Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Martinsville Midweek Media Availability
Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 60 Fastenal Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RFK Racing, is coming off back-to-back top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series, including a ninth-place run Sunday in Homestead. He comes into this weekend’s race at Martinsville Speedway 16th in the point standings and has his only career Cup pole at the Virginia short track. He answered questions from the media earlier today about his season and the upcoming race weekend.

RYAN PREECE, No. 60 Fastenal Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HAVING THE SAME TIRE AS NOVEMBER AT MARTINSVILLE AND HAVING JUST ONE OPTION AS OPPOSED TO TWO DIFFERENT SETS? “I think traditionally I agree with only having one tire. I think until recently most forms of motorsports has always just been one compound. For me, I’m OK with it and I also think the improvements that Goodyear has done and continues to do on the short track tire – you look at Martinsville. How many years has it been since we’ve had an outside that prevails on a restart? We don’t need a second option to do that. Now, from the strategy standpoint, if you have a tire that’s a little bit better and it can get you off cycle that can sometimes be interesting and nice, but you could also do the same things if you changed lengths or other things that create different strategies, rather than having a straight-up race of ‘hey, we need to pit now.’ So, I’m OK and I like the fact that we’re gonna bring a tire that in 90 or 100 laps that if you beat on it, you’re gonna pay the price. I think if we continue to go down that avenue and trying to keep getting even more and more aggressive, it’s only gonna be better and better.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR CHANCES THIS WEEKEND AND WHAT IS YOUR MINDSET? “I feel like our chances are good. I feel like over the past few years we’ve qualified really well at Martinsville, especially with this tire. I think it’s something that I’m looking forward to things that I could definitely do better and hopefully do those things on Sunday. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to it, just being my background of short track racing and I’ve had success at Martinsville – not in the Cup Series, but in modifieds and obviously this form of racing suits my style.”

HOW HAVE YOU FELT UNDER THE RFK BANNER SO FAR? “I’ve enjoyed my time, for sure. Something that I really reflect on is the fact that Chris and Brad have a lot of experience and mile and a halves have kind of been the Cryptonite side of things for me at least how I feel when I show up, so being able to lean on Brad and being able to lean on Chris for that, and obviously we’ve shown improvements there. Other than that, it’s been great. I’ve really enjoyed it and am continuing to grow and perform better. At the end of the day, racing is a performance sport. We want to win races. We want to be consistent. I think, right now, what makes me feel really good is outside of the first three races, we’ve made a lot of gains and we are building a strong foundation overall within the group, so hopefully we can keep pushing and pulling all together and really make us a powerhouse.”

YOU WERE HAPPY WITH THE SPEED YOU HAD AT DAYTONA. “You take away the finish of Daytona and even COTA, to be honest with you. I thought we were gonna finish top 10 there. We’ve shown some really good signs, so it’s very promising.”

HOW DOES THE MOMENTUM YOU HAVE CHANGE THE ATTITUDE YOU COME INTO MARTINSVILLE WITH? “For me, what I’ve liked about it is we’ve been aggressive – aggressive on pit calls, aggressive on the track, aggressive everything and that’s what I want to keep going for our group. As far as the momentum side, momentum is great to have. It’s great to have because when you look at the metric for qualifying, and I think of Martinsville, I think of a track that the later you go, the better off it’s gonna be historically. So the fact that we’re one of the last 10 cars gives us a great opportunity to have a great start to the race, so that makes me feel pretty good. But, I also understand that every week this is a grind. This is a grind of continuing that momentum, so we’re still a new team. We’re still a group that it’s a brand new group and we are still finding our way. As far as short tracks go, we ran Bowman Gray and we made the race and finished 11th, but I feel really comfortable with it and we’re gonna hopefully unload with some really good speed and be able to keep building the short track notebook that we all want to have, so I think that’s where, for myself, I want to keep it all in perspective. I do feel like if we unload with a bunch of speed, yeah, we can go win that race. But at the very least, you’ve got to manage expectations. My goal for the first third of this season is if you have the opportunity to win the race, you need to go win that race. If you don’t, we need to consistently be doing what we’re doing, which is being there in the top 12 and executing our days to have better days. I felt like at Homestead we qualified not very well and drove our way up into the top 12 and then we managed ourselves to get a ninth. Those are the things we need to do as a group right now and then just keep building that notebook.”

HAVE YOU TALKED TO JOSH BERRY SINCE HIS WIN, AND HOW MUCH MORE DOES IT ADD PRESSURE ON YOU TO GET INTO VICTORY LANE? “I don’t think it adds pressure. I did talk to Josh and I congratulated him and I was really happy for him. I think the situation was right there, just like I said a second ago, is when you have those opportunities and you have that speed, you need to capitalize on it, and I think Josh did a great job with it. When he had an opportunity on the front row, he didn’t let that opportunity slip away. When that opportunity is there, you need to grab it and that’s really hopefully the more consistent we run where we are, we’ll have those opportunities to go do that. So, I’m feeling pretty – I don’t want to say I’m 100 percent of where I am, but I couldn’t have asked more as far as how the first three races resulted versus how we turned it around at Phoenix and had an opportunity to, I felt like, win that race by saving the option set and having that lead. I felt like that just kind of put the little bit of life that we needed at the point we needed it and we’ve carried it since, so all eyes are on Martinsville now.”

YOU CALLED YOUR PIT CREW GANGSTERS WITH HOW FAST THEY WERE LAST WEEK AT HOMESTEAD. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT GROUP? “When I say gangsters that’s just something I say, but they’re bad ass. I’m proud of them because I’m here every Wednesday and I enjoy doing pit practice with those guys. For me, I just do it as like a camaraderie, team building thing, and I know the level of effort and what I put into my racing, and what I enjoy is seeing the grind that those guys have, the want to win and the will to win. We’re gonna have our moments, don’t get me wrong. Nobody is perfect, so they’re gonna have a day or a time that it might be a struggle, but I’m gonna support them whether they’re having good times or bad times. I want to praise them when they’re doing days like they did at Homestead. As far as the team, the pit crew side and knowing they were gonna be good, that’s not me. I feel like Brad and Jack and RFK, the Fenway Group, everybody here has done a phenomenal job in giving me every great opportunity I can have, so I’m really appreciative for the group that we have right now and the things that we’re building on.”

DARLINGTON IS TWO WEEKS AWAY. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT RACE WEEKEND COMING UP? “I say this to my father, I say this to a lot of people that know me, I live day to day and a week at a time, so as far as Darlington goes, I haven’t even started really analyzing or looking at it, other than the fact that I know Chris was super fast and Brad was super fast and they won, so I feel good about all the things that they’ve done as an organization and I feel like our group is gonna be able to really heavily lean on both of those. When Monday comes, I’ll be all eyes on it, but Darlington is a place that I’ve always enjoyed racing and I felt like we, I can’t even remember where we ended up. I think we ended up ninth or 10th in the fall race, but somewhere around there. I might be completely off, but I felt like we ran pretty well and that makes me excited going into next weekend.”

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO YOU SAID YOU SAW A WILL TO WIN ON THIS TEAM. HAS THE CONFIDENCE AND ATTITUDE BEEN SHIFTING THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS WITH HOW WELL YOU’VE BEEN RUNNING? “I think Derrick has done a great job of managing the group because this is a new group. There are a few guys that have been around for a long time within the road crew, but as far as experience and completely new guys, there is a wide variety, so I think for Derrick, which I’ll give him a lot of credit for, is teaching and instilling this mindset in guys that haven’t ever had the opportunity to race for wins and telling them to expect to try and win every given Sunday. I have that mindset. I’ve had that mindset my entire life because that’s all I’ve done other than in the Cup Series there have been some struggles, but anything outside of that, you show up to the racetrack expecting to win, so I think the mindset of expect to win and run well is a mindset that Derrick is trying to instill in this group and I’ll give him a lot of credit because the attitude of RFK in general is the push for perfection, so that’s what we’re doing. There’s just a lot of will to win and that’s the thing, it’s kind of like my racing career. I could have gave up chasing after this dream back in 2014, but there’s a piece inside of you that’s just gonna keep pushing and pushing and pushing and be relentless, and that’s this group.”

