~>Track `Talk
~>Track `Talk
THE BIG STORY
On the 25th anniversary of Geoff Bodine's first Cup win for owner Rick Hendrick, Jimmie Johnson won the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Johnson's Chevrolet didn't get to first place until 70 laps to go, then had to repass Denny Hamlin's Toyota with 16 remaining. Johnson got inside Hamlin entering turn four, they touched, and Jimmie went on to the victory by .774 second. Tony Stewart was third. Jeff Gordon (fourth) leads Clint Bowyer (fifth) by 89 points.
Also: Lloyd Ruby, one of the best Indy 500 drivers never to win at the Speedway, died at age 81. Ruby competed in 18 Indys and led the race many times, but his best finish was third in 1964. He won Sebring and the Daytona 24 in 1966… The May 16 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte will be 100 laps total, with a 10-lap shootout as its final segment… Firestone will provide a softer "option" tire for IndyCar road course races, which must be used for at least two green-flag race laps… Chad Kemenah won the final World of Outlaws race at the legendary Manzanita Speedway.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Rain KO'd Friday qualifying at Martinsville, so Cup leader Jeff Gordon was awarded the pole. Sunday, Michael Waltrip brought out the first yellow with a spin. Due to the loss of practice Saturday because of rain, NASCAR went with a competition yellow on lap 40. Scott Speed led on the restart but was quickly overtaken by Gordon's Chevrolet. Kyle Busch then got loose trying to pass Speed and they had contact. Matt Kenseth was black-flagged because a tire got loose in his pits. A flat tire caused Robby Gordon to spin, the first of several problems he had in an unsponsored Toyota. Denny Hamlin finally got around Jeff Gordon on lap 157. Busch got into the wall when a tire went flat. Carl Edwards had to pit under green with a flat tire after contact with David Reutimann. Hamlin commanded throughout the middle of the event. When Jeremy Mayfield got into the wall and created a yellow, the leaders pitted, and Jimmie Johnson got out first. There was another quick yellow when Aric Almirola spun. On a restart with 45 laps left, Hamlin dived under Johnson in turn one. There were two more cautions when Reutimann spun and Bobby Labonte and Martin Truex Jr. tangled. The green waved with 23 laps to go. Johnson then made his move on Hamlin. He averaged 75.938 mph with 12 yellows for 66 laps. Dale Earnhardt Jr. recovered from early problems to finish eighth. Hamlin led the most laps, 296.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Saturday rain meant the Martinsville race was postponed until Monday. Rick Crawford won the pole.
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
Valvoline Chevrolet Cobalt driver Ron Krisher was the Pro Stock class winner in Sunday's O'Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. Tony Schumacher, Ashley Force Hood and Craig Treble also made it to the winner's circle. Krisher ran 6.587 seconds, 211.00 mph to best Jeg Coughlin's Jr.'s 7.051, 165.94 mph in a Cobalt. Krisher came from the No. 8 qualifying spot. Mike Edwards set a national record with a 212.03 mph pass. Jason Line is 26 points ahead of Coughlin. In Top Fuel, Schumacher got his first victory of the season in the Army car with holeshot wins in both the semifinals (in his first match-up against Larry Dixon in former crew chief Alan Johnson's car) and finals. He beat Don Schumacher Racing teammate Cory McClenathan, 3.881, 314.75 mph vs. 3.880, 313.66 mph. Antron Brown tops Schumacher by 20 points. In Funny Car, Force Hood's Mustang went 4.122, 306.19 mph against Jack Beckman's 4.227, 303.43 mph in the Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger. Beckman qualified fifth. Ron Capps is 29 points clear of Del Worsham. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Treble's Suzuki won over Douglas Horne, 6.915, 193.46 mph vs. 7.260, 155.60 mph. Matt Smith set a national elapsed-time mark of 6.865 seconds. He's 22 points up on Hector Arana.
