CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
ROUND 7 OF 10
GOODY’S FAST RELIEF 500
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 30, 2016
DALE EARNHARDT, JR., DRIVER OF THE NO. 88 CHEVROLET SS, met with member of the media as a spokesperson for Goody’s and discussed an upcoming promotion, but also discussed racing next year and many other topics. Partial Transcript: Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Martinsville
CHEVY FAST FACTS
GOODY’S FAST RELIEF 500
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
OCTOBER 30, 2016
A total of 21 Team Chevy drivers will start the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Martinsville Speedway. The 500-lap/263-mile race is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., ET Live coverage will be available on NBCSN, MRN Radio, Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and NASCAR.com.
CHEVROLET DRIVERS STARTING IN THE TOP-10:
ü Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS, will start third
ü AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Kroger/Clorox Chevrolet SS, will start fourth
ü Chase Elliott, No. 24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet SS, will take the green flag from the fifth starting spot
ü Tony Stewart, No. 14 Haas Automation Chevrolet SS, will make his final Martinsville Speedway start as a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver today, rolling off the starting grid in the sixth spot
ü Jeff Gordon, interim driver, No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS, will start 10th
CHEVROLET CHASE DRIVER STARTING POSITIONS:
· Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS – 3rd
· Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Light Chevrolet SS – 20th
· Kurt Busch, No. 41 State Water Heaters Chevrolet SS – 23rd
TEAM CHEVY IN NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES (NSCS) COMPETITION:
· Chevrolet has won 39 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Manufacturer Championships
· Team Chevy drivers have scored 763 wins and 685 poles in NSCS competition
CHEVROLET ON THE TRACK—MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY:
Chevrolet drivers have won 55 of 135 races at Martinsville Speedway. Victories by current Team Chevy drivers are:
Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS, has eight victories at Martinsville Speedway (’04, ’06, ’07 – TWICE, ’08, ’09, ’12 & ‘13)
Tony Stewart, No. 14 Haas Automation Chevrolet SS, has three wins at Martinsville Speedway (’00, ’06 & ’11)
Kurt Busch, No. 41 State Water Heaters Chevrolet SS, has two victories at Martinsville Speedway (’02 and ‘14)
Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Light Chevrolet SS, has one win at Martinsville Speedway (’11)
Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS, has visited Victory Lane at Martinsville Speedway once (’12)
RACE REPORT
Texas Roadhouse 200
Martinsville Speedway
October 29, 2016
Newsletter – Dance Drop Shadow Image
Red Horse Racing at Martinsville Speedway
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams visited Martinsville Speedway for the first race of the Round of 6 in the Chase for the Championship. On Friday, two practice sessions were held and Matt Tifft returned to the No. 11 Surface Sunscreen/BrainGear Toyota Tundra and posted the 18th fastest lap in each session. Timothy Peters struggled with the balance of the No. 17 Toyota Tundra and posted the 20th fastest lap in the first, and was 15th on the board in the second. On Saturday morning, teams returned for three rounds of knock-out, group qualifying and Tifft transferred into the final round, then secured the ninth starting spot, while Peters earned the 19th starting spot in the second round. In the afternoon, the green flag flew for 200 laps at the “paperclip,” and Peters began to make his way to the front. Tifft dropped back early in the race due to a worn tire, then was involved in an incident, but still earned a 16th-place finish. Peters struggled with an ill-handling Tundra and traffic, but the veteran driver used his experience at the .526-mile facility to persevere and earn a solid fifth-place finish.
Newsletter – Dance Drop Shadow Image
Timothy Peters No. 17
No. 17 Red Horse Racing
Toyota Tundra
Continue reading Red Horse Racing–Martinsville
TEAM JFR STARTS TOYOTA NATIONALS FROM TOP OF HALF OF FIELD
LAS VEGAS – The entire John Force Racing team will have lane choice in the first round of eliminations at the 16th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals. All four drivers made solid runs on the final day of qualifying and they will all start from the top half of their respective fields. Team leader John Force will start from the No. 3 position followed by Robert Hight No. 5 and Courtney Force No. 8. Brittany Force and the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster will start from the No. 7 spot. Continue reading TEAM JFR STARTS TOYOTA NATIONALS FROM TOP OF HALF OF FIELD
ALLEN JOHNSON
MARATHON PETROLEUM/J&J RACING DODGE DART
QUALIFYING REPORT: 16TH ANNUAL NHRA NATIONALS
THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
OCT. 28-30
Allen Johnson in Unfamiliar Bottom Half, Looking for Long Raceday in Vegas
LAS VEGAS (October 29th, 2016) – Allen Johnson is starting his raceday efforts at the 16th annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals in the No. 11 spot, a qualifying position that the Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing team hasn’t seen in many races. Despite a bottom-half qualifying spot, the Marathon Petroleum team knows they have the equipment to get it done on raceday. Continue reading Allen Johnson in Unfamiliar Bottom Half, Looking for Long Raceday in Vegas
JOHN FORCE WINS TOYOTA NATIONALS FOR FOURTH TIME
LAS VEGAS — John Force was racing in his 246th final round and he picked up his 147th win today at the NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Force won for the second time in the Countdown to the Championship and outran his daughter Courtney Force in the 47th all JFR Funny Car final. The 16-time champion moved up from No. 7 to No. 5 in the Mello Yello point standings and just seven points out of fourth place.
