Category: NASCAR Cup PR

This Week in Motorsports: October 28 – November 3, 2024

NCS/NXS/NCTS: Martinsville Speedway – Nov. 1-3
NHRA: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Nov. 1-3

PLANO, Texas (Oct. 30, 2024) – NASCAR and the NHRA both reach their penultimate races this weekend as championship battles intensify. NASCAR’s three national series are in Martinsville for the Round of 8 cutoff race to decide who will race in Phoenix for the championship. NHRA is in Las Vegas for the second time this season as the Countdown to the Championship nears its conclusion.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCTS

Camry XSE drivers fight for chance at a championship … After his monumental victory at Homestead on Sunday, Tyler Reddick has locked himself into the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway – the first NCS title race appearance for he and 23XI Racing. His Camry XSE teammates, Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin have work in front of them to also advance to the championship race. Bell is in a solid position as things currently sit, 29 points above the cutline, while Hamlin will enter Sunday’s race 18 points below.

Toyota continues Championship 4 streak… With Reddick’s victory, Toyota will continue its streak as the only manufacturer to have at least one driver in every Championship 4. Since NASCAR switched to this points system in 2014, Toyota has been represented by Hamlin (2014, 2019, 2020, 2021), Kyle Busch (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), Carl Edwards (2016), Martin Truex Jr. (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) and Bell (2022, 2023).

Hamlin back at favorable Martinsville … In racing for a spot in the Championship 4, Hamlin is back at Martinsville Speedway, which has been a strong track for he and the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 team of late. The 43-year-old has three top-five finishes in the last four Martinsville races, and four in the last seven. Hamlin also has five career victories at the half-mile oval (2008, 2009, 2010 – twice and 2015). Adding a sixth Martinsville triumph to his name would secure Hamlin a spot in the Championship 4 for the sixth time in his career and first since 2021.

Toyota seeks to continue pole streak … Following the pole by Reddick last weekend at Homestead, which capped off its 13th-all time national series race weekend pole sweep, Toyota will look to pace the field for the third consecutive weekend. This would be the third time this season Toyota would have three poles in a row and would give the manufacturer its 13th pole of the season, as it already has the most in the Cup Series.

Smith to go all in at Martinsville … Entering Saturday’s race 28 points below the Xfinity Series Playoff cutline, Chandler Smith will be going for victory at Martinsville. The half-mile Virginia oval has been a solid place for the Georgia native, who has two top-10s in his three career Xfinity Series starts, including a third-place finish in the spring.

Bubba Pollard makes GR Supra debut … Georgia native Bubba Pollard will make his second career Xfinity Series start, and Toyota debut, with Sam Hunt Racing this weekend in the No. 26 GR Supra. Pollard, an accomplished late model racer and champion, made his Xfinity Series debut in the spring at Richmond, where he finished an impressive sixth place.

It comes down to Martinsville for Heim and Gray … Friday night’s 200-mile race at Martinsville Speedway offers one last chance for Corey Heim and Taylor Gray to lock themselves into the Truck Series Championship 4. Heim, who seeks his second consecutive appearance in the title race, currently sits a favorable 49 points above the cutline after a fourth-place result last weekend at Homestead, which included his first pole of the 2024 season. For Gray, he is currently 24 points below the cutline following his 10th-place finish at Homestead. He has been strong at Martinsville Speedway so far in his career with top-10 finishes in all three of his starts.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Ashley, Brown lead Toyota title fight contingent … With just two races remaining in the 2024 NHRA season, Toyota continues to hold serve in Top Fuel. Justin Ashley, following his victory at Ennis three weeks ago, holds a 44-point advantage over Toyota teammate, Antron Brown in the Top Fuel points standings heading to Las Vegas this weekend. Following those two is Shawn Langdon in third, 76 points behind and Steve Torrence in fourth, 88 points back. Doug Kalitta is seventh and Billy Torrence is 10th in the current standings. In Funny Car, Ron Capps remained in the fourth points position after a finals appearance at Ennis. J.R. Todd is eighth and Alexis DeJoria is 10th going into Las Vegas.

