Category: NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR Cup Series

  • SERVICEMASTER CLEAN ‘BY THE NUMBERS’ FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

    0 – fewest number of lead changes for a Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Jeff Burton led all 300 laps at September 2000 event)

    2 – fewest ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a Sprint Cup race at NHMS (July 1997)

    4 – number of Sprint Cup drivers ranked in the top 12 all 26 races season

    5 of the 12 drivers in the Chase have yet to win in 2010

    5 of the 31 Sprint Cup races at NHMS have been won from a front row starting position, four from the pole

    7 – number of ServiceMaster Clean jet dryers available at NHMS this weekend

    7 of the 26 Sprint Cup races this season have been extended beyond the scheduled distance following a late ServiceMaster Clean caution

    11 different race winners in the last 11 Sprint Cup races at The Magic Mile

    13 – most ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a Sprint Cup race this season (Martinsville)

    17 – most ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a Sprint Cup race at NHMS (July 1994)

    90 minutes – approximate time it takes for the ServiceMaster Clean jet dryers to dry the 1.058-mile NHMS track after a significant rainfall

    98 of the 185 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 26 Sprint Cup races this season were for accidents; 34 for debris and 25 for spins

    185 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 26 Sprint Cup events this season; 224 after 26 races last year

    958 of 7,676 laps completed in the first 26 Sprint Cup races this year have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution; 1,086 of 7,336 after 26 races last year

    1,373.658 of 10,542.028 miles completed this season in the 26 Sprint Cup races have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution; 1,536.104 of 10,003.405 after 26 races last year

    4,500 ServiceMaster Clean franchise locations around the world

  • Horray!  The Chase is Here

    Horray! The Chase is Here

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series headed into Richmond with the top 10 cemented into the final ten races for the championship. Only Greg Biffle and Clint bowyer weren’t sure. It didn’t take either one long to cement their place. So we ended the final race of the “regular season” with little or no excitement. Denny Hamlin dominated the race, as he sometimes does, and the usual suspects will all chase Jimmie Johnson for the big trophy. NASCAR created a monster.

    I cannot remember a time when so many folks have jumped on the ABJ (anybody but Johnson) bandwagon. After four straight championships, fans are eager for a new face to win, but all the crying for making wins more important, leave Johnson just ten points behind Hamlin as we head to New Hampshire. With tracks that favor the No. 48’s style, the Chase is almost loaded for a fifth straight championship for Johnson. A couple of early wins or good finishes coupled with a couple of rivals faltering, and fans will be tuning the NFL in and forgetting NASCAR. It didn’t have to be this way.

    By my last count, and being math challenged is an understatement, 42% of the Chase field will have not won a race in 2010. It doesn’t take much of an argumet to realize that Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, and Clint Bowyer could steal the crown without a win this year if the top seven have problems. Stranger things have happened. Isn’t that what NASCAR was trying to avoid after Matt Kenseth’s championship way back in 2002? Kenseth won one race that year. And by placing so much emphasis on that fact, they forgot to change the point system leading up to the Chase. It’s based on consistency, as it always has been. The “playoff” was supposed to add excitement to the final run, but it has artificially created a situation whereby conisistency doesn’t really matter if you win. What a revolting development this is. It’s flawed.

    Football fans love the NFL system and baseball fans love the playoffs, but both are stick and ball sports n which such things are natural. A playoff for the Sprint Cup championship is so wrong on many levels. The reason many state for this was that NASCAR was trying to take fans from the NFL and MLB when they are deciding their champions. That’s a really futile dream. Not going to happen. In the meantime, many hard-core NASCAR fans just look the other way. When will we learn that NASCAR is NASCAR and the NFL and MLB are different? Maybe never, but the sanctioning body in Daytona Beach continues to reach for that dream in this day of smaller crowds, lower TV ratings, and fan protests.

    So we head to New England to begin our quest to crown a champion. Kevin Harvick led most of the season, but he starts third in the Chase field. Carl Edwards was fourth, but he sits way back because neither won during the year. It’s time for NASCAR to make up its mind. Is it consistency or wins? Or do we need a ten-race playoff? In my mind, I know the answer.

