup page (pdf).(4-22-2016)
“Even if I say that I’m retired, I could not miss the opportunity to drive in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, especially on circuits as interesting as those of Sonoma and Indianapolis,” said Patrick Carpentier. “I’m really happy to wear the colors of Can-Am, Kappa, and Cyclops Gear because I love to use their products.”
“We are very happy with the choice of drivers made by our partner, Archie St.Hilaire of Go FAS Racing,” said Jos� Boisjoli President and CEO of BRP. “The decision to entrust the wheel of the Can-Am/Kappa/Cyclops Gear Ford Fusion #32 to Patrick Carpentier for the races in Sonoma and Indianapolis, pleases us very much.”(Go Fas Racing)(4-22-2016)
Q: Why did the driver’s council make the statement supporting Tony Stewart’s comments?
Hamlin: “I think it kind of shows a unity amongst us. It really has nothing to do with lug nuts or no lug nuts or anything like that, it’s more so the drivers believing that they have a right to express their opinion especially when asked in an interview. We try to do our best to give honest answers and sometimes those aren’t always the best thing. I know at times I’ve been very guilty of being too honest at times or too opinionated at times and it costs you a nickel or two. We just think that there should be a little bit of leniency there for someone that knows a lot about our sport and has been in our sport a long time. He gave his opinion and especially when it’s something on safety too. I think it’s pretty important. As far as what we believe, it’s all said in the statement. Everything I’m telling you here is my opinion and my opinion only.”
Q: Where is the line when it comes to comments from drivers?
Hamlin: “I don’t know where the line is, I don’t know if there is a line – obviously there is a line, but obviously we just believe that you should be able to express your opinion as long as you’re not just totally trashing the sport itself or anything like that. I think every situation is different, but we’ll just move forward from it.”
Q: How has the driver’s council evolved and what is the direction of the council overall?
Hamlin: “I think that the driver’s interests and the owner’s interests is 95 percent aligned most of the time. There’s some things that we feel like we would like to see changed, sometimes it doesn’t align with what NASCAR thinks or what the teams think, but I think that this was a pretty black and white thing from a driver’s perspective to have a guy that’s coming back and is in the middle of an interview and gets asked a question and he responds to the question and gets fined for it. That to us was a moment and I think for us it just shows solidarity that we’re all in this together as the drivers and we want to have one voice because that one voice is obviously a little louder and clearer to NASCAR when we go into meetings talking about where it’s going to head from competition to safety and amongst other things. I think that its grown a lot over the last year and our communication as drivers, the barriers that we have, those have been broken down tremendously over the last year to two. Our meetings with NASCAR have changed the sport and will continue to change the sport for many years. Mostly it’s all positive, every now and then we feel like we should show solidarity to a guy whose done a lot for the sport and we still don’t want to be so politically correct all the time and have to filter our thoughts and think about it because we have sponsors on our cars or owners we have to answer to or NASCAR, sometimes you just want to say what you feel and we feel like you should be able to do that at times.”
Q: How did the discussion come about to pay Tony Stewart’s fine?
Hamlin: “I think it’s more of a council thing. Obviously we chat on a daily basis about issues within our sport or things we’d like to work on or change or stay the same. When Tony (Stewart) informed us of the fine, we didn’t agree with it and no one agreed with it and we thought there was something we should do about it. This was a way for us to send a message back to NASCAR, not that we were trying to send any specific message that we just believe that we should have the right to speak our opinion. I don’t know whether everyone agrees with the opinion he had or not, but it doesn’t matter. It’s what he was asked so he answered the question. I think that was the biggest thing for us. We should have the right to speak our opinion.”
Q: Have you heard from the series about the statement yet?
Hamlin: “Nothing from the series at all, but I’m sure we’ll all hear something at some point.”
(Toyota Racing)(4-22-2016)
#4-Harvick 129.069
#22-Logano 128.694
#48-Johnson 128.187
#19-Edwards 128.181
#11-Hamlin 128.156
slowest: #32-Earnhardt 119.458 & #15-Bowyer 117.842. #46-Annett was the only driver to not complete a lap.
most laps run: #14-Stewart, 38 & #24-Elliott, 37
notes: Practice was cut short by rain.
#46-Annett spun early in the session and made contact with the inside wall on the backstretch. The team will have to go to a backup.
Qualifying is scheduled for 4:15pm/et and will be televised on FS1 and covered via radio by MRN/SiriusXM.
If qualifying is rained out, this practice session will set the field for the race. Practice speeds determine which open teams make the race, so #98-Whitt would be the DNQ if qualifying is not held.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap ave(only 3 drivers) on the Friday Richmond Practice Speeds page (pdf).(4-22-2016)
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #83-DiBenedetto.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #30-Wise.
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 Richmond Qualifying Order Page (pdf).(4-22-2016)
UPDATE: NASCAR has fined Stewart-Haas Racing driver and co-owner Tony Stewart $35,000 for violations of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book, the sanctioning body announced Thursday. Stewart’s fine falls under Section 12 of the rule book, specifically member conduct guidelines. According to Section 12.8.1, actions that could result in a $10,000-$50,000 fine include disparaging the sport and/or NASCAR’s leadership, or verbal abuse of a NASCAR Official, media members, fans, etc. Stewart announced earlier Thursday that he would return to the #14 Chevrolet this weekend at Richmond after missing the first eight races due to injury.(NASCAR.com)(4-21-2016)
UPDATE 2: The Sprint Cup Drivers Council released a statement Thursday night on Tony Stewart’s punishment from NASCAR, supporting the three-time champion and announcing it would pay his $35,000 fine. The statement was released exclusively to NBC Sports through Drivers Council member Denny Hamlin. The statement reads:
“We as drivers believe Tony has the right to speak his opinion on topics that pertain to a sport that he has spent nearly two decades helping build as both a driver and an owner. While we do not condone drivers lashing out freely at NASCAR, we do feel Tony was in his rights to state his opinion. We as a Council support him and do not agree with the fine. Therefore, we fellow council members have agreed to contribute equally to paying his fine.”
The Drivers Council was formed last year and meets periodically with NASCAR to discuss various issues from competition to safety. It added Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch this year to a group that included returning members Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Stewart, Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano.(NBC Sports)(4-22-2016)
� Buck Baker won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Richmond in 1953 with a speed of 48.465 mph.
� Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Richmond International Raceway with a 8.769.
� Nine drivers posted their first NSCS pole at Richmond International Raceway: Brian Vickers (2004), Ted Musgrave (1994), Bobby Labonte (1993), Alan Kulwicki (1987), Morgan Shepherd (1981), Bill Dennis (1971), Dave Marcis (1971), Ned Jarrett (1960), Russ Hepler (1957)
� 54 drivers have Coors Light poles at Richmond, led by Richard Petty and Bobby Allison with eight each. Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Brian Vickers and Joey Logano are all tied for the lead among active drivers with two each.
� Eight drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Richmond. Bobby Allison holds the record for most consecutive Coors Light poles at Richmond with five (1972 – 1974).
� 23 of the 119 (19.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Richmond International Raceway have been won from the Coors Light pole. Only four active drivers have been able to accomplish the feat: Kasey Kahne (2005), Jimmie Johnson (2007), Kyle Busch (2010) and Brad Keselowski (2014).
� The pole starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners than any other starting position at Richmond (23).
� 37 of the 119 (31.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Richmond have been won from the front row: 23 from the pole and 14 from second-place.
� 93 of the 119 (78.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond International Raceway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
� 13 of the 119 (10.9%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Richmond International Raceway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
� The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Richmond International Raceway is 31st, by Clint Bowyer in the spring of 2008.
� Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Richmond International Raceway seven times; most recently the fall of 2014.
(NASCAR)
The field for the two heat races was set by the rule book.
Top 5 starters in the first heat race: #18-Matt Tifft, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #20-Erik Jones, #1-Elliott Sadler, and #33-Brandon Jones.
Top 5 starters in the second heat race: #2-Austin Dillon, #19-Daniel Suarez, #7-Justin Allgaier, #22-Brad Keselowski, and #3-Ty Dillon.
Result of the heat races will determine the lineup for the 140 lap main event.
Did Not Qualify: None, the #10-DiBenedetto team withdrew so only 40 cars were entered.
See the Heat 1 starting lineup (pdf) and Heat 2 starting lineup (pdf) and .(4-22-2016)
Master Sergeant Larry D. Nix, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL, will serve as the Grand Marshal and give the most famous words in motorsports, “Drivers, Start Your Engines,” bookending pre-race ceremonies at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. Bringing 40 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers to the green flag as Honorary Starter will be Aerospace Medical Services Technician Senior Airman Maxime V. Copley, also from the Maxwell Air Force Base.
MSgt Nix is currently responsible for the training of 1,700 students annually that are commissioned in the Chaplain, Healthcare and JAG Corps. MSgt Nix enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1998. In addition to being awarded the Bronze Star, MSgt Nix has acquired numerous prestigious decorations and awards including: Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with One Silver Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal and Air Force Achievement Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters.
SrA Copley is currently assigned to 42d Medical Operations Squadron and performs a wide range of medical roles. She provides essential care in assisting 5 providers who care for patients in various situations such as immunizations and Pediatric screenings. SrA Copley was awarded the Hard Charger Award, 42d MDOS in 2015. Her other achievements include: 2015 Airman of the Second Quarter, 42d MDOS, 2015 Airman of the Year Award, 42d Air Base Wing and 2015 Airman of the Year, Team Maxwell.(TSS)(4-22-2016)
News from April 21, 2016
UPDATE: NASCAR has fined Stewart-Haas Racing driver and co-owner Tony Stewart $35,000 for violations of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book, the sanctioning body announced Thursday. Stewart’s fine falls under Section 12 of the rule book, specifically member conduct guidelines. According to Section 12.8.1, actions that could result in a $10,000-$50,000 fine include disparaging the sport and/or NASCAR’s leadership, or verbal abuse of a NASCAR Official, media members, fans, etc. Stewart announced earlier Thursday that he would return to the #14 Chevrolet this weekend at Richmond after missing the first eight races due to injury.(NASCAR.com)(4-21-2016)
AND: Tony Stewart has been cleared by his doctors and NASCAR to return to racing, effective immediately. He will drive the #14 Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy Chevrolet SS fielded by Stewart-Haas Racing throughout this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Richmond International Raceway. Stewart missed the first eight races of the season after sustaining a burst fracture of the L1 vertebra in a Jan. 31 all-terrain vehicle accident. The prescribed rehabilitation regimen instituted by his doctors following a March 9 evaluation proved successful, allowing the three-time series champion to return for his final Sprint Cup season. “As soon as the doctors said they were happy with my scans, I wasn’t going to wait any longer to get back in my racecar,” said Stewart, who announced last year that he would retire after the 2016 season. “I want to make the most of my last season in Sprint Cup, and I’ve been on the sidelines long enough.” Following Richmond, Stewart will participate in a Goodyear tire test April 26-27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He will then practice and qualify his #14 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series’ next event at Talladega Superspeedway. However, Stewart will only start the race before yielding the car to Ty Dillon, who split substitute driving duties this year with Brian Vickers.