HAVE YOU LEARNED THINGS ABOUT YOUR PERFORMANCE AT RFK THAT YOU DIDN’T NECESSARILY FOCUS ON BEFORE? “Yeah, I would say there’s been some moments and some sitdowns of talking about, I think that’s really what I referenced to about areas we’re focusing on and that’s been something that I’ve been diving deep into and certainly I think it’s paying dividends, so I’m really thankful for my time here and the things that I’m learning and continuing to push to be better.”

HAS THE NEXT GEN CAR IN ANY WAY FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE RACE CRAFT OF HALF-MILE SHORT TRACK RACING AT ALL? “I think it’s gotten closer, in my opinion. I know there’s some louder voices that talked about the Next Gen car and the aero and inefficiencies or some of those things, but what I truly believe is the fact that Goodyear has really been working hard on softening this tire and wearing this tire. When I watched the Martinsville race in October, when I rewatched it this week, I said it before of how many times with the old car did the outside prevail over the bottom car? Not very often because the inside was such an advantage with some of the things that you were dealing with with the other deal, and it could be frustrating. Where, if you’re a different series, I mean, you always felt like there was an opportunity, so I feel like our short track product is only gonna continue to get better, especially after what I felt like we saw with Martinsville in the fall and really the trajectory that I feel like we’re trying to go into for Richmond and all those things will pay off if we can continue that for a place like New Hampshire or Wilkesboro and continue on, but those type of things don’t happen overnight. I feel like the fact that we’re trying to make changes, and they’re positive changes, it’s all really good stuff and it’s only gonna pay dividends to the race fans because, and this is my opinion, I don’t think going to a smaller tire is going to make a difference. I think that you’re always gonna have your challenges, so I’m always a fan of more horsepower no matter what because it just gives me more opportunity for whether making good decisions or doing something right or even making mistakes. You want to be able to capitalize on when people make mistakes, so I hope that kind of answers your question. I kind of got long-winded there, but I’m a fan of the direction we’re going. One other thing I wanted to bring up, we talk about aero stuff all the time and short track stuff, but you go to a Pensacola in a super late model, aero is a thing. It’s a thing no matter what. Whether I race a modified, a super late model, it doesn’t matter. You’re going fricking fast and it is what it is, so it’s not only us in the Cup Series or Xfinity Series or Trucks or whatever that we see it, we just have really, really smart people in our garage that know how to maximize.”

GOODYEAR SAYS WE’RE APPROACHING A POINT WHERE THIS IS AS FAR AS WE CAN GO, BUT THEY’VE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR A WHILE AND THEY SEEM TO GET FURTHER. CAN WE GET FULLY TO WHERE XFINITY IS RIGHT NOW PURELY THROUGH THE TIRE? “I don’t even think the Xfinity Series racing at Martinsville is that great, I just see guys knocking each other out of the way. That’s it. I don’t think that’s racing. I can go to a local go kart track and knock a guy out of the way and do the same damn thing. I find that the Next Gen car if you smash a guy, you can’t stick your nose under the guy like you can in those cars, but as far as what you were talking about with Goodyear saying that we’re getting to a point and maybe we are, but at the same time in the early 2000’s when we had right height rules and guys started to figure out coil binding and how to put the car on the ground and have an aero advantage once you go on the racetrack, those are all things that we thought weren’t possible until we figure out that they are, so that’s the thing about racing. It’s constant innovation and progression and figuring out things that you didn’t think were possible, so that’s the exciting thing that we have to look forward to in our sport.”

WHAT IS IT LIKE NOW WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT PRIMARY SPONSORS IN TERMS OF TIME CONSTRAINTS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU? “Well, that’s part of my job. I think of what I tell people all the time is for those that don’t know, my father has a small family business in Connecticut. I think there are 10 employees there and they’re plumbers and HVAC, and as I was growing up in the summer I used to do a summer job either being a tin knocker making duct work, or in the winter we’d go on rooftops. I tell you what, going and doing sponsorship events and things of that nature are a hell of a lot better than sweating in an attic or freezing on a roof. So, I guess, to put it in perspective that’s part of my job. The racing part on Sunday and the prep work and all that, that’s just all part of the job description. It’s not a 40-hour week. My family and my wife support me and they understand that there are a lot of commitments to this and obviously a lot of benefits, so I deal with it fine because I’m the type of person that even when I was racing in Connecticut, my life revolved around racing. There was no such thing as, ‘well, I only want to spend two hours here because I want to go home.’ It was, ‘I’m gonna do whatever it takes to win,’ and part of winning is having great partners and that’s part of it. To me, it’s no different than normal. It’s just doing something a little different.”

HAVE YOU SEEN IT SHIFT DURING YOUR TIME IN NASCAR BECAUSE TEAMS HAVE SO MANY PRIMARY SPONSORS AND MORE DEMAND ON YOUR TIME? “I feel like maybe for guys that were 10 or 15 or 20 years ago, but, for me, no. I’ve always felt like I’m always doing something, so it’s no different for me.”

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Martinsville Speedway
March 28-30, 2025

A trio of consecutive tripleheader weekends will wrap up this weekend as all three NASCAR national series will head to the historic short-track of Martinsville Speedway.

Chevrolet is coming off of a successful trip to South Florida, with the Bowtie brand becoming the first manufacturer to earn a weekend sweep across all three series this season. This weekend marks the first of two visits to the “Paperclip” this season, with all three divisions returning to the track in October where the .526-mile Virginia venue will determine the final four drivers that will compete for the coveted championship titles.

Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway

Chevrolet is the all-time winningest manufacturer in two of NASCAR’s national divisions at Martinsville Speedway, entering the weekend with 61 NASCAR Cup Series wins and 19 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series wins. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the Bowtie brand also paces its current manufacturer competitors with seven trips to victory lane at the .526-mile Virginia short-track.

A staple stop since NASCAR’s inception, Sunday’s Cook Out 400 will mark the Cup Series’ 153rd appearance at Martinsville. Chevrolet’s series-leading 61 triumphs in NASCAR’s top division is a record just shy of double the next leading manufacturer, Ford, with 32 victories. Among those wins includes three in the Next Gen era – each earned in the series’ spring event at the track. The most recent driver to add to Chevrolet’s win record at the track was William Byron (Apr. 2024), with the 27-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, native leading Hendrick Motorsports to a one-two-three finish for the organization during its 40th anniversary weekend.

In the Truck Series, it was an all-Chevrolet victory lane at Martinsville in 2024 – courtesy of a season sweep by Christian Eckes and the No. 19 McAnally Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet team. Eckes’ second trip to victory lane at the track last season marked Chevrolet’s 19th all-time Truck Series win at Martinsville – a record that pushed Chevrolet to the top of the series’ all-time wins list at the track. Two of the four past Martinsville Truck Series winners entered in Friday’s event come from the Chevrolet camp, including series’ veteran, Grant Enfinger (Oct. 2020), and full-time Cup Series driver, William Byron (Apr. 2022).

