Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #22-Logano chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #78-Truex took pit stall 2.
#47-Allmendinger, who starts 3rd took the 11 pit stall, with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #1-McMurray, who starts 4th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-30-2015)

Final practice: for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over. Top five, slowest:
#48-Johnson 97.108
#4-Harvick 96.721
#2-Keselowski 96.721
#27-Menard 96.711
#88-Earnhardt 96.538
slowest: #33-Kennedy 94.109 & #32-Fowler 94.073

First Saturday practice: for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over. After 55 scheduled minutes, top five, slowest and notes:
#88-Earnhardt 96.998
#78-Truex 96.879
#31-Newman 96.874
#22-Logano 96.755
#11 Hamlin 96.731
slowest: #62-Hill 94.041 & #33-Kennedy 93.654
most laps run: #88-Earnhardt, 75 laps
note: #14-Stewart will go to a backup car after hitting the turn 2 wall at the end of practice.
See fastest speeds, lap run, best 10 consecutive lap are on the Martinsville practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-31-2015)

Logano going for 4th straight win: #22-Joey Logano is approaching rarefied air. With last Sunday's victory at Talladega Superspeedway, he's already the first driver ever to sweep all three races in a single round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Admittedly, the Chase's elimination format is only two years old, but three straight wins puts Logano in elite company. A fourth straight at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday would elevate his growing stature as a major player in NASCAR's top series. Only two drivers have ever won more than four straight races: Richard Petty, who had streaks of 10 (1967) and five (1971), and Bobby Allison, who won five straight events (1971). Since #24-Jeff Gordon won four in a row in 1998, only one driver has duplicated the feat - #48-Jimmie Johnson in 2007.(NASCAR Wire Service), to see a list of all drivers who have won three or more consecutive races, see the Sprint Cup Series All-Time Winners page..(10-31-2015)

New SAFER barriers narrow Martinsville track: The push to anchor SAFER barriers to every square foot of unprotected concrete in the Sprint Cup Series has been an ongoing crusade this season aimed at benefiting drivers. The addition of 1,600 feet of the energy-absorbing walls at Martinsville Speedway also could benefit fans who enjoy the 0.526-mile oval's reputation for engendering contact. "First of all, (NASCAR drivers) appreciate the SAFER barriers," Carl Edwards said. "The fans should appreciate it (at Martinsville) because it's going to make it more narrow than it was. It seems driving down the straightaway trying to pass cars even in practice, it just seems really tight. As narrow and tough as this place was, it's just going to be narrower and tougher."
The track erected SAFER barrier over the summer along the exterior of the frontstretch and backstretch, removing about 30 inches of racing surface from each of the 800-foot straightaways. Jeff Gordon said he apparently scuffed the right side of his #24 Chevy in practice, but a reduction of the racing surface wasn't as significant as initially feared when looking at an updated photo of the track. "I looked at it, and my eyes got big, and I thought, 'Wow, that's a pretty big change,' " Gordon said. "It wasn't as big a deal as I thought it would be."
Martinsville already had SAFER on the interior of the frontstretch and backstretch and the outside of the turns, leaving the interior turns (which have curbing) as the only sections without the barrier.(NBC Sports)(10-31-2015)

Martinsville Driver Notes & Facts - Saturday:
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty has the all-time most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Martinsville with 67; Jeff Gordon has the most starts among active drivers with 45.
· Jeff Gordon leads active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Martinsville Speedway with a 7.244. Denny Hamlin (9.789) and Ryan Newman (9.370) are the only other active drivers with an average starting position at Martinsville inside the top 10.
· Chase Elliott (03/29/2015), Mike Bliss (09/27/1998), Travis Kvapil (10/24/2004) and Michael McDowell (3/30/2008) are active drivers that made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Martinsville Speedway.
· 48 different drivers have won at Martinsville Speedway, led by Richard Petty with 15; Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon lead the series among active drivers with eight wins each.
· 24 drivers have multiple wins at Martinsville Speedway only five active drivers have multiple wins: Jimmie Johnson (eight), Jeff Gordon (eight), Denny Hamlin (four), Tony Stewart (three) and Kurt Busch (two).
· 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Martinsville Speedway. Fred Lorenzen won four NSCS races straight (the most) from the fall of 1963 through the spring of 1965. Jimmie Johnson is the most recent driver to win consecutive races (Fall of 2012 / Spring of 2013) at Martinsville.
· All eight active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who have won at Martinsville Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Tony Stewart won at Martinsville (2000) with the fewest previous appearances (three).
· Ryan Newman competed at Martinsville Speedway 20 times before winning in the spring of 2012; the longest span of any the eight active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
· Two active drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Martinsville Speedway: Kevin Harvick (19) and Ryan Newman (20).
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in runner-up finishes at Martinsville Speedway with seven; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with five, followed by his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson with four.
· Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 30; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 28, followed by Jimmie Johnson with 18.
· Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 37; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 36, followed by Jimmie Johnson with 22.
· Three active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series average finish in the top 10 at Martinsville: Jeff Gordon (6.889), Jimmie Johnson (7.296) and Denny Hamlin (8.316).
· Jeff Gordon has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway without a DNF (45).
· Danica Patrick is the only female driver to compete at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Below are Patrick's stats at Martinsville.
(NASCAR)(10-31-2015)

Crafton wins Martinsville: #88-Matt Crafton survived a wreck-marred Kroger 200 at the Martinsville Speedway on Saturday to win his fifth race of the season. #8-John Hunter Nemechek finished second. #13-Cameron Hayley, pole-sitter, #00-Cole Custer, #19-Tyler Reddick, #17-Timothy Peters, #33-Brandon Jones, #75-Caleb Holman, #98-Johnny Sauter, and #4-Erik Jones close out the top-10.
There were 12 caution flags for 69 laps and 6 lead changes among 4 leaders.
Complete results are on the Martinsville race results page (pdf). (10-31-2015)

Martinsville Race Fast Facts:
Matt Crafton won the 17th Annual Kroger 200, his 10th victory in 358 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his fifth victory and 16th top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his second victory and 16th top-10 finish in 28 races at Martinsville Speedway.
John Hunter Nemechek (second) posted his first top-10 finish in five races at Martinsville Speedway.
It is his eighth top-10 finish in 2015.
Cameron Hayley (third) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Martinsville Speedway.
John Hunter Nemechek (second) was the highest finishing rookie.
Erik Jones leads the point standings by 10 points over Matt Crafton.
(NASCAR Statistics) (10-31-2015)

Driver standings following Martinsville:
1) #4-Erik Jones, 776
2)#88-Matt Crafton, 766, -10
3) #19-Tyler Reddick, 763, -13
4) #98-Johnny Sauter, 722, -54
5) #17-Timothy Peters, 680, -96
6) #13-Cameron Hayley, 663, -113
7) #14-Daniel Hemric, 644, -132
8) #05-John Wes Townley, 627 -149
9) #11-Ben Kennedy, 595, -181
10) #23-Spencer Gallagher, 574, -202
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(10-31-2015)

Owner Standings following Talladega are posted (pdf).(10-31-2015)

Custer on pole at Martinsville: #00-Cole Custer won the pole for Saturday's Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 96.959mph. #13-Cameron Hayley will start second, followed by: #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #19-Tyler Reddick, #14-Daniel Hemric, #51-Daniel Suarez, #54-Gray Gaulding, #4-Erik Jones, #02-Tyler Young, and#11-Ben Kennedy.
#86-Brandon Brown, #35-Jim Weiler, #6-Norm Benning and #87-Charles Buchannan Jr. failed to qualify for the race. See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(10-31-2015)

Martinsville Qualifying Notes:
Cole Custer won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award for the 17th Annual Kroger 200 with a lap of 19.530 seconds, 96.959 mph.
This is his third pole in 18 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and seventh top-10 start in 2015.
This is his first pole in four races at Martinsville Speedway.
Cameron Hayley (second) posted his 15th top-10 start of 2015 and his second in two races at Martinsville Speedway.
John Hunter Nemechek (third) posted his first top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his sixth in 15 races this season.
Cameron Hayley (second) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Custer is the youngest pole winner in Martinsville Speedway history (17 years, 9 months, 8 days).
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-31-2015)

Richard Petty named Co-Grand Marshal at Martinsville: Richard Petty, Goody's and Martinsville Speedway are like three old friends who can't be separated. The three iconic NASCAR symbols will join together as Petty, a 15-time Martinsville winner, has been named co-Grand Marshal for Sunday's Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500. Tom Harman, marketing director of Circle K stores, will join Petty as co-Grand Marshal and in giving the command to start the engines.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-31-2015)

PowerShares QQQ becomes official Investment Management Company of Martinsville: Martinsville Speedway has entered a partnership with PowerShares QQQ. As a result of the partnership, PowerShares QQQ will be the Official Investment Management Company of Martinsville Speedway starting in 2016. PowerShares QQQ is a subsidiary of Invesco Ltd., a leading independent global investment management firm, dedicated to helping investors worldwide achieve their financial objectives. By delivering the combined power of distinctive investment management capabilities, Invesco provides a wide range of investment strategies and vehicles to clients around the world. Operating in more than 20 countries, the firm is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol IVZ.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-31-2015)

Logano wins Martinsville pole: #22-Joey Logano won the Coors Light pole for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway with speed of 98.548mph for his 6th pole of 2015, 2nd at Martinsville and 14th of his career. Logano has won 2 races from the pole out of 13 previous poles.
#78-Truex, Jr. is on the outside pole followed by #47-Allmendinger, #1-McMurray, #24-Gordon, #18-Busch, #31-Newman, #43-Almirola, #42-Larson, #11-Hamlin, #2-Keselowski, and #4-Harvick.
With only 43 cars entered, no one missed the race.
See the starting lineup, qualifying results round-by-round, qualifying order on Jayski.com's Martinsville Qualifying Page.(10-30-2015)

Where the 2015 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers will start at Martinsville:
[listed by current driver points position]
1) #22-Joey Logano, 1st POLE
2) #19-Carl Edwards, 14th
3) #24-Jeff Gordon, 5th
4) #41-Kurt Busch, 15th
5) #2-Brad Keselowski, 11th
6) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 2nd
7) #4-Kevin Harvick, 12th
8) #18-Kyle Busch, 6th
(10-16-2015)

Second Round of Qualifying for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 10 scheduled minutes.
#22-Logano 98.800
#4-Harvick 98.466
#24-Gordon 98.420
#78-Truex, Jr. 98.415
#1-McMurray 98.354
the rest of the top 12: 11 47 18 42 43 31 2;
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 14 19 41 10 15 20 13 9 48 88 51 5
(10-30-2015)

First Round of Qualifying for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#1-McMurray 98.599
#15-Bowyer 98.308
#19-Edwards 98.297
#4-Harvick 98.145
#22-Logano 98.119
the rest of the top 24: 47 24 20 78 88 14 18 43 10 42 13 31 41 48 2 51 11 5 9;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 16 27 40 55 17 3 35 6 38 34 23 83 98 46 26 32 7 62 33
Drivers who will miss the race: None.
(10-30-2015)

Friday practice: for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over. After 85 scheduled minutes, top five, slowest and notes:
#22-Logano 98.826
#24-Gordon 98.364
#2-Keselowski 98.338
#4-Harvick 98.328
#13-Mears 98.195
slowest: #32-Fowler 95.161 & #62-Hill 94.242
most laps run: #42-Larson, 48 laps
note: Qualifying will be this afternoon at 4:20pm/et. It will be shown on tape-delay at 6:00pm/et on NBCSN. Live coverage will be provide online at NBC Sports Live Extra.
See fastest speeds, lap run, best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Martinsville practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-30-2015)

Qualifying Order for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted. 43 cars/drivers are listed.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #40-Cassill.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #41-Almirola.
The order is set by a random draw, how cars park on pit road before they qualify, held about an hour before the first practice.
After the first round, the cars line up by speed.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com's Martinsville Qualifying Page.(10-30-2015)

TaxAct Extends Partnership with Danica Patrick: TaxAct has extended its partnership with Danica Patrick and Stewart-Haas Racing. The multi-year agreement means that TaxAct will continue as the official online tax preparation partner of SHR and Patrick will be behind the wheel of the #10 TaxAct Chevy SS for four races annually beginning with the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, with associate sponsorship status for Patrick in all other Sprint Cup races. For years, TaxAct has offered the tools and resources necessary to help millions of Americans easily navigate the complexities of tax and finance at a fair price. This tax season, TaxAct is taking it a step further by giving filers with simple returns the ultimate deal: TaxAct Free. Americans can now use TaxAct Free to file their federal 1040A or 1040EZ and state returns at no cost.(Stewart Haas Racing), see an image of the car on the #10 team 2016 paint schemes page.(10-30-2015)

Drivers complete Atlanta test: NASCAR fans had a rare opportunity to watch an open team test at Atlanta Motor Speedway, as Sprint Cup Series drivers turned laps while evaluating NASCAR's new, low-downforce aero package that will be utilized full time in 2016. Joey Logano, winner of three straight races, Dawsonville native Chase Elliott, Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney, David Ragan, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Aric Almirola all participated in the test, which was open to one driver and car from each Sprint Cup Series team. The new rules package, which will be run for the first time in 2016 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, includes a 3.5-inch rear spoiler, a .25-inch front splitter leading edge and a 33-inch-wide radiator pan. It is designed for drivers to play a larger role in handling and maneuvering and allow for easier conditions to pass on the race track. Early on in the morning session, Aric Almirola clocked a lap time of 30.544 seconds, hitting 185.198 miles per hour, while Ricky Stenhouse Jr. touched just under 185 miles per hour and a lap time of 30.698. Later in the afternoon, Kurt Busch hit a speed of 176.518 miles per hour, and Joey Logano broke 177 miles per hour with a lap time of 31.004 in the warmer afternoon air.(Atlanta Motor Speedway)(10-30-2015)

Texas Lottery to sponsoring Allgaier at Texas: The Texas Lottery will sponsor the #51 Chevy SS driven by Justin Allgaier in next weekend's race at Texas Motor Speedway. This will be the Texas Lottery's first time partnering with HScott Motorsports and Allgaier. Founded in 1992, Texas Lottery generates revenue distributed to various funds in the State of Texas. Through the Texas Lottery, public education and veterans programs initiatives have benefitted. Allgaier will be making his fourth NSCS start at TMS. He has one top-20 NSCS finish at the 1.5-mile Ft. Worth, Texas track.(HScott Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #51 team paint schemes page.(10-30-2015)

Martinsville Pole Notes & Facts - Friday:
· Curtis Turner won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Martinsville Speedway in 1949.
· 59 drivers have Coors Light poles at Martinsville, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip with eight; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with seven.
· 12 drivers have won two or more consecutive Coors Light poles at Martinsville Speedway. Four of the 12 have won three consecutive poles at Martinsville: Glen Wood (Fall of 1959 and 1960 sweep); Darrell Waltrip (1979 sweep and spring 1980); Mark Martin (fall of 1990 and 1991 sweep); Jeff Gordon (2003 sweep and spring 2004).
· Tony Stewart (4/18/1999) won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Martinsville Speedway.
· 21 of 133 races (15.7%) at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; seven of those 21 wins came from active drivers: Tony Stewart (2000), Jeff Gordon (2003 twice), Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2012, spring 2013) and Denny Hamlin (2010).
· The Coors Light pole is the most proficient starting spot in the field at Martinsville producing more wins (21) than any other starting position.
· 36 of the 133 (27.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the front row: 21 from the pole and 15 from second-place.
· 95 of the 133 (71.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Seven of the 133 (5.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20 - including both races last season.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 36th, by Kurt Busch in the fall of 2002.
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions eight times in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was the fall race of 2011.
(NASCAR)(10-30-2015)

Trucks returning to Richmond? NASCAR has yet to officially release its 2016 Camping World Truck Series but Motorsport.com has obtained a copy of a tentative schedule that has been shared with many in the NASCAR industry. According to the tentative schedule, the Truck series will feature 24 races next season - one more than 2015. The only addition to the schedule is a race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway during the track's new spring day race weekend next season. Other than a few changes in race dates, the remainder of the schedule looks remarkably similar to this season's. There may yet be another addition to the schedule, however, as NASCAR has yet to release an official schedule while it has already released its Sprint Cup and Xfinity series schedules.(Motorsport.com)(10-30-2015)

Burton to drive for JRM in Texas: JR Motorsports will field an entry for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Jeb Burton in next Friday night's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race at Texas Motor Speedway, CATCHFENCE.com has confirmed. Burton, the son of 2002 Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton, will drive the #00 Haas Automation Chevrolet Silverado, the same truck Kyle Larson raced in the Lucas Oil 225 at Chicagoland Speedway in September. Burton returns to the Truck Series for his 50th career start at the site of his lone victory in 2013, when he drove for Turner Scott Motorsports. In 49 starts overall, the 22-year-old has tallied one victory, seven top fives and 19 top 10s. Burton in 2013 scored seven poles, tying Austin Dillon for the most poles in a rookie season.(Catchfence.com)(10-30-2015)

Timothy Peters fastest in final practice: #17-Timothy Peters led the way during final practice for Saturday's Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 96.083mph.
#13-Cameron Hayley was second, followed by #02-Tyler Young, #51-Daniel Suarez, #00-Cole Custer, #54-Gray Gaulding, #4-Erik Jones, #33-Brandon Jones, #98-Johnny Sauter, and #8-John Hunter Nemechek.
36 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Martinsville practice speeds page (pdf).(10-30-2015)

Peters fastest in practice: #17-Timothy Peters was fastest during opening practice at Martinsville Speedway on Friday with a speed of 96.019 mph. #88-Matt Crafton was second, followed by #13-Cameron Hayley, #23-Spencer Gallagher, #33-Brandon Jones, #98-Johnny Sauter, #14-Daniel Hemric, #51-Daniel Suarez, #18-Ross Kenseth, and #00-Cole Custer. 37 drivers are entered for Saturday's race and all practiced during the session. See complete results on the Martinsville practice speeds page (pdf).(10-30-2015)

American Cancer Society to represent Cancer Survivors as Honorary Starter at Martinsville: When the green flag drops to start Sunday's Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway, it will not only start a race, but represent hope for cancer survivors throughout the nation. Mark Hurley, the Senior Marketing Manager for the American Cancer Society, has been named the Honorary Starter. Having a large audience will hopefully give the American Cancer Society the chance to achieve some of its goals. "This is a huge opportunity for the organization," Hurley said. "This gives us a great visibility to let people know that there are thousands of volunteers around the country that are helping to raise money and helping with our mission programs to battle this disease."(Martinsville Speedway)(10-30-2015)

Sen. John McCain to serve as grand marshal at Phoenix: The fall race at Phoenix International Raceway has traditionally coincided with Veterans Day, and the Grand Marshal for this year's Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will be one of the most recognizable veterans in America. United States Senator John McCain, a highly decorated veteran of the Vietnam War and lifelong public servant, will say the most famous words in motorsports - "Drivers, start your engines!" - before the green flag falls at PIR on Sunday, Nov. 15. Grandstand seats for the race are officially sold out, but general admission seating on the Hillside remains available at PhoenixRaceway.com and by phone at 866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(10-30-2015)

XYIENCE Energy Drink sponsoring Preece at Texas and Phoenix: XYIENCE Energy Drink, a subsidiary of Big Red,Inc., announced its sponsorship of Ryan Preece and his #98 Chevy with Premium Motorsports. The zero-calorie energy drink will serve as primary sponsor for the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion for the Sprint Cup Series events at Texas Motor Speedway on November 8th and Phoenix International Raceway on November 15th. In addition to the Texas and Phoenix races, the 25-year old native of Connecticut will be behind the wheel of the #98 Sprint Cup Series ride for the last four races of the 2015 season starting with this weekend's event at Martinsville Speedway and concluding at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The XYIENCE brand will also join Preece in the season finale as an associate sponsor. Preece has one previous NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start to his credit earlier this season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway where he earned a 32nd place finish.(Integrity Sports Marketing), see an image of the car on the #98 team paint schemes page.(10-29-2015)

Talladega TV Ratings UPDATE: Overnight ratings dropped again for NASCAR's Chase For the Cup, but Talladega scored the sport's top overnight rating in over six weeks. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Talladega, the sixth race in the Chase For the Cup, drew a 2.5 overnight rating on NBCSN Sunday afternoon - down 7% from last year and 2013, when coverage aired on ESPN (2.7 both years), and the 17th of 18 races on cable this year to have a decline in overnights. Despite the decline, the 2.5 overnight is the highest for any NASCAR race since Darlington on Labor Day weekend, which aired on the NBC broadcast network (3.4). The previous mark over that span was a 2.2 for Kansas the week before, which also aired on NBC. The 2.5 is also tied as the second-highest overnight for NASCAR on cable this season, matching Pocono in August and Martinsville on Fox Sports 1 in March. The only race to have a higher overnight on cable was the Brickyard 400, which drew a 2.9 on NBCSN in July. Head-to-head, NASCAR on NBCSN more-than-tripled competing coverage of the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix on NBC (0.7).(ShowBuzz Daily / Sports Media Watch) See past race TV Ratings, five-year comparison chart and more on the 2015 TV Ratings page.(10-27-2015)
UPDATE: NASCAR hit another set of historical lows for Sunday's race at Talladega, but the numbers were more than good enough for NBCSN. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Talladega, the sixth race in the Chase For the Cup, drew a 2.6 final rating and 4.2 million viewers on NBCSN Sunday afternoon - down 13% in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (3.0, 4.8M) and down 16% and 14%, respectively, from 2013 (3.1, 4.9M), both of which aired on ESPN. Joey Logano's third straight win ranks as the lowest rated fall Talladega race since at least 2000 and the least-watched since at least 2001, each falling below the marks set last year. All 18 NASCAR races on cable this season have either hit a record-low in ratings and viewership or the lowest marks in at least ten years. Though low historically, Sunday's race performed well for NBCSN. It tied the third-highest rating ever on the network (previously VERSUS and OLN), trailing only the 2014 Canada/USA Olympic hockey semifinal (2.7) and this year's Brickyard 400 (3.0). It also scored the fourth-largest audience in network history, trailing NASCAR from the Brickyard (4.7M), Michigan (4.3M) and Pocono (4.3M). The race also ranks as the highest rated and most-watched of this year's Chase For the Cup, topping the previous highs of 2.5 and 4.0 million for Kansas on the NBC broadcast network, and the top race overall since Darlington on NBC Labor Day weekend (3.7, 5.9M).(Sports Media Watch)(10-29-2015)

Pit Crew changes for Bayne: For years now Kale Uphoff has been a mainstay changer at Roush Fenway Racing. As of Kansas two weeks ago, it will appear to be the last time he changes tires for a while. We are hearing that the Monday after Kansas, Uphoff had partial hip replacement surgery and will be out for a while. Kale is a great tire changer and we have no doubt that he will come back and continue his career hitting nuts. As for now, it looks like front tire changer Cory Baldwin will be moving to the rear of the #6 and back up front changer Cory DeMarco will be moving up front to take Baldwins spot. Things can change quickly on pit road but as of Talladega that was the case. Both DeMarco and Baldwin are experienced veterans who will do just fine in those positions. Its not an easy job to move from the front to the rear but Baldwin has the skill set to handle it.(Pit Talks) (10-29-2015)

Premium Motorsports names associate sponsor: Acredale Vending Co. & Coffee Service will be an associate sponsor on the Ryan Preece #98 and Timmy Hill #62 Premium Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup teams at Martinsville. Owner Scott Abshire founded his company in 1984 and specializes in vending machine services and sells refurbished soda and snack machines in Virginia and North Carolina.(Premium Motorsports)(10-29-2015)

Kobalt returns to the #48 at Martinsville: For the final time this season, Jimmie Johnson will pilot a flat-black and white #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevy SS. The paint scheme appeared earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Kobalt's heavy-duty tools are exclusive to Lowe's and have been tested and approved by the #48 team.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #48 team paint schemes page.(10-29-2015)

Martinsville Track Notes & History - Thursday:
· Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States.
· The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville was on July 4, 1948.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was Sept. 25, 1949.
· The track was paved in 1955.
· The first 500-lap event at Martinsville was in 1956.
· Concrete corners were added atop asphalt in 1976.
(NASCAR)(10-29-2015)

Young drivers to round out KBM's 2016 lineup UPDATE: Kyle Busch Motorsports' 2016 driver lineup in the Camping World Truck Series looks to feature several successful up-and-comers in NASCAR competition. Christopher Bell, a talented dirt track racer who won the Truck race at iconic Eldora Speedway earlier this season, will run fulltime in 2016 for KBM, multiple sources confirmed to Motorsport.com. Immediately after that victory, Toyota Racing Development President David Wilson expressed hope Bell would "draft" in the footsteps of another Toyota talent, Erik Jones, and join KBM. Bell, the 2013 USAC National Midget champion, has accumulated 15 wins in midget and Late Model races this season in addition to his victory at Eldora. Joining Bell at KBM next season with be newly-crowned NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion William Byron, who will drive several races in KBM's #51 Toyota, sources said. Byron, who will turn 18 years old next month, is a student at Charlotte (N.C.) Country Day School. He won four races on his way to the K&N Pro Series East title this season driving for HScott Motosports with Justin Marks. Byron has only been racing for three years, starting with Legends cars and winning a national title in that series in 2013. He has also driven Late Models for JR Motorsports.Cody Coughlin, a 19-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing development driver, is also expected to compete in the Truck series in 2016 with KBM, sources said. Coughlin has run a pair of Truck races this season - one for Venturini Motorsports and one for KBM. He finished 20th in both races.(Motorsport.com)(10-29-2015)
UPDATE: Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) announced the 2016 driver lineup for its three-team operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Christopher Bell and William Byron will each compete full-time, while Cody Coughlin and Daniel Suarez will share the seat of the remaining entry, each competing in at least 10 races. Additionally, the team announced that Byron will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut Nov. 13 in a fourth KBM entry at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway.
Bell, the 2013 USAC National Midget champion continues to be a force to be reckoned with on dirt, where he has scored six POWRI Midget wins, two USAC National Midget wins, one USAC Silver Crown win and also collected his second career World of Outlaws Sprint Car victory this season. Bell's Tundra will carry primary sponsorship from JBL, a division of HARMAN - the premier connected technologies company for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets.
Byron, a 17-year-old native of Charlotte, N.C., captured the 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Championship and Rookie of the Year honors after producing four wins, three poles, 740 laps led, five top-five and 11 top-10 finishes across 14 starts. He picked up a victory at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway in just his second career start, earned the championship lead after a runner-up finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in the third race of the season and stayed at the top of the standings for the remainder of the season. The NASCAR Next product is currently in his senior year at Charlotte (N.C.) Country Day School and also is enrolled in the Liberty University Online Academy. Byron has had a busy 2015 schedule on the track as well, in addition to his full-time campaign in the K&N Pro Series East, he finished fifth in his lone start in the K&N Pro Series West, made two ARCA Racing Series starts - where he led a race-high 120 laps in his series debut at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis before settling for a runner-up finish when the race was decided by fuel strategy. He also picked up a CARS Super Late Model Tour victory at Hickory Motor Speedway earlier this season and finished second in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at South Boston Speedway. Byron's Tundra will carry primary sponsorship from Liberty University, the largest private, nonprofit university in the nation, the largest university in Virginia, and the largest Christian university in the world.
Coughlin, a 20-year-old native of Delaware, Ohio, made a pair of Truck Series starts this season, including his KBM debut in August at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, where he was on the verge of a top-10 finish before a late-race accident. The Joe Gibbs Racing development driver's roots run deep in the motorsports world, as the Coughlin family has produced countless victories and numerous championships across various divisions of NHRA competition.
Suarez, a 23-year-old native of Monterrey, Mexico, has produced five top-five and eight top-10 finishes across nine Truck Series starts driving a partial schedule for KBM this season, highlighted by runner-up finishes at Dover (Del.) International Speedway in May and Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth in June. He also competes full-time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series for Joe Gibbs Racing, where he has compiled three poles, seven top-five and 15 top-10 finishes across 30 starts and leads the Rookie of the Year standings with three races remaining. A graduate of the NASCAR Next and NASCAR Drive for Diversity programs, Suarez honed his skills in the NASCAR Mexico Series, where he collected 10 wins, 13 poles, 25 top-five and 34 top-10 finishes across 58 career starts from 2011 to 2014, and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, where he produced three wins, 12 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes across 43 starts from 2011 to 2014. Suarez's Tundra will carry primary sponsorship from ARRIS, a world leader in entertainment and communications technology.
Announcements for Coughlin's sponsors as well as truck numbers and crew chiefs for all three teams are forthcoming.(Kyle Busch Motorsports)(10-29-2015)

Lira Motorsports to enter two trucks in Homestead UPDATE 2: The Camping World Truck Series will get a boost in its entry list count at Homestead Miami Speedway in November, with an ARCA Racing Series team sending two entries to attempt the race. Lira Motorsports, a race-winning ARCA team, will enter two trucks in the Ford EcoBoost 200 on Nov. 20. Kyle Weatherman and David Levine will pilot the yet-to-be numbered entries, NASCAR RaceHub reported. Both drivers raced for Rookie of the Year honors in ARCA this season, with Weatherman coming out on top in the rookie points battle. He will be honored as the 2015 ARCA Rookie of the Year and the Calpyso Lemonade Short Track Challenge champion in December on the strength of his 10 top 5 finishes and 13 top 10 finishes for Cunningham Motorsports. He also won three poles and the race at New Jersey Motorsports Park in May. Weatherman finished tenth in the standings, but only ran 15 of the 20 races because he was ineligible to run at superspeedways due to age early in the season (ARCA rules mandate a minimum age of 18 to race at superspeedways and Weatherman did not turn 18 until late August). Levine, a former competitor in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, finished fifth in ARCA points, with one top 5 and 11 top 10 finishes with Lira Motorsports. Following their debuts, both drivers will look to solidify their 2016 schedules.(Frontstretch.com)(10-23-2015)
UPDATE: David Levine held the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Scott Rookie Challenge points lead for the majority of the 2015 season. Kyle Weatherman took over the Rookie points lead by two points in race 19 of 20 at Kentucky, then held off Levine in the season finale at Kansas to claim the title. Earlier today, the two ARCA Series rivals officially announced that they will take their battle to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. They are both set to make their Truck Series debut in the Ford Ecoboost 200 during Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20th. While they will undoubtably be trying to outdo each other for the best finishing position between themselves, their personal rivalry may be put aside to some extent as they are entering the race as teammates. The duo will be a two-truck effort by Lira Motorsports, a team that made a huge splash in their first full year of ARCA Racing Series competition in 2015. The Lira team, based in Mooresville, NC, captured two wins and a total of 22 top ten finishes in a multi-car effort led by team owners Carlos and Amanda Lira. Levine, the team's primary driver, claimed 11 of the teams top ten finishes and placed 5th in the ARCA Racing Series 2015 driver points standings. He was the highest finishing Rookie driver in points, piloting the highest finishing Ford in the driver points standings. The team has marketing partnerships available for the Ford Ecoboost 200, as well as for their 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series programs. Truck numbers, sponsors, and crew chief announcements for Homestead will be made at a later date.(Lira Motorsports)(10-27-2015)
UPDATE 2: Lira Motorsports is excited to announce their partnership with Roux Helmets for the remainder of 2015, as well as the 2016 racing season. Roux will serve an associate sponsor on all of the team's race cars and trucks beginning with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford Ecoboost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20th. In addition to the Roux decals on their cars and trucks, Lira Motorsports drivers will be equipped with high quality Roux Helmets and gear bags.ROUX has recently launched a new line of helmets that are both revolutionary to their industry and cutting edge by design. Their helmets include a Release Equipped System designed by racers, for racers, with driver safety as the number one priority. In the event of an emergency, this feature enables safety crews to remove the helmet, quickly and easily, without putting any stress on the driver's neck, which could cause serious injuries. ROUX Gear bags are designed to meet the ever growing demands of luggage in the world of racing, with a complete line of helmet bags, backpacks, carry-ons, and luggage. The rugged, ballistic nylon bags have the ability to conveniently strap together for easy travel through airports.

