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Johnson secures victory and series points lead at Martinsville

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[media-credit id=100 align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Jimmie Johnson continues his dominance at Martinsville winning from the pole position in the Tums 500. Johnson led 193 laps en route to his seventh win and 19th top ten finish in just 22 starts at the legendary track. More importantly, he leaves Martinsville with a two point lead over Brad Keselowski.

“We just had a great race car. And I think we’ve also learned our lesson here in the past in not pitting late and that certainly came into play and we made the right decision there. I’m so torn with emotion right now with winning here; and I’m so happy to be in the point lead.” Johnson said.

Keselowski minimized the expected damage in the points standings today with a fantastic run from the 32nd starting spot. The Miller Lite driver worked his way through the field and was leading on restart near the end of the race but had to settle for a sixth place finish. The Penske team seemed pleased to come away with minimal loss considering Johnson’s amazing stats at this track.

Kyle Busch ends up with a hard fought second place, with Hendrick driver Kasey Kahne , who ran consistently in the top ten all day, taking the checkered in third spot.

Richard Petty Motorsports driver Aric Almirola drove his No. 43 Gwaltney Ford to a solid fourth place finish, . Aric said after the race, “That was a good run for us. Todd Parrott made a gutsy call there. We were horrible at the beginning of this race, I mean horrible. I don’t know how we didn’t go several laps down, but we fought hard all day.” The Richard Petty team recently swapped personnel between the No.43 of Almirloa, and the No.9 driven by Marcos Ambrose. The move seems to be paying off for Almirola, as he has consistently ran stronger than before the switch.

Chase contender Clint Bowyer shows that he is in this until the end with another strong effort in his No.15 Micheal Waltirp Racing Toyota. Bowyer led four times today for a total of 151 laps and wound up a respectable fifth at the end of the day. Bowyer leaves Martinsville with a 26 point deficit to leader Johnson.

The big loser today was Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin. Hamlin overcame a early penalty and fought his way back toward the front, but an electrical problem that caused the car to shut down and bring out a yellow on lap 393, sent him to the garage area for repairs where he lost 33 laps. Hamlin ended the day 34 laps off the pace and finished a dismal 33rd. Hamlin now trails Johnson by 49 points and would appear that once again late in the season, his championship hopes have ended.

It would appear we now have a two man race for the championship. Johnson and Keselowski have been the most consistent competitors in the seven Chase races so far. Bowyer and Kahne still have an outside chance, but will need the two leaders to stumble in the final three races. Based on the results this season that is not likely to happen.

Unofficial Race Results
Tums Fast Relief 500, Martinsville Speedway
http://www.speedwaymedia.com/Cup/race.php?race=33
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Pos. St. No. Driver Make Points
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1 – 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 48
2 – 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 42
3 – 5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 42
4 – 43 Aric Almirola Ford 40
5 – 15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 40
6 – 2 Brad Keselowski Dodge 39
7 – 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 38
8 – 55 Brian Vickers Toyota 37
9 – 47 Bobby Labonte Toyota 35
10 – 16 Greg Biffle Ford 34
11 – 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 33
12 – 27 Paul Menard Chevrolet 32
13 – 22 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 0
14 – 78 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 30
15 – 17 Matt Kenseth Ford 30
16 – 20 Joey Logano Toyota 28
17 – 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 27
18 – 99 Carl Edwards Ford 26
19 – 83 Landon Cassill Toyota 25
20 – 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet 24
21 – 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 23
22 – 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 22
23 – 56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 21
24 – 9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 20
25 – 13 Casey Mears Ford 19
26 – 34 David Ragan Ford 19
27 – 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 17
28 – 51 AJ Allmendinger Chevrolet 16
29 – 32 Ken Schrader Ford 15
30 – 38 David Gilliland Ford 14
31 – 93 Travis Kvapil Toyota 14
32 – 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 12
33 – 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 12
34 – 33 Stephen Leicht * Chevrolet 10
35 – 36 Dave Blaney Chevrolet 9
36 – 10 David Reutimann Chevrolet 8
37 – 195 Scott Speed Ford 7
38 – 26 Josh Wise * Ford 6
39 – 98 Michael McDowell Ford 5
40 – 30 David Stremme Toyota 4
41 – 87 Joe Nemechek Toyota 0
42 – 23 Scott Riggs Chevrolet 2
43 – 191 Reed Sorenson Toyota 0