Toyota looks to continue streaks … After the win by Ashley in Top Fuel and finals appearance by Capps in Funny Car in Ennis, Toyota continued its incredible hot streak in NHRA. Ashley’s triumph made it 16 Top Fuel victories for Toyota in the last 19 races, dating back to Pomona last November. The final appearances by Ashley and Capps marked 41 consecutive NHRA races that Toyota has had at least one finalist.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 30 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

CLUB ENTRY LIST

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
POINT STANDINGS: 34TH

ERIK JONES
POINT STANDINGS: 31ST

CLUB NOTES

EJ Stats: Erik Jones has 15 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) starts at Martinsville Speedway and five NASCAR Truck Series (NTS) starts at the Virginia track. His best finish in the NCS is eighth, earned in the fall of 2021. This past April, Jones finished the race 12th overall. Jones has one top-10 and five top-15s at the short track. With five starts in the NTS, Jones has two top-fives, earning a third-place finish in the spring of 2015, and four top-10 finishes overall.

JHN Stats: This weekend, John Hunter Nemechek will be making his fourth NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) start at the track that they call “the paperclip”. During those three starts, he has an average starting spot of 23rd and an average finishing spot of 29th. However, the North Carolina native has seen success at the half-mile speedway as he collected the grandfather clock with his 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, that being is his second, as he also secured one in 2018 when he won the NASCAR Truck Series race.

Beshore at Martinsville: Crew chief Ben Beshore has four NCS starts at Martinsville Speedway, to include three starts with Kyle Busch who finished second in the fall race of 2021. He has three starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and a pair of wins to show for it – finding victory at the Virginia short track with driver Harrison Burton in 2020 and with John Hunter Nemechek in 2023.

Appearances: Richard Petty and Kyle Petty will stop by the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB merchandise trailer on Sunday, at 10:00 a.m. In addition, they will have a question and answer session at 10:30 a.m. in the Fan Zone.

John Hunter Nemechek will also stop by the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB merchandise rig to sign some autographs on race morning at 11:30 a.m. EST.

Going for G.O.L.D.: Partners Dollar Tree Family Dollar has a “Go for G.O.L.D.” (Grand Opening Look Daily) program. Each week throughout the season, the No. 42 and No. 43 will feature one of the local stores on the deck lid of the Toyota Camry XSE.

PETTY 75TH ANNIVERSARY

ABOUT PETTY 75th: The 2024 season marks a significant milestone in the history of the Petty family as they have helped define stock car racing for 75 years. Their commitment to the sport and the people who make it possible – behind the wheel, under the hood, in the back office, and beyond – has shaped the growth and success of NASCAR. Their LEGACY lives on with the countless fans, drivers, technicians, and team members they touched. Throughout 2024, LEGACY M.C. will celebrate the Petty family and share countless memories with friends and fans at racetracks across the country.

Petty Legacy at Martinsville: The Petty’s have a long history with the half-mile, Martinsville Speedway. In the early days of NASCAR, in 1949, Lee Petty won his very first NASCAR race at the historic short track. It was 10 years later, Richard “The King” Petty earned his first victory at the track. Petty currently holds the record for most wins at Martinsville Speedway at 15. LEGACY M.C. co-owner, Jimmie Johnson has nine victories at the track they call the paperclip.

Grand Marshall: Over 40 members of the Petty family, including the “King” himself, Richard Petty, are set to give the command ahead of the second-to-last race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season at Martinsville Speedway, calling for drivers to start their engines before the Xfinity 500 on Sunday, Nov. 3.

The King’s Hat: Earlier this spring, Martinsville Speedway unveiled their version of the King’s Hat. Be sure to check out Martinsville Speedway social media handles for location and activities surrounding the King’s Hat.

CLUB QUOTES

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver of the No. 42 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Toyota Camry XSE:

“The spring race at Martinsville was a rough race for our No. 42 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB team, however, Erik [Jones] and the No. 43 bunch had a decent run. We are looking back at all the notes plus see what we were able to learn from the test session there earlier this summer to help us out as a whole organization. Things can happen fast at Martinsville, so it will be important to have a good qualifying lap then just stay out of trouble in the race to set us up for a good finish and something we can build on for 2025.”

Erik Jones, Driver of the No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE:

“I think we can build off of (the) spring Martinsville (finish), for sure. It’s been a place we’ve had a handful of tests over the last few years, fortunately, we got to go test there again this summer and I think we learned some things that should help us out. Martinsville has become a lot about track position. Last year we were able to qualify well and keep up front all day and not have mistakes and stay on the lead lap and have an opportunity to run in the top-10, and just missed out. I think we’ve been building week to week, Ben and I, and what we need from each other and getting our cars better. Hopefully, we can put everything together for Martinsville to have a good weekend through Saturday and qualify well and race well on Sunday.”