AM Racing to run 2016 schedule: AM Racing is proud to announce its formation of a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series organization. Led by owner Tim Self, AM Racing will field the #22 Toyota in the Camping World Truck Series for the full 2016 campaign kicking off at Daytona International Speedway in February. AM Racing will field Toyota Tundras in the 2016 season having partnered with Toyota Racing Development (TRD). The team has also entered into an agreement with Championship winning Triad Racing Technologies as their engine supplier. Self, a successful entrepreneur, founded AM Technical Solutions in 1994 to provide Engineering and other Technical Services to advanced technology Industries including Semiconductor and Life Sciences. Mr. Self's technology industry experience spans 25 years, and he has extensive expertise in process systems and project management. He has published a number of articles on the design and installation of process systems and has held memberships in the Institute of Environmental Sciences, the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Tim has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and owns Central Texas Speedway in Kyle, Texas. AM Racing will be making a driver and sponsor announcements in the very near future. The organization is also looking to expand with the second truck for the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.(Integrity Sports Marketing)(10-29-2015)

GMS gets penalty following Talladega UPDATE: The #33 team has been penalized for an infraction that occurred during pre-qualifying inspection on Oct. 23. This is a P4 level penalty (Sections 20.4.12.2; 20.20.a; 20.4.f; P4, 12.5.3.4. b&d, Penalty Options; P4, 12.5.3.4.1 d&f, Penalty Examples). Crew chief Shane Huffman has been fined $10,000, suspended for the next three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship events, plus any non-championship races or special events which might occur during that period, and placed on NASCAR probation for a six-month period following the issuance of the penalty. The team has also been assessed with the loss of 25 championship driver (Brandon Jones) and 25 championship owner (Maurice Gallagher Jr.) points.(NASCAR)(10-28-2015)
UPDATE: Director of Competition Mike Beam's response to penalties levied against alleged infractions made at Talladega Superspeedway:
"As a stand-alone team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) we respect NASCAR's efforts to maintain a level playing field for all teams and competitors. However, we feel that it is in the best interest of our organization, partners and team personnel to appeal NASCAR's decision. GMS Racing will have no further public comment until the process is completed."(GMS Racing)(10-29-2015)

Tim McGraw in concert at Homestead: This November, legendary, Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter and actor Tim McGraw will be "on top of the world" with a brand new album, Damn Country Music, and a special live performance at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, November 22 prior to the Ford EcoBoost 400, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship finale. The three-time Grammy Award winner will be a highlight of Ford Championship Weekend, with part of his live performance featured on Countdown to Green on NBC Sports Network, which begins at 1:30pm/et. The Ford EcoBoost 400, which marks the final event of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, will air on NBC at 3:00pm.et. Homestead-Miami Speedway and McGraw will also be teaming up to create exclusive ticket packages offered for the 2015 Ford Championship Weekend (November 20-22). For $145, fans can purchase a ticket package that includes a ticket to the Ford EcoBoost 400 on Sunday, November 22, a Pre-Race Pit Pass to be down on the fronstretch and up-close for the live performance, and an album download of McGraw's brand new album, Damn Country Music.(HMS)(10-29-2015)

NASCAR issues warnings to four teams: NASCAR announced warnings to four Sprint Cup teams from prerace inspection this past weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, including six-time series champion Jimmie Johnson. The warnings were assessed for the following:
#48 Chevrolet (driver: Jimmie Johnson) for failing the laser inspection station twice.
#9 Ford (driver: Sam Hornish Jr.) for failing templates twice.
#35 Ford (driver: Cole Whitt) for failing templates twice.
#40 Chevrolet (driver: Landon Cassill) for failing templates twice.
Since NASCAR modified its warnings policy in August, a team that accumulates four warnings will lose the chance to pick their pit stall at the next race. (NBC Sports)(10-28-2015)

Gilliland to run throwback scheme in honor of Hall of Fame inductee Cook: Front Row Motorsports will pay tribute to 2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Cook with a throwback paint scheme on David Gilliland's #38 Ford this weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The old-school red scheme will replicate the look of a car run by the six-time NASCAR Modified champion during the 1970s. Cook won championships in 1971 and 1972, and 1974 through 1977. The 72-year-old Rome, New York, native will be inducted into the Hall of Fame with four other members of the Class of 2016 in January. Cook retired from racing in 1982 to become the Modified series' director. He still works in NASCAR as a competition administrator.(Breaking Limits)see an image of the car on the #38 team paint schemes page(10-28-2015)

Harvick defends Talladega incident: Kevin Harvick presented his side of the controversial Talladega Superspeedway finish on Tuesday, telling reporters he was trying to move up the track with a wounded engine when race-ending contact with Trevor Bayne occurred. In a 20-minute interview session for the third round of NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup, Harvick was not defensive or combative about the accusations he intentionally crashed Bayne to preserve his playoff spot. Instead, Harvick was calm and charming, telling reporters he understood why some of his competitors were angry but didn't feel the need to defend himself publicly. The defending series champion said he "never really even saw" Bayne - though he was light on specifics when pressed several times to recall more details.
"I just tried to get going and thinking and before I even knew, he was gone," Harvick said. "I didn't even really know he was out there until he was already by me. It all happens pretty fast."
Harvick said he didn't defend himself on Twitter or contact other drivers because those types of conversations rarely result in anything positive. As for Hamlin, who he called a "fair acquaintance" because he doesn't like to make friends in the garage, Harvick said he wasn't upset by the driver's accusations. "Denny is a very emotional person," Harvick said. "He's a very opinionated person and he's going to stand behind what he believes in, and that's fair. I'm not going to sit here and throw stones because I've been mad at situations."
The 39-year-old's voice was hoarse and he struggled to maintain a normal speaking volume - the consequence of an illness he said has persisted for several weeks. Harvick visited a doctor this week and said he's now on the mend.
As for the fans who thought he should have pulled into the pits after his #4 Chevry's engine started expiring, Harvick cited a life lesson from quitting on his high school wrestling team as a reason to never give up. "You have to play the restart out," he said. "You have to try. ... I didn't have an oil leak. My car was still maintaining speed. It's like I've got a dagger in my side, but I can still walk."(USA Today)(10-27-2015)

Martinsville marks second career start for Fowler: Heading into this weekend's event at Martinsville Speedway, the #32 CorvetteParts.Net team will travel to the "The Old Dominion State" with Kyle Fowler for the 67th annual Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA. Sunday's Goody's 500 will mark Fowler's 2nd career start at the famous paper clip, and his second career NSCS start. The Smyrna, GA native made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Debut (NSCS) debut in 2014 during the Fall Martinsville event for Go Green Racing finishing 28th, after starting 42nd. (Go Green Racing)see an image of the car on the #32 team paint schemes page(10-27-2015)

Martinsville Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Martinsville this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that these teams have run at this track since last October . . . this left-side tire code has been run at this track since April 2013 . . . Martinsville is the only track where NASCAR teams are scheduled to run either of these two tire codes . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Martinsville.(Goodyear), see tire codes. pressures, set limits and more on the Martinsville Race Info page.(10-27-2015)

Crew member reinstated: NASCAR has reinstated Brian R. Allen, a crew member in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. On September 30, 2015, Allen was found to have violated Sections 7.5 (Violation of the NASCAR Code of Conduct) and 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR Rule Book.(NASCAR)(10-28-2015)

Conley's season ends early due to funding: Cale Conley, driver of the #14 TriStar Motorsports NASCAR Xfinity Series Toyota, announced today that he has ended his 2015 race season prematurely, due to a lack of sponsorship and team funding. "I would like to thank the TriStar Motorsports organization and owner Mark Smith for giving me this opportunity to race at tracks I had not visited in the past," said Conley. "I am really looking forward to finalizing my 2016 race season plans and I am excited to see everyone at Daytona International Speedway in February. I want to thank all of my loyal fans, my family and the support from the members of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America." Conley currently ranks 19th in the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship standings, with a pair of 16th-place finishes at Auto Club and Kentucky Speedways.(Godfather Motorsports)(10-28-2015)

Allgaier to JR Motorsports, replacing Regan Smith? UPDATE: Justin Allgaier is the leading candidate to replace Regan Smith in an Xfinity Series ride at JR Motorsports in 2016, Motorsport.com has learned. Allgaier currently drives the #51 Brandt Chevy for HScott Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series. However, the team announced last month Clint Bowyer will take over the ride for 2016. Allgaier would not confirm he is the top prospect for the JRM job, but told Motorsport.com he is still working on his program for next year.(Motorsport)(10-22-2015)
UPDATE: JR Motorsports (JRM) announced today it has entered into a multi-year partnership with BRANDT, a leading agriculture retailer and manufacturer of agricultural specialty products. Additionally, the team has named Justin Allgaier driver of the #7 Chevy Camaro, beginning in 2016. Allgaier will vie full-time for a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) championship with BRANDT Professional Agriculture as a primary partner on the #7 in 18 of 33 events. BRANDT will receive associate placement in the remaining 15 races. The 2017 races will be announced at a later date. Headquartered in Springfield, Ill., BRANDT has been part of NASCAR since 2011, supporting an "ag car" to build awareness for the men and women of the world's most vital industry. Joining BRANDT on the car are the National FFA Organization, Nutrients for Life Foundation, Precision Tank, TradeMark Nitrogen, Grigg Brothers and BRANDT iHammer. Allgaier has won three times in NXS competition, and two of them came at the wheel of a BRANDT-branded car. In 174 career NXS starts, he's scored 29 top-five and 84 top-10 finishes, and was named the series' rookie of the year in 2009. Allgaier finished a career-best third in the NXS championship standings in 2011. Before joining the NXS ranks, he was the 2008 ARCA champion. For the past two years, he has driven in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Outside of BRANDT's 18 primary races in 2016, the balance of the 33-race NXS schedule on the #7 Chevy will be filled by existing JRM partners, including TaxSlayer.com, Breyers, Hellmann's and Suave. Jason Burdett, current crew chief of the #7 team, will serve in the same capacity with Allgaier. Under Burdett's guidance the team has earned two wins, 11 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes to date this season. Allgaier and Elliott Sadler will be JR Motorsports' two drivers competing for the 2016 NXS championship. It was announced earlier this month that Sadler will drive JRM's car that is presently occupied by Chase Elliott. JRM's third team, the #88 "All-Star" car, will again race full-time with drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne next season. Additional drivers for the #88 will be named at a later date.(JR Motorsports)(10-28-2015)

GMS gets penalty following Talladega: The #33 team has been penalized for an infraction that occurred during pre-qualifying inspection on Oct. 23. This is a P4 level penalty (Sections 20.4.12.2; 20.20.a; 20.4.f; P4, 12.5.3.4. b&d, Penalty Options; P4, 12.5.3.4.1 d&f, Penalty Examples). Crew chief Shane Huffman has been fined $10,000, suspended for the next three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship events, plus any non-championship races or special events which might occur during that period, and placed on NASCAR probation for a six-month period following the issuance of the penalty. The team has also been assessed with the loss of 25 championship driver (Brandon Jones) and 25 championship owner (Maurice Gallagher Jr.) points.(NASCAR)(10-28-2015)

Daytona announces PowerShares QQQ as namesake of XFINITY season-opener: PowerShares QQQ, has entered into a multi-year partnership to serve as the title sponsor for the NASCAR XFINITY Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway (DIS), part of Speedweeks 2016. The 120-lap, 300-mile race will be known as the PowerShares QQQ 300, taking place February 20, 2016. PowerShares QQQ is an exchange-traded fund based on the Nasdaq-100 Index. The events during Speedweeks 2016 will be the first to be held at DIS following the completion of the $400 million DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project. Race fans will experience new amenities such as wider and more comfortable seats, spacious concourses, escalators and elevators, twice as many restrooms and three times as many concessions and merchandise stands and two new larger video display boards.(Daytona International Speedway)(10-28-2015)

Tickets for 2016 Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola on sale Thursday: Tickets for the 58th annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the first following the completion of the $400 million DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project, will officially go on sale Thursday, Oct. 29 at 9:00am/et. Fans will be able to purchase tickets to the Independence Day holiday weekend classic scheduled for Saturday, July 2 in one of three convenient ways: Online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com, by calling 1-800-PITSHOP, or visiting the Daytona International Speedway Ticket and Tours Building. The new motorsports stadium will feature 101,500 new, wider more comfortable seats, thousands of premium club seats, 40 escalators and 17 elevators, 60 luxury suites, social "neighborhoods" and three concourse levels that will span the nearly mile-long frontstretch. Reserved stadium seats for the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola start at $55. Reserved stadium seats for children ages 12 and under are $20 and kids 12 and under are free in the Sprint FANZONE.(DIS)(10-28-2015)

No penalties following Talladega: "NASCAR has worked to review an extensive amount of material from Sunday's NASCAR race in Talladega including video, team radio transmissions and downloadable data. Based on that review, the race results are considered official as we prepare for the upcoming 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Eliminator Round starting Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.
"Post-race inspection is currently being conducted. The five cars at the NASCAR Research & Development Center for post-race inspection are the #22 (winner), #88 (runner-up), #18 (final car qualifying for the Eliminator Round), #31(first car not qualifying for the Eliminator Round) and the #98 (random).
"Additionally, aside from today's post-race inspection, NASCAR has completed review of any other potential penalties from the track this past weekend [Stewart-Haas cars], and there will be no further actions."(NASCAR)(10-27-2015)

Talladega TV Ratings: Overnight ratings dropped again for NASCAR's Chase For the Cup, but Talladega scored the sport's top overnight rating in over six weeks. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Talladega, the sixth race in the Chase For the Cup, drew a 2.5 overnight rating on NBCSN Sunday afternoon - down 7% from last year and 2013, when coverage aired on ESPN (2.7 both years), and the 17th of 18 races on cable this year to have a decline in overnights. Despite the decline, the 2.5 overnight is the highest for any NASCAR race since Darlington on Labor Day weekend, which aired on the NBC broadcast network (3.4). The previous mark over that span was a 2.2 for Kansas the week before, which also aired on NBC. The 2.5 is also tied as the second-highest overnight for NASCAR on cable this season, matching Pocono in August and Martinsville on Fox Sports 1 in March. The only race to have a higher overnight on cable was the Brickyard 400, which drew a 2.9 on NBCSN in July. Head-to-head, NASCAR on NBCSN more-than-tripled competing coverage of the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix on NBC (0.7).(ShowBuzz Daily / Sports Media Watch) See past race TV Ratings, five-year comparison chart and more on the 2015 TV Ratings page.(10-27-2015)

Monster Energy debuts on the #41: Kurt Busch will have added incentive to put the #41 Chevy in Victory Lane for the third time this year when he takes the green flag Sunday for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Martinsville Speedway. Just last week, Monster Energy announced it would partner with Haas Automation as a co-primary sponsor for Busch and his #41 team for Stewart-Haas Racing in Sprint Cup beginning in 2016. Monster, whose black can features a neon-green, claw-ripped "M", won't have to wait until the next calendar year to see its logo adorn the hood and quarter panels of Busch's Chevy SS as it will make its debut in NASCAR's premier series at the shortest racetrack on the circuit this weekend. A longtime sponsor in NASCAR's second-tier Xfinity Series, Monster Energy is accustomed to winning races and doing so often thanks to younger brother Kyle Busch's efforts in the #54 Joe Gibbs Racing entry. In fact, 24 of the younger Busch's 75 Xfinity Series victories have come with Monster branding on his racecar. So, the elder Busch might put a little added pressure on himself to continue those winning ways this weekend at Martinsville, a track where he's twice claimed victory in NASCAR's premier series.(Stewart-Haas Racing) See an image of the car on the #41 team paint schemes page.(10-27-2015)

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Martinsville:
#48-Jimmie Johnson..............119.4
#24-Jeff Gordon..............119.1
#11-Denny Hamlin..............111.4
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr..............99.5
#14-Tony Stewart..............96.8
#18-Kyle Busch..............96.2
#15-Clint Bowyer..............94.6
#4-Kevin Harvick..............93.6
#22-Joey Logano..............88.0
#2-Brad Keselowski..............86.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2015 races (21 total) among active drivers at Martinsville Speedway.
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)(10-27-2015)

Special scheme for Sauter: For the sixth time this season, Johnny Sauter will carry the colors of Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, America's original and best-selling tobacco-free, nicotine-free chew. The smokeless brand comes in seven flavors, and pouches and this weekend the #98 Toyota Tundra will trade-in its Wintergreen colors to showcase "Peach," a tangy, sweet and juicy flavor - just in time for Halloween. Sauter will make his 16th start at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday. In 15 previous starts, the ThorSport Racing driver has led 286 laps en route to two wins, five top-five and seven top-10 finishes. In fact, the Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff driver has more wins (2), and has led more laps (286), than any other driver entered in the 28th annual event.(See an image of the truck on the #98 Team Paint Schemes Page)(ThorSport Racing)(10-27-2015)

Theriault airlifted after Vegas crash UPDATE 4: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Austin Theriault was airlifted to a local hospital Saturday night after a high-speed, head-on wreck into an unprotected concrete wall at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Just 14 laps into the Rhino Linings 350, Tyler Reddick got loose in Turn 4 and was unable to correct his truck, catching the rear of Theriault and sending him into an area of the wall not protected by SAFER barrier. After the wreck, Theriault was able to climb out under is own power, but was placed on a backboard before being loaded into an ambulance. He will undergo further treatment at the hospital.(Sporting News)(10-3-2015)
UPDATE: Brad Keselowski Racing driver Austin Theriault was transported to University Medical Center in Las Vegas during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Theriault underwent a comprehensive CT scan of the upper body, which showed a 10 percent compression fracture of the lower back. Theriault was released and will travel back to North Carolina where he will follow up with an orthopedic specialist for further treatment. No further updates are expected today.(Brad Keselowski Racing)(10-4-2015)
UPDATE 2: Austin Theriault expects to race again this season despite suffering a compression fracture in his lower back after hitting the wall head-on during a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Saturday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "He fully intends to race again this season," his father, Steve Theriault, said Monday. "He is still extremely sore. But he is in good spirits." Theriault said his son will see a doctor on Tuesday in North Carolina and will get a clearer picture of his status and a treatment schedule. "He is resting today, but he has been walking around," he said. The 21-year-old Austin Theriault is wearing a back brace that he was outfitted with at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas. He flew home to North Carolina on Sunday.(Bangor Daily News)(10-5-2015)
UPDATE 3:Fort Kent's Austin Theriault said he still can't touch his toes. But the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver said he feels "50 percent better than I did a week and a half ago," in the wake of an Oct. 3 crash during a race in Las Vegas that left him with a 10 percent compression fracture in his lower back. He expects to climb back into his Brad Keselowski Racing truck later this season, though he doubts he will be ready for the Fred's 250 on Oct. 24.
"I'm the type of person who always has hope, but there are more signs that are saying no (to Talladega) than yes," Theriault, 21, said. "I try not to get caught up in a timetable (for my return)."The pain is under control now to where I can continue my daily life almost like it was before. I'm being a little more cautious. I'm not out lifting sandbags and stuff, but I've been out driving around, getting to see the people I need to see," Theriault said. Theriault undergoes physical therapy several times per week and has been doing exercises at home. He has made sure to get eight hours of sleep every night and that he eats well. He would like to speed up the process but said he said he isn't in pain and is getting better every day. Theriault signed a 13-race deal with BKR for this season and is 23rd in points despite running just eight of 18 races. He has two top-five finishes and four top 10s.(Bangor Daily News)(10-15-2015)
UPDATE 4: Austin Theriault's HANS device broke during his violent collision with an unprotected wall at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Brad Keselowski confirmed Tuesday. "We learned that we know a lot less about safety than we thought we did," Keselowski said during a news conference at the NASCAR Hall of Fame to announce his Camping World Truck Series team's driver lineup for this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. "And that's very scary."
Theriault has been sidelined since suffering a 10 percent compression fracture of his lower back in the Oct. 2 crash, but he attended Tuesday's news conference where Brad Keselowski Racing announced Austin Cindric would make his NASCAR debut in place of Theriault at Martinsville. A team spokesman said Theriault could receive medical clearance this week that he would return the following week at Texas Motor Speedway.
During the investigation of Theriault's Ford, Keselowski said there "were damage marks that we'd never seen before on that truck that I would directly relate to hitting a wall at a speed and force that was critical mass measurement. In addition to Theriaut's HANS device, Keselowski said Theriault's helmet was damaged by a major impact with the steering wheel, and pieces of the transmission and bell housing also penetrated the cockpit.(NBCSports.com)(10-27-2015)

Cindric to debut at Martinsville for BKR: Brad Keselowski Racing announced today that Austin Cindric will drive the team's #29 Cooper Standard Ford F-150 in the October 31 Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Cindric, 17, is making his first-ever NASCAR start at the .526-mile speedway. Austin has racked up 28 starts across seven different series in 2015 including Automobile Racing Club of America, Red Bull Global Rallycross Lites and the IMSA Continental Series. The Columbus, Ohio native won four races in GRC competition this season and became the youngest winner ever in the Continental Tire Series when he won at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada). Cindric made two starts in ARCA competition (Iowa Speedway and Kentucky Speedway) where he scored one top five (fourth-place at Iowa in his first start ) and led a combined 56 laps in those two races. Cindric grew up in a racing environment surrounded by elite teams, drivers, and manufacturers including the legendary Team Penske where his father, Tim Cindric, has been president since 1999. Austin currently resides in Mooresville, N.C., and is a junior at Cannon School in Concord, N.C. He is a three-time Presidential Fitness Award Winner who enjoys mountain biking, water sports and music and he participates in the high school band (Euphonium/Tuba).(Brad Keselowski Racing)(10-27-2015)

Lira Motorsports to enter two trucks in Homestead UPDATE: The Camping World Truck Series will get a boost in its entry list count at Homestead Miami Speedway in November, with an ARCA Racing Series team sending two entries to attempt the race. Lira Motorsports, a race-winning ARCA team, will enter two trucks in the Ford EcoBoost 200 on Nov. 20. Kyle Weatherman and David Levine will pilot the yet-to-be numbered entries, NASCAR RaceHub reported. Both drivers raced for Rookie of the Year honors in ARCA this season, with Weatherman coming out on top in the rookie points battle. He will be honored as the 2015 ARCA Rookie of the Year and the Calpyso Lemonade Short Track Challenge champion in December on the strength of his 10 top 5 finishes and 13 top 10 finishes for Cunningham Motorsports. He also won three poles and the race at New Jersey Motorsports Park in May. Weatherman finished tenth in the standings, but only ran 15 of the 20 races because he was ineligible to run at superspeedways due to age early in the season (ARCA rules mandate a minimum age of 18 to race at superspeedways and Weatherman did not turn 18 until late August). Levine, a former competitor in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, finished fifth in ARCA points, with one top 5 and 11 top 10 finishes with Lira Motorsports. Following their debuts, both drivers will look to solidify their 2016 schedules.(Frontstretch.com)(10-23-2015)
UPDATE: David Levine held the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Scott Rookie Challenge points lead for the majority of the 2015 season. Kyle Weatherman took over the Rookie points lead by two points in race 19 of 20 at Kentucky, then held off Levine in the season finale at Kansas to claim the title. Earlier today, the two ARCA Series rivals officially announced that they will take their battle to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. They are both set to make their Truck Series debut in the Ford Ecoboost 200 during Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20th. While they will undoubtably be trying to outdo each other for the best finishing position between themselves, their personal rivalry may be put aside to some extent as they are entering the race as teammates. The duo will be a two-truck effort by Lira Motorsports, a team that made a huge splash in their first full year of ARCA Racing Series competition in 2015. The Lira team, based in Mooresville, NC, captured two wins and a total of 22 top ten finishes in a multi-car effort led by team owners Carlos and Amanda Lira. Levine, the team's primary driver, claimed 11 of the teams top ten finishes and placed 5th in the ARCA Racing Series 2015 driver points standings. He was the highest finishing Rookie driver in points, piloting the highest finishing Ford in the driver points standings. The team has marketing partnerships available for the Ford Ecoboost 200, as well as for their 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series programs. Truck numbers, sponsors, and crew chief announcements for Homestead will be made at a later date.(Lira Motorsports)(10-27-2015)

Ned Jarrett to drive pace car at Martinsville: NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett, a championship winning driver and legendary broadcaster, has experienced just about everything in the world of NASCAR. However, there is one thing he has never done, until now. Jarrett will be the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500. Jarrett, who recently turned 83, said Martinsville is the perfect place for him to drive. "One of the things that makes me feel good about it is knowing that the track hasn't changed much," Jarrett said. "They say you never forget how to ride a bicycle, well maybe I won't have forgotten how to drive a car around Martinsville Speedway. I certainly look forward to it. It's quite an honor." Jarrett, who won 50 races in his career, never won at Martinsville, despite it being his favorite type of track. In addition to Jarrett leading the field to the green flag, Martinsville Speedway will welcome back the N.C. State University Marching band to perform the National Anthem. The Bandit Flyover Team will once again fly over the track before the race and the Rev. Jonathan Fallwell will give the invocation.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-27-2015)

John Krasinski named grand marshal at Texas: Film and television star John Krasinski, who stars as a former Navy SEAL in the upcoming, real-life motion picture thriller 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, has been named the Grand Marshal for the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Krasinski, an actor, writer and director, will give the command for the Sprint Cup Series drivers of the 43-car field to start their engines in front of a crowd that annually comprises one of the largest-attended, single-day sporting events in Texas. Krasinski will be joined on the Grand Marshal stage by three of the heroes from the CIA annex security team that fought off Islamic militants on Sept. 11, 2012, in Benghazi, Libya. Mark "Oz" Geist, Kris "Tanto" Paronto and John "Tig" Tiegen are elite ex-military operatives that were part of the small security team that helped ward off the terrorists that attacked U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi and were responsible for saving many American lives. Paramount Pictures' 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is directed by Michael Bay and opens in theaters on Jan. 15, 2016. Krasinski is perhaps best known for his role as the charming boy-next-door Jim Halpert on NBC's Emmy-winning smash hit The Office for nine seasons. He won Screen Actor Guild Awards in 2007 and '08 for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.(Texas Motor Speedway)(10-27-2015)

NASCAR announces 2016 Sprint Cup schedule; reaches 5 year agreeement with tracks: NASCAR announced agreements with 23 tracks to field NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for the next five years. Additionally, 24 tracks will host NASCAR XFINITY Series races through 2020.
NASCAR also announced its 2016 schedule for both of these national series. The schedule and actual placement of the dates within each given season's schedule beyond 2016 will be part of the on-going discussions between NASCAR and the tracks. Details are being finalized for the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule to be announced at a later time.
"NASCAR and the tracks take seriously our collective responsibility to the fans and each stakeholder to ensure the sport is healthy, strong and growing, so we can deliver great racing to the fans for many decades to come," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. "The live event experience always will be important to creating a lifetime fan in NASCAR. Among the goals that we set out to accomplish with our track partners was to provide consistency for race fans and the industry stakeholders. We feel like we have a nice balance of that for 2016. The stability of five-year agreements positions us well to deliver fans with schedules as early as possible over the next several years. This is a new approach for our industry, and one that benefits everyone: fans, tracks, teams, drivers, OEMs, media and partners."
NASCAR will kick off the 2016 season against the new backdrop of a completely reimagined Daytona International Speedway. DAYTONA Rising, the speedway's $400 million redevelopment project, will be complete when both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series launch at Daytona Speedweeks. The 2016 DAYTONA 500 will be held on February 21 and will air live on FOX. After the DAYTONA 500, NASCAR events will be held the following week at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Both series then will travel to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Auto Club Speedway for the return of NASCAR Goes West. (NASCAR), see the complete schedule on the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Schedule page.(10-26-2015)

Entry List for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted, 43 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #32-Fowler, #33-Kennedy, #62-Hill, #98-Sorenson.
Since only 43 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
See the full entry list on Jayski.com's Martinsville Entry List

Brian Pattie to replace Puccia as Biffle's crew chief: Brian Pattie will take over crew chief duties on the #16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford with Greg Biffle in 2016. The 40-year-old Zephyrhills, Florida native has worked as a crew chief for Michael Waltrip Racing for the last four seasons. Pattie started his NASCAR career with fellow Floridian Joe Nemechek in 1994. He led a variety of NEMCO teams to seven Xfinity Series wins in four years. Although Pattie left NEMCO for a short stint with Hendrick Motorsports in 1996, he returned in 2003 to work as a team manager and crew chief with Randy LaJoie and Nemechek. He moved to Ganassi Racing in 2004 and won NXS races with Jamie McMurray and Reed Sorenson. In 2008, Pattie was reassigned to the #42 Target team midway through the season as the third crew chief to work with former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya. Together, Pattie and Montoya won one race, seven poles and posted 16 top fives and 39 top-10 finishes. Pattie also guided the team to the 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup - Montoya's only appearance in the NASCAR post-season. Pattie declined comment on his plans for next season. In 2012, Pattie was recruited by Michael Waltrip Racing where he was assigned to Clint Bowyer. The pair won three Sprint Cup races their first season together and finished second in the Chase. However, after their third winless season together, Pattie was moved from the #15 team to the #55 Toyota with David Ragan after 16 races. Sources said Puccia will be reassigned within the company.(Motorsport)(10-26-2015)

