Category Archives: NNS

NASCAR at Dover International Speedway

Posted on by
Reply

What’s happening this weekend at Dover International Speedway:

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Friday, May 31

10:05 AM NCWTS QUALIFYING

LucasOil200@Dover
Lucas Oil 200
200 Laps, 200 Miles
5:00PM on SPEED

Chase Elliott (#94) was fastest in final practice at Dover International Speedway with a speed of 153.702 mph. Jeb Burton (#4) was second fastest.

During the first practice, Rookie Jeb Burton was fastest during opening practice at Dover International Speedway on Thursday, with a speed of 152.066 mph.

NASCAR Nationwide Series
Saturday, June 1

11:05 AM  QUALIFYING

5HE 200 Logos

5-HOUR ENERGY 200
2:30 PM on ESPN
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 2:46pm/et
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Qualifying:
Friday, May 31, 3:10 pm/et
SPEED 3:00pm/et

Happy Hour Practice:
Saturday, June 1, 1:00pm/et
SPEED 1:00pm/et

Sunday, June 2

fedex400thumb

FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks
Fox, 1:00pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 1:15pm/et

JR Motorsports fills empty NNS seat at RIR with family

Posted on by
Reply
Jeffrey Earnhardt - photo by Sandi Goodall / Racingal.com

Jeffrey Earnhardt – photo by Sandi Goodall / Racingal.com

JR Motorsports has announced that Jeffrey Earnhardt, nephew to team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and fourth-generation racer to make first start for family-owned team, will drive the team’s No. 5 Chevrolet in the April 26 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway.  The announcement was made on JRM 360, a weekly video series housed on the team’s official website, JRMracing.com.

“Richmond happens to be one of the few races that neither Kasey Kahne nor Brad Sweet are scheduled to drive the No. 5 car because it’s not a Great Clips-sponsored race.  Dale and I were discussing our options for that weekend,” stated Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports.  “It was his idea to put Jeffrey in the car and let him drive our equipment.  I loved the idea, and everyone in the company – as soon as they heard it – did too.  It’s only a one-race deal but something that could really help Jeffrey if he does well.”

Watch announcement

Jefferey Earnhardt on the response from fans: “My phone has been blowing up.  The response has been incredible.  I received a lot of text messages and tweets from people in NASCAR, and the fans have been great.  Between my grandfather, my dad, and Dale Jr., there is such a huge fan base that is very supportive of my family.  I just appreciate the opportunity.  I can’t wait.  I wish the Richmond race weekend was tomorrow.”

NOTES
  • Jeffrey Earnhardt is only the second fourth-generation racer to compete in NASCAR’s top touring divisions.  Adam Petty was the first.
  • The 23-year-old Earnhardt is son to Kerry Earnhardt (NASCAR racer from 1998-2009), grandson to seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt Sr. (1975-2001), and great-grandson to 1956 NASCAR Sportsman champion Ralph Earnhardt (1956-64).
  • Jeffrey Earnhardt has competed in 14 career Nationwide Series races.  He made his first start on Aug. 8, 2009, at Watkins Glen International.
  • Jeffrey Earnhardt has competed in four of five Nationwide Series races in 2013 for Archie St. Hilaire and Go Green Racing.  He recorded a season-best 20th-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway on March 2.
  • This will mark Jeffrey Earnhardt’s first-ever race with JR Motorsports.
  • Jeffrey Earnhardt’s racing résumé also includes 10 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, all of which came in 2010 and 2011.
  • Richmond International Raceway has been a hotbed for Earnhardt success.  Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. each have six wins at the three-quarter-mile facility. (Dale Sr.: CUP – Feb. 24, 1985; NNS – Sept. 6, 1986; CUP – March 8, 1987; CUP – Sept. 13, 1987; CUP – Sept. 9, 1990; CUP – Feb. 24, 1991).  Dale Jr.: NNS – Sept. 11, 1998; NNS – Sept. 10, 1999; CUP – March 6, 2000; NNS – Sept. 6, 2002; CUP – March 15, 2004; CUP – May 6, 2006).
  • The No. 5 Chevrolet is typically occupied by Kasey Kahne or Brad Sweet as part of a 28-race Great Clips-sponsored package.  Jimmie Johnson is the only other driver to race the No. 5 this year (Phoenix on March 2).

JR Motorsports PR

The Motorsports Group is hiring pit crew support and mechanics

Posted on by
Reply

Immediate Release:

(MOORESVILLE, NC) 2/2/2013 – TMG is looking for pit crew members, shop and track mechanics for our Nationwide Series team, 1-3 years racing experience recommended. Chassis team and pit crew leadership experience recommended. Must be willing to start immediately.

Job Description: 

This position performs the required engineering related functions for the race team. In this role, crew members report to the crew chief.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Works with the crew chief to build cars and setups for all racing and testing events.

2. Works with shop personnel, ensuring that they have the required information to assemble racecars in a timely manner.
3. Works with crew chief and the other team mechanics to continually improve cars performance.
4. Race car tear down after races/ building cars and fabrication knowledge is a must.

5. Executes pit stop practices during race weeks. 
6. Accurately enters all of the required information (i.e., vehicle/component information, setup information, run comments, test and race summaries, etc.) pertaining to the running of the racecar in the TMG database.
7. Supports and plays an active role in the crew chief’s and driver’s decision making process to extract maximum performance out of the racecar.
8. Must be able to multi task and work efficient under pressure. 
9. Attends all scheduled race meetings.
10. As required, works on special projects designated by the Crew Chief.
11. Performs any additional tasks, as required by the Crew Chief or Team Owner.
12. Position requires individual to travel to all test and racing events.
13. Must have own tools.

Only absolutely top notch candidates (2/1/13)

Contact: hudson@themotorsportsgroup.com

Driver updates for NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series in 2013

Posted on by
Reply

So what has been happening in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series during the off season? Where exactly are the drivers at now? Are drivers staying with their same team?

I’ll bring you up-to-date:


(REMINDER: NNS being cut back from a 43 car field to 40 in 2013)

TRAVIS PASTRANA
Travis Pastrana will make the move to full-time NASCAR racing in 2013, driving Roush Fenway’s historic No. 60 Ford Mustang in all 33 events on the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. Pastrana will team up with veteran NASCAR crew chief Chad Norris and will be partnered with a variety of sponsors during the season.

The No. 60 will be one of two full-time RFR Nationwide Series entries in 2013, with Pastrana being paired with Roush Fenway teammate and 2010 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne in the No. 6 Ford Mustang.

DANICA PATRICK
Danica Patrick will drive for Turner Motorsports in her 10-race commitment to this year’s Nationwide Series schedule. She will begin her partial campaign in NASCAR’s Nationwide series on Feb. 23 at Daytona International Speedway in conjunction with her first full Sprint Cup season with Stewart-Haas Racing the same weekend. Richard Childress Racing vice president of competition Mike Dillon had discussed the possibility of Patrick driving his team’s #33 Chevy, but the team had already re-signed three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart for the season opener at Daytona. Patrick’s Turner Motorsports car would be sponsored by GoDaddy.com, sources said. Her schedule is expected to include events at Talladega and Watkins Glen.

JR MOTORSPORTS
(Kasey Kahne, Brad Sweet, Regan Smith & Dale Earnhardt, Jr.)
JR Motorsports will field cars for Kasey Kahne and Brad Sweet for the 2013 Nationwide Series season. Great Clips has moved its sponsorship from Turner Motorsports to JRM to support the Nationwide Series effort. Kahne and Sweet will split time in the No. 5 Chevrolet for 27 races. Regan Smith will compete full time for a NNS championship in the No. 7, and Earnhardt Jr. will carry his No. 88 in a limited schedule. Earnhardt’s only announced races are Feb. 23 at Daytona International Speedway and March 9 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, both in the #88 TaxSlayer.com Chevy.

PARKER KLIGERMAN
Kyle Busch Motorsports posted a YouTube video announcing Parker Kligerman was joining the team to drive the the No. 77 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the 2013 season. Eric Phillips has been promoted to the position of crew chief for the team. Since joining KBM for its inaugural Truck Series season in 2010, Phillips has guided the #18 team to 17 victories, 8 poles, 2,243 laps led, 38 top-five and 54 top-10 finishes across 72 starts. Kyle Busch will run partial season in team’s No. 54 car in addition to Kligerman’s full season in the No. 77.

 

JAMES BUESCHER

Turner Motorsports (TMS) today announced that NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion, James Buescher will return to the seat of the No.31 Chevrolet Silverado competing in a full 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) schedule . Much like the 2012 season, Buescher will also continue to hone his skills running select NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) events in 2013. Buescher will aim to become the first back-to-back NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion. Buescher will drive a minimum of fifteen races for new Turner Motorsports sponsor, Rheem Manufacturing Company. In addition, 2012 Champion crew chief, Michael Shelton will return to his previous role serving as Crew Chief for Buescher and the No. 31 Rheem Chevy Silverado in 2013.

JUSTIN LOFTON
Justin Lofton (voted as “Comeback Driver of the Year” in 2012 for the NCWTS) has decided to scale back his NASCAR schedule in 2013, instead focusing his title aspirations towards the newly-formed Stadium Super Trucks Series organized by Robby Gordon. Lofton cited the lack of sponsorship and funding as the primary reasons he couldn’t return full-time in 2013 but believes success in off-road can catapult him back towards NASCAR. Lofton hasn’t finalized his 2013 NASCAR schedule yet but expects to run at least 10 Truck Series races on tracks longer than a mile.

The Stadium Super Truck Series is 10-race rally-style series that will contest events on temporary circuits constructed on some of the largest stadium venues in the United States. Rallies will be contested at University of Phoenix Stadium, Soldier Field, Cowboys Stadium and the Metro Dome just to name a few.

JOEY COULTER
Kyle Busch Motorsports announced that veteran crew chief Harold Holly has joined the organization with Joey Coulter in his quest for the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship. Coulter will pilot the team’s No. 18 Tundra, while team owner Kyle Busch will run a partial schedule in the team’s second entry, the No. 51 Tundra.

JOHN WES TOWNLEY
Red Horse Racing (Voted as NCWTS “Top Team” of 2012) has signed John Wes Townley (formerly Parker Kligerman’s seat) to join the team in 2013. Veteran crew chief Mike Beam will join John Wes Townley at Red Horse Racing on the #7 Toyota Tundra.

TODD BODINE
Currently without a sponsor in place for Red Horse Racing to run a third truck in 2013, Bodine is once again scrambling for sponsorship. Bodine confirmed that the Red Horse team has laid off personnel. Bodine struggled in the series in 2012 with eight DNF’s, one win, and five top-five finishes out of 22 events. He ended up a career-low 14th in the final standings.

BRENDAN GAUGHAN
Brendan Gaughan will reunite with crew chief Shane Wilson to run a full season and compete for the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship in Richard Childress Racing’s #62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Silverado.

RON HORNADAY / BRENNAN NEWBERRY
Joe Denette Motorsports merged with NTS Motorsports to create a three-truck stable for the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. The team will field three full-time NCWTS entries under the NTS Motorsports banner with Ron Hornaday back behind the wheel of the No. 9 Chevrolet Silverado & Brennan Newberry continuing in the No. 14 Chevrolet Silverado. The team will also field the No. 24 entry full-time with a full driver lineup to be announced at a future date. However, NSCS driver Kevin Harvick will pilot the machine in both Martinsville Speedway events in April and October.

You are now up-to-date. Looking forward to the 2013 racing season. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

Sources:
Team Press Releases (Red Horse Racing, Turner Motorsports, JR Motorsports); ESPN

 

NASCAR Series Award Banquet broadcast schedules

Posted on by
Reply

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES AWARD BANQUET

Friday, Nov. 30th
SPEED at 8:00pm/et with live coverage from The Wynn Las Vegas

Also covered LIVE on Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

NASCAR NATIONWIDE & CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES AWARD BANQUET
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 25, and James Buescher, 22, officially were proclaimed champions of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, respectively, on the Americana Ballroom stage at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel following the season finale at Homestead Motor Speedway. .

Thursday, Nov. 29th
SPEED at 8 to 10 p.m. ET

NASCAR Nationwide Series releases 2013 schedule

Posted on by
Reply

NASCAR today announced the 2013 schedule for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, a lineup that includes a trip to Mid-Ohio for the first time in series history.

Mid-Ohio, a 2.4-mile, 15-turn road course in Lexington, marks the return of NASCAR national series racing to Ohio, the home state of the series’ Columbus-based entitlement sponsor, Nationwide Insurance. Mid-Ohio’s Aug. 17 addition fortifies the series’ trio of challenging road courses, joining Road America (June 22) and Watkins Glen (Aug. 10).

NASCAR national series racing last competed in Ohio in 2008, with the running of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Mansfield Motorsports Park. GRAND-AM Road Racing has raced at Mid-Ohio since 2000.

The balance of the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide schedule, the series’ 32nd season, maintains a familiar feel, with a strong mix of short tracks, road courses, intermediate race tracks and superspeedways.

Daytona International Speedway hosts the season opener on Feb. 23. That race also will feature the introduction of Chevrolet’s Camaro into the series. The series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway is set for Nov. 16.

Next season’s schedule includes six “standalone” race dates: Iowa Speedway (June 8 and Aug. 3), Chicagoland Speedway (July 21), Kentucky Speedway (Sept. 21), Road America and Mid-Ohio.

Kentucky’s first NASCAR Nationwide Series race on June 28, one of 27 companion weekends with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, also will be the qualifying event for the 2013 “Dash 4 Cash” bonus program. The subsequent four races make up the 2013 “Dash 4 Cash” events: Daytona on July 5; New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 13; Chicagoland and the Brickyard.

2013 NNS Schedule

Date Track Date Track
Feb. 23 Daytona July 21 Chicagoland
March 2 Phoenix July 27 Indianapolis
March 9 Las Vegas Aug. 3 Iowa
March 16 Bristol Aug. 10 Watkins Glen
March 23 Auto Club Aug. 17 Mid-Ohio
April 12 Texas Aug. 23 Bristol
April 26 Richmond Aug. 31 Atlanta
May 4 Talladega Sept. 6 Richmond
May 10 Darlington Sept. 14 Chicagoland
May 25 Charlotte Sept. 21 Kentucky
June 1 Dover Sept. 28 Dover
June 8 Iowa Oct. 5 Kansas
June 15 Michigan Oct. 11 Charlotte
June 22 Road America Nov. 2 Texas
June 28 Kentucky Nov. 9 Phoenix
July 5 Daytona Nov. 16 Homestead
July 13 New Hampshire

Clinch scenarios for each NASCAR series

Posted on by
Reply

Brad Keselowski clinches his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship with a finish of 15th or better; or 16th and at least one lap led; or 17th and the most laps led, even if Johnson wins and leads the most laps.

All other drivers have been eliminated from championship consideration.

* * * * * * * * * *

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who leads by 20 points over second-place Elliott Sadler, will clinch the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship with a finish of 16th or better; or 17th or better with at least one lap led; or 18th or better with most laps led at Homestead.

In the owners championship battle, the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota guarantees a clinch of the title with a finish of 28th or better; or 29th or better with at least one lap led; or 30th or better with the most laps led. The No 18 currently leads the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford by 33 points.

* * * * * * * * * *

James Buescher has an 11-point lead over Timothy Peters heading into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series finale. Buescher guarantees himself his first championship with a finish of 7th or better with no laps led; or 8th or better with one lap led; or 9th or better with the most laps led.

The clinch scenarios for the NCWTS owners championship is the same, with Buescher’s points-leading No. 31 leading Peters’ No. 17 by 11 points.

Phoenix International Raceway is the place to be this weekend – plan ahead

Posted on by
Reply

 

SOLD OUT!
Phoenix International Raceway’s grandstands are sold out for the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race on November 11th. Fans may still purchase general admission tickets to PIR’s hillside area by calling 866-408-RACE or visiting PhoenixRaceway.com.

REMINDER:  Phoenix International Raceway announced that NASCAR has moved Gatorade Pole Qualifying for the semi-final race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup to Friday, Nov. 9 at 4:10 p.m. Gates open to the public Friday at 9 a.m. A full day of activity on the track will be highlighted by Gatorade Pole Qualifying and the running of the Lucas Oil 150 Camping World Truck Series race at 6 p.m.

PRACTICES/QUALIFYING/RACES
Thursday, November 8th:
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice & NASCAR K&N Pro Series – West Practice 
3:00 p.m.     Spectator Gates Open
3:30 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.     NCWTS Practice
4:35 p.m. – 5:25 p.m.     NKNPS-W Practice
5:35 p.m – 7:35 p.m.     NCWTS Final Practice

Friday, November 9th:
2:30 p.m. NCWTS Qualifying
4:10 p.m. NSCS Qualifying
Lucas Oil 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race

Saturday, November 10th:
8:30 a.m.  NKNPS-W Qualifying
10:35 a.m. NNS Qualifying
2:00 p.m.     Great Clips 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race. (200 laps, 200 miles)
5:00 p.m.     Casino Arizona 50 NASCAR K&N Pro Series – West Race (50 laps, 50 miles)

Sunday, November 11th: 
AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race

PRE-RACE PERFORMANCES/SPECIAL APPEARANCES
Country music duo The Lost Trailers- known for their current hit “American Beauty”- will perform at 11 a.m. on Sunday, November 11 at the Budweiser ROLL-BAR main stage prior to the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway.

Country singer Chelsea Bain will be singing National Anthem for Phoenix Nationwide race
Pop singer/songwriter and actress JoJo will sing “The Star Spangled Banner” prior to the AdvoCare 500 Semi-Final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, November 11.

Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight champion, and former star of The Ultimate Fighter Live on FX, Dominick Cruz has been named Honorary Pace Car Driver for the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, November 11.

ENTERTAINMENT
Fans attending the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at Phoenix International Raceway will be treated to hearing from some of NASCAR’s top drivers prior to the action on the track Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10-11. PIR race fans will have an opportunity to visit with 2012 Chase contender Kevin Harvick, racing legend and five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series runner-up Mark Martin, Arizona native Michael McDowell and 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series runner-up Elliott Sadler and much more.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Event Time Location
Harry Luge Jr. 9pm-11pm SPEED Cantina

Friday, November 9, 2012

Event Time Location
Furious George Band 9pm-10:30pm Budweiser ROLL-BAR Stage
Harry Luge Jr. 9pm-11pm SPEED Cantina

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Event Time Location
Harry Luge Jr. 7pm-8:30pm SPEED Cantina
Chad Freeman and Redline 9pm-11pm SPEED Cantina

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Event Time Place
The Lost Trailers 11am-11:45am Budweiser ROLL-BAR Stage

(Entertainment schedule and locations subject to change)

Texas Motor Speedway offering a NASCAR triple header weekend

Posted on by
Reply

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
NASCAR Sprint Cup Race #34 of 36
NASCAR Countdown Pre-race: ESPN – 2:00pm/et
Television Race Coverage: ESPN, 3:00pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 3:16pm/et
Practices:
 Fri, Nov. 2, 12:30 – 2:00 pm/et on SPEED 
Sat, Nov. 3, 3:00 – 3:50pm/et on SPEED
Happy Hour ‘Final’ practice: Sat, Nov. 3, 5:45 – 6:45pm/et on SPEED
Qualifying: Fri, Nov. 2 at 4:40 pm/et on ESPN2

Coming out as the winner of Martinsville, Jimmie Johnson reclaimed the points lead – by 2 points – from Brad Keselowski – with three races remaining. But remember last season with three races to go – Tony Stewart trailed then-leader Carl Edwards by eight points.

So heading into the AAA Texas 500 on Sunday, Keselowski has yet to score a top-10 finish within his last eight starts. As a matter of fact, five were outside the top 20 – and Keselowski has yet to finish on the lead lap.

It is still anyone of the Chaser’s Championship. No driver has been mathematically eliminated from championship contention – though a couple may be following Texas (any driver 97 points behind the leader after Texas will be officially eliminated).

Greg Biffle holds two wins at Texas and has moved back into 10th in points.

Clint Bowyer comes into this race with three top 10s in the last four Texas races, and boasts momentum at 1.5-mile tracks after capturing his first victory on an intermediate track at Charlotte. Kasey Kahne enters the weekend with two consecutive top 10s at Texas, along with a win there in 2006.

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
NASCAR Nationwide Series Race #31 of 33
Television Race Coverage: Sat, Nov. 3rd on ESPN2, 7:00 pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:41pm/et
Practice: 2 p.m. ET /6 p.m. ET on Fri., Nov. 2nd on SPEED
Qualifying: Sat., Nov. 3rd, 3:05 PM (4:05 PM/ET) on SPEED

On Saturday, the NNS will be coming off of their last ‘off week’ for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway.

Elliott Sadler holds the advantage in the championship standings with a six-point lead over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with only three races remaining. It’s going to be a tight race between these two drivers. Stenhouse won at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this season in April to earn his fourth career NNS victory. In 2004, Sadler won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held at Texas.

For Kyle Busch Motorsports, Kyle Busch has six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, including two runner-up finishes at Talladega and Chicago. Unfortunately for the NNS Chaser’s, Busch owns Texas Motor Speedway when it comes to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He has five wins, 10 top fives and two poles in just 13 starts.

In other news, Danica Patrick is on her way to making history. Currently 10th in points, if Patrick finishes 12th or better in the NNS point standings, she will become the highest-finishing female in national series history. The record is currently held by Sara Christian – 13th, Cup, 1949; Jennifer Jo Cobb – 17th, Truck, 2010 and Patty Moise 22nd, NNS, 1990. Johanna Long – currently ranked 20th in the standings – could move ahead of Moise’s record.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race #20 of 22
TV Race Coverage: Fri, Nov. 2nd, 8:00pm/et on SPEED
Qualifying: Fri, Nov. 2nd 3:00pm/et on SPEED
Practice: Thur, Nov. 1st 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM [6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EN] on SPEED
Final Practice: Thur, Nov., 1st 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM [7:30 PM – 9:00 PM ET on SPEED

Texas native James Buescher will be shuffling into Texas Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday night. Buescher captured a sixth-place finish in his Turner Motorsports Chevrolet and heads to his home state this weekend with a 21-point advantage over previous points leader, Ty Dillon. Dillon sustained damage to his vehicle after having a tire go down and suffered his worst finish of the season, 28th.

Buescher has the upper hand heading to Texas Motor Speedway with four wins at 1.5-mile tracks this season. Though he has never won in his backyard, Buescher brings Chassis No. 212 that has sent him to Victory Lane four times in 2012.

Timothy Peters remains in the third position (-25) after his seventh-place finish at his home track, followed by teammate Parker Kligerman (-36) in fourth and Joey Coulter rounding out the top five, 46 points out of first.

Other drivers to watch is Brendan Gaughan, who owns four wins and four top-five finishes and Todd Bodine (The Onion) holding six wins and three top-five finishes.

 

NASCAR’s wild, crazy (and sometime’s new) affair with Martinsville Speedway will leave some heated

Posted on by
Reply

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

If you’re a NASCAR driver in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, you can either LOVE Martinsville or you can HATE it.

Heading into Sunday’s TUMS Fast Relief 500 very well could scramble the Chase standings. Brad Keselowski maintains just a 7-point lead over Jimmie Johnson. Last April’s race at the 0.526-mile track had Johnson, Bowyer and Jeff Gordon piled up on the next-to-final restart of a green-white-checker finish and handed the victory to Ryan Newman. Jeff Gordon, who led 329 laps, finished 14th.

If you remember, however, from the fall of 2006 through the fall of 2010, it was either Johnson or Denny Hamlin that had won every Martinsville race. Johnson holds six – four while in the Chase; Hamlin holds four – two in the Chase. But then came along Tony Stewart, who just happened to win last year’s Martinsville Chase race.

2011 Martinsville NSCS Practice – Dale Earnhardt Jr Cockpit Photo credit: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR has just stated that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been medically cleared to return to NASCAR competition and WILL be back in the seat of the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.

Earnhardt missed the past two events after suffering a second concussion Oct. 7 at Talladega Superspeedway. His first concussion came during testing at Kansas Speedway. Earnhardt was not seen by the Kansas Infield Care Center, but apparently learned he did suffer a mild concussion from that hard hit during testing.

Earnhardt finished third at Martinsville in the spring. He has a pair of second-place finishes (most recent, spring 2011) among 10 top-five finishes and has finished seventh or better in his past four Martinsville starts.

NSCS POINT STANDINGS

 

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

Ryan Truex will make his truck series debut behind the wheel of the No. 27 Hillman Racing Chevrolet in Saturdays’ Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway. This start will mark a “Truex family” trifecta with all three Truex Family members (Martin Truex, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Truex) having a start in each of NASCAR’s three national touring series at Martinsville Speedway.

Ryan Blaney will also be making his track debut at the 0.526-mile oval, Martinsville Speedway after winning at Iowa Speedway, another short track, earlier this season. Other local drivers will be Tyler Young made his truck series debut at Rockingham Speedway earlier this year and has made two additional starts (Kentucky – June, Bristol) this season. Josh Richards will make his first series start this season in the No. 5 Wauters Motorsports Ford. Richards drove the Kyle Busch Motorsports Chevrolet last season in seven races including the fall Martinsville race. Jeff Agnew from Cooper Hill, Va., has two truck series starts (Spring 2012 and Fall 2011) at Martinsville Speedway with a best finish of 14th last fall. In addition, Agnew has a late model victory captured at the speedway. Grant Enfinger has three truck series starts this season with a best finish of 12th at Daytona and Las Vegas. Matt Merrell will attempt to make his truck series debut in the No.35 Win-Tron Racing Chevrolet.

NCWTS POINT STANDINGS

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

NNS headed into an off weekend once again with Elliott Sadler holding a six-point lead in the championship standings over Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series returns on Saturday, Nov. 3 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway.

NNS POINT STANDINGS

Sources: NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports PR