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s John Hunter Nemechek and Trevor Bayne met up with Major League Pickleball team, Orlando Squeeze, while in Miami to play some pickleball following a Squeeze match and before LEGACY M.C. hit the track. (Photo by: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB)

BROADCAST INFO

MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY 

SUNDAY, NOV. 3 @ 2:00 PM ET

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice “Maury” J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The CLUB competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series fielding the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE of John Hunter Nemechek, the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE of Erik Jones, and the No. 84 limited schedule entry for Jimmie Johnson. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty “The King” serves as CLUB Ambassador. With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level. To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ on Facebook, X, Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.

ABOUT DOLLAR TREE, INC.: Dollar Tree, a Fortune 200 Company, operated 16,622 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of October 28, 2023. Stores operate under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Canada. To learn more about the Company, visit www.DollarTree.com.

ABOUT PYE-BARKER FIRE & SAFETY: The U.S. leader in fully integrated life safety systems, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety provides complete fire protection and security systems nationwide. With over 200 locations and 6,000 team members nationwide, Pye-Barker is an industry leader and ranks No. 954 on the Inc 5000 and No. 9 on the SDM 100.

RYAN PREECE
Martinsville Advance
No. 41 Mohawk Northeast Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Xfinity 500 (Round 35 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 3
● Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
● Layout: .526-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 500 laps/263 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 130 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 240 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● After showing speed in all three of his previous NASCAR Cup Series outings with Stewart-Haas Racing at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, it’s understandable why Ryan Preece has had Sunday’s Xfinity 500 circled on his calendar since the series last visited the .526-mile oval in April. The three-pack of promising Martinsville runs began with his first for Stewart-Haas in April 2023 when he qualified on the pole and led the opening 135 laps of the race before suffering a pit-road speeding penalty that ultimately left him 15th. Preece returned last October to qualify a solid ninth, but saw strategy work against him en route to a 20th-place finish. His streak of Martinsville top-10 qualifying efforts ended earlier this year when he earned just the 22nd spot on the starting grid, but a smooth and steady drive in that April race resulted in a ninth-place finish, the best of his Cup Series career on the paperclip-shaped track.

● Sunday’s 500-lap race will mark Preece’s 11th career NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville. The driver of the No. 41 Mohawk Northeast Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas made his first Martinsville start in November 2015 for owner Mike Curb. The next six came with JTG-Daugherty Racing from 2019 through 2021, with the best of those being a 16th-place finish in March 2019.

● Prior to his first NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville in November 2015, Preece tasted victory twice in seven Martinsville starts on the Whelen Modified Tour, the only open-wheel series sanctioned by NASCAR. It’s where Preece has honed his short-track skills, debuting on the Tour in 2007, finishing runner-up in the championship four times (2009, 2012, 2014 and 2015), and earning the 2013 title. Preece’s lone Tour start in 2023 came in the October race at Martinsville, which he started on the pole and drove in dominant fashion to his 26th career Tour victory and second at the track after leading a race-high 134 of 200 laps. His first Martinsville win came in his second Tour start there in September 2008, when he started fourth and led a race-high 265 of 300 laps en route to a 1.7-second margin of victory. Preece returned to Martinsville in September 2009 to qualify eighth and finish third, and he added a pole qualifying effort April 2021. He’s led a total of 557 laps in his Tour career at Martinsville.

● Mohawk Northeast adorns Preece’s No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Martinsville for the fourth and final time this season. A longtime supporter of Preece, Mohawk is one of the premier heavy-civil contractors in the Northeast. The corporation has been providing the highest-quality construction services to a wide variety of clients. Specializing in heavy highway, railroad, movable and fixed bridges and marine construction, Mohawk has completed countless projects safely, on time and within budget. Mohawk can self-perform all phases of construction, including electrical, mechanical, structural steel repair and erection, deep foundations, pier and bulkheads, fabrication and coating (AISC & SSPC Certified) and a wide range of marine services. With an extensive fleet of cranes, barges, offshore tugboats and many other pieces of heavy equipment, Mohawk is a well-established leader in heavy civil construction. Clients include the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, USACE, General Dynamics – Electric Boat, Connecticut DOT, Massachusetts DOT, New York DOT, Metro North Railroad, Amtrak, and various private sector clients. Mohawk Northeast appeared previously this season on Preece’s No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse June 23 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, Aug. 11 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway and Sept. 14 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 Mohawk Northeast Ford Mustang Dark Horse

You’ve shown good speed at Martinsville in your three previous starts there with Stewart-Haas the past two seasons – qualifying on the pole and leading 135 laps in April 2023, qualifying ninth last October, and then driving from 22nd to a ninth-place finish this past April. How much of that would you attribute to your previous outings on the track with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour?