Earnhardt Jr comments on final restart: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. met with the media after Sunday's race at Talladega:
Walk us through the final restart and your take on it:
Earnhardt, Jr. "I couldn't believe he (Joey Logano) gave me the bottom. I was like 'man this is a gift.' I was going to win the race for sure, but that caution came out. I'm fine with the new rule. Everybody is going to debate that we were thinking before the race that they made a good change on the green-white-checkered to go to one and I still feel that way. Per the rules we run second. I can live with that. The #22 (Joey Logano) did a great job. He had a hell of a round winning all three races. If he wins the championship he can look back on this round here as the one that set him up."
"I'm proud of what we did today. We did everything we needed to do, just fell about the width of the splitter. You know how I hate that splitter, so, another reason (laughs)."
Should NASCAR have let you run longer under that green-white-checkered before throwing the caution?
Earnhardt, Jr. "Another 100 yards I would have been in the lead, but NASCAR makes the calls. They are the governing body and I have 100 percent faith in the choices that they make. I'm not going to be too upset about it. I did everything I could. I'm proud of myself. I'm proud of my team. My guys did a good job on pit road. We had a little issue, but if this group sticks together we are going to do great things next year. I believe in all of them. I'm proud of what we did. We can sit here and pout about this day, but we didn't do good enough in the first two races of this round. If we had done better in those first two races of this round we would not be worried about losing by a splitter. We didn't do a good job in those first two races. We've got to try to win another race before the year is out, have some fun. Martinsville is coming up. I'm excited about that. We've got a great team. This is my first year with Greg and we are just going to get better. He is just going to get better. We've got a lot to look forward to. It's disappointing, but I'm proud of the car. We really worked hard and we did a hell of a job today."(Chevy Racing)(10-26-2015)

Talladega Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2015 CampingWorld.com 500: For those NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday's race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 2:10 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 5:41 PM (all times are EDT). NBCSN was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 128
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 71
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 99
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 61
Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 29
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 31
Number of times NBC utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 4
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast (including company logos 'floating' in corners of the screen): 88
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 4 min. 35 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 2:10 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 5:41 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 211
Minutes of race broadcast: 166
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 45
Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 12
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 166 Total comm. brdcst time 45
See full reports, sponsor links, many more details at CawnJaws.com.(10-26-2015)

College athletes on pit road: So who and how many college athletes are now on NASCAR's pit road? As the pit crews evolves so do the athletes that pit. That being said, the influx of college athletes to pit road has been a huge topic of conversation over the last few years. Getting the exact names and numbers of the guys on pit road is an extremely hard stat to get. The turnover is high so no stat is going to be 100% correct. So here ya go...the most in-depth article you'll find on ex college athletes on pit road circa Fall of 2015.
The best way to start this is to give some basic facts. We based our stats off of 39 full time running Cup teams. That gives us a total of 234 total crewmen on pit road. Out of those 234 total crewmen, 62 of them played college ball. That's a total of 26%. That number might seem low for what you were thinking, but we think it's right on track. If we were to do that same stat for developmental crewmen then we're guessing it would be more into the 80% range. Taking those 62 pit crew members and breaking them down into what position they pit looks like this. Leading the way is the Carriers with 21 at (34%), followed by Jackmen 16 (26%), Gasmen at 16 (26%), and Changers with only 9 representing 15%. The interesting thing about this is that your Changers are the most important position on pit road and they have the least amount of college athletes.
Looking into these stats even more we find that 49 (79%) played football followed by Baseball with 8 (13%). Basketball, Wrestling, and Soccer make up the remaining 8%.
As far as where these athletes pit, the breakdowns look like this. HMS leads the way with 16 (26%) followed by JGR with 8 (13%). The next two companies with the most would be SHR and MWR with 5 each representing (8%) for each company. Take into consideration we are comparing some 4 car teams to those with 2 or 3 cars so the stats might look a little skewed but the numbers are what they are.(PitTalks)(10-26-2015)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Laps Led Leaders:
(after Talladega, 32 of 36 races)
1. #4-Kevin Harvick, 2,056
2. #22-Joey Logano, 1.152
3. #20-Matt Kenseth, 927
4. #41-Kurt Busch, 766 (29 races)
5. #18-Kyle Busch, 693 (21 races)
6. #2-Brad Keselowski, 639
7. #78-Martin Truex Jr., 536
8. #11-Denny Hamlin, 526
9. #48-Jimmie Johnson, 508
10. #19-Carl Edwards, 368
Laps Run: 9,105
(10-25-2015)

Four drivers who won a race in 2014, have not won 2015: Four drivers have been shut out of winning a Sprint Cup race in 2015 after winning at least one race in 2014, after 32 of 36 races in 2015, the drivers:
#24-Jeff Gordon last won at Dover in September 2014 and has a four season win streak.
#5-Kasey Kahne last won at Atlanta in August 2014 and has a four season win streak.
#43-Aric Almirola has won one career race, last year at Daytona in July.
#47-A.J. Allmendinger has won one career race, last year at Watkins Glen in August.
(10-26-2015)

Entry list: There are 37 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway. A few notes:
Cole Custer in the #00;
The #1 and #50 MAKE trucks are not listed, but expected to be late adds;
Dalton Sargeant in the #5;
Ross Kenseth in the #18;
Austin Theriault is listed in the #29, but no announcement has been made about his medical return;
JJ Haley in the #32;
Jim Weiler in the #35;
The #36 is TBA;
Bobby Pierce in the #63;
Caleb Holman in the #75;
Brandon Brown in the #86;
Charles Henderson in the #87;
David Gilliland in the #92;
(10-26-2015)
See the complete list on the Martinsville entry list page.

Brad Foy to make Truck debut at Martinsville: Short track late model racer Brad Foy is set to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut this Saturday at Martinsville Speedway in the Kroger 200. He will be attempting to make the race in the #0 Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing Chevrolet Silverado owned by Kenneth Grimes. Martinsville is close to home for Foy and the Moneta, Virginia driver is extremely excited for this opportunity. "I really want to thank Jennifer and the team for helping make this happen. I'm doing this not only for my love and passion for racing, but for my dad," said Foy, whose father, Brian, was murdered in his home in May of this year. "He was taken from us 6 months ago... far too soon. I just want to make him proud and race in his memory. It would bring me more joy than I could explain right now. It's been the worst 6 months of my life since he has been gone." JJCR owner and driver, Jennifer Jo Cobb, who received an email from Foy several weeks ago, was touched by Foy's dedication to his father's memory. "I could feel Brad's passion through the computer screen. As a small team we can only offer Brad so much, but I assured him if he could cover some minor expenses to make this effort, we would do everything we could to fulfill his dream to make this attempt," said Cobb. Foy, like Cobb, has funded his own late model efforts since 2009. Both drivers manage with small budgets but never get discouraged because of their passion to race. Cobb will return to Martinsville alongside her new teammate in the #10 Driven2Honor.org Chevy Silverado. Foy is hoping to race more in 2016, but his main goal and focus right now is to make the field and race at Martinsville.(JJCR)(10-26-2015)

Harvick denies intentionally causing wreck on final restart: #4-Kevin Harvick denied triggering a last-lap wreck Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway to ensure his advancing into the next round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. After one restart was aborted because of a crash before the leaders got to the start-finish line, Harvick, in 10th, was in jeopardy of falling out of the Chase as his motor was about to blow prior to the one attempt to have a green-white-checkered finish. Harvick's car didn't get going on the restart -- just as on the previous one -- and he pulled to the outside lane. He clipped #6-Trevor Bayne, causing a wreck that brought out the caution. At that point, the field was frozen, drivers could not gain positions and Joey Logano was awarded the checkered flag for his third consecutive win.
"That's a crappy way for Harvick to have to get in the Chase; to wreck somebody -- what I believe to be on purpose (but) maybe it wasn't," Bayne said "The restart before that, he had engine problems and got out of the way. I think he realized if the caution came out, he was gonna be fine. So I go by and get hooked in the left-rear. Harvick is a really good driver. I think he knows the limits of his car and where it's at, so that's why I think it was intentional."
Hamlin also questioned it to reporters afterward and tweeted even harsher comments. "The 4 could only run about 30 miles an hour," Hamlin said after the race. "I think he saw people coming and he knew he was so probably going to be 30th, the last car on the lead lap, so he caused the wreck."
On his in-car radio prior to the final restart, Harvick expressed frustration that the race was being restarted after the initial aborted restart. He also mentioned that the best hope for him would be for there to be a crash.
"What we saw, there is no evidence right now that there was anything the 4 car [of Harvick] did that was questionable other than moving out of line," NASCAR vice chairman Mike Helton said about an hour after the race. Helton said if any new video or angles came out in the next 24 hours, NASCAR could take action. "There are some of the teams that questioned what the 4 car did on the restarts," Helton said. "We went back and walked through it with them. Procedurally from NASCAR, we don't see anything there that is suspect so far. We haven't seen anything."
Harvick said he was just trying to get out of the way. "I was hoping that it would kind of get going a little bit better and those guys would push me so I could kind of halfway get going and it didn't go," Harvick said. "As I pulled up, I didn't even see the 6 (of Bayne) up there and clipped him and shot him across the inside. It sucks."(ESPN.com)(10-26-2015)

Logano wins at Talladega: #22-Joey Logano won the CampingWorld.com 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway for his 6th win of the season, 1st win at Talladega and 14th career win. Logano led 20 of the 196 laps.
It was an unusual end to the race. First, coming to the green flag for the green-white-checkered finish, #48-Johnson and #42-Larson spun out as the cars got through the restart zone. NASCAR had thrown the green flag, but put the yellow back out before the cars got to the start-finish line and froze the field to attempt another restart.
Then on the next restart, #4-Harvick, who had been reporting engine problems, failed to get a clean start. #6-Bayne passed Harvick, but made contact with him trying to get back in line and was spun out. Several drivers accused Harvick of intentionally wrecking Bayne. About a dozen cars were collected and NASCAR threw the caution just past the start finish line.
NASCAR had to review video tape to determine Logano was in the lead at the time the caution came out and establish the finishing order for the rest of the field.
Logano won all 3 races in the Contender round of The Chase.
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. finished 2nd followed by #24-Gordon, #2-Keselowski, #19-Edwards, #27-Menard, #78-Truex, Jr, #15-Bowyer, #17-Stenhouse, Jr., and #41-Busch.
#11-Hamlin, #31-Newman, #88-Earnhardt, Jr., and #20-Kenseth were eliminated from the Chase.
The race went caution free for the first 131 laps, the longest green flag strecth to start a race this season.
There were 30 lead changes among 18 drivers and 3 cautions for 18 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 167.311mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
(10-25-2015)

Finishing positions of the 2015 Sprint Cup Chase drivers at Talladega:
[by points standings before the race (start pos)]
1) #22-Joey Logano, WON (10)
2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 37th (8)
3) #41-Kurt Busch, 10th (14)
4) #19-Carl Edwards, 5th (15)
5) #4-Kevin Harvick, 15th (7)
6) #24-Jeff Gordon, 3rd (1)
7) #2-Brad Keselowski, 4th (11)
8) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 7th (43)
9) #18-Kyle Busch, 11th (16)
10) #31-Ryan Newman, 12th (18)
11) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2nd (5)
12) #20-Matt Kenseth, 26th (4)
(10-25-2015)

Race Fast Facts - Talladega:
Joey Logano won the 47th Annual campingworld.com 500 , his 14th victory in 251 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his sixth victory and 26th top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in 14 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (second) posted his 16th top-10 finish in 32 races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his 19th top-10 finish in 2015.
Jeff Gordon (third) posted his 20th top-10 finish in 46 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Matt DiBenedetto (40th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Joey Logano leads the point standings by 27 points over Carl Edwards.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-25-2015)

Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Contender Round:
[after Talladega, race 32 of 36, Chase race 6 of 10]
1) #22-Logano* [6 wins], 3142; +47
2) #19-Edwards[2], 3115 -27; +20
3) #24-Gordon, 3113 -29; +18
4) #41-Busch[2], 3112 -30; +17
5) #2-Keselowski[1], 3111 -31; +16
6) #78-Truex, Jr.[1], 3107 -35; +12
7) #4-Harvick [3], 3101 -41; +6
8) #18-Busch[4], 3098 -44; +3 ahead of 9th
Did not advance to Eliminator round
9) #31-Newman, 3095 -47; -3 out of 8th
10) #11-Hamlin[2], 3090 -52; -8
11) #88-Earnhardt Jr.[2], 3083 -59; -15
12) #20-Kenseth[5], 3054 -88; -44
The order is set by the points standings after the last round.
(ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
*Won all 3 races in the Contender round.
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
(10-25-2015)

Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Eliminator Round:
[after Talladega, race 32 of 36]
1) #22-Joey Logano [6 wins], 4000
2) #99-Carl Edwards [2 wins], 4000
3) #24-Jeff Gordon, 4000
4) #41-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 4000
5) #2-Brad Keselowski [1 win], 4000
6) #78-Martin Truex, Jr. [1 win], 4000
7) #4-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 4000
8) #18-Kyle Busch [4 wins], 4000
Points are reset after each round, for the Eliminator Round it goes to 4000, no points for wins
The order is set by the points standings after the last round.
(ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
(10-25-2015)

Unofficial Top 25 in 2015 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings (not the Chase):
[after Talladega, race 32 of 36]
(using current points system, but not the Chase rules, unofficial)
1) #22-Joey Logano (C1), 1204
2) #4-Kevin Harvick (C8), 1155 -49
3) #2-Brad Keselowski (C5), 1081 -123
4) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 1069 -135
5) #78-Martin Truex Jr. (C6), 1026 -178
6) #20-Matt Kenseth, 1003 -201
7) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 1001 -203
8) #11-Denny Hamlin, 999 -205
9) #41-Kurt Busch (C4), 987 -217
10) #19-Carl Edwards (C2), 973 -231
11) #24-Jeff Gordon (C3), 950 -254
12) #31-Ryan Newman, 932 -272
13) #1-Jamie McMurray, 916 -288
14) #27-Paul Menard, 858 -346
15) #43-Aric Almirola, 849 -355
16) #15-Clint Bowyer, 839 -365
17) #5-Kasey Kahne, 837 -367
18) #16-Greg Biffle, 778 -426
19) #42-Kyle Larson, 777 -427
20) #3-Austin Dillon, 718 -486
21) #18-Kyle Busch (C7), 699 -505
22) #13-Casey Mears, 685 -519
23) #10-Danica Patrick, 661 -543
24) #47-AJ Allmendinger, 653 -551
25) #9-Sam Hornish, Jr., 641 -563
(C# = chase driver and current Chase position)
(EC = chase driver that has been eliminated from the Chase)
(10-25-2015)

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the CampingWorld.com 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway have been made.
Pole sitter #24-Gordon chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #5-Kahne took pit stall 39th, the first stall coming on pit stall with an opening in front of it.
#48-Johnson, who starts 3rd, took the 43rd and final pit stall.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-25-2015)

Allgaier to start from the back after pit road contact in qualifying: The front of #51-Justin Allgaier's car was damaged in a bizarre incident Saturday during qualifying with the driver who will take his ride next season. Clint Bowyer, who will replace Allgaier at HScott Motorsports next year, backed into Allgaier's car on pit road before going on to the track to make his qualifying attempt at Talladega Superspeedway. "I can honestly say I've never experienced anything like that," Allgaier said. Said Bowyer: "I felt terrible. You've got to leave pretty aggressively. As soon as I let the clutch out, it was going the wrong direction. That's the craziest thing I've seen or have had happen in my life. It was in reverse." Allgaier will start at the rear of the field after his crew makes repairs. Allgaier, though, wasn't as worried about where he'll start. Allgaier said some duct work was damaged. "We're having to fit back up the actual aluminum structure that connects the radiator to the front grille, and, obviously, that's a pretty crucial point. I'm not sure it will be 100 percent, but I think it we can probably get it 95 percent back to where it was before. It definitely isn"t ideal by any means."(NBC Sports)(10-25-2015)

Truex, Jr's qualifying time disallowed: #78-Martin Truex Jr.'s time during the first round of single-car qualifying at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday was disallowed after he dipped below the double-yellow line during his lap. His lap of 191.762 mph would have been good for 21st in the starting lineup but instead he will start from the back of the field in 43rd for Sunday's CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega. "The double-yellow line deal, I just didn't know anything about it. So, Cole (Pearn, crew chief) said, 'Sorry, guess I should have told you the change.' Just one of those memos that I didn't get, so a little confused there." NASCAR ruled in July prior to the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway that drivers' qualifying times at superspeedways would be disallowed if they passed below the double-yellow line. However, Daytona's qualifying rainout meant the rule premiered this weekend at Talladega, the next restrictor-plate race on the Sprint Cup schedule. Because of the disqualification, the #78 team will have the last choice for pit stall selection. Nonetheless, the mistake isn't detrimental to the #78 team, who had strategized they would ride in the back from the start. "We kinda planned to ride in the back for the first part anyways, so it makes it a lot easier to get back there," Pearn said in the garage.(NASCAR.com)(10-25-2015)

Richard Petty named Charlotte Thanksgiving parade grand marshal: In just five more weeks, the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade will step off Tryon Street in uptown led by the King of Racing. NASCAR legend Richard Petty will be grand marshal for this year's parade. Joining him will be local celebrities, 10 bands, balloons, floats, live performances and more. A holiday staple since 1947, Charlotte's Thanksgiving parade is billed as one of the oldest and the fourth-largest in the country. An estimated 100,000 spectators lined the streets last Thanksgiving, while another 1.5 million watched on television, parade organizers said. But organizers hope this year's parade may move Charlotte up a notch or two in the rankings. They're combining tradition and technology to try to make the Queen City's 69th Thanksgiving Day Parade the biggest and best yet.(Charlotte Observer)(10-25-2015)

Talladega Race Notes & Facts - Sunday:
· There have been 92 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway, one NSCS event in 1969 and two races per year since 1970.
· Talladega Superspeedway is tied with Michigan International Speedway for holding the ninth most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points paying races (92).
· Richard Childress Racing and Hendrick Motorsports for the most wins at Talladega in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 12.
· Nine different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Talladega; led by Chevrolet with 40 victories; followed by Ford with 21 and Toyota with three.
· There have been eight NSCS races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Talladega Superspeedway: spring of 2005 (188/194), fall of 2005 (188/190), spring of 2007 (188/192), fall of 2008 (188/190) spring of 2010 (188/200), fall of 2012 (188/189), spring of 2013 (188/192) and fall of 2014 (188/194).
· Only two of the 92 races at Talladega Superspeedway have been shortened due to weather conditions: spring of 1987 and fall of 1996.
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway was the (04/17/2011) race won by Jimmie Johnson with a MOV of 0.002 second - the MOV is tied with the 2003 Darlington race as the closest finishes in the NSCS using electronic scoring.
(NASCAR)(10-25-2015)

Race Coverage of the CampingWorld.com 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, 2015.
Television (TV): NBCSN at 2:10 pm/et; Countdown to Green Pre-Race show at 1:30pm/et; green flag approx. 2:30pm/et
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
Scheduled Race Re-Airs: Monday, October 26 at 2:00pm/et on NBCSN

Talladega Sunday Pre-Race Schedule:
-12:30pm: NSCS Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
-1:35pm: NSCS Drivers Introductions
-2:10pm: Presentation of Colors by: Alabama National Guard
-2:10pm: Invocation by: Reverend Mike Jackson, Executive Director, Alabama Raceway Ministries
-2:11pm: National Anthem: 313th United States Army Band, Birmingham, AL
-2:12pm: Fly-By: B-2 Stealth Bomber, 13th Bomb Squadron, 509th Bomb Wing Whiteman AFB, MO
-2:18pm: "Drivers, Start Your Engines" by: Marcus Lemonis, Chairman and CEO, Camping World and Good Sam
-2:30pm: Green Flag - CampingWorld.com 500 (188 Laps, 500 Miles) (TV:NBCSN Radio: MRN/SiriusXM
eastern time (NASCAR.com)

Gordon wins Talladega pole: #24-Jeff Gordon won the Coors Light pole for the CampingWorld.com 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway with speed of 194.500mph for his 4th pole of 2015, 5th at Talladega and 81st of his career.
#5-Kahne is on the outside pole followed by #48-Johnson, #20-Kenseth, #88-Earnhardt, Jr, #6-Bayne, #4-Harvick, #11-Hamlin, #21-Blaney, #22-Logano, #2-Keselowski, and #14-Stewart.
#78-Truex, Jr will start 43rd after having his time disallowed for going below the yellow line on his qualifying attempt.
Missing the race was: #23-Burton & #46-Annett.
See the starting lineup, qualifying results round-by-round, qualifying order on Jayski.com's Talladega Qualifying Page.(10-24-2015)

Where the 2015 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers will start at Talladega:
[listed by current driver points position]
1) #22-Joey Logano, 10th
2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 8th
3) #41-Kurt Busch, 14th
4) #19-Carl Edwards, 15th
5) #4-Kevin Harvick, 7th
6) #24-Jeff Gordon, 1st, POLE
7) #2-Brad Keselowski, 11th
8) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 43rd
9) #18-Kyle Busch, 16th
10) #31-Ryan Newman, 18th
11) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 5th
12) #20-Matt Kenseth, 4th
(10-24-2015)

Qualifying Fast Facts - Talladega:
Jeff Gordon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 47th Annual campingworld.com 500 with a lap of 49.234 seconds, 194.500 mph.
This is his 81st pole in 793 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his fourth pole and 18th top-10 start in 2015.
This is his fifth pole in 46 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Kasey Kahne (second) posted his 13th top-10 start of 2015 and his seventh in 24 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Jimmie Johnson (third) posted his 18th top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his 17th in 32 races this season.
Matt DiBenedetto (36th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(10-24-2015)

First Round of Qualifying for the CampingWorld.com 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over, after each car takes a lap.
#24-Gordon 194.255
#5-Kahne 194.050
#20-Kenseth 193.431
#48-Johnson 193.431
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. 193.392
the rest of the top 12: 21 2 22 11 4 6 14;
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 2:27 41 19 18 17 31 16 10 9 55 42 1 43 3 95 13 15 26 47 62 98 35 32 83 7 38 51 34 23 46 40 33 78.
Drivers who will miss the race: #23-Burton & #46-Annett.
(10-24-2015)

Stewart-Haas cars have to make changes after inspection: The Sprint Cup teams of Stewart-Haas Racing - those of drivers #4-Kevin Harvick, #41-Kurt Busch, #14-Tony Stewart and #10-Danica Patrick - spent the better part of two hours on Saturday having to make changes to their cars after issues were found during pre-qualifying inspection. During the inspection process at Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR officials determined the assembly of the radiator inlet duct panels on all four cars did not conform to series rules. NASCAR required each team to replace the assembly - not an easy process since it involves removing the radiators from the cars. A NASCAR spokesperson said any additional penalties for the infraction would be announced early next week.
In addition, the #34 Ford of Front Row Motorsports and driver Josh Wise was required to change out its front splitter during the inspection process.(Motorsport)(10-24-2015)

Kenseth still not happy with Logano: After late contact from #22-Joey Logano knocked #20-Matt Kenseth out of the lead at Kansas, causing him to finish 14th, Kenseth said Logano had wrecked him on purpose. He as asked about the incident again on Friday at Talladega:
Have you talked to Joey Logano?
Kenseth: "No. Um, no. Yeah, I haven't heard from him (Joey Logano)."
Is there anything you would do differently last week in Kansas?
Kenseth: "Well, I wouldn't have done anything differently because I didn't do anything wrong. I did everything I was supposed to do. I tried to get away. He (Joey Logano) drove the car in the wall himself twice. I don't know how you can possibly either, 'A,' block someone or put somebody in the wall when they're not up alongside you - it's pretty talented if you can do that when somebody's four feet behind you, so, no, I did everything I could to win the race. That's the way I'd race to win any race is to race hard as you can and do whatever you can, be clean about it and go as fast as I could go and that's all I was doing. I got hit from behind. I couldn't do anything about that. I couldn't change that."
Would you feel better if Joey Logano said he wrecked you intentionally to win?
Kenseth: "Yeah, some day he might mature a little bit, but, first of all, he should have stopped running his mouth, 'A,' and, number two, he's lying when he said he didn't do it on purpose because he lifted your tires off the ground offset to the left and he's too good a race car driver to do that by accident."
(Toyota Racing)(10-24-2015)

Kansas TV Ratings UPDATE: Back on broadcast television, NASCAR's Chase For the Cup had a modest improvement in the metered markets. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Kansas, the fifth race in the Chase For the Cup, drew a 2.2 overnight rating on NBC Sunday afternoon - up 10% from last year (2.0) and down a tick from 2013 (2.3), both of which aired on ESPN. The race drew a 2.6 overnight when it last aired on broadcast in 2009, and a 3.4 when it last aired on NBC in 2006. The 2.2 is the lowest ever for a Chase For the Cup race on broadcast television, and the lowest for any Sprint Cup race on broadcast since at least 2004. In both cases, the previous mark was a 2.5 for the 2009 New Hampshire race on ABC. Every other race on broadcast this season has earned at least a 2.6 overnight. Having said that, the 2.2 is still better than what NASCAR has been pulling on cable. It ranks as the highest overnight of this year's Chase For the Cup, topping the previous mark of 1.8 for Chicago and Dover, and tops every NASCAR race on cable since mid-August - when Michigan drew a 2.4 on NBCSN. In addition, Sunday's race was the first since Darlington - which also aired on broadcast - to have a year-over-year increase.(Sports Media Watch)(10-20-2015)
UPDATE: A move from cable to broadcast gave NASCAR a much needed boost in the ratings, but the numbers were still low historically. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Kansas, the fifth race in the Chase For the Cup, earned a 2.5 final rating and 4.0 million viewers on NBC last Sunday - up 8% in ratings and 12% in viewership from last year (2.3, 3.6M) but down 5% and 3%, respectively, from 2013 (2.6, 4.2M), both of which aired on ESPN. The last time the race aired on broadcast, 2009, it had a 3.2 and 5.3 million on ABC. The last time it aired on NBC, 2006, it had a 4.0 and 6.3 million. Joey Logano's win ranks as the highest rated and most-watched Chase For the Cup telecast this year, easily topping the previous highs of 1.9 and 3.2 million. It also ranks as the first NASCAR race since Darlington, which also aired on NBC, to have an increase in ratings or viewership. With that said, the race also ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched Chase For the Cup telecast ever on broadcast television -- falling below the previous mark of 2.9 and 4.7 million for the 2009 Martinsville race on ABC. Overall, the 2.5 rating is the lowest for any Sprint Cup race on broadcast since at least the 2003 season.(Sports Media Watch)(10-24-2015)

Petty's Garage Announces Production of Limited Number 2016 GT Mustangs: Featuring up to 727 horsepower, the new Petty's Garage 2016 Mustang GT King edition means that Ford's pony will be hell for some cats. Petty's Garage - the in-house speed shop of NASCAR legend Richard "The King" Petty - returns with a limited number of highly modified Mustang GTs built to the specifications of The King himself. "I've always liked the look of the Mustang, and the 2016 model gives us a great base car to work with," said Richard Petty. "These new King edition Mustangs are pretty much the way I'd build my own. They are great fun to drive, and have a signature single exhaust. "With the new paint on the Premier edition," he added, "that's how you know we built it. They look pretty sharp." The modified Mustang GT will come in three editions with small production numbers - 243 King models, 43 King Premier and 14 King Premier convertibles. Customers can order the cars through their local Ford dealership. Starting suggested retail prices are $67,495 for the King edition and $90,495 for King Premier. More details and available options can be found at the Petty's Garage website.(Richard Petty Motorsports)(10-24-2015)

Talladega Pole Notes & Facts - Saturday:
· Bobby Isaac won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Talladega in 1969 with a speed of 199.466 mph. Isaac won the first three poles at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.
· 38 drivers have Coors Light poles at Talladega, led by Bill Elliott with eight. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with four.
· 10 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Talladega. Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive poles at Talladega with six (1985 - 1987).
· Brian Scott (05/04/2014), David Gilliland (10/08/2006) and Travis Kvapil (10/05/2008) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Talladega.
· 44 different drivers have won at Talladega Superspeedway, led by Dale Earnhardt with 10. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with six.
· 13 of the 92 (14.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the Coors Light pole. Jeff Gordon (2007) is the only active driver to be able to accomplish the feat.
· The outside front row (second-place) starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (20) than any other starting position at Talladega.
· 33 of the 92 (35.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the front row: 13 from the pole and 20 from second-place.
· 64 of the 92 (69.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Talladega have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· 8 of the 92 (8.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Talladega was 36th, by Jeff Gordon in the spring of 2000.
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway five times; most recently fall of 2013.
(NASCAR)(10-24-2015)

Peters wins Talladega: #17-Timothy Peters won the Fred's 250 at the Talladega Superpeedway on Saturday. He started from the pole and took the lead for the final time under the one attempt at a green-white-checkered flag finish. The race ended under caution due to a two-truck wreck coming to the white flag. #33-Brandon Jones finished second followed by: #15-Mason Mingus, #4-Erik Jones, #19-Tyler Reddick, #13-Cameron Hayley, #98-Johnny Sauter, #45-Chris Fontaine, #16-Chad Boat, and #02-Tyler Young.
There were 6 caution flags for 25 laps and 15 lead changes among 9 leaders.
Complete results are on the Talladega race results page (pdf). (10-24-2015)

Talladega Race Fast Facts:
Timothy Peters won the 10th Annual fred's 250, his ninth victory in 203 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first victory and 12th top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his second victory and fourth top-10 finish in seven races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Brandon Jones (second) posted his first top-10 finish in his first start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his sixth top-10 finish in 2015.
Mason Mingus (third) posted his first top-10 finish in three races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Brandon Jones (second) was the highest finishing rookie.
Erik Jones # leads the point standings by 18 points over Tyler Reddick.
Timothy Peters is the third driver in series history to win consecutive races at Talladega Superspeedway joining Todd Bodine (2007, 2008) and Kyle Busch (2009, 2010).
(NASCAR Statistics) (10-24-2015)

Driver standings following Talladega:
1) #4-Erik Jones, 742
2) #19-Tyler Reddick, 724, -18
3) #88-Matt Crafton, 719, -23
4) #98-Johnny Sauter, 687, -55
5) #17-Timothy Peters, 642, -100
6) #13-Cameron Hayley, 622, -120
7) #14-Daniel Hemric, 612, -130
8) #05-John Wes Townley, 594, -148
9) #11-Ben Kennedy, 565, -177
10) #23-Spencer Gallagher, 559, -183
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(10-24-2015)

Owner Standings following Talladega are posted (pdf).(10-24-2015)

Peters on pole at Talladega: #17-Timothy Peters will start from the pole for the Fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. He ran a fast lap at 178.304mph. #05-John Wes Townley will start second. #4-Erik Jones, #14-Daniel Hemric, #11-Ben Kennedy, #51-Matt Tifft, #88-Matt Crafton, #98-Johnny Sauter, #23-Spencer Gallagher and #54-Christopher Bell close out the top-10.
#28-Andy Seuss and #50-Ryan Ellis did not qualify.
See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(10-24-2015)

Talladega Qualifying Notes:
Timothy Peters won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 10th Annual fred's 250 with a lap of 53.706 seconds, 178.304 mph.
This is his seventh pole in 203 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and ninth top-10 start in 2015.
This is his first pole in seven races at Talladega Superspeedway.
John Wes Townley (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2015 and his third in five races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Erik Jones (third) posted his second top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his 17th in 19 races this season.
Erik Jones (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics) (10-24-2015)