Ford Martinsville Post-Race Quotes

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CHEVY NSCS AT MARTINSVILLE TWO: Chevrolet Clinches 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Manufacturers’ Cup

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Red Horse Racing Martinsville Speedway Race Report

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Business as usual for Keselowski at Martinsville

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SM Staff
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[media-credit id=100 align=”alignright” width=”224″][/media-credit]Since the end of Tums 500 qualifying session at Martinsville Speedway, media reports, social media and television have been buzzing about series points leader Brad Keselowski’s 32nd place starting spot. Making matters worse, Keselowski’s closest competitor, Jimmie Johnson, put his No.48 Lowes Chevy on the pole. Instantly there was a buzz through the garage area. Given Johnson’s amazing record at the flat half mile track, the question being asked is not whether he will takeover the points lead, but rather by how much.

While Johnson’s record is phenomenal, six wins in 21 starts, Keselowski has five starts and just two top ten finishes. Keselowski, however, has ran extremely well this season and did finish a respectable ninth in the spring Martinsville event.

Another interesting fact is that due to the poor qualifying effort, the team’s choice of pit spot is less than optimal. They did choose a spot immediately behind a team that was likely to be a start and park team. This morning however, the No.32 Ford of Ken Schrader had purchased a supply of tires from the Mike Bliss No.19 car that did not make the field, so it would now seem they are going to attempt to run the entire race. That makes one wonder who may have paid the bill on those tires.

In garage area however, the team seemed relaxed and not bothered by the enormous amount of media hype. I spoke with a team representative and asked if there was a different strategy planned given the circumstances. He responded, “Just try to get some track position early, and once we get there stay out front as long as we can.” he also pointed out that they aren’t using anything different in chassis setup and, “It sorta simplifies things for us, we know we just have to go to the front.”

Given the relaxed, business as usual attitude of the Penske team, they may leave Martinsville in the same position they arrived with, in the drivers seat of the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship!

Buescher captures series points lead at Martinsville

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RCR Post Race Report – NCWTS Kroger 200

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Miguel Paludo No. 32 NCWTS Post-Race Report: Martinsville II

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Hamlin off to a good start in Martinsville by grabbing CWTS win

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SM Staff
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[media-credit name=”Tyler Barrick/Getty Images” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Consider it batting practice or a nice warm-up for tomorrow’s Cup event at Martinsville. That’s what Denny Hamlin seemed to do on Saturday afternoon as he went out and won the Camping World Truck Series event, muscling his way past Matt Crafton with six laps to go.

Hamlin, who has won at the paperclip four times in the Cup Series, went back-to-back in the CWTS at the facility. It was also his second career CWTS win. And he did it the hard way coming from the back after missing the drivers meeting, negating his fifth place spot he had earned.

“It was a great day for us, kind of taking our time getting to the front at the beginning. We had a race winning truck on the long run,” said Hamlin. “The second run our truck wasn’t quite as good and I think a couple guys got a little better as well.

“We had to tune our truck back to where it was the first run and it took off again. Proud of the adjustments and the opportunity to run for Kyle [Busch, owner] and Rick [Ren, crew chief]. It’s always great to get a win and especially with the circumstances we have the next few weeks on the Cup side.”

The victory was the first for Kyle Busch Motorsports this season. Brian Scott drove the company’s primary entry, the No. 18, to a 10th place finish. Hamlin drove the No. 51 Toyota to victory in just his second start – he finished top five earlier this season at Pocono – of the season.