HENDRICK HISTORY

Hendrick Motorsports’ journey to becoming the winningest organization in NASCAR Cup Series’ history all started at the hallowed grounds of Martinsville Speedway. The .526-mile Virginia short-track is the site of the Chevrolet organization’s first-ever trip to victory lane in NASCAR’s top division – earned with Geoff Bodine behind the wheel of the No. 5 Chevrolet on Apr. 29, 1984. Since then, the organization has reeled off 314 all-time points-paying victories in the division, with 29 of those triumphs coming at Martinsville – a record more than double the next leading organization, Joe Gibbs Racing, with 14 wins. All four of Hendrick Motorsports’ current drivers have found success at the “Paperclip”, with William Byron being a two-time Martinsville winner, and Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott owning one win each. The organization’s most recent trip to victory lane at Martinsville came just one year ago during its 40th anniversary celebration weekend, with Byron’s triumph also leading the organization to a podium sweep (Larson – second; Elliott – third).

 
Points Powerhouse

Hendrick Motorsports will return to the site of one of its most successful tracks with all four of its drivers in the top-six positions of the NASCAR Cup Series points standings. Despite an untimely pit road penalty in the closing laps of the race last weekend, William Byron was able to maintain the points lead for the fifth consecutive week – heading into the Martinsville race weekend with a 36-point advantage over the series’ most recent winner, Kyle Larson. Larson and Alex Bowman not only led the organization to a one-two finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway but also tallied the two highest points days among the field to move them up to the second and third positions, respectively, in the standings. Elliott completes the organization’s quartet with the No. 9 Chevrolet team sitting sixth in the points standings.

LARSON HITS 30

In his first of two attempts at a tripleheader sweep this season, Kyle Larson came just short of accomplishing the feat – ultimately taking the checkered flag in two of the three events at Homestead-Miami Speedway last weekend. Among the pair of triumphs included his first NASCAR Cup Series win of the season and an early ticket into 2025 playoffs. The victory was a landmark feat in Larson’s career, marking his 30th all-time win in NASCAR’s top division. Larson joins an elite list of just 30 racing icons that have reached 30 wins in the series, and at just 32 years of age, the 2021 champion is the 11th youngest driver to accomplish the feat. The Elk Grove, California, native has only competed behind the wheel of a Chevrolet-powered machine throughout his already storied racing career in the NASCAR national ranks. Larson became a first-time winner in NASCAR’s top division at Michigan International Speedway in 2016 – marking his first of six victories with Chip Ganassi Racing. Joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, Larson had a breakout season that saw the Chevrolet driver reel-off 10 victories en route to his first career championship title. With now 24 victories during his tenure with Hendrick Motorsports, Larson is the third winningest driver in the Cup Series for the Chevrolet organization – sitting behind NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (93 wins) and Jimmie Johnson (83 wins).

ALLGAIER GOES BACK-TO-BACK

Chevrolet’s near dominate season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series continued at Homestead-Miami Speedway last weekend with JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier earning the Bowtie brand its fifth victory in six races this season. The win marked Allgaier’s second trip to victory lane this season, making the reigning champion the series’ first repeat winner in 2025. Chevrolet has also reeled of four pole wins, 810 laps led, 19 top-fives and 36 top-10s already this season – the most among its manufacturer competitors. In addition, Chevrolet drivers have dominated the stages throughout much of the season, with six different drivers tallying wins in 10 of the 12 stages.

Day to Make Xfinity Debut

Hendrick Motorsports’ 16-race NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule continues at Martinsville Speedway this weekend with newcomer, Corey Day, taking his turn behind the wheel of the No. 17 Chevrolet entry for his series’ debut. The 19-year-old Clovis, California, native has just a handful of pavement starts to his name, including six in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In his short tenue in the NASCAR national ranks, Day has already tallied a Truck Series pole win (Las Vegas Motor Speedway), with his career best Truck Series finish of 15th coming just last weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The organization’s Xfinity Series effort has gotten off to a strong start already this season, including a pair of runner-up finishes (William Byron – COTA; Alex Bowman – Phoenix) and a fourth-place result by Kyle Larson at Homestead.

ENFINGER’S EARLY CONSISTENCY

With now four races in the books for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, consistency has been key for Grant Enfinger and the No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet team. The series veteran is one of only two drivers that have collected top-10 finishes in every race thus far this season, including a season-best runner-up finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Looking for his first trip to victory lane this season, the 40-year-old Fairhope, Alabama, native is an automatic frontrunner heading into the Martinsville race weekend, with Enfinger being one of just four drivers entered in Friday’s event that is a past winner at the .526-mile Virginia venue. Last season, Efinger drove his Silverado RST to top-10 finishes in five of the seven short-track events, three of which were in the top-four.

Byron’s Back

William Byron will make his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this weekend – taking his turn behind the wheel of the No. 07 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet entry. It has been nearly two years since Byron has gotten in the driver’s seat of a Silverado RST, but it’s a series in which he found success early in his career. Byron competed in just one full-time season in the Truck Series before moving up the ranks (2016) – earning an impressive seven race wins and a season average finish of 9.2 en route to the ‘Rookie of the Year’ title. The 27-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, native has eight career Truck Series victories on his resume, with his most recent coming with Spire Motorsports at Martinsville Speedway in Apr. 2022 – the first for the Chevrolet organization in the series.

 
BOWTIE BULLETS:

· Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Martinsville Speedway:

Kyle Busch – two wins (2016 & 2017)

William Byron – two wins (2022 & 2024)

Kyle Larson – one win (2023)

Alex Bowman – one win (2021)

Chase Elliott – one win (2020)

· In 152 NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, Chevrolet has recorded 61 victories and 56 pole wins – both of which are series-leading records. Among those victories includes victories in three of the six races contested in the Next Gen era at the track – each earned in the spring event (William Byron – Apr. 2022 and Apr. 2024; Kyle Larson – Apr. 2023).

· In just the fourth tripleheader of the 2025 NASCAR season, Chevrolet is the first manufacturer to accomplish a weekend sweep across all three national divisions – earned at Homestead-Miami Speedway courtesy of victories by Kyle Larson (Cup and Truck Series) and Justin Allgaier (Xfinity Series).

· In 114 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 54 victories – a winning percentage of 47.4%.

· With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 868 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

 
TUNE-IN:

NASCAR Cup Series

Cook Out 400

Sunday, March 30, at 3 p.m. ET

(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Marine Corps 250

Saturday, March 29, at 5 p.m. ET

(CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200

Friday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m. ET

(FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

 
QUOTABLE QUOTES:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Are you looking forward to Martinsville?

“This weekend is my first time having Choice Privileges on my car and I certainly want to make them proud. The rewards members have been able to meet my teammate Daniel Suárez so I hope I don’t disappoint (laughs). It’s a fun opportunity to meet fans and for them to get a VIP experience at the track. Martinsville is such a unique, old school environment and I think they will have a lot of fun. I have pretty good stats at Martinsville since driving for Trackhouse and I want to keep those strong finishes coming.”

You probably have the most famous move of all time at Martinsville. What do you remember from that moment and will Martinsville always hold a special place in your heart?

“It will. For right now, it’s the last time something like that has successfully been done. It’s been attempted since but not executed as well. It’s wild that I thought to do it and that I convinced myself it was the right move and even more wild that it worked. We still have the car on display at the Trackhouse shop. Hopefully I can win a Martinsville clock to go along with it.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

What are your thoughts on racing at Martinsville Speedway this weekend?

“I’m looking forward to racing at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. I’ve always loved going there, it’s a fun track. Last year, we finished seventh in the fall race so hopefully, we can take our Bass Pro Shops/ Winchester Chevrolet and have a good day and pick up stage points. Martinsville is the smallest points track we race on so being aggressive will be key for 500 laps when the time calls for it.”

How important is a good starting spot at Martinsville Speedway?

“At Martinsville Speedway, qualifying for the race is extremely important, especially when it comes to selecting your pit stall. Pit road is very treacherous; it’s not very wide, and it wraps halfway around the track, so any penalty or having to come down pit road under the green flag can ruin your day. Hopefully, we can get a good starting spot on Sunday. We just have to go at the start of the race and maximize track position as much as possible.”

Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

You’re coming off your first top-10 of the season, what are your thoughts heading into Martinsville?

“Martinsville has been a struggle for me in a Cup car, but I’m confident Rodney and the No. 7 team will bring a great car this weekend. We have some momentum from the past few weeks and should have a good qualifying draw and that makes a huge difference at Martinsville.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

What is the key to 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.”

What do you feel is the biggest key to performing well at Martinsville?

“I think just being able to get comfortable, get settled and make sure that you’re good to go for those long hauls. Don’t worry about what lap it is, ever, during a race. That’s the worst thing that could happen to you. You just try to not ever worry about what lap you’re on or what’s going on around you. You just keep battling, keep driving, keep your focus forward on what you’re doing.”

You’ve talked about the gains you’ve seen in the No. 8 team and specifically at Phoenix, does that portend well for when you go to Martinsville, which is another shorter, flat track?

“Each week’s different, right? We have a small sample size right now with the start of the season and only having a few races. So as we continue to add to that sample size of Las Vegas, Homestead and now we go to Martinsville… We still need to hit a Bristol, a Darlington, I feel like then you’ll really start to see where you stack up. The seasons change so fast also. You don’t want to start hot and then, you know, have NASCAR looking over you with a microscope, and then you have different issues getting through tech each week that then kind of derail your summer. So, you know, you’ve got to be careful and be patient with everything that you’ve got going on. But that sometimes can be a defining factor, as well too, to your season and how you play it out.”

Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“This week we go to Martinsville, a place that has been super up and down for me throughout my career. I always feel like I race really well there, but qualifying has been a problem. I’m looking forward to going to Martinsville this weekend and creating speed in qualifying and practice to start the race a little bit closer to the front. We’ve had some speed this year, so hopefully that won’t be a problem at all, and I think we’re going to have a really solid day if we do so.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“In the past, Martinsville has been a favorite racetrack of mine, but I’ve felt like we struggled there with the Next Gen car. Obviously, we’re coming off some good momentum the last two weekends so we’ll take that will us and put together a solid weekend to keep that rolling. It should be an interesting race with the tires being softer than last year so hopefully that will make the racing more exciting.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet

Martinsville has been an up-and-down track for you, but you did get an eighth-place finish in April 2023 and a 20th-place finish last November. What are you looking for this weekend out of the No. 47 team?

“Honestly, I think there have only been three ups there. I think the biggest thing for this weekend is that we’ve got some new help here that has kind of opened up some stuff for us to look at, including what other people were doing on short tracks. I think we made a step in the right direction at Phoenix. We got damage early in the race, but I felt like our practice speed was really competitive. The damage in the race kind of changed our whole car. I don’t think we really got a fair view of what it was going to do, so I’m looking forward to finally getting back on another short track. At Martinsville, being good on Saturday is the most important thing. Qualifying somewhere in the top-18 really helps set you up to have a good race. So, that’ll be the focus on Saturday, then from there we can see where our car goes and how it races on Sunday.”

Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

What are your thoughts about heading into the first short-track race of the season?

“I’m excited. There’s a lot of different styles that we race on racetrack wise, right? Phoenix is not really a short track, it’s pretty unique in the approach, set up, and things like that. So, I feel like Martinsville is that first true short track, but at the same time, it’s such a unique short track that is its own beast and approach. I look forward to it, we’ve had a lot of speed this year with our Spire cars. Martinsville’s been a love hate relationship for me. It’s been an up and down race in the old car. It was one of my better tracks. I felt like I could outperform my equipment at times but in the NextGen era, it just hasn’t been great for me, which is crazy because everywhere else has been really good in the NextGen car, so it’s a head scratcher for sure.

Spire has had good speed there the last few years and I feel like they have a different approach to their Martinsville package, so I’m excited to try that and see if I can make the gains that I need to make. It’s one of those weekends where I feel like if you execute, you can win, and you can give yourself a legitimate shot, so I am looking forward to it. We’ve got Rockingham on the car, which is going to be fun, supporting the Rockingham race that’s coming up here April 18-19. It’s going to be a fun weekend. It is such a legendary racetrack.”

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

What makes Martinsville one of the toughest tracks on the circuit?

“I think the unpredictability of how the race will play out. You know there will be chaos, but you don’t know when or where. We’ve seen wrecks happen at the front of the field, at the back, on restarts and deep in a green flag run. As a driver you’re trying not to think about when something is going to happen. It’s inevitable that it will, but Martinsville is a track where you have to find your rhythm and stay in it. There are just so many things that have to go right to leave with a good finish, but that’s what we need. Whatever we can do to have a clean race and a good points day, that’s what we’re going to do.”

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Beyond the road courses, are there any tracks that you feel a little bit better about as you enter the heart of the NASCAR season?

“I feel like we are making strides on the bigger tracks. I was competitive at Martinsville last year in both Xfinity and Cup, so we should be good there this weekend. I enjoyed racing at Darlington in Xfinity, but I struggled a bit in the Cup car so hopefully we can get better there.”

This is a stretch of six straight weeks of racing traditional ovals. How important are these next few weeks to figuring out the rest of the year? Is this a key part of the schedule for a successful season?

“It is pretty important. I just want to start to get a bit of momentum going. A couple of our results weren’t our fault. I would like to just have some consistent weeks now and keep building and keep doing more and more laps. Doing laps is probably our key to success, getting more experience and get more comfortable, learn what I want from the car. The results will come from there.”

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

What is the biggest challenge to running well at Martinsville?

“You can go test Martinsville tomorrow and if you go with a couple of cars there is a chance you won’t learn anything because the Martinsville track changes so much because of temperature and rubber. It might be our most temperature-driven race track. You have to base your plans on history. That’s why you see the same guys running well there all the time. It’s a tricky little track. I like Martinsville a lot. I have had great runs and very bad runs there. I feel that it’s an amazing track.”

How would you assess where Trackhouse is at the moment?

“I think we as a group have more speed than last year. We worked hard in the off-season to show that. We worked on the structure of how we do things and how we work together.”

The No. 99 pit crew has been one of the fastest crews all season. What does that mean to a driver?

“My pit crew has taken care of me all year. These guys have been with me a long time now and they keep getting better and better each year. As tight as these races are now every spot you gain matters whether it’s on the race track or in the pits. I think fans sometimes forget how much time these guys spend working at their jobs. They work and work and work just to gain a fraction of a second but that fraction of a second means the difference between gaining and losing spots on pit lane. As a driver, there is no better feeling than knowing you are coming to pit road and you have a chance to gain spots.”

Jesse Love, No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

What is the goal for this weekend at Martinsville Speedway?

“Every time that our No. 2 team shows up to the track, our goal is always to win the race. However, in saying that, Martinsville is probably my least favorite track that we go to. We need and want to be better than we were there last season. I’ve put in a lot of work to prepare for this weekend and hopefully do just that. Danny (Stockman, crew chief) and the guys have changed the setup for our car and feel like it should be an improvement.”

Austin Hill, No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

What is the outlook for this weekend at Martinsville Speedway?

“We are bringing an entirely new setup to the track this weekend. Our Martinsville program, outside of one race a couple years ago, hasn’t been our strongest, and we know that the second time we go back there, it could be our last opportunity to make it into the Championship 4. Chad (Haney, crew chief) and the No. 21 team have done a great job each and every week so far this season though. Our Chevrolets are showing up with speed right off the truck, which is encouraging. We have two DNFs, but those could have very easily been a win at Daytona and a top-five finish at Phoenix. The consistency is there and hopefully it carries into Martinsville as well.”

Connor Zilisch, No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet

What is challenging about racing at Martinsville?