“They told me all I had to do was win this race and I had a shot at (Ron) Capps then I found out at the top end that wasn’t the case. I want a recount,” joked Force.
Continue reading JOHN FORCE WINS TOYOTA NATIONALS FOR FOURTH TIME
CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
NHRA TOYOTA NATIONALS
THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
QUALIFYING RESULTS AND DRIVER QUOTES
SATURDAY, OCT. 29, 2016
Chevrolet Races to No. 1 Pro Stock Qualifier Spot, Funny Car Track Record
· Greg Anderson records 87th career No. 1 Pro Stock qualifier honor
· Chevrolet earns the top eight spots in Pro Stock qualifications
· John Force resets Funny Car track speed record, earns No. 3 qualifier spot
· John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight is No. 5 Funny Car qualifier Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Las Vegas Qualifying
Dodge Charger Funny Car Driver Jack Beckman Claims Pole at NHRA Vegas
· Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) driver Jack Beckman claims fifth No. 1 of season in Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car
· Pole is 20th of Beckman’s career, 14th of the season for Mopar Funny Cars
· Funny Car points leader Ron Capps pads lead, picks up bonus points in each qualifying session in powerful Dodge Charger
· Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger campaigner Matt Hagan dominates on day one in Vegas, settles into No. 2 spot in final qualifying
· Mopar-powered Leah Pritchett drives DSR Top Fuel dragster to No. 2 position
· History of Mopar at fall event in Las Vegas Continue reading Dodge Charger Funny Car Driver Jack Beckman Claims Pole at NHRA Vegas
Title out of reach, JEGS.com Pro Mod ace Troy Coughlin Sr. focused on Vegas race
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 29) – The championship reign of JEGS.com Pro Mod driver Troy Coughlin Sr. came to an end Saturday, as Rickie Smith clinched the 2016 title by qualifying for the Aeromotive Inc. portion of the J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series race during the NHRA Toyota Nationals this weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Continue reading Title out of reach, JEGS.com Pro Mod ace Troy Coughlin Sr. focused on Vegas race
Erica Enders would love to win Vegas
race for fifth time in her career
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 29) — Enjoying a relaxed weekend at the racetrack where she’s had the most success in her brilliant career, back-to-back and reigning Pro Stock champion Erica Enders and her Elite Motorsports crew have put together one of their better qualifying efforts of the season. Continue reading Erica Enders would love to win Vegas race for fifth time in her career
Five-time world champ and five-time Vegas winner Jeg Coughlin Jr. primed for race day
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 29) — Jeg Coughlin Jr. successfully made the elimination field of this weekend’s 16th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals, giving the five-time world champ a chance to win his sixth title at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Continue reading Five-time world champ and five-time Vegas winner Jeg Coughlin Jr. primed for race day
JOHN FORCE SETS TRACK SPEED RECORD ON FRIDAY AT THE STRIP
LAS VEGAS – John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze Chevrolet Camaro led the way for John Force Racing on the first day of qualifying at the 16th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals. Force finished the day as the No. 2 qualifier, two spots in front of teammate Robert Hight and the Auto Club Camaro. The Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster finished the day as the No. 4 quickest dragster and the Traxxas Funny Car will be looking to step up into the field of sixteen when qualifying resumes tomorrow at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway at noon.
