NASCAR Track News

Close quarters, full-contact action is something mixed martial arts star Miesha Tate does every time she steps into the octagon. Martinsville Speedway is also no stranger to close quarters, full-contact action. The two will come together when the Sprint Cup Series returns to the iconic half-mile track on Oct. 26.

Talladega Superspeedway announced today the individuals who will give the command “Drivers Start Your Engines” and those who will waive the green flag to start the fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola and GEICO 500, Oct. 18-19. The performers for the rendition of the National Anthem were unveiled as well and will showcase a military theme.

Since NASCAR announced its revamped Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup nine months ago, the one race that fans marked on their calendar with the highest of anticipation was Talladega Superspeedway’s GEICO 500. Well, the wait is over – it’s race week at NASCAR’s Most Competitive and unpredictable track, and the emotional drama that awaits is an open-ended script that no one knows the ending.

From presidential inaugurations to Final Fours, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Marching Tar Heels have performed nearly everywhere; everywhere except Martinsville Speedway. That is, until now.

EARNHARDT JR. GETS A CAR – Birthday surprises have been the norm this week for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who turns 40 Friday. In addition to a week filled with surprise parties and gifts, the excitement continued Thursday in the Charlotte Motor Speedway media center, as Earnhardt received a brand new car.

NASCAR’s Most Popular driver and five-time Talladega Superspeedway winner Dale Earnhardt, Jr., along with two popular individuals with Alabama ties, have joined a stellar list of NASCAR personalities as part of the track’s Pre-Race Fan Question & Answer session at the start-finish line on Sunday, Oct. 19, prior to the start of the GEICO 500.

On Monday, Oct. 13, race fans can take advantage of early bird pricing for NASCAR’s 2015 return to Southern California by purchasing tickets to the Auto Club 400 weekend, March 20-22, at Auto Club Speedway.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie of the year candidate Kyle Larson has found immediate success at nearly every track the circuit visits. Martinsville Speedway is not one of them.

It’s not difficult to get Clint Bowyer excited. But if you want to see the NASCAR Sprint Cup driver get really excited, mention Martinsville Speedway.

In 1996, when most 16-year-olds were serving up burgers at a local fast food joint, Letarte was already working full time for Hendrick Motorsports. A year later he was a tire specialist, then a mechanic and by 2002, at the ripe old age of 22, he was a car chief.