  • Richard Petty Motorsports Haulers Make Special Pit Stop Before Heading to NHMS

    Richard Petty Motorsports Haulers Make Special Pit Stop Before Heading to NHMS

    While fellow teams are preparing for Sunday’s first Chase race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the Richard Petty Motorsports team will be making an early morning pit stop in Connecticut to visit with employees from Hartford Distributors.

    The company, located just east of Hartford, found itself at the center of a tragedy when a gunman shot and killed eight fellow employees and injured two in early August.

    According to Shawn Courchesne, sports reporter at the Hartford Courant and writer of the autoracing blog, “The Backstretch,” the team’s four NASCAR Sprint Cup series hauler drivers will visit with employees on Thursday morning to give tours of the haulers and display the cars that will be run in Sunday’s Sylvania 300.

    In addition, New Hampshire Motor Speedway has donated 250 tickets for employees to attend Sunday’s race at the track, according to Courchesne.

    Although it may seem unexpected, the visit by Richard Petty Motorsports is a logical fit, because Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Ford Fusion for the Sprint Cup series team, is sponsored by Budweiser and the Connecticut company is a beer distributor.

    The event will also provide the team with some positive media attention and is a great opportunity to gain new fans.

    Richard Petty Motorsports recently announced that three of their four current drivers would not be renewing their contracts with the team for the 2011-2012 Sprint Cup Series season.

    The team’s stop in Connecticut is not open to the public and will take place Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. before heading to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

  • NASCAR AFTER THE LAPTM PROVIDES FANS WITH UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS TO TOP-12 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIESTM DRIVERS

    Fan-Oriented “SEND ME 2 VEGAS” Sweepstakes Launches Sept. 15

     

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 15, 2010) – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Inc. (NASCAR) announced today one of the sport’s most popular fan events — the return of NASCAR After The Lap to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s WeekTM line up of activities. Sponsored by Ford Motor Company and Coca-Cola, NASCAR After The Lap is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010, and is the only fan-focused, free event providing NASCAR® fans with unprecedented access to the 2010 top-12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who competed in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint CupTM.

    NASCAR After The Lap will launch the “SEND ME 2 VEGAS” sweepstakes on Sept. 15 with one fan eligible to win a 2011 Ford Taurus SHO valued at up to $40,000 and a VIP trip for two to NASCAR After The Lap.  

    Taking place at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NASCAR After The Lap will feature an unfiltered fan question-and-answer session with the top-12 Chase drivers. General admission seats are free and based on a first-come, first-serve basis. Seats may be reserved at NASCARafterthelap.com until Dec. 1, 2010. From noon to 4 p.m. PT and located in front of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Coca-Cola will present the fan-interactive Coca-Cola Fan Zone complete with The Sprint Experience, Ford vehicles, games, concessions, entertainment and more.

    “NASCAR is dedicated to delivering unique marketing platforms to official partners like Ford and Coca-Cola,” said Jim O’Connell, vice president of corporate marketing and international development for NASCAR. “NASCAR After The Lap demonstrates our passion to create a high-quality fan experience, showcases the colorful personalities of our top competitors and delivers results to our valued partners.”

    For fans not able to attend NASCAR After The Lap, NASCAR.com will offer a web cast while SIRIUS XM Radio will broadcast the event live on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio channel 128.

    Leading up to the Dec. 2 event, fans have two additional ways to get involved with NASCAR After The Lap:

    • “SEND ME 2 VEGAS”
      • After entering the “SEND ME 2 VEGAS” sweepstakes, fans can submit a message to their favorite NASCAR driver at NASCARafterthelap.com and at Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup races at The Sprint Experience and the Ford and Coca-Cola displays at select races.
      • Fans’ messages will be compiled and assembled into a card featured during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
      • The “SEND ME 2 VEGAS” sweepstakes’ winner will present a version of the card to the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ChampionTM live at NASCAR After The Lap.
    • Coca-Cola Chase for Charity
      • The Coca-Cola Chase for Charity is an online auction that allows fans to bid on collectible, autographed items. Bidding begins Monday, Sept. 20 and concludes Friday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. ET. Proceeds benefit The NASCAR Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit entity that embodies the compassion of the NASCAR family and its commitment to serving communities.

