The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice had to be cancelled on Friday at Martinsville Speedway due to rain. A practice session is now scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Saturday prior to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying at 10:40 a.m.
[media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”225″]
[/media-credit]Sprint Cup Series qualifying will take place at 12:10 p.m.
“I’d rather not have no practice today, just as to what the weather looks like tomorrow morning for qualifying, so we will see how that goes, can’t control that part, but we will go out and see how it goes.” Harvick said.
“We love coming here. It’s very typical weather here for this weekend so far. Hopefully, we get on track at some point. If not, I’m sure we’ve got some pretty good notes for this race track.” Hamlin said.
“It seems like the fall race here in Martinsville we get rain one of the three days, so I guess I would rather have it today, then Sunday, but just look forward to the opportunity to get on the racetrack if we do get that lucky today and we will see how things go.” Newman said.
“Foolish” Talladega Denial
Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus was recorded telling Johnson at Talladega last week, “If we win this race, you have to crack the back of the car. Got it?” in an apparent attempt to cover post-race inspection if they did not pass.
“Chad (Knaus) explained himself very well this week, and has been more than available to talk though the situation. Everyone is very well aware at the statements he made. The other thing to remember is that car passed inspection multiple times throughout the course of the weekend. At the end of the day, while Chad was trying to protect himself post-race, he made a foolish statement.” Johnson said on Friday at Martinsville Speedway.
“You can tell from my reaction it was something I had never heard in the car from him before, and it is what it is. The car passed tech at the race track multiple times and people have to build faith in that; Chad and I certainly respect NASCAR and their inspection process and unfortunately it happened for really no reason at all and now we have to put it behind us.” Johnson added.
Denny Hamlin added his thoughts on the comment on Friday at Martinsville.
“Everyone is going to push the limit as far as they can. If they felt like they were really close on tolerance. Any kind of damage would help give some kind of explanation to why it was above or below tolerances.” Hamlin said.
