Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Dale Jr.'s #88 Justice League Car Does Not Comply with #NASCAR Rules

Dale Jr.'s #88 Justice League Car Does Not Comply with #NASCAR Rules
Dale Jr.'s #88 Justice League Car Does Not Comply with #NASCAR Rules

“So,” Dale Jr. reports to his twitter nation with his hand to his head, “anyway they were unveiling the Justice League car today at Hendrick Motorsports and it has two different sides; which is not allowed in NASCAR. I saw the car for the first time Friday. And when I saw it I said it has two different sides, I didn’t think that was allowed in NASCAR.” 

Junior added with an Earnhardt laugh, “It is going to be fun how this plays out.”


Dale Jr.'s #88 Justice League Car Does Not Comply with #NASCAR Rules
Dale Jr.'s #88 Justice League Car Does Not Comply with #NASCAR Rules


Related Posts:

  1. Blaney Survives Martinsville Mayhem with Eighth-Place Finish
  2. Kyle Busch Wins Wild Race at Martinsville
  3. Kevin Harvick Bobblehead Showcases ‘Freaky Fast’ Driving Skills
  4. Gragson Takes First Career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victory
  5. Amy Earnhardt Led the Field To Green in the 'First Data 500'
  6. Martinsville Speedway Contributes $10,000 to Start Endowment for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Honorary Scholarship at Patrick Henry Community College

Blaney Survives Martinsville Mayhem with Eighth-Place Finish

Sixth in the Playoff Standing; Only Six Points from the Cutoff Position

Blaney Survives Martinsville Mayhem with Eighth-Place Finish #NASCAR
Blaney Survives Martinsville Mayhem with Eighth-Place Finish  
Ryan Blaney and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team remain in contention for a spot in the championship round of the Monster Energy Cup playoffs after surviving a fender-banging First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Blaney scored points in the first two stages, lost a little speed midway through the race, then battled back into the top five for the start of an overtime run to the finish. But he was swept up in a multi-car crash at the finish line and wound up finishing eighth.

That put him sixth in the point’s standings but just six points shy of being in the top four.

Blaney Survives Martinsville Mayhem with Eighth-Place Finish #NASCARThe top four in the standings after the next two races – at Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix Raceway – will compete for the title in Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Blaney started Sunday’s 500-lapper from the fourth position and scored nine critical points in both of the race’s 130-lap Stages. He was seventh in the first stage and sixth in the second.

Blaney Survives Martinsville Mayhem with Eighth-Place Finish #NASCARHe and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team battled back from a tire rub midway through the race and dropped out of the top 10 for a time. But on the final pit stop, crew chief Jeremy Bullins hit the target on the chassis set-up, and Blaney was able to drive his way into the top five for the start of an overtime run to the checkered flag.

Even with his involvement in the last-lap crash, Blaney dropped just three spots in the finishing order, preserving an impressive points day.

“The last handful of restarts were just pandemonium,” Blaney said. “It was pretty ridiculous with everyone wrecking each other and running into each other.

“I thought we were going to make it through the last one, but we just kind of got caught up off of [Turn] Four in all that stuff. At least we salvaged a decent day.



“Honestly, a lot of cars got torn up, but we’ll go on to Texas and see what we have.”

Blaney Survives Martinsville Mayhem with Eighth-Place Finish #NASCAR

The ending of the race, while disappointing, wasn’t what team co-owner Eddie Wood had on his mind as he left the track Sunday night.

“It was just a crazy weekend at Martinsville,” Wood said. “Ryan did a great job of keeping the car straight all day, and we can go to Texas still in a good spot in the point’s standings. And we had a great Fan Appreciation Day at the museum in Stuart on Friday. There was a huge crowd there, and a lot of kids having a great time. All it all, it was a good weekend.”

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  2. Kevin Harvick Bobblehead Showcases ‘Freaky Fast’ Driving Skills
  3. Gragson Takes First Career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victory
  4. Amy Earnhardt Led the Field To Green in the 'First Data 500'
  5. Martinsville Speedway Contributes $10,000 to Start Endowment for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Honorary Scholarship at Patrick Henry Community College

Monday, October 30, 2017

Kyle Busch Wins Wild Race at Martinsville

Kyle Busch Wins Wild Race at MartinsvilleWeather Cools But Tempers Gets Hot

There was plenty of excitement to go around in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series yesterday.  The implementation of lights at the short track was timely as the race lapsed into overtime.  Much of the race was a display of short track driving skill.

