Kenseth on racing at Martinsville Speedway: “I’ve always felt that throughout my whole career that Martinsville has always been one of my weakest links that I’m just not very good there. It’s been a place that has been difficult for me to tell the guys exactly what I need from the car in order to run well there. Our performance has been a lot better there lately for the past three or four times we’ve raced pretty competitively, so I’m hoping to go there this weekend and get another decent run for our team and be able to keep improving upon our finishes at Martinsville.”
The No.1 team started the race strong, advancing several positions in the early going. However the resolve of the Bass Pro Shops team would be tested as McMurray reported a vibration on the car and was forced to pit early. In the process, he lost two laps as the caution came out just five laps after pitting. The Bass Pro Shops team took advantage of solid pit work over 14 cautions, getting back on the lead lap en route to a15th-place finish.
On Saturday, Oct. 27, at 9 a.m. (ET), race fans will have their first opportunity to purchase tickets for the 55th annual Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday, July 6 – one of NASCAR’s most exciting nighttime races of the season.
Memorial Hospital of Martinsville & Henry County has joined the elite list of Martinsville Speedway sponsors as the Official Onsite Care Provider at Martinsville Speedway.
Dodge’s Brad Keselowski leads the Chase for the Sprint Cup driver standings by seven points over Jimmie Johnson. He has led the point standings after five of the six Chase races. It’s the first time in the history of the NASCAR playoff format that a Dodge driver has led the Chase standings. Keselowski has an average finish of 5.6 through the first six Chase races.
Carl Edwards on racing at Martinsville Speedway: “I am pretty slow at Martinsville. We have just been terrible there the last couple of years. The test in August helped a little bit. I think we have a better game plan there and if we can get a top five at Martinsville and run up front all day that would be a huge step forward for us. I think that 2013 test helped a little bit and it is time for us to have a good run. I think Chad and all the guys are working really hard on it.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been medically cleared to return to NASCAR competition and will be back in the seat of the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Per NASCAR policy, NASCAR’s medical liaison office received official notification of his clearance to resume racing late this morning. Earnhardt announced Oct. 11 that he would miss two races (Charlotte and Kansas) while he was recovering from a concussion.
Miguel Paludo heads from the largest track on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) schedule to the smallest for the second visit of the season to Martinsville Speedway.
Nelson Piquet Jr. heads to Martinsville Speedway this week, for the 19th race of the 22-race season. Piquet Jr. has had three previous starts at NASCAR's smallest track, and claimed his best finish in the spring of this year when he captured his first top-10 of the 2012 season.
One day after veterans dominated the speed chart, rookie Caio Collet rode the aerodynamic wave to the fastest overall speed of the Indianapolis 500 Open Test on Wednesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
JR Motorsports today announced that O’Reilly Auto Parts will be partnering with the organization for two NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series events with driver Sammy Smith and the No. 8 Chevrolet, beginning at Pocono Raceway on June 13