“We’re taking a strategic approach to my return,” Stewart said. “Richmond is a track where I feel very comfortable and because it’s a short track, the speeds are substantially less. The Goodyear test in Indy is sort of a controlled environment, allowing me to get more acclimated with my car at higher speeds. We’ll start the Talladega race to get the points, but understanding the style of racing and the higher potential of getting involved in an incident, we thought it was best to minimize the amount of time I’m in the car. I’ll return fulltime at Kansas and enjoy every moment I can in my final year of Sprint Cup.
“I appreciate everyone’s patience and all the support they’ve given me the last couple of months, but the best medicine will come this weekend at Richmond when I finally get to go racing.”
Richmond will mark Stewart’s 591st career Sprint Cup start. Thirty-three of those starts have come at Richmond, where Stewart has three wins, four second-place finishes, 11 top-fives, 19 top-10s and has led a total of 950 laps. Richmond is home to Stewart’s his first career Sprint Cup win, earned on Sept. 11, 1999 when he led 333 of 400 laps.(Stewart-Haas Racing)
UPDATE: “NASCAR received the appropriate medical clearance documentation allowing Tony Stewart to resume normal racing activities. We also have granted the request from Stewart-Haas Racing for a waiver for Tony to be eligible to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. As he begins his final season, we wish Tony the best of luck.”(NASCAR)(4-21-2016)
UPDATE: Four Sprint Cup Series teams participated in a two-day Goodyear tire test Tuesday and Wednesday in preparation for June’s Axalta, “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway. Drivers taking part at the Tricky Triangle were defending race winner Martin Truex Jr., the Chevrolet teams of Ryan Newman and Kyle Larson and Team Penske’s Brad Keselowski, who is also a former Cup winner at Pocono. Newman ran into trouble on Day 1 as his Richard Childress Racing team shipped up another car from their shop in Welcome, N.C. for the second day of testing. “We had a tire go down, not a tire problem,” Newman said. “It was either cut something or had some kind of leak and failed a tire, so we had to get another car shipped up here last night, got here this morning and the guys switched it over. We’ve had a busy day-and-a-half of testing so far, but don’t have a lot to show for it.” The Purdue University graduate wasn’t the only one who experienced issues Tuesday. Third-year Cup driver Kyle Larson had a close call in his #42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet while testing around the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway. “The car feels similar to how I raced here last time and I think we’ve actually improved on it some,” Larson said. “We’ve had to work through a couple issues throughout both days, was having brake problems yesterday getting a long pedal after a few laps. We had a tire sensor go bad and go flat right-rear. “(Times Leader)(4-21-2016)
� Originally known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, Richmond International Raceway held its first race in 1946 as a half-mile dirt track.
� The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was April 19, 1953 won by Lee Petty.
� The spring 1964 race was run on a Tuesday night under temporary lighting.
� The track name changed to Virginia State Fairgrounds in 1967.
� The track surface was changed from dirt to asphalt between races in 1968.
� The track name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in 1969.
� The track was re-measured to .542-mile for 1970.
� The track was rebuilt as a three-quarters-mile D-shaped oval following the Feb. 21, 1988 race.
� The first race under permanent lights was Sept. 7, 1991.
� The first season with both races as night races was 1999.
(NASCAR)
News from April 20, 2016
UPDATE: Tommy Baldwin Racing’s #7 Chevrolet will pay tribute to 1992 NASCAR Cup champion Alan Kulwicki during Darlington Raceway’s throwback weekend in September. The #7 Road Rippers/Toy State design echoes the familiar paint scheme that Kulwicki drove to Victory Lane in three of his five career wins. “We’re proud to be part of such a unique promotion that helps connect fans to the history of NASCAR,” said Toy State President, Andy Friess. “It’s a privilege to recognize Alan Kulwicki as a champion, and as a man admired by so many, both inside and outside of the sport.”
“It’s an honor for us to pay tribute to a true champion of our sport,” said team owner Tommy Baldwin. “Sharing the car number is a great way to celebrate his accomplishments, it is even more special because Alan achieved success as an independent team. We’re grateful to Darlington Raceway and NASCAR for giving us such a special platform.”(Tommy Baldwin Racing), see an image of the car on the #7 team paint schemes page.(4-20-2016)
The #3 team of Ty Dillon was given a P3 penalty for the following violations: Sections 20.4.13 ; 20.4.13.1 a,b,c,d [spoiler deck lid assembly]; 12.5.3.4.1 c. Crew chief Nick Harrison has been fined $10,000, suspended for one race, and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31. The violation was found on opening day inspection. See the Bristol Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(4-20-2016)
UPDATE: Matt Tifft will pilot the #11 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra starting at Kansas Speedway next weekend. Tifft has also signed on to drive for two following races at Dover and Charlotte Motor Speedway, the team has confirmed. Tifft, 19, competed in 12 races in the Camping World Truck Series last season and finished in the top 10 five times. This season, Tifft has three starts in the #24 JGL Racing Young Guns Toyota in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The Hinckley, Ohio native has 15 starts in the truck series with six top 10s. His best result was eighth – four times. Scott Zipadelli will continue on as crew chief for the #11 Toyota. Most recently, Zipadelli worked with Ben Kennedy. Kennedy and Red Horse Racing parted ways last week. Kennedy is still looking to secure a full-time ride for the remainder of 2016.(Motorsport.com)(4-20-2016)
AND: Up-and-coming driver Matt Tifft will join the Red Horse Racing stable for several races beginning at Kansas Speedway. Nineteen-year-old Tifft has 15 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts under his belt, recording six top-10 finishes. He also has four NASCAR XFINITY Series starts with one top-10. Tifft will pilot the #11 Toyota Tundra at Kansas Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and possibly additional races with veteran crew chief Scott Zipadelli leading the team.(Red Horse Racing)(4-20-2016)
News from April 19, 2016
Union Bank and Trust, commonly referred to as Union, is part of Union Bankshares Corporation (UBSH), will be on all three BK Racing entries with David Ragan, Matt DiBenedetto and Ryan Ellis’s #93 ScienceLogic Camry. As the largest community bank headquartered in Virginia, Union offers their customers more than 100 years of community banking history and strong customer relationships.
Visit Henrico County will be on David Ragan’s #23 sweetFrog Camry. As the resource center for Henrico County, they are your destination of where to eat, stay and shop while visiting Richmond International Raceway this weekend.
The Richmond Flying Squirrels, minor league baseball team, join the #23 and #83 BK Racing cars this weekend. In support of the Toyota Owners 400, the Flying Squirrels are hosting Turn Left Night Tuesday evening
RMC Events will be on both Matt DiBenedetto’s #83 E.J. Wade Construction Camry and David Ragan’s No.23 sweetFrog Camry. RMC Events, founded in 1999, is a private security services firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia with an office in Charlottesville as well as personnel across the Commonwealth including in the following regions: Harrisonburg, Southwest Virginia and Tidewater.(BK Racing)(4-19-2016)
#18-Kyle Busch 110.4 (4 wins)
#4-Kevin Harvick 110.1 (3)
#11-Denny Hamlin 108.8 (2)
#15-Clint Bowyer 98.6 (2)
#41-Kurt Busch 94.2 (2)
#2-Brad Keselowski 93.9 (1)
#31-Ryan Newman 91.1 (1)
#48-Jimmie Johnson 90.1 (3)
#20-Matt Kenseth 89.0 (2)
#19-Carl Edwards 88.3 (1)
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2015 races (22 total) among active drivers at Richmond International Raceway.
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)
� American Ethanol and Growth Energy will celebrate six years as a NASCAR Official Partner and will eclipse 10 million miles of racing on Sunoco Green E15 in 2016, the equivalent of more than 400 trips around the circumference of the earth.
� Elgin Sweepers save roughly one gallon of diesel fuel per hour, which relates to about 22.4 pounds of CO2. This technology offsets about 16 metric tons of CO2 being put into the environment over the course of a full NASCAR season, the equivalent of planting 372 new tree seedlings.
� Safety-Kleen – the official waste remover of NASCAR – will collect approximately 180,000 gallons of oil. That oil is transported to one of four Safety-Kleen oil refineries and processed, making the oil clean and usable again.
� Mobil 1 is serving as a NASCAR Race to Green initiative partner for the third consecutive year, further extending its promotion of sustainability through its fuel-efficient motor oils – Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy and Mobil Delvac 1 LE 5W-30.
� Toyota has partnered with Richmond International Raceway to create a Toyota Green Space, a newly beautified area that includes nearly 38,000 square feet of fresh grass, a picnic area and newly planted trees and plants, for fans to visit during the Toyota Owners 400 race weekend.
Also featured on NASCAR.com/green is the NASCAR Green Carbon quiz, where fans will once again be invited to measure their environmental impact and receive tips from Official Green Partners on how to reduce their carbon footprint.
During NASCAR Race to Green week the color green will be displayed on the A-post of race cars across the NASCAR national series and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. NASCAR Green flags will be displayed at all tracks hosting NASCAR events this weekend, including Richmond International Raceway, Stafford Motor Speedway and the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain (NASCAR Whelen Euro Series).
After a successful pilot program in 2015, Richmond International Raceway will once again focus its sustainability efforts towards food rescue and recovery. Last year, the track and Americrown Services donated more than 3,300 meals to local food shelters and soup kitchens, diverted more than 24,700 pounds of food scraps and waste to composting and recycled more than two tons of cardboard, resulting in nearly 33 metric tons of CO2 Greenhouse Gas Reductions.(NASCAR)(4-19-2016)
Tickets are currently on sale for races at Kansas Speedway and can be purchased online at www.kansasspeedway.com or by calling 866.460.7223. Parking is always free at Kansas Speedway and fans can bring in one 14x14x14-inch soft-sided cooler with their favorite food and beverages.(Kansas Speedway)(4-19-2016)
News from April 18, 2016
Drivers who are not a Charter team, an Open Team, and must get in via speed: #21-Blaney, #30-Wise, #55-Sorenson, #93-Ellis, #98-Whitt
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts, then owners pts): #93-Ellis
* Open Team (no Charter)
See the full entry list on Jayski.com’s Richmond Entry List
“We’re proud to have E.J. Wade Construction, another Virginia-based company, join us at a track that means a lot to our race team,” said Doug Fritz, CMO of BK Racing. “Matt DiBenedetto has shown perseverance and excellence in his drive to succeed,” said Jeff Wade, President of E.J. Wade Construction. “We are excited for the opportunity to partner with and support such a talented and focused driver. He will represent E.J. Wade Construction well.”(140 Buzz / BK Racing), DiBenedetto is coming off a career best finish of 6th at Bristol.(4-18-2016)
AND Everything was there for a great Food City 500 race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway except the crowds. NASCAR quit putting out official attendance figures a few years ago and track officials quit commenting on them around the same time, but from the eyeball test, the Bristol Motor Speedway looked around a third full for Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race. The crowd was even more sparse for Saturday’s Xfinity Series race and the Friday qualifying crowd was virtually non-existent. The Sunday crowds were clearly better than the last two years for the spring race when March and then April showers not only brought May flowers but washed away race fans. But, this weekend had perfect weather and a great Xfinity Series race leading into the Food City 500 (Johnson City Press)(4-18-2016)
THE MODERATOR: “We are also joined by our second-place finisher, Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. This is second runner-up finish. Could you talk a little bit about that great come back?”