     

    To enter the “SEND ME 2 VEGAS” sweepstakes, visit NASCARafterthelap.com or enter at select tracks.  See Official Rules for details.  No purchase necessary to enter or win.  Sweepstakes is sponsored and administered by JHE Production Group Inc. and is open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and District of Columbia who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older at the time of entry.  Sweepstakes begins at 12:01 a.m. ET Sept. 15, 2010, and ends at 2 p.m. ET Nov. 21, 2010.

    For more information, visit NASCARafterthelap.com.

  • Toyota NASCAR Notes & Quotes II New Hampshire

    TOYOTA TALK:

    Camry Chasers Chat Chances

    Bayne Boasts Best Finish in New NNS Car

    Bodine Hopes for Better Luck at Loudon

    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: This year, Toyota drivers have combined for 10 wins, 30 top-five results, 58 top-10 finishes and five poles after 26 of 36 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) races … Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) teammates Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin — who will compete in this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship playoff — have combined to win nine of 26 races in 2010 … The nine combined wins are the most by a pair of teammates … Toyota has now won the last four NSCS races at Richmond following Hamlin’s win Saturday night … JGR has won seven of 11 NSCS races in Virginia since the team began utilizing Toyotas in 2008 — four at Richmond and three at Martinsville Speedway … ‘Sponsafier 2’ voting runs through Sept. 23.

    KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing How important is it to have a good start in the Chase? “If you run well for the first five races and then you go to Talladega and struggle, you ’ll have a cushion built up. You want to always try to build a cushion as big as you can. You don’t want to start from behind. It’s really important to come out of the gate strong and to run well. It’s no different than the beginning of the year. I always feel like the beginning part of the year is the most important — the first 10 or 12 races are the most important to get your footing and your point standings because then you have a little bit to lose. You might go a week or two here or there where you finish 20th or worse, but you have something that you can lose a little bit. You definitely want to get through the first five at least strong where you have a good setting and then just work towards the rest of the year, and keeping that and of course, maybe even getting away from some guys. ” What would happen if the championship came down to Denny Hamlin and you at Homestead? “If it does, it’s going to be no holds barred. It came down to us last year (at Homestead), and if it’s the same, Denny (Hamlin) was leading the race, I was running second chasing him down and I moved around my line a little bit and he moved his, and I couldn ’t catch him anymore. If it comes down to me having to win the race in order to win the championship, or if he wins the race he wins the championship, it’s going to be whatever happens. If it comes down to where he wins the race and I finish second, it’s going to be an awfully disappointing night for the 18 team, but yet a very exciting one for the 11 (Denny Hamlin).

    DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Small Business Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing How important is it to have a strong run at Loudon in the first Chase race? “For us, it’s the first three races — Dover is the second one and then Kansas. Those are the ones that we’ve got to get around in the sense of if we’re within 50 to 100 points after we leave those, then we ’ve got a great shot. We always make a heck of a run at the end of the Chase no matter where we’re at in points — those last five races. Those tracks seem to be good for us. So, for me, it’s about damage control. If we can go out there and we can win one or two of those first five Chase races, then that ’s going to be a big boost for us when we need it at the end.” Is this the most confident you have felt entering the Chase? “At this point, I would say yes. We have won at three or four of the Chase tracks during the course of my career, and that’s encouraging for us. Never through the course of my career have I ever felt that anywhere I show up, I could win. With the exception of a road course, I feel like I can run top-5 there, but I’ve never felt like I could just win anywhere I went, until this year. And especially at this point now, the confidence level is pretty high.” Do you believe in momentum heading into the Chase? “Your momentum ends as soon as you go to the next race track, as far as I ’m concerned. It’s about getting better at that race track. What’s different this year from last year is six wins versus two. So, from my standpoint, I feel like the last five races of the Chase always seem to be really good for us, and we always gain points those last five. But the problem is, we race ourselves right out of it for the first two or three. So, for me, it’s about damage control at the beginning and trying to get the best finishes we can and see where we end up. If we are within shouting distance with five (races) to go, then I’m pretty confident we’ll have a good shot at it.

    MARCOS AMBROSE, No. 47 Kingsford/Bush’s Baked Beans Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing Do you like racing at Loudon? “I like Loudon — it’s a great track. It’s a lot of fun to go around that place and it’s a really fast feeling race track. The corners are pretty flat, but you carry a lot of momentum. It’s a big one-mile flat track and there’s not many of those in the country. You really have to be brave getting into the corner because you know it’s going to be loose getting in and somehow get it around the track. It’s a good, fun place to race and I look forward to going up there.”

    NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: This year, Toyota drivers have combined for 13 wins, 56 top-five results, 113 top-10 finishes and 13 poles after 27 of 35 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) races … Toyota currently holds a 35-point advantage over Chevrolet in the NNS manufacturer point standings … The NNS enjoys an off-weekend and returns to action at Delaware’s Dover International Speedway, Sept. 25.

    TREVOR BAYNE, No. 99 OUT! Pet Care Toyota Camry, Diamond-Waltrip Racing What do you think of the ‘new’ Nationwide Series cars? “I really like these new cars. I actually like the way they drive a little bit better than the current style cars. Everybody at our shop has put so much time and effort into these cars. They’ve built all brand new race cars for two teams — myself and Ryan (Truex). We’ve got four cars sitting there ready to go and not a lot of teams can say that. I love the way they drive. I had to get used to that ‘free’ in, but that’s something we’re going to have to learn for the progression to the Cup cars. I like the way they drive, like the way they look and the adjustability — it’s there. These cars, they’ve designed them in a way that you can adjust on them and you can make them better as the race goes on.”

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: This year, Tundra drivers have combined for 11 wins, 44 top-five results, 89 top-10 finishes and eight poles after 18 of 25 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) races … Tundra drivers Todd Bodine (first), Aric Almirola (second), Timothy Peters (fourth), Mike Skinner (eighth) and David Starr (ninth) are in the top-10 in the NCWTS point standings with seven races remaining.

    TODD BODINE, No. 30 Germain.com Toyota Tundra, Germain Racing Do you like racing in New Hampshire? “We’ve run really well at New Hampshire, just never had the luck to go with it. I’ve run well there in a Cup car, the Nationwide car and the Truck. I love going there because it’s not home, but it’s my second home. I’ve spent a lot of time in New England. I have a lot of friends there, and I love New England, period. I’m really looking forward to the race there this year.” Is there a difference between this year and your 2006 championship season? “It’s very similar. I think our performance is better this year. In 2006, we got to a point toward the end of the year where we didn’t put it in cruise mode, but we couldn’t experiment and gain to go any faster where a lot of these guys were starting to coil bind at that time and do things to go faster. We couldn’t deviate from what we were doing, and it kind of put us a little behind when we got into 2007. This year, our performance is good and everything has been going right — we just have to keep it going.”

    TOYOTA DRIVER ROSTER — New Hampshire Motor Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series David Reutimann, No. 00 TUMS Camry Robby Gordon, No. 7 SpeedFactory.TV Camry Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Small Business Camry Casey Mears, No. 13 GEICO Camry Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M’s Camry Joey Logano, No. 20 Home Depot Camry Marcos Ambrose, No. 47 Kingsford/Bush’s Camry Mike Bliss, No. 55 Prism Motorsports Camry Martin Truex Jr., No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Camry Todd Bodine, No. 64 Gunselman Motorsports Camry Scott Riggs, No. 66 Prism Motorsports Camry Scott Speed, No. 82 Red Bull Camry Reed Sorenson, No. 83 Red Bull Camry Joe Nemechek, No. 87 NEMCO Motorsports Camry NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Mike Skinner, No. 5 Exide-International Tundra Justin Lofton, No. 7 VisitPit.com Tundra Timothy Peters, No. 17 Red Horse Racing Tundra Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota Tundra Todd Bodine, No. 30 Germain.com Tundra Aric Almirola, No. 51 Graceway Pharmaceuticals Tundra David Starr, No. 81 Zachry Tundra Donny Lia, No. 90 Stringer Motorsports Tundra

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Richmond

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Richmond

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin led 251 of 400 laps at Richmond, erasing the memory of 34th and 43rd-place finishes in his last two races to grab the top seed in the Chase For The Cup. Hamlin’s sixth win of the year places him ten points ahead of four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson, with five wins.

    “The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Camry was awesome on Saturday night,” Hamlin said. “There were a lot of people who doubted out ability to get this car ready for the Chase. Well, if the Fed Ex Office car could talk, it would undoubtedly tell those people to ‘kiss my asterisk.’”

    2. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished third in the Air Guard 400, sandwiched among three Joe Gibbs Racing cars that finished first, second, and fourth. It was Johnson’s tenth top-5 finish of the year, and he will start the Chase seeded second, ten points behind Denny Hamlin.