“Martinsville is a tough track. It’s one of the shorter tracks we go to, really tight corners and it’s really important to have the car handling good. We are doing everything we can to make sure when we do show up it’s going to be as close as possible. Racing is always aggressive there. It can be easy to get frustrated and make mistakes. It’s always close quarters and a lot of bumping and late-race restarts. I’m just going to try to get through as clean as possible. You can win that race if you’re in the top-10 with 50 to go. You just have to put yourself into position to be there towards the end when things start getting crazy. Qualifying well will be a big part of that. Starting up front and getting stage points throughout the day and staying up front is important. It can be tough to pass at Martinsville depending on how the rubber lays down. If you qualify poorly then you’re going to have to be aggressive getting through the field.”

 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2024): 43

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

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

Most recent: 2024

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, 2023, 2024

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2024): 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)

2025 STATISTICS:

Wins: 2

Poles: 3

Laps Led: 424

Top-Fives: 13

Top-10s: 29

Stage Wins: 3

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 868 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 756

Laps led to date: 253,135

Top-fives to date: 4,382

Top-10s to date: 9,036

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,202

       Chevrolet: 868

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 841                                                                             

       Ford: 741

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 192

 

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Driver Anthony Alfredo with Partner Fortify Building Solutions Look to Better Last April’s Sixth-Place Finish at the Alabama Oval

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. (March 26, 2025) – The team of Beard Motorsports, partner Fortify Building Solutions, and driver Anthony Alfredo will make their collective return to the racetrack when the NASCAR Cup Series hits the mammoth 2.66-mile Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway oval on April 27 for the Jack Link’s 500.

It will mark the 31st appearance for the team, which made its Cup Series debut in 2017 under the leadership of the late Mark Beard Sr., and continues under the ownership of Linda Beard, with her children Amie Beard-Deja and Mark Beard Jr. overseeing daily operations. Beard Motorsports kicked off its ninth season of participation in select Cup Series events last month at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, where Alfredo and the No. 62 Fortify Building Solutions Chevrolet fell just short of the team’s seventh Daytona 500 appearance as the second-highest finisher among the open teams in the second Duel at the Daytona qualifying race.

The Fortify Building Solutions brand – part of the Cornerstone Building Brands family of exterior building product brands – will use the Jack Link’s 500 NASCAR Cup Series Race to highlight Hypersteel™ cold-formed buildings. This product line of simple metal buildings offers the quickest design and production turnaround in their building solutions lineup.

“We share a heightened commitment with the Beard family to community, perseverance and, well, speed,” said Heather Hollis, vice president of marketing at Cornerstone Building Brands. “Showcasing Hypersteel cold-formed buildings on the No. 62 Fortify Building Solutions Chevrolet helps us share an exciting story about how customers can get a new customized metal building faster and easier. Our partnership with Anthony Alfredo underscores our dedication to speed and endurance.”

Alfredo returns to the cockpit for his 42nd career Cup Series outing and fifth tour of duty for Beard Motorsports. In this race a year ago, the native of Ridgefield, Connecticut who turns 26 on March 31, qualified 24th and rallied for a sixth-place finish, leading four laps along the way. It was the team’s best finish in 13 Cup Series starts at Talladega, eclipsing Brendan Gaughan’s eighth-place finish in the Beard Motorsports Chevrolet in the April 2019 GEICO 500.

“We’ll head to Talladega feeling like there is some unfinished business to take care of in more ways than one,” said Beard-Deja, executive vice president of Beard Motorsports. “Despite the incredible preparation that is the hallmark of this team, beginning with our crew chief Darren Shaw, things just didn’t go our way at Daytona this time, and that’s the way it goes in this highly competitive arena, particularly for a small, single-car, open team. It’s certainly disappointing, but it only strengthens our resolve as we prepare for Talladega. Anthony and the team did a remarkable job there last spring, and we’ll look to improve on that this time around.”

Beard-Deja added, “We welcome Anthony back for his fifth race with the team, and we are thrilled to have Fortify Building Solutions and Cornerstone Building Brands back with us for the third time after making their debut on the No. 62 Chevrolet at Talladega last fall. We are pulling out all the stops to deliver a top result.”

Alfredo’s sixth-place finish at Talladega in the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet last spring was not only the team’s best at the track, it was his career best in 41 Cup Series starts. He returned with the team to Talladega last October for a 24th-place finish in his fourth career Cup Series start at the track. His first two, in the April and October 2021 races for Front Row Motorsports, resulted in finishes of 12th and 10th, respectively. Alfredo has seven Talladega starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he’s driving fulltime this season for Young’s Motorsports. Best of those was his third-place finish last April, the day before his sixth-place Cup Series finish in the Beard Motorsports Chevrolet. Alfredo’s lone NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at Talladega resulted in a 15th-place finish in the October 2019 race for David Gilliland Racing.

“I echo Amie’s sentiments when I say we definitely have some unfinished business next month at Talladega,” Alfredo said. “We went to Daytona feeling very confident after making the 500 on qualifying speed last year. We executed flawlessly during our Duel, had an awesome, green-flag pit stop, but we were outnumbered with the lack of drafting opportunities with other Chevrolets. “I feel thankful to be back at Talladega with the Beard family and Fortify Building Solutions. I’m excited to push for a result even better than our sixth-place finish last year, showcasing the Hypersteel product and our shared commitment to being hyper fast.”

About Fortify Building Solutions

Fortify Building Solutions provides builders, contractors and homeowners – across local communities and nationwide – with the broadest selection of metal roofing, wall and building products through its vast manufacturing and distribution network. As part of the Cornerstone Building Brands family, the Fortify brand represents a team dedicated to offering personalized support and service to help its customers through every step of their project.

About Hypersteel™ Cold-Formed Buildings

Hypersteel™ cold-formed buildings offer the quickest design and production turnaround in our building solutions lineup. Enjoy the benefits of metal buildings while minimizing time and effort. Engineered for speed, our Hypersteel™ structures are easier to install than heavier steel buildings of similar design, typically without the need for large teams, heavy equipment and specialized labor.

About Cornerstone Building Brands

Cornerstone Building Brands is a leading manufacturer of exterior building products for residential and low-rise non-residential buildings in North America. Headquartered in Cary, N.C., we serve residential and commercial customers across the new construction and Repair & Remodel (R&R) markets. Our market-leading portfolio of products spans vinyl windows, vinyl siding, stone veneer, metal roofing, metal wall systems and metal accessories. Cornerstone Building Brands’ broad, multi-channel distribution platform and expansive national footprint includes more than 18,800 team members at manufacturing, distribution and office locations throughout North America. Corporate stewardship and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) responsibility are embedded in our culture. We are committed to contributing positively to the communities where we live, work and play. For more information, visit us at www.CornerstoneBuildingBrands.com.

Zane Smith and the No. 38 Long John Silver’s Ford Team
Martinsville Speedway Competition Notes
Cookout 400

Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
Event: Race 8 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile)
#of Laps: 400
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Zane Smith Notes

Zane Smith and Long John Silver’s will team up for this weekend’s action at the Martinsville Speedway. Long John Silver’s will bring its signature, fan-favorite blue and yellow “Fish Yeah” scheme to Smith’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse for the 400-lap event.

Finishing 11th at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Smith sits 25th in the NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championship points standings. Smith and the No. 38 team will shift their focus to the 0.526-mile Virginia track to continue the momentum with a strong run to put themselves within the top-20 points positions.

Smith has built himself a good reputation when it comes to racing at the Martinsville Speedway. In the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Smith has earned one win, three top-five, and four top-10 finishes.

“Martinsville is a fun but challenging track,” said Smith. “It starts with qualifying and executing on pit road. We’re in a good spot as a team and are confident heading into the weekend, we just need to execute and put ourselves into position to win.”