Unfortunately, as the laps ticked off, driver desperation emerged. With that "Win and You're In" anxiety, came an extreme lack of driver judgement.

It was obvious that NASCAR had to do something to battle declining attendance and dwindling TV viewership.  However, while the NASCAR Playoff format permeates the sport with more action; NASCAR Race Mom fears that while catering to next generation of fans -  fans like this long-time NASCAR Nut is not pleased with the random chaos that has become a major determining factor in crowning our next NASCAR champion!

Race Recap


Kyle Busch Wins Wild Race at Martinsville #NASCAR


In a wild overtime finish that took Sunday’s First Data 500 to 505 laps at the .526-mile short track, Kyle Busch beat Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series leader Martin Truex Jr. to the stripe by .141 seconds to take the checkered flag and earn a spot in the Nov. 19 Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

As Busch crossed the finish line, a multi-car wreck behind him scrambled the running order and left a parking lot of mangled cars on the frontstretch.

But that was simply the final act in a drama that saw a succession of Playoff contenders lose excellent chances to win the first event in the Round of 8.


Chase Elliott held the lead with three laps left in regulation distance when Denny Hamlin dumped Elliott’s No. 24 Chevrolet in Turn 3, causing the 11th caution and sending the race into overtime.

Ten laps earlier, Brad Keselowski appeared headed for victory and a guaranteed ticket to Homestead before Joey Logano developed a severe tire rub after contact from Busch’s No. 18 Toyota in Turn 1.

Logano spun off Ryan Blaney’s front bumper when the tire went flat in Turn 2, and Elliott grabbed the lead after the restart on Lap 497, with Hamlin following. Hamlin punted Elliott a lap later, and hard feelings continued after the race, with Elliott running Hamlin’s Toyota into the outside wall on the cool-down lap.

Elliott’s wreck set the stage for Busch to win for the second time at Martinsville, the fifth time this season and the 43rd time in his career. After Hamlin cleared Busch on the overtime restart, Busch cut to the inside and wheel-hopped into Hamlin’s Camry, forcing his JGR teammate up the track.

Hamlin fell to seventh at the finish behind Clint Bowyer in third, Keselowski in fourth, Kevin Harvick in fifth and Trevor Bayne in sixth.

"I wanted to get a better restart, pinch Denny down a little bit, but it actually kind of worked out better for me that he got ahead a little bit, gave me a gap," Busch said. "I got down (to the inside lane), and he got into Turn 3 and just pushed up the race track and I knew I had to plug that hole right away cause I was just going to get beat on from behind,

"So I got up in there and rooted him out of the way a little bit, and we drag-raced down the front straightaway and deep into (Turn) 1, I just wheel-hopped, chattered the rear tires and it was sideways getting in there trying to calm it down with the brakes and everything else. Was able to get through there luckily somehow – I don’t know how – and beat Truex off of (Turn) 4 back to the start/finish line."

Truex retained the series lead by 17 points over Busch. Elliott, on the other hand went from likely winner to major casualty in the space of one corner, finishing 27th and falling 26 points below the cut line for the Championship 4, with the cut coming in two weeks at Phoenix.

"I got punted from behind and wrecked in Turn 3 leading the race," Elliott said. "I don’t know what his problem was. It was unnecessary. I hadn’t raced him dirty all day long. There was no reason for that, and he comes over and talks to me a second ago and tells me he had somebody pushing him into Turn 3.

"I thought that was funny, because there was nobody within two car lengths of him into Turn 3 behind myself. I don’t know what the deal was, but it is so disappointing. We had the best car I’ve ever had here at Martinsville. And had an opportunity to go straight to Homestead and because of him, we don’t."

Keselowski is third in the standings, followed by Harvick, who holds a three-point edge over Jimmie Johnson, who ran 12th on Sunday. Blaney is six points behind Harvick and Hamlin is eight back, all but guaranteeing another wild race next Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway as the fight for the Championship 4 positions intensifies.