    “We may not be leading the standings right now,” Johnson said, “but with two consecutive third-place finishes, we will be there soon. In this business, timing is everything, and as a four-time champion, our ‘time-ing’ is best.”

    “And speaking of time, do you know what time it is? I’ll tell you. It’s ten until five—–ten races until I’m crowned with my fifth Sprint Cup title. It’s only a matter of time.”

    3. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished ninth at Richmond, his series-best 17th top-10 result of the year. However, Harvick’s sizeable points lead is gone, and as a result of the points reset, he’ll start the Chase For The Cup 30 points down to Denny Hamlin.

    “There’s good news and bad news,” Harvick said. “The bad news is my 228-point lead is gone. The good news? There’s something that can disappear faster than a 228-point lead, and that’s a 30 point lead.”

    4. Kyle Busch: After a poor qualifying effort, Busch started 32nd in the Air Guard 400, but quickly made his way to the front. Busch was in the top 10 on lap 136, and soon after hit the top 5. He later dueled teammate Denny Hamlin for the lead in the closing laps, but was unable to overtake the No. 11 Toyota.

    “The No. 18 M&M’s Toyota was fast enough to win,” Busch said, “but I just used up too much of the car trying to get close to Hamlin, which, incidentally, is the only way I would ever even consider ‘getting close’ to him.”

    Anyway, they say ‘M&M’s melt in your mouth, not in your hands.’ Well, the way I drove it, the tires of the M&M’s car melted on the track, and in my hands.”

    5. Carl Edwards: Edwards continued his hot streak, starting from the pole at Richmond and leading 95 laps on his way to a tenth-place finish. Edwards, in the No. 99 Cheez-It Ford, scored his 14th top 10 of the year, and eight in his last nine races, to enter the Chase as the most dangerous driver without a win.

    “I suggest other drivers take me seriously as a contender for the Cup,” Edwards said. “And other drivers suggested that to be taken seriously, I should try something besides ‘Cheez-it’ on my car.”

    6. Tony Stewart: After winning last week at Atlanta, Stewart closed the regular season with a 16th at Richmond, losing some of the momentum built by his lone victory this year. He will start the Chase 50 points down to Denny Hamlin.

    “My win at Atlanta,” Stewart said, “was a ‘Smoke’ signal that I would be a factor in the Chase. If that’s the case, then my 16th at Richmond could portend that the Chase will likely see barely a puff of ‘Smoke.’”

    7. Kurt Busch: Already locked into the Chase, Busch and the No. 2 Miller Lite team went for the win, making some changes to the car that didn’t pan out. Loose-handling issues arose, and Busch struggled to an 18th-place finish. Busch will start the Chase with 5,020 points, 40 behind Denny Hamlin.

    “As you know,” Busch said, “I won the inaugural Chase back in 2004. It’s true what they say—becoming the Sprint Cup champion does change your life. Look at me. Without a title hence, I haven’t been the same since.”

    8. Jeff Gordon: Gordon finished a respectable 12th at Richmond, but with no wins this year, will start the Chase For The Cup a disappointing 60 points down. Gordon has now gone 55 races without a win.

    “Sammy Hagar may not be able to,” Gordon said, “but I can drive 55, without a win. And I’m sure I could ruin Van Halen, as well.”

    “As an eternal optimist, I look at 55 races without a win as consistency. And consistency, not wins, is the key to success in the Chase. Ten more consistent races, and I could be Sprint Cup champion for the fifth time, which I believe would equal the number of failed Van Halen reunions.”

    9. Clint Bowyer: Needing only a finish of 28th or better to clinch a Chase berth, Bowyer easily punched his ticket with a sixth at Richmond, posting his 14th top-10 finish of the year. The Richard Childress Racing driver will start the Chase For The Cup 60 points behind top seed Denny Hamlin.

    “I think I speak for all five Chase qualifiers without a win,” Bowyer said, “when I say that a 60 point deficit is a pretty good deal considering. A 60 point deficit accumulated over 26 races is nothing. Give me ten races, and I can knock 60 points out easily. So, in essence, the five of us can win for losing.”