Road Crew

Driver: Zane Smith
Hometown: Huntington Beach, California

Crew Chief: Ryan Bergenty
Hometown: Plainville, Connecticut

Car Chief: Will Norris
Hometown: Bells, Tennessee

Engineer: Jacob Clamme
Hometown: Hartford City, Indiana

Engineer: Chris Yerges
Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Mechanic: Steve Godfrey
Hometown: West Haven, Connecticut

Mechanic / Engine Tuner: Tyler Podlaski
Hometown: Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard
Hometown: Bethlehem, Connecticut

Transport Co-Driver: Ernest Mullins
Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina

Transport Co-Driver: Rick Grissom
Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Keiston France
Hometown: Amelia, Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon
Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Drew Baum
Hometown: Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Jackman: Kapil Fletcher
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fueler: Chris Webb
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

AOUT LONG JOHN SILVER’S

Long John Silver’s was founded in 1969 and is on a mission to create treasured moments through high-quality food and bell-ringing service. With restaurants from sea to mouth-watering sea, Long John Silver’s continues building on a belief that the unique seafood experience from the coasts should be accessible to all. Learn more at ljsilvers.com or join the conversation via social media on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Colortech Ford Team
Martinsville Speedway Competition Notes
Cookout 400

Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
Event: Race 8 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile)
#of Laps: 400
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Todd Gilliland Notes

The Martinsville Speedway is next for Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team. Following Homestead-Miami Speedway, Gilliland sits 26th in the Cup Series Driver Championship points standings. The No. 34 team looks to get back within the top-20 in points with their first visit to the famed short-track.

Colortech will return to the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse this weekend. Founded in 1981, Colortech, Inc. is a family-owned, North American-based manufacturer of color and additive concentrates for the plastics industry. As a leading supplier of high-quality polymer concentrates, Colortech plays an integral role in producing a wide range of items, from household goods to industrial materials. With headquarters in Morristown, Tennessee, and manufacturing locations in Tennessee and Ontario, Colortech fosters innovation, achieves high performance, and builds trust-based partnerships that facilitate success. More information can be found at colortech.com.

“I have always enjoyed going to Martinsville,” said Gilliland. “I have the clock from my first truck win in my living room, so it’s a good reminder that I can get the job done. It’s a difficult track to navigate, with a lot of beating and banging and passing being a challenge, but I’m up for it, and I know my team is too. Hopefully, I can deliver a checkered flag to Colortech in their first race back. They have a bright, colorful car, that you won’t be able to miss.”

Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland
Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson
Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra
Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo
Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen
Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Underneath Mechanic: Michael Brookes
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Mechanic: Chance Burke
Hometown: Siler City, North Carolina

Tire Specialist: Billy John
Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Tim Meyer
Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transport Driver: Christian Boller
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jordan Goodine
Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Jackman: Courtney Edmonds
Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina

Fueler: Zeke Nance
Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway… In 193 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, Richard Childress Racing entries have earned seven victories, including five by Dale Earnhardt (1985-fall, 1987-spring, 1988-spring, 1991-spring, and 1995-fall). Kevin Harvick won the 2011 spring race at Martinsville, his first victory at the .526-mile paved speedway. Additionally, the team owns four poles, 31 top-five and 66 top-10 finishes, have completed 94.3% of the laps contested (90,627 of 96,151) and have led 3,389 laps there entering Sunday afternoon’s race. Childress, a former driver in NASCAR’s top division, contributed four of those top-10s from 1976-1978.

A Place of First… On September 25, 1983, NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Ricky Rudd won the Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway, piloting the No. 3 Chevrolet to his second-career Cup Series victory, but the first for RCR at both the track and on an oval.

Pole Position… RCR has recorded 57 poles in the Cup Series across 23 racetracks. RCR has won two poles at the .526-mile paperclip, both earned by Rudd.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Martinsville… RCR has one NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Martinsville. Harvick claimed a dominant victory in the 2006 event, leading 149 of 250 laps. Clint Bowyer, Harvick’s teammate, finished a close second, crossing the finish line .271 seconds in arrears. Harvick and Bowyer combined to lead 207 of the event’s 250 laps enroute to a 1-2 finish. Additionally, in 17 total Xfinity Series starts at Martinsville, the six-time championship-winning team has earned one pole, five top-five and seven top-10 finishes.

Did You Know? Martinsville is the closest racetrack that hosts a NASCAR Cup Series points-paying race to RCR’s Welcome, N.C., headquarters. The track is just 55 miles from the team’s campus.

Chasing 100… Richard Childress Racing’s Xfinity Series program currently sits at 99 wins and will become only the third team in series history to reach the 100 win milestone with their next victory.

Catch Saturday’s Action… The National US Marine Corps 250 Xfinity Series race at Martinsville will be televised live on Saturday, March 29, beginning at 5 p.m. ET on The CW. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Follow Sunday’s Action at Martinsville… The Cook Out 400 Cup Series race at Martinsville will be televised live on Sunday, March 30, beginning at 3 p.m. ET on FS1. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Practice and qualifying will air Saturday, March 29 on Amazon Prime beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

Richard Childress Quote… “I always look forward to going to Martinsville. It’s close to home, so it’s sort of our home track – between there, Charlotte, and North Wilkesboro. We’ve always ran well there. I look forward to going back each year. You’ve got to have the racecars where they can turn, which is the key to getting around that place. We’ve got good partners in Bass Pro, Winchester, and Lucas Oil that are going to be there with us, so we look forward to having some fun.”

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway… In 22 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, Dillon boasts three top-five finishes and four top-10s. He earned his best finish of third in April 2022 at the half-mile short track after starting from the 23rd position. Most recently, Dillon finished seventh in the 2024 fall Martinsville race after starting 10th. Dillon has made five appearances at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Truck Series, earning his best finish of third in October 2011.

Short Track Winner… Austin Dillon is no stranger on the short tracks. Dillon’s most recent win came at the 2024 Fall Cup series race at Richmond Raceway, leading 35 laps en route to his fifth NASCAR Cup Series victory. Dillon has completed more than 27,000 laps on short tracks in his career with six top 5s and 14 top 10s with an average finish of 17th.

Welcome, NC School Visit… Austin Dillon visited with Welcome Elementary School students before this weekend’s race at Martinsville Speedway. Dillon and the No. 3 race car did a show and tell with Pre-K students on the safety aspect of the drivers and cars, and the kids got to see Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet up close. Welcome Elementary is located one mile from the RCR complex and 70 miles from Martinville Speedway.

About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations, and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops united with Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations, and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit basspro.com.

About Winchester Ammunition… Winchester is the leading small-caliber ammunition brand for hunting, recreational shooting, and law enforcement, and the largest supplier to the U.S. military. The legendary Winchester® brand, with its 159-year history, is founded on principles of integrity, hard work, and a strong commitment to its loyal customers. As a division of Olin Corporation, Winchester shares Olin’s purpose to deliver materials and solutions that enhance and protect lives. Learn more about Winchester and the responsible use of its products by visiting Winchester.com or connecting with us on Facebook at Facebook.com/WinchesterOfficial.

New Product from Winchester Ammunition… Long Beard® TSS turkey ammunition from Winchester® delivers tight patterns, more pellets on target, and lethal penetration. Lond Beard TSS is loaded with 18 grams per cubic centimeter of tungsten, a shot material denser than lead, steel, and bismuth -making it the hardest-hitting shot available. Long Beard TSS is the most devastating shotshell in the turkey woods. Pick it up in stores today.

