Official Release

With two wins in the first five races by Team Penske, Ford Performance’s NASCAR teams will look to the half-mile oval of Martinsville Speedway for another chance at reaching victory lane this weekend.

Richard Childress Racing's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Martinsville Speedway ... In 146 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 56 top-10 finishes at Martinsville dating back to the team's first start there on April 10, 1972.

Throughout the years, there hasn't been an organization that has dominated at Martinsville Speedway like the Pettys. From 1949-2008, Petty Enterprises accumulated 19 wins, 53 Top-Five and 75 Top-10 finishes in 158 starts. What's even more impressive? Richard Petty, himself, was accountable for 15 of the 19 wins during that time, the most wins of any driver at the track.

Sitting 10th in points, Aric Almirola is off to his best career-start after five races. As the No. 43 team enters a track filled with Petty history, they will bring the historic STP paint scheme and hope to continue the success that Richard Petty tallied at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Petty earned the most clock trophies in the garage, and now, Almirola would like to win one of his own.

Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) completed their three-race West Coast swing Sunday afternoon at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. After an 11th-place finish, Aric Almirola and the No. 43 Smithfield Ford team are now 10th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points after the first five races.

NASCAR fans continue to demonstrate the greatest loyalty toward a sponsor’s brand among all sports fans in the U.S., according to SponsorLink research released today by Repucom. Seven out of 10 NASCAR fans said they are loyal to a sponsor’s brand when the brand supports their sport, which is nearly 20% higher than a typical sports fan.

NASCAR® and Sherwin-Williams, the nation’s largest specialty retailer of paint and paint supplies, announced a three-year extension to their Official Partnership. The newly signed extension will designate Sherwin-Williams as the “Official Paint of NASCAR” through 2017.

The United States Army Training and Doctrine Command Band (TRADOC) Herald Trumpets will perform a traditional version of the National Anthem prior to the start of Sunday’s STP 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway.

INDYCAR announced today an increase of $250,000 to its Leaders Circle program, which raises the total annual payment for eligible Verizon IndyCar Series entrants to $1.25 million.

After Sunday’s Auto Club 400, there may be a warrant issued for Brad Keselowski. After all, the driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford committed his own version of "Grand Theft Auto" at Auto Club Speedway—he stole an entire race.