“I think the background in short-track racing just gives you a pretty good understanding of what you need when it comes to racing on a track like Martinsville. So for me, I feel pretty confident going into Martinsville and have a good idea of what to look for and, hopefully, we can put together a complete race weekend and improve on the good runs we’ve had there together. We’ve had really fast cars there with Stewart-Haas, just need to put together that complete race. A speeding penalty killed our momentum and cost us quite a bit of track position in the spring race last year. This past April, we had a good car in the race, but just needed to qualify a whole lot better. But, overall, our short-track program has trended in the right direction since I’ve been here.”

You’ve earned two Martinsville clocks – the first coming in 2008 and the second last year – and both came via the Modified Tour. Do you feel the Martinsville clock is one of the more coveted trophies in racing?

“I mean, it’s definitely one – yeah, absolutely. It seems like every track has kind of tried to elevate their game when it comes to trophies. I feel like it just gives that race that much more significance. But the Martinsville clock has been around for so long. I don’t know how long they’ve been doing it but, to be honest, there’s nostalgia that goes along with it. I just wound my clock up last night. Most trophies I have are lined up on a shelf or in a trophy case. That one, it’s a constant reminder – when you’re winding it up, you remember that day.”

Where do you keep your clocks? And do you have them set to chime?

“One clock is (at my home) in North Carolina, the one I won last year, but the other clock is up in Connecticut at my father’s house. They’re definitely ones that I love.”

The Modified Tour races at a lot of iconic venues, and it’s a series where racers have specific tracks circled because it’s a big deal. For a New Englander like yourself, tracks like New Hampshire and Thompson come to mind. But Martinsville is the one stop where New Englanders always got to show off the awesomeness of the Modified Tour to NASCAR country. So, does winning at Martinsville take on added significance, and are those grandfather clocks maybe more appreciated just because of Martinsville’s history on the Modified Tour, which has been racing there since the 1960s?

“So, going back in history, Modifieds are mainly north of the Mason Dixon (Line) type of type of racing, right? But then it used to be the NASCAR Winston Series, or whatever it was, it was their national points series, and that’s what guys like Richie Evans, Geoff Bodine and so on and so forth, that’s what they raced for. And they never came down South to race against guys like Jerry Cook, who stayed in the Southeast, and those guys stayed in the Northeast. So that was like the meeting ground for the Northeast – New Englanders or whatnot – Modified racers from up in the Northeast to come and battle against the Southeast with guys like Richie Evans, many of them, coming down. And when you’d win that race, you’d be taking that piece with you, that was like our victory flag. So, fast-forwarding 30, 40 years, it’s still that same way. It was always the ‘Dirty South’ versus the ‘Nasty North’ and we’d be going up against guys like Tim Brown or Bert Myers back when I was 17, 18 years old and still trying to beat those guys. So, yeah, it is a constant reminder that the North is still really fast.”

What’s the key to having speed and racing competitively at Martinsville?

“When we have the right setup, the speed is there. We’ve shown that during the last few races there. There are things that have changed over that time, but it’s still the same track, so we just need to make sure that our group continues to move in the direction we’ve been headed. Looking back over the past couple of years, Stewart-Haas as a whole has definitely had speed at Martinsville. It’s been really nice to see some of the capabilities that we’ve had at the short tracks in general, so we’re looking forward to it. The biggest thing to emphasize is the field has been closer than it’s ever been, so it’s not easy to pass in general. If you have a car that is maneuverable and can go where other drivers aren’t, you can find a way to pass. Outside of that, it’s going to be about strategy and track position.”