Formula One
Jenson Button won the season opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from the pole in the debut for the Brawn-Mercedes team. It was the first time since 1977, when Jody Scheckter won for Wolf, that an organization captured its Formula One debut. Brawn is the former Honda team. Teammate Rubens Barrichello qualified No. 2, almost stalled at the start, but finished second. The race finished with the field behind the safety car after Sebastien Vettel and Robert Kubica collided battling for second with four laps remaining. Vettel was fined $50,000 for trying to stay on course in his damaged car. Jarno Trulli was third on the track for Toyota, but he was penalized for passing while the safety car was out, and dropped to 12th. Both Toyotas started from the pit lane after being disqualified from qualifying due to a flexible rear wing. World champion Lewis Hamilton, whose McLaren-Mercedes was surprisingly uncompetitive, thus advanced to third. Button averaged 121.649 mph. There will be an appeal to the FIA regarding rear diffusers used by Brawn, Toyota and Williams.
Valvoline Winners Last Weekend
Tony Schumacher, NHRA Top Fuel class, Houston. Ron Krisher, NHRA Pro Stock class, Houston.
Racer of the Week
Ross Brawn. The man who helped engineer Michael Schumacher to world championships at Benetton and Ferrari took over the Honda Formula One team and saw his cars sweep the front row and finish 1-2 in Australia.
Yes, He REALLY Said That
Al Unser Jr., on Tony Kanaan. "Man of steel. This guy is physically the strongest man out there, and he will drive the car as such. He tends to go places that few men dare to go."
This Weekend
NASCAR is big in Texas, with Saturday Nationwide action and Sunday Cup. NHRA tries its luck in Las Vegas. IRL debuts Sunday in St. Pete with Saturday ALMS. Formula One journeys to Malaysia
NASCAR is big in Texas, with Saturday Nationwide action and Sunday Cup. NHRA tries its luck in Las Vegas. IRL debuts Sunday in St. Pete with Saturday ALMS. Formula One journeys to Malaysia
Monte Of The Month -- August 2007
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,231
Ya, but the BIG news was the truck race results from yesterday! Harvick (running in his OWN truck, built in the last 10 days) did the bump and run on Kyle Busch, and never looked back! With his long time friend, and team mate Ron Hornady right behind him, Team KHI took a 1-2 finish at Matrinsville! GO HARVICK! WOO HOO! 
Hi `Wayne, Thanks 4 your post & update. I would have loved
2 watch that Race Yesterday, but I was work'in + it was
on cable channel `Speed : (
Hope life is going better 4 you, and that your (EveryOnes), future
is blessed with health/work & happiness
Kevin Harvick is another multi talented `Driver.
Monte Of The Month -- January 2013
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,612
From: London, Ontario
Not enough was mentioned about how successful Hendricks was this weekend in Sprint Cup. Including the "satellite" team (Stewart-Haas), all 6 cars finished in the top 8. That has to be some kind of record
LOL `Sprint,
That's because we all were wait'in 4 you 2 post/share
this awesome news about Hendrick's Rac'in
Video: Grow Up Kyle Busch!
Posted by admin in News
I’ll say this Kyle Busch never ceases to amaze me in so many ways. He is one of the most incredible drivers to ever hit the NASCAR circuit, but at the same time his personality needs a little work. If Kyle wonders why most fans have not taken to his persona, it’s because of what we saw after Monday’s Truck Series race at Martinsville. (See Video Below)
First the back story, Kyle got damage to his #51 from contact with eventual race winner Kevin Harvick. During the next caution he decided to try to pull the fender away from his left rear tire, by scrubbing his truck on the inside wall. Only one problem with that, while doing so, he crossed the pit road commitment line, which means you must come in to pit per NASCAR rules, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
So of course he was penalized, Kyle complained on the radio to no avail and was sent to the back of the pack. In true Kyle Busch fashion, at the end of the race he emerged from his truck, threw his helmet and HANS device across his truck and ran, and ran. As if he was a little child stomping his feet for not getting his way, Kyle ran down pit lane, across the track and left without speaking to anyone.
In my opinion this is one of the most childish, unprofessional things I have ever seen a race car driver do in this sport. An act like this degrades the sport and is uncalled for. GROW UP KYLE BUSCH, you are a man, a professional race car driver, making millions of dollars, and oh by the way, this was entirely your fault anyway!