DALE EARNHARDT JR: “Yeah, we got the Roush system on our cars for the stuck-throttle issue, and just warming the brakes up, I engaged that system to kill the throttle. I was warming the brakes up like I always do, and apparently I applied too much pressure and it killed the motor. We’ll work on that and maybe raise that threshold a little bit because I wasn’t really using the brake that much. So I just needed to cycle the ECU, reset that, came to pit road and did that. I probably could’ve done it on the track and saved ourselves a lot of trouble, but you don’t know what’s going on at that particular point, and you listen to the first thing anybody tells you when it comes to direction, and the first thing that my spotter said was that if I need to pit, I need to come on now. We got on pit road, cycled it, lost a couple laps. Greg did a good job getting the wave-arounds and knowing when to take them and stuff, and we got back on the lead lap. We had about a 10th-place car. We weren’t really that good all day. We tried a setup that we’ve never really ran here before, just trying to learn a little something going forward, and we’ll go home and science it out a little bit. We got real lucky the last three restarts to be on the outside line. We restarted 10th, 6th and 4th, and when you restart 4th you’re typically going to come out in second place after that. I was hoping we didn’t have any more cautions after that. So it was good. We’ll take it.
Q. So it’s a system where if you brake really hard, it kills the engine?
EARNHARDT JR.: “Yes. If your throttle is stuck and you mash the brake to a certain, you’re going to mash the (expletive) out of that brake when the throttle sticks, it’ll shut the motor off. That’s a system, that’s one of the two systems that you have to choose from in this sport. The other is a button on the steering wheel. I don’t like the button on the steering wheel, because when the throttle sticks, I ain’t going to think mash a button. I’ll be in the fence before it’s over with. So the brake thing works too good.”
Q. How did you keep yourself from just panicking when you had the problem and you tried several times to get a lap back and it took several times?
DALE EARNHARDT JR.: “Yeah, I turned 40. Quit panicking. It is what it is these days. You know, as I got older, I tried harder to enjoy what I’m doing, and not get really upset and too out of shape when things aren’t going our way, plus I know Greg and them guys are on the pit box trying everything they can, and for me to — they’re the only ones I’m going to be able to yell at, so for me to — it doesn’t do any good to be hollering at them or upset or just lose your mind, and the over-the-wall guys especially, we don’t really spend a ton of time with the over-the-wall guys, and they’re real sensitive. They’re big ol’ guys and athletes, but they’ve got big hearts, too, so you can’t be screaming and coming unglued because they don’t want to work for people like that.”(Team Chevy)(4-18-2016)
Total number of commercials: 105
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 50
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 87
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 46
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 18
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 13
Number of times Fox utilized ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during this broadcast: 4
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:36 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 216
Minutes of race broadcast: 176
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 40
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 10
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 176 Total comm. brdcst time 40
See past races, more info on the commercials with links at CawsnJaws.com.(4-18-2016)
Cole Custer will drive the #5 for JR Motorsports;
Jeff Green returns to the Tri-Star #10;
Timmy Hill returns to the #13;
The Rick Ware #15 is TBA;
Matt Tifft will drive the #18 for Joe Gibbs;
Spencer Gallagher and the #21 team return to the track;
The #24 JGL team was entered with Corey LaJoie but has withdrawn;
The Rick Ware #25 is TBA;
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will drive the #88;
Josh Wise remains in the #93 for RSS;
The #97 is TBA, but Ryan Ellis has driven is the last 2 races.(4-18-2015)
See the complete list on the Richmond entry list page.
News from April 17, 2016
#88-Earnhardt Jr. finished 2nd followed by #41-Busch, #24-Elliott (best career finish), #6-Bayne (1st top-five since he won the 2011 Daytona 500), #83-DiBenedetto (best career finish), #4-Harvick, #15-Bowyer, #31-Newman and #22-Logano.
There were 16 lead changes among 7 drivers and 15 cautions for 102 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 81.637mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more [NOTE: money/winnings are no longer reported] at:
Unofficial Race Results page (pdf)
Lap Summary Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
Pit Stop Times (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Bristol Race & Points Report (pdf).(4-17-2016)
#19-Carl Edwards won the 56th Annual Food City 500, his 26th victory in 417 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and seventh top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his fourth victory and 11th top-10 finish in 24 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (second) posted his 16th top-10 finish in 33 races at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his fifth top-10 finish in 2016.
#41-Kurt Busch (third) posted his 16th top-10 finish in 31 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
#24-Chase Elliott (fourth) was the highest finishing rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(4-17-2016)
[after Bristol, race 8 of 36]
1) #4-Harvick [1 win], 287
2) #19-Edwards [1 win], 286, -1
3) #48-Johnson [2 wins], 271, -16
4) #22-Logano, 266, -21
5) #18-Busch, [2 wins], 262, -25
6) #88-Earnhardt Jr., 250, -37
7) #41-Busch, 247, -40
8) #2-Keselowski [1 win], 224, -63
9) #11-Hamlin [1 win], 222, -65
10) #78-Truex Jr., 214, -73
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf) See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Bristol Race & Points Report (pdf).
[after Bristol, race 8 of 36, 16 drivers for the Chase]
Set by most wins, then by points standing
1) #48-Johnson [2 wins], 3rd in driver points
2) #18-Busch [2 wins], 5th
3) #4-Harvick [1 win], 1st
4) #19-Edwards [1 win], 2nd
5) #2-Keselowski [1 win], 8th
6) #11-Hamlin [1 win], 9th
no wins, in by drivers points standings
7) #22-Logano, 266
8) #88-Earnhardt Jr., 250
9) #41-Busch, 247
10) #78-Truex, Jr., 214
11) #3-Dillon, 213
12) #24-Elliott, 205
13) #1-McMurray, 199
14) #47-Allmendinger, 188
15) #5-Kahne, 185
16) #31-Newman, 182
(4-17-2016)
#24-Chase Elliott, finished 4th, 18 rookie points (best career finish)
#21-Ryan Blaney, finished 11th, 10 rookie points
#34-Chris Buescher, finished 21st, 9 rookie points
#44-Brian Scott, finished 30th, 8 rookie points
#32-Jeffrey Earnhardt, finished 32nd, 7 rookie points (best career finish)
See Jayski.com’s 2016 Rookie of the Year page for rules, standings and more.(4-17-2016)
News from April 16, 2016
Television (TV): FOX at 1:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 12:30pm/et; green flag approx. 1:13pm/et
Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
Scheduled Race Re-Airs: Monday, April 18 at 8:30am/et on FS1
12:20pm: NSCS Driver Introductions
12:53pm: “God Bless USA” by Lee Greenwood
1:00pm: Presentation of Colors by TN Army National Guard
1:00pm: Invocation by Mike Rife, Vansant Church of Christ, Vansant, VA
1:01pm: National Anthem: Clare Dunn, country music entertainer
1:02pm: Flyover by A-10s, 74th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, GA
1:07pm: Command to start engines: NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace
1:13pm: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500, FOX & PRN
eastern time (NASCAR.com)
#11-Hamlin 126.129
#24-Elliott 125.823
#78-Truex Jr. 125.749
#19-Edwards 125.691
#18-Busch 125.395
slowest: #55-Sorenson 120.407 & #32-Earnhardt 121.558
most laps run: #34-Buescher 104; #31-Newman 103
the best 10 consecutive lap ave: #42-Larson 124.657
notes: #10-Patrick scraped the wall early in the practice, team made repairs and he was back on the track.
See the fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Bristol Happy Hour practice speeds page (pdf) (4-16-2016)
From his vantage point, Hamlin couldn’t see Patrick’s signal. “I was on the outside of her on the straightaway, so I couldn’t see the left side of her car,” Hamlin said. “I went to go low, but I don’t know if she had stuff on her tires. It looked like she was struggling and had stuff on her tires for a few laps there. I tried to go low and obviously we hung bumpers.” Patrick’s troubles weren’t over. In Saturday’s final practice prior to Sunday’s Food City 500, she was still fighting a loose handling condition and brushed the wall near the apex of Turns 3 and 4 approximately five minutes into Happy Hour. After repairs, Hamlin’s #11 Toyota, on the other hand, was fast enough to top the speed chart during final Cup practice with a lap at 126.129 mph.(NASCAR Wire Service)(4-16-2016)
#18-Busch 126.370
#24-Elliott 126.253
#41-Busch 126.137
#43-Almirola 125.988
#19-Edwards 125.972
slowest: #32-Earnhardt 120.282 & #98-Whitt 121.914
most laps run: #41-Busch 86; #18-Busch 77
the best 10 consecutive lap ave: #18-Busch 125.569
notes: #11-Hamlin got into back of #10-Patrick’s car, doing some damage to the front of the #11 and the rear of the #10.
Happy Hour practice is scheduled for 11:00am/et and will be televised on FS1.
See the fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Bristol practice 2 speeds page (pdf) (4-16-2016)
Pole sitter #19-Edwards chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
2nd place qualifier #20-Kenseth took pit stall 23, the first pit stall on the rear pit road.
#22-Logano, who starts 3rd took the 6th pit stall.
The 42nd and final pit stall was taken by #48-Johnson, who starts 7th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(4-16-2016)
UPDATE: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Texas earned a 2.5 overnight rating on FOX Saturday night, down 14% from last year (2.9) and the lowest overnight ever for a Sprint Cup race on FOX. The 2.5 is also the lowest ever for the spring Texas race (dates back to 1997). In both cases, the previous low was set last year. No doubt contributing to the record-low performance was a nearly two-hour rain delay that pushed the start of the race past 9:30 PM ET. Despite the decline, the race was the top sporting event of the weekend outside of The Masters.(Sports Media Watch)(4-12-2016)
UPDATE2: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Texas earned a 2.7 final rating and 4.3 million viewers on FOX last Saturday night, down 7% in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (2.9, 4.8M). The start of the race was delayed more than an hour due to rain. Excluding rainouts – i.e., races that were postponed rather than delayed – the 2.7 rating is the lowest ever for a NASCAR Sprint Cup race on FOX. This is the second straight year Texas has set a network low, though rain was clearly a factor this time around. The 2.7 is also the lowest ever for the spring Texas race (dates back to 1997). Since earning a 5.6 in 2007, ratings for the race have declined in each successive year (again excluding rainouts). Despite the lower numbers, NASCAR on FOX topped the combined audience of the Warriors/Grizzlies and Cavaliers/Bulls NBA games on ESPN and ABC (4.2M). Keep in mind ESPN’s Warriors coverage was blacked out in the Bay Area. For the weekend, it was the top sporting event outside of The Masters.(Sports Media Watch / Programming Insider) see race-by-race TV Ratings for 2016 and a comparison chart on the 2016 TV Ratings page.(4-16-2016)
� NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Bristol with 60. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with 32 starts.
� Joey Logano leads all active series drivers in average starting position at Bristol with a 7.929. Logano is the only active driver with an avg. starting position inside the top 10.
� Ryan Newman leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Bristol without visiting Victory Lane at 28.
� Paul Menard (17 starts) leads the series in starts with the fewest DNFs (0) at Bristol.
� Thirty-three drivers have made their first series career start at Bristol Motor Speedway; including two active drivers – AJ Allmendinger (2007) and Regan Smith (2007).