After finishing under lights installed this year, Bowyer would like to see a night race at Martinsville. "We should definitely utilize those lights for something other than an (overtime), because it’s pretty damn cool under the lights," Bowyer said.


Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race - First Data 500

Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, Virginia
Sunday, October 29, 2017


  1. (14) Kyle Busch (P), Toyota, 505.
  2. (2) Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota, 505.
  3. (5) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 505.
  4. (7) Brad Keselowski (P), Ford, 505.
  5. (13) Kevin Harvick (P), Ford, 505.
  6. (34) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 505.
  7. (6) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 505.
  8. (4) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 505.
  9. (17) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 505.
  10. (22) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 505.
  11. (21) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 505.
  12. (24) Jimmie Johnson (P), Chevrolet, 505.
  13. (25) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 505.
  14. (18) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 505.
  15. (15) Daniel Suarez #, Toyota, 505.
  16. (12) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 505.
  17. (23) Danica Patrick, Ford, 505.
  18. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford, 505.
  19. (20) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 505.
  20. (19) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 505.
  21. (29) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 505.
  22. (11) Kurt Busch, Ford, 505.
  23. (33) Landon Cassill, Ford, 505.
  24. (1) Joey Logano, Ford, 504.
  25. (30) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 504.
  26. (8) Erik Jones #, Toyota, 504.
  27. (3) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 504.
  28. (31) David Ragan, Ford, 503.
  29. (16) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 503.
  30. (26) Ty Dillon #, Chevrolet, 501.
  31. (35) * Gray Gaulding #, Toyota, 501.
  32. (32) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 500.
  33. (36) Corey LaJoie #, Toyota, 500.
  34. (40) * Hermie Sadler, Chevrolet, 494.
  35. (38) * Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, 488.
  36. (39) * Carl Long(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 444.
  37. (9) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, Accident, 300.
  38. (37) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, Rear Gear, 274.
  39. (28) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, Electrical, 187.
  40. (27) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, Accident, 94.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 74.902 mph.

Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 32 Mins, 47 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.141 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 11 for 74 laps.
Lead Changes: 16 among 6 drivers.

Lap Leaders:
  • J. Logano 1-48; 
  • B. Keselowski (P) 49-78; 
  • J. Logano 79-89; 
  • J. Johnson (P) 90-113; 
  • B. Keselowski (P) 114-134; 
  • K. Busch (P) 135-257; 
  • B. Keselowski (P) 258-265; 
  • K. Busch (P) 266-324; 
  • C. Elliott (P) 325-362; 
  • B. Keselowski (P) 363-385; 
  • C. Elliott (P) 386-458; 
  • K. Busch (P) 459; 
  • C. Elliott (P) 460-470; 
  • B. Keselowski (P) 471-496; 
  • C. Elliott (P) 497; 
  • D. Hamlin (P) 498-504; 
  • K. Busch (P) 505;.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):
  • K. Busch (P) 4 times for 184 laps; 
  • C. Elliott (P) 4 times for 123 laps; 
  • B. Keselowski (P) 5 times for 108 laps; 
  • J. Logano 2 times for 59 laps; 
  • J. Johnson (P) 1 time for 24 laps; 
  • D. Hamlin (P) 1 time for 7 laps.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 2,18,22,48,78,24,21,5,3,11

Stage #2 Top Ten: 2,18,22,78,24,21,4,20,14,48

Source: NASCAR Wire Service

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Kevin Harvick Bobblehead Showcases ‘Freaky Fast’ Driving Skills

Kevin Harvick Bobblehead Showcases ‘Freaky Fast’ Driving Skills

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick’s mini alter ego – Lil’ Kev – was busy in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex a couple of weeks ago promoting the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Playoffs race at Texas Motor Speedway set for Sunday, Nov. 5.



Lil’ Kev, the seven-inch Harvick bobblehead outfitted in a Jimmy John’s black-and-white firesuit, visited the sandwich franchises in Grapevine, Arlington and Roanoke to “help out” the staff with making sandwiches and a “Freaky Fast” delivery run. Also on hand at those stores for the day was Big Kev, the life-sized bobblehead version of Harvick. 