Continue reading JOHN FORCE SETS TRACK SPEED RECORD ON FRIDAY AT THE STRIP
2016 CHAMPIONSHIP REWIND: Tommy Milner, No. 4 Corvette C7.R
On a second Driver’s title, ups and downs in the season and continuous learning
During the last 10 months in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Tommy Milner helped deliver some of Corvette Racing’s greatest moments and triumphs. He and Oliver Gavin won four times including Sebring and Road America – both places where Milner drove stellar final stints to help the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R sweep all six GT Le Mans titles for 2016. Continue reading 2016 CHAMPIONSHIP REWIND: Tommy Milner, No. 4 Corvette C7.R
CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
ROUND 7 OF 10
GOODY’S FAST RELIEF 500
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING NOTES AND QUOTES
OCTOBER 28, 2016
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 3rd
ON QUALIFYING:
“Yeah it’s such a tricky little place. I just seemed to get better as the day went on kind of finding my rhythm. I didn’t do much to the car it was really about me finding a half a tenth. It was really the smallest of margins that made the difference. That is the speed we ran in practice, which had us 11th or 13th or something and now it has us good enough for third. Just a very difficult feel and everybody is so stinking tight. So, glad that it worked out that is a great starting spot, great pit road pick. Definitely doing things and headed in the right direction.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Martinsville–Jimmie Johnson
Blaney Optimistic After Qualifying 15th At Martinsville
October 28, 2016
The 25th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies set the weekend standards pretty high Thursday night with a 39-36 win over the Pittsburgh Panthers, but Ryan Blaney and the crew of his No. 21 Virginia Tech Ford Fusion believe they can do their part to make the Hokie faithful proud in this weekend’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Continue reading Blaney Optimistic After Qualifying 15th At Martinsville
CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
NHRA TOYOTA NATIONALS
THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY (LAS VEGAS, NEVADA)
POST QUALIFYING DRIVER QUOTES
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016
PRO STOCK DRIVER DREW SKILLMAN, SKILLMAN RACING CHEVROLET CAMARO SS IS TOP QUALIFIER FOR PRO STOCK CLASS IN DAY ONE
(6.681 seconds, 204.94 mph)
DOES THE SUCCESS YOU ARE HAVING THE BACK END OF THE SEASON GIVE YOU A GOOD BASELINE GOING INTO THE NEXT YEAR?
“Absolutely. We had a rough start and the KB Racing guys just blew everyone away. But we are getting a good run now and starting to get a good handle on the car. We struggled at the beginning of the Countdown but things are headed in a little better direction now.”
WAS THAT THE NUMBER YOU THOUGHT YOU GUYS COULD RUN TODAY OR IS THERE MORE OUT THERE?
“You know, that was close to where I thought we might be. I thought maybe a .67 might be out there but we ran a .681 and we are happy.”
YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A BIT OF A SNAFU ON THE STARTING LINE, DID THAT EFFECT THE RUN AT ALL?
“Not really. Just didn’t make me feel super great. I had been trying to do something at staging (inaudible) and it was my fault and not his.”
YOU SAID FROM DALLAS YOU HAD FOUND SOME THINGS THAT HAD PLAGUED YOU, HAS THAT BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE PERFORMANCES THAT WAS WHAT IT WAS?
“Yeah, what we thought we were doing with fuel injection was working and it wasn’t. So that is where we focused things. We had the cars but we got stuck trying to chase the problem. We had pretty runs, but they just didn’t have the E.T. that they should and we knew from that.”
CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
ROUND 7 OF 10
GOODY’S FAST RELIEF 500
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 28, 2016
JEFF GORDON, INTERIM DRIVER, NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Martinsville Speedway and discussed if this is indeed his final Cup Series race, what he has learned this season being an interim driver, his thoughts on this year’s Chase and many other topics. Full Transcript: Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Martinsville–Jeff Gordon
CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
ROUND 7 OF 10
GOODY’S FAST RELIEF 500
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 28, 2016
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Martinsville Speedway and discussed if he has contemplated a seventh title, his past success at Martinsville, how he will use teammate Jeff Gordon’s past Martinsville success to help him this weekend and many other topics. Full Transcript: Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Martinsville
The No. 21 Virginia Tech Ford Fusion Will Be The Home Team At Martinsville
October 27, 2016
For the Wood Brothers and their crew chief Jeremy Bullins, this week’s trip to Martinsville Speedway is like returning to the home place for a family reunion.
Both the Woods and Bullins consider Martinsville their home track, and their sponsor for the weekend, Virginia Tech, is from nearby Blacksburg.
This weekend’s race is a first at Martinsville for the Virginia Tech athletic program, but the Woods have been competing at Martinsville since the 1950s. Continue reading The No. 21 Virginia Tech Ford Fusion Will Be The Home Team At Martinsville
Scelzi Battles Throughout Challenging Trophy Cup
Inside Line Promotions – TULARE, Calif. (Oct. 27, 2016) – Dominic Scelzi endured a roller coaster ride during the 23rd annual Trophy Cup last weekend at Thunderbowl Raceway.
“It had its ups and downs,” he said. “It was probably the least eventful Trophy Cup I’ve been to. We were really fast when the track had moisture. When it went slick we couldn’t get the car on the race track. We probably changed setups as many times as we could. Every time we hit the track we got better, but it wasn’t until the B Main on Saturday that we got it running well on that type of a track.” Continue reading Scelzi Battles Throughout Challenging Trophy Cup