NASCAR Cup Series

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.

“We completed the race, finished on the lead lap and got a top 20 out of it. I’m ecstatic about that. These guys did an awesome job today.”

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.

Imagine watching the final confrontation of Lord of the Rings. We have Sam somewhere out on the mountain, as Frodo and Smeagol battle for the ring on the edge of the volcano. Then, out of nowhere, Barliman Butterbur, the owner of the Prancing Pony bar, jumps in to steal the ring from them both, leaps onto the back of Bill the horse, and disappears into the sunset. You are left wondering just what in hell just happened. Fontana was just like that.

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.

For the finale of NASCAR’s west coast swing, here is what was surprising and not surprising from Fontana’s 19th annual Auto Club 400.