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION? COMMENT BELOW, VOTE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OR FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
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Mar 31 2009
Cup Series Top 12 at Week 7
Posted by admin in News
1 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 119.6
2009 Rundown
• Four top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 5.2
• Led five races for a total of 289 laps
Texas Speedway Outlook:
• Six top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 16.1
• Finished second in November
• Led seven of 16 races for 341 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 5.4
2 – Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.4
2009 Rundown
• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 8.2
• Led one race for nine laps
Texas Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 12.2
• Finished fourth in November
• Led three of six races for 40 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 476 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
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Mar 30 2009
Kevin Harvick Visits Victory Lane at Martinsville
Posted by admin in News
NCWTS Recap: Harvick overcomes Busch to win truck race
Kevin Harvick and wife and KHI co-owner Delana Harvick celebrate winning the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo credit: CIA Stock Photo)
By Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(March 30, 2009)
MARTINSVILLE, Va.—Kevin Harvick powered by Kyle Busch for the lead with 10 laps to go Monday and held on to win the Kroger 250 Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway.
Driving his No. 2 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet, Harvick collected his fourth career truck win in his 97th start in an event that had been postponed because of rain on Saturday.
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Jimmie’s Second House is Martinsville
Posted by admin in News
NSCS Recap: Late Pass Gives Johnson Victory At Martinsville
Jimmie Johnson celebrates winning the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, his six victory at the half-mile track. (Photo credit: CIA STOCK PHOTO)
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
MARTINSVILLE, Va.—On the 25th anniversary of Rick Hendrick’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win as a car owner, it was more of the same for Hendrick and Jimmie Johnson.
An aggressive pass of Denny Hamlin on Lap 485 of the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 gave Johnson the lead Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, and he pulled away to beat Hamlin by .774 seconds. The victory was Johnson’s first of the season and the 41st of his career; he now has six wins at Martinsville—five in the past six races. It was Hendrick’s 18th win at the .526-mile track.
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Martinsville Cup Series Top 10Posted by admin in News
RACE RECAP | MARTINSVILLE
10 Jamie McMurray
9 AJ Allmendinger
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
7 Mark Martin
6 Ryan Newman
5 Clint Bowyer
4 Jeff Gordon
3 Tony Stewart
2 Denny Hamlin
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
VICTORY LANE
1 Jimmie Johnson on the 25th Anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports very first win, grabs his 41st career Cup win. It’s the 6th win in the last 10 Martinsville races and 5 of the last 6 for Jimmie.
It’s Rick Hendrick’s 18th win as a car owner at Martinsville
OTHER STORIES ON THE DAY
Matt Kenseth had a rough day and was black flagged for a pit road tire violation
Out to lunch in this race also included Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards
Stewart/Haas Racing put both of their cars in the top 10
Hendrick Motorsports had all 4 of their cars finish top 10
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Last edited by Space; Mar 31, 2009 at 10:39 AM.
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 41
From: The Peach State
I'm ready for 24 to win again. He's never won at Texas so that would be a great place to end this skid.
Junior needs to get things turned around soon. I hoped that he just needed to get away from DEI but he can't see to get it together even at Hendrick, arguably the most advanced team in NASCAR. Texas will be the last race that I get to see until July so I hoped to see a good one.
Junior needs to get things turned around soon. I hoped that he just needed to get away from DEI but he can't see to get it together even at Hendrick, arguably the most advanced team in NASCAR. Texas will be the last race that I get to see until July so I hoped to see a good one.
Update
Track Stats
TEXAS
Distance: 1.5 Mile Oval Banking/Turns 1-4:24º Banking in Straightaways: 5º Length/Frontstretch: 2,250 ft. Length/Backstretch:1,330 ft. Miles/Laps: 501 mi. = 334 laps
Edwards Chasing More Texas Motor Speedway History At Sunday's Samsung 500
Posted 04-01-2009 7:54 AM
FORT WORTH, Texas – If anyone knows how to win at Texas, it is Carl Edwards – a three-time winner at TMS buoyed by an unprecedented season sweep of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at “The Great American Speedway!” last season.
Edwards’ historical sweep made him the only three-time Sprint Cup winner in the 13-year history of Texas Motor Speedway, breaking a tie with Jeff Burton. He also made history with his 8.31-second win over runner-up Jeff Gordon in the 2008 Dickies 500 that established a track record for the largest margin of victory in a Sprint Cup race. He currently tops the charts for most victories (three) and laps led (467) in eight starts at Texas.