B.R.A.K.E.S. partners with Hill for Talladega: Empire Racing Group's Ford F-150 will carry the message of B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) on track at the Fred's 250 Presented By Coca-Cola race for NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series. B.R.A.K.E.S. was founded by Top Fuel racer Doug Herbert after his two sons were killed in a tragic crash. The schools teach teen drivers how to cope with dropping wheels off the edge of a road; managing anti-lock brake systems; emergency lane changes; skid recovery; the dangers of distracted driving and more. The charity has taught over 15,000 students since its founding in 2008 as a 501(c)3 organization. Training takes place at sites all across America, from zMAX Dragway to Pomona, CA's LA County Fairplex and the NCSHP training center in Raleigh, NC. Scools have even been held in Juneau, Alaska. Instructors are selected from an elite cadre of driving experts, including performance driving instructors, law enforcement instructors and officers, and active and retired amateur and professional racers. Austin Hill drove the #82 truck to second in the day's second practice session, just three thousandths of a second behind Jennifer Jo Cobb's session-leading lap. For more information on B.R.A.KE.S. and how to send your teen to the school, see their web site at www.putonthebrakes.org.(B.R.A.K.E.S.)(10-24-2015)

Final practice: for the CampingWorld.com 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over. After 55 scheduled minutes, top five, slowest and notes:
#2-Keselowski 196.423
#21-Blaney 196.342
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. 194.721
#14-Stewart 194.603
#5-Kahne 194.161
slowest: #33-Kvapil 188.333 & #46-Annett 188.115. Only 30 drivers practiced.
most laps run: #14-Steart, 25 laps
note: Qualifying will be Saturday at 4:15pm/et on NBCSN.
See fastest speeds, lap run, best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Talladega practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-23-2015)

Qualifying Order for the CampingWorld.com 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is posted. 45 cars/drivers are listed.
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #33-Kvapil.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #16-Biffle.
Qualifying order was set by first practice speed, with the slowest driver going out first and the fastest driver out last.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com's Talladega Qualifying Page.(10-23-2015)

First Friday practice: for the CampingWorld.com 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over. After 55 scheduled minutes, top five, slowest and notes:
#16-Biffle 201.189
#10-Patrick 200.624
#51-Allgaier 200.574
#15-Bowyer 200.393
#5-Kahne 200.372
slowest: #32-Labonte 189.204 & #33-Kvapil 189.133.
most laps run: #20-Kenseth, 35; #46-Annett, 34
note: Qualifying will be Saturday at 4:15pm/et on NBCSN. The qualifying order will be set based on speeds from this practice. The slowest driver will go out first in qualifying; the fastest will go out last.
See fastest speeds, lap run, best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Talladega practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-23-2015)

Joey Gase back in the #32 at Phoenix: Image Space Incorporated (ISI) has announced its sponsorship of the #32 Ford Fusion with racer Joey Gase for the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500k NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. Gase, 22, has won several track championships at short tracks in the midwestern United States. He currently drives full-time in the #52 Chevy Camaro for Jimmy Means Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and also drives the #32 Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series on a part time basis. Available to retail customers at the rFactor.net Web site, rFactor 2 is a racing simulation for PC that creates a truly dynamic racing environment for the first time. This puts you, the driver, into a true simulation of racing, instead of just an advanced physics demo; Changing track grip, tires, weather and lighting make rFactor 2 a true challenge to any sim racer. rFactor 2 are teaming up with Joey and Go Green Racing not just to promote their new simulation, but to also help promote something that is very close to Joey's heart; organ, eye, and tissue donation. The #32 rFactor 2 car will also be sporting the Donate Life Arizona logo on the bumper.(Joey Gase Racing)(10-23-2015)

Some teams using shorter valve stems: Some Sprint Cup Series teams began using shorter valve stems in their tires two weeks ago at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a move that they hope will lessen the likelihood of suffering a flat tire caused by contact with lug nuts. There have been several instances of flat tires shortly after pit stops this year, and at least one crew chief has said lug nuts hitting the valve stems during tire changes have been the culprit. The shorter stems, it is believed, are less likely to be struck in the rush of a pit stop. "It's not a new design; we just shortened it as much as we can to allow the same core to be inside the valve stem," Greg Stucker, Director of Race Tire Sales for Goodyear, said. "It just gets it out of the way a little bit more. It's not going to be a fix; but that's all we can do right now. It's a reaction to the people wanting us to do something so we did it as quickly as we could."(NASCAR.com)(10-23-2015)

Alabama houndstooth for the #42 at Talladega: It's another race weekend and another plaid-inspired paint scheme for the #42 Target team. This weekend at Talladega, the team will be decked out in the unofficial "third color" of the Alabama Crimson Tide, houndstooth. Although the red pattern might not be as familiar as the classic black and white worn by Crimson Tide fans, Larson's #42 Chevy nevertheless conjures up images of the classic fedora worn by legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant. The coach first wore a houndstooth hat after the then owner of the New York Jets gave it to him in an attempt to garner his friendship and in turn help him sway Joe Namath to join the Jets, which he did. The pattern has also been featured in recent Target television ads, along with several hounds, promoting the current in store plaid takeover this fall.(Chip Ganassi Racing), see an image of the car on the #42 team paint schemes page.(10-23-2015)

Ty Dillon will return to the #33 at Homestead: Richard Childress Racing announced that Pfizer Inc., a premier innovative biopharmaceutical company, will be the primary sponsor of Ty Dillon for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, November 22, 2015. Nexium 24HR, the over-the-counter heartburn medication, will be featured on the #33 Chevy SS Circle Sport Racing entry. Dillon debuted the purple and yellow Nexium 24HR paint scheme earlier this season at Michigan International Speedway. Nexium 24HR, The Purple Pill you know and trust, is available without a prescription for frequent heartburn.(Richard Childress Racing), see an image of the car on the #33 team paint schemes page.(10-23-2015)

Auto-Owners Insurance returns to the #51: Allgaier will be sporting the blue and white colors of Auto-Owners Insurance (AOI) this weekend at TSS. This weekend's race marks AOI's second of three primary races this season. AOI's final primary race in 2015 is next weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Allgaier's best career NSCS finish of eighth came while piloting the No. 51 AOI Chevy at Bristol Motor Speedway earlier this season. The Alabama-based Milstead Insurance Agency will be on the No. 51's TV panel to represent an independent Auto-Owners Insurance agency.(HScott Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #51 team paint schemes page.(10-23-2015)

Different look for #46 at Dega: The biggest racetrack on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series looms for Michael Annett and his #46 Pilot Flying J Chevy team, as they take on Alabama's Talladega Superspeedway. PJ Fresh Pizza, available at more than 250 Pilot and Flying J Travel Centers across North America, will be featured on Annett's #46 Pilot Flying J Chevy this weekend.(HScott Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #46 team paint schemes page.(10-23-2015)

Talladega Driver Notes & Facts - Friday:
· 441 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega; 304 in more than one.
· Dave Marcis and Terry Labonte lead the series in starts at Talladega with 61 each. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 45 starts; followed by Tony Stewart with 32.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega with a 10.0.
· Jamie McMurray (10/06/2002) made his series debut at Talladega Superspeedway.
· 2012 series champion Brad Keselowski (04/26/2009) and Brian Vickers (10/08/2006) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins at Talladega.
· Nine drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Talladega; Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series in consecutive wins at Talladega after posting four straight from the fall of 2001 - 2003.
· Brad Keselowski is the only active series driver to win at Talladega in his first appearance.
· Matt Kenseth competed at Talladega Superspeedway 25 times before winning the fall of 2012; the longest span of any the 12 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
· Matt Kenseth (25), Tony Stewart (19), Kevin Harvick (18), and David Ragan (12) all made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Talladega.
· Kurt Busch leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Talladega without visiting Victory Lane at 29; followed by Ryan Newman with 27.
· Buddy Baker and Tony Stewart are tied for the series' most runner-up finishes at Talladega with six each.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-five finishes at Talladega with 23. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 15.
· Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-10 finishes at Talladega with 27. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 19.
· Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 15.065.
· Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Talladega with 899 laps led in 31 starts.
· Three female drivers have competed at Talladega in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Patty Moise and Danica Patrick.
(NASCAR)(10-23-2015)

Gerhart returns to trucks after nearly 20 year absence:Bobby Gerhart will return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series when he teams with long-time sponsor Lucas Oil to promote breast cancer awareness for the event at Talladega Superspeedway on October 24th. Bobby Gerhart will drive the #36 Lucas Oil Chevy Silverado in the Fred's 250 presented by Coca-Cola. Bobby Gerhart certainly does know his way around Talladega Superspeedway. He won the ARCA race there in 2001. He could be referred to as a superspeedway expert, having also recorded 8 wins at Daytona. Bobby will be making his first start in the Camping World Truck Series since 1996, when he raced at New Hampshire, Watkins Glen and Flemington Speedways, with a best finish of 15th. The #36 Silverado will sport a pink and black paint scheme. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and BGR would like to do their part to help support the cause.(See an image of the truck on the #36 Team Paint Schemes Page)(Bobby Gerhart Racing)(10-22-2015)

Cobb fastest in final practice: #10-Jennifer Jo Cobb was fastest in final practice for the Fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 182.965 mph. She was followed by # 82-Austin Hill, #30-Terry Jones, #36-Bobby Gerhart, #98-Johnny Sauter, #13-Cameron Hayley, #07-Ray Black, Jr., #02-Tyler Young, #45-Chris Fontaine, #14-Daniel Hemric. 28 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Talladega practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-24-2015)

Nemechek fastest in first practice: #8-Joe Nemechek was fastest during opening practice at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 191.608 mph. #05-John Wes Townley was second, followed by #17-Timothy Peters, #4-Erik Jones, #11-Ben Kennedy, #88-Matt Crafton, #98-Johnny Sauter, #19-Tyler Reddick, #54-Christopher Bell, and #14-Daniel Hemric. 34 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Talladega practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-24-2015)

Lira Motorsports to enter two trucks in Homestead: The Camping World Truck Series will get a boost in its entry list count at Homestead Miami Speedway in November, with an ARCA Racing Series team sending two entries to attempt the race. Lira Motorsports, a race-winning ARCA team, will enter two trucks in the Ford EcoBoost 200 on Nov. 20. Kyle Weatherman and David Levine will pilot the yet-to-be numbered entries, NASCAR RaceHub reported. Both drivers raced for Rookie of the Year honors in ARCA this season, with Weatherman coming out on top in the rookie points battle. He will be honored as the 2015 ARCA Rookie of the Year and the Calpyso Lemonade Short Track Challenge champion in December on the strength of his 10 top 5 finishes and 13 top 10 finishes for Cunningham Motorsports. He also won three poles and the race at New Jersey Motorsports Park in May. Weatherman finished tenth in the standings, but only ran 15 of the 20 races because he was ineligible to run at superspeedways due to age early in the season (ARCA rules mandate a minimum age of 18 to race at superspeedways and Weatherman did not turn 18 until late August). Levine, a former competitor in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, finished fifth in ARCA points, with one top 5 and 11 top 10 finishes with Lira Motorsports. Following their debuts, both drivers will look to solidify their 2016 schedules.(Frontstretch.com)(10-23-2015)

B-2 Stealth Bomber to do flyover at Talladega: Talladega Superspeedway is known as the biggest and baddest race track on the planet. The U.S. Air Force B-2 Stealth Bomber may not be the biggest, but it is no doubt the baddest aircraft that one will ever see. The two will come together Sunday for the most anticipated NASCAR Sprint Cup race of 2015 - the CampingWorld.com 500. The B-2 Stealth, which sports an incredible 172-foot wingspan, will be part of the pre-race ceremonies for the CampingWorld.com 500, providing an unforgettable flyover at the end of the National Anthem, which will be performed by the 313th United States Army Band. The flyover will take place just moments before the drop of the green flag for the CampingWorld.com 500, the final race of the Contender Round in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in which the field of 12 eligible drivers for the title will be trimmed to eight at the checkered flag. The pilots and ground crew with the B-2 Stealth Bomber are from the 13th Bomb Squadron, one of the oldest units in the United States Air Force, under the 509th Bomb Wing in Whiteman Air Force Base, MO - the only location in the world with B-2 Stealth Bombers. The 509th Bomb Wing led the way for America's first military response after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. in 2001. It was the first U.S. aircraft to enter Afghan airspace and flew roundtrip from Missouri, logging combat missions in excess of 40 hours - the longest on record. It paved the way for other coalition aircraft to engage Taliban and Al Queda forces.(TSS)(10-23-2015)

Allgaier to JR Motorsports, replacing Regan Smith? Justin Allgaier is the leading candidate to replace Regan Smith in an Xfinity Series ride at JR Motorsports in 2016, Motorsport.com has learned. Allgaier currently drives the #51 Brandt Chevy for HScott Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series. However, the team announced last month Clint Bowyer will take over the ride for 2016. Allgaier would not confirm he is the top prospect for the JRM job, but told Motorsport.com he is still working on his program for next year.(Motorsport)(10-22-2015)

Jeb Burton unsure of 2016 plans: #23-Jeb Burton is unsure if he will be returning to BK Racing in 2016. "I'm not sure what my future holds right now, to tell you the truth," he said. "Hopefully, I'll be in a race car somewhere." Whether it's a ride in the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series or Camping World Truck Series, Burton will consider rides in any of the top-three series. "I'm open to anything, whatever comes my way," he said. "I'll see what the best opportunity is and go do it."(Racing Experts)(10-22-2015)

Warnings issued after Kansas: NASCAR handed out warnings to teams Wednesday afternoon for issues discovered in technical inspection last weekend at Kansas Speedway, where the Sprint Cup Series competed in Race #2 of three in the Chase Contender Round. Of the four teams issued a warning, only one -- the Hendrick Motorsports team of driver #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- is in the Chase. Earnhardt's #88 group received its warning for twice failing pre-race inspection for Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400. The non-Chase team of driver #7-Alex Bowman was given a warning for likewise flunking pre-race inspection twice. The #83 team of driver Matt DiBenedetto, meanwhile, was given a warning for failing pre-qualifying inspection twice at Kansas. The #21 Wood Brothers Racing team of part-time Sprint Cup driver Ryan Blaney was hit with a warning for failing to comply with Section 10.7.2.b of the NASCAR rulebook. This is the second consecutive week that NASCAR has issued a written warning to the teams of Earnhardt and Blaney.(Fox Sports)(10-22-2015)

Overture joins BK Racing at Talladega: BK Racing welcomes Overture as the primary sponsor of the #23 Toyota Camry with Jeb Burton in the weekend's CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Overture, one of the largest privately-held promotional product agencies, offers thousands of advertising specialities and promotional items from both domestic and international markets. What began as a two-person agency in 2001, has evolved to one of the leaders in their category with over 125 employees and is a certified women-owned business (WBE). Their management team is compromised of professionals with more than 30 years of experience in the industry.(BK Racing), see an image of the car on the #23 team paint schemes page.(10-22-2015)

Kurt Busch has no plans to run Indy 500 again: Last year, #41-Kurt Busch completed one of the most impressive feats in recent auto racing history when he finished sixth in the Indianapolis 500. Not only was it Busch's first Indy 500, it was his first open-wheel race of any kind and he won Rookie of the Year honors after a tremendous drive against top-notch competition. Just don't expect him back at the 500 anytime soon.
"I don't know what the future will bring outside the NASCAR Sprint Cup with Monster, but with this synergy, it's so powerful, I don't see a need to go back and run Indy, unless Monster wanted to go do something such as that," Busch told FOXSports.com. Busch said there are practical obstacles to an Indy return. Andretti Autosport, the team he drove for at Indy in 2014, is a Honda team. Stewart-Haas Racing is a Chevrolet team and Chevrolet is very active in the Verizon IndyCar Series. "We had an addendum in our contract before, in case something swapped, but that was 2014," Busch said. "We've yet to work on any of those details, because we want to support everybody the proper way. The No. 1 focus is Stewart-Haas. No. 2 is Haas Automation and Monster Energy. No. 3 is Chevrolet. And so we want to respect everybody's agenda."(Fox Sports)(10-22-2015)

Earnhardt Jr. looking to tie record at Talladega: When #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes the green flag in the CampingWorld.com 500 on Sunday, Oct. 25, he'll not only be looking to sweep into Victory Lane at the Talladega Superspeedway for the second time this season, he'll also be trying to write his name into the track record book in a special way alongside his Dad - Dale Earnhardt Sr. - and Pete Hamilton. With a win, Earnhardt Jr. would join the duo as the only drivers in NASCAR history to win three of the four races run at NASCAR's "Super" superspeedways - Talladega and the Daytona International Speedway - in a single season. Earnhardt Jr. finished third in the season-opening Daytona 500, but won the GEICO 500 at Talladega in May after leading 67 of 188 laps and the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July to set up his shot at racing history. He'd love nothing more than to join the elite company of his father (accomplished feat in 1990), who was driving for Richard Childress Racing, and Hamilton (1970), who was driving for Petty Enterprises.
Hamilton and Earnhardt Sr. both came close to achieving NASCAR's version of a Grand Slam only to have strange strokes of misfortune cause them to come up just short. In 1970, Hamilton won the Daytona 500, swept the two races at Talladega and had a competitive car in the early going in the July 4th Firecracker 400 at Daytona before a strip of insulation broke loose and went down the carburetor, choking the life from the engine and putting him out of the race after only 46 laps. Twenty years later, Earnhardt Sr. appeared well on his way to winning his first Daytona 500 when he, while leading, ran over some debris and cut a tire going into Turn 3 on the last lap and Derrike Cope sailed by for the victory. Earnhardt Sr. went on to sweep the two Talladega races and the July race in Daytona in 1990 to come oh-so-close to perfection.
Earnhardt Jr. holds the mark for consecutive victories at NASCAR's biggest, baddest track with wins in four straight races from 2001 to 2003, including a sweep of both races in 2002. He has six wins at the track in 31 career starts and has recorded 11 top-five finishes and 15 top-ten finishes. The six wins tie him with Jeff Gordon for second on Talladega's all-time victory list behind only Earnhardt Sr. (10).(TSS)(10-22-2015)

Carsforsale.com returns to the #40 at Dega: Carsforsale.com, one of the Internet's largest online automotive inventory websites, will make its eighth appearance of the season with driver Landon Cassill and Hillman Racing at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series CampingWorld.com 500 on October 25, 2015. "We finished fourth last fall at Talladega - which was a career-best for myself and Hillman Racing - and we were able to carry that momentum into the off-season, so we're looking for another strong run this weekend," said Landon Cassill. "Carsforsale.com is a great partner of Hillman Racing and we definitely want to put on a good show for them in their last race of the season." With a dealership network of over 20,000 nationwide, Carsforsale.com provides consumers with an efficient platform for researching and buying their next vehicle. The Carsforsale.com product suite also provides dealerships with effective marketing solutions including dealer websites, lead and data management, and reporting.(Hillman Racing)(10-22-2015)

Talladega Track Notes & History - Thursday:
· Construction began on what was then known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 23, 1968.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on Sept. 14, 1969 - won by Richard Brickhouse.
· The name changed to Talladega Superspeedway in 1989.
· Fourth repaving completed on Sept. 19, 2006.
(NASCAR)(10-22-2015)

Thelma Kulwicki mourned by Racers and Friends: Thelma Kulwicki was laid to rest on October 19, 2015 at St. Adalbert's Cemetery in Milwaukee, WS. Fittingly, her grave is directly beside husband Gerald's, who passed away in 2008. A stone's throw across the massive neatly-kept graveyard lays the final resting place of her stepson Alan, the 1992 NASCAR Champion. Mrs. Kulwicki passed away peacefully at her Milwaukee home last Tuesday evening (Oct 13). "She was so special and never realized she meant so much to so many people," said Julie Horanski, who delivered the opening remarks at Mrs. Kulwicki's memorial service on Monday at St. Matthias Catholic Church. Horanski dated Alan and accompanied him to the 1992 NASCAR Awards Banquet in New York. She remained a close family friend after Alan's untimely death in a plane crash on April 1, 1993. Mrs. Kulwicki's love for automobile racing extended far beyond just being a fan who attended races with her husband to cheer her stepson on. Her charitable endeavors to the sport over the years have included the establishment of engineering scholarships at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. In 2014, Mrs. Kulwicki spearheaded the creation of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program. The KDDP was established for the purpose of helping worthy drivers toward reaching their dreams, while at the same time keeping Alan's memory and legacy alive. During the 2015 racing season, seven young competitors from Maine to California are benefiting from the program and proudly carrying the Kulwicki colors on their race cars and driver uniforms.(KDDP / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(10-22-2015)

Biagi DenBeste adds race for Truex: Ryan Truex will pilot the #98 Carrol Shelby Engine Co. Ford Mustang for Biagi DenBeste Racing at Texas Motor Speedway. Truex raced with the NASCAR XFINITY team at Richmond, Charlotte and Kentucky earlier this year. The addition allows the team another opportunity to develop their intermediate track program. With the majority of the XFINITY Series schedule comprised of mile-and-a-half tracks, the #98 Ford team looks to add to their notebook in preparation for the 2016 season. "It feels great to have another race added to my schedule," says Truex. "I feel like we have some momentum after Charlotte, and I really enjoy working with Jon and the guys. Texas is a mile-and-a-half track that shares some similarities with Charlotte. I know the feel that we need in our Mustang to get a Top-10 run to close out the year. I really appreciate everyone at Biagi DenBeste Racing for giving me another chance to run this year." In Truex's three starts this season, he has one Top-20 finish and two DNFs, but the results don't tell the entire story. In both races with DNFs, Truex was running in the Top-10 when bad luck found the #98 Ford Mustang.(Richard Petty Motorsports)(10-22-2015)

Charlotte Penalty UPDATE: NASCAR member Chicago Paskiecz has been penalized for infractions that occurred during last weekend's events at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This is a behavioral penalty (Sections 12.1 and 12.8 of the NASCAR rule book) and Paskiecz has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR.(NASCAR)(10-14-2015)
UPDATE: Paskiecz has appealed the suspension and supposedly the appeal is scheduled for November 4, 2015.(10-22-2015)

Talladega sponsor for Cobb: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver and team owner, Jennifer Jo Cobb, will have a new sponsor for Talladega and one she endorses whole heartily. Vapor Station and WestSideVapor.com are an Ohio-based company that offers online and in-store E-Vapor alternative to help smokers kick the habit of cigarette smoking. The fast growing company offers a variety of flavorful vaporizing liquids based on vegetable glycol and cigarette look-alike cartridges for those who truly want to quit smoking. Vapor Station and WestSideVapor.com will be the co-primary sponsor on the #10 Silverado for the Fred's 250 presented by Coca-Cola at the Talladega Superspeedway this Saturday and an associate sponsor for the remainder of the season. Sharing the top sponsorship billing for Cobb's truck is returning sponsor, VG Pride Group, an oil drilling consultant company from Hammond, Louisiana. VG Pride Group has been an avid supporter of Driven2Honor, Cobb's not-for-profit organization to honor female military members. Cobb's dad, Joe, a racing veteran, underwent a quintuple by-pass heart surgery just over six weeks ago. Doctors attribute much of his heart issues to his smoking habit. "My dad is actually very lucky he did not die and it is time for him to quit smoking for good," said Cobb. "The Westside Vapor folks reached out to my dad and gave him their product as an alternative to quit. I've been trying to get my dad to quit for years, but it's so difficult for him and millions of others. I encourage any smoker to please quit, but as an alternative, visit www.westsidevapor.com online or on Facebook. My dad is willing to put in the effort with his new Vapor Station e-cigarette and that makes me happy. I'd like to keep him around for years to come. My mom and he have become very important to my racing success so our family is grateful to Westside Vapor for this alternative."(Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing)(10-22-2015)

Barrett debuts as film director and in trucks: With Halloween just a week away when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) takes center stage at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway this Saturday, October 24, it wouldn't be out of character to see the theme of traditional costumes to run amuck at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. But, for Stanton Barrett, he's bringing his own themed ensemble for the fred's 250 fueled by Coca-Cola, specially designed vehicle with scenes printed on the truck and Stanton hanging off the side of a helicopter filming. Still receiving praise for his recent directorial debut, Navy SEALs vs. Zombies, Stanton Barrett in his #91 navysealsvszombies.com Chevy Silverado is looking to pull off a spooktactular performance in his first career series start. And while Barrett has finessed a solid NASCAR schedule throughout the years and a successful career in Hollywood, Barrett returns to Talladega Boulevard for the first time in 10 years. Available now on Blu-ray, DVD at most major retailers and On Demand or download from digital providers, Navy Seals vs Zombies will serve as the primary sponsor along with Anchor Bay and BarCode Entertainment. The film was released on Blue Ray, DVD and On Demand on Tuesday, October 6 from Anchor Bay Entertainment and is directed by Barrett in his directorial debut. His goal this weekend is to raise $25,000 for the Vital Warrior charity. Vital warrior was founded by former Navy Seal Mikal Vega who stared in the movie Navy Seals vs. Zombies.(See an image of the truck on the #91 Team Paint Schemes Page)(Stanton Barrett Motorsports)(10-22-2015)

Brian Stann named honorary pace car driver at Phoenix: The honorary pace car driver for the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 has no shortage of experience in both highly competitive and high-pressure situations. Brian Stann, President and CEO of Hire Heroes USA, is a decorated Marine Corps veteran and a former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion and top UFC Middleweight. He will lead the field to the green flag at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, November 15, 2015. Stann's appearance at PIR is the result of a partnership between PIR and Niner Sports & Entertainment. Stann played middle linebacker for the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Economics in 2003. He served two deployments with 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third highest award for valor, for his actions near the Al-Romana Bridge during Operation MATADOR in May 2005. Stann's mixed martial arts fighting career began in 2003 in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP), where he earned black belt certification as an Instructor Trainer. He began fighting professionally in 2006, while on active duty in the Marine Corps. In 2008, he defeated Doug Marshall to become the WEC Light Heavyweight champion, and he debuted in the UFC in 2009. Stann retired from UFC fighting in 2013. Today, he is a nationally-recognized fight analyst and speaker, while also leading Hire Heroes USA, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers U.S. military members, veterans and their spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce. Recognized as a best-in-class veteran service organization by the USO, Call of Duty Endowment, and the George W. Bush Institute, Hire Heroes USA has confirmed more than 60 clients hired each week in 2015, a conversion rate of 45% from helped to hired.(PIR)(10-22-2015)

Peak and BlueDEF sponsoring Bowyer for two races in 2016: HScott Motorsports announced it has reached an agreement with Old World Industries (OWI) to sponsor Clint Bowyer's Chevy during the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season with brands PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil and BlueDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid. The OWI brands will be featured as primary sponsor at Watkins Glen International and Chicagoland Speedway, and as an associate sponsor for all remaining races during 2016. Bowyer and PEAK have been in partnership since 2012, a relationship which includes Clint Bowyer Racing's dirt track racing teams. The PEAK Motor Oil and PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant brands that have adorned Bowyer's cars since 2012 are products in the portfolio of Old World Industries LLC., a company specializing in Automobile and Heavy-Duty vehicle products manufacturing and marketing. BlueDEF is a complete brand of diesel exhaust fluid and equipment, which reduces diesel engine emissions and increases fuel mileage. BlueDEF is the No. 1 DEF brand in the United States. 5-hour ENERGY will serve as Bowyer's primary sponsor for 24 races in 2016. Scott said there are still primary sponsorship opportunities open on the car for 2016.(HScott Motorspots)(10-21-2015)

Kurt Busch back with Stewart-Haas Racing with sponsorship from Monster Energy: Monster Energy is moving to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series while Kurt Busch is staying at Stewart-Haas Racing. The energy drink manufacturer has teamed with Busch in a multiyear agreement that will see Monster Energy co-sponsor him and the #41 Chevy SS with Haas Automation, the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. Busch, the 2004 Sprint Cup champion and owner of 27 career victories, will debut this new sponsorship during the Oct. 30-Nov. 1 Sprint Cup race weekend at Martinsville Speedway. The #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevy SS will then become a fixture beginning with the 2016 season, whereupon Monster Energy will be the alpha sponsor (hood) for 17 races and the bravo sponsor (quarter panel) for 18 races with one full primary race sponsorship.
"I'm very happy to be back with Stewart-Haas Racing and proud to take Monster Energy to the Sprint Cup Series," said Busch, who has won three races and three poles since joining SHR in 2014. "This is exactly where I want to be and I have two partners who want to win as much as I do."
Monster Energy passes on traditional forms of advertising and instead earns significant brand exposure through its roster of extreme athletes. Busch, renown for a tenacious driving style that has earned him multiple wins in a Sprint Cup career spanning more than 15 years, fits the bill for Monster Energy.(Stewart-Haas Racing), see an image of the car on the #41 team paint schemes page.(10-21-2015)

Teams testing 2016 rules package at Michigan UPDATE: NASCAR and Goodyear officials, along with three Sprint Cup Series teams, return to Michigan International Speedway Tuesday to test a low downforce aerodynamic package scheduled for use at most venues where the series will compete in 2016. Teams and drivers scheduled to participate are: #11-Denny Hamlin, #25-Chase Elliott, and Chris Buescher in the #17. "The real key at Michigan is to see ... what the top speeds are and understand that," Greg Stucker, Director of Race Tire Sales for Goodyear, said Saturday at Kansas Speedway. We (tested) low downforce at Michigan in 2014; had a test up there and had a number of different (aero) packages and low downforce was one of them. We were pretty conservative at that point. So we've got some data to go off of and we'll go back in the spring (of '16) to confirm." NASCAR officials announced last week that a low downforce package, similar to the one used at Kentucky Speedway and Darlington Raceway earlier this season, would be put into play for the bulk of the races in 2016. Decreasing the area of the leading edge of the spoiler and radiator pan will lessen the amount of downforce on the front of the cars while a shorter spoiler will similarly impact rear downforce. No major changes are expected for the sanctioning body's superspeedway rules package, which will be used at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. Tuesday's test is expected to consist of individual 10- and 25-lap runs in morning and afternoon sessions. According to Michigan officials, the Turn 1 grandstand seats will be open for fans with no admission charge.(NASCAR.com)(10-20-2015)
UPDATE: NASCAR tested its 2016 base package that will be used during the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season at Michigan International Speedway on Tuesday, enlisting the help of three future superstars. Drivers Chase Elliott, Chris Buescher and Erik Jones tested the super-fast, two-mile racetrack, helping engineers look at max speeds and corner speeds to determine the best tire combination for when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to the racetrack in June. Characteristics of the lower downforce rules package means more off-throttle time for drivers and decreasing corner speeds. This generates more passing zones over the entire track, and allows for multiple tire combinations to be levered.(MIS)(10-21-2015)

