Martinsville Speedway
Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022
0.526-Mile Oval
2:00 PM ET
Location: Martinsville, Virginia
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (35 of 36)
Radio: SiriusXM, PRN

5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 30 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 9th

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

BROUGHT THE HEAT: Sunday in South Florida, Kyle Larson led a dominant 199 laps en route to his first Homestead-Miami Speedway victory in the NASCAR Cup Series. Larson, who started fifth in the 267-lap race, won both stages at the 1.5-mile track before collecting his third Cup Series win of the season. Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott is the only driver with more trips to victory lane (five) in 2022.

OWNING THE FINAL FOUR: While Larson is out of contention for the 2022 driver’s title, the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM team is still in the mix for the Cup Series owner’s championship. On the heels of last weekend’s victory at Homestead, the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team will be one of four vying for the owner’s title at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 6. Larson, the 2021 Cup champion, ranks ninth in the driver standings going into Sunday’s event at Martinsville Speedway.

MOVIN’ ON UP: With wins at Homestead, Auto Club Speedway and Watkins Glen International in 2022, Larson now has 19 career victories in NASCAR’s premier series. The 2014 rookie of the year is currently tied with Fonty Flock, Buddy Baker, Davey Allison and Greg Biffle for 43rd in all-time wins. The 30-year-old Larson’s next trip to victory lane could move him into a tie for 42nd.

BAKER’S DOZEN: With his performance at Homestead, Larson now has 13 points-paying victories since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021. In that span, the Elk Grove, California, native has collected six more Cup Series wins than anyone else. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Elliott and Alex Bowman rank second and third with seven and five victories, respectively.

HOT DOG: In 15 starts at the 0.526-mile Martinsville Speedway, Larson has two top-five finishes and three top-10s. In this race last year, the eventual 2021 Cup Series champion led 77 laps – representing 69 percent of his career laps led at the Virginia short track.

YOUR CAR NEEDS: This weekend, Larson will drive the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. From the convenience of home, customers can select the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HENDRICKCARS.COM. The website also makes it easy for customers to find one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 94 dealership locations nationwide.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 26 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 3rd

No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

PLAYOFF UPDATE: With just one race remaining before the NASCAR Cup Series playoff field is narrowed to four, Chase Elliott ranks third in the standings. He sits 11 points above the cutoff line to advance to the title-deciding event at Phoenix Raceway. If he does, it will be his third consecutive appearance in the Championship 4. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native brought home his first career Cup Series title in 2020 after winning the season’s penultimate race at Martinsville Speedway to advance. He has the opportunity to do it again when the series heads back to the paperclip-shaped track this weekend.

PAPERCLIP PERFORMANCE: Elliott is set to make his 15th Martinsville start in the Cup Series on Sunday. The 26-year-old driver made his Cup debut for Hendrick Motorsports there on March 29, 2015, and has since led a total of 903 laps on the 0.526-mile oval – his most at any track. Across his 14 Cup starts at Martinsville, Elliott has one win (November 2020), five top-five finishes and eight top-10s. He leads all Cup drivers in stage points earned and won five of the last seven stages at the short track. In fact, he swept the first two stages in each of the series’ two most recent visits there. Elliott’s six total Martinsville stage wins are tied for the most by any Cup Series driver at any track.

SPRING RECAP: In the most recent Cup Series race at Martinsville in April, Elliott and the No. 9 team started from the pole and swept the first two stages. The driver led a total of 185 laps, including the 10,000th lap led by a Hendrick Motorsports driver at Martinsville, which is the most by a team in series history at a single track. Elliott ultimately took the checkered flag in the 10th position after the race was sent into overtime.

SHORT-TRACK STATS: On Sunday, Elliott will make his 41st short-track start in the Cup Series. In those races, he has garnered one win (Martinsville in 2020), 14 top-five finishes and 20 top-10s with 1,437 laps led. The 2022 Cup Series regular-season champion has finished in the top 10 in the three most recent short-track races, which is the longest active streak by a driver. He is also the only driver to win more than one stage on short tracks in 2022 after sweeping the first two stages at Martinsville in April.

GUSTAFSON’S PAPERCLIP PAST: No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson is set to call his 36th Martinsville Speedway race from atop the pit box. In his previous 35 Cup Series starts at the track, he has three wins, 15 top-five finishes and 25 top-10s with 1,880 laps led. Gustafson most recently visited victory lane at the Virginia short track with Elliott in November 2020 to solidify the No. 9 team’s spot in the Championship 4. The veteran crew chief’s other two wins came with NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon in 2013 and 2015.

FRONT RUNNER: Elliott’s series-high five wins this season are currently tied with 2020 for his most in a single year. The Hendrick Motorsports driver also leads his fellow competitors with a total of eight top-two finishes in 2022 – tied for his second-most in a single season. Elliott had eight top-two finishes in 2020 and nine in 2021.

WINNING WAYS: Atlanta-headquartered NAPA AUTO PARTS is on board the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the final two races of the 2022 season. NAPA has been the primary sponsor for Elliott and the No. 9 team for all five of their victories this year. In fact, the long-time partner of Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports has had its scheme visit victory lane in 13 of the Georgia native’s 18 career Cup Series wins. NAPA was also Elliott’s primary partner when he captured the championship in 2020.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 24 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 4th

No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Martinsville Speedway media center on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 11:15 a.m. local time.

FINAL CHANCE: Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway marked the second race in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs Round of 8. Following a 12th-place finish, driver William Byron is now seeded fourth, five points above the cutline to advance to the Championship 4. Heading into the final race of the round at Martinsville Speedway, Byron is the defending winner at the track with his victory there earlier this season.

PLAYOFF POWER: Across the first eight races of the 2022 playoffs, Byron has accumulated 294 points – the most of any driver in that span. He also has an average finish of 9.63 – second-best behind Denny Hamlin (6.63).

PIT ROAD PROWESS: In the first eight races of the 2022 Cup Series playoffs, the No. 24 pit crew had an average four-tire pit stop time of 10.995 seconds – the best average in the field. The over-the-wall crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Landon Walker (fueler), Ryan Patton (tire carrier), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer) and Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer).