� 42 different drivers have won at Bristol, led by Darrell Waltrip (12). Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch each have five wins, the most among active drivers.
� 12 drivers have won consecutive races at Bristol led by Darrell Waltrip with seven consecutive victories from 1981-1984. The other 11 are Fred Lorenzen (1963-1964 sweep), David Pearson (1968 sweep), Bobby Allison (1972 sweep), Cale Yarborough did it twice (1974 sweep and four straight from 1976-1977), Richard Petty (1975 sweep), Dale Earnhardt also did twice (1985 sweep and 1987 sweep), Alan Kulwicki (1992 sweep), Rusty Wallace (2000 sweep), Kurt Busch (2003 sweep and 2004 spring race), Kyle Busch (2009 sweep), and Brad Keselowski (2011 fall-2012 spring).
� Five drivers have posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career win at Bristol Motor Speedway: Dale Earnhardt (04/01/1979), Rusty Wallace (04/06/1986), Ernie Irvan (03/25/1990), Elliott Sadler (03/25/2001) and Kurt Busch (03/24/2002).
� Richard Petty leads the series in runner-up finishes at Bristol with 10; Kevin Harvick leads all active drivers with five; followed by Kyle Busch with three.
� Darrell Waltrip leads the series in top-three finishes at Bristol with 23 followed Richard Petty with 18. Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth lead all active drivers with eight.
� Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty lead the series in top-five finishes at Bristol with 26 each. Matt Kenseth leads all active drivers with 13; followed by Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick with 10 each.
� Richard Petty has leads the series in top-10 finishes at Bristol with 37. Matt Kenseth leads the series among active drivers in top-10 finishes with 20; followed by Jimmie Johnson (16).
� Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leads the series among active drivers in average finishing position at Bristol with an 11.167.
� Two female drivers have made NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Bristol: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
(NASCAR)
Q) TOUGH QUALIFYING EFFORT OUT THERE, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT HAPPENED?
Dillon: “Yeah, probably one of my most embarrassing moments in racing. I was coming off the corner there and getting up to speed and I clipped the apron and I slid and got loose and slid into the #38 car. It destroyed our right front and took away any good shot we had at a real qualifying lap. Not what I wanted to do in stepping into this No. 14 ride with Bass Pro Shops and Stewart-Haas. I thank them for the opportunity and I feel bad that I tore it up in qualifying and we are starting in the back of the field. But we will work on it and race back up through the field. We have been doing that the entire year. I am just disappointed in myself in making a mental mistake in getting up to speed there. Just real disappointed, but we will come back tomorrow, forget about it, and go forward.”
Q) YOUR TEAM TALKED ABOUT GOING TO A BACK-UP CAR. DID YOU FEEL ANYTHING WHEN YOU WENT BACK OUT THERE THAT MIGHT INDICATE THE NEED FOR A BACK-UP CAR?
Dillon: “Yeah, it just didn’t have the speed, it was real tight feeling. The aero is really messed up. These guys are the best in the business so they will get it fixed. Whether we have to go to a back-up or not, we will be alright.”(Team Chevy)(4-16-2016)
UPDATE: Moments after winning Saturday’s PittLite 125 NASCAR K&N; Pro Series East race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Chad Finchum cruised up to the flag stand. With the checkered flag hanging out the side of his Abingdon, Virginia-based Martin-McClure Racing Reynolds Wraps Toyota, Finchum took a joy ride around his favorite track to punctuate the biggest victory of his career.”Racing at the local level for the past few years really gave me the experience in a big car,” Finchum said. “When Eric [McClure] and Hal [Martin] formed Martin-McClure Racing and partnered with Reynolds Wraps, I couldn’t have been happier.” McClure and Martin are both former Xfinity Series racers with big plans for the future. McClure and Martin both admitted to shedding tears of joy as they watched Finchum close in on the landmark victory for their second-year team. Veteran crew chief Chris Carrier, a native of Bristol, Tennessee, was just as joyous in the post-race press conference. “This is the biggest day of my pro career,” McClure said.(Bristol Herald Courier)(4-16-2016)
Jones had the fastest qualifying time this morning and led all 50 laps to win the first heat race. He started the main from the pole.
There were 3 cautions for 23 laps and 10 lead changes among 4 leaders.
The average speed was 93.829mph.
Complete results are on the Bristol race results page (pdf).
(4-16-2016)
Erik Jones won the 34th Annual FITZGERALD GLIDER KITS 300, his third victory in 33 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in three races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch(i) (second) posted his 19th top-10 finish in 23 races at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his sixth top-10 finish in 2016.
Kyle Larson(i) (third) posted his fifth top-10 finish in six races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Erik Jones (first) was the highest finishing rookie.
Daniel Suarez leads the point standings by 6 points over Erik Jones.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(4-16-2016)
1) #19-Daniel Suarez, 242
2) #20-Erik Jones [1 win], 236, -6
3) #7-Justin Allgaier, 234, -8
4) #1-Elliott Sadler, 232, -10
5) #33-Brandon Jones, 223, -19
6) #3-Ty Dillon, 221, -21
7) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 208, -34
8) #48-Brennan Poole, 180, -62
8) #16-Ryan Reed, 180, -62
10) #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., 176, -66
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(4-16-2016)
The starting lineup is posted on the Bristol starting lineup page (pdf).(4-16-2016)
Austin Dillon will start the main in 2nd because he had a faster qualifying time compared to #20-Erik Jones, who won the first heat. Finishers of this heat race will lineup on the outside of the feature in even-numbered starting positions.
#3-Ty Dillon and #19-Daniel Suarez, being the top 2 XFINITY regulars in the heat, will join #20-Erik Jones and #7-Justin Allgaier in running for the Dash 4 Cash bonus in the main.
Results are posted on the Bristol XFINITY Series Heat 1 results page (pdf).(4-16-2016)
After the second heat, the complete lineup will be set for the 200 lap main event.
Erik Jones will start the main either first or second, depending on who had the fastest qualifying time of the two heat winners. Finishers of this heat race will lineup on the inside of the feature in odd-numbered starting positions.
Erik Jones and Justin Allgaier, being the top 2 XFINITY regulars in the heat, will run for the Dash 4 Cash bonus in the main.
Results are posted on the Bristol XFINITY Series Heat 1 results page (pdf).(4-16-2016)
Top 5 starters in the first heat race: #20-Erik Jone, #42-Kyle Larson, #18-Kyle Busch, #7-Justin Allgaier, and #33-Brandon Jones.
Top 5 starters in the second heat race: #2-Austin Dillon, #19-Daniel Suarez, #22-Joey Logano, #98-Aric Almirola, and #3-Ty Dillon.
Result of the heat races will determine the lineup for the 200 lap main event.
Did Not Qualify: #89-Morgan Shepherd and #40-Carl Long.
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Bristol qualifying results page (pdf) and the Heat 2 lineup (pdf) and Heat 1 lineup (pdf).(4-16-2016)
Top 5 starters in the first heat race: #20-Erik Jone, #42-Kyle Larson, #18-Kyle Busch, #7-Justin Allgaier, and #33-Brandon Jones.
Top 5 starters in the second heat race: #2-Austin Dillon, #19-Daniel Suarez, #22-Joey Logano, #98-Aric Almirola, and #3-Ty Dillon.
Result of the heat races will determine the lineup for the 200 lap main event.
Did Not Qualify: #89-Morgan Shepherd and #40-Carl Long.
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Bristol qualifying results page (pdf) and the Heat 2 lineup (pdf) and Heat 1 lineup (pdf).(4-16-2016)
Erik Jones won the Coors Light 21 means 21 Pole Award for the 34th Annual FITZGERALD GLIDER KITS 300 with a lap of 15.239 seconds, 125.914 mph.
This is his fifth pole in 33 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his second pole and seventh top-10 start in 2016.
This is his second pole in three races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Austin Dillon(i) (second) posted his fifth top-10 start of 2016 and his sixth in six races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kyle Larson(i) (third) posted his fifth top-10 start at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his fourth in five races this season.
Erik Jones (first) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(4-16-2016)
News from April 15, 2016
#20-Kenseth will start 2nd, followed by #22-Logano, #11-Hamlin, #18-Busch, #48-Johnson, #4-Harvick, #78-Truex Jr., #47-Allmendinger, #6-Bayne, #5-Kahne and #2-Keselowski.
#22-Logano was fastest in the first round with a speed of 128.408mph and will start 3rd.
#18-Busch topped the second round with a speed of 127.258 and will start 5th.
Since the maximum of 40 cars entered the race, everyone made the race.
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Bristol qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Bristol Starting Lineup page (pdf).(4-15-2016)
#19-Carl Edwards won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 56th Annual Food City 500 with a lap of 14.991 seconds, 127.997 mph.
This is his 18th pole in 417 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his second pole and sixth top-10 start in 2016.
This is his third pole in 24 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
#20-Matt Kenseth (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2016 and his 14th in 33 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
#22-Joey Logano (third) posted his 13th top-10 start at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his seventh in eight races this season.
#21-Ryan Blaney (18th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(4-15-2016)
#18-Busch 127.258
#22-Logano 127.241
#19-Edwards 126.829
#20-Kenseth 126.762
#2-Keselowski 126.570
the rest of the top 12: 11 48 4 78 6 5 47;
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 1 27 3 13 31 21 24 88 34 43 16 23
(4-15-2016)
#22-Logano 128.408
#19-Edwards 128.142
#11-Hamlin 127.954
#20-Kenseth 127.903
#18-Busch 127.529
the rest of the top 24: 1 3 21 2 78 13 48 16 4 24 27 6 47 43 88 23 34 5 31;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 42 41 44 38 7 83 95 17 10 14 30 15 32 55 98 46
Drivers who will miss the race: none as 40 cars entered for 40 spots
(4-15-2016)
Television (TV): FS1, 4:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at Performance Racing Network (PRN)
Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: Saturday, April 16 at 7:00am/et on FS1
” Round 1 — All entries will have 20 minutes to post a qualifying time, after which the 24 registering the fastest laps will advance to the second round. Those failing to advance will be sorted based on first-round times in descending order (from fastest to slowest).
” Round 2 — The 24 fastest from the first round will have 10 minutes to post a second-round qualifying time, with the 12 fastest advancing to a third round. Those not advancing will earn starting positions 13 through 24 based on time, again in descending order.
” Round 3 — The final round will be five minutes in length. The fastest times from this session will determine the first (Coors Light Pole Award) through 12th starting positions.
There will be a seven-minute break between each round; teams may make adjustments to their entries only during the individual breaks. They will not be allowed to jack the vehicle or raise the hood, and once the car or truck enters the garage, it will no longer be permitted to return to the track for additional qualifying attempts.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #88-Earnhardt Jr.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #11-Hamlin.
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 Bristol Qualifying Order Page (pdf).(4-15-2016)
#11-Hamlin 128.666
#78-Truex Jr. 128.399
#2-Keselowski 128.374
#48-Johnson 128.176
#1-McMurray 127.767
slowest: #98-Whitt 119.084 & #46-Annett 120.573
notes: #46-Annett had smoke coming out of cockpit late in the race.