Meet Dillon… On Saturday, March 29 at 12:45 p.m. ET, Dillon is scheduled to make an appearance at the NASCAR Experience Stage in the Fan Zone at Martinsville Speedway. Dillon is also scheduled to appear at the RCR Merchandise hauler on Sunday, March 30 at 11:00 a.m. ET in the Fan Zone. Stop by and get your new RCR gear.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

What are your thoughts on racing at Martinsville Speedway this weekend?

“I’m looking forward to racing at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. I’ve always loved going there, it’s a fun track. Last year, we finished seventh in the fall race so hopefully, we can take our Bass Pro Shops/ Winchester Chevrolet and have a good day and pick up stage points. Martinsville is the smallest points track we race on so being aggressive will be key for 500 laps when the time calls for it.”

How important is a good starting spot at Martinsville Speedway?

“At Martinsville Speedway, qualifying for the race is extremely important, especially when it comes to selecting your pit stall. Pit road is very treacherous; it’s not very wide, and it wraps halfway around the track, so any penalty or having to come down pit road under the green flag can ruin your day. Hopefully, we can get a good starting spot on Sunday. We just have to go at the start of the race and maximize track position as much as possible.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway… Sunday’s Cook Out 400 will mark Kyle Busch’s 40th career NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway. Busch has two wins, two poles, 17 top-five finishes and 21 top-10s at the .526-mile oval. Additionally, the 39-year-old driver has led 1,429 laps, has an average starting position of 11.9, an average finish of 13.3, and has completed 98.1 percent (18,895 of 19,258) of the laps he’s contested there.

Busch has career totals of 63 wins, 34 poles, 252 top-five finishes, 385 top-10s and 19,437 laps led in 720 career Cup Series starts.

New Colors… Busch’s Chevrolet will sport new colors this weekend when the blue, white and red paint scheme of Lucas Oil debuts for the first time this season as the primary partner of the No. 8.

Twice a Cup Series Winner at Martinsville… Busch earned his first Cup Series victory at Martinsville in April, 2016. He completed the first-ever sweep of a Martinsville race weekend, leading 352 laps on the way to claiming his first Cup win in 22 starts at the .526-mile oval. A day earlier, he won the Camping World Truck Series race to claim his first-ever grandfather clock trophy. In October 2017, he claimed the victory in a wild overtime finish, beating Martin Truex Jr. to the stripe by .141 seconds.

Success Not Limited to the Cup Series… In addition to his Cup Series success at Martinsville, the veteran racer also has two NASCAR Truck Series wins at the Virginia paperclip.

Get to the Points… Following his yeoman’s work effort Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Busch remains 17th in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings.

232 and Counting… Busch enters Sunday’s race at Martinsville with 232 career wins among NASCAR’s top three divisions – Cup (63), Xfinity (102) and Truck (67) – following his Truck Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 22.

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KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

What is the key to 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.”

What do you feel is the biggest key to performing well at Martinsville?

“I think just being able to get comfortable, get settled and make sure that you’re good to go for those long hauls. Don’t worry about what lap it is, ever, during a race. That’s the worst thing that could happen to you. You just try to not ever worry about what lap you’re on or what’s going on around you. You just keep battling, keep driving, keep your focus forward on what you’re doing.”

You’ve talked about the gains you’ve seen in the No. 8 team and specifically at Phoenix, does that portend well for when you go to Martinsville, which is another shorter, flat track?

“Each week’s different, right? We have a small sample size right now with the start of the season and only having a few races. So as we continue to add to that sample size of Las Vegas, Homestead and now we go to Martinsville… We still need to hit a Bristol, a Darlington, I feel like then you’ll really start to see where you stack up. The seasons change so fast also. You don’t want to start hot and then, you know, have NASCAR looking over you with a microscope, and then you have different issues getting through tech each week that then kind of derail your summer. So, you know, you’ve got to be careful and be patient with everything that you’ve got going on. But that sometimes can be a defining factor, as well too, to your season and how you play it out.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway… Jesse Love has made two career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, both coming behind the wheel of the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet in 2024. The Menlo Park, California native secured his best result of ninth in the spring race and his best qualifying effort of fourth in the fall event. Love has completed 100% of laps competed at the .526-mile paperclip-shaped oval.

Building Momentum… Love continues to put together a consistent and impressive start to his Xfinity Series sophomore campaign. In addition to his season-opening win at Daytona International Speedway, the 20-year-old has posted four consecutive top-10 results in the last four events – a sixth-place finish at Circuit of The Americas, a ninth-place result at Phoenix Raceway, and a third-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and most recently a sixth-place result at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Points Check… Through six races, Love currently holds the third position in the Xfinity Series driver championship point standings – 31 points behind leader Justin Allgaier and only two markers behind second-place Sam Mayer.

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Meet Love… On Saturday, March 29 at 2:10 p.m. ET, Love and his teammate Austin Hill are scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler located in the Fan Midway at Martinsville Speedway. Stop by to see the young gun before the green flag waves.

JESSE LOVE QUOTE:

What is the goal for this weekend at Martinsville Speedway?

“Every time that our No. 2 team shows up to the track, our goal is always to win the race. However, in saying that, Martinsville is probably my least favorite track that we go to. We need and want to be better than we were there last season. I’ve put in a lot of work to prepare for this weekend and hopefully do just that. Danny (Stockman, crew chief) and the guys have changed the setup for our car and feel like it should be an improvement.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway… Austin Hill has made six career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, posting one top-five and two top-10 finishes while driving the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. The Winston, Georgia native also has 11 NASCAR Truck Series starts at the Ridgeway, Virginia facility, earning one top-five (second in 2021) and three top-10 finishes.

Dashing 4 Cash, Again… After claiming a third-place result at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Hill has another chance to win an extra $100,000 through the Xfinity Dash 4 Cash program at Martinsville Speedway. Hill will battle with Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, and Sheldon Creed on Saturday afternoon, with the highest finisher earning the Dash 4 Cash title. This marks Hill’s fourth career Dash 4 Cash appearance.

Back in the 33… Earlier this week, RCR announced that Hill and United Rentals, the world’s largest equipment rental company, will return to NASCAR Cup Series competition for a limited schedule in 2025. In the first of five starts, Hill will drive the No. 33 Chevrolet at the historic Darlington Raceway on April 6.

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Meet Hill… On Saturday, March 29 at 1:45 p.m. local time, Hill will participate in a question-and-answer session with the other three Xfinity Dash 4 Cash qualifiers at the NASCAR Experience Stage in the Fan Midway at Martinsville Speedway. Immediately after at 2:10 p.m. local time, Hill will head to the RCR Merchandise Hauler in the Fan Midway at Martinsville Speedway to sign autographs with his teammate Jesse Love. Stop by to meet the veteran driver and purchase new No. 21 gear.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

What is the outlook for this weekend at Martinsville Speedway?

“We are bringing an entirely new setup to the track this weekend. Our Martinsville program, outside of one race a couple years ago, hasn’t been our strongest, and we know that the second time we go back there, it could be our last opportunity to make it into the Championship 4. Chad (Haney, crew chief) and the No. 21 team have done a great job each and every week so far this season though. Our Chevrolets are showing up with speed right off the truck, which is encouraging. We have two DNFs, but those could have very easily been a win at Daytona and a top-five finish at Phoenix. The consistency is there and hopefully it carries into Martinsville as well.”

Martinsville I Event Info:
Date: Sunday, March 30
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Martinsville, Virginia
Format: 400 Laps, 210.4 miles, Stages: 80-180-400
TV: FS1
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Friday: 4:30 p.m. ET, Xfinity Practice (CW App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Friday: 5:35 p.m. ET, Xfinity Qualifying (CW App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 2 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 3:10 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 5 p.m. ET, Xfinity Race (CW, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Cup Race (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

• The NASCAR Cup Series goes short-track racing for the first time this season as Martinsville Speedway hosts its first of two race dates this weekend.
• Martinsville is the only track on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule to have hosted a race in every season dating back to 1949.
• Sam Mayer leads all Xfinity Series drivers in top-5 (4) and top-10 (5) finishes through six races. His 9.2 average finish this season is the second highest among full-time Xfinity drivers, behind only Jesse Love (6.8).
• Sheldon Creed earned his first top-5 finish of the season last weekend at Homestead-Miami.