SHORT-TRACK SUCCESS: With the Cup Series entering its fifth paved short-track race of the season, Byron has momentum on his side. In the four previous races this year, he has collected 173 points – the most of any driver. On paved short tracks in 2022, Byron has one win, three top-five finishes and three top-10s. He has also led 334 laps and posted an average starting position of 6.75 and an average finish of 4.5. His top-five finishes, laps led, and average starting and finishing positions are the best of any driver in 2022. Byron’s totals for wins and top-10 finishes are tied for the best of the field this season.

DOUBLED UP: In April, Byron pulled double duty by racing in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Cup Series events at Martinsville. Not only did he collect the win in the truck event, but the driver went on to pick up a second grandfather clock in Sunday’s main event, representing his first career victories at the paperclip-shaped track.

MARTINSVILLE MINUTES: Despite his young age, Byron’s time at Martinsville Speedway goes back to 2006 when he attended his first Cup Series race as a fan. Since then, the 24-year-old driver has moved through the NASCAR ranks and is now poised to make his 10th Cup Series start at the half-mile track. Of his nine Cup starts there, Byron has one win (April 2022), four top-five finishes and five top-10s with 221 laps led. In fact, in the last six races at Martinsville, Byron has five top-10 finishes – tied for the second-most behind Joey Logano (six). Martinsville Speedway also marks the track where Byron has the most top-five finishes and the highest laps-led total of his Cup Series career.

THE FUGLE FILES: Sunday’s race will mark Rudy Fugle’s fourth at Martinsville Speedway as a Cup Series crew chief. In his first three starts, Fugle has one win (April 2022) and three top-five finishes with the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team. Aside from his Cup Series starts, the Livonia, New York, native has 14 races at the paperclip-shaped track already under his belt, all in the Camping World Truck Series. In those events, Fugle has accumulated one win (May 2019), six top-five finishes and 12 top-10s. Two of those appearances came with Byron in 2016 when the duo started seventh in both races and earned a third-place result in the spring and an eighth-place finish in the fall.

TWO-FOUR HISTORY: With his win earlier this year, Byron added his name to the already hefty history of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team at Martinsville. With 10 combined victories at the half-mile track, including nine by Jeff Gordon, the No. 24 is tied with the No. 48 for the third-most wins there by a car number. The No. 24 ranks fourth in Cup Series history with 97 combined wins. The Nos. 2 and 3 are currently tied for third with 101 victories apiece.

LIBERTY U IS BACK: For Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway, Byron will climb behind the wheel of the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the final time in the 2022 season. Featuring a white base with navy flames and red accents, the Liberty University No. 24 will be sure to stand out on track. Liberty University has a long history with Byron starting back in 2014 in the late model ranks. Liberty University has been Training Champions for Christ since it was founded in 1971. Located in the mountains of Central Virginia, Liberty is a liberal arts institution with 17 colleges and schools that offers more than 600 degree programs from the certificate to the doctoral level, on campus and online. Working on an undergraduate degree in strategic communication, Byron is now in his junior year at Liberty University through its online program. For a better look at Byron’s Liberty University paint scheme, click here.

48 Noah Gragson

Age: 24 (July 15, 1998)

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Greg Ives

Standings: Alex Bowman – 15th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

DRIVER NO. 48: Martinsville Speedway will mark the fifth consecutive race Alex Bowman will miss due to a concussion suffered Sept. 25 at Texas Motor Speedway. As Bowman recovers, substitute driver Noah Gragson will again fill in for the No. 48 Ally Racing team. He is the 48th driver to make a Cup Series start for Hendrick Motorsports.

WINNER’S CIRCLE: Although Sunday will mark Gragson’s first Martinsville Speedway start at the NASCAR Cup Series level, the driver has enjoyed success at “The Paperclip.” He has seven top-10 finishes in his eight combined appearances there in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, including wins in October 2017 (truck) and October 2021 (Xfinity). With his victory Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Gragson locked himself into the Championship 4 of the Xfinity Series. It was his eighth win of 2022, which is the most of all drivers in the series.

SCARY GOOD: The No. 48 Ally Racing team heads into Martinsville as the defending race winners. On Oct. 31, 2021, Bowman finished the first stage in eighth and the second stage in second en route to his fourth and final win of the season. The No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team has 10 all-time wins at the 0.526-mile venue.

SHOT CALLER: Heading into Sunday’s race at Martinsville, crew chief Greg Ives has one win, two top-five finishes and six top-10s in his 15 Cup Series starts there. Cars fielded by the 42-year-old Bark River, Michigan, native have completed 7,158 of 7,409 laps across all starts, or 96.6%.

CLOCKING IN: With its 27 victories at Martinsville Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for the most wins at a single track. The team has won 12 of the 18 playoff races held there, including each of the last two.

LAPPING IT UP: In April, Hendrick Motorsports led a combined 397 of 403 laps at Martinsville Speedway en route to a William Byron victory. At 98.51%, the performance set a record for the organization’s highest percentage of laps led in a single race. Hendrick Motorsports has led 10,379 laps at the half-mile oval, which is the all-time record for any team at any track.

EIGHT GREATS: Eight different drivers have won at Martinsville for Hendrick Motorsports, led by Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson with nine victories apiece. Darrell Waltrip recorded four wins there while competing for car owner Rick Hendrick. Geoff Bodine, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and current drivers Byron, Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman have each taken home one Martinsville victory.

NO SHORTAGE: Hendrick Motorsports leads all active Cup Series teams with 55 points-paying victories on short tracks. Joe Gibbs Racing is second with 44 short-track wins and Team Penske ranks third with 33.

VIRGINIA IS FOR WINNERS: Car owner Hendrick grew up in Palmer Springs, Virginia, and his teams have won 38 Cup Series races in his home state. Hendrick Motorsports has gone to victory lane in Virginia at least one time in 27 different seasons, including each of the last three.