Qualifying is scheduled for 4:15pm/et, being televised in FS1 and via radio PRN/SiriusXM.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap ave(only 3 drivers) on the Friday Bristol Practice Speeds page (pdf) (4-15-2016)
� Fred Lorenzen won the inaugural Coors Light pole with a speed of 79.225 mph in a Ford.
� 48 different drivers have poles at Bristol, led by Mark Martin and Cale Yarborough with nine each. Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman lead all active drivers with three each.
� 10 different drivers have posted consecutive poles at Bristol Motor Speedway; Mark Martin is the only of the 10 to win four consecutive poles at Bristol: Fireball Roberts (swept 1962), Fred Lorenzen (swept 1963), Richard Petty (1967-’68), Bobby Allison (swept 1972), Cale Yarborough (swept 1973; swept 1977; swept 1980), Darrell Waltrip (swept 1981), Geoff Bodine (swept 1986), Mark Martin (swept 1995-1996- all four races; and swept 2009); Rusty Wallace (swept 1998), Jeff Gordon (swept 2002) and Denny Hamlin (fall 2013, spring 2014).
� Seven different drivers have posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career pole at Bristol. Joey Logano is the only active driver to win his first NSCS career pole at Bristol (03/21/2010).
� The race winner has started from the pole 23 times (20.9%) – the most productive starting position. The last driver to win from the pole was Matt Kenseth (Spring 2015).
� Five drivers have won from the pole position multiple times: Bobby Allison (1972 twice), Cale Yarborough (1973, 1977 twice, 1980), Darrell Waltrip (1981 twice, 1982), Rusty Wallace (1991, 1993, 1999, 2000) and Matt Kenseth (2005 and 2015).
� 36 of the 110 (32.7%) races at Bristol have been won from the front row: Pole position (23 wins); second-place (13 wins).
� 64 of the 110 (58.8%) races have been won from a top-five starting position.
� 88 of the 110 (80%) races have been won from a top-10 starting position
� Five of the 110 (4.5%) races have been won from a starting position outside the top 20; most recent was Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2004 – he started 30th.
� Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway three times; most recently August 25, 2012.
(NASCAR)
: Q) “Who would be more difficult to convince for you to run the Indianapolis 500 – Joe Gibbs or your wife Samantha?
Busch responded: “Joe’s (Gibbs) going to be the hardest one for sure. Samantha (Busch) is not necessarily a fan of it and I’ve talked to her about it a little bit and she’s just like, ‘I’ll be there when the time comes, but don’t tell me.’ Then the sponsor aspect, they’ve actually shown some interest in it and that was kind of fun for me to hear that there might actually be an opportunity there if I continue my relationship with them from the Cup side to the IndyCar side. We have to work out all those details and it’s certainly not going to happen for this year, but maybe in some future years we’ll see what we can put together.”(Toyota Racing)(4-15-2016)
Ty Dillon, substitute driver of the #14 Chevy for injured Tony Stewart, will run a Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats scheme (PR), see an image of the scheme on the #14 Team Schemes pageand #3 Team Schemes page (4-15-2016)
‘For over 30 years, racing legend Rusty Wallace has delighted racing fans with his hard-nosed and aggressive approach to racing and a personality and charisma that are unmatched. Wallace, a former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and 55-time race winner, will go into history as one of America’s greatest racing drivers. At the time of his retirement, his career victories marked the eight-best all-time career total and his nearly 20,000 laps led rank him seventh all-time. For sixteen straight seasons, Wallace won at least one race in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, marking the third longest such streak in history. He is a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, International Motorsports Hall of Fame and the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame. He is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades. As a former ABC/ESPN Racing Analyst, he has headlined a number of popular pre-race shows and is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s foremost authorities on NASCAR racing.’ Tickets are still available and may be purchased at www.BristolTix.com or by calling the BMS ticket office at 423-BRISTOL (274-7865).(BMS)(4-15-2016)
News from April 14, 2016
� Groundbreaking for Bristol International Speedway, as Bristol Motor Speedway was originally known, took place in 1960. The track was an exact half-mile.
� First NASCAR Sprint Cup race was July 30, 1961; Jack Smith won the event (with relief from Johnny Allen).
� All of the NSCS races have been scheduled for 500 laps, except for both races in 1976 and the second in 1977, which were 400 laps.
� In the fall of 1969, the track was reshaped and re-measured to .533-miles.
� The name changed to Bristol International Raceway in 1978.
� The first night race was held in the fall of 1978.
� The surface was changed from asphalt to concrete in 1992.
� The name changed to Bristol Motor Speedway in May 1996.
� The track was resurfaced between races in 2007, and the turns were ground down in 2012 to eliminate part of the progressive banking.
(NASCAR)
UPDATE: The Petty Family Foundation donated $1,000 to the Level Cross Fire Department as their way of thanking the local firefighters for their help with a recent minor fire. Station 43 firefighters responded quickly last week after a small fire was reported at the current site of Petty’s Garage and the Richard Petty Museum, the historical site of Petty Enterprises. “Because of their efforts, damage to our facility was minimal,” said Shannon Newman, Director of Development for the Petty Family Foundation. “This donation from the Petty family is their way to demonstrate their appreciation and support for our community firefighters. They are such an important part of the Level Cross community, and we sincerely thank Chief Russell and his staff.” A fire was reported on Saturday, April 2, but was contained to a portion of the building and was controlled quickly by the local fire department. There were no injuries and minimal damage to the structure. Both The Richard Petty Museum and Petty’s Garage continue to operate. The Museum is currently offering half-off admission prices as clean up continues. Clean up is expected to be complete by mid-May.(Petty Family Foundation/Richard Petty Museum)(4-14-2016)
Service info, full obituary, condolences, donation info at carrfuneralhomeguntersville.com.(4-14-2016)
News from April 13, 2016
#2-Brad Keselowski: car failed laser inspection (LIS) three times in pre-qualifying;
#6-Trevor Bayne: car failed laser inspection three times in pre-race;
Both Keselowski and Bayne were given written warnings and will lose 15 minutes of practice time at Bristol.
#18-Kyle Busch and #23-David Ragan: cars failed laser inspection twice in pre-qualifying and teams given written warnings.
#3-Austin Dillon and #42-Kyle Larson: cars failed laser inspection twice in pre-race and teams given written warnings.
See the Texas Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(4-13-2016)
News from April 12, 2016
UPDATE: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Texas earned a 2.5 overnight rating on FOX Saturday night, down 14% from last year (2.9) and the lowest overnight ever for a Sprint Cup race on FOX. The 2.5 is also the lowest ever for the spring Texas race (dates back to 1997). In both cases, the previous low was set last year. No doubt contributing to the record-low performance was a nearly two-hour rain delay that pushed the start of the race past 9:30 PM ET. Despite the decline, the race was the top sporting event of the weekend outside of The Masters.(Sports Media Watch)(4-12-2016)
#20-Matt Kenseth, 102.5
#18-Kyle Busch, 101.3
#2-Brad Keselowski, 94.1
#4-Kevin Harvick, 93.3
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 92.7
#41-Kurt Busch, 92.7
#42-Kyle Larson, 92.4
#19-Carl Edwards, 91.7
#16-Greg Biffle, 90.9
#11-Denny Hamlin, 89.5
Note: Driver Ratings are compiled from 2005-2015 races (22 total) at Bristol Motor Speedway (active drivers only).
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)
News from April 11, 2016
Drivers who are not a Charter team, an Open Team, and must get in via speed: #21-Blaney, #30-Wise, #55-Sorenson, #98-Whitt
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts, then owners pts): none
Since 40 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race, 40 is the maximum.
* Open Team (no Charter)
See the full entry list on Jayski.com’s Bristol Entry List
Total number of commercials: 113
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 54
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 98
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 51
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 15
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 10
Number of times Fox utilized ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during this broadcast: 4
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 93
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 4 min. 30 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 9:25 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 1:12 AM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 227
Minutes of race broadcast: 184
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 43
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 7
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 2
Total race brdcst time 184 Total comm. brdcst time 43
See past races, more info on the commercials with links at CawsnJaws.com.(4-11-2016)
Matt DiBenedetto will be in the #10;
Carl Long is in the #13;
Jeff Green will drive the #15 for Rick Ware;
Matt Tifft remains in the JGL #24;
Cody Ware is entered in the #25;
Josh Reaume returns to the #40;
Brandon Gdovic is in the #46;
Scott Lagasse is entered in the #93;
The #97 of Obaika Racing is TBA;
Aric Almirola is back in the #98.(4-11-2015)
See the complete list on the Bristol entry list page.
All Dash 4 Cash events are comprised of two Heats and a Main, and will take place when the NASCAR XFINITY Series visits Bristol, Richmond (April), Dover (May) and Indianapolis. For these unique Dash 4 Cash events, traditional, single-car qualifying will determine the 40 eligible vehicles and starting positions for the two Heats, with the fastest qualifier receiving the Coors Light Pole Award. Odd-numbered qualifiers (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) will start in the first Heat in respective order, while even-numbered qualifiers (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) will start the second Heat in respective order. The two Heats will set the starting positions for the Main, with the top two NASCAR XFINITY Series championship points-earning drivers in each Heat becoming eligible for the Dash 4 Cash bonus. Of the four eligible Dash 4 Cash drivers, the highest-finishing driver in the Main will be awarded a $100,000 bonus.
Multiple Dash 4 Cash bonus wins will earn a driver a spot in the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase, provided he/she remains eligible per the NASCAR rule book. In essence, multiple Dash 4 Cash bonus wins equal one race win for Chase eligibility. If a driver wins the first three Dash 4 Cash bonuses and wins the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway outright, that driver will also receive an additional $600,000 to bring the total Dash 4 Cash award to $1,000,000.(NASCAR)(4-11-2016)
News from April 10, 2016
“I passed a lot of cars tonight in a variety of situations and getting out and looking at the nose of my car, it’s pretty hammered,” said Johnson, whose tribulations en route to a fourth-place finish included a pit road collision, a near-wreck, and being caught a lap down during an inopportune caution. “I think having a beat-up race car and being down a lap and taking the wave-by, a variety of other issues that went on and passing that many cars I think that’s a great sign of where this package is at.”
But in the first night race of the season, amid cool temperatures and on a track that was washed of rubber before the race by rain, there resulted a show that outwardly appeared less dazzling or at least not commensurate with the anticipation level. “Honestly, we’ve got to be real about the things that contribute to creating grip,” Johnson said. “A nice cold evening is going to create grip. The slicker the race track, I think, the more the cars will shine is where we’re at. I think Vegas was cool and crisp ad good grip and not exactly what we wanted. Here was still good but I think once we get in the hot summer months we’ll put on a good show.”(USA Today)(4-10-2016)
News from April 9, 2016
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. finished 2nd, followed by #22-Logano, #48-Johnson, #24-Elliott, #78-Truex, Jr., #19-Edwards, #5-Kahne, #41-Busch, and #4-Harvick.
Pole winner, Edwards led 124 laps but had to pit under green with a loose wheel, lost a lap, and couldn’t get back to the front before the end of the race.
Truex, Jr. led 141 laps, the most of any driver, but did not pit under the last caution and lost the lead to Busch with 32 laps to go.
There was a large wreck late in the race when Johnson got into the back of #3-Dillon, who was on old tires, and sent him into a spin. 13 cars received some damage in the incident.