No. 41 Mohawk Northeast Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ryan Preece

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

Hometown: Cayuga, Indiana

Car Chief: Jeremy West

Hometown: Gardena, California

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen

Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Tony Raines

Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Devin Lester

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Sherman Timbs

Hometown: Indianola, Mississippi

Fuel Man: Dwayne Moore

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Front End Mechanic: Joe Zanolini

Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Interior Mechanic: Robert Dalby

Hometown: Anaheim, California

Tire Specialist: Matt Ridgeway

Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife

Hometown: Orange County, California

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer

Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 29, 2024) – OpTic Gaming will return to Spire Motorsports in a co-primary capacity with Gainbridge aboard Justin Haley’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

This unique collaboration pairs OpTic Gaming and Gainbridge at the half-mile paperclip-shaped speedway, sporting a livery on the No. 7 fans are sure not to miss. As part of this weekend’s partnership, Optic will roll out a sweepstakes from Oct. 31 – Nov. 12, offering an exclusive merchandise giveaway to followers of @OpTicGaming, @GainbridgeSport and @SpireMotorsport on X and Instagram.

OpTic Gaming, founded in 2006, is an industry-defining global esports, media, and entertainment organization based in North Texas. With a dedicated audience built up over a decade dubbed the “GREENWALL,” OpTic is recognized for its extensive impact pioneering this emerging industry. OpTic boasts a longstanding record of competitive success with over 50 Championship wins across titles including Call of Duty, Halo, Counterstrike, DOTA, Gears of War, Rocket League and APEX Legends. OpTic was named the 2022 Esports Organization of the Year at the Esports Awards.

“We’re thrilled to work with Spire Motorsports again in combination with Gainbridge and wrap Justin Haley’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro with a one-of-a-kind scheme,” said Hector Rodriguez, Founder and CEO of OpTic Gaming. “OpTic is one of the few organizations bridging the gap between traditional sports and gaming. With NASCAR investing in and growing their esports community, this collaboration just makes sense. We’re excited to be along for the ride with Justin and bring co-branded merchandise to the GREENWALL with an exclusive merchandise available soon on the OpTic Shop.”

Gainbridge, a Group 1001 Company, offers an online digital platform, offering trusted financial products simplified for the modern age. The Indianapolis-headquartered organization carries a vast presence across multiple disciplines of motorsports and promotes its suite of services as a multi-year presenting sponsor of the Indianapolis 500, and a founding partner of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.

As part of its marketing and social media programing, Gainbridge launched @GainbridgeSport on Instagram and X to support its promotional initiatives across its sports sponsorship portfolio.

“We’re excited to see Justin Haley and Spire Motorsports take on the challenge of Martinsville Speedway with the support of Gainbridge and OpTic Gaming,” said Mike Nichols, Chief of Sponsorship Strategy & Activation at Group 1001. “Martinsville is a historic, tough track and we’re confident that Justin and the Spire team are up to the task. OpTic Gaming’s involvement brings a unique energy and fanbase to the sport, and we’re proud to be a part of it.”

Haley made his Cup Series debut for Spire Motorsports on April 28, 2019 at Talladega Superspeedway and picked up both his and the team’s first win – an upset of practically unprecedented proportions – less than three months later in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 behind the wheel of the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro at Daytona International Speedway. He signed a multi-year agreement with Spire Motorsports earlier this season and made his first start behind the wheel of the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 last month at Kansas Speedway.

“I’m pumped to hit the track at Martinsville in this new OpTic Gaming and Gainbridge scheme,” said Haley. “The car looks incredible, and it’s an honor to represent two awesome brands. Martinsville is always a challenge, so I’m going to give it everything I’ve got to bring home a win for these guys.”

The Winamac, Ind., racer has recorded seven Cup Series starts at Martinsville and calls an eighth-place NASCAR Xfinity Series finish a career best at the famed Virginia oval. Sunday’s race at Martinsville will mark Haley’s 143rd career start in NASCAR’s premier division.

“Spire Motorsports is eager to have Gainbridge and OpTic Gaming join us for this weekend’s race during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs,” said Todd Mackin, President of Spire Holdings, Spire Motorsports’ parent company. “As a company that’s deeply invested in esports, partnering with OpTic Gaming is a natural fit. We’re excited to bring their energy and fanbase to the world of NASCAR. Justin Haley is a great representative for both brands. We’re confident he’ll deliver a strong performance at Martinsville.”

The Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway will be televised live on NBC Sunday, Nov. 3 beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). The 35th of 36 points races on the 2024 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Countdown to Green on NBC will take the green flag at 1:30 p.m. EST.