Michael Waltrip driving the #98 at Talladega: Michael Waltrip reunites with sponsor Maxwell House this weekend when the two-time Daytona 500 champion climbs behind the wheel of the #98 Maxwell House Toyota at Talladega Superspeedway. Waltrip drove a Maxwell House branded car in 1990 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. Waltrip, whose #98 Toyota is supported by Michael Waltrip Racing mechanics and crew, won at Talladega in 2003 and all four of his career victories came on restrictor plate tracks. He nearly won this race in 2012, but a last-lap accident took him out of contention. Waltrip has a busy week before arriving at the Alabama track. He and his brother Darrell will host the sixth annual Waltrip Brother's Charity Championship auction, dinner and golf tournament Wednesday and Thursday in Nashville. The event has raised more than $1.4 million dollars for several non-profit organizations including Motor Racing Outreach, Feed the Children and the (Steve) Byrnes Memorial Fund. Headlining this year's dinner is two-time Grammy Award winning musician Travis Tritt.(Michael Waltrip Racing), see an image of the car on the #98 team paint schemes page.(10-21-2015)

Jacob Companies returns to the #9: Jacob Companies will once again adorn the #9 Ford this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The full-service general contractor made its first appearance with the team earlier this year at Sonoma Raceway, where Sam Hornish Jr. earned a 10th-place finish. This weekend, Hornish will be making his eighth Sprint Cup Series start at Talladega. Earlier this year, he scored his first Top-10 finish of the season and his best series finish at the Superspeedway of sixth. Hornish also has four XFINITY Series starts at Talladega, accumulating one pole and one Top-Five finish.(Richard Petty Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #9 team paint schemes page.(10-21-2015)

Adirondack Tree Surgeons joins Yeley at Talladega: BK Racing welcomes Adirondack Tree Surgeons to the team as the primary sponsor on JJ Yeley's #26 Toyota Camry for the CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Locally owned and family operated for over 30 years, Adirondack Tree Surgeons is located in Gansevoort, NY and has provided commercial and residential clients with high-quality tree services in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties in addition to the Capital region. Owner Phil Viger and his staff guarantee satisfaction with any of their tree removal, tree care, tree pruning or stump grinding services.(BK Racing), see an image of the car on the #26 team paint schemes page.(10-21-2015)

RCR names Gil Martin Competition Director for XFINITY teams: Richard Childress Racing has assigned industry veteran and longtime RCR crew chief Gil Martin as its Competition Director for the NASCAR XFINITY Series, effective immediately. "Gil has been in this role before with RCR and we are confident he will do as solid a job as he did before," said Dr. Eric Warren, Director of Competition for RCR. "Gil has a tradition of success with this team and his leadership role with our XFINITY Series program will make our four teams even stronger." Martin, formerly crew chief of the #3 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team and Director of Research & Development, has been with RCR since 2000. He is among a select group of crew chiefs that have won races in NASCAR's Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series. Martin guided the #2 XFINITY Series team with driver Clint Bowyer to the 2005 XFINITY Series driver championship.(Richard Childress Racing)(10-21-2015)

Talladega Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series will run the same tire set-up at Talladega this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Sprint Cup teams have run at this track since last October . . . while Camping World Truck teams ran this left-side tire code (D-4596) at Talladega last year, this is the first time it is paired with this right-side tire code (D-4630) . . . compared to what Truck teams ran at Talladega last October, this right-side features a compound change for better wear . . . in addition to Talladega, NASCAR teams have run this left-side tire at Daytona this season . . . they have also run this right-side tire at Kansas, Las Vegas and Michigan in 2015 . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Talladega . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear), see tire codes. pressures, set limits and more on the Talladega Race Info page.(10-21-2015)

Seuss to debut with FDNY team: It's always great to see a local race car driver who gets to show his talents on a bigger stage. One complaint short track fans have is our local guys never get a shot at the big leagues. Well just a few weeks ago New Hampshire native Andy Seuss was wrapping up the NASCAR Southern Whelen Modified tour championship on the 1/4 mile inner oval at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Now he is focusing on racing at a much larger track this weekend, the Talladega Superspeedway. Andy will climb behind the wheel of a 3,400 pound Camping World Truck Series truck at Talladega Superspeedway. Andy normally drives a much lighter open wheel modified on the north and south NASCAR Whelen Modified tours in addition to running the Tri-Track Open Modified Series in New England. Originally Andy attempted to qualify for the ARCA race at Daytona Speedway in February, but did not make the field. In May he again attempted to qualify for the ARCA series International Motorsports Hall of Fame 200 at the Talladega Superspeedway. This time he made the field and finished 2 laps down in 21st after starting 26th. Now Andy has a chance to return to Talladega but this time driving a Camping World Truck for the #28 team owned by Jim Rosenblum out of Rahmoc Racing Engines shop in Concord, North Carolina. He is no stranger to the team and has crewed for the #28 for the last 3 years. Andy originally met Jim through Rahmoc where he gets the engines for his modifieds. Andy hopes to bring home the truck in one piece as if he does Jim promised they would head to Daytona for Speedweeks in February.(MyRaceNews.com)(10-21-2015)

Dover announces 2016 race dates: Dover International Speedway officials have announced that NASCAR will return to the Monster Mile in 2016 for two tripleheader weekends on May 13-15 and Sept. 30-Oct. 2. The May 13-15, 2016 weekend will feature a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, May 13; a NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday, May 14; and a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, May 15. The Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2016 weekend will feature a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race on Friday, Sept. 30; a NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday, Oct. 1; and the "AAA 400" NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Oct. 2. The "AAA 400" on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 will again be the third race of the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and feature the first four eliminations in the 16-driver field. It will be the third straight year that the Monster Mile will host the first elimination race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoff. Tickets are on sale now for the May 13-15 NASCAR tripleheader weekend and deposits of as low as 10% can be made on tickets for the Sept. 30-Oct. 2 races.(Dover Speedway)(10-21-2015)

Grandstands sold out for Phoenix race: Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced that the track's grandstands are sold out for the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Nov. 15. The sellout occurred nearly a month ahead of race day, and it is the fifth-consecutive sellout for the fall race at PIR, making it arguably the toughest ticket in all of NASCAR. Although the grandstands are sold out for Sunday's race, race fans wishing to attend the final Eliminator race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup may still purchase general admission tickets to PIR's Hillside area. For fans looking to get up close to the action, or for first-time visitors to the track, Friday's and Saturday's races offer a great opportunity. All of the interactive displays and exhibits in the Fan Midway will be open both days as well, giving fans the opportunity to take in the full NASCAR race experience. Tickets for Friday and Saturday, as well as Sunday's Hillside area, may be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com or by phone at 866-408-RACE. Until Monday, Nov. 9, tickets for Friday's action start at $30 and Saturday tickets start at $35. On Nov. 9, "race week pricing" goes into effect and prices increase by $5 for each day. Parking at Phoenix International Raceway is free throughout the weekend.(PIR)(10-21-2015)

NASCAR expected to limit green-white-checker at Talladega UPDATE: NASCAR executive Steve O'Donnell told "The Morning Drive" on Monday that series officials are "leaning" toward limiting the number of attempts at a green-white-checkered finish this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, but no decision has been made. O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that "we're in the final discussions with some folks in the industry, but I think that is where we're leaning. Expect to hear something probably by Wednesday of this week of where we go with it." NASCAR permits three attempts at finishing a race under green-flag conditions. Series officials are looking at changing how Sunday's restrictor-plate race could finish after Austin Dillon's car flew into the catch fence at the end of the first green-white-checkered in July at Daytona International Speedway. Five fans were injured. Another topic NASCAR has discussed is if to make the restart during a green-white-checkered at Talladega single-file instead of double-file.(NBC Sports)(10-20-2015)
UPDATE: NASCAR competition officials made changes Tuesday to race procedures for this weekend's events at Talladega Superspeedway, reducing the number of attempts at a green-white-checkered overtime finish. Starting this weekend, drivers will be limited to one attempt instead of the customary three tries at a green-white-checkered finish at Talladega. "Following extensive dialogue with the industry, we have decided to make a procedural change at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer. "In the event the race goes beyond the advertised distance due to a caution, we will use a single attempt at a green-white-checker finish. We take very seriously the responsibility of balancing exciting finishes and safety. We're confident that this is a positive direction for both." NASCAR instituted the "green-white-checkered" rule in 2004 for NASCAR's premier series, with a limit of three tries to complete the race under a two-lap, green-flag shootout to the finish. Since 2012, four of the last seven Talladega races have gone into overtime, raising the odds for race-punctuating multicar crashes.(NASCAR)(10-20-2015)

Teams testing 2016 rules package at Michigan: NASCAR and Goodyear officials, along with three Sprint Cup Series teams, return to Michigan International Speedway Tuesday to test a low downforce aerodynamic package scheduled for use at most venues where the series will compete in 2016. Teams and drivers scheduled to participate are: #11-Denny Hamlin, #25-Chase Elliott, and Chris Buescher in the #17. "The real key at Michigan is to see ... what the top speeds are and understand that," Greg Stucker, Director of Race Tire Sales for Goodyear, said Saturday at Kansas Speedway. We (tested) low downforce at Michigan in 2014; had a test up there and had a number of different (aero) packages and low downforce was one of them. We were pretty conservative at that point. So we've got some data to go off of and we'll go back in the spring (of '16) to confirm." NASCAR officials announced last week that a low downforce package, similar to the one used at Kentucky Speedway and Darlington Raceway earlier this season, would be put into play for the bulk of the races in 2016. Decreasing the area of the leading edge of the spoiler and radiator pan will lessen the amount of downforce on the front of the cars while a shorter spoiler will similarly impact rear downforce. No major changes are expected for the sanctioning body's superspeedway rules package, which will be used at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. Tuesday's test is expected to consist of individual 10- and 25-lap runs in morning and afternoon sessions. According to Michigan officials, the Turn 1 grandstand seats will be open for fans with no admission charge.(NASCAR.com)(10-20-2015)

Ryan Ellis to make Cup debut at Phoenix in the #33: Two years ago Ryan Ellis, backed by a family legacy in professional racing, made the mid-season decision to transition from a successful career in sport car racing, to NASCAR. Since then, Ellis has made a name for himself within the sport he grew up watching, with numerous starts in both, the Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series. ScienceLogic experienced a two-year trajectory similar to Ellis, focusing on providing an unmatched hybrid cloudmanagement and monitoring solution. As a result, ScienceLogic is now leading the hybrid cloud industry, with hundreds of new global customers relying on its solution to manage their critical cloud infrastructure. Ellis has been signed by Circle Sport to campaign their #33 Chevy SS with sponsorship by ScienceLogic in the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 15th. "Racing is one of the biggest things in my life, and I can't thank ScienceLogic, Mike Hillman, Joe Falk, and everyone at Circle Sport enough for this opportunity," said Ryan Ellis. "I look at this as my whole team - everyone that has ever helped me, making it to the next level."(Ryan Ellis PR), see an image of the car on the #33 team patin schemes page.(10-20-2015)

Kansas TV Ratings: Back on broadcast television, NASCAR's Chase For the Cup had a modest improvement in the metered markets. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Kansas, the fifth race in the Chase For the Cup, drew a 2.2 overnight rating on NBC Sunday afternoon - up 10% from last year (2.0) and down a tick from 2013 (2.3), both of which aired on ESPN. The race drew a 2.6 overnight when it last aired on broadcast in 2009, and a 3.4 when it last aired on NBC in 2006. The 2.2 is the lowest ever for a Chase For the Cup race on broadcast television, and the lowest for any Sprint Cup race on broadcast since at least 2004. In both cases, the previous mark was a 2.5 for the 2009 New Hampshire race on ABC. Every other race on broadcast this season has earned at least a 2.6 overnight. Having said that, the 2.2 is still better than what NASCAR has been pulling on cable. It ranks as the highest overnight of this year's Chase For the Cup, topping the previous mark of 1.8 for Chicago and Dover, and tops every NASCAR race on cable since mid-August - when Michigan drew a 2.4 on NBCSN. In addition, Sunday's race was the first since Darlington - which also aired on broadcast - to have a year-over-year increase.(Sports Media Watch)(10-20-2015)

Special look for the #32 at Dega: When the #32 C&J Energy Services Ford Fusion arrives at the Talladega Superspeedway for the CampingWorld.Com 500 race weekend the familiar #32 will have a different look. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the #32 will feature pink where silver is normally seen. "We are extremely proud to show our support for cancer awareness month," said C&J Energy Services CEO Josh Comstock. "Not only are we doing it here at Talladega but we are running both of our NHRA top fuel dragsters wrapped in pink all month as well. It's a great way to raise awareness and I think the Number 32 car looks amazing. I truly appreciate the GoFas Racing Team and Bobby being supportive of the cause."(Go Green Racing), see an image of the car on the #32 team paint schemes page.(10-20-2015)

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Talladega:
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr...............92.8
#20-Matt Kenseth...............89.2
#48-Jimmie Johnson...............89.0
#21-Ryan Blaney...............88.5
#41-Kurt Busch...............88.3
#55-Brian Vickers...............84.0
#11-Denny Hamlin...............83.5
#2-Brad Keselowski...............83.2
#42-Kyle Larson...............80.5
#1-Jamie McMurray...............80.1
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2015 races (21 total) among active drivers at Talladega Superspeedway.
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)(10-20-2015)

Firekeepers Casino to sponsor June Michigan race: Michigan International Speedway officials have partnered with FireKeepers Casino, another Michigan-based company, to bring fans the FireKeepers Casino 400 on June 12. FireKeepers Casino sponsored Pole Day for both NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at MIS in 2015. Company representatives saw first-hand how well their brand fit with NASCAR fans so it was only natural to increase its involvement in the series. FireKeepers Casino has found all its guests want an authentic experience and thereâ¬"s camaraderie among casino-goers. Last year they discovered NASCAR has that, too, as NASCAR fans share a very similar attribute â¬" they all want to be a part of something big. Through state and local revenue sharing agreements, FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan, has contributed more than $100 million to the state of Michigan and to a local Revenue Sharing Board since the casino opened in August of 2009. The partnership with Michigan International Speedway allows FireKeepers to continue its involvement in the community and racing, giving the opportunity to entertain its customers at NASCARâ¬"s fastest track. The partnership joining these two brands, both focused on attracting new visitors to Michigan, continues to strengthen the Michigan economy. The partnership includes title sponsorship of the June 12, 2016 Sprint Cup race. FireKeepers Casino Hotel is a casino resort, located just off Interstate 94 at Exit 104 in Battle Creek. The property features an 111,700-square foot gaming floor with 2,900 slot machines, 70 table games, a live poker room and bingo room. FireKeepers also offers a Four Diamond resort-style hotel with 242 rooms, a functional multi-purpose event center capable of seating up to 2,000 guests, six distinctive dining destinations and multiple lounges and entertainment venues. FireKeepers Casino Hotel is owned and operated by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi.

Ben Rhodes will not return to JRM UPDATE: Ben Rhodes tweeted Tuesday, "A lot of people have asked me over the last few days if I am going into the JRM #7 car next year. Unfortunately, I do not have a full-time opportunity at JR Motorsports. I am currently exploring opportunities for the 2016 season. I am thankful for the opportunity I was given with JRM this year, and I am looking forward to a strong run in our final race together at Homestead-Miami Speedway!"(10-20-2015)
UPDATE: After what Ben Rhodes called a "wonderful opportunity" to run 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports, the Louisville native is looking for more in 2016. Rhodes announced Tuesday he's parting with the second-tier team owned by popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. after his final race this year, the season finale next month at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Rhodes, an 18-year-old Holy Cross High School graduate, will seek a full-time ride in the Xfinity Series rather than run a partial season again for JR Motorsports. "I feel like if I can get behind the wheel more, that's going to make me an even better driver," Rhodes said. "...I had 10 races this year, but I wasn't racing any on the side. I wasn't honing my skills. I was learning by going to the track but not honing my skills inside a race car. We feel that a full season would be best for me, or just more races than I've had."(Louisville Courier Journal)(10-20-2015)

Kansas TV Ratings: NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Kansas drew a 0.7 overnight rating Saturday afternoon, down 30% from coverage on ESPN last year, which had a direct lead-in from college football (1.0). Of the 29 regularly scheduled races this season, nearly half - 14 - have had less than a 0.8 overnight.(Sports Media Watch)(10-20-2015)

Chase Elliott's paint scheme to be revealed Monday UPDATE:: Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott, who makes the jump to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next season, will unveil his 2016 #24 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevy SS paint scheme on "NASCAR RACE HUB" on FS1 Monday, Oct. 19, at 6:00pm/et The anticipated reveal is being simulcast in New York City's Times Square on the giant FOX video screen. Elliott, 19, the defending NASCAR XFINITY Series champion and NASCAR's youngest-ever national series champion, will pull the cover off the car he is set to pilot in 24 Sprint Cup races next season, including the Feb. 21 Daytona 500, as part of NAPA AUTO PARTS' majority sponsorship of the rookie-of-the-year contender.(Hendrick Motorsports)(10-17-2015)
UPDATE:Next season, Chase Elliott will pilot the #24 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevy SS full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Monday evening on FOX Sports 1's "NASCAR RACE HUB," the Dawsonville, Georgia, native unveiled the brand new look that will hit the track for 24 races in 2016. "I think the car turned out great and hope everybody likes it," said Elliott, who thanked NAPA AUTO PARTS for letting him make "a few decisions" throughout the design process. "They were really open and willing to some of the ideas that we had. The light blue stripes actually came off of their drag car that Ron Capps runs. So it's kind of cool to keep it all in the family and I think it turned out pretty cool." Elliott was joined on set by Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, and their appearance was simulcast in New York City's Times Square on the giant FOX video screen. "I'm so excited," Hendrick said. "What he did in the XFINITY Series last year and winning the championship, and what we've seen out of him when he gets into the Cup cars now, I can't wait to see him take it on next year."(Hendrick Motorsports. See an image of the car on the 2016 #24 team paint schemes page.(10-19-2015)

Entry List for the CampingWorld.com 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is posted, 45 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #21-Blaney, #32-Bobby Labonte, #33-Kvapil, #62-Hill, #95-McDowell, #98-Waltrip.
Drivers who need to be in the top-36 in speed and have no provisional available to them (lowest in owners points): #62-Hill (45th), #95-McDowell (44th)
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts): #21-Blaney (16), #95-McDowell (17)
See the full entry list on Jayski.com's Talladega Entry List

Kenseth, Logano comment on contact at Kansas:
What happened between yourself and Joey Logano in the closing laps?
Kenseth: "It's hard to drive a car with the rear tires off the ground. I was moving around the best I could, Joey (Logano) was a lot tighter, a lot faster on the short run, but we were so much better on the long run. I could still kind of get up to the top and get a run and get around him. We caught those two lapped cars, 'Crazy' (spotter) told me I was clear and I was, I pulled up in front of him and he just lifted my tires off the ground and he wrecked us."
What will you talk to Joey Logano about after the incident?
Kenseth: "I won't talk to Joey (Logano), I don't have anything to talk to him about really. You make decisions every day, you make decisions every minute behind the wheel. To me strategically, that doesn't seem like such a great decision for him, but it's the one he made and that's how he wanted to win. I'm one of the only guys that I think hasn't been into yet with Joey and I've always raced him with a ton of respect, I've actually been one of his biggest fans - I'm certainly not anymore, but I always was. It's a shame, I'm glad the cars not wrecked, we'll just go onto Talladega and race them there."(Toyota Racing)

Take us through what happened with Matt and the laps before:
Logano: "It was just hard racing. He raced me really hard. I raced him the same way he raced me. It was a lot of fun out there racing for a win like that. The cars were very fast, equally paired and I couldn't be more proud of what this Shell/Pennzoil team is doing right now. We're such a fast race car, such a great team. We've showed it two weeks in a row now and this is a lot of fun. We've just got to ride this wave and we've got to get to Homestead still."
You got to im and then fell back, and then caught back up. What happened at that point?
Logano: "He came up and started taking my air away, as he should, and I had to kind of adjust what I was doing and try to find a fast way back to him. I was able to get those runs back to him and get back to him."(Ford Racing)(10-19-2015)

Kurt Busch staying at Stewart-Haas Racing UPDATES: Gene Haas says he and Kurt Busch had a "handshake deal" that enable Busch to drive the #41 Haas Automation Chevy beyond this season. "Kurt Busch is one of those unique personalities," Haas said. "We're in the process (of re-signing)....three weeks ago, we had a handshake deal that he would come back. But we're still working on his contract, too. So we expect him to be back. We expect to have more sponsors for him. We expect a lot of things and when it all sorts out, we'll have an announcement then."
"I really enjoy driving for Gene and Tony, and it's my intention to continue driving for them," Kurt told Motorsport.com. "My focus right now is finishing the regular season strong, then going for a championship."(Motorsport)(8-3-2015)
UPDATE: In the midst of his second season with Stewart-Haas Racing, Kurt Busch appears bound for a third year with the organization in 2016. Although a new contract to keep Busch at SHR beyond 2015 has not been finalized, a team spokesman has corroborated recent comments from team co-owner Gene Haas that the 2004 Sprint Cup Series champion will be back in the #41 SHR Chevy next year. "What Gene said is accurate," team spokesman Mike Arning wrote in an email to FOXSports.com late Tuesday. "He has a handshake agreement with Kurt and once the contract is signed, we'll let everyone know it's official."(Fox Sports)(8-5-2015)
UPDATE 2: Stewart-Haas Racing will finally lay out the game plan for Kurt Busch in 2016. The 2004 NASCAR champion, who is currently third in the Sprint Cup point standings, is expected to announce a new partnership with Monster Energy on Wednesday at SHR's shop in Kannapolis, N.C. Though Busch's contract extension was signed weeks ago, team owner Gene Haas told Motorsport.com last month the delay in announcing the deal concerned sponsorship issues. With Clint Bowyer's arrival in 2017 - and the expectation that 5-hour Energy will follow the driver - there was a question of a potential conflict of interest with the energy drink category. 5-hour came on board with Bowyer at Michael Waltrip Racing in 2012. "I think there is a conflict there - but that's not a problem," Haas acknowledged. "Right now, if you have a current sponsor, you typically will favor them over a sponsor you don't have. Those are the issues you have to go through and sort out. If you're negotiating with one sponsor, what does he want in relationship with other sponsors. But that's pretty typical in contracts."(Motorsport)(10-19-2015)

Kansas Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2015 Bank of America 500: For those NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday's race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 2:15 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 5:33 PM (all times are EDT). NBC was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 137
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 73
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 111
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 68
Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 26
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 25
Number of times NBC utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 4
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast (including company logos 'floating' in corners of the screen): 774
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 4 min. 55 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 2:15 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 5:33 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 198
Minutes of race broadcast: 146
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 52
Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 12
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 146 Total comm. brdcst time 52
See full reports, sponsor links, many more details at CawnJaws.com.(10-19-2015)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Laps Led Leaders:
(after Kansas, 31 of 36 races)
1. #4-Kevin Harvick, 2,052
2. #20-Matt Kenseth, 1,285
3. #22-Joey Logano, 1,132
4. #41-Kurt Busch, 765 (28 races)
5. #18-Kyle Busch, 682 (20 races)
6. #2-Brad Keselowski, 639
7. #78-Martin Truex Jr., 536
8. #11-Denny Hamlin, 521
9. #48-Jimmie Johnson, 474
10. #19-Carl Edwards, 368
(10-19-2015)

Four drivers who won a race in 2014, have not won 2015: Four drivers have been shut out of winning a Sprint Cup race in 2015 after winning at least one race in 2014, after 31 of 36 races in 2015, the drivers:
#24-Jeff Gordon last won at Dover in September 2014 and has a four season win streak.
#5-Kasey Kahne last won at Atlanta in August 2014 and has a four season win streak.
#43-Aric Almirola has won one career race, last year at Daytona in July.
#47-A.J. Allmendinger has won one career race, last year at Watkins Glen in August.
(10-19-2015)

Townley expects to focus on Trucks in 2016: John Wes Townley has run about 2/3 of the Xfinity Series schedule and his #25-Athenian Motorsports team has run the other races with driver Dylan Lupton. AMS, however, withdrew from the Dover race, so they wouldn't stretch their resources too thin. It paid off with the cross-country Vegas Truck Series win. Townley expects more of that next season, as he hopes to focus even more on the full NCWTS schedule. "What I would really love to do next year is run for the championship in the Truck Series and run a handful of Xfinity races. It would be like I did this year, but I would just focus on the races I'm strongest at. And we can just kind of sit down and have more to focus on those weeks, because I feel like this year we just kind of focused on quantity over quality and in order to progress, we need to approach it a little differently. That's kind of what we are thinking right now."(WSB Radio)(10-19-2015)

Busch says no plans to stop running XFINITY races: With Saturday's win at Kansas Speedway, Kyle Busch has now been to Victory Lane an astounding 75 times in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. With his 50th career victory in NASCAR's No. 2 division back in 2011, Busch leapfrogged Mark Martin to become the series' all-time wins leader. Now at the tender age of 30, Busch -- a full-time Sprint Cup Series driver -- could theoretically continue running a limited XFINITY schedule for another decade or even longer. So at what point does he decide to call it quits from XFINITY, where his mark of 75 wins already may never be surpassed? "I don't know if you get to 100 and call it good or what you do," Busch told FOXSports.com after Saturday's XFINITY race at Kansas. "Fortunately, I've been in a good situation with Joe (Gibbs, team owner) and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing to race in the XFINITY Series, and if we've got sponsors that continue to want to be on my race car and to go out there and to put a good show on, then I'll continue to do it. It's a job, it's a paycheck for these guys and it's fun for me to be able to do and to collect trophies and also just kind of set that mark a little bit higher. Hopefully, nobody will get it."(Fox Sports)(10-19-2015)

Entry list: There are 32 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's Fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. A few notes:
Chad Boat in the #16;
Ryan Ellis in the #28;
Brian Keselowski in the #29;
The #30 is TBA;
Bobby Gerhart in the #36;
Stanton Barrett in the #91;
See the complete list on the Talladega Superspeedway entry list page.

Kenseth to turn attention to trucks: Sources confirm that Ross Kenseth will test the #18 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota truck at Martinsville Speedway on Tuesday in preparation for his debut at the historic .526-mile track on Oct. 31. The 22-year-old son of 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth made his Xfinity Series debut in June at Chicagoland Speedway. He qualified second and finished sixth. Earlier that month, Kenseth qualified second in the ARCA race at Michigan International Speedway and won in just his third-career start on the tour. In four ARCA starts, Kenseth's lowest finish was sixth.Kenseth has also competed in some of the top Late Model shows in the country including the Snowball Derby, Slinger Nationals, Winchester 400 and All American 400 -- which he won in 2012.(Motorsport.com)(10-19-2015)

Hightower to debut at Martinsville: Super Late Model driver Brandon Hightower is set to make his truck debut at Martinsville Speedway, driving the #36 for MB Motorsports. Hightower made the announcement on his Facebook page. "We are excited to announce our partnership with MB Motorsports. I will make my debut in the NCWTS at Martinsville October 31st in the number 36 truck. (I am) excited for this opportunity and there will be more announcements as the time goes on." Hightower will make his debut alongside Bobby Pierce, who will return to the #63 for MB after his debut left him with a second place effort at Eldora.(Brandon Hightower Facebook)(10-19-2015)

Townley to return in 2016: John Wes Townley has achieved victory, a notion that seemed unlikely to many, especially just a couple of years ago. The road to Victory Lane has been a strange one for the 25-year-old Watkinsville, Georgia native. With money from his dad, Tony's, popular chicken chain Zaxby's, Townley has been able to race at will since his childhood. Naturally, Townley's big moment came at a standalone NCWTS race with the vast majority of the NASCAR media covering the Sprint Cup Series and NXS in Dover, Delaware. And the win was of the fuel mileage variety - Matt Crafton's race-dominant truck pitted for fuel with three laps to go. Townley has run about 2/3 of the Xfinity Series schedule and his AMS team has run the other races with driver Dylan Lupton. AMS, however, withdrew from the Dover race, so they wouldn't stretch their resources too thin. It paid off with the cross-country Vegas win. Townley expects more of that next season, as he hopes to focus even more on the full NCWTS schedule. "What I would really love to do next year is run for the championship in the Truck Series and run a handful of Xfinity races. It would be like I did this year, but I would just focus on the races I'm strongest at. And we can just kind of sit down and have more to focus on those weeks, because I feel like this year we just kind of focused on quantity over quality and in order to progress, we need to approach it a little differently. That's kind of what we are thinking right now."(WSB Radio)(10-19-2015)

Logano wins at Kansas: #22-Joey Logano won the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway for his 5th win of the season, 2nd win at Kansas and 13th career win. Logano led 42 of the 269 laps.
#20-Kenseth led 153 laps on the day and was leading the race with 5 laps to go when Logano got into the back of the #20, spinning Kenseth out. Kesenth finished 14th. Logano said Kenseth was blocking him, Kenseth said Logano hit him on purpose.
Logano was automatically advancing to the Eliminator round of The Chase with his win at Charlotte, but his win at Kansas prevented other drivers from locking themselves into the next round.
#11-Hamlin finished 2nd followed by #48-Johnson, #5-Kahne, #18-Busch, #41-Busch, #21-Blaney, #19-Edwards, pole sitter #2-Keselowski, and #24-Gordon.
There were 21 lead changes among 9 drivers and 7 cautions for 39 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 135.732mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
(10-18-2015)

Finishing positions of the 2015 Sprint Cup Chase drivers at Kansas:
[by points standings before the race (start pos)]
1) #22-Joey Logano, WON (14)
2) #4-Kevin Harvick, 16th (4)
3) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 15th (7)
4) #11-Denny Hamlin, 2nd (5)
5) #41-Kurt Busch, 6th (9)
6) #19-Carl Edwards, 8th (2)
7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 10th (6)
8) #2-Brad Keselowski, 9th (1)
9) #31-Ryan Newman, 11th (10)
10) #18-Kyle Busch, 5th (3)
11) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 21st (15)
12) #20-Matt Kenseth, 14th (11)
(10-18-2015)

Race Fast Facts - Kansas:
Joey Logano won the 15th Annual Hollywood Casino 400, his 13th victory in 250 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his fifth victory and 25th top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his second victory and fifth top-10 finish in 13 races at Kansas Speedway.
Denny Hamlin (second) posted his fifth top-10 finish in 15 races at Kansas Speedway. It is his 17th top-10 finish in 2015.
Jimmie Johnson (third) posted his 16th top-10 finish in 19 races at Kansas Speedway.
Matt DiBenedetto (30th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Joey Logano leads the point standings by 13 points over Denny Hamlin.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-18-2015)

Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Contender Round:
[after Kansas, race 31 of 36, Chase race 4 of 10]
1) #22-Logano* [5 wins], 3095; +13
2) #11-Hamlin[2], 3082 -13; +18
3) #41-Busch[2], 3077 -18; +13
4) #19-Edwards[2], 3076 -19; +12
5) #4-Harvick [3], 3071 -24; +7
6) #24-Gordon, 3071 -24; +7
7) #2-Keselowski[1], 3071 -24; +7
8) #78-Truex, Jr.[1], 3070 -25; +6 ahead of 9th
Top 8 advance to Eliminator round
9) #18-Busch[4], 3064 -31; -6 out of 8th
10) #31-Newman, 3062 -33; - 8
11) #88-Earnhardt Jr.[2], 3039 -56; -31
12) #20-Kenseth[5], 3035 -60; -35
The order is set by the points standings after the last round.
(ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
* driver automatically advances to Eliminator round by winning a Contender round race
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
(10-18-2015)