DOUBLE-DIGITS: In 2022, Hendrick Motorsports set a new record for the most seasons with 10 or more points-paying Cup Series wins. Including its 11 victories this year, the organization has hit the double-digit mark 12 times since it was founded in 1984. Hendrick Motorsports was previously tied with Petty Enterprises, which posted 11 seasons with 10 or more wins.

PLAY IT OFF: Hendrick Motorsports holds the all-time record for Cup Series playoff race wins with 55, which is 21 more than second-place JGR.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s test at Martinsville Speedway in August: “It’s always good when you can get track time and can work on your car. Martinsville (Speedway) is my worst race track – I just don’t have a good feel for it. Anytime I can get more laps it helps me get into a better rhythm. For me and the type of racing I did growing up, the speed in the middle of the corner at Martinsville is so slow. I am used to trying to roll a corner as fast as possible in a sprint car or a midget or even now a dirt late model. That’s not the case at Martinsville. Usually, the driver going the slowest in the corner is turning the quick laps.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the August test and what he expects this weekend: “Martinsville (Speedway) is certainly its own beast and a unique track. I grew up a couple hours away from it and I love the track. I’ve raced there (as a driver) in a late model and I’ve always enjoyed going there with a Cup (Series) car. We had a good test (in August). Kyle says he doesn’t have a lot of confidence in himself at Martinsville, but we’ve run really well with him and I have seen a lot of good things from him there. I’m cautiously optimistic about this weekend. It should be fun and exciting.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Martinsville this weekend: “The Martinsville (Speedway) race in the spring was different than any Martinsville race I’ve ever really been a part of in the past. It was the craziest thing. You couldn’t pass. It was wild to be going that slow and to have a track position race like that. I’m sure it’s going to be more of that (this weekend), and look, that’s fine. It is what it is, right? As competitors, you have to figure out how to be successful in whatever environment is thrown at you, and I think that’s what we’re going to have there. I think a good qualifying effort is going to be really important in how your day’s going to unfold and how much opportunity you’re going to have. Hopefully we can just get it right all weekend because you’re going to have to be on from the beginning. There’s going to be no catching up.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on heading into the final race of the Round of 8: “The strategy, ultimately, is no different than any other week. You try to score as many points as you can and you try to win the race, but obviously the sense of urgency is going to be much higher because you need to advance through this race. That means it’s all or nothing. So yeah, the strategy won’t be any different, but the sense of urgency will be really elevated and it will be the same for everybody besides Joey (Logano). No one else is in a really safe spot, so I think that is really going to generate some interesting situations.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on how he will approach Sunday’s race at Martinsville: “I think there’s a little we can apply this weekend from our win there in April. We had a good test at Martinsville (Speedway) a couple months ago that helped us be able to refine some things since we’ve raced there last. This weekend is going to be a bigger challenge, though, than usual given it’s the final playoff cutoff race. Everyone will be bringing their ‘A game’ and everything they’ve got. We just need to approach it how we have been so far. You can’t go in thinking about points because that (the points situation) changes every lap. You have to go in with the mindset of needing to win, and that’s what we will do this weekend to hopefully ensure our spot in the final four.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on preparing for Martinsville: “A lot has changed since the last time we raced at Martinsville (Speedway) but having the test a few months ago is really going to help us prepare for this weekend. We’re using a new tire than we did in the April race. We tested with it, so at least we have some idea of what falloff will look like, but there’s still some unknowns until you’re running 80 to 90 laps at a time in race conditions. This race is longer than the spring was as well, so that changes your strategy some. We saw in April that track position was a major key, and I think that will be the same this time. We need to have a good Saturday to really set us up well for Sunday and to hopefully maximize points and contend for the win.”

Greg Ives, crew chief of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on heading to Martinsville as the defending the race winners: “Martinsville Speedway is a place where we have had success in the past. We won the fall race last year, and this season we are in a very different position but with the same goal – go maximize our race and compete for a win. Noah (Gragson) is still in the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Sunday’s race, and we will support him this weekend like we have since he stepped up to fill in for Alex (Bowman). We just have to stay focused on what’s in front of us and right now, and that’s Martinsville.”

KYLE BUSCH
‘Time’ for Halloween

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (Oct. 27, 2022) – This Sunday is a notable day for Kyle Busch for a couple of reasons. Of course, Busch’s main focus is on that afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race, the Xfinity 500 a Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

But the driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) will also use the opportunity to celebrate Halloween as the race happens to fall the day before this year’s “All Hallows’ Eve” celebration. Fittingly, Busch’s racecar will sport the colorful candymaker’s special scheme en homage to its M&M’S Halloween fun packs.

Along with his favorite chocolate candies, Busch is looking for something else to add to his Halloween treat bag following Sunday’s race on the half-mile, paperclip-shaped Martinsville oval – the track’s iconic grandfather clock trophy.

The spooky-looking M&M’S scheme will race on Halloween at a place that was particularly challenging for Busch at the start of his career and the initial part of his 15-year tenure with JGR, which will wrap up at the end of this season. Busch finished outside the top-10 in three of his first four Martinsville races with JGR in 2008 and 2009. Since then, he’s scored 13 top-five finishes there and looks to add a 14th and final Martinsville top-five with JGR Sunday – ideally in victory lane.

The turning point for Busch and the M&M’S team at Martinsville came with the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion’s first career win there in April 2016. Not only did he bring home his first Martinsville clock, he did it in dominating fashion, leading five times for a race-high 352 laps. He added a second win there the following year.

So, as the Cup Series heads to the penultimate race of the season this weekend, Busch and the M&M’S Halloween team hope the confidence they’ve built at Martinsville in recent years translates to yet another grandfather clock, just in “time” for Halloween.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Halloween Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

What is the key to you getting a win at Martinsville?

