NASCAR Cup Series

Like all professional athletes, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver Mark Martin leads a hectic life. Between a 24-race NASCAR schedule, weight training, personal appearances and an active family life there are few spare moments. But when the 53-year-old, 40-time NASCAR Sprint Cup winner gets a few moments to himself you might find him soaring miles above the earth’s surface.

RCR has earned four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins at Dover International Speedway, most recently in September 2006 when Jeff Burton drove the No. 31 Chevrolet to Victory Lane in the Dover 400. Three additional victories came with Dale Earnhardt behind the wheel, winning both events at the "Monster Mile" in 1989 as well as the spring race in 1993. RCR has earned one pole award, 23 top-five and 49 top-10 finishes in 132 combined starts at the high-banked, one-mile oval. Childress, a former driver in NASCAR's top division, contributed three of those top 10s from 1976-1980.

The 2012 Sprint Cup Series season started with a running tally of how many races Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin would win. A simple bet amongst outsiders interested to see how Stewart would do with new crew chief Steve Addington, while his championship winning crew chief from last season, Darian Grubb, joined Hamlin at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Babe Hamlin? Okay, it might not roll off the tongue as nice as Denny Hamlin but, like George Herman Ruth of old, Hamlin was bold enough to call his shot and was good enough to pull it off in winning at New Hampshire last Sunday.

Hamlin came from the 32nd starting position to the lead before the 100th lap had been run. Hamlin led 193 of the 300 laps in route to his fifth win of the season and the 100th win all-time for Joe Gibbs Racing, becoming only the sixth team in NASCAR Sprint Cup history to reach 100 victories.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® (NBCF) today announced its official partnership with the Talladega Superspeedway during the month of October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The racetrack will be decked in pink, survivors will storm the tracks, and fan activities will promote awareness, celebrate survival, and generate funds for early detection and education.

Furniture Row Racing announced today that Kurt Busch has been hired to drive the team’s No. 78 Chevrolet during the 2013 Sprint Cup season. Busch, a former NASCAR Cup champion, will replace Regan Smith, who joined Furniture Row Racing at the beginning of the 2009 season.

Everyone has them; they could be superstar athletes or everyday people. I have been privileged enough to meet three of my idols over the past month. Every encounter I was star struck. Talking to someone that you admire, care for and respect creates an incredible feeling inside of you. I have felt that feeling inside of me three times in the past month. Incredible. That’s how I describe every meeting.

Talladega Superspeedway will host a special fan fest and hauler parade at the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, AL., Thursday Oct. 4 from 3:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. In addition to getting close to the giant rigs that transport the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars across the country, fans will also have the chance to bid on a ride to Talladega Superspeedway in one of the haulers while benefiting the National Breast Cancer Foundation.