Unofficial Top 25 in 2015 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings (not the Chase):
[after Kansas, race 31 of 36]
(using current points system, but not the Chase rules, unofficial)
1) #22-Joey Logano (C1), 1157
2) #4-Kevin Harvick (C5), 1125, -32
3) #2-Brad Keselowski (C7), 1041, -116
4) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (C11), 1025, -132
5) #11-Denny Hamlin (C2), 991, -166
6) #78-Martin Truex Jr. (C8), 989, -168
7) #20-Matt Kenseth (C12), 984, -173
8) #48-Jimmie Johnson (EC), 974, -183
9) #41-Kurt Busch (C3), 952, -205
10) #19-Carl Edwards (C4), 934, -223
11) #1-Jamie McMurray (EC), 911, -246
12) #24-Jeff Gordon (C6), 908, -249
13) #31-Ryan Newman (C10), 899, -258
14) #43-Aric Almirola, 821, -336
15) #27-Paul Menard (EC), 819, -338
16) #5-Kasey Kahne, 811, -346
17) #15-Clint Bowyer (EC), 802, -355
18) #42-Kyle Larson, 757, -400
19) #16-Greg Biffle, 753, -404
20) #3-Austin Dillon, 688,-469
21) #13-Casey Mears, 672, -485
22) #18-Kyle Busch (C9), 665, -492
23) #47-AJ Allmendinger, 645, -512
24) #10-Danica Patrick, 644, -513
25) #9-Sam Hornish Jr., 614, -543
26) #14-Tony Stewart, 608, -549
27) #55-David Ragan, 602, -555
(C# = chase driver and current Chase position)
(EC = chase driver that has been eliminated from the Chase)
(10-18-2015)

Blaney still unsure of 2016 plans: Team Penske top prospect Ryan Blaney believes he is as ready as he'll ever be to drive full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and says it's just a matter of tying all the pieces together before Speedweeks at Daytona rolls around in February. If Blaney knows the plan, he didn't offer it on Friday after qualifying for the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. With that said, he did say his future was much clearer than it was when the season first started. Obviously we're working on it really hard, and it's hard to do, for sure," Blaney said. "It's hard to do what we want to but I think if we put our heads down ... I think it's just going to help out for next year. Then we'll figure it out in the offseason."
Complicating matters is the rumor that NASCAR is looking to move to a franchising model as early as 2016. On paper, franchising full-time teams would provide current owners inherent value while encouraging new investors to enter the sport. The downside, especially for a team like the Wood Brothers, is that they would not be guaranteed a starting spot under the rumored franchising prototype. Blaney admitted that he doesn't fully understand that side of the business, and has largely kept himself out of it, but does believe the franchising hurdle is one the biggest hold-ups for him addressing his future. "I haven't been involved in the discussions too much with that deal," Blaney said. "I know Eddie (Wood) and Len (Wood) have been a part of it, and Mr. Penske has been a part of it, but they haven't told me too much about it. So I don't have a lot of information but I think that is some of the reason they're kind of pulling the reigns back a little bit. Hopefully when they get all that sorted out it'll be a little clearer picture on our side."(Autoweek)(10-18-2015)

Biffle not setting a timeline for retirement: With both #24-Jeff Gordon and #14-Tony Stewart -- two of NASCAR's biggest stars and most accomplished drivers of all time -- set to call it quits from Sprint Cup competition by the end of 2016, it's only natural for folks to wonder who else among NASCAR's 40-and-over club might follow suit in the near future. Greg Biffle, who turns 46 in December, is older than both Gordon and Stewart, and is the oldest active driver in NASCAR's top series. So will he be the next one to hang it up? While it's certainly possible, don't count on it. Biffle said his contract with Roush Fenway Racing runs through the end of the 2017 season and he has every intention to honor it. "The Biff" admits he isn't sure what his future holds beyond '17, but at least for now, he's not ready or willing to put a timetable on how much longer he'll keep driving in the Sprint Cup Series. "I've got my own plan. I'm enjoying driving these cars and love what I do," said Biffle, "I feel like we've got still something left to accomplish. I'm looking forward to the new body that we're going to get, and the downforce (with the 2016 rules package) and the changes we've made in the company. I want to see Roush Fenway winning races when I hang my helmet up for the last time, and I think we can do that. I know we can do that."(Fox Sports)(10-18-2015)

Charlotte TV Ratings UPDATE: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Charlotte, the fourth race in the Chase for the Cup, drew a 1.4 overnight rating on NBCSN Sunday afternoon. The race was originally scheduled to air Saturday night on the NBC broadcast network, but was postponed due to rain. Last year's race, which aired on ABC in its scheduled timeslot, drew a 2.9 overnight.(Sports Media Watch)
See past race TV Ratings, five-year comparison chart and more on the 2015 TV Ratings page.(10-13-2015)
UPDATE: Delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Charlotte, the fourth race in the Chase For the Cup, drew 2.7 million viewers on NBCSN last Sunday afternoon - the second-smallest Sprint Cup audience of the season. The race was originally scheduled to air Saturday night on the NBC broadcast network, but was postponed due to rain. Last year's race, which aired as scheduled on ABC, drew 5.1 million viewers.(Sports Media Watch via ShowBuzz Daily)(10-18-2015)

Texas adding more SAFER barrier: When NASCAR returns to Texas Motor Speedway next month, competitors will be greeted by 3,000 additional feet of SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barrier on the 1.5-mile track. On Friday, TMS completed the first of three phases on the frontstretch. The project is expected to be finished next week - in time for the Texas AAA 500 on November 8. In April, TMS added 250 feet of tire-bundle barriers to five inner walls on the recommendation of NASCAR, following a sport-wide reexamination of tracks after Kyle Busch's vicious wreck at Daytona International Speedway in February.(Motorsport)(10-18-2015)

Kansas Race Notes & Facts - Sunday:
· There have been 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one NSCS event from 2001 - 2010 and two races per year since 2011.
· Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Kansas with six: Jeff Gordon (three: 2001, 2002 and 2014) and Jimmie Johnson (three: 2008, 2011 and 2015).
· Four manufacturers have won at Kansas Speedway in the NSCS; led by Chevrolet with 10 victories, Ford with four, Toyota and Dodge each have two.
· There has been one NSCS race resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Kansas Speedway: fall of 2011 (267/272).
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway was the (10/10/2004) race won by Joe Nemechek with a MOV of 0.081 second.
· Only one of the 19 races at Kansas Speedway has been shortened due to weather conditions: fall of 2007.
(NASCAR)(10-18-2015)

Drivers to meet young fans at Talladega: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Danica Patrick, Aric Almirola, AJ Allmendinger and Ryan Blaney are scheduled to appear for a Talladega Superspeedway special youth autograph session during the Alabama 500/fred's 250 Powered by Coca-Cola race weekend upcoming Oct. 23-25. On Saturday, Oct. 24 at 10:45am/ct in the track's Hospitality Village, located behind the Birmingham Tower outside the frontstretch, the first 100 children (12 and under only) to pick up a wristband at the main Guest Services Office located at OV Hill South Grandstand Section L will have the chance to get an autograph from each participating driver (limit one per child and time permitting). Participants will be allowed to start lining up for the youth autograph session at 10:00am/ct. Talladega Superspeedway has great ticket offers for kids 12 & under for both Saturday and Sunday, which will showcase the final race of the Contender Round in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup in which the list of 12 eligible drivers to the title will be reduced to eight at the checkered flag. Those kids' deals include $50 off the regular price throughout the lower grandstands and towers while they can sit free in the fourth turn Gadsden grandstand while supplies last.(TSS)(10-18-2015)

Final practice: for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway over. After 50 scheduled minutes, top five, slowest and notes:
#48-Johnson 188.983
#2-Keselowski 188.930
#11-Hamlin 188.765
#20-Kenseth 187.944
#22-Logano 187.715
slowest: #98-Sorenson 180.180 & #32-Kimmel 179.116
most laps run: #41-Busch 52 laps, #1-McMurray, 49 laps
See fastest speeds, lap run, best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Kansas practice 3 speeds page (pdf).(10-17-2015)

First Saturday practice: for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway over. After 55 scheduled minutes, top five, slowest and notes:
#2-Keselowski 189.960
#20-Kenseth 189.215
#22-Logano 189.062
#21-Blaney 188.910
#33-Scott 188.897
slowest: #98-Sorenson 181.354 & #32-Kimmel 179.605
most laps run: #41-Busch & #18-Busch, 37 laps
See fastest speeds, lap run, best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Kansas practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-17-2015)

Goodyear expects to use softer tires in 2016: Goodyear is expecting to build more softer tires with the adoption of a lower downforce rules package for the 2016 Sprint Cup season. Greg Stucker, the director of race tire sales for the NASCAR supplier, said tires will be tuned to each track with a goal of increasing grip. That likely will mean a softer compound at many 1.5-mile to 2-mile tracks, but tires are expected to remain the same at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway (neither of which will feature the new package) and short tracks such as Martinsville Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway. "There will be some commonality but probably a lot of change through the rest of '16," Stucker said Friday morning at Kansas Speedway. Even as the tire construction changes, Goodyear probably will continue to use the same combinations at multiple tracks. For example, the 1.5-mile ovals of Chicagoland Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway traditionally have featured the same tire compounds. NASCAR has stressed it plans to tinker with gear ratios on a weekly basis to improve the quality of racing, but Stucker said that won't have an impact on tire production.(NBC Sports)(10-17-2015)

Western Union joins #78 as associate sponsor: Western Union is looking to Martin Truex Jr. to deliver this weekend at Kansas Speedway. The Englewood, Colo.-based financial services and communication company is partnering with Denver's Furniture Row Racing for the final six races of the 2015 Sprint Cup season. Western Union - and its Money-Moving Ambassadors will serve as a major associate sponsor for the #78 Chevy and Truex, who is currently third in the standings and competing in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.(Motorsport)(10-17-2015)

Chase Elliott's paint scheme to be revealed Monday: Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott, who makes the jump to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next season, will unveil his 2016 #24 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevy SS paint scheme on "NASCAR RACE HUB" on FS1 Monday, Oct. 19, at 6:00pm/et The anticipated reveal is being simulcast in New York City's Times Square on the giant FOX video screen. Elliott, 19, the defending NASCAR XFINITY Series champion and NASCAR's youngest-ever national series champion, will pull the cover off the car he is set to pilot in 24 Sprint Cup races next season, including the Feb. 21 Daytona 500, as part of NAPA AUTO PARTS' majority sponsorship of the rookie-of-the-year contender.(Hendrick Motorsports)(10-17-2015)

Brian France and wife honored by Gabrielle's Angel Foundation: NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France and his wife Amy will be honored by Gabrielle's Angel Foundation at the annual Angel Ball on Oct. 19 in New York for their contributions to pediatric cancer research. Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon will introduce the Frances at the gala at Cipriani Wall Street. NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton, NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Brent Dewar, International Speedway Corporation Chief Executive Officer Lesa France Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice President / Assistant Treasurer and The NASCAR Foundation Chairwoman Betty Jane France and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Ben Kennedy also are scheduled to be in attendance. This will mark the latest philanthropic achievement from the Frances, who founded the Luke and Meadow Foundation, named after their four-year old twins, in 2011. They have since supported, raised awareness, given their time and made multi-million dollar donations to a wide range of causes they are passionate about, including: Stand Up For Heroes in support of 9-11 families, Autism Speaks, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research, Providence Day School and many others.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-17-2015)

Kansas Driver Notes & Facts - Saturday:
· 122 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas; 91 in more than one.
· Five drivers have started all 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway - Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman.
· 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Austin Dillon (10/09/2011), Ryan Blaney (5/10/2014) and Chase Contender Denny Hamlin (10/09/2005) all made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Kansas Speedway.
· 12 different drivers have won at Kansas Speedway, led by Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson with three each.
· Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth are the only two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers that have posted consecutive wins at Kansas Speedway: Gordon (2001 and 2002 - the first two NSCS events at Kansas) and Kenseth (fall of 2012, spring of 2013).
· Nine of the 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Kansas Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jeff Gordon won at Kansas in his first appearance.
· Kevin Harvick competed at Kansas Speedway 15 times before winning in the fall of 2013; the longest span of any the 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Kansas.
· Kevin Harvick (15) and Matt Kenseth (13) have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Kansas Speedway.
· Kurt Busch leads the series with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 19.
· Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman are tied for the series most runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with two each.
· Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-five finishes at Kansas Speedway with 11; followed by Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson with seven.
· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway with 15; followed by Jeff Gordon (13), Carl Edwards (11) and Matt Kenseth (11).
· Three active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have an average finishing position at Kansas Speedway inside the top 10 - Jimmie Johnson (9.055), Kyle Larson (9.666) and Jeff Gordon (9.947).
· Paul Menard has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway without posting a DNF (13).
· Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Kansas Speedway with 596 laps led in 18 starts.
· Danica Patrick is the only female driver that has competed at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
(NASCAR)(10-17-2015)

Sad News - Glenn Stanley Smith, Sr.: Glenn Stanley Smith, Sr., age 59, professional photojournalist and friend to so many, loving father and grandfather, passed away on October 2, 2015 in Boise, Idaho of complications from pneumonia. Glenn was born in Heidelberg, Germany to Stanley and Martha Erika Smith. His family had been stationed in Germany at the time of his birth while his father was serving in the US Army. With his education in Computer Science and Engineering, Glenn became CFO and MIS Director for Pekor Pumps in Columbus. Although very successful in his business career and as a software engineer, in 1989 Glenn made the courageous choice to pursue his true passion of photography, particularly motorsports photojournalism, where he became nationally known and honored as "Indy Glenn". His work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, Time Magazine's Year In Pictures, USA Today, People magazine, The New York Times, Washington Post, Atlanta Constitution, the Indianapolis Star, as well as most newspapers in the country. He was a member of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA), winning the 2009 AARWBA Award for his photograph "End of a Dream". Glenn's amazing racing photographs were truly admired by racing fans and will continue to contribute greatly to the enjoyment of auto racing. While his heart lied with shooting the Indianapolis 500 and other fast cars, Glenn also loved photographing other sporting events and became the team photographer for the Columbus Cottonmouths professional hockey team, and professionally photographed the Atlanta Thrashers and Atlanta Braves. Most recently, he was actively continuing his career in Boise, Idaho, as the team photographer for the Idaho Steelheads professional hockey team. He is survived by his daughter, Natalie Smith; his son, Glenn Stanley Smith, Jr.; and his grandson, Cyrus Dayton all of Las Vegas, NV. A private interment will be held at Larissa Cemetery, Mount Selman, Cherokee County, Texas. Memorial gifts may be made to: Boise Kennels, Attn: Mark Fretz, 2303 36th Street, Boise, ID 83703.(10-16-2015)

Regan Smith out at JR Motorsports at end of season: NBC's Marty Snider tweeted after the Kansas XFINITY race, "@ReganSmith told us post race on @NASCARonNBC that he is definitely not coming back to JR Motorsports next season. Officially job hunting.".
AND Smith confirmed the news Saturday night, tweeting, "Sounds like tv didn't show my post race interview but to confirm, I will not be returning to the 7 car next season.".(10-17-2015)

Kyle Busch wins XFINITY race at Kansas: #54-Kyle Busch won the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway for his 75th career NASCAR XFINITY Series win. #20-Matt Kenseth dominated most of the race -- leading the first 117 laps -- but lost the lead to Busch with 15 laps to go and could not get back around him. He finished 2nd, followed by #22-Joey Logano, #3-Ty Dillon, #7-Regan Smith, #60-Chris Buescher, #9-Chase Elliott, #39-Ryan Sieg, #18-Daniel Suarez, and #62-Brendan Gaughan.
There were 8 cautions for 42 laps and 7 lead changes among 2 leaders.
Complete results are on the Kansas race results page (pdf).
(10-17-2015)

Kansas XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Kyle Busch(i) won the 15th Annual Kansas Lottery 300, his 75th victory in 308 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his fifth victory and 10th top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his third victory and ninth top-10 finish in 11 races at Kansas Speedway.
Matt Kenseth(i) (second) posted his eighth top-10 finish in nine races at Kansas Speedway. It is his fifth top-10 finish in 2015.
Joey Logano(i) (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in six races at Kansas Speedway.
Daniel Suarez (ninth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Chris Buescher leads the point standings by 27 points over Chase Elliott.
Today's race was Kyle Busch's 200th start driving a Toyota.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-17-2015)

XFINITY Driver standings following Kansas:
1) #60-Chris Buescher, 1093
2) #9-Chase Elliott, 1066, -27
3) #7-Regan Smith, 1060, -33
4) #3-Ty Dillon, 1057, -36
5) #6-Darrell Wallace Jr., 976, -117
6) #1-Elliott Sadler, 974, -119
7) #18-Daniel Suarez, 962, -131
8) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 927, -166
9) #2-Brian Scott, 922, -171
10 #16-Ryan Reed, 825, -268
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(10-17-2015)

Matt Kenseth on XFINITY pole at Kansas: #20-Matt Kenseth won the Coors Light pole for the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway with a speed of 184.906mph. Points leader #6-Chris Buescher will start second. The rest of the top 10: #7-Regan Smith, #54-Kyle Busch, #3-Ty Dillon, #18-Daniel Suarez, #88-Kevin Harvick, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #33-Austin Dillon, and #22-Joey Logano.
Did Not Qualify: none. The #92 team withdrew before qualifying.
The starting lineup is posted on the Kansas starting lineup page (pdf).(10-17-2015)

Kansas XFINITY Qualifying Notes:
Matt Kenseth(i) won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 15th Annual Kansas Lottery 300 with a lap of 29.204 seconds, 184.906 mph.
This is his 17th pole in 288 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his first pole and fifth top-10 start in 2015.
This is his third pole in nine races at Kansas Speedway.
Chris Buescher (second) posted his 17th top-10 start of 2015 and his third in three races at Kansas Speedway.
Regan Smith (third) posted his third top-10 start at Kansas Speedway. It is his 21st in 30 races this season.
Daniel Suarez (sixth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-17-2015)

Harvick to appear at Budwieser Roll-Bar Club at Phoenix: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Budweiser Chevy, is scheduled to appear at PIR's Budweiser ROLL-BAR Club for a moderated question and answer session before the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, November 15. The Budweiser ROLL-BAR Club, located on the west side of the track behind the Bobby Allison Grandstands, features the best in live entertainment each day throughout the entire Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at PIR, as well as appearances by some of NASCAR's top personalities. Single-day tickets to the Budweiser ROLL-BAR Club are available for $99 on Saturday, November 14 and for $149 on Sunday, November 15. The additional purchase of a grandstand ticket is still required for track admission.(PIR)(10-17-2015)

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #2-Keselowski chose pit stall 11 after being penalized earlier this week and having to select 42nd.
Outside pole sitter #19-Edwards took pit stall 1, since Keselowski did not get to choose.
#18-Busch, who starts 3rd took the 8th pit stall, with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #24-Gordon, who starts 6th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-16-2015)

Keselowski wins Kansas pole: #2-Brad Keselowski won the Coors Light pole for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway with speed of 195.503mph for his 2nd pole of 2015, 1st at Kansas and 10th of his career. Keselowski has won 2 races from the pole out of 9 previous poles.
#19-Edwards is on the outside pole followed by #18-Busch, #4-Harvick, #11-Hamlin, #24-Gordon, #78-Truex, Jr., #21-Blaney, #41-Busch, #31-Newman, #20-Kenseth, and #16-Biffle.
Missing the race was: #62-Hill.
See the starting lineup, qualifying results round-by-round, qualifying order on Jayski.com's Kansas Qualifying Page.(10-16-2015)

Where the 2015 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers will start at Kansas:
[listed by current driver points position]
1) #22-Joey Logano, 14th
2) #4-Kevin Harvick, 4th
3) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 7th
4) #11-Denny Hamlin, 5th
5) #41-Kurt Busch, 9th
6) #19-Carl Edwards, 2nd
7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 6th
8) #2-Brad Keselowski, starts 1st on the pole
9) #31-Ryan Newman, 10th
10) #18-Kyle Busch, 3rd
11) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 15th
12) #20-Matt Kenseth, 11th
(10-16-2015)

Qualifying Fast Facts - Kansas:
Brad Keselowski won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 15th Annual Hollywood Casino 400 with a lap of 27.621 seconds, 195.503 mph.
This is his 10th pole in 228 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his second pole and 20th top-10 start in 2015.
This is his first pole in 12 races at Kansas Speedway.
Carl Edwards (second) posted his 19th top-10 start of 2015 and his eighth in 17 races at Kansas Speedway.
Kyle Busch (third) posted his seventh top-10 start at Kansas Speedway. It is his 15th in 20 races this season.
Matt DiBenedetto (34th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(10-16-2015)

Second Round of Qualifying for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over after 10 scheduled minutes.
#21-Blaney 195.164
#19-Edwards 195.009
#11-Hamlin 194.911 #18-Busch 194.623
the rest of the top 12: 41 78 20 4 24 16 31;
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 27 22 88 33 14 17 6 42 48 55 43 5
(10-16-2015)

First Round of Qualifying for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#2-Keselowski 195.101
#4-Harvick 194.546
#19-Edwards 194.496
#27-Menard 194.238
#11-Hamlin 194.203
the rest of the top 24: 41 88 20 31 21 18 48 33 55 42 22 6 24 16 78 17 14 5 43;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 3 15 47 1 10 51 9 7 38 83 34 26 46 13 35 23 40 98 32 62
Driver who will miss the race: #62-Hill.
(10-16-2015)

Friday practice: for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over. After 85 scheduled minutes, top five, slowest and notes:
#2-Keselowski 194.349
#3-Dillon 194.224
#20-Kenseth 194.147
#31-Newman 193.694
#33-Scott 193.653
slowest: #62-Hill 183.849 & #32-Kimmel 183.599
most laps run: #40-Cassill, 28; #20-Kesneth, 27
note: Qualifying is scheduled for tonight at 6:15pm/et and will be shown on NBCSN.
See fastest speeds, lap run, best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Kansas practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-16-2015)

Qualifying Order for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is posted. 44 cars/drivers are listed.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #51-Allgaier.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #42-Larson.
The order is set by a random draw, how cars park on pit road before they qualify, held about an hour before the first practice.
After the first round, the cars line up by speed.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com's Kansas Qualifying Page.(10-16-2015)

Wise in the #34 at Talladega: Front Row Motorsports tweeted Friday morning that Josh Wise will drive the #34 Ford next weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Brett Moffitt has been in the #34 for most of the season.(10-16-2015)

Kansas adds restart zone lines: Kansas Speedway has added lines to mark the restart zone for this weekend's Xfinity and Sprint Cup races, but the track has done it differently than what Charlotte Motor Speedway did last week. Kansas Speedway had the lines painted only on the apron - not on the track as Charlotte did. One thing Kansas Speedway has done is paint a small portion of the grass alongside the restart zone in yellow to make the zone easier for fans in the stands to see. The track also painted the outside wall in the restart zone yellow. The restart zone is 180 feet.(NBC Sports)(10-16-2015)

Cup teams to test at Atlanta: With the 2016 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway just over four months away, fans will have an opportunity to get an early NASCAR fix when the track hosts an open team test for Sprint Cup Series teams on its 1.54-mile track Thursday, Oct. 29. The test, open to one driver from each NASCAR team participating in the Sprint Cup Series, will be a preview of NASCAR's new, low-downforce aero package, which will be used for the first time in 2016 in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. General admission in the Champions Grandstand will be free and open to the public for fans interested in watching the test session. Fans who have purchased a ticket to any 2016 NASCAR Weekend event will also be invited to visit the infield, where they will have special access to viewing zones in the garage and pit areas. Drivers will be on track from 9:00am-5:00pm, breaking for one hour from around noon to 1:00pm. AMS ticket agents will be on hand for fans interested in purchasing their 2016 NASCAR Weekend tickets on the day of the test.(AMS)(10-16-2015)

Carsforsale.com returns to the #40 at Kansas: Following a successful 23rd-place finish in last weekend's 500-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, driver Landon Cassill will once again fly the Carsforsale.com colors on his pink #40 Hillman Racing Chevy SS in Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. With the addition of the race at Kansas, Carsforsale.com is at the midpoint of a three-race, consecutive sponsorship run that concludes with next weekend's race at Talladega Superspeedway, where Cassill posted a career-best fourth place finish last fall. Carsforsale.com provides over 20,000 dealerships across the nation with a full suite of online marketing solutions including dealer websites, lead and data management, and reporting. As one of the largest automotive classifieds websites, Carsforsale.com also provides an effective way to connect buyers searching for new and used vehicles with sellers.(Hillman Racing), see an image of the car on the #40 team paint schemes page.(10-16-2015)

Another new Target scheme for Larson: Team Target is once again dressed to impress at the track this weekend. As the plaid-inspired party continues, the #42 Chevy SS will be sporting a clean look that features red stripes over a white body. While racing stripes aren't new to NASCAR, fans are likely more accustomed to seeing multiple, thin stripes on the baseball diamond rather than the racetrack. Just in time for the upcoming Fall Classic, Team Target will be borrowing a look this weekend that teams like the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs have been making fashionable for decades. The paint scheme is the fourth of eight unique plaid-inspired designs meant to highlight the ongoing plaid takeover at Target stores nationwide.(Chip Ganassi Racing), see an image of the car on the #42 team paint schemes page.(10-16-2015)

Halloween scheme for Kyle Busch at Kansas: As Halloween quickly approaches, there was a time not long ago where the scariest thing for Kyle Busch in October was the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stop at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City. But Busch, driver of the #18 M&M'S Halloween Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing, heads to Kansas for Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 coming off a third-place finish during his most recent trip there last October. On top of that, Busch was able to test at the 1.5-mile oval last month with crew chief Adam Stevens and his M&M'S team.(Joe Gibbs Racing), see an image of the car on the #18 team paint schemes page.(10-16-2015)

Kansas Pole Notes & Facts - Friday:
· Jason Leffler won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Kansas Speedway in 2001 with a speed of 176.499 mph.
· 12 drivers have Coors Light poles at Kansas, led by Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne with three each.
· Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick are the only two drivers to win consecutive Coors Light poles at Kansas Speedway (Johnson - 2007, 2008 and Harvick - fall 2013, spring 2014 and fall 2014).
· Joey Logano leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas Speedway with a 10.0.
· Four of the 19 (21.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; Joe Nemechek (2004), Jimmie Johnson (2008), Matt Kenseth (spring 2013) and Kevin Harvick (fall 2013).
· Five of the 19 (26.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the front row: four from the pole and one from second-place.
· 11 of the 19 (57.9%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Two of the 19 (10.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kansas Speedway is 25th, by Brad Keselowski in the spring of 2011.
· Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
(NASCAR)(10-16-2015)

Daniel Suarez fastest in happy hour: #18-Daniel Suarez was quickest during happy hour for the Kansas Lottery 300 with a speed of 183.362mph. He was followed by: #60-Chris Buescher, #39-Ryan Sieg, #54-Kyle Busch, #3-Ty Dillon, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #7-Regan Smith, #22-Joey Logano, #9-Chase Elliott, and #20-Matt Kenseth. All 41 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Kansas Speedway practice 2 speeds page (pdf). (10-16-2015)

Chris Buescher fastest in first practice: #60-Chris Buescher was fastest during opening practice at Kansas Speedway with a speed of 181.251mph. #54-Kyle Busch was second, followed by: #42-Brennan Poole, #3-Ty Dillon, #22-Joey Logano, #18-Daniel Suarez, #33-Austin Dillon, #20-Matt Kenseth, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., and #88-Kevin Harvick. 39 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Kansas Speedway practice 1 speeds page (pdf). (10-16-2015)

Charlotte XFINITY TV Ratings: NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Charlotte drew 962,000 viewers on NBCSN Friday night, down 23% from last year (1.2M) and down 26% from 2013 (1.3M), both on ESPN2. Excluding rainouts, the race earned the third-smallest audience of the season. Nine of the ten least-watched races have aired on NBCSN.(Sports Media Watch)(10-16-2015)

Talladega sponsor for MAKE: MAKE Motorsports is happy to announce a new associate partner with PTR Industries of Aynor, South Carolina. PTR Industries will be sported on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entries during the Fred's 250 Presented By Coca-Cola at the famous Talladege Superspeedway. PTR's mission is to manufacture the most reliable and accurate roller-lock weapons in the world. Through precision manufacturing, unwavering standards for quality, and exceptional customer service, PTR aims to provide a premier product and experience to the responsible shooter. PTR Industries, Inc. was founded to achieve the goal of being a large scale manufacturer of U.S. made roller-lock firearms. Bringing together a new team, new capitol, and new focus, PTR Industries, Inc. has become America's leader in producing roller lock weapons. PTR shifted focus away from military surplus to domestic manufacturing with state of the art precision. Now, standing light years away from its humble beginnings, PTR is a fully developed 21st century manufacturing firm capable of producing much more than the kit-built clones of its early days. PTR now employs gunsmiths, engineers, toolmakers, and skilled machinists who work with state of the art technology to bring its customers a wide variety of modern firearms - with every component produced brand new in the U.S.A.(MAKE Motorsports)(10-16-2015)

Sauter joins GMS for 2016 UPDATE: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) veteran Johnny Sauter will have a new place to call home next season.Statesville, North Carolina-based GMS Racing announced late Thursday the hiring of Sauter as one of their full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers next season. Sauter will join the vastly growing family-owned team as their veteran leader of the organization as a teammate to Spencer Gallagher, who is in his first season of full-time truck series competition this year. The 37-year-old Sauter joins GMS Racing and reunites with Chevrolet after a healthy and relatively successful seven-year stint at ThorSport Racing, where he currently pilots the #98 Toyota Tundra. Entering Talladega next Saturday, Sauter sits fourth in the championship standings, producing seven top-fives and 13 top-10 runs in 18 races. The former American Speed Association champion joined the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series full-time in 2009 after a foray in the NASCAR Sprint and XFINITY Series. In 25 starts that year, he claimed his first career win at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway along with two poles, seven top-fives and 13 top-10s. He earned Rookie of the Year honors, while finishing sixth in points. While Sauter has visited Victory Lane on 10 truck occasions during a stretch of seven seasons, the dream and ultimate respect of winning a championship has eluded him. GMS Racing at the helm of general manager Mike Beam would not disclose the length of their new contact with the Necedah, Wisconsin native, but officials told CATCHFENCE.com that he's included in the program's long-term plans. Sauter, who recently moved back to his nesting grounds in Wisconsin is expected to commute back and forth to North Carolina as needed. A truck number, crew chief and sponsorship for Sauter's return to the Chevrolet bowtie will be announced at a later date.(Catchfence.com)(10-15-2015)

Daytona & Talladega hosting country music festivals in 2016: Daytona International Speedway will host the inaugural Country 500 music festival featuring Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Kid Rock, TBA, Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson and dozens more over Memorial Day Weekend-May 27, 28 & 29, 2016. The complete Country 500 lineup, including the Friday night headliner, will be released on November 3 and tickets, camping and VIP packages will go on sale to the public the same day. Fans should plan to take advantage of the special early bird pricing ($199) for weekend general admission passes beginning on November 3. Also called "The Great American Music Fest at Daytona," the Country 500 festival will feature the biggest stars in country music spread over three days and nights, programmed on three huge performance stages-all specially designed and built for the festival. Country 500 will take place on the infield of the world-famous Daytona International Speedway, a historic first mega-music festival inside the hallowed grounds of one of the most iconic motorsports venues in America. Just as it is for the great races at the Speedway, Country 500 will allow fans to actually camp out in the infield, literally inside the festival. A full-range of camping opportunities is available for virtually any budget, from pitching a tent to deluxe RV locations. Special VIP packages called "Crew Chief VIP Experience" and "VIP Pit Pass" allow for an exclusive upfront, golden-circle viewing area at the main stage with side stage access at the other performances areas plus access to comfortable hospitality areas, private cash bars and many other comforts and amenities. Visit Country500.com for all the Country 500 details.(DIS)
AND: Talladega Superspeedway, one of the most storied motorsports venues in America, is set to host a huge rockin' country music festival over the most American of holidays, Fourth of July Weekend, July 1-3, 2016. Dega Jam, which will take place in the infield of the biggest and baddest race track on the planet, will feature the most popular stars in country music. Spread over three days and nights and programmed on three specially designed performance stages, the mega-music festival will offer fans a thrilling new way to celebrate the entire holiday weekend. The complete artist lineup will be announced on October 25 with tickets and VIP packages on sale to the public the same day. Just as it is for the great races at the Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR's Most Competitive track, Dega Jam will allow fans to camp in the infield, literally inside the festival. A full-range of camping opportunities is available for virtually any budget, from pitching a tent to deluxe RV locations adjacent to the stages. Special VIP packages will allow for a variety of special privileges. VIP packages will be available in limited quantities. Visit DegaJam.com to sign up for the mailing list to receive information on tickets, camping, VIP opportunities and all the Jam details, including a list of participating area hotels and travel packages. (TSS)(10-16-2015)

Teams complete open test at Phoenix: NASCAR held an open testing session at Phoenix International Raceway Wednesday, and nearly 1,000 race fans were in attendance to watch some of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' best on the track. Drivers who participated in the testing session included Chase for the Sprint Cup Contenders #41-Kurt Busch, #24-Jeff Gordon, #20-Matt Kenseth, #2-Brad Keselowski, #31-Ryan Newman and #78-Martin Truex Jr. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitors #1-Jamie McMurray and #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. also took part in the session.
With the new testing format, drivers like Kenseth understand the importance of time on the track. "I don't know that your exact setup that worked out today will work when you come back in November, but you still learn a lot," Kenseth said. "We don't get much track time anymore so this gives us a few days out here to gather some data and see what the track is like and try to work through some things."
The testing session is the last chance for teams to gather data on track before the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 on Nov. 15. The Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 is the final race in the Eliminator round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. After the race, the field of championship contenders will be trimmed from eight hopefuls to the final four drivers that will race for the championship the next week. Fans were asked by PIR to make a $5 donation to Phoenix Raceway Charities for admission to the testing session. Phoenix Raceway Charities is a Donor Advised Fund under The NASCAR Foundation, and its mission is to accelerate the development of children in Arizona by supporting education, children and families of our military and military veterans, and life enrichment programs for children and families in our community.(PIR)(10-15-2015)

Teams warned after Charlotte; Keselowski & Stewart lose pit selection: NASCAR announced Wednesday that the sanctioning body has issued warnings to several teams -- including five in the Chase for the Sprint Cup -- following last weekend's Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Most impacted are Chase driver #2-Brad Keselowski and non-Chase driver #14-Tony Stewart who will lose their pit selections for Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway as a result of their respective teams accumulating four written warnings. In streamlining its warning system back in August, NASCAR ruled that every fourth warning a team receives would result in automatic loss of pit selection at the next event.
Keselowski's #2 Team Penske team received its latest warning for violating Section 20.20.a (installation of components and/or modifications of existing components to affect the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle will be not be permitted) and Section 12.5.3.1.1.c (installation of additional components and/or modifications of existing components that affect the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle that are not explicitly permitted) of the NASCAR rule book.
The championship-eligible team of Charlotte race winner #22-Joey Logano and the non-Chase team of the Wood Brothers' #21-Ryan Blaney received warnings for the same infractions as Keselowski's team.
Stewart's team received three warnings stemming from Charlotte -- one for failing pre-race inspection templates too many times, one for failing pre-qualifying inspection too many times, and one for an infraction related to the driver-adjusted track bar. In addition to losing pit selection, Stewart will serve a 15-minute practice deduction at Kansas.
Other teams issued warnings stemming from Charlotte include those of Chase driver #24-Jeff Gordon (failing pre-qualifying inspection too many times) and Chase drivers #4-Kevin Harvick and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (both for failing pre-race inspection too many times). The team of non-Chase driver #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was warned for failing pre-race inspection too many times, while the team of non-Chaser #15-Clint Bowyer received two warnings -- one for failing pre-race inspection too many times, and one for failing pre-race inspection templates too many times.(Fox Sports)(10-15-2015)

New look for #88 Nationwide Chevy in 2016 UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in the midst of the Contender Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. But that doesn't mean it's too early to look ahead to the 2016 paint scheme for his #88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS. Nationwide did just that, surprising 10 fans with the experience of a lifetime. See the video on the Hendrick Motorsports website and see an image of the car on the 2016 #88 team paint schemes page.(10-13-2015)
UPDATE: A late friend will be honored by the newly released paint scheme on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 Chevy for the 2016 NASCAR season. The side panels of Earnhardt's #88 Chevy will be painted gray - a nod to the car known as the "Gray Ghost" once driven by Buddy Baker. Baker, who died in August, won the 1980 Daytona 500 in an Oldsmobile painted gray, silver and black - hence its nickname. "It's my all-time favorite paint scheme," Earnhardt said recently at his Hendrick Motorsports shop. "So we've put a touch of the 'Gray Ghost,' on this car. With Buddy's passing, it made me want to do it even more, to acknowledge him and what he's done. It turned out to be a good-looking car. It looks good on paper, but you never know until it's on the track."(Charlotte Observer)(10-15-2015)

TirePass joins the #38 at Kansas: Love's Travel Stops returns as primary sponsor of the #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford of David Gilliand, showcasing Love's TirePass, an integrated tire inflation and assessment service that takes place in line while the driver fuels. David Gilliland: "We've got a little different look on our Love's Travel Stops Ford this week. Love's TirePass is on the hood and quarter panels. It's a great service Love's offers truck drivers. TirePass is an in-lane tire inflation and assessment service performed by a certified technician, all in the time it takes a driver to fuel. A printout of the results is then given to the driver. If there are any issues, they can get them taken care of right there on site and prevent something potentially dangerous from happening on the road."(FRM), see an images of the car on the #38 Team Schemes page.(10-15-2015)

Dillon's jackman injured in XFINITY race: #3-Austin Dillon will be without his starting Jackman, Jason Hunt, for the next few weeks due to an injury suffered in Friday nights Xfinity race in Charlotte. During the first stop, Hunt jumped off the wall and injured his left calf. Talking to people close to the situation, Jason finished the stop but not the race. He did not pit Sunday in the Cup race and will likely miss the next few races before coming back. Filling in for Hunt will be Jackman Brian Gainey. Gainey has pitted for the RCR #33 this year and serves as the Cup back up.(Pit Talks)(10-15-2015)

Becker Autos & Trailers To Sponsor both Premium Motorsports cars at Kansas: Becker Autos & Trailers in Downs and Beloit, Kansas announced the sponsorship of #98-Reed Sorenson and #62-Timmy Hill for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway this weekend. What started as a dream at Kansas Speedway in May, has now become a full sponsorship for the Kansas car and trailer dealership. In May, Lydia Housh of Becker Autos & Trailers noticed that there was no sponsorship on the hood of the #98 car during pre-race inspections. By asking and making an offer to sponsor the car, the Becker Autos & Trailers logo was placed on the hood of the #98 for the May Kansas Sprint Cup Series race. Enjoying the experience of it all, Becker Autos & Trailers was happy to get the opportunity to be the main sponsor of the #98 and #62 Premium Motorsports cars again this October for the race in Kansas. "We are proud to sponsor such a hardworking team. We feel a connection with our own business, when we see the crew pull together to get the job done. Every person on their team plays several rolls and wears several hats, that pull together and make a legit race team. It's great to see even with a smaller crew and a smaller budget, they can still go out and run with the big names of the NASCAR SprintCup series. It all relates to how our business has operated for years at Becker Autos & Trailers" said Lydia Housh co-owner of Becker Autos & Trailers in Beloit.(KD Country 94), see images of the cars on the #62 team paint schemes and #98 team paint schemes page.(10-15-2015)

Brian Scott returns to the #33 at Kansas: Brian Scott will be making his first Sprint Cup Series start at Kansas Speedway this weekend and 16th Series start. In six XFINITY Series starts at Kansas, Scott has an average starting position of 7.7 and an average finish of 17.5 with four laps led and one top-10 finish. Scott has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts earning one top-five and one top-10 finish, three laps led, an average starting position of 9.0 and an average finishing position of 8.5. In addition to competing at Kansas Speedway in the Sprint Cup Series this weekend, Scott is scheduled to drive the #2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro in the XFINITY Series race on Saturday. In his eighth Sprint Cup Series starts in the #33 Shore Lodge Chevy this season, Scott finished 22nd at Chicagoland Speedway after starting 21st and battling in and around the top 20 for the 400-mile event.(Circle Sport Racing)(10-15-2015)

Kansas Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series will run the same tire set-up at Kansas this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series teams ran at this track in May . . . all NASCAR teams have run this left-side tire code (D-4604) at Kansas since 2014 . . . Kansas is the only track at which Sprint Cup teams run this left-side tire, though they have run this right-side tire (D-4630) at Las Vegas, Talladega and Michigan this season . . . this is the first time Xfinity teams have run this right-side code (D-4630) at Kansas . . . compared to what they ran at this track last year, this right-side tire features a construction change that brings it into line with what is run at other speedways . . . Xfinity teams ran this same tire set-up at Michigan in June . . . they have also run this right-side tire at Las Vegas and Talladega this season . . . this tire set-up was re-confirmed at a Goodyear tire test at Kansas on September 14-15 . . . drivers participating in that test were Aric Almirola, Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr. and J.J. Yeley . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Kansas . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear), see tire codes. pressures, set limits and more on the Kansas Race Info page.(10-15-2015)

Kansas Track Notes & History - Thursday:
· Groundbreaking was held on May 25, 1999.
· The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001, with the first events being an ARCA race and a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on the same day - June 2.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was on Sept. 30, 2001 - won by Jeff Gordon (110.576 mph, 3:37:19).
· During the 2012 season, between the April and October events the 1.5-mile track underwent a repave adding variable banking in the corners. (NASCAR)(10-15-2015)

Self returns to the #0 at Kansas: Michael Self will return to the cockpit of the Nebraska Transport Company #0 Chevy for Saturday's Kansas Lottery 300 Xfinity Series race at Kansas Speedway. Nebraska Transport Company will be returning as a partner of Michael Self and JD Motorsports with Gary Keller this weekend, having made their sponsorship debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Iowa Speedway in August. Saturday will mark Self's seventh appearance in Chevrolets owned and prepared by JD Motorsports with Gary Keller this season. (JD Motorsports)(10-15-2015)

Keselowski calls on brother to drive the 29: Brad Keselowski wrote on his blog that older brother Brian will be driving the #29 Ford at Talladega Superspeedway in place of injured Austin Theriault. Keselowski explained: "When I was looking for a replacement driver for Austin, I knew that most of the current Cup drivers wouldn't be interested in taking the wheel at Talladega. For one thing, Talladega is a dangerous track, and while it's always a fun race, there's not a lot to be gained in the way of knowledge from driving there. That narrowed the pool down to drivers from XFINITY, Truck and ARCA, and when I considered the drivers that interested me, none of them was really more qualified than Brian was. In addition, I have a great partner with Cooper Standard, who has given me free reign to pick the drivers I feel are qualified and not get stuck with someone I don't want. That's a great privilege to have...As a driver, Brian had some opportunities with ARCA car owners and lower level XFINITY owners earlier on, and for a bunch of different reasons, they just didn't work out. He didn't have the success he wanted to have. He still races from time to time at various levels - Late Model, ARCA, XFINITY and Cup. He's worked as an instructor at one of Richard Petty's driving schools, and more recently, has been a crew chief for the ARCA series. He's a very good crew chief. One guy he's been helping out this year, a young rookie driver, has been running up front and leading laps. He hasn't won a race but he's come really close. I'm excited to do something with my brother. There's something about it that's noble to me. My family started off working together. My dad and uncle built their race teams together. My brother and I have never really had that kind of relationship. It's nice to be able to do something with him."(BradRacing.com)(10-15-2015)

NASCAR Announces Base 2016 Rules Package: NASCAR announced the base NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rules package to be used during the 2016 season. The package was delivered to teams after an extensive collaborative process between NASCAR and industry stakeholders. The base package will include a 3.5-inch spoiler, a 0.25-inch front leading splitter edge and a 33-inch wide radiator pan. These components will provide lower downforce on the cars, and Goodyear will develop tires to complement them. Earlier this season, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kentucky Speedway and Darlington Raceway featured a similar aero package.
"NASCAR has worked tirelessly with our teams, drivers, manufacturers and Goodyear to develop a rules package that provides fans with the best racing possible," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. "The success of the races at Kentucky and Darlington in similar trim proved extremely valuable in accelerating rules development for 2016. Now, as teams have even more time to prepare and a strong baseline of data, we anticipate the racing to be even better."
Characteristics of the lower downforce rules package includes more off-throttle time for drivers and decreasing corner speeds. This generates more passing zones over the entire track, and allows for multiple tire combinations to be levered. In addition to the base package, each track will continue to feature specific rules, including tire combinations and drive train configurations, to create the best racing for each track length, layout and surface. Rear gear ratios will be adjusted to maintain a maximum engine speed of 9,000 RPM and a 1.38 third gear ratio will be used at all tracks smaller than 1.25 miles. The digital dashboard, which was optional for teams during the second half of this season, will be mandatory in all vehicles.
"Our team at the NASCAR R&D Center is constantly looking at the racing, and evaluating ways to continue to improve it," O'Donnell said. "Using science and technology and qualitative data compiled from world-class engineers throughout the industry as our guideposts, we will always look to make the racing better for our fans."
Several safety updates have been instituted, including a double NACA duct where a right-hand side window is used, a fire suppression system activation cable routed to the dash or right-hand side leg board and a seat belt restraint system that meets SFI 16.6 specification.(NASCAR)(10-14-2015)

Earnhardt Jr. says no retaliation against Edwards: If you thought #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. was considering any sort of payback on #19-Carl Edwards for a racing incident Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, you thought wrong. Earnhardt used his forum on the "Dale Jr. Download" - a weekly podcast on the driver's Dirty Mo Radio network - to explain to fans why he won't be retaliating against Edwards. "A lot of people want me to go wreck Carl," he said. "I'm not going to do that, because if I'm trying to wreck Carl, I'm not winning Kansas, I'm not winning Talladega. You can't go chase after a guy and put him out of the race and accomplish what your goals are. Our goals are to go to those races and win, that's what we're going to do." Two laps prior to the incident, Earnhardt had thrown a big block on Edwards while racing for position. Earnhardt said he didn't want to give up a spot in the Chase, and was racing hard at that point in the race. But when he tried it again two laps later, Edwards held his ground. The cars made contact and Earnhardt hit the wall, but Earnhardt said it was "both of our responsibility." "We're not going to worry about Carl or start some (bull) show between me and him," he said. "It's over and done."(USA Today)(10-13-2015)

Will Kimmel returns to the #32 at Kansas: Heading into Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400, Will Kimmel will be looking to make his 2nd career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. This weekend's event in "The Sunflower State" will mark Kimmel's second race in 2015 for Go Green Racing. The 27-year-old Sellersburg, IN native was able to finish 38th in the July event at Kentucky Speedway in his NSCS debut. Will Kimmel will be pulling double duty this weekend, as he will pilot his #69 SO Contracting Ford Fusion in Friday night's Full Throttle S'loonshine 98.9. In four previous starts in the ARCA Racing Series at Kansas Speedway Kimmel has a best finish of 6th, which came back in the 2013 event.(Go Green Racing)(10-14-2015)

SONIC sponsoring Hornish in two races: Richard Petty Motorsports announced that SONIC Drive-In will be the primary sponsor for Sam Hornish Jr. and the #9 Ford team for the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. More than 50 years ago, SONIC and its unique menu was built on the popular drive-in model: made-to-order American classics, signature menu items and speedy service from friendly skating Carhops. Today, SONIC is the largest chain of drive-in restaurants in America with more than 3,500 drive-in locations in 44 states across the country. This isn't the first time SONIC has been involved in NASCAR. In addition to its previous on-track presence, fans may have seen the drive-in restaurant's latest commercial starring NBC Sports' Rutledge Wood and Kyle Petty. Now, SONIC will be teaming up with NASCAR Hall of Famer, Richard Petty and Richard Petty Motorsports.(Richard Pettty Motorsports), see images of the car on the #9 team paint schemes page.(10-14-2015)

Whitt picks up new sponsor at Kansas: Rich Logistics, a Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc. company, will turn its first laps on a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car with Cole Whitt at Kansas Speedway this weekend. The trucking and logistics company will sponsor the #35 entry of Front Row Motorsports for Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400. Little Rock, Ark.-based Rich Logistics provides trucking and expedited freight shipping services throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The company operates a fleet of more than 600 units out of 11 locations, including one in Kansas City, Mo. Sunday's Sprint Cup race will be Rich Logistics' first partnership in NASCAR.(Front Row Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #35 team paint schemes page.(10-14-2015)

Ambrose done racing full-time: Marcos Ambrose has finally called time on his full-time V8 Supercars comeback, leaving the way clear for Fabian Coulthard and Scott Pye to drive a revitalised DJR-Penske team into 2016 and beyond. Confirmation of the expanded two-car team, and the signing of Coulthard after months of rumours and speculation, comes following a solid performance by Pye and Ambrose in the Bathurst 1000. Ambrose will still race in the final double-driver event of the season at the Gold Coast in just over a week but has yet to decide on his plans for next year, including a potential return to co-driving duties. "I do not intend to drive full-time any more. I elected not to be a part of it," Ambrose confirmed on Tuesday to News Limited. "It's absolutely my choice. There is no sadness. I've had a great run, a great career. I have my own personal reasons. I've got other priorities now."(Herald Sun)(10-14-2015)

Jeff Burton's son to make K&N debut: Harrison Burton, the teenage son of former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and current NBC Sports NASCAR analyst Jeff Burton, will make his debut this weekend in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series driving the #12 DEX Imaging Toyota for Jeff Burton Autosports (JBA). Burton has already made a name for himself as one of the youngest drivers to run late models. The three time USAC Quarter Midget National Champion continues to make history being one of the youngest drivers to accomplish the following: pole position qualifying run in his second Late Model race (age 11), two PASS Pro-Late Model wins (age 12), two World Series of Asphalt Pro-Late Model wins (age 13), and three Super Late Model wins (age 14). Burton's current Super Late Model primary sponsor, DEX Imaging, a privately held document-imaging dealer, will also be the primary sponsor of the #12 K&N Series Toyota this weekend at All-American Speedway. They will continue their long-standing partnership with JBA in both the Super Late Model and K&N Series throughout the remainder of the 2015 season and in 2016. Chris Wimmer will return as crew chief of the Super Late Model team, while Rich Lushes will come on as crew chief for Burton's K&N races. Burton's complete 2016 schedule is expected to be released later this year.(Burton PR)(10-14-2015)

RACEGIRL joins JD Motorsports: A familiar brand from the early 2000s is returning to the NASCAR circuit. RACEGIRL, a clothing brand geared toward female race fans, is expanding its relationship with the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller team for the remainder of the 2015 NASCAR Xfinity series season and beyond. Because of the overwhelming demand for popular fashion in the world of competitive sports, RACEGIRL has presented female fans and participants with an array of comfortable apparel in select original designs. With its quality and style, RACEGIRL clothing and accessories have become consistent favorites at sporting events across the nation. RACEGIRL has been affiliated with team owner Johnny Davis since 2004 and has frequently sponsored the JDM Chevrolets. All three JD Motorsports Camaros will carry the RACEGIRL logo, and fans can now purchase RACEGIRL apparel on the JDM Merchandise page.(JD Motorsports)(10-14-2015)

Busch's car too low after Chicago race UPDATE 2: #54-Kyle Busch's winning car in Saturday's Furious 7 300 Xfinity Series race was found to be too low in post-race inspection. A NASCAR official said the car was low in all four corners. The car was taken back to the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., for further inspection. There is the possibility there could be penalties assessed this coming week, unless further inspection finds something broke in Busch's car, the official added.(NBC Sports)(9-19-2015)
UPDATE: Kyle Busch's winning Xfinity car, found to be too low in all four corners after Saturday's race, had a broken part, according to NASCAR. Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, made the comment Monday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's "The Morning Drive." Asked if Busch's car failing inspection could lead to penalties this week, O'Donnell said: "There was a broken part on the race car, so that's something that we'll look at as we take the car back to the R&D Center and evaluate where we go from postrace. That process is still ongoing and we'll announce something Tuesday if there's anything to it."(NBC Sports)(9-21-2015)
UPDATE 2: The #18 team has been penalized for an infraction that occurred during pre-race on Sept. 19. This is a P2 level penalty (Sections 12.1 and 20.4b and 20.4.2a of the NASCAR rule book). The right side vertical extension panel (side skirt) was modified after pre-race inspection. Crew chief Eric P. Phillips has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015. Crew member John P. Egbert Jr. has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015.
The #54 car failed heights during post-race inspection on Sept. 19. This is a P2 level penalty (Sections 12.1, 20.17.3.2.1. b & c, 20.17.3.2.2.b & c, 12.5.3.2.1.f, 12.5.3.2.2.a.b & d of the NASCAR rule book). Crew chief Christopher W. Gayle has been fined $12,500 and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015. Car owner J. D. Gibbs has been penalized 10 series championship owner points.(NASCAR)(9-23-2015)
UPDATE 3: The National Motorsports Appeals Panel today heard and considered the appeal of a P2 penalty issued on Sept. 23 to J.D. Gibbs (owner) and Chris Gayle (crew chief) relative to NASCAR XFINITY Series vehicle #54 at Chicagoland Speedway. The penalty concerns the following sections in the 2015 NASCAR Rule Book: Sections 12.1; 20.17.3.2.1.b&c; 20.17.3.2.2.b&c; 12.5.3.2.1.f; 12.5.3.2.2.a.b&d. The original penalty assessed included a $12,500 fine and NASCAR probation through Dec. 31 to Gayle and loss of 10 series championship car owner points to Gibbs. Upon hearing the testimony, the decisions of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel are:
1. That the Appellants violated the Rule or Rules set forth in the Penalty Notice as a P2 Penalty.
2. That due to part failure, the Panel amends the Penalty to:
a. Loss of 10 NASCAR XFINITY Series Championship car owner points for car owner J.D. Gibbs
b. $8,500 fine for crew chief Chris Gayle
The panel consisted of the following three individuals: Ms. Cathy Rice, Mr. Lake Speed, Mr. Kevin Whitaker.
The Appellants have the right to appeal the decision of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel to the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer in accordance with Section 15 of the NASCAR Rule Book.(NASCAR)(10-14-2015)

Cope names Kansas sponsors: DCR has two co-primary sponsors for the Kansas Xfinity Race this Saturday. Both are returning sponsors and long time supporters of NASCAR and Derrike Cope Racing. To the Point, "Defining Corporate Apparrel" is based out of Winston Salem NC and produces corporate clothing and all types of racewear and race team accessories.
Maxelence MVP is a nutritional performance drink mix that supports muscle recovery, sustainable energy and healthy digestion without the use of caffeine, taurine or any other stimulants. The umbrella company of Maxelence MVP, Bestlife International also produces Sammi's Best Healthy Coffee Creamers made with real coconut oil, which is featured as an associate sponsor on the #70 this week.
Smoking Guns Catering will be serving up World Championship BBQ recipes at the Kansas track and at the DCR hauler.
Holiday Inn Express and Suites in the Kansas City Sports Area is sponsoring Team #70.
BeerFrost will be keeping Team DCR's beverages ice cold all weekend for a fraction of the number of bags of ice usually needed. Beer Frost is an amazing safe all-natural product that uses a blend of minerals to drop the temperature of ice to minus 10 degrees.(Derrike Cope Racing)(10-14-2015)

Charlotte Penalty: NASCAR member Chicago Paskiecz has been penalized for infractions that occurred during last weekend's events at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This is a behavioral penalty (Sections 12.1 and 12.8 of the NASCAR rule book) and Paskiecz has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR.(NASCAR)(10-14-2015)

Ryan Truex optimistic about 2016: During a time of year when many in the NASCAR garage aren't likely to discuss what they will be doing the following season, Ryan Truex is bucking tradition. Truex was all smiles this past weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway as he revealed he would have some good news soon. "I'll be able to talk more soon, I wish I could tell you. There's stuff going on for sure," Truex said following the XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300. "It's all focused ... obviously I want to go full-time, and I want to compete for an XFINITY championship. I feel like I have the talent to do it, and I feel like I'm at the point in my career where I have the experience to know what I need in a car." What Truex has found tough is getting back in the car after being away for almost a full year and going fast. Last season, Truex was in nearing the end of his rookie season in the Sprint Cup Series driving the #83 for BK Racing. But when the series arrived at New Hampshire in September, Truex had parted ways with the team. Still a development driver for Richard Petty Motorsports, it wasn't too farfetched when Truex returned to NASCAR competition last month at Richmond International Raceway for Biagi DenBeste Racing, who has an affiliation with RPM. He also ran the September 26 event at Kentucky Speedway with the team. If Biagi DenBeste were involved in what the future holds for Truex, it wouldn't come as a surprise. The 23-year-old regards the organization with very high praise. The Biagi DenBeste team is a partnership between brothers Fred and George Biagi as well as Bill and Lori DenBeste. A single car operation, it reminds the younger Truex of brother Martin's Sprint Cup team, Furniture Row Racing. They too are a single car team who recognized they would be stronger if aligned with another organization. "I think we're a good combo. I like all the guys on the team. I like running Fords. I'd love to be in it every weekend. Hopefully, we can work on that and make it happen next year. But glad to get a finish here and not wreck one for once and hopefully go into another race this year."(Popular Speed)(10-14-2015)

Final start of the year for Poole: For the last time in 2015, Brennan Poole will be behind the wheel of the #42 DC Solar Chevy Camaro for Saturday afternoon's 300-mile race at Kansas Speedway. Through 16 starts, Poole has two top-10 and nine top-15 finishes, with an average starting position of 16.6 and an average finishing position of 18.9. Poole started and finished fourth in his one prior at Kansas Speedway, in the ARCA Racing Series in October 2012.(HScott Motorsports with Chip Ganassi)(10-14-2015)

Padilla to sing National Anthem at Texas: Bárbara Padilla, the Mexican-American classical crossover soprano whose career blossomed after finishing runner-up on the fourth season of NBC's "America's Got Talent," has been invited to sing the National Anthem for the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Texas Motor Speedway. Ms. Padilla, the talented songstress, will be making a stop on her North American tour schedule to perform for the first time ever at a NASCAR race before one of the largest crowds expected for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship rounds. The announcement comes during National Hispanic Heritage Month as Texas Motor Speedway and NASCAR celebrate the cultural contributions the international soprano has made to the United States. Ms. Padilla has performed as a soloist at symphonic events and has given concerts and recitals throughout the United States, Italy and Mexico. Her repertoire spans from beloved operas such as La Boheme, Turandot, Tosca, Madame Butterfly and La Traviata to poignant oratorios like Verdi's and Mozart's Requiem Masses and other masterworks including Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Joseph Haydn's Nelson Mass and Carl Orff's Carmina Burana.(TMS)(10-14-2015)

New look for #88 Nationwide Chevy in 2016: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in the midst of the Contender Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. But that doesn't mean it's too early to look ahead to the 2016 paint scheme for his #88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS. Nationwide did just that, surprising 10 fans with the experience of a lifetime. See the video on the Hendrick Motorsports website and see an image of the car on the 2016 #88 team paint schemes page.(10-13-2015)

Kasey Kahne on baby watch UPDATE: #5-Kasey Kahne's girlfriend, Samantha Sheets, is due to deliver Kahne's son on October 10 - the same day as the Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500. When asked what the status was, Kahne told Kickin' the Tires that his impending fatherhood was "close."
"It's close, it's really close," Kahne said, as he walked back to his hauler from qualifying on the outside pole for tonight's (Friday) Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. "Sam's like, very close." Kahne didn't say whether or not he had a backup plan in place should Sheets go into labor before, or during, the race. He said he was hoping the baby would wait to make its debut until after the race weekend. "I think it will be Sunday night or Monday, is what I am hoping for. After the race tomorrow night and then we have our foundation's 5-k on Sunday morning at 10:00am down at the (NASCAR) Hall of Fame, which is always a fun event. We get a lot of support for that and enjoy it and then we will probably spend a little time at the hospital for the next few days after that. "I am actually a little nervous. I think about it more and more each day and wake earlier each morning just thinking about it. It's going to be a big change but I'm looking forward to it."(Kickin' the Tires)(10-10-2015)
UPDATE: Kahne tweeted Tuesday morning, "I officially became a dad at 1:11 AM to Tanner Lee Kahne. Mom and tanner are doing great. On no sleep but we can't put this little guy down."(10-13-2015).