During the visits, the Texas Motor Speedway video production team had some fun with the smaller collectible bobblehead that will be given to the first 30,000 fans attending the AAA Texas 500.

One of the two videos produced has Lil’ Kev delivering an order to Texas Motor Speedway. He cruises “Freaky Fast” in a remote-controlled car with the sandwich strapped on, popping wheelies and racing around speedway property before pulling into The Speedway Club lobby and up the elevator, racing into the speedway’s corporate offices to deliver the order.

The second video shows Lil’ Kev taking customer orders and then opting to replace their choice with his personal favorite, the No. 10 Hunter’s Club. When the customers return to complain, Harvick has nothing to say but simply nodding in approval.



Harvick is the final driver in the three-race bobblehead collectible series for 2017. He joins fellow Stewart-Haas Racing driver Danica Patrick (April) and Verizon IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal (June). Last year, Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner and three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart was featured as a bobblehead.

Tickets for the AAA Texas 500 start as low as $49 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. The AAA Texas 500 is part of a NASCAR Playoffs tripleheader weekend that also features the Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 300 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief on Friday, Nov. 3, and the XFINITY Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 on Saturday, Nov. 4.



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Sunday, October 29, 2017

Gragson Takes First Career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victory

Gragson Takes First Career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victory

Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions at Martinsville Speedway

Noah Gragson, like many athletes, is a fan of big trophies. He probably didn’t think his first piece of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series hardware would be one of the most famous in all of sports, the Martinsville Speedway grandfather clock trophy.

Gragson Takes First Career #NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victory


Gragson used an impressive restart with ten laps remaining to score an upset win, the first of his career, Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions, holding off former Martinsville victors and series champions Matt Crafton and Johnny Sauter in the race’s closing laps.

“This is awesome,” the 19-year-old Gragson said at the start/finish line. “We were driving up here and we were talking about how much history is at this track. It’s so cool to be out here racing with Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton, and the rest of the field. I’ve proven to myself that I have the capability to race with them, and have that opportunity to come here is a privilege.”



Crafton won Saturday’s opening stage, and chose the bottom lane on the race’s final restart, before Gragson strong-armed him around the outside and made it stick to create yet another memorable Martinsville Speedway race-winning moment. After the checkered flag, Crafton was left lamenting the runner-up finish, with a productive points day being no comfort.

“It just sucks,” the two-time champion said. “We’ve given away two races away while leading late here. Honestly, I don’t even care [about earned stage points] in this race. It just sucks finishing second.”

Sauter appeared poised as the favorite to earn his second straight playoff victory at NASCAR’s oldest track until a slow pit stop at the end of Stage 2 sent him tumbling seven positions down the running order, costing valuable track position in the process.

“We had a good day, but just didn’t execute when we needed to. I just know [the pit stop] was slow. Track position is king. You’ve got to have clean air, and you can’t give up anything. When you give up seven spots, it’s pretty tough to overcome.”

John Hunter Nemechek, who entered Saturday’s race 4th in points, suffered a brake failure and made heavy contact with the outside wall in turn two on Lap 39. The 20-year-old will now likely need to win at either Texas Motor Speedway or Phoenix Raceway in order to keep his championship hopes alive.

“No brake pedal. It didn’t give any warning,” Nemechek said after exiting his heavily damaged Chevrolet. “We were just riding around, biding our time. I dove into [turn one] normally, hit the pedal, and it went straight to the floor.”


Gragson Takes First Career #NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victory
Gragson Takes First Career #NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victory
Gragson Takes First Career #NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victory
Gragson Takes First Career #NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victory
Gragson Takes First Career #NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victory
Gragson Takes First Career #NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victory

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Amy Earnhardt Led the Field To Green in the 'First Data 500'

Amy Earnhardt Led the Field To Green in the 'First Data 500'

"Turn Left" - Dale Jr.'s Only Advice

When Dale Earnhardt Jr. made his final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway today, a familiar face led him and the rest of the field to the green flag. Earnhardt’s wife, Amy, served as the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the First Data 500. 

