Sunday, April 3, 2016

Martinsville Notes & Facts

Did you know that Curtis Turner won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Martinsville Speedway in 1949. Joey Logano is on pole for today’s race.
Did you know that Curtis Turner won the inaugural Coors Light pole at
Martinsville Speedway in 1949.  Joey Logano is on pole for today’s race.
 

 Martinsville Track Notes & History:

  • · Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States.
  • · The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville was on July 4, 1948.
  • · The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was Sept. 25, 1949.
  • · The track was paved in 1955.
  • · The first 500-lap event at Martinsville was in 1956.
  • · Concrete corners were added atop asphalt in 1976.

Martinsville Pole Notes & Facts:

  • · Curtis Turner won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Martinsville Speedway in 1949.
  • · 59 drivers have Coors Light poles at Martinsville, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip with eight; Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman lead all active drivers with three each.
  • · 13 drivers have won two or more consecutive Coors Light poles at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was Joey Logano sweeping both poles last season.
  • · 21 of 134 races (15.6%) at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; four of those 21 wins came from active drivers: Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2012, spring 2013) and Denny Hamlin (2010).
  • · The Coors Light pole is the most proficient starting spot in the field at Martinsville producing more wins (21) than any other starting position.
  • · 36 of the 134 (26.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the front row: 21 from the pole and 15 from second-place.
  • · 96 of the 134 (71.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
  • · Seven of the 134 (5.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20 - including both races in 2015.
  • · Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions eight times in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was the fall race of 2011.

Martinsville Driver Notes & Facts:

  • · NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty has the all-time most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Martinsville with 67; Dale Earnhardt Jr. has the most starts among active drivers with 32.
  • · Ryan Newman leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Martinsville Speedway with a 9.3. Denny Hamlin (9.8) is the only other active driver with an average starting position at Martinsville inside the top 10.
  • · In total 60 drivers have made their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Martinsville.
  • · Chase Elliott (03/29/2015) and Michael McDowell (3/30/2008) are active drivers that made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Martinsville Speedway.
  • · Four of the 13 have won three consecutive poles at Martinsville: Glen Wood (Fall of 1959 and 1960 sweep); Darrell Waltrip (1979 sweep and spring 1980); Mark Martin (fall of 1990 and 1991 sweep); Jeff Gordon (2003 sweep and spring 2004).
  • · 12 drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Martinsville Speedway; the last two most recent are Scott Riggs (4/10/2005) and Tony Stewart (4/18/1999).
  • · 48 different drivers have won at Martinsville Speedway, led by Richard Petty with 15; Jimmie Johnson leads the series among active drivers with eight wins.
  • · 24 drivers have multiple wins at Martinsville Speedway; nine drivers have won five or more times.
  • · 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Martinsville Speedway. Fred Lorenzen won four NSCS races straight (the most) from the fall of 1963 through the spring of 1965.
  • Jimmie Johnson is the most recent driver to win consecutive races (fall of 2012 / spring of 2013) at Martinsville.
  • · Ryan Newman competed at Martinsville Speedway 20 times before winning in the spring of 2012; the longest span of any the six active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
  • · Two active drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Martinsville Speedway: Kevin Harvick (19) and Ryan Newman (20).
  • · 11 drivers posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was Ricky Craven (10/15/2001).
  • · NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in runner-up finishes at Martinsville Speedway with seven; Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with five, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray and Matt Kenseth with two each.
  • · Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 30; Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with 18, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 13.
  • · Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon lead the series in top-10 finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 37 each; Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with 22, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr with 18.
  • · Two active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series average finish in the top 10 at Martinsville: Jimmie Johnson (7.5) and Denny Hamlin (8.1).
  • · Greg Biffle has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway without a DNF (26).
  • · Danica Patrick is the only female driver to compete at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

No comments: