Event: Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2015
Venue: Martinsville Speedway
Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Martinsville Speedway … In 150 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has earned four pole awards and posted seven victories with drivers Dale Earnhardt (five times), Ricky Rudd (1983) and Kevin Harvick (2011). RCR Chevrolet teams have earned 28 top-five and 58 top-10 finishes at Martinsville dating back to the team’s first start there on April 10, 1972. RCR teams boast a 16.8 average starting position, an average finishing position of 16.1 and have completed 70,317 of the 75,198 contested laps (93.5 percent) at the paperclip-shaped race track. Richard Childress, a former driver in NASCAR’s top division, contributed four of those top-10 finishes from 1976-1978.
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,614 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards,105 wins, 468 top-five finishes and 1,003 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16.0. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Sprint Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR XFINITY Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.
The Collective RCR …Throughout the season’s 32 contested races, RCR’s Sprint Cup Series entries have collectively notched seven top-five and 22 top-10 finishes with drivers Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman and Paul Menard. Newman and Menard rank ninth and 15th, respectively, in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, while Dillon ranks 21st in the standings.
RCR Talladega Rewind … RCR teammates Menard, Newman and Dillon finished sixth, 12th and 14th, respectively, in the CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Did You Know … Life threatening injury is the No. 1 killer of kids in America. Nearly 10,000 children lose their lives every year from serious injuries, and many more are treated in the emergency room. It can happen anywhere, at any time, to any child. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma discovers and shares the best ways to prevent and treat severe injuries in children. The Institute funds research, education and advocacy to improve the care and treatment injured kids receive across the U.S. Visit SaveInjuredKids.org or find them on Facebook and Twitter to learn more.
Interactive RCR … For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Sprint Cup Series team Twitter pages – @RCR3ADillon, @RCR27PMenard, @RCR31RNewman, and driver Twitter pages @austindillon3 and @RyanJNewman. Information about the 15-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at RCRracing.com along with official driver pages facebook.com/austindillon3, facebook.com/PaulMenard27 and facebook.com/RyanNewmanNASCAR.
Catch the Action … The Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 will be televised live Sunday, November 1 beginning at 1:15 p.m. ET on NBCSN and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Dow Plastics Additives Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s Dow Plastics Additives Chevrolet SS at Martinsville Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 489 in the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway. This is the same Chevrolet SS that Dillon raced at Martinsville Speedway in March 2015 and October 2014, securing finishes of 41st and 12th, respectively.
Dillon at Martinsville Speedway …. In three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, Dillon’s best finish is 12th in October 2014. He has made four appearances at the track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, earning his best finish of third in October 2011.
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Playin’ Hoops for Kids … Dillon is scheduled to host a 3 on 3 celebrity basketball tournament presented by Dow to benefit the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at High Point University on Tuesday, Nov. 3. He’s enlisted help from celebrity friends to serve as captains in the 16-team, double-elimination tournament.
Get to the Points … Dillon ranks 21st in the championship point standings leading into the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
In the Rear View … In the Sprint Cup Series’ most recent appearance to Martinsville Speedway in March 2015, Dillon ran as high as 13th but finished 41st due to a mechanical issue.
Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to participate in a Tweetup on Sunday at 9:45 a.m. (follow @jeff_gluck and @bobpockrass for details) and a Q&A on the Team Chevrolet Stage in the Martinsville Speedway Midway on Sunday at 10:15 a.m.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on racing at Martinsville Speedway?
“We had a pretty good run going earlier this year until a mechanical issue caused us to end the race early so I’m looking for some redemption. It’s just good short-track racing. It’s one of those tracks where you have to fight to stay in it. Things happen fast. I’m hoping for a solid day. Martinsville Speedway is really close to our shop in Welcome, N.C. so it’s a special track for me because we get a large hometown following to come out and support the RCR gang.”
Paul Menard, No. 27 Moen / Menards Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s Moen / Menards Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway … The Richard Childress Racing team opted to use chassis No. 488 for this weekend’s 500-lap event at Martinsville Speedway. Menard previously raced this Chevrolet SS earlier this season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September (Start: 20 / Finish: 15), Richmond International Raceway in September (Start: 22 / Finish: 26) and once already at Martinsville Speedway in March (Start: 13 / Finish: 23).
Martinsville Stats … In 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at the 0.546-mile track, Menard has one top-10 and five top-15 finishes. He’s completed 96.8 percent of laps in competition and has an average starting and finishing position of 20.6.
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Rookie Stripe … Alexander has impressive stats in his first year as a full-time Sprint Cup Series crew chief. In 36 races with Menard, Alexander has led the team to one top-five, 17 top-15 and 24 top-20 starts. He’s also collected 25 top-20, 20 top-15 and three top-five finishes. Alexander was the first three-time winner of the MOOG Problem Solver of the Race award this season. He’s also led Menard to his first-career berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
#MenardNation … The No. 27 Chevy team is currently 15th on the Chase grid, just 11 points out of 14th, after finishing sixth at Talladega Superspeedway.
Last Time in Martinsville … Last time the Sprint Cup Series visited Martinsville, Menard started 13th and fought hard for 500 laps. The neon Chevrolet was caught in two incidents during the event but the Justin Alexander-led team was able to make fast repairs each time and keep Menard on the lead lap. Menard rallied in the end to finish the caution-filled race in 23rd.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
We go from Talladega Superspeedway to the 0.546-mile Martinsville Speedway. How do you transition between the two tracks?
“As different as they are on paper, they do have some similarities in that you’re in extremely close quarters all day long and are somewhat at the mercy of the others around you. More so than you would be at say Texas Motor Speedway. It’s like a big game of bumper cars. Track position is very important but fast cars tend to go to the front too. There’s a lot of strategy to get track position and you obviously need a good car to maintain the position.”
Ryan Newman, No. 31 WIX Filters Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s WIX Filters Chevrolet SS at Martinsville Speedway … Ryan Newman will drive chassis No. 490 on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. This Chevrolet raced earlier this season at Martinsville Speedway (Start: 2/ Finish: 27), Richmond in the fall (Start: 13/ Finish: 20) as well as the second event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Start: 9/ Finish: 10).
Newman at the Paperclip … Newman will make his 509th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the series embarks on its final short-track race of the season. In 27 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Martinsville Speedway, Newman visited victory lane at this event in 2012. The Rocket Man also owns three pole awards … all happening in the fall events in 2002, ’04 and ’09. In total, he owns eight top-five and 12 top-10 finishes along with 194 laps led in competition. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 9.4 and average finish of 15.5.
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Cut to the Chase … Newman enters the 33rd event in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule ninth in the Chase Grid.
Back on Board, DraftKings … Richard Childress Racing’s two-race partnership with DraftKings concludes this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. The “Official Daily Fantasy Sports Partner” of NASCAR will be featured on Newman’s No. 31 Chevrolet. The company has an exclusive license to develop NASCAR-branded games across the daily fantasy sports category. Offering two different types of NASCAR-themed games, DraftKings provides a free game for the casual players and paid games for the avid competitors.
Martinsville Flashback … Earlier this season, Ryan Newman and the No. 31 Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS team started on the outside pole but ultimately secured a 27th-place finish. Early in the race, Newman raced in the top five but a combination of factors that included a challenging restart, ill-handling conditions and damage sustained in a multi-car wreck culminated in the disappointing result.
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
What’s the key to a good finish at Martinsville Speedway?
“It comes down to good braking, having good drive off the corner and good entry speed. You still have to roll the center but as the tires fall off, having good forward drive is really important.”
What is the hardest part of the track for you to figure out?
“Usually at the end it is track position. It’s really hard to pass when you get guys doubled up on a double-file restart. By the time they single-file out, it is so hard to catch somebody.”
What makes pit road so challenging?
“I don’t think pit road is so much challenging as you never know how many cars are going to be on pit road. When you get to the end of the race, there are 15 to 20 cars on the lead lap. At the beginning of the race you have 35 or 40. That’s when it is crazy.”