Amy Earnhardt Led the Field To Green in the 'First Data 500'While driving the pace car will be a first for Amy, she is no stranger to Martinsville, as she was by Dale’s side in Victory Lane when he picked up his only career win at the historic Speedway three years ago.

“I was very excited when the track approached me about driving the pace car,” she said. “Martinsville is one of Dale’s favorite tracks and seeing how happy he and the team were in Victory Lane in 2014 is something I’ll never forget. I appreciate the track letting me be a small part of Dale’s last race at a place that means so much to him.”

Amy Earnhardt Led the Field To Green in the 'First Data 500'

Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said having Amy drive the pace car is a way to give back to Dale for all he has done to not only elevate the profile of Martinsville Speedway, but NASCAR as a whole.

“The Earnhardt family has meant so much to Martinsville Speedway through the years, Dale in particular, and we wanted for him to be able to share his last Cup race here with the person closest to him,” Campbell said. “Dale has often talked about how much Amy has meant to him and this is one small way in which we can say ‘thank you’ to the both of them; to Dale for what he has meant to the sport and to Amy for what she has meant to Dale.”










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Saturday, October 28, 2017

Martinsville Speedway Contributes $10,000 to Start Endowment for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Honorary Scholarship at Patrick Henry Community College

Martinsville Speedway Contributes $10,000 to Start Endowment for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Honorary Scholarship at Patrick Henry Community College

Two students enrolled in the school's motorsports program will receive $1,000 each year.

When Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaves Martinsville Speedway for the final time as a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver, he will leave behind a legacy that will be felt not only in the garage and in the grandstands, but at Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC), as well.

Martinsville Speedway Contributes $10,000 to Start Endowment for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Honorary Scholarship at Patrick Henry Community College


Martinsville Speedway contributed $10,000 to start an endowment for the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Honorary Scholarship in the school’s Motorsports Program. Each year, two students enrolled in the program, who have a minimum GPA of 2.5, will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

“Dale’s passion for racing goes well beyond what he does on the track,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “Dale has believed in growing the sport, through both driver development and team ownership at the weekly and touring levels. By starting this endowment, Martinsville Speedway will, in a small way, carry on his legacy in a town that he has meant so much to.”

The Motorsports Program, or Racing College of Virginia, provides students with hands on training in how to build a race car, serve on a pit crew and provides a path to a four-year degree in engineering. The program fields a Late Model Stock Car team that competes at weekly race tracks throughout the region, as well as in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville every fall.



The scholarship will not only help a student, it will also help promote the growing program.



“The Dale Earnhardt Jr. Scholarship opens the doors of opportunity for students interested in pursuing a career in motorsports,” Patrick Henry Community College President Dr. Angeline Godwin said. “Combined with PHCC’s major expansion of the motorsports program in the new Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology (MET) Complex, this significant donation ensures that the legacy of racing will continue to thrive in Martinsville and Henry County.” Additional funds to support the endowment are being raised, to keep the scholarship in perpetuity.

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Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions a Critical Stop on Road to Championship

Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions a Critical Stop on Road to Championship For six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers, Saturday’s Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions at Martinsville Speedway could be the difference between taking a major step toward securing a championship, or being left behind with just three races to go.

Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions a Critical Stop on Road to Championship

Christopher Bell, Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton, John Hunter Nemechek, Ben Rhodes and Austin Cindric all remain alive in the title hunt heading into the weekend. A win for any of these remaining playoff drivers will guarantee them a spot in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway next month.

Rhodes, who enters the weekend fifth in points, is looking to rebound from a disappointing spring race at Martinsville, where his truck fell victim to mechanical failure.

“We just need an overall good, solid run at Martinsville on Saturday,” Rhodes said. “We need to finish in the top-five – a win would be nice to guarantee our spot in the Final Four at Homestead, but it’s not necessary in this round. I think we can still play it safe, and get in on points. We just need a good run…We changed everything we can to cure those problems (from the spring race), and I think survival tomorrow is the biggest story.”

Sauter, the reigning champion of the Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions, saw his championship run kick into high gear here last October. Three races later, he was crowned the Camping World Truck Series champion.