“It’s a tough racetrack and, any time you come in the pits and make an adjustment on your car, you certainly hope it goes the right way, or you make enough of it, or you don’t make too much of an adjustment. The last run can be tricky, too, because you can be coming off a 50-lap run on right-side tires and take four and you’ve only got 30 (laps) to go, or you could have 80 to go and you know you have to manage that run all the way to the end. Hoping we can get up front and stay there and have a shot at the win with our M&M’S Halloween Camry TRD.”

What’s unique about Martinsville that makes for good racing there?

“Typically, you are off the throttle more than you are on the throttle at Martinsville, so your time is lost or made when you are off the gas. That lends itself to guys dive-bombing and making moves and being light on the brake and running into the back of guys, or rooting them out of the bottom and getting them shuffled back. The more that track becomes a bottom feeder-type racetrack and you can go and get a guy shuffled out, there’s no worry to you because he can’t get back in line. If he goes back five spots, then you have that cushion again. There are all kinds of different ways Martinsville is challenging. I know there have been a couple of tests there to keep working on these cars with different tire compounds and other things, so hopefully we can put on a good show there this weekend.”

Your racecar is sporting the special M&M’s Halloween paint scheme this week. What was your favorite Halloween costume that you wore as a kid?

“Actually, one year I went as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. I think that was my favorite costume as a kid. I was Michelangelo and I even had the fake nunchuk. One year, I was a football player and, one year, I even dressed up as Jeff Gordon since he was my favorite racecar driver when I was a kid.”

Growing up in Las Vegas, what do you remember about Halloween and trick-or-treating?

“It was always cold in Las Vegas during Halloween, even though it can be really hot most of the year. I guess the biggest memory was going out to everyone’s house and trick-or-treating and hanging out with friends as a group. Sometimes, people wouldn’t be home, so they had a bucket out and you would reach in and grab whatever you wanted out of the bucket. It was all about how much candy you could collect, not necessarily about how much you would eat when you got home.”

Event Overview:

● Event: Xfinity 500 (Round 35 of 36)

● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 30

● Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway

● Layout: .526-mile oval

● Laps/Miles: 500 laps, 263 miles

● Format: Stage 1: 130 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 240 laps

● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Meet the No. 18 M&M’S Halloween/ Joe Gibbs Racing Team

Primary Team Members:

Driver: Kyle Busch
Hometown: Las Vegas

Interim Crew Chief: Seth Chavka
Hometown: Soldotna, Alaska

Car Chief: Nate Bellows
Hometown: Fairfax, Vermont

Spotter: Tony Hirschman
Hometown: Northampton, Pennsylvania

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy
Hometown: Blockville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members:

Gas Man: Justin White
Hometown: Lynnville, Tennessee

Front Tire Changer: Blake Houston
Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Jackman: David O’Dell
Hometown: Springfield, Illinois

Tire Carrier: Jake Holmes
Hometown: Westborough, Massachusetts

Rear Tire Changer: Daniel Olszowy
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky

Road Crew Members:

Engine Tuner: Dan Bajek
Hometown: Camden, New York

Truck Driver: Chris Miko
Hometown: Bronx, New York

Truck Driver: Eloy Trevino
Hometown: Adrian, Michigan

Mechanic/Tire Specialist: Justin Peiffer
Hometown: Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Mechanic: Scott Eldridge
Hometown: Warsaw, Indiana

Mechanic: Tony Hamm
Hometown: Walla, Walla, Washington

Notes of Interest:

● All in the Stats:Busch has two wins, 17 top-five finishes and 21 top-10s and has led a total of 1,429 laps in 34 career Cup Series starts at Martinsville. Busch’s average Martinsville finish is 11.7.

● Short-Track Ace:Busch has shown quite the propensity to win at NASCAR’s core short tracks. In addition to his six wins at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, Busch has nine wins in NASCAR’s top series at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and two at Martinsville for his 17 total wins on those three short tracks alone. Of note: Busch’s ninth Bristol win came on the dirt surface there this past April.

● 224 and Counting: Busch will be aiming to add to his record 224 overall wins among NASCAR’s top three series this weekend at Martinsville. In addition to his 60 Cup Series wins and 102 in the Xfinity Series, Busch has 62 wins in the Camping World Truck Series.

STATESVILLE, North Carolina (Oct. 26, 2022) – Following the long-standing partnership between Petty GMS and the United States Air Force, the team recently visited the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs to take part in events, celebrate cadets and support the US Air Force as they took on the US Navy for their annual football game. An incredible visit with three days of celebrating and honoring our military heroes has now moved to the race track!

As part of the visit, the team delivered two Chevrolet Camaro’s to the academy and had both vehicles on display for cadets to explore, along with seeing the inside of a race hauler throughout the weekend. Cadets were able to see the No. 43 US Air Force Chevrolet that has been on track for multiple races this season with Erik Jones, but to their surprise, the team also unveiled a US Space Force Chevrolet to honor both military branches. With overwhelming support of the No. 42 car, Petty GMS has opted to run the No. 42 US Space Force Chevrolet this weekend at Martinsville Speedway with Ty Dillon to bring more awareness to the program.

With the addition of the patriotic scheme, this weekend for the Xfinity 500 will mark the first time Petty GMS has represented two military branches on the race track.

Ty Dillon, No. 42 US Space Force Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Dillon at Martinsville Speedway: Ty Dillon has made nine career starts at Martinsville during his NASCAR Cup Series career, posting three top-20 finishes with a best result of 13th place in 2019. Earlier this year, Dillon drove the No. 42 Chevrolet to a 23rd place finish.

Dillon has made six career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Martinsville, earning two top-fives and two top-10 finishes. The veteran has led 18 laps in Truck competition, and finished as high as second place in 2012.

• About US Space Force: The U.S. Space Force is a military service that organizes, trains, and equips forces which protect U.S. and allied interests in space and provides space capabilities to the joint force. Space Force responsibilities include developing Guardians, acquiring military space systems, maturing the military doctrine for space power, and organizing space forces to present to our Combatant Commands.
• Breast Cancer Awareness: As part of a team tradition, Ty Dillon will be honoring several women who have been affected by breast cancer with pink ribbons lining his No. 42 Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway. The women highlighted are family members of Petty GMS employees directly associated with his team.
• Ty Dillon Sightings: Fans attending Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway will have a chance to see Ty Dillon before the race:

No. 42 Petty GMS Chevrolet Merchandise Trailer: Dillon will be onsite at the team merchandise trailer in the fan midway area from 10:55 AM – 11:25 AM local time on Sunday prior to the Xfinity 500. Fans can stop by to purchase new merchandise and get it signed at the same time.

