Official Release

JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 CESSNA CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Martinsville Speedway along with Andrew Barberena who is a senior at Martinsville High School. He is in the engineering program at the school and is the captain of the robotics team he is also taking some night classes at Patrick Henry Community College in their motorsports program. This weekend Andrew will serve as an honorary crew member on the No. 1 Chevrolet SS team. McMurray discussed racing on short tracks growing up, the increase on the importance of engineering in NASCAR and many other topics. Selected Racing Related questions and answers:

Richard Petty is the all-time winner in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway, but one of his drivers – Brian Scott – will be making his first start at the half-mile track in Sunday’s STP 500. Scott, who received his first Mustang earlier this morning from Petty’s Garage, will start 26th. Both Petty and Scott spoke about Martinsville and how it’s a one-of-a-kind facility.

Joey Logano won his third straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole today at Martinsville Speedway. In addition, this marks the seventh straight race he’s qualified sixth or better at the half-mile track. Here’s a look at his last seven qualifying efforts: 1st (2016); 1st and 1st (2015); 2nd and 3rd (2014); 6th and 4th (2013).

Kasey Kahne led the way for Team Chevy in knock-out style qualifying for the STP 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway with a lap of 19.515 seconds, 97.033 mph in his No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet SS. With his solid run, Kahne will start on the outside front row in the 40-car field for Sunday’s 500-lap event at the 0.526-mile paper-clipped shaped venue. This marks his second top-10 start of 2016 and ninth in 25 races at Martinsville Speedway.

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 GREAT CLIPS CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 2ND - THIS IS YOUR BEST START OF THE YEAR. HOW GOOD DOES THAT FEEL? “It feels good. The car was really fast, this Great Clips Chevrolet. The guys did a nice job in practice and in qualifying. I just kept getting better with my laps.

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s 75 Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - Starting Position: 7th - How was the car in qualifying? “We were okay, we’ve just been lacking a little bit overall all day and that’s just kind of what we missed it by there. Overall, we have decent speed, we just need some more.”

DALE EARNHARDT, NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Martinsville Speedway and discussed his plans to donate his brain for concussion research, why he races so well at Martinsville Speedway and many other topics.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - How much do you look forward to racing here at Martinsville? “Looking forward to it, this has obviously been a really good track for us."

Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion, will be making his debut at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend. This marks the first time the Wood Brothers have competed at their home track since 2011 and Blaney talked about his expectations prior to today’s practice and qualifying sessions.

Bryce Napier will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) debut in the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 this Saturday at Martinsville Speedway. 16 Year old Napier will sport the colors of the No.1 Lilly Trucking, ASAP Appliance Service Chevrolet for MAKE Motorsports.