Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series History at Martinsville Speedway … In 156 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 29 top-five and 60 top-10 finishes at Martinsville dating back to the team’s first start there on April 10, 1972. 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 2,724 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards, 105 wins, 474 top-five finishes and 1,028 top-10 finishes. The Welcome, North Carolina, organization has an average starting position of 17.7 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 … Dillon missed out on advancing into the Round of Eight by one point and ranks ninth on the Chase Grid heading into the eighth race of the 2016 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Newman ranks 18th and Menard ranks 25th in the driver championship point standings.
Catch the Action … The Goody’s Fast Relief 500 is scheduled to be televised live on NBC Sports Network beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.
Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Dow-Dow Corning Chevrolet SS at Martinsville Speedway … In five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, Dillon earned his best finish of fourth in his most recent appearance at the half-mile short track after starting deep in the field from the 29th spot. The track is located less than an hour from his Welcome, North Carolina, home and Dillon has finished outside of the top-20 just once. 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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#TheChase … Dillon’s 2016 Championship hopes ended with a ninth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday when he tied with Denny Hamlin for the final cutoff position in the Round of Eight. The tie breaker went to Hamlin based on finish position. He now sets his sights on race wins for the rest of the season.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
Do you feel like you grew up at Martinsville Speedway since it is so close to home for you?
“I remember driving up with my dad and my grandfather certain days to go and watch the race. I remember just sitting and watching the races. It’s right in our backyard, proximity-wise to RCR, so it’s not a far drive. I drive up to Martinsville Speedway now every day for race weekend, so it’s nice to be able to sleep in your own bed. It’s a fun track and I enjoy going there.”
Paul Menard and the No. 27 Dutch Boy / Menards Chevrolet SS at Martinsville Speedway … Menard has competed in 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at the 0.526-mile track. He started fourth in the spring and finished eighth to earn his career-best start and finish at the Virginia based racetrack.
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Think Outside the Crayon Box … From soft pastels to bold hues, the Crayola Color Collection by Dutch Boy Paint offers 96 exclusive colors so your child can express their creativity no matter their age. Help your child create a memorable space that’s their own with a stop at your local Menards store.
Meet Paul … Come to the Team Chevy stage in the Martinsville Speedway fan midway at 2 p.m. local time on Friday, Oct. 28 for a question and answer session with Menard.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
The Menards team had a good run and finished in the top-10 at Martinsville in the spring. Can you bring anything from that race and apply it to this weekend?
“We have a good baseline from where we were in the spring. We participated in a Goodyear tire test at Martinsville a few weeks ago. We used our baseline from the spring and it seemed to run about the same. The garage has evolved over the summer months and things that we’ve learned we applied at the test. I think we’ll have a good package going back there this weekend.”
Ryan Newman and the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS at Martinsville Speedway … Newman will make his 545th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the series embarks on its 33rd event of the season. In 29 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 14 top-10 finishes along with 196 laps led in competition. The South Bend, Indiana, native has an average start of 9.1 and average finish of 15.0.
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Meet Ryan … Newman is scheduled to sign autographs on behalf of Coca-Cola on Friday at the Wal-Mart located at 976 Commonwealth Blvd., in Martinsville, Virginia, at 6:30 p.m. ET. Then on Sunday, he is scheduled to stop by the Team Chevy stage located at the track’s midway at 10:15 a.m. local time. He’ll be there for a question and answer session.
Rescue Ranch Fall Fun Days presented by WIX Filters … This Saturday, Rescue Ranch will be hosting the Fall Fun Days presented by WIX Filters. It’s the perfect way to spend the afternoon with family by navigating through the corn maze, riding the hay rides through hay art and playing games. For details visit: rescueranch.com.
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
What is the biggest challenge getting around Martinsville?
“Martinsville seems as if it’s about forward drive, what tire Goodyear brings and getting your car balanced not just in practice but get the balance adjusted from practice to the race. It seems like the track changes quite a bit from Friday to Sunday.”
Do you enjoy going to Martinsville Speedway?
“I think Martinsville is one of the best short tracks on the circuit. I think for me having won there is just fun. It’s one of those that requires patience yet you have to be aggressive when you can. You kind of just wait until someone starts slipping in front of you and then you start working him over. Then you work that guy over and start on the next one. It’s just a lot of fun.”