• From the Drivers Seat: Dillon’s thoughts on racing at Martinsville Speedway

“Every driver loves coming up to Martinsville! Growing up about an hour away from track, I have plenty of vivid memories going to the races with my family as a kid. We ran ok earlier this season at Martinsville and even Richmond, and we’ve improved with each short track race this season as we’ve continued to build our short track program. This weekend will be so cool for us as we represent the US Space Force on the No. 42 Chevy Camaro. We do such a good job as an industry honoring our military every week and it’s an honor to have the Space Force on our car this weekend as we head to one of NASCAR’s historical tracks. I love the design and I am very thankful for the opportunity. Hopefully we can avoid the typical short track carnage and come away with a solid finish for not only every one at Petty GMS, but all of the Gaurdians that we’re representing this weekend with this special US Space Force scheme.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 US Air Force Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Jones at Martinsville Speedway: With only two races remaining in the 2022 season, teams stay close to home this week to compete at Virginia’s short track, Martinsville Speedway. At just the age of 16, Martinsville Speedway is the site of Erik Jones first NASCAR start on April 6, 2013, in the Truck Series. Jones started that race from the 19th position and finished ninth.

This weekend Jones will make his 12th-career Cup Series start at the .526-mile track. In his previous 11 starts at the track, Jones has a best finish of eighth in the Fall 2021 race. Earlier this season, the No. 43 team started the race at Martinsville Speedway from the 24th position and finished 13th.

Jones has a total of five starts in the truck series at the track with two top-five finishes, four top-10 finishes and a best-career finish of third in 2015.

• Erik Jones Sightings: Fans attending Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway will have a few chances to see Erik Jones before the race:

Chevy Stage: Jones will make his way to the Chevy Stage for a Q&A on Sunday morning from 10:25 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. ET.
“Read with Erik”: Following his appearance on the Chevy Stage, Jones will make his way to the Kids Zone where he will read “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” The reading will take place from 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. ET. The first 50 kids will receive a free copy of the book to follow along with Jones as he reads the Halloween classic.

• Breast Cancer Awareness: The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and all Petty GMS and GMS Racing teams will honor individuals throughout the month who are battling, are survivors and those who have succumbed to the disease. Each vehicle will carry pink ribbons with the names of family members and friends submitted by Petty GMS and GMS Racing employees. During this month, we honor all those affected by this disease.
• Aim High: The U.S. Air Force will serve as the primary partner for Jones and the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro team for Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway. The 2022 dark green paint scheme, designed by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Brockman, was inspired by the famous B-29 Superfortress with glass up front and riveted panel design.
• About Air Force Recruiting Service: The mission of Air Force Recruiting Service is to inspire, engage and recruit the next generation of Airmen and Space professionals. We are looking for America’s best and brightest to fill approximately 30,000 opportunities in more than 200 Air Force specialties, as well as more than 600 space professionals in approximately 18 specific career fields in fiscal 2023. Additionally, our total force partners, the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard are collectively hiring more than 19,000 part-time Airmen. Our military recruits to retain, providing tough, highly technical training that gives our future servicemembers the right skills to sustain the combat capability of America’s Air Force and protect our nation’s interests in space. For more information about Air Force and U.S. Space Force benefits and opportunities, go to www.airforce.com.
• Seeing Double: This weekend in addition to the US Air Force sponsoring the No. 43 Chevy, the US Space Force will partner with Ty Dillon and the No. 42 Chevy team.
• From the Driver’s Seat: “Martinsville is another place that we tested a month or two ago and I felt like we learned a ton at that test that got ourselves and our car a lot better there than we were for the Spring race. I’m excited, Martinsville is always a place I’m trying to improve on. It’s definitely been, I’d say as far as tracks we go to in the Cup Series or any NASCAR Series, it’s probably been my toughest track. Just trying to continue to get better there as a driver and continuing to try to learn. I think overall what we learned at the test will pay off. Hopefully we have made the right changes and can go into it with a good race car and can have a good run. We ran top 10 last fall, which was really strong for us, so hopefully we can have a similar, if not a little better, run.”

ABOUT PETTY GMS:

Petty GMS competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, operating the No. 42 Chevrolet for Ty Dillon and the No. 43 Chevrolet for Erik Jones. Founded in December 2021, Maury Gallagher, championship team owner of GMS Racing, purchased a majority interest of Richard Petty Motorsports. Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, known as “The King,” remains a key stakeholder of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pettygms.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow Petty GMS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Xfinity 500
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, Virginia
October 30, 2022

ROUND OF 8 ELIMINATION: MARTINSVILLE

One final opportunity lies ahead for the remaining NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) playoff hopefuls to secure a berth into the Championship 4. For the third consecutive season, Martinsville Speedway will host the penultimate race of the playoffs for both series.

The .526-mile Virginia venue took over the post-season position as the Round of 8 elimination race in 2020. Entering the 2020 event below the cutline, Chase Elliott powered his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to victory lane, taking the prestigious grandfather clock and a ticket to the Championship 4 that ultimately led him to his first career championship title in NASCAR’s premier series.

Chevrolet has amassed a series-leading 59 NCS victories at Martinsville, most recently by Chevrolet playoff contender William Byron (April 2022), who lead a race-high 212 laps en route to the triumph to become the series’ first repeat winner of the season. The 24-year-old North Carolina native visited victory lane twice that weekend, also capturing the win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race behind the wheel of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Silverado RST. Byron is heading into the playoff elimination race weekend looking to not only make it back-to-back trips to victory lane at Martinsville, but to grab a bid to the Championship 4 for the first time in his NCS career.