Charlotte TV Ratings: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Charlotte, the fourth race in the Chase for the Cup, drew a 1.4 overnight rating on NBCSN Sunday afternoon. The race was originally scheduled to air Saturday night on the NBC broadcast network, but was postponed due to rain. Last year's race, which aired on ABC in its scheduled timeslot, drew a 2.9 overnight.(Sports Media Watch)
See past race TV Ratings, five-year comparison chart and more on the 2015 TV Ratings page.(10-13-2015)

Drivers not happy with track cleanup UPDATE NASCAR comments: #18-Kyle Busch and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. were angry at NASCAR for what they felt was a lousy job cleaning up the track in the top of the groove between Turns 1 and 2 from a #51-Justin Allgaier oil spill on lap 182 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Both drivers hit the wall as they tried to put themselves in position to finish on the lead lap. Earnhardt, one lap down, ended up in the wall shortly before lap 200 and wound up four laps down in 28th. Busch hit it about 15 laps later, finishing one lap down in 20th. "You can't pass anybody -- it's a single-lane race track and then [a driver] put oil on the top lane [where we] to try to make anything happen and then you put yourself in the fence -- so thanks to NASCAR for cleaning that up," Busch said sarcastically.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director Richard Buck said NASCAR had cleanup workers actually walk the areas where drivers complained about oil, and they felt no oil, just the kitty litter-type absorbent. Earnhardt said NASCAR might have missed the oil because of shadows on the track, but Buck said workers and the pace-car driver did not feel any oil. "I've raced this [stuff] for 20 years," Earnhardt said. "I know what oil and [the absorbent] Speedi Dri is. We hit fluid, flew into the freaking wall hard. That's not Speedi Dri. There was oil up there. ... I hit the f---ing wall. I know I hit oil. I hit it. I promise. I'll argue with them all day long because I know I'm right."(ESPN)(10-11-2015)
UPDATE: A NASCAR executive said Monday that officials will talk to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch about their insistence they hit oil in Sunday's Bank of America 500 after the track surface had been examined. Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive VP and chief racing development officer, addressed the matter on "The Morning Drive" on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "In this case, we did not see oil,'' O'Donnell said. "I can't debate Kyle and (Earnhardt), they're in the race cars. If they say they hit it, it's not something that we saw out there. We'll continue to talk to them and see what maybe we can improve on in the future. We had personnel even out on the track, getting down on almost their hands and knees to make sure there wasn't any.'' O'Donnell said series officials thoroughly examined the track during the cautions. "Under any caution and condition, we obviously send out all the safety equipment to look and see if there is any oil from their perspective on the track,'' O'Donnell said. "We did that in this case. We had (pace car driver) Brett Bodine run through it multiple times and confirm back up to race control that the track was in good shape to go ahead and restart. Hopefully, there wasn't any. We go out there and we go check and did our process multiple times and they did not see any. Ultimately, we're not in the car and driving the car. From our view, the race was in good shape to get restarted and it always has to be before we go back green. That's where we were and felt like we did everything we could to ensure that the race track was in a safe condition.''(NBC Sports)(10-13-2015)

Shell Saver Cardholders Can Save When #22 Ford Wins: This weekend Joey Logano took the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion to victory lane at Charlotte, and now it's current Shell $aver Card customers' time to win! Shell Saver Cardholders can save 22 cents per gallon on all three grades of Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines, and Shell Diesel. Savings apply up to 25 gallons at participating stations and are good for purchases made this upcoming Wednesday, or as we like to call it WINsday, October 14. The season-long WINsday promotion will be applicable after every points race in which Joey Logano takes the checkered flag.(Shell)(10-13-2015)

No word yet when the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Schedule will be announced. BUT, two more race dates released: Charlotte on Sunday, May 29th and Kentucky on Saturday, July 9th.
Any rumors or news about the schedule will be posted. There have been reports it would come out in mid-to-late September but that came and went, so it is expected sometime this week (Oct 12-16 range). Also see the 2016 Schedule News and Rumors page. As a reference, in 2014 the 2015 schedule was announced on 8/26/2014; the 2014 schedule wasn't announced until 10/15/2013; and the 2013 schedule was announced on 9/25/2012. Have posted a very unofficial Tentative 2016 Sprint Cup Series schedule, but 14 dates are confirmed.

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Kansas:
#48-Jimmie Johnson................ 111.6
#20-Matt Kenseth.................... 104.9
#42-Kyle Larson...................... 104.3
#4-Kevin Harvick...................... 102.1
#16-Greg Biffle ........................ 101.1
#24-Jeff Gordon....................... 100.5
#19-Carl Edwards...................... 96.0
#78-Martin Truex Jr.................... 93.3
#5-Kasey Kahne........................ 93.0
#14-Tony Stewart...................... 92.4
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2015 races (15 total) among active drivers at Kansas Speedway.
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)(10-13-2015)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Laps Led Leaders:
(after Charlotte, 30 of 36 races)
1. #4-Kevin Harvick, 2,031
2. #22-Joey Logano, 1.090
3. #20-Matt Kenseth, 771
4. #41-Kurt Busch, 765 (27 races)
5. #18-Kyle Busch, 682 (19 races)
6. #2-Brad Keselowski, 611
7. #78-Martin Truex Jr., 536
8. #11-Denny Hamlin, 521
9. #48-Jimmie Johnson, 469
10. #19-Carl Edwards, 362
(10-13-2015)

Sieg gets Kansas sponsors: RSS Racing welcomes Sikk Shades by Eddie Bauer Jr as a primary sponsor for the XFINITY race this Saturday at Kansas Speedway. Sikk Shades specializes in sunglasses using flash electric lens technology. Driver Ryan Sieg, who is coming off another strong run at Charlotte will be supporting the Sikk Shades brand for the remaining races in 2016.
AND: Smart Cell will join Ryan Sieg as an associate sponsor for this week's race in Kansas. Smart Cell is kicking off it's Stocking Stuffer School Fundraising Program. Any school, band, choir or orchestra that is still seeking ways to meet their financial needs will find this to be the easiest and best program available.(RSS Racing)(10-13-2015)

GMS Racing considering future in XFINITY: The growth of GMS Racing over the last 18 months has not been anything but impressive. The Statesville, North Carolina-based team owned by Allegiant Travel CEO Maury Gallagher has steadily, yet impressively built a foundation that appears headed for a direct longtime landing in NASCAR. In August, the team announced a partnership with Steve and Stephen Leavitt creating Leavitt GMS Performance. The company specializes in chassis construction for many of NASCAR's various racing division, as well as the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. It's because of that partnership, GMS Racing is hopeful for a six to 10 race NASCAR XFINITY Series trial run next season, with a full schedule on radar for 2017. "Because some of the early success that we have had, and some of the great talent that we have been able to attract, this will allow GMS Racing to expand much quicker than everyone had expected," added [director of competition Mike] Beam.(Catchfence)(10-13-2015)

Cobb returns to XFINITY Series at Kansas: This weekend, Kansas City, KS native Jennifer Jo Cobb will compete for a spot in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Kansas Lottery 300. Not so ironically, her car will be the #10 Mark One Electric Chevy. Cobb races full time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series using the #10 and she was married to Eddie Troconis on 10/10 - just a few days ago. Primary sponsor Mark One Electric returns as a 12th time sponsor for JJCR at the Kansas Speedway. Arrow Truck Sales and Pizza Shoppe, who have been sponsors for Cobb for multiple races at the Kansas Speedway also return to support her for this race and Precision Roofing returns for a second year."(JJC Racing)(10-13-2015)

Atlanta announces 2016 race date; "Perfect Weather Guarantee": NASCAR racing will make its thunderous return to Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2016 with the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Weekend Feb. 26-28. The Speedway today announced several great new benefits for fans attending the weekend event. The 2016 NASCAR Weekend has become more affordable and fan-friendly than ever. The majority of grandstand seat prices have been reduced, and no ticket to the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 is priced at more than $99, with seats starting as low as $39. The new ticket prices represent an overall average reduction of 15 percent from previous levels. Along with reduced ticket prices, Atlanta Motor Speedway has introduced a "Perfect Race Weather Guarantee." The all-new policy offers fans options in the event that inclement weather prevents them from attending the race. If the daytime high temperature in Hampton, Georgia on Saturday or Sunday of race weekend fails to reach at least 50 degrees as observed by the National Weather Service, or if weather issues postpone the day's activities to a different day and fans are unable to attend on the rescheduled date, fans who do not enter the admission gates on the day the event is held will receive an account credit for the full price of their tickets. Credits can be applied to any future AMS event or events in 2016 or the 2017 NASCAR Weekend. Also new in 2016, Atlanta Motor Speedway is rolling out the ultra-affordable "Good," "Better" and "Best" ticket packages that offer unbeatable weekend deals. Another fan-favorite experience available now is the Champions Suite, which offers an indoor, climate-controlled atmosphere, a pre-race pit pass, individual reserved seating, TVs, dedicated restrooms, a delicious food and beverage buffet and much more.(AMS)(10-13-2015)

Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Colonel Eric F. Buer to Award Talladega Trophy: The Freedom Trophy, Talladega Superspeedway's newest tradition to honor our Country's military, will be presented to the winner of the CampingWorld.com 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Oct. 25 by Colonel Eric F. Buer, United States Marine Corp Pensacola, FL. The coveted Freedom Trophy was introduced by Talladega Superspeedway track officials in May of 2014. It is awarded to every winner of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held at NASCAR's Most Competitive track by a member of one of the five military branches of the United States. Colonel Buer will have the distinguished honor of making the presentation after the drop of the checkered flag at the CampingWorld.com 500, the final race in Contender Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, where the field of 12-drivers eligible for the title will be cut to eight. The Freedom Trophy is a spectacular work of art. Silver aluminum panels, complete with a design of each military branch service member and branch logo are showcased, along with a star that is a waterjet cut in the center. Black stained wood makes up the trophy's base, with circular discs at the bottom while the top is made of black acrylic that includes the Talladega Superspeedway logo, the date of the race and the name of the base awarding the trophy. For all ticket information, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS)(10-13-2015)

Entry List for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is posted, 44 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #21-Ryan Blaney, #32-Will Kimmel, #33-Scott, #62-Hill, #98-Sorenson.
Drivers who need to be in the top-36 in speed and have no provisional available to them (lowest in owners points): #62-Hill (45th in owners points)
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts): #21-Blaney (15 race attempts)
See the full entry list on Jayski.com's Kansas Entry List

Charlotte Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2015 Bank of America 500: For those NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday's race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 12:14 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 4:13 PM (all times are EST). NBCSN was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 149
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 70
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 124
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 66
Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 25
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 26
Number of times NBC utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 4
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast (including company logos 'floating' in corners of the screen): 104
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 5 min. 15 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 12:14 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:13 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 239
Minutes of race broadcast: 188
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 51
Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 11
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 1 Safety vehicle shown, not debris
Total race brdcst time 188 Total comm. brdcst time 51
See full reports, sponsor links, many more details at CawnJaws.com.(10-12-2015)

TMC Transportation to sponsor Annett at Kansas: The black and gold colors of TMC Transportation are heading back to the racetrack. TMC Transportation, the nation's largest employee-owned flatbed transportation company, will adorn the #46 Chevy of Michael Annett at Kansas. In driving with the TMC colors, Annett continues a family legacy. His father Harrold owned a TMC-sponsored race team, which included a decorated sprint car team from the 1970s through the late 1990s for legendary drivers such as Mike Brooks and Sammy Swindell. During his climb to the Cup Series, Annett competed in the United States Auto Club (USAC) and American Speed Association (ASA) with TMC as the primary partner.(HScott Motorsports / Rising Star Management Group), see images of the car on the #46 Team Schemes page.(10-12-2015)

Kyle and Samantha Busch raise money for breast cancer patients: For the third year, the Kyle Busch Foundation raised money to help the North Carolina-based Pretty in Pink Foundation award grants to what they call "champions" - people who are fighting breast cancer. This year, Busch and wife Samantha raised enough money - $57,000 - to help with medical expenses for 22 patients (21 women and one man). In three years, the foundation has raised more than $200,000 and helped 76 people fighting breast cancer. Busch sponsor Mars hosted six of the champions - the others were not healthy enough to attend - in its suite overlooking Charlotte Motor Speedway's Turn 4 on Saturday night. "It's neat to be able to help them out and give them a fresh breath of air and maybe even a fresh breath of life," Kyle Busch told USA TODAY Sports. "Hopefully they can enjoy a great day of not having to worry about things and think about things, and just kind of let loose a little bit." The Pretty in Pink Foundation assists under-insured or uninsured patients with their medical costs, which include things like radiation treatments, chemotherapy and doctor visit co-pays. Kyle and Samantha Busch founded the organization online a few years ago and reached out, saying they wanted to help. "Sometimes they get labeled as 'breast cancer patients,' but we want them to be able to go back to their other lives," Samantha said. "They never worry about themselves; they always talk about how it affects their family or friends. To be able to give them some small peace of mind, that's what's special."(see full story at the USA Today)(10-12-2015)

Four drivers who won a race in 2014, have not won 2015: Four drivers have been shut out of winning a Sprint Cup race in 2015 after winning at least one race in 2014, after 30 or 36 races in 2015, the drivers:
#24-Jeff Gordon last won at Dover in September 2014 and has a four season win streak.
#5-Kasey Kahne last won at Atlanta in August 2014 and has a four season win streak.
#43-Aric Almirola has won one career race, last year at Daytona in July.
#47-A.J. Allmendinger has won one career race, last year at Watkins Glen in August.
(10-12-2015)

XFINITY Entry List: There are 41 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. A few notes:
Jennifer Jo Cobb in the #10;
Derek White in the #13;
Stanton Barrett in the #17;
Matt Kenseth in the #20;
Joey Logano in the #22;
Carl Long in the #40;
Kevin Harvick in the #88;
Mario Gosselin in the #92;
Mason Mingus in the #97.(10-12-2015)
UPDATE: Ryan Ellis will drive the #17.(10-12-2015)
UPDATE: Harrison Rhodes will return to the #13 and Timmy Hill to the #40. The #0 is TBA.(10-12-2015)
See the complete list on the Kansas entry list page.

Mingus to run Kansas for Obaika: Mason Mingus will make his second NASCAR XFINITY Series start Saturday at Kansas Speedway, driving the #97 VroomBrands Chevy Camaro for Obaika Racing. The driver's start in the Kansas Lottery 300 will follow a 24th-place finish in his series debut with the team last month at Chicagoland Speedway. The Kansas race takes place on an off week in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, in which Mingus competes full-time for Billy Boat Motorsports. Obaika Racing is in its first season competing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Based in Mooresville, N.C., and led by crew chief John Monsam, the team has fielded multiple drivers in its #97 entry in 2015.(Breaking Limits)(10-12-2015)

Singer Eric Church named at the Honorary "Pace Car Driver" at Talladega: Country Music Association and four-time Academy of Country Music Award winner Eric Church, who is currently nominated for five CMA Awards, including Single of the Year for "Talladega", will serve as the Honorary "Pace Car Driver" for the CampingWorld.com 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, October 25. Church, nominated for CMA's Entertainer of the Year, will lead the 43-driver starting grid around the biggest and baddest race track on the planet prior to the start of the third and final race of the Contender Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in which 12 eligible drivers for the title will be reduced to eight at the checkered flag. Driving on the track's mammoth, 33-degree high banked turns in the Official Chevrolet SS Pace Car, Church will lead the field to the green flag to start the much anticipated CampingWorld.com 500. Check out www.talladegasuperspeedway.com for more information or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS)(10-12-2015)

Logano wins at Charlotte: #22-Joey Logano won the rained delayed Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for his 4th win of the season, 1st win at Charlotte and 12th career win. Logano led 227 of the 334 laps.
With the win Logano will automatically advance to the Eliminator round of The Chase.
#4-Harvick finished 2nd (for the 11th time in 2015 and 42nd runner-up finish in his career) followed by #78-Truex Jr., #11-Hamlin, #41-Busch, #19-Edwards, #3-Dillon, #24-Gordon, #2-Keselowski and #43-Almirola.
The race was delayed a day after being rain pushed back the race from Saturday night.
Pole sitter and Chase points leader going into the race, #20-Kenseth had troubles, making contact with #31-Newman and hitting the walla a few times before retiring the car on lap 236, finishing 42nd after leading 73 laps.
There were 14 lead changes among 10 drivers and 9 cautions for 44 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 139.760mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).(10-11-2015)

Finishing positions of the 2015 Sprint Cup Chase drivers at Charlotte:
[by points standings before the race (start pos)]
1) #20-Matt Kenseth, finished 42nd (1)
2) #22-Joey Logano, WON (3)
3) #11-Denny Hamlin, 4th (5)
4) #19-Carl Edwards, 6th (8)
5) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 3rd (15)
6) #41-Kurt Busch, 5th (6)
7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 8th (22)
8) #2-Brad Keselowski, 9th (13)
9) #18-Kyle Busch, 20th (2)
10) #31-Ryan Newman, 15th (10)
11) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 28th (12)
12) #4-Kevin Harvick, 2nd (11)
(10-11-2015)

Race Fast Facts - Charlotte:
Joey Logano won the 56th Annual Bank of America 500, his 12th victory in 249 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
With the victory, Logano clinches a spot in the Eliminator Round.
This is his fourth victory and 24th top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his first victory and eighth top-10 finish in 14 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His previous best finish at Charlotte was third on May 29, 2011.
Kevin Harvick (second) posted his 13th top-10 finish in 30 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 24th top-10 finish in 2015. It was his 11th runner-up finish of 2015.
Martin Truex Jr. (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 21 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Joey Logano leads the point standings by 6 points over Kevin Harvick.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-11-2015)

Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Contender Round:
[after Charlotte, race 30 of 36, Chase race 4 of 10]
1) #22-Logano* [4 wins], 3048; +19
2) #4-Harvick [3], 3042 -6; +13
3) #78-Truex, Jr.[1], 3041 -7; +12
4) #11-Hamlin[2], 3040 -8; +11
5) #41-Busch[2], 3039 -9; +10
6) #19-Edwards[2], 3039 -9; +10
7) #24-Gordon, 3037 -11; +8
8) #2-Keselowski[1], 3035 -13; 6 ahead of 9th
Top 8 advance to Eliminator round
9) #31-Newman, 3029 -19; - 6 out of 8th
10) #18-Busch[4], 3025 -23; -10
11) #88-Earnhardt Jr.[2], 3016 -32; -19
12) #20-Kenseth[5], 3003 -45; -32
The order is set by the points standings after the last round.
(ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
* driver automatically advances to Eliminator round by winning a Contender round race
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).(10-11-2015)

Unofficial Top 25 in 2015 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings (not the Chase):
[after Charlotte, race 30 of 36]
(using current points system, but not the Chase rules, unofficial)
1) #22-Joey Logano(C1), 1110
2) #4-Kevin Harvick(C2), 1096, -14
3) #2-Brad Keselowski(C8), 1005, -105
4) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(C11), 1002, -108
5) #78-Martin Truex Jr.(C3), 960, -150
6) #20-Matt Kenseth(C12), 952, -158
7) #11-Denny Hamlin(C4), 949, -161
8) #48-Jimmie Johnson(EC), 932, -178
9) #41-Kurt Busch(C5), 914, -196
10) #19-Carl Edwards(C6), 897, -213
11) #1-Jamie McMurray(EC), 887, -223
12) #24-Jeff Gordon(C7), 874, -236
13) #31-Ryan Newman(C9), 866, -244
14) #43-Aric Almirola, 801, -309
15) #15-Clint Bowyer(EC), 798, -312
16) #27-Paul Menard(EC), 793, -317
17) #5-Kasey Kahne, 771, -339
18) #42-Kyle Larson, 742, -368
19) #16-Greg Biffle, 726, -384
20) #3-Austin Dillon, 685, -425
21) #13-Casey Mears, 650, -460
22) #47-AJ Allmendinger, 628, -482
23) #18-Kyle Busch(C10), 626, -484
24) #10-Danica Patrick, 622, -488
25) #14-Tony Stewart, 599, -511
(C# = chase driver and current Chase position)
(EC = chase driver that has been eliminated from the Chase)
(10-11-2015)

Charlotte Pre-Race Schedule for Sunday, October 11: (eastern time)
11:40:00 am: NSCS Drivers Introductions
12:14:00 pm: Intro Presentation of Colors: Charlotte Fire Department Honor Guard
12:14:20 pm: Invocation by: Jim Daly, President and CEO of Focus on the Family
12:15:00 pm: National Anthem by Danielle Johnson
12:16:30 pm: Fly By: Team Bandit from Turn 4 to Turn 1
12:21:30 pm: Command to start engines: Master Sergeants, Shane Perret, Adam Martinez, George Palmer, Stephen Canonico, from Army Soldier for Life Office
12:30:00 pm: Green Flag - Bank of America 500
eastern time (NASCAR.com)

added 29 images of schemes from Charlotte: #1 McDonald's All Day Breakfast, #2 Detroit Genuine Parts, #3 Dow's Great Stuff, #4 Jimmy John's, #5 HendrickRideAlong.com, #6 AdvoCare / Breast Cancer Awareness, #7 Breast Cancer Awareness, #9 Lowes Foods, #10 GoDaddy.com Breat Cancer Awareness, #16 Roush Performance Parts / Breast Cancer Awareness, #17 Juicy Juice, #18 M&M's Pretty in Pink, #20 Dollar General, #21 PPG, #23 Dr Pepper / Breast Cancer Awareness, #32 Rimrock Devlin, #33 Little Joe's Autos, #34 Dockside Logistics, #35 Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters, #38 MDS Transportation / South Carolina flood relief, #40 Carsforsale.com / Breast Cancer Awareness, #41 State Water Heaters, #42 Target Plaid, #46 Allstate Peterbilt Group, #47 House Autry, #48 Lowe's Red Vest, #83 Cosmo Motors, #95 Thrivent Builds / Habitat for Humanity and #98 VIP Racing Experience.com schemes that will run at Charlotte in October.(10-11-2015)

Drivers not happy with track cleanup: #18-Kyle Busch and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. were angry at NASCAR for what they felt was a lousy job cleaning up the track in the top of the groove between Turns 1 and 2 from a #51-Justin Allgaier oil spill on lap 182 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Both drivers hit the wall as they tried to put themselves in position to finish on the lead lap. Earnhardt, one lap down, ended up in the wall shortly before lap 200 and wound up four laps down in 28th. Busch hit it about 15 laps later, finishing one lap down in 20th. "You can't pass anybody -- it's a single-lane race track and then [a driver] put oil on the top lane [where we] to try to make anything happen and then you put yourself in the fence -- so thanks to NASCAR for cleaning that up," Busch said sarcastically.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director Richard Buck said NASCAR had cleanup workers actually walk the areas where drivers complained about oil, and they felt no oil, just the kitty litter-type absorbent. Earnhardt said NASCAR might have missed the oil because of shadows on the track, but Buck said workers and the pace-car driver did not feel any oil. "I've raced this [stuff] for 20 years," Earnhardt said. "I know what oil and [the absorbent] Speedi Dri is. We hit fluid, flew into the freaking wall hard. That's not Speedi Dri. There was oil up there. ... I hit the f---ing wall. I know I hit oil. I hit it. I promise. I'll argue with them all day long because I know I'm right."(ESPN)(10-11-2015)

Pit road tangle ruins Charlotte race for both Kyles-Busch and Larson: #42-Kyle Larson was running second, and #18-Kyle Busch third, approaching pit road after NASCAR called the eighth caution of Sunday's Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway because of fluid on the track. Busch feinted toward pit road, as he often does in similar situations. But as Busch steered his #18 Toyota to the right of the commitment cone at the entrance to pit road, Larson suddenly turned his #42 Chevy into Busch's path. Busch's car sustained minor damage, and Larson's spun on pit road, but both drivers drew commitment line violations that would send them to the back of the field for the subsequent restart on Lap 201 of 334. Neither driver recovered from the incident, as their winning chances disappeared with the contact. Busch subsequently slid in oil in the high groove and further hurt his car during contact with the outside wall.
"We stayed out there on that caution and Kyle faked like he was coming, and the 42 (Larson) in front of us, he was on the opposite end of the commitment cone and there was no way he was going to make it," Busch's crew chief, Adam Stevens, said after the race. He (Larson) panicked. I don't know what happened there, but them two came together. Then we were behind the eight ball at that point, but still going to have a good day, and the track had a little bit of oil on it, didn't get cleaned up as well-which a lot of people were talking about on the radio. Kyle slipped in it and fenced it, and that's what really did us in."
Larson said he got contradictory instructions on his radio. "They told me to do what everybody around me was doing, and the #22 (race winner Joey Logano) was staying out, so I was committed to staying out," Larson said. "And as soon as I turned right to stay out they said 'Pit, pit, pit.'
"I hung a left and Kyle (Busch) was there. I feel really terrible to ruin their day, and hopefully it didn't hurt their chances of transferring through this round (of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup). I know they deserved a top-three finish for sure. I felt awful immediately and still do. I hate it."
Busch salvaged a 20th-place finish, but he's 10 points out of eighth place, the position that will transfer from the Chase's Contender Round to the Eliminator Round. "Just can't say enough about my guys - all the work that they put into these things," Busch said. "They don't deserve to be put in these situations year in, year out, but we are for some reason. But it's tough, and we're going to have to battle through with what we've got right now. I can't say enough about what they did on pit road getting us back salvageable."(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-11-2015)

2015 Rain Delays: Prior to the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, six races had a weather delay of some kind during the 2015 Sprint Cup Series season:
Atlanta in March, Bristol in April, Richmond in April, Kansas in May, Michigan in June and Daytona in July. Only the Richmond race was postponed from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon, while the Michigan race was shortened by rain.(NASCAR.com)(10-11-2015)

Green-white-checkered policy may be altered for Talladega: Will there be new rules for NASCAR's "crapshoot " race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup - the CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway? The sanctioning body and competitors have discussed different formats for the finish that should make the ending less precarious should the race go into overtime on restrictor-plate tracks. One scenario would use just one green-white-checkered finish to determine the outcome. Multiple restarts mean multiple opportunities to wreck race cars. Another format would could be a single-file restart which would discourage side-by-side contact coming to the green. "They're trying to eliminate the Austin Dillon situation - the big wad of cars at the end of the race," Denny Hamlin said, referring to the #3 car flipping into the catchfence at Daytona in July after making contact with the #11 Toyota and collecting a dozen cars in the process. Despite the dialogue, as of Saturday afternoon a representative from NASCAR says nothing has been determined for Talladega.(Motorsport)(10-11-2015)

Earnhardt Jr. WAS going for a win on his birthday BUT...rain: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. turn 41 today, October 10th. He will attempt to become only the 4th driver to win a Sprint Cup Series race on their birthday. Cale Yarborough, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth are the only NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers to ever win a points paying race on their birthday. Yarborough's birthday March 27, won in 1977 at North Wilkesboro Speedway and a second time in 1983 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch won at Richmond on May 2, 2009, to become only the 2nd driver to win on their birthday, and only the third time ever.
Matt Kenseth won at Las Vegas on March 10, 2012, to become only the 3rd driver to win on their birthday, and only the 4th time ever.(10-10-2015)
BUT with the race being postponed by rain until Oct 11th, this will not happen.(10-11-2015)

Three Decades of Charlotte covers for Sam Bass: Among his many other accomplishments, artist Sam Bass has been designing and painting covers for Charlotte Motor Speedway's race programs for 30 years. The program for Saturday night's Bank of America 500 was particularly significant, because it commemorates Jeff Gordon's last trip around the 1.5-mile speedway as a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. "They wanted me to sum up Jeff Gordon's career in one painting," Bass told the NASCAR Wire Service. "I would have needed a canvas the size of that wall right there to capture it, and that probably wouldn't have been big enough. I wanted to use the Jumbotron as a vehicle to show a young Jeff Gordon and his first (Sprint Cup) car, which I designed for him. I showed the young Jeff Gordon with the moustache and the mullet and his first ride kind of looking at himself in the future and seeing the 3M-clad Jeff Gordon and his car of today, waving good-bye to the crowd. That juxtaposition of today and yesterday really worked out nice."(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-11-2015)

Military Family Honored by Eckrich, Publix and "The King" Richard Petty: Thanks to Eckrich, the makers of naturally hardwood smoked sausage and savory deli meats, a North Carolina military family was honored by Hall of Fame driver and American icon, "The King" Richard Petty Saturday afternoon before the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Staff Sergeant Retired Melinda "Doc" Hamilton and her family were greeted at the race track by the Richard Petty Motorsports team and escorted to meet the legendary driver. Petty then surprised the family with a Publix gift card for $1,000 towards the purchase of groceries, courtesy of Eckrich. Eckrich, a sponsor of the famed #43, has previously partnered with Petty for similar events to honor, thank and support military families through its partnership with Operation Homefront, a national non-profit whose mission is to build strong, stable and secure military families. Petty has been a supporter of military families for many years, but each time he meets a family it is always unique and special.(RPM)(10-11-2015)

Dover TV Ratings: NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Dover drew 1.1 million viewers on NBCSN Saturday afternoon, down 43% from last year (1.9M) and down 36% from 2013 (1.6M), both of which aired on ESPN after college football. The race ranks as the sixth-least watched of the season, with each of the bottom six having aired on NBCSN.(Sports Media Watch)(10-11-2015)

Charlotte race postponed by rain, will run Sunday: The Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, scheduled for a 7:21pm/et green flag on Saturday, October 10th, has been postponed by rain. The race is scheduled to run Sunday, October 11th, at 12:30pm/et, TV coverage on NBCSN, starting at 12:00pm/et. Once the race begins, there is a competition caution scheduled for lap 25 in the Bank of America 500.
From CMS: The ticket office will open at 8:00am/et. Fans should keep their tickets, pit passes, parking stickers and scanners for tomorrow's race. The full schedule follows:
9:00 am - Gates open
11:15 am - Erendira Wallenda stunt
11:40 am - Driver introductions
12:30 pm - Green flag
Tickets are still available for the first race in the Contender round of NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship at the gate, by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.(10-10-2015)

Race Coverage of the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway has been re-scheduled for Sunday, October 11, 2015.
Television (TV): NBCSN at 12:30 pm/et; Countdown to Green Pre-Race show at 12:00pm/et on NBCSN; green flag approx. 12:30pm/et
Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
Scheduled Race Re-Airs: Monday, October 12 at 2:00pm/et on NBCSN

Rain at Charlotte: rain was a factor for Saturday nights Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
as of 7:00pm/et it is raining in the Charlotte, NC area.....the current forecast.....
The NOAA forecast for Saturday night: Showers likely, mainly before 11pm. Patchy fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 51. Northeast wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Sunday Forecast: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 5 to 8 mph.
For updated weather info, see links and more on the weather section of the Charlotte Race Info page.

Charlotte Pre-Race Schedule for Saturday, October 10: (eastern time)
(parts of this could and most likely will change with the weather forecast of rain)
5:00pm: NSCS Driver/Crew Chiefs Meeting
6:15pm: Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award Finalist Presentation
6:16pm: Intro 2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class
6:25pm: NSCS Drivers Introductions
6:54pm: Team Fastrax jumps
6:58:45pm: God Bless America: Danielle Johnson
7:00pm: Intro Presentation of Colors: Charlotte Fire Department Honor Guard
7:00:20pm: Invocation by: Jim Daly, President and CEO of Focus on the Family
7:01pm: National Anthem: Natalie Weiss, Broadway & YouTube Sensation
7:02:30pm: Fly By: Bandit Flight Team (weather permitting)
7:07:30pm: Command to start engines: Army Vet / Medal of Honor recipient Kyle White 7:16pm: Green Flag - Bank of America 500 (weather permitting