    10. Greg Biffle: Biffle finished 32nd at Richmond, one week after coming home 36th at Atlanta, clinching his spot in the Chase, albeit under disappointing circumstances. He’ll start his quest for the Sprint Cup 50 points behind Denny Hamlin.

    “I’m just glad to be back in the Chase,” Biffle said. “And ‘back’ is the operative word, because we certainly ‘backed’ our way into it.”

    But there are three Roush Fenway drivers in the Chase, two you may have heard about, and Matt Kenseth.”

  • A Chase for Some, An Audition for Others

    A Chase for Some, An Audition for Others

    As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads into New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, the “Chase” will be the talk of the town. However, not every driver has their focus on the chase as some see the last ten races of the 2010 season as an audition for 2011.

    Look at Dave Blaney. These last ten races for him may be the most important of his career. His career was basically over when he and PRISM Motorsports decided to part ways in August. Yet, as soon as Blaney could get his butt on the couch his phone rang. It was Tommy Baldwin, owner of Tommy Baldwin Racing and a little while after that, Bob Jenkins owner of Front Row Motorsports called him needed his help. Now Blaney will split the last ten races between Baldwin’s No.36 Chevrolet and Front Row’s No. 38 Ford. If Blaney can prove to his naysayers that he can still race he may have a ride for 2011, in either one of these rides. Not a bad deal for a guy who’s career was almost over.

    Then there’s Jeff Green. The Owensboro, Kentucky native hadn’t run in a cup race since the 2007 season. In fact Green had only run in about 20 NASCAR races the last two seasons. Yet, a break led to Green splitting the No. 26 Latitude 43 Motorsports Ford with Canadian Patrick Carpentier. It now appears Green will be used for the short tracks, after making Bristol and Richmond on time. Green had been out of the sport for most of the last two seasons, and now has a chance to show some people what he can do these next ten races.

    Landon Cassill is another driver who has an opportunity this year. In 2009, Cassill ran just one Nationwide race. It was a sad what the economy had done to one of the sport’s best rising stars. This year Cassill has had the opportunity to drive the No. 09 and No. 71 Chevrolets in the Sprint Cup Series. It hasn’t been exactly the best rides for Cassill, but it’s something. He now has an opportunity to run those cars next year if proper funding is found. Last week the 71 car had funding and Cassill ran his first race in 7 starts. For Cassill he has an opportunity to get a fulltime ride for next season. The chase is always exciting for the top 12 drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. However, there are other drivers that are auditioning for 2011 rides that you should keep your eye on as well.

  • Carl Edwards New Hampshire Fast Facts

    Carl Edwards – NSCS NEW HAMPSHIRE ADVANCE

    Team: No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion

    Crew Chief: Bob Osborne

    Chassis: RK-647 Raced Loudon in June, finished 25th

    Also raced Phoenix in April, finished 7th

    Edwards, NSCS at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

    Date Event Start Finish Laps Led Status Money

    6-27-2010 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 21 25 299/301 0 Running $113,173

    9-20-2009 Sylvania 300 5 17 300/300 2 Running $125,931

    6-28-2009 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 5 19 273/273 0 Running $125,131

    9-14-2008 Sylvania 300 2 3 300/300 61 Running $179,150

    6-29-2008 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 17 17 284/284 0 Running $123,575

    9-16-2007 Sylvania 300 11 12 300/300 0 Running $90,050

    7-01-2007 Lenox Industrial Tools 300 22 13 300/300 2 Running $90,350

    9-17-2006 Sylvania 300 19 18 300/300 0 Running $91,525

    7-16-2006 Lenox Industrial Tools 300 17 2 308/308 0 Running $177,900

    9-18-2005 Sylvania 300 24 19 300/300 0 Running $87,950

    7-17-2005 New England 300 20 12 300/300 0 Running $92,300

    9-19-2004 Sylvania 300 21 20 299/300 0 Running $100,817

    Cumulative Races Wins Top-5s Top-10s Poles Led Money

    12 0 2 2 0 65 $1,398,400

    Carl Edwards on racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

    “I think Loudon is a good race track. I really enjoy it and have had some success there. I think the biggest challenge this weekend will be getting our setup right. It’s a short race without a lot of cautions, so qualifying will be important. It’s just the regular stuff we deal with at Loudon trying to get track position, but we’ve been qualifying a lot better lately and our set-ups have been pretty good so I’m very optimistic that we will be contenders at Loudon. We need to start off the Chase on the right foot and not get behind from the start.”