Heading into the final race of the Round of 8, all three of Chevrolet’s playoff drivers sit above the playoff cutline. After back-to-back runner-up finishes, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain maintained the second position in the standings, now with a 19-point advantage over the cutline. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and William Byron collected top-10 finishes in both stages at Homestead, earning valuable stage points to help put them above the cutline in the third- and fourth-positions, respectively, in the standings.

A look at where the Team Chevy NCS playoff drivers stand heading into the Round of 8 elimination race, including season numbers and career stats at Martinsville Speedway:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Camaro ZL1 – 2nd in Playoff Standings (19-points above cutline)

Victories: 2

Top-Fives: 13 (series-leading)

Top-10s: 19 (series-leading)

Laps Led: 692

Stage Wins: 6

Average Finish: 13.8

At Martinsville Speedway:

Top-Fives: 1; Top-10s: 1

Average Finish: 24.286

Of Note:

• The 2022 season marks Chastain’s first career appearance in the NCS playoffs.
• Chastain posted top-five finishes earlier this season at two tracks in the Round of Eight, including Martinsville Speedway (5th).
• In seven of the eight 2022 NCS playoff races thus far, Chastain has finished in the top-13, including back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Round of 8.  
  Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 – 3rd in Playoff Standings (11-points above cutline)

2022 NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Champion

Victories: 5 (series-leading)

Top-Fives: 12;

Top-10s: 19; (series-leading)

Laps Led: 803

Stage Wins: 6

Average Finish: 12.1

At Martinsville Speedway:

Victories: 1

Pole Wins: 1

Top-Fives: 5; Top-10s: 8

Average Finish: 13.429

Of Note:

• The 2022 season marks Elliott’s seventh consecutive appearance in the NCS playoffs.
• Elliott has advanced to the Championship 4 the past two seasons, winning his first career NCS Driver Championship in 2020.
• Elliott is one of just two former NCS champions that makeup the 2022 NCS Playoffs Round of 8.
• Elliott’s one career NCS victory at Martinsville Speedway came in the series’ Round of 8 elimination race in 2020; a victory that led to his first career NCS championship title.  
  William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 – 4th in Playoff Standings (5-points above the cutline)

Victories: 2

Top-Fives: 5

Top-10s: 9

Laps Led: 746

Stage Wins: 4

Average Finish: 16.1

At Martinsville Speedway:

Victories: 1

Top-Fives: 4; Top-10s: 5

Average Finish: 15.111

Of Note:

• The 2022 season marks Byron’s fourth consecutive appearance in the NCS playoffs.
• Bryon’s career-best finish in the NCS playoffs came in 2021, finishing the season 10th in the final points standings.
• Byron is the series’ most recent winner at Martinsville Speedway (April 2022), while also having collected three consecutive top-five finishes at the Virginia short track.

LARSON SET TO RACE FOR OWNER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

While he may not be contending for a back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series Driver’s Championship, Kyle Larson piloted his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 to the victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway, ultimately locking-in the team’s spot to compete for the owner’s championship title. Team owner, Rick Hendrick, has collected 14 owner’s championship titles in NASCAR’s premier series, all of which have been recorded behind the wheel of a Chevrolet.

Larson’s third win of the 2022 season came after a dominating performance at the 1.5-mile South Florida oval; sweeping the stage wins and leading a race-high 199 of 267 laps on his way to the victory. His triumph extended Chevrolet’s series-leading win record to 19 wins in 34 NCS races, matching the manufacturer’s win count from the previous season with still two races remaining.

Larson led a string of Chevrolet drivers to the checkered flag at Homestead, with Ross Chastain (2nd), AJ Allmendinger (3rd) and Austin Dillon (4th) giving the Bowtie brand a sweep of the top-four finishing positions.. a feat that was performed from drivers from four different Chevrolet teams. This accomplishment marks Chevrolet’s third time sweeping the top-four finishing positions this season (Auto Club Speedway, Road America and Homestead-Miami Speedway); and the manufacturer’s 10th time placing four drivers in the top-five in a single race in 2022.

GRAGSON ONTO NXS CHAMPIONSHIP 4

JR Motorsports’ Noah Gragson added onto an already career-season, collecting his series-leading eighth NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of 2022 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In dominating fashion, the 24-year-old driver powered his No. 9 Camaro SS to a sweep of the stage wins and led a race-high 127 of 200 laps en route to an automatic berth into the series’ Championship 4 for the second consecutive season. Gragson’s victory marked Chevrolet’s 24th win in 31 NCS races, while also extending the manufacturer’s current win streak to 10 in a row.

Gragson is the second Chevrolet driver to lock-in a spot in the Championship 4. Gragson’s JR Motorsports teammate, Josh Berry, already punched his ticket into the Championship 4 after driving his No. 8 Camaro SS to the victory in the series’ opening race of the Round of 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Berry’s victory – Chevrolet’s 500th all-time NXS win – also clinched Chevrolet’s series-leading 24th NXS Manufacturer’s Championship. 

ONE RACE, TWO SPOTS REMAIN

Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Dead On Tools 250 will determine the final two drivers that will join Noah Gragson and Josh Berry in the battle for the 2022 NXS Driver’s Championship.

Entering the playoff elimination race weekend at Martinsville, the series’ regular-season champion, AJ Allmendinger, is ranked fourth in the standings and five-points above the cutline. Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill and Sam Mayer sit in the fifth- through seventh-positions in the standings, respectively, but still within reach of the opportunity to either point or win their way into a spot in the Championship 4.

Chevrolet’s most recent NXS victory at the .526-mile Virginia venue came in last season’s Round of 8 elimination race. Entering the race weekend in a “must-win” scenario, Gragson was able to power his No. 9 Camaro SS team to a walk-off win in an overtime finish to clinch a spot in the Championship 4. 