“Martinsville has been a really good race track for me personally. Last year, this is where we got on a roll. It’s the perfect place for me to start the second round, because we’ve been really good here through the years,” Sauter said Friday afternoon. “But, a lot of things can happen. I think it’s really important to qualify well here because it helps your pit strategy and allows you to get out front and, hopefully, stay out front and try to avoid the melees.”

Crafton set the pace in Friday’s first practice with a lap of 20.129, while Stewart Friesen topped final practice at 19.993.

The Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions is the first race in the second round of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs. Last year, Johnny Sauter won the race, on his way to winning the series championship.

Kids 12-and-under are admitted free to the Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions. Adult tickets to the race are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.


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Free FanFest Event to Feature Cup Series Drivers at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, October 28

Free FanFest Event to Feature Cup Series Drivers at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, October 28
When the on track action ends at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, October 28, the fun will continue as the Speedway will host FanFest, a free event giving fans an up-close look at some of the sport’s biggest stars, off the track.



Following the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice for the First Data 500 at 4 p.m., FanFest will pit drivers against each other in games and contests and will rely heavily on fan participation and interaction beginning at 5:30 p.m. in The Party Plaza on the hill above Turn Four.

Denny Hamlin, Danica Patrick, Austin Dillon, Kasey Kahne, Matt DiBenedetto, Aric Almirola, Jeffrey Earnhardt, David Ragan and Reed Sorenson will be heading from Final Practice to FanFest where they will be joined by Motor Racing Network’s Kim Coon.

The drivers will be split into pairs for their activities, which will often feature fan participation or interaction.

Denny Hamlin and Danica Patrick will open the festivities with a game of ‘Two-Truths-And-A-Lie,’ a popular party game. Hamlin and Patrick will offer three statements about themselves to the fans, one of which is a lie. The fans will then have to guess which statement is not true.

Earnhardt and Almirola will be the second pair to take the stage. As voted on by the fans via social media, the duo will compete in a Sumo Suit Wrestling competition wearing large, inflatable sumo suits and attempting to push each other out of a wrestling ring.

DiBenedetto and Kahne will then take to the stage where they will join a group of fans and divide into ‘families’ for to play the popular game show ‘Family Feud.’



Kahne said he is looking forward to interacting with the fans.

“I think when the fans come out and enjoy that type of thing it’s fun to be there. It’s fun to see them and enjoy that time with them,” Kahne said. “A lot of times, they’re enjoying the race in the stands and we’re enjoying the race in the car but you’re not really interacting. To do that with a big group of fans who are excited for the Sunday show means a lot to me.”

Dillon and Coon will test their basketball skills in the next contest, drafting a team of fans for a game of ‘Hot Shot Basketball.’ The duo will root on their team before facing off in a final showdown for the title of ‘Martinsville Hot Shot.’

“It’ll be a blast. I’m looking forward to our first FanFest,” Dillon said. “We haven’t had a chance to do one yet and I’m glad it’s in Martinsville. We can have some fun. It’ll be a good time.”

The basketball goal used by Dillon and Coon will be donated to a local charity organization after the event.



Finally, Ragan and Sorenson will draft partners from the crowd to participate in a pumpkin carving contest, which will be crowd-judged.

“Fans are the most important thing we have at Martinsville Speedway, without them we wouldn’t have made in one year, let alone 70, so FanFest is a way that we can say ‘thank you’ for supporting us for so long,” Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “Adding FanFest to our schedule also gives fans an opportunity to get up-close and personal with drivers in a relaxed environment. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

FanFest will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 28 and will run until 8:30 p.m.



FanFest will be free of charge to fans. There will be special accommodations made for youth in attendance at the event so that they may experience FanFest front and center. My Martinsville members will also receive special seating.
 

The First Data 500 is the first race in the Round of 8 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. If the winning driver is in the Playoffs, he or she would be the first to clinch a spot in the Championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Last fall, Jimmie Johnson won his ninth grandfather clock, on the way to winning his record-tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Friday, October 27, 2017

Danica Patrick Calls the 2017 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide Finalists

Danica Patrick Calls the 2017 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide Finalists

Vote Everyday to Help One Finalist Win a $100,000 Donation to Their Charity.