The start of the race was delayed by nearly 2 hours after light rain hit the track.
There were 17 lead changes among 8 drivers and 7 cautions for 41 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 138.355mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more [NOTE: money/winnings are no longer reported] at:
Unofficial Race Results page (pdf)
Lap Summary Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
Pit Stop Times (pdf)
(4-9-2016)
Kyle Busch won the 20th Annual Duck Commander 500, his 36th victory in 397 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his second victory and 11th top-10 finish in 21 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (second) posted his 17th top-10 finish in 28 races at Texas Motor Speedway. It is his fourth top-10 finish in 2016.
Joey Logano (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 16 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
Chase Elliott (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Kyle Busch leads the point standings by 6 points over Jimmie Johnson.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(4-9-2016)
[after Texas, race 7 of 36]
1) #18-Busch, [2 wins], 259
2) #48-Johnson [2 wins], 253, -6
3) #4-Harvick [1 win], 252, -7
4) #19-Edwards, 241, -18
5) #22-Logano, 234, -25
6) #88-Earnhardt Jr., 211, -48
7) #41-Busch, 208, -51
8) #11-Hamlin [1 win], 201, -58
9) #2-Keselowski [1 win], 201, -58
10) #3-Dillon, 198, -61
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
[after Texas, race 7 of 36, 16 drivers for the Chase]
Set by most wins, then by points standing
1) #18-Busch [2 wins], 1st in driver points
2) #48-Johnson [2 wins], 2nd
3) #4-Harvick [1 win], 3rd
4) #11-Hamlin [1 win], 8th
5) #2-Keselowski [1 win], 9th
no wins, in by drivers points standings
6) #19-Edwards, 241 points
7) #22-Logano, 234
8) #88-Earnhardt Jr., 211
9) #41-Busch, 208
10) #3-Dillon, 198
11) #78-Truex, Jr., 187
12) #20-Kenseth, 171
13) #1-McMurray, 171
14) #24-Elliott, 168
15) #47-Allmendinger, 166
16) #5-Kahne, 161
(4-9-2016)
� There have been 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, one NSCS event from 1997 – 2004 and two races per year since 2005.
� 148 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas; 118 in more than one.
� Roush Fenway Racing leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in wins at Texas Motor Speedway with nine; followed by Hendrick Motorsports with eight and Joe Gibbs Racing has four.
� Four different manufacturers have won a NSCS race at Texas, led by Ford and Chevrolet (12 each); followed by Toyota (three) and Dodge (three).
� Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Texas is the (4/4/2004) race won by Elliott Sadler with an MOV of .028 seconds over Kasey Kahne.
(NASCAR)
Military Re-enactment Storms the Skies and the Frontstretch. The action-packed show will include:
” Ground exercises with troops from Fort Bragg featuring Humvees, Howitzers, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and more
” Rope teams from Fort Bragg descending from Black Hawk helicopters with an aerial reenactment of an invasion
” Vintage war birds with a flyover parade during pre-race ceremonies including a T-35 Buckaroo, P-149 Trainer, C-46 Commando, T-6 Texan and two P-51 Mustangs
” A 21-gun salute from the Fort Bragg Firing Squad
” 600 U.S. Army soldiers marching down the grandstands to the frontstretch, where they will display two American flags each as large as a football field
” A flyover with four F-15s from the 334th Fighter Squadron, Fighting Eagles Seymour Johnson AFB
” Sky-diving members of Team Fastrax descending to the infield with Old Glory flying behind
Thousands of Troops Honored during Pre-Race Ceremonies
” Fans will be able to salute the troops when 600 soldiers from Fort Bragg walk through the grandstands to the infield
” Through the Charlotte Motor Speedway Patriot Partners program, buses will bring thousands of troops. An unprecedented social media presence will allow fans to keep track of the troops’ adventures by following #PatriotPartners on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
” Fans and businesses can take part by sponsoring an entire bus, or by donating Coca-Cola 600 tickets for just $25 each through the Let The Troops Race program
” Medal of Honor recipients Major General Patrick Henry Brady and U.S. Army Officer Joe Marm Jr. will also be recognized on the pre-race stage
” Through the new Salute the Crews program, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team members who have served in the military will be recognized during the pre-race ceremonies and on the giant Speedway TV
A star-studded musical lineup will highlight the Coca-Cola 600 pre-race show, including:
” Two-time GRAMMY nominee and country music megastar Lee Brice will perform a 45-minute pre-race concert presented by Speed Perks
” Bugler from Fort Bragg to perform “Taps”
” Rendition of “Amazing Grace” by the Charlotte Fire Department Pipe Band
” Performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” by the 82nd Airborne Chorus
” Performances of “God Bless the USA” and the Armed Forces Medley
(CMS)(4-9-2016)
News from April 8, 2016
Pole sitter #19-Edwards chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #22-Logano took the 2nd pit stall.
#78-Truex, Jr, who starts 3rd took the 14th pit stall, with an opening in front of it.
The 42nd and final pit stall [43 is not being used] was taken by #2-Keselowski, who starts 8th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(4-8-2016)
#78-Truex, Jr. 192.390
#19-Edwards190.248
#18-Busch 189.507
#47-Allmendinger 189.500
#22-Logano 189.480
slowest: #32-Earnhardt 178.136 & #30-Wise 176.505.
most laps run: #3-Dillon 65, #5-Kahne 64
See fastest speeds, laps run, and more on the Texas Final Practice Speeds page (pdf).(4-8-2016)
#22-Logano is on the outside pole followed by #78-Truex, Jr., #24-Elliott, #17-Stenhouse, Jr., #11-Hamlin, #21-Blaney, #2-Keselowski, #20-Kenseth, #3-Dillon, #48-Johnson, and #6-Bayne.
Edwards led the second round of qualifying with a speed of 195.214mph
#14-Vickers was fastest during the first round at 196.014mph.
Only 40 cars were entered so everyone made the race.
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Texas qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Texas Starting Lineup page (pdf).(4-8-2015)
Carl Edwards won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 20th Annual Duck Commander 500 with a lap of 27.748 seconds, 194.609 mph.
This is his 17th pole in 416 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and fifth top-10 start in 2016.
This is his second pole in 23 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
Joey Logano (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2016 and his eighth in 16 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
Martin Truex Jr. (third) posted his eighth top-10 start at Texas Motor Speedway. It is his fourth in seven races this season.
Chase Elliott (fourth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(4-8-2016)
#14-Vickers 196.014
#22-Logano 195.242
#19-Edwards 194.946
#5-Kahne 194.833
#78-Truex, Jr. 194.693
the rest of the top 24: 2 3 88 16 43 21 41 47 42 48 24 18 20 31 11 1 17 6 4;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 27 10 44 7 83 95 23 13 38 34 46 15 98 32 30 55
Drivers who will miss the race: none as 40 cars were entered for 40 spots
(4-8-2016)
“We are definitely behind a lot farther than I was ready for but, you know, a year is a long time and I know what my future holds. That’s the positive that keeps me going but I won’t rest at night until I know that Harry Scott is where they need to be when I get out of the seat.
And if fans think there’s a secret alliance between HScott Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) or even Hendrick Motorsports – they would be incorrect. The team does get some information from SHR but it’s not on the level that would make a dramatic impact on the track and it definitely doesn’t include giving HScott ready-made cars capable of winning races. “If that is the conception, yes, for sure, because it’s not,” Bowyer laughed when asked about any misconceptions regarding what HScott Motorsports was getting. “It’s definitely not and it’s not a Hedrick Motorsports car either. If you wreck a car or need a new car, you reach to one of those organizations and order a car but what you do with that car after that is the ingredients that make up the difference between a fast car and a slow car.”(KickintheTires)(4-8-2016)
“I feel great,” Stewart said. “I’ve been doing everything now over the last week that I’ve wanted to do. If you step off a curb wrong or step too hard, you’re definitely reminded you have these rods in your back. “Other than that, I feel really well. I’m anxious to get the scans. It’s driving me crazy wanting to see what it looks like and what is the diagnosis and when they think they’re going to let me go.”(ESPN.com)(4-8-2016)
� Jeremy Mayfield was the first Coors Light pole winner, in 1998 at Texas with a speed of 185.906 mph. The inaugural Coors Light pole at Texas Motor Speedway in 1997 was cancelled due to weather conditions.
� 22 drivers have Coors Light poles at Texas, led by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte and Martin Truex Jr. with two each.
� Two drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Texas Motor Speedway: Bobby Labonte (2003 and 2004) and Ryan Newman (2005 sweep).
� Three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Texas Motor Speedway: Jimmie Johnson (2014 Chase race and 2015 sweep), Carl Edwards (2008 sweep) and Denny Hamlin (2010 sweep).
� Three of the 30 (10%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; Kasey Kahne (2006), Jimmie Johnson (2012) and Kyle Busch (2013).
� Six of the 30 (20%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from the front row: three from the pole and three from second-place.
� The third-place starting position is the most proficient starting spot in the field at Texas Motor Speedway, producing more wins than any other starting position (six) – most recent: Jimmie Johnson (fall of 2014).
� 24 of the 30 (80%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position. Below is a breakdown of the number of wins by starting position in the top 10.
� Four of the 30 (13.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
� The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Texas Motor Speedway is 31st, by Matt Kenseth in 2002.
� Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions twice in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway; the inaugural event in 1997 and the spring race of 2007. The actual race has never been rain shortened, but was postponed to Monday in 2014 due to weather.
(NASCAR)
Busche started from the pole and led 150 of the 200 laps.
There were 5 cautions for 22 laps and 6 lead changes among 3 leaders.
The average speed was 141.121mph.
Complete results are on the Texas race results page (pdf).
(4-8-2016)
Kyle Busch(i) won the 20th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts 300, his 80th victory in 316 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his fourth victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his eighth victory and 16th top-10 finish in 20 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
Erik Jones (second) posted his third top-10 finish in three races at Texas Motor Speedway. It is his fourth top-10 finish in 2016.
Brad Keselowski(i) (third) posted his 13th top-10 finish in 17 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
Erik Jones (second) was the highest finishing rookie.
Daniel Suarez leads the point standings by 1 point over Elliott Sadler.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(4-8-2016)
1) #19-Daniel Suarez, 207
2) #1-Elliott Sadler, 206, -1
3) #7-Justin Allgaier, 198, -9
4) #33-Brandon Jones, 193, -14
5) #20-Erik Jones, 192, -15
6) #3-Ty Dillon, 187, -20
7) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 183, -24
8) #6-Darrell Wallace Jr., 160, -47
9) #16-Ryan Reed, 160, -47
10) #48-Brennan Poole, 152, -55
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(4-8-2016)
Busch was also fastest in the second round at 188.673mph.
#20-Erik Jones was fastest in the first round with a speed of 188.897mph.
Did Not Qualify: #10-Jeff Green.
The starting lineup is posted on the Texas starting lineup page (pdf).(4-8-2016)
Kyle Busch(i) won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 20th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 with a lap of 28.651 seconds, 188.475 mph.
This is his 51st pole in 316 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his third pole and fifth top-10 start in 2016.
This is his fourth pole in 20 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
Erik Jones (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2016 and his third in three races at Texas Motor Speedway.
