39-TIME MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPION – NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
GOODY’S FAST RELIEF 500
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA
OCTOBER 30, 2016
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CHEVROLET’S TRIUMPHANT CHASE TRIO START THE ROUND OF 8 AT MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
DETROIT – (October 25, 2016) – Chevrolet’s three remaining Chase-eligible drivers head to Martinsville Speedway this weekend to begin the Round of 8 of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup., The goal – grab the win that guarantees not only the historic Grandfather Clock trophy, but also will lock them into one of the four coveted spots available at the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to race for the Championship Crown.
Chevrolet’s Chase trio consists of three former champions, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch that will lead the Bowtie Brigade into battle against the five other Chase contenders at the 0.526-mile oblong oval, the final short-track race on the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Series’ docket.
Six-time series NSCS champion, Johnson, is an eight time winner at Martinsville, leading all active drivers. The three races in the Round of 8 (Martinsville, Texas and Phoenix) fit right in his wheelhouse. The quarterback of the No. 48 Chevy SS team would like to get locked in early with another victory at Martinsville, but avoiding on-track trouble and mechanical gremlins, which the oldest track on the circuit is notorious for, will be essential in keeping his Chase hopes alive.
“I’m excited about the three tracks that are coming up, said Johnson. “They are great for us historically. I hope they continue to be great tracks for us as we look for our seventh championship.”
Chevrolet’s most recent series champion, Kevin Harvick has proven to be the ‘closer’ and ideal candidate if he is in a must-win situation. However the 2011 Martinsville winner would like nothing more than to earn another win at the historic short track this weekend and assure himself a third consecutive trip to the final four at Homestead under the current Chase format.
Harvick’s Stewart-Haas racing teammate Kurt Busch earned his first and only NASCAR Sprint Cup series title during the first year of the Chase in 2004. Busch has been in contention under the current championship format the past three seasons, but has yet to make the final round. Busch seeks to repeat his 2002 and 2014 success at Martinsville and propel his Tony Gibson (crew chief) led team to the final four at Homestead.
As hungry as the eight Chase drivers are to get the victory and assure themselves a ticket to championship eligibility at Homestead, 19 other Chevy SS drivers are looking to cap of their seasons with a win. Nothing leads to off-season momentum better than a trophy in the lobby of the race shop.
The 0.526-mile conveyer belt that is Martinsville Speedway poses the biggest challenge this weekend. If history is any indication there will tempers flaring, beating and banging of fenders and plenty of action in all four corners of the paper clip-shaped venue.
Cautions are never a welcome site for competitors, but this weekend just like last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, the field will be paced by a bright pink Chevrolet SS pace car. For every lap under caution the pink SS leads Chevrolet will donate $350 per lap (up to $50,000) to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer program.