Vote Everyday to Help One Finalist Win a $100,000 Donation to Their Charity. #NASCAR

Watch Danica Patrick call the 2017 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide finalists: Shannon Goldwater, Chante Gonzalez Vido, Julian Maha, and Tammy Richardson. 




The NASCAR Foundation is Dedicated to
Helping Children Live Happier, Healthier Lives.

You can Vote at NASCAR.com/Award






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  4. Richard Petty Motorsports Announces New Driver of Famed No. 43
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Vote Everyday to Help One Finalist Win a $100,000 Donation to Their Charity. #NASCAR

Harrison Burton and Todd Gilliland At It Again

Harrison Burton and Todd Gilliland At It Again

Last month, Harrison Burton barely edged out Todd Gilliland for the K&N Pro Series East title.

 

Todd Gilliland  and Harrison Burton At It Again - #NASCAR

 

“What an honor to win both the race and championship at Dover, it’s pretty freaking cool,” Burton said. #NASCAR
“What an honor to win both the race and championship at Dover, it’s pretty freaking cool,” Burton said. “It’s what I dreamed to do as a kid, win races at tracks like this and win NASCAR championships. To come out and do that is pretty surreal. I’m pretty pumped up about it.” Harrison reported.

It was the fifth win of the season for Burton, who entered the last race trailing Gilliland by eight points.

“This one is really disappointing,” said Gilliland, a fellow NASCAR Next driver who is also leading the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship standings with three races to go.
Gilliland qualified fourth for the ‘National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 125 presented by Carl Deputy & Son Builders’ and looked strong early until lap 56 when he blew a tire, sending him into the wall in Turn 2 and ending his day.

“This one is really disappointing,” said Gilliland, a fellow NASCAR Next driver who is also leading the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship standings with three races to go. “I felt like we had pretty good control of it going in here. We were just as fast as Burton in the race. Just having a tire go down like that is heartbreaking for sure. I’m really proud of everyone at Bill McAnally Racing. We’ve had the fastest cars here all year, just didn’t have the luck to go along with it.”

Gilliland recorded four 2017 K&N Pro Series Wins





Tomorrow, these young rising NASCAR Stars will be contending again in the Camping World Truck Series race. Both will be in prime Kyle Busch Motorsports Equipment for the Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions (Round 20 of 23) in Martinsville Speedway.

Todd Gilliland - Three Things You Need to Know

  1. ● Todd Gilliland, driver of the No. 46 PEDIGREE® Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), will make his fifth career start in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competition Saturday in the Texas Roadhouse 200 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. At 17 years of age, Gilliland is a third-generation driver and is the reigning NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion. With only one race remaining in the 2017 K&N Pro West series season, Gilliland leads the championship standings by 11 points. The season finale is Nov. 4 at Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, California, where Gilliland is a two-time winner.
  2. ● Driving the No. 46 PEDIGREE® Toyota Tundra for KBM, Gilliland made his Truck Series debut earlier this season at Dover (Del.) International Speedway, where he scored a 20th-place finish after the right-front wheel broke on his Tundra 116 laps into the 200-lap event. Prior to the incident, Gilliland competed among the top-10 and raced as high as second place.
  3. ● Gilliland picked up his first career top-five finish in Truck Series competition during his most recent event Sept. 23 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. Driving the No. 51 PEDIGREE® Toyota for KBM, Gilliland qualified fifth and finished third in what was only his fourth career start in the Truck Series.

Todd Gilliland, Driver Q&A

It’s been a few weeks, but you finished third in your last outing in the Truck Series. How much of a confidence boost does that provide for this weekend’s race at Martinsville?

“Finishing third was definitely a big achievement for me. Earning my first top-five in the Truck Series is amazing. But, we are going to go out to Martinsville and try and make the most out of the opportunity, try to get another top-five finish and hopefully run up front all day.”

Like at New Hampshire, you are going into a race with previous experience at the track. Talk about that.

“I’ve run two Late Model races at Martinsville, so I have a few laps down on the track. But it will be totally different in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. I’m looking forward to getting on the track in a new series.”

Because you have some experience at Martinsville, can you explain what it’s like racing on a short, flat track like this one?