In doing so, he led the final six laps after taking the lead, but it was all that was enough. Afterwards Crafton greeted Hamlin in victory lane, leaning inside his truck to discuss the wining move. It wasn’t a pass, felt Crafton, instead he got run into and moved out of the way.

“He was really happy about finishing fourth, he was excited about it. What do you expect, you’re the leader, it’s a few laps to go,” joked Hamlin about the encounter.

“If you rewind the tape from Cup in 2008 or ’09, I think I was in the same position and Jimmie Johnson pulled that same exact move on me and we got the bad end of that deal. It’s just when you’re the leader with a few laps to go, you got to expect it, you’re at Martinsville. You can’t wreck the guy, that’s off the limits. Move him up and out of the groove, that’s standard protocol at this type of racetrack.”

In defense however, Hamlin said he tried to race Crafton clean. Giving him extra room getting into turn one because Crafton had been sliding up the track from driving in too deep. Finally, Hamlin had enough of getting run up the track, so when the two got to turn three he made his move.

[media-credit name=”Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”240″][/media-credit]Either way, it didn’t matter for Hamlin. The Virginia native is putting his best foot forward at a track he normally is one step ahead of the competition. One he now is in position to sweep. On Sunday the goal is to take a chunk out of Brad Keselowski’s point lead, he’s currently 20 behind sitting third.

“I think it will be important. The setups are nothing alike, so you can’t take that part of it. But you can take the strategy. You can look at tire wear and say, ‘we pitted with a certain amount of laps and over here on the truck we ran this many of laps before we pitted.’ And see how the cycles went at the end,” revealed Hamlin.

“I think that’s something we can learn. But other than that, not a whole lot translates other than the techniques that I use personally around this racetrack. For me, it’s just more laps on the racetrack and continuing to learn to be better.”

While sweeping the weekend will be difficult, Hamlin has the right mentality. Determined not to lose any more points to Keselowski he wants to capitalize on his best track. Starting in the front of the field, with Keselowski having to overcome a difficult qualifying position, gives Hamlin the advantage on the start.

Now, the FedEx team will need to capitalize. Hamlin has the most laps and experience at Martinsville than most in the field. On Saturday, he put that to good use, running a race that has no meaning, but could pay dividends for Hamlin when it comes to the bigger picture.

“I don’t know, ‘cause I feel like. I don’t know really,” said Hamlin on competing in the Kroger 200.

“One thing is, I do feel like there’s merit to working your technique at this particular racetrack. At other racetracks where there’s higher speeds, you drive the two totally different, it’s not even the same. This, between the Truck Series and the Cup cars, is the two most similar races we have on any track I feel like. This is the closest to a Cup car in simulation as it can be. So, this is one that I can continue to stay fresh with how I continue to drive this racetrack.”

Cole Whitt Ready For Some NASCAR Bashing

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SM Staff
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[media-credit name=”JR Motorsports/Spin Master” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]JR Motorsports young gun Cole Whitt is all set to do some NASCAR bashing at his upcoming Nationwide race at Texas Motor Speedway.

In fact, the up and coming young gun will be behind the wheel of the No. 88 NASCAR Bashers car, promoting a new race car toy made by Spin Master that wrecks, transforms and then is reassembled to do it all over again.

“It is an awesome opportunity for me and JR Motorsports to be teamed up with NASCAR Bashers for Texas,” Whitt said. “We already had the Atlanta race with them and ran really well.”

“That’s always fun when you run good with your sponsor.”

While Whitt may be pleased to run well with NASCAR Bashers on the hood, he is most excited about the toy itself. And being a ‘big kid’, he has already had the opportunity to play.

“It’s a really cool toy,” Whitt said of the NASCAR Basher, which is styled like an actual NASCAR race car that actually transforms after wrecking. “I went to an autograph signing at Walmart and they had them on the table, so I got to play with them.”

“They kept me entertained.”