CHEVROLET CONTINUES ‘MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER’ AT MARTINSVILLE

Chevrolet’s partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and its “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” initiative marks its 12th consecutive year in 2022. Proudly carrying the ACS logo, for every lap the specialty-themed pink Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE pace car leads NASCAR’s premier series under caution during three select races in October, Chevrolet will donate $350 to the American Cancer Society to honor “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.”

The second of three NASCAR Cup Series events that are part of the initiative took place at Homestead-Miami Speedway this past weekend. With the pink Camaro pace car leading the NCS for 30 laps under caution during Sunday’s Dixie Vodka 400, Chevrolet will contribute $10,500 towards the campaign, bringing the total to $19,250 with one race remaining in the campaign.

The pink Camaro pace car will return to the track this weekend, serving as the pace car for the 500-lap/263-mile NCS playoff race at Martinsville Speedway as the third and final race of this year’s campaign. 

BOWTIE BULLETS

· Victories by active Chevrolet drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway:

William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (2022)

Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (2021)

Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (2020)

· In 147 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Martinsville Speedway, Chevrolet has recorded a series-leading 59 victories, including the series’ most recent appearance at the .526-mile Virginia short track in April 2022, recorded by Chevrolet playoff contender William Byron.

· Chase Elliott recorded the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 elimination race win at Martinsville Speedway in 2020.. a victory that led to his first career championship title.

· Ross Chastain has recorded runner-up finishes in both of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 races. Chastain will enter the elimination race weekend second in points, 19-points above the cutline, in his first career NCS playoff appearance.

· Kyle Larson’s victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway delivered Chevrolet its 19th NASCAR Cup Series win in 34 points-paying races this season, more than its manufacturer competitors combined. The Bowtie brand also continues to lead its manufacturer competitors in top-fives (80), top-10s (150), laps led (4,084) and stage wins (28).

· Chevrolet drivers swept the top-four finishing positions in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway; a feat recorded by drivers from four different Chevrolet teams. This marks the third time the Bowtie brand has swept the top-four finishing positions this season; and the 10th time Chevrolet has placed four drivers in the top-five in a single race in 2022.

· Seven Team Chevy drivers have combined 28 NASCAR Cup Series stage wins:

Tyler Reddick 2 - Fontana x2

Alex Bowman 1 - Las Vegas, Kansas

Ross Chastain 6 - Las Vegas, Darlington, Charlotte, Pocono, Richmond, ROVAL

William Byron 4 – Phoenix, Atlanta, Talladega, Darlington

Daniel Suarez 2 – COTA, Charlotte

Chase Elliott 6 – Martinsville x2, Charlotte, Atlanta x2, Talladega

Kyle Larson 6 – Bristol, Sonoma, Pocono, Texas, Homesteadx2

· JR Motorsports has gone two-for-two in race wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Round of 8, with Noah Gragson recording his series-leading eighth NXS win of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Gragson joins teammate, Josh Berry, as the second Chevrolet driver to already clinch a spot in the Championship 4.

· Following Josh Berry’s win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Chevrolet’s 500th all-time NXS victory – Chevrolet clinched its series-leading 24th NXS Manufacturer’s Championship. This marks the eighth title for the Camaro SS since becoming Chevrolet’s flagship vehicle in the series in 2013, including the past six consecutive years.

 
FOR THE FANS

· Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Martinsville Speedway.

· Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: Tahoe Z71, Silverado 2500HD LTZ Diesel, Silverado Crew ZR2, Blazer RS, Corvette Z51, Camaro ZL1, Pink Silverado 1500 Crew High Country Diesel.

· At the Chevrolet Display, fans can also view Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Camaro ZL1 show car.

Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:

Sunday, October 30

· Erik Jones: 10:25 a.m.

· William Byron: 11:00 a.m.

· Daniel Suarez: 11:15 a.m.

· Noah Gragson : 11:50 a.m.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:

Friday, October 28: 12 pm – 5:30pm

Saturday, October 29: 9 am – 3:30pm

Sunday, October 30: 9 am – 2:30pm

Tune In:

NBC will broadcast the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 30. Live coverage can also be found on the NBCSports Gold App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

NBC will broadcast the NASCAR Xfinity Series Dead On Tools 250 at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 29. Live coverage can also be found on the NBCSports Gold App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 MOOSE FRATERNITY CAMARO ZL1

What are your thoughts on Martinsville being the final race before the Championship race?

“When NASCAR decided on the schedule, it was no accident that Martinsville was going to be the race to get into the Championship 4. We’ve seen year over year, it produces some crazy races. I don’t expect anything different. It’s another place that I am looking for a little bit of speed at. It was challenging to pass in the spring, but we were a car that went from around 27th and drove to fifth, but it took me all race to get there. It’s been high on my list to be better there. We tested there and I am still looking for more speed.”

What do you think about Martinsville this weekend?

“I want to qualify better there this weekend than I did last time. I had us starting pretty deep in the field and it takes a long time to get towards the front of the field there.”

It seems you’re getting everything you can out of the racecar right now and really maximizing its potential.

“Yeah, I’m so proud of the effort of this team and the execution of pit stops. The guys are doing a great job on pit road. We’re checking the boxes and doing what you need to do to run in the Cup Series and put ourselves in contention for wins. The points will stack as up they do.”

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1

Larson on the team’s test at Martinsville Speedway in August:

“It’s always good when you can get track time and can work on your car. Martinsville (Speedway) is my worst race track – I just don’t have a good feel for it. Anytime I can get more laps it helps me get into a better rhythm. For me and the type of racing I did growing up, the speed in the middle of the corner at Martinsville is so slow. I am used to trying to roll a corner as fast as possible in a sprint car or a midget or even now a dirt late model. That’s not the case at Martinsville. Usually, the driver going the slowest in the corner is turning the quick laps.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1

Daniels on the August test and what he expects this weekend:

“Martinsville (Speedway) is certainly its own beast and a unique track. I grew up a couple hours away from it and I love the track. I’ve raced there (as a driver) in a late model and I’ve always enjoyed going there with a Cup (Series) car. We had a good test (in August). Kyle says he doesn’t have a lot of confidence in himself at Martinsville, but we’ve run really well with him and I have seen a lot of good things from him there. I’m cautiously optimistic about this weekend. It should be fun and exciting.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1

Elliott on racing at Martinsville this weekend:

“The Martinsville (Speedway) race in the spring was different than any Martinsville race I’ve ever really been a part of in the past. It was the craziest thing. You couldn’t pass. It was wild to be going that slow and to have a track position race like that. I’m sure it’s going to be more of that (this weekend), and look, that’s fine. It is what it is, right? As competitors, you have to figure out how to be successful in whatever environment is thrown at you, and I think that’s what we’re going to have there. I think a good qualifying effort is going to be really important in how your day’s going to unfold and how much opportunity you’re going to have. Hopefully we can just get it right all weekend because you’re going to have to be on from the beginning. There’s going to be no catching up.”

ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1

Gustafson on heading into the final race of the Round of 8:

“The strategy, ultimately, is no different than any other week. You try to score as many points as you can and you try to win the race, but obviously the sense of urgency is going to be much higher because you need to advance through this race. That means it’s all or nothing. So yeah, the strategy won’t be any different, but the sense of urgency will be really elevated and it will be the same for everybody besides Joey (Logano). No one else is in a really safe spot, so I think that is really going to generate some interesting situations.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CAMARO ZL1

Byron on how he will approach Sunday’s race at Martinsville:

“I think there’s a little we can apply this weekend from our win there in April. We had a good test at Martinsville (Speedway) a couple months ago that helped us be able to refine some things since we’ve raced there last. This weekend is going to be a bigger challenge, though, than usual given it’s the final playoff cutoff race. Everyone will be bringing their ‘A game’ and everything they’ve got. We just need to approach it how we have been so far. You can’t go in thinking about points because that (the points situation) changes every lap. You have to go in with the mindset of needing to win, and that’s what we will do this weekend to hopefully ensure our spot in the final four.”

RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CAMARO ZL1

Fugle on preparing for Martinsville:

“A lot has changed since the last time we raced at Martinsville (Speedway) but having the test a few months ago is really going to help us prepare for this weekend. We’re using a new tire than we did in the April race. We tested with it, so at least we have some idea of what falloff will look like, but there’s still some unknowns until you’re running 80 to 90 laps at a time in race conditions. This race is longer than the spring was as well, so that changes your strategy some. We saw in April that track position was a major key, and I think that will be the same this time. We need to have a good Saturday to really set us up well for Sunday and to hopefully maximize points and contend for the win.”

TY DILLON, NO. 42 U.S. SPACE FORCE CAMARO ZL1

“Every driver loves coming up to Martinsville! Growing up about an hour away from there, I have plenty of vivid memories going to the races with my family as a kid. We had a great run with our No. 42 team at Richmond, and I feel like our short track program continues to improve every time we hit the track. This weekend will be so cool for us to represent all the cadets in the US Space Force on our Camaro, I love the design and am very thankful for the opportunity. Hopefully we can avoid the typical short track carnage and come away with a solid finishing result that our guys deserve!”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 U.S. AIR FORCE CAMARO ZL1

“Martinsville is another place that we tested a month or two ago and I felt like we learned a ton at that test that got ourselves and our car a lot better there than we were for the Spring race. I’m excited, Martinsville is always a place I’m trying to improve on. It’s definitely been, I’d say as far as tracks we go to in the Cup Series or any NASCAR Series, it’s probably been my toughest track. Just trying to continue to get better there as a driver and continuing to try to learn. I think overall what we learned at the test will pay off. Hopefully we have made the right changes and can go into it with a good race car and can have a good run. We ran top 10 last fall, which was really strong for us, so hopefully we can have a similar, if not a little better, run.”

GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1

Ives on heading to Martinsville as the defending the race winners:

“Martinsville Speedway is a place where we have had success in the past. We won the fall race last year, and this season we are in a very different position but with the same goal – go maximize our race and compete for a win. Noah (Gragson) is still in the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Sunday’s race, and we will support him this weekend like we have since he stepped up to fill in for Alex (Bowman). We just have to stay focused on what’s in front of us and right now, and that’s Martinsville.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 WORLDWIDE EXPRESS CAMARO ZL1

How would you rank the success this year and did you see this coming last year?

“I think that the season has been good. It’s tough, because as a race car driver, I am very greedy. If I don’t win the championship, I wouldn’t say that it is a perfect season. With that being said, I feel that it was a huge step from the first year of Trackhouse to the second year of Trackhouse. Right now, I feel like we are working hard to build up our house, and we have done that. I feel like the 99 team has a lot of things still to prove. And for me, with how we are running, I know that there is potential for more, and that is very exciting.

I am very happy with where I am, I am very happy with Trackhouse, and the 99 team. I have an amazing team and we are going to continue to fight. I wish I was still in the playoffs and fighting for a championship, but it just wasn’t in the cards for us. But we have the speed and honestly everything to give these guys a fight. We are going to continue to do that and close this season as strong as possible so we can start building momentum for next year.”

 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2022): 41

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2021): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021

Event Victories:

Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2022 STATISTICS:

Wins: 19

Poles: 10

Laps Led: 4,084

Top-five finishes: 80

Top-10 finishes: 150

Stage wins: 28

Tyler Reddick (Fontanax2)
Alex Bowman (Las Vegas), (Kansas)
Ross Chastain (Las Vegas), (Darlington), (Charlotte), (Pocono), (Richmond), (Charlotte ROVAL)
William Byron (Phoenix), (Atlanta), (Talladega), (Darlington)
Daniel Suarez (COTA), (Charlotte)
Chase Elliott (Martinsvillex2), (Charlotte), (Atlantax2), (Talladega)
Kyle Larson (Bristol Dirt), (Sonoma), (Pocono), (Texas), (Homesteadx2)

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 833 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 733

Laps led to date: 245,420

Top-five finishes to date: 4,218

Top-10 finishes to date: 8,705

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,167

       Chevrolet: 833

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 819                                                           

       Ford: 719

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 169

 
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.