“I like the track a lot. I was out there during the spring watching the race to help prepare for this weekend. You definitely have to be aggressive and use the bump-and-run a little bit and I’m prepared for that. We will just have to see what it comes down to at the end.”

Knowing how challenging it is to make up ground at Martinsville, how much emphasis will you place on qualifying this weekend?

“Qualifying will be important. I think you’re still going to have to try and move up with every restart and be very aware of the trucks around you in the race. We can also be pretty aggressive with pit strategy, so I’m excited to see what we can go out there and do. I know my team at Kyle Busch Motorsports will bring me a fast Pedigree Tundra, so then it’s up to me to take advantage of that and hopefully get my first win this weekend.”

About the PEDIGREE® Brand

The PEDIGREE® Brand is the No. 1 brand of dog food and treats in the world, feeding more dogs than any other brand. The PEDIGREE® Brand offers a wide variety of products and formats for dogs at every life stage. The PEDIGREE® Brand is built on an unwavering love for all dogs and a commitment to dog adoption. For more information, visit www.pedigree.com. The brand launched a new video campaign earlier this year as part of its NASCAR sponsorship featuring PEDIGREE® Pup-letes

Harrison Burton, Driver of the No. 51 NCWTS DEX Imaging Tundra:

You raced at Martinsville earlier this season and finished 13th, what can you take from that race and apply it to this weekend?

“I can definitely take a lot from that race. I learned a lot about that race track when I was there and about how the trucks move around the track. Racing at Martinsville is a lot of fun. I think it’s kind of a unique style of racing than everywhere else. You have to block on a half-mile track and that can be a little tough. But, there is a lot that I learned and that I can take from the experience. I know that we ran better than 13th and had a good run for most of the race. I’m ready to get back there and prove myself and get it done in my DEX Imaging Tundra.”

Mike Hillman Jr., Crew Chief of the No. 51 NCWTS DEX Imaging Tundra:

This is your first race as the No. 51 crew chief, what are your goals for the rest of the season?

“First of all, I want to say how excited I am to be at Kyle Busch Motorsports. Everyone has been very welcoming and it’s an honor to be a part of one of the most elite teams in the Truck Series. We only have four races left in the season but I’m eager to get out there and get things done. We have some very talented rookies behind the wheel of the No. 51 and I’m looking forward to working with each of them.”

You have experience working with rookies in the Truck Series, what advice do you have for Harrison (Burton) going into Martinsville?

“Since this is Harrison’s third race at Martinsville, I think that he just needs to take what he knows about the track, learn from it and use it. He needs to be patient, he needs to keep the truck balanced and he needs to be there at the end. We have two practices on Friday to get the truck dialed in and comfortable for Harrison so that when Saturday comes, we will go out there and make the most of his last race of the season.”

Harrison Burton’s No. 51 DEX Imaging Tundra:

KBM-034: The No. 51 DEX Imaging team will race KBM-034 for Saturday’s Texas Roadhouse 200. Burton raced this Tundra earlier this season at Martinsville where he started seventh and finished 13th. This Tundra was also driven by KBM teammate Todd Gilliland earlier this season at New Hampshire. He started the race fifth and finished third.

Hillman’s History:

Two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion crew chief Mike Hillman Jr., will be calling the shots for KBM’s No. 51 Toyota Racing team. Hillman Jr., helped Toyota capture its first-ever NASCAR national series championship when he guided Todd Bodine to the Truck Series title in 2006. The duo won 14 races as a pairing from 2006 to 2011 and topped the driver’s standings in NASCAR’s third division again in 2010. Overall in his 10-plus seasons atop the pit box, the New York native’s NCWTS drivers have collected 20 wins and 18 poles.

Hillman Jr., has seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 20 starts as a crew chief in the NCWTS at Martinsville.


Jeff Burton (31) and Dave Gilliland (38) Daytona 500 in 2007 #NASCAR
Jeff Burton (31) and Dave Gilliland (38) Daytona 500 in 2007


Harrison and Todd are sons of popular NASCAR drivers Jeff Burton and David Gilliland respectively. It will be interesting to watch their progression as they take the next steps to master their craft.  In the video below the boys address the impact of their famous fathers on their chosen professions.





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