Now he looks to attack two other TMS records of note: Becoming only the second driver in history to win three in a row in any NASCAR top-tier series at this venue as well as move into a tie for most career victories. The only driver to win at least three in a row at “The Great American Speedway!” is Brendan Gaughan, who won four consecutive NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races in the 2002-03 seasons. A fourth win also would allow Edwards to join Gaughan, Kevin Harvick (four Nationwide Series wins) and Todd Bodine (four Camping World Truck Series) for most career victories at TMS.
“I feel like at a race track like this, and maybe it’s just my car, but I feel like I can make a difference out there lap to lap,” Edwards said. “I can pitch the car sideways a little bit here, or play with the throttle a little bit here or there, and I can change what the stopwatch says every lap. That’s cool. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what I grew up doing in Missouri on the local dirt tracks is being able to make a difference by pushing those pedals and stuff. So, for me, that’s fun.”
Edwards finished a career-best second in last season’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup on the strength of a series-high nine wins, but he has yet to break out this season. By the time Edwards reached the Samsung 500 last year, he had already posted two wins (Fontana, Las Vegas). Edwards’ best finish this season is third at Atlanta, where he led 28 of 330 laps.
The chances of a breakthrough for Edwards in Sunday’s Samsung 500 are high, given his success at the 1.5-mile speedway and at other intermediate tracks this season.
“We were good at Vegas and we ran really well at Atlanta,” Edwards said. “Those tracks are a lot like Texas, so hopefully we’ll run well there. It’s a really fun place to win.”
Click here for tickets to the Samsung 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race or call (817) 215-8500.
Distance: 1.5 Mile Oval Banking/Turns 1-4:24º Banking in Straightaways: 5º Length/Frontstretch: 2,250 ft. Length/Backstretch:1,330 ft. Miles/Laps: 501 mi. = 334 laps
Edwards Chasing More Texas Motor Speedway History At Sunday's Samsung 500
Posted 04-01-2009 7:54 AM
FORT WORTH, Texas – If anyone knows how to win at Texas, it is Carl Edwards – a three-time winner at TMS buoyed by an unprecedented season sweep of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at “The Great American Speedway!” last season.
Edwards’ historical sweep made him the only three-time Sprint Cup winner in the 13-year history of Texas Motor Speedway, breaking a tie with Jeff Burton. He also made history with his 8.31-second win over runner-up Jeff Gordon in the 2008 Dickies 500 that established a track record for the largest margin of victory in a Sprint Cup race. He currently tops the charts for most victories (three) and laps led (467) in eight starts at Texas.
Now he looks to attack two other TMS records of note: Becoming only the second driver in history to win three in a row in any NASCAR top-tier series at this venue as well as move into a tie for most career victories. The only driver to win at least three in a row at “The Great American Speedway!” is Brendan Gaughan, who won four consecutive NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races in the 2002-03 seasons. A fourth win also would allow Edwards to join Gaughan, Kevin Harvick (four Nationwide Series wins) and Todd Bodine (four Camping World Truck Series) for most career victories at TMS.
“I feel like at a race track like this, and maybe it’s just my car, but I feel like I can make a difference out there lap to lap,” Edwards said. “I can pitch the car sideways a little bit here, or play with the throttle a little bit here or there, and I can change what the stopwatch says every lap. That’s cool. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what I grew up doing in Missouri on the local dirt tracks is being able to make a difference by pushing those pedals and stuff. So, for me, that’s fun.”
Edwards finished a career-best second in last season’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup on the strength of a series-high nine wins, but he has yet to break out this season. By the time Edwards reached the Samsung 500 last year, he had already posted two wins (Fontana, Las Vegas). Edwards’ best finish this season is third at Atlanta, where he led 28 of 330 laps.
The chances of a breakthrough for Edwards in Sunday’s Samsung 500 are high, given his success at the 1.5-mile speedway and at other intermediate tracks this season.
“We were good at Vegas and we ran really well at Atlanta,” Edwards said. “Those tracks are a lot like Texas, so hopefully we’ll run well there. It’s a really fun place to win.”
Click here for tickets to the Samsung 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race or call (817) 215-8500.
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