Daniel Suarez (third) posted his third top-10 start at Texas Motor Speedway. It is his sixth in six races this season.
Erik Jones (second) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(4-8-2016)
News from April 7, 2016
#78-Truex, Jr. 192.892
#2-Keselowski 192.162
#22-Logano 192.143
#3-Dillon 191.612
#14-Vickers 191.578
slowest: #55-Sorenson 179.253, #30-Wise 179.164.
most laps run: #24-Elliott, 28 & #22-Logano, 24
Qualifying is scheduled for Friday at 2:45pm/et, followed by final practice at 6:30pm/et.
See fastest speeds, laps run, and more on the Texas Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(4-7-2016)Ford exec says “no doubt” Harvick will drive a Ford next season UPDATE: Ford Performance boss Dave Pericak did not mince words when it comes to Kevin Harvick’s status for 2017. “There is no doubt in my mind,” Pericak said. “He will be in a Ford.” Despite rumors Chevrolet would like to keep Harvick in their camp, Pericak insists the 2014 champion will drive a Ford next season. Enlisting the services of Stewart-Haas Racing is just the latest bold move made by Pericak, who took over Ford’s racing arm 16 months ago. With Chevrolet having a stranglehold over half of the Sprint Cup field Pericak acknowledged it was time to even the odds. “We’ve always said we’re here to win races,” Pericak added. “We’re not just here to have fun. We have to have more than just a couple bullets in the chamber every time you show up on the weekends. So we’re going to strengthen all the way across the board and adding a championship caliber team like Stewart-Haas is putting more bullets in the chamber.” As for the bigger picture, Pericak sees plenty of progress for the Blue Oval brigade — from rookie Ryan Blaney’s ability to get up to speed so quickly to the gains at Roush Fenway Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports.(Motorsport)(4-7-2016)
UPDATE: Kevin Harvick strongly reiterated his intentions to remain at Stewart-Haas Racing, saying Thursday “There is nothing to it” as far as the rumors he could leave over the team’s move to Ford next season. “As far as I know, I thought I had a team extension that had two more years left on my contract,” he said.(ESPN.com)(4-7-2016)
| Driver |
Interviews
|
Interview Time
|
Mentions
|
| #4-Kevin Harvick |
7
|
0:05:42
|
1,052
|
| #48-Jimmie Johnson |
6
|
0:05:16
|
846
|
| #18-Kyle Busch |
7
|
0:06:32
|
590
|
| #19-Carl Edwards |
5
|
0:03:45
|
524
|
| #22-Joey Logano |
4
|
0:02:52
|
507
|
| #11-Denny Hamlin |
7
|
0:04:38
|
474
|
| #78-Martin Truex, Jr. |
3
|
0:02:56
|
471
|
| #20-Matt Kenseth |
3
|
0:01:52
|
408
|
| #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. |
5
|
0:03:35
|
404
|
| #2-Brad Keselowski |
2
|
0:02:48
|
399
|
| #41-Kyle Busch |
2
|
0:01:40
|
356
|
| #24-Chase Elliott |
4
|
0:01:58
|
318
|
| #2-Austin Dillon |
6
|
0:04:06
|
205
|
| #21-Ryan Blaney |
2
|
0:01:10
|
134
|
| #5-Kasey Kahne |
0
|
0:00:00
|
128
|
Statistics reflect all live race telecasts and replays of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season through Fontana.(Joyce Julius & Associates)(4-7-2016)
It’s the story about how a generation of Southern bootleggers and gangsters pursued their version of the American dream and created an industry that defined them. Despite a destitute South, they became wildly rich, while in the process forming the nation’s greatest racing league through their persistence, sweat and moonshine. The success of NASCAR surpassed even their wildest dreams and inspired a new generation of Southern icons. But in the race to always go bigger and faster, sometimes there were casualties along the way. “NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed” is a tale of fearless men who didn’t just live their lives, they raced them to the finish. To see a sneak peek of “NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed,” click on the trailer here.(CMT)(4-7-2016)
� Jeff Gordon is the only driver to have made all 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with 27 Texas starts.
� Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Texas Motor Speedway with an 8.400. Johnson is the only active driver with an average starting position at Texas inside the top 10.
� Six drivers have made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career start at Texas Motor Speedway: Adam Petty (2000), Jay Sauter (2002), Brad Keselowski (2008), Trevor Bayne (2010), David Starr (2011) and Parker Kligerman (2013).
� David Ragan (4/09/2011) and Martin Truex Jr. (11/04/2007) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Texas Motor Speedway.
� 18 different drivers have won at Texas Motor Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with six victories; including five of the last seven races.
� Seven drivers have multiple wins at Texas Motor Speedway: Jimmie Johnson (six), Carl Edwards (three), Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart each have two.
� One NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver has won at Texas Motor Speedway in two different manufacturers: Jeff Burton (1997 – Ford; 2007 – Chevrolet)
� Jeff Burton (4/06/1997) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (4/02/2000) won their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career race at Texas Motor Speedway.
� 11 of the 12 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who have won at Texas Motor Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won at Texas in his first appearance; Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman won in their second appearance at TMS.
� Only two of the 12 winning drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Texas Motor Speedway: Kyle Busch (15) and Kurt Busch (13).
� Kevin Harvick leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 26.
� Jimmie Johnson leads the series in runner-up finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with five; followed by Matt Kenseth with four and Jeff Gordon with three.
� Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson lead the series in top-five finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with 13 each; followed by Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch with nine each.
� Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-10 finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with 19; followed by Matt Kenseth (17) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (16).
� Two active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series average finish inside the top 10 at Texas: Jimmie Johnson (8.440) and Matt Kenseth (9.462).
� Casey Mears has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway without posting a DNF (23).
� Jimmie Johnson leads the series in laps led at Texas with 1,017 laps led in 24 starts.
� Jimmie Johnson leads all active NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers in laps led at Texas Motor Speedway with 1,023 laps.
� Two female drivers have made NSCS starts at Texas Motor Speedway: Shawna Robinson and Danica Patrick
(NASCAR)
See complete results on the Texas practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(4-7-2016)
See complete results on the Texas practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(4-7-2016)
Yes, this is probably going to be Brendan Gaughan’s last season driving the black and yellow gold #62 South Point Chevy in the Xfinity Series for Richard Childress. Last season was to have been it, his old man said. But Childress talked him into letting Brendan make another season of left-hand turns – Childress’ racing grandsons, Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon, really like having Brendan around, Michael said.
The next day, Brendan Gaughan will say that he and his old man have yet to sit down and talk about this being it. But if his old man decides not to write the check, then yes, that will be it, because it’s difficult to be competitive in NASCAR without a good sponsor, no matter how heavy one’s foot is. In chatting with Brendan Gaughan, one laughs a lot. For a kid of means, he doesn’t have a spoiled bone in his body. Instead of pretension, you get self-deprecating humor. You get the impression he’d like to drive Richard Childress’ car and hang out with the Dillon boys for at least one more season after this one. Or two.(Las Vegas Review-Journal)(3-4-2016)
UPDATE: Brendan Gaughan is aware of the talk that he might retire after the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series season. He even has that conversation every year. “Every year, I almost retire,” Gaughan said at Texas Motor Speedway. “When I closed my team down in 2007 and the way it closed down was personally pretty difficult. I never thought I’d race again from there in NASCAR. We’ve been talking about that for years. What happens is, my father some days is — I think best way I can put it is what my grandfather used to say — trying to tell my father a secret is like telling the Las Vegas Sun. He likes to talk when he gets around reporters.” Gaughan was referring to a story that ran in the Las Vegas Review-Journal last month during the NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series weekend indicating that 2016 would be it for Gaughan. And while he considers it each year, he’s not ready to call it a career just yet. “Every year he (his dad) and I talk about retirement,” Gaughan said. “Every year I talk about it, he talks about it, one of us does, one of us doesn’t. We always are saying it and discussing it. But it’s always been the same strategy in my eyes. If I can’t win races, I don’t want to be here. … As long as I can keep winning races and being up front and if we can make this Chase and keep competing for wins and championships, I think we will stay around as long as I can keep going.”(NASCAR.com)(4-7-2016)
UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing has announced the addition of Gray Gaulding to its developmental program. Gaulding, who hails from Colonial Heights, Va., will make his NASCAR XFINITY Series debut behind the wheel of the famed #60 Ford Mustang in the August 19th race at Bristol Motor Speedway. He is also slated to run the NXS race in September at his ‘home’ track of Richmond. The 18-year old Gaulding has made 13 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, including a fourth-place finish at Bowmanville in 2014. He has made 38 starts in the NASCAR K&N; East Series, including four starts at Bristol where he earned a pair of top-10s and posted a runner-up finish in 2014. He also has five starts in the K&N; West Series, including a win at Phoenix in 2013.(Roush Feway Racing)(4-7-2016)
UPDATE: JR Motorsports and Dale’s Pale Ale, the first craft beer to be featured in a can, have announced a multi-year extension that will see the brand sponsor JRM’s #88 Chevrolet in three NASCAR Xfinity Series races in 2016-17. The #88 Dale’s Pale Ale Chevrolet will make its season debut on Aug. 19 at Bristol Motor Speedway with Regan Smith returning to JRM to drive in the event. A JRM partner since 2015, the remaining two races and driving duties for Dale’s Pale Ale in 2017 will be announced at a later date. Additionally, the brand will receive associate placement on the #1 Chevrolet with driver Elliott Sadler for the 2016 season.((JR Motorsports)(4-7-2016)
News from April 6, 2016
Bryson, a well-spoken young man who seemed comfortable addressing reporters Tuesday, has dreams of becoming a college football announcer if his own football career doesn’t work out (last season he played both center and defensive end on his middle school team). He said all the outpouring of support for his father has been “overwhelming and kind of magical to see.”
Karen Byrnes said the last year has been “bittersweet.” She and Bryson have been supported in many ways by the NASCAR community, but they’ve also lived through many firsts – the first Father’s Day without Steve, the first Christmas, the first Easter. And this month, they’ll mark Steve’s birthday (April 14) and the anniversary of his death (April 21).
“Those are challenging times,” she said. “But we’ve tried to be purposeful in also living, too. (We’re) moving forward and experiencing life because I think we do a disservice to him by not going out and living life.”(USA Today)(4-6-2016)
UPDATE: The Sprint Cup Series race from Martinsville, the first of the 2016 season to air live on FS1, scored 4,232,000 viewers according to Nielsen Media Research, up 4% from last year’s 4,061,000, making it the most-watched racing event and daytime telecast ever on FS1. The race was the ninth most-watched telecast in FS1 history and the most-watched since Game 6 of last year’s ALCS between Toronto and Kansas City. Among Adults18-49, it was up 7% over last year’s race (1,198,000 vs. 1,121,000). On FOX Sports GO, the telecast delivered 46,930 streams, 25,322 unique streamers and 1,853,642 minutes streamed. On Saturday, FS1 scored viewership increases with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series from Martinsville (1,177,000; up 7%), Monster Energy Supercross from Santa Clara (239,000; up 42%) and the FIA Formula E Championship from Long Beach (189,000; up 73%). FS1 was No. 1 among all ad-supported cable sports networks during the Trucks race.(Fox Sports)(4-6-2016)
Also, discussed on the call with investor analysts:
– Saunders said on the digital platform they’ve seen consumption from the 18- to 34-year old demographic double year over year but didn’t provide details.