About OpTic Gaming …
OpTic Gaming, founded in 2006, is an industry-defining global esports, media, and entertainment organization based in North Texas. With a dedicated audience built up over a decade dubbed the “GREENWALL,” OpTic is recognized for its extensive impact pioneering this emerging industry. OpTic boasts a longstanding record of competitive success with over 50 Championship wins across titles including Call of Duty, Halo, Counterstrike, DOTA, Gears of War, Rocket League and APEX Legends. OpTic was named the 2022 Esports Organization of the Year at the Esports Awards.

Led by Hector “HECZ” Rodriguez, OpTic was originally thrust into the forefront of gaming entertainment with competitive gaming content. Their award-winning docuseries, “Vision,” began in 2015 and provided a behind-the-scenes look at everything OpTic. The story continues today with “The Process,” a staple in the gaming community. For more information, visit OpTicGaming.com.

About Gainbridge® …
Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone, no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Indiana. For more information, visit www.gainbridge.io or follow and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Justin Haley, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively. The team also fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. An all-star driver lineup will rotate throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Rajah Caruth drives the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Silverados in the No. 77.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win on April 7, 2022 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Martinsville II Event Info:
Date: Sunday, Nov. 3
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Speedway, Virginia
Format: 500 Laps, 263 Miles, Stages: 125-125-250
TV: NBC
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 1:05 p.m. ET, Practice (NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 1:50 p.m. ET, Qualifying (NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 2 p.m. ET, Race (NBC, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

• Martinsville Speedway hosts the penultimate race in the 2024 NASCAR season this weekend as the final event in the Round of 8 of the NASCAR Playoffs.
• Since the NextGen car was introduced, RFK has five top-10 starting efforts at Martinsville between Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher.
• The Paperclip is the site of four Cup Series victories for Jack Roush over the years.

6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Partner: King’s Hawaiian

17 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: BuildSubmarines.com

Keselowski at Martinsville
Starts: 29
Wins: 2 (2017, 2019)
Top-10s: 17
Poles: 1 (2020)

• Keselowski, a two-time winner at Martinsville, is set for his 30th Cup start at ‘The Paperclip.’
• Martinsville stands as one of Keselowski’s best tracks statistically with an average finish of 13.6. His most recent trip resulted in a 24th-place finish this spring after starting 13th.
• He has finished top-10 in 55 percent of his starts at the half-mile track. Of the 17 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 11.4 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 nine races at Martinsville, including P10 last fall.
• Keselowski also made four Truck Series starts from 2004-07.

Buescher at Martinsville
Starts: 18
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: —

• Buescher is coming off his career-best finish at Martinsville last fall (P8), and makes his 19th start at ‘The Paperclip.’
• He finished 15th this spring, and has finished top-15 at Martinsville in six of the last seven races.
• Buescher has an average starting position of 21.9 at Martinsville and is coming off some of his best qualifying efforts to date.

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 716 NCS races on short tracks, recording a total of 24 wins, 127 top-five finishes, 257 top-10 finishes and 8,100 laps led.
• Tale of the Tape: RFK has started 230 NCS races at Martinsville, recording four victories, 26 top-five finishes, 70 top-10 finishes, an average finish of 17.9 and has led 1,385 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
Homestead: Buescher overcame starting from the rear – and being spun on pit road – to finish 15th, while Keselowski earned a P17 finish.

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team skirted potential damage from a Lap-Two incident and went on to finish 24th in Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway.

It was Burton and the team’s 15th top-25 finish of 2024.

Burton started Sunday’s 400-miler from 34th place but soon found himself on pit road after the field stacked up behind the spinning car of Justin Haley. Burton made contact with the outside wall, so the DEX Imaging team put a new set of tires on the No. 21 Mustang Dark Horse but found no significant damage, so Burton rejoined the race in 34th place.

He made a regularly scheduled green-flag pit stop at Lap 50 and ended the first 80-lap Stage in 28th place.

In the second Stage he again finished 28th, but in the third and final segment of the race he began moving forward and ran most of that portion of the race inside the top 25.

Burton was 21st after his final stop at Lap 256 of 267, but the team was down a set of fresh tires at that point due to the early-race incident, and Burton dropped to 24th at the checkered flag.

Burton and the Wood Brothers team now head to the Woods’ home track, Martinsville Speedway, for next Sunday’s Xfinity 500, the next-to-last race of the 2024 Cup Series season.

About DEX Imaging
DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.