    Crew chief Bob Osborne on racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

    “Statistically speaking Loudon is not one of our better tracks, but Carl actually runs pretty well there and enjoys racing there. This is an important race to run well since it kicks off the Chase. With the reset points we trail first place by 60 points, so we don’t want Denny (Hamlin) or anyone to stretch out a big lead on us so we spend the Chase playing catch-up.”

    FAST FACTS

    • CARL EDWARDS enters the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway ninth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings, 60 points behind new leader Denny Hamlin. In 26 starts this season, Edwards has accumulated six top-five and 14 top-10 finishes, as well as two poles.

    • FOR THE RECORD…In 12 NSCS starts at NHMS, Edwards has achieved two top-five and two top-10 finishes. Edwards’ best finish at Loudon is second place, captured in July of 2006, and his best start was in September of 2008, where he rolled off second, however qualifying was cancelled due to rain and the grid was set by owners’ points.

    • Edwards has completed 3563 of 3566 (99.9%) of the laps he has attempted at Loudon and has led 65 laps. He has an average start of 15.3 and an average finish of 14.8.

    • ON THE TRACK…The No. 99 Aflac team will be bringing RK-647 this weekend to New Hampshire. Edwards raced this Ford Fusion at Loudon in June where he finished 25th and Phoenix in April where he finished seventh.

    • REWIND, LOUDON SEPTEMBER 2009…Edwards fought a loose car much of the day, but ran in the top 10 the first half of the race. A green-flag pit stop with fewer than 35 to go followed by a caution for debris nine laps later hurt his track position late in the race. He was able to gain some spots in the closing laps, but was forced to settle for a 17th-place finish.

  • Matt Kenseth – Crown Royal Racing – New Hampshire Advance

    Matt Kenseth – NSCS ADVANCE

    Team: No. 17 Crown Royal Black Ford Fusion

    Crew Chief: Jimmy Fennig

    Chassis: Primary: RK-704 (brand new chassis)

    Kenseth NSCS record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

    Date Event S F Laps

    Status Earnings

    06/27/10 Lenox Indus. Tools 301 33 17 300/301

    Running $122,624

    09/20/09 Sylvania 300 38 23 300/300

    Running $122,590

    06/28/09 Lenox Indus. Tools 301 10 22 273/273

    Running $121,490

    09/14/08 Sylvania 300 12 40 228/300

    Crash $117,341

    06/29/08 Lenox Indus. Tools 301 9 18 284/284

    Running $122,241

    09/16/07 Sylvania 300 30 7 300/300

    Running $141,191

    07/01/07 Lenox Indus. Tools 300 30 9 300/300

    Running $130,741

    09/17/06 Sylvania 300 25 10 300/300

    Running $130,466

    07/16/06 Lenox Indus. Tools 300 24 14 308/308

    Running $119,716

    09/19/05 Sylvania 300 4 3 300/300

    Running $169,311

    07/17/05 New England 300 16 10 300/300

    Running $127,486

    09/19/04 Sylvania 300 5 2 300/300

    Running $175,108

    07/25/04 Siemens 300 31 4 300/300

    Running $146,103

    09/14/03 Sylvania 300 19 7 300/300

    Running $80,750

    07/20/03 New England 300 1 3 300/300

    Running $124,030

    09/15/02 New Hampshire 300 17 10 207/207

    Running $73,875

    07/21/02 New England 300 6 33 299/300

    Running $71,225

    11/23/01 New Hampshire 300 16 4 300/300

    Running $82,525

    07/22/01 New England 300 21 16 300/300

    Running $54,550

    09/17/00 Dura Lube 300 38 17 298/300

    Running $51,625

    07/09/00 thatlook.com 22 19 272/273

    Running $54,400

    Races Wins Top 5s Top 10s Poles

    Earnings

    Cumulative 21 0 5 11

    1 $2,339,388

    Kenseth on racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

    “This weekend as we head to New Hampshire, I’m really happy that we’re a part of the Chase this year. Now our focus has to be to make sure that we go out and perform the best we can so that we’re able to close up some of the point difference between where we’re at versus the leaders.