Cole Custer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Aaron Kramer
Partner: HaasTooling.com

Sheldon Creed Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jonathan Toney
Partner: Friends of Jaclyn

Sam Mayer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jason Trinchere
Partner: Audibel

Custer at Martinsville (Cup)
Starts: 6
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

• Custer makes his 7th Cup start at Martinsville this weekend, where he has a 19.7 average finish.
• He started inside the top-5 in both Cup Series races in 2022, firing off P3 in the spring and P5 in the fall.
• Custer had three top-10 runs in four career NXS events at Martinsville over the last two seasons, with an average finish of 8.5. He also has six Truck Series starts at the track.

Creed at Martinsville (Xfinity)
Starts: 6
Wins: —
Top-10s: 4
Poles: —

• Creed is set to make his 7th Xfinity start at Martinsville on Saturday, where he has four career top-10 finishes. His best finish came in the fall of 2023 when he placed 2nd after starting 8th.
• Last season, he finished 6th in both races, including 13 laps led in the fall.
• He has started inside the top-10 in all six career races at Martinsville, and holds an average starting position of 4.8.

Mayer at Martinsville (Xfinity)
Starts: 7
Wins: —
Top-10s: 4
Poles: —

• Mayer is in line for his 8th Xfinity start at Martinsville this weekend, a track where he has finished in the top-10 four times, including three in the top-5.
• He has four finishes inside the top-10 dating back to COTA, which is tied for the longest streak of his career.
• His best career starting position is 5th in the 2023 spring race, and he boasts an average qualifying effort of 13.9.

Last Time Out & Where They Stand

Homestead-Miami: Mayer collected 15 stage points and led 22 laps en route to a 2nd-place finish at HMS, while Creed earned his first top-5 of the season. Custer finished 28th in the Cup Series race on Sunday.

Cup Points Standings (41: 35th): Custer is 35th in the Cup Series points standings through six races this season.

Xfinity Points Standings (41: 2nd, 00: 5th): Mayer sits second in the Xfinity points standings with 220 total points on the season, while Creed is in fifth place with 187 points heading into Martinsville this Saturday.

Martinsville I Event Info:
Date: Sunday, March 30
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Martinsville, Virginia
Format: 400 Laps, 210.4 miles, Stages: 80-180-400
TV: FS1
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 2 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 3:10 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Cup Race (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

• The NASCAR Cup Series goes short-track racing for the first time this season as Martinsville Speedway hosts its first of two race dates this weekend.
• Martinsville is the only track on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule to have hosted a race in every season dating back to 1949.
• RFK’s Ford Mustangs have five top-10 qualifying efforts at Martinsville in the last three seasons alone.
• Chris Buescher (6th) and Ryan Preece (9th) were the only two Ford Mustangs to finish inside the top-10 this past weekend at Homestead-Miami
• Buescher makes his 100th consecutive NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend and is one of just four drivers so far this season with four top-10s, alongside Alex Bowman (5), William Byron (4) and Kyle Larson (4).
• Buescher’s 11.8 average finish across the first six races is the fifth-highest of any driver in the NASCAR Cup Series this season.
• Preece has finished inside the top-10 in his previous two starts, Las Vegas (3rd) and Miami (9th), as he eyes his third consecutive top-10 finish for the first time in his career.
• 135 of Preece’s 219 career laps led in the NASCAR Cup Series have come at Martinsville Speedway (62%).

6 Team Info:
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins Partner: BuildSubmarines.com

17 Team Info:
Driver: Chris Buescher
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Kroger / Old El Paso

60 Team Info:
Driver: Ryan Preece
Crew Chief: Derrick Finley
Partner: Fastenal

Keselowski at Martinsville
Starts: 30
Wins: 2 (2017 & 2019)
Top-10s: 18
Poles: 1 (2020)

• Keselowski, a two-time winner at Martinsville, is set for his 31st Cup start at ‘The Paperclip.’
• Martinsville stands as one of Keselowski’s best tracks statistically with an average finish of 13.4. He’s coming off a 9th-place finish last fall after leading a race-high 170 laps.
• He has finished top-10 in 60 percent of his starts there. Of the 18 top-10s, 12 have been inside the top five. He earned his first Grandfather clock back in 2017 and won the same race two years later in the spring.
• He carries an average starting position of 11.7 into the weekend with 16 starts inside the top-10 and one pole (2010). He’s qualified 10th or better in seven of the last 10 races at Martinsville, including P13 last spring and P18 last fall.
• Keselowski also made four Truck Series starts from 2004-07.

Buescher at Martinsville
Starts: 19
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: —

• Buescher is coming off his fourth top-10 of the season at Homestead-Miami, and is set for his 20th Cup start at ‘The Paperclip’ this weekend.
• He has five-straight top-15s in the spring event dating back to 2020, and holds an average finish of 19.2 at Martinsville.
• Buescher has an average starting position of 22.2 at Martinsville and has started inside the top-15 five times.

Preece at Martinsville
Starts: 11
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: 1 (2023)

• Preece will make his 12th career Cup start at Martinsville this weekend, where he earned his first career pole and led a career-high 135 laps in the 2023 spring race.
• He posted the two highest finishes of his career at the track last season, finishing 9th in the spring and 14th in the fall.
• Preece has started inside the top-10 in three of his last four races at Martinsville, including a P8 start in last season’s fall race.
• He is a two-time winner in the NASCAR Modified Tour at Martinsville, earning his first career win in 2008 and finding victory lane once again in 2023.

RFK Historically at Martinsville
Cup Wins: 4 (Mark Martin, 1992, 2000; Jeff Burton, 1997; Kurt Busch, 2002)

• For Whom the Bell Tolls: RFK has earned four Grandfather Clocks at Martinsville with former drivers Mark Martin (two), Jeff Burton and Kurt Busch. RFK most recently went to victory lane with Busch in Oct. 2002.
• Rock Around the Clock: RFK had its overall most-successful outing at Martinsville in the spring of 2002 when it placed all four of its cars inside the top 10 with drivers Martin, Burton, Busch and Matt Kenseth.
• Closing Time: RFK earned a one-two finish in the April 9, 2000 event at Martinsville with former drivers Martin and Burton. Martin paced the field for 64 laps en route to the victory.
• Short-Track Prowess: RFK has started a total of 718 NCS races on short tracks, recording a total of 24 wins, 127 top-five finishes, 258 top-10 finishes and 8,270 laps led.
• Tale of the Tape: RFK has started 232 NCS races at Martinsville, recording four victories, 26 top-five finishes, 71 top-10 finishes, an average finish of 17.9 and has led 1,555 laps. RFK also boasts two NASCAR Truck Series wins in 46 starts at Martinsville (fall of ’03 and ’05).

RFK Martinsville Wins

1992-1 Martin Cup
1997-2 Burton Cup
2000-1 Martin Cup
2002-2 Busch Cup
2003-2 Wood Truck
2005-2 Craven Truck

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Homestead-Miami: Buescher led the RFK Ford Mustangs with a 6th-place finish at Homestead-Miami, his best career finish at the track, while Preece earned his second straight top-10 finish. Keselowski finished 26th despite starting 32nd.

Points Standings (17: T8th, 60: T16th, 6: 30th): Buescher stayed tied for 8th after a strong run, while Preece gained two positions and is tied for the final playoff spot. Keselowski remained unchanged in 30th.