– Advanced ticket sales for the July Daytona race are pacing ahead of last year.
– ISC has one of their available Sprint Cup series race sponsorships either open or not announced and two for Xfinity events this season.
– Average ticket price for NASCAR Sprint Cup events at Daytona International Speedway was about $160.07, an increase of more than 19 percent from last year primarily related to new seats sold at higher prices with the Daytona Rising project that reduced capacity from 147,000 to 101,000.
(NBC Sports)(4-6-2016)
� Construction on Texas Motor Speedway began in 1995.
� The first NASCAR national series race at TMS was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 5, 1997 – won by Mark Martin.
� The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was on April 6, 1997 – won by Jeff Burton.
� The track underwent a repave between the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
� In 2011, the spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was moved from Sunday to Saturday night under the lights at Texas Motor Speedway.
� Texas Motor Speedway hosted its first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on November 6, 2005 – won by Carl Edwards.
(NASCAR)
News from April 5, 2016
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 108.0
#20-Matt Kenseth, 104.7
#18-Kyle Busch, 101.9
#16-Greg Biffle, 98.1
#19-Carl Edwards, 96.4
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr, 92.2
#11-Denny Hamlin, #78-Martin Truex Jr, 89.7
#15-Clint Bowyer, 89.1
#4-Kevin Harvick, 88.8
Note: Driver Ratings are compiled from 2005-2015 races (22 total) at Texas Motor Speedway (active drivers only).
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)
News from April 4, 2016
Drivers who are not a Charter team, an Open Team, and must get in via speed: #21-Blaney, #30-Wise, #55-Sorenson, #98-Whitt
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts, then owners pts): none
Since 40 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race, 40 is the maximum.
* Open Team (no Charter)
See the full entry list on Jayski.com’s Texas Entry List
[Petty Note: Richard won 200, Maurice won 0, only count on this list if BOTH brothers have won].(4-4-2016)
Q Did you wheel hop before getting into the wall?
Hamlin: “It’s my first time ever doing it here, so it’s a little embarrassing, but I mean we were the fastest car those last 30 laps and we got back to the top-five and I was making up a lot of my speed on entry. As the tires wear, the rears get hotter, less grip, you can’t brake at the same amount and I just – it was really out of the blue. I didn’t ever have a hint of it up until that moment, so a bit of a rookie move on my part – been around here too much to do something like that, but learning for the fall and I’m really encouraged about how good our car came up through the pack and I really thought we had a car that could win.”(Toyota Racing)(4-4-2016)
Total number of commercials: 80
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 41
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 76
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 40
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 4
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 4
Number of times Fox utilized ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during this broadcast: 1
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:36 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 216
Minutes of race broadcast: 184
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 32
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 2
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 184 Total comm. brdcst time 32
See past races, more info on the commercials with links at CawsnJaws.com.(4-4-2016)
Garrett Smithley will be in the #0;
Chase Elliott is in the #5 for JR Motorsports;
The #14 of TriStar Motorsports is TBA but could be JJ Yeley;
Kyle Busch is back in the #18;
Matt Tifft will drive the #24 for JGL;
The Rick Ware #25 is TBA;
Josh Wise will drive the #40;
Dale Earnhardt Jr will be in the #88;
The #97 is TBA. Harrison Rhodes has driven he car so far this year.(4-4-2015)
See the complete list on the Texas entry list page.
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)
UPDATE 2: While the [police] tried to highlight the so-called “Aboriginal organized crime” angle of the operation, the agency provided little information to support the claim beyond evidence of tobacco smuggling. Many Mohawks see the tobacco trade as a sovereignty issue and consider the movement and sale of tobacco as a right. The Harper government made the sale and manufacturing of unlicensed tobacco products a Criminal Code offence. It had previously been a tax enforcement issue. Only four individuals ensnared in the operation have so far been linked to a First Nation community. Besides Hill, the SQ named Hunter Montour 45, Todd Beauchamp, 48, and Derek White, 45, who are all from Kahnawake, among the dozens arrested Wednesday. White has been under police surveillance since 2006, according to a previously obtained file from the RCMP’s Aboriginal Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. White was identified by police, but never charged, during the lead-up to Operation Cancun in 2008 which targeted a Mohawk-based marijuana smuggling operation in Kahnawake and Akwesasne, a Mohawk community which straddles the Canada-U.S. border and sits about 120 kilometres west of Montreal. White told Kahnawake’s Eastern Door newspaper in an article published Thursday evening that his charges were all tobacco-related and that he turned himself in. He denied any links to the drug trade. “All it has to do with is with tobacco, it has nothing to do with any of the other stuff they’re making up,” White told the Eastern Door. “I have nothing to do with drugs, or ISIS or terrorism…I have nothing to do with that [stuff], absolutely zero. They want their tax money, that’s all.” (APTN)(4-3-2016)
UPDATE 3: NASCAR indefinitely suspended White on Tuesday, April 4.(4-4-2016)
News from April 3, 2016
#47-Allmendinger finished 2nd, followed by #42-Larson, #3-Dillon, #2-Keselowski, #19-Edwards, #14-Vickers, #27-Menard, #49-Johnson, and #31-Newman.
Pole winner, #22-Logano, lost a lap early but got back on the lead lap and finished 11th.
There were 11 lead changes among 5 drivers and 8 cautions for 51 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 80.088mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more [NOTE: money/winnings are no longer reported] at:
Unofficial Race Results page (pdf)
Lap Summary Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
Pit Stop Times (pdf)
(4-3-2016)
Kyle Busch won the 67th Annual STP 500, his 35th victory in 396 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2016. With the win, Busch is virtually guaranteed a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
This is his first victory and 11th top-10 finish in 22 races at Martinsville Speedway. His previous best finish was second, in 2012.
Busch, who won Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, completed the first NASCAR national series weekend sweep at Martinsville.
Busch led 352 laps, the most at Martinsville since Bobby Hamilton led 378 on April 20, 1998.
AJ Allmendinger (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish and second runner-up finish in 16 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his second top-10 finish in 2016.
Kyle Larson (third) posted his first top-10 finish in five races at Martinsville Speedway.
Kevin Harvick leads the point standings by 4 points over Jimmie Johnson.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(4-3-2016)
[after Martinsville, race 6 of 36]
1) #4-Harvick [1 win], 220
2) #48-Johnson [2 wins], 216, -4
3) #18-Busch, [1 win], 215, -5
4) #19-Edwards, 206, -14
5) #22-Logano, 196, -24
6) #2-Keselowski [1 win], 178, -42
7) #3-Dillon, 176, -44
8) #41-Busch, 176, -44
9) #11-Hamlin [1 win], 172, -48
10) #88-Earnhardt Jr., 172, -48
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
[after Martinsville, race 6 of 36, 16 drivers for the Chase]
Set by most wins, then by points standing
1) #48-Johnson [2 wins], 2nd in drivers pts
2) #4-Harvick [1 win], 1st
3) #18-Busch [1 win], 3rd
4) #2-Keselowski [1 win], 6th
5) #11-Hamlin [1 win], 9th
no wins, in by drivers points standings
6) #19-Edwards, 206 points
7) #22-Logano, 196
8) #3-Dillon, 176
9) #41-Busch, 176
10) #88-Earnhardt Jr., 172
11) #78-Truex, Jr., 150
12) #47-Allmendinger, 147
13) #1-McMurray, 143
14) #20-Kenseth, 140
15) #21-Blaney, 132
16) #24-Elliott, 131
(4-3-2016)
Vickers has competed in three races this year as a substitute for the injured Stewart with a best finish of 13th at Auto Club Speedway two weeks ago. He gets his fourth start Sunday and will get one next week at Texas. He’s unsure on the schedule after that as Ty Dillon has shared the substitute role and Stewart continues to recover from a broken back.
Vickers isn’t just looking at future stock-car rides. He is working to put together a deal to run in the Indianapolis 500. “It’s still a possibility,” Vickers said. “We’ll see. Nothing is done yet. … I’d love to do it. It would be awesome.”(ESPN.com)(4-3-2016)
Hamlin, though, said drivers would like NASCAR to return to including race winnings in box scores, if only in appealing to fans who grew accustomed to the format. “I think some fans like to see that and us drivers I think we like to see purses posted personally,” Hamlin said.
A NASCAR spokesman said the policy of whether to publish purses currently isn’t being reviewed, but Hamlin believes officials are “considering it. I think if everyone knows what they’re getting, I don’t know what the benefit is from keeping it from the public. I don’t know but there’s probably some sort of reason that I don’t know about.”(NBC Sports)(4-3-2016)
� There have been 134 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, one in the inaugural year and two races per year since 1950.
� 609 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville; 387 in more than one.
� Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 23 – Jeff Gordon (nine), Jimmie Johnson (eight), Darrell Waltrip (four), Geoffrey Bodine (one) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (one).
� The deepest in the field that a race winner has started is 36th, by Kurt Busch in the fall of 2002.
� Chevrolet leads series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 55 victories – including the nine of the last 10 races.
� There have been five NSCS green-white-checkered finishes at Martinsville Speedway: fall 2007 (500/506), fall 2008 (500/504), fall 2009 (500/501), spring 2010 (500/508), and spring 2012 (500/515).
� Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway is the April 1, 2007 race won by Jimmie Johnson with a MOV of 0.065 second.
(NASCAR)
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)
UPDATE 2: While the [police] tried to highlight the so-called “Aboriginal organized crime” angle of the operation, the agency provided little information to support the claim beyond evidence of tobacco smuggling. Many Mohawks see the tobacco trade as a sovereignty issue and consider the movement and sale of tobacco as a right. The Harper government made the sale and manufacturing of unlicensed tobacco products a Criminal Code offence. It had previously been a tax enforcement issue. Only four individuals ensnared in the operation have so far been linked to a First Nation community. Besides Hill, the SQ named Hunter Montour 45, Todd Beauchamp, 48, and Derek White, 45, who are all from Kahnawake, among the dozens arrested Wednesday. White has been under police surveillance since 2006, according to a previously obtained file from the RCMP’s Aboriginal Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. White was identified by police, but never charged, during the lead-up to Operation Cancun in 2008 which targeted a Mohawk-based marijuana smuggling operation in Kahnawake and Akwesasne, a Mohawk community which straddles the Canada-U.S. border and sits about 120 kilometres west of Montreal. White told Kahnawake’s Eastern Door newspaper in an article published Thursday evening that his charges were all tobacco-related and that he turned himself in. He denied any links to the drug trade. “All it has to do with is with tobacco, it has nothing to do with any of the other stuff they’re making up,” White told the Eastern Door. “I have nothing to do with drugs, or ISIS or terrorism…I have nothing to do with that [stuff], absolutely zero. They want their tax money, that’s all.” (APTN)(4-3-2016)
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)
Service / Memorial info at legacy.com.(4-3-2016)
News from April 2, 2016
#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)
#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)
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)
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)
“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)
� 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)
#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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
News from April 1, 2016
#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)
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)
#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)
#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)
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)
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)
� 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)
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)
UPDATE: According to the teams Facebook page, they had trouble in pre-race inspection and were forced to withdraw.(4-1-2016)