Whitt acknowledged that the coolest part of the NASCAR Bashers is that there are not only countless ways to wreck them, but, just like his own NASCAR pit crew does for him, the cars can be rebuilt and readied to race once again.

“I think what’s cool about it is the kids can beat and bang on them,” Whitt said. “That’s part of our sport and that makes it exciting and why people watch.”

“Our cars are always on edge and when we crash, we may be out of the race,” Whitt continued. “But with NASCAR Bashers, the kids can play with them and crash them and they just break apart.”

“But then they can snap them all back together and keep playing with them,” Whitt said. “I wish our race cars were that easy to put back together.”

“That’s what makes it exciting for the kids.”

Whitt admitted that he wished that he had toys like NASCAR Bashers, instead of having to do his own crash improvisations.

“I didn’t get to have anything as cool as NASCAR Bashers when I was a kid,” Whitt said. “I had to take a hammer to my race cars and I’d just beat them up and make them look like they were all crashed up.”

“My cars were done after that though,” Whitt continued. “At least with NASCAR Bashers you can put them back together and keep playing.”

There was one other feature of NASCAR Bashers that really appealed to Whitt. And that was the important ability to attract a younger audience to the sport.

“What’s cool about NASCAR Bashers is that they are for younger fans and that’s who NASCAR wants to bring into the sport,” Whitt said. “This starts a family tradition and that’s part of JR Motosports being a family tradition.”

“It’s pretty exciting for us to get kids excited about the sport.”

“I’m just an average kid that came up through the sport and JR Motorsports gave me this awesome opportunity,” Whitt said. “NASCAR’s really always focused on trying to find that next generation of fans and we finally have some young kids coming up in the sport and kids can relate.”

“That’s what the Nationwide Series is all about with young kids trying to make a name for themselves and trying to win races with the bigger names.”

NASCAR Basher’s maker, Spin Master, could not agree more with their young driver.

“Spin Master wants to engage young fans with great products and unique means to reach them,” Craig Drobis, Marketing Director for Spin Master, said. “The NASCAR Bashers product and partnering with a young rising star like Cole does that.”

At the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge in Texas, Whitt will not only run the NASCAR Bashers car but will also show off the new toys on his hero card and at autograph signings throughout the race weekend. And Whitt will have a special honor, that of serving as ESPN’s in-race reporter.

As pleased as Whitt is about driving the NASCAR Bashers car, he is also thrilled to finish off the season on a high note from a performance perspective, especially after a bit of an up and down year.

“This year’s been a little bit of a roller coaster,” Whitt said. “You’ve got to race and learn by your mistakes.”

“So far, it’s been a good year and we’re starting to really hit our stride and run consistently lately,” Whitt continued. “There were a lot of changes throughout the season with JR Motorsports, all in the direction of making the team better.”

“And I think we really have been improving.”

Even with NASCAR Bashers on the hood at Texas and a strong run in the final races, Whitt is still unsure, however, of his future in the new year. He is hoping that he remains a part of JR Motorsports, especially with the recent signing of Regan Smith to the team.

“So far, I’m not exactly sure what 2013 holds for me but we’re looking at it as we’re going into 2013 with JR Motorsports and we’re hoping to find a little more funding,” Whitt said. “We want to go for that championship.”

“Hopefully our deal comes together and I find a little more sponsorship because I think we could really give it a run for the money,” Whitt said. “Plus Regan would be a great teammate I could learn from.”

“I just hope we get that opportunity.”

But until that time, Whitt will simply focus instead on doing some NASCAR bashing at Texas Motor Speedway.

“I just think NASCAR Bashers are plain awesome,” Whitt said. “I always crashed my cars when I was a kid.”

“So being able to put them back together is really, really awesome.”

NASCAR Bashers are available at Walmart, Target, ToysRus, NASCAR.com and at official NASCAR Trackside Merchandise trailers at track. They are designed for children ages 5 and up and are reasonably priced at $9.99 for the NASCAR Basher race car, with additional accessories available.

 

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