    New Hampshire is a track that has always been a challenge for me, and I feel like it hasn’t been one of my better tracks on the circuit, but we seem to be pretty consistent here statistically speaking. New Hampshire is a track where it’s fairly difficult to pass, so you’ll see teams use pit stops and pit strategy to advance their way through the field on Sunday.”

    Crew chief Jimmy Fennig on racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

    “This weekend’s race car is a brand new chassis so we’re eager to see how we unload off the truck at New Hampshire. Matt has had a lot of consistent runs at New Hampshire and our goal is to focus on making sure we give him the best equipment to give our Crown Royal team the best chances week in and week out for the Chase. Loudon is a difficult track to pass at and it really is a place that makes drivers and teams work for a good finish.”

    FAST FACTS:

    • Kenseth has an average starting position of 19.4 and an average

    finishing position of 13.7 at Loudon

    • Kenseth has earned five top-five finishes and eleven top-10

    finishes at NHMS, but has yet to win a race

    • Kenseth’s best finish at Loudon came in 2004 when he finished

    second

    • Kenseth has completed 6,069 of 6,146 (98.7 percent) laps at

    Loudon, and led for a total of 88

    • This weekend at Loudon, Kenseth will pilot the No. 17 Crown

    Royal Ford Fusion

    • Entering this weekend, Kenseth is currently eleventh in the

    Chase for the Sprint Cup Series driver point standings

  • Chase Field Should Be Tight For TUMS Fast Relief 500 At Martinsville Speedway

    MARTINSVILLE, Va. (September 14, 2010) – The TUMS Fast Relief 500 is still six weeks away, but it’s not too early for fans to be looking forward to the only short-track stop in the Chase, making their predictions of who will master Martinsville Speedway’s difficult half-mile.

    While two or three names come quickly to mind as favorites because of past successes – Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin – at least half of the 12-driver chase field has won at Martinsville before.

    Hamlin, the top-seed in the Chase, knocked Johnson from his Martinsville throne in recent races. The Virginia driver has won two straight here and three of the last five events. Those three wins came in just 10 starts, so he quickly got the place figured out. Amazingly, he has nine top-10 finishes in those 10 starts.

    Johnson has amassed six Martinsville wins in his relatively short career … which includes just 17 Martinsville starts. He has 12 top 5s, 16 top 10s and an amazing average finish of just over 5.

    Next to Richard Petty, Gordon is the absolute King of Martinsville and even though he’s seeded eighth, has to be taken seriously as a threat in the Chase, and especially the TUMS Fast Relief 500. He has seven Martinsville poles, seven wins, 23 top 5s and 29 top 10s with an average finish of just over 6.

    Kevin Harvick, who is seeded third in the Chase, doesn’t have a Martinsville win … in a Sprint Cup car. But he does have two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series wins on the track he calls home, plus a NASCAR Nationwide Series win here.

    Tony Stewart, who wasn’t a big Martinsville fan early in his career, has done well on the short track since those days. Stewart, seeded sixth, has three poles, two wins and has finished in the top 5 in almost half of his 23 starts

    Fourth-seeded Kyle Busch doesn’t have a Martinsville win, but has been in the top five in four of his 11 starts. His brother Kurt, seeded a spot behind him, has a pole and a win at Martinsville.

    Next to Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton has the most Martinsville starts out of the 12 Chase drivers. He has 32 starts that have resulted in a win, 10 top 5s and 14 top 10s.

    Seventh-seeded Carl Edwards has a top 5 and three top 10s in his dozen Martinsville starts while 11th seeded Matt Kenseth has a pair of top 5 finishes and a half-dozen top 10s in 21 starts.

    Greg Biffle, seeded seventh, doesn’t have a top five in 15 starts, but had two top 10s.

    Clint Bowyer, seeded 12th, has the least Martinsville starts of anyone in the Chase with nine. He does have one Martinsville top 5 finish and has been in the top 10 in over half of his Martinsville starts.

    Tickets for the entire TUMS Relief 500 weekend are now on sale. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 begin at $25 and range to $77.

    Tickets to the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on October 23 are $30 in advance, with children 12 and under admitted free.

    Tickets for Farm Bureau Pole Day, which features practice and qualifying for both the Kroger 200 and the TUMS Fast Relief 500, are $15, children 12 and under admitted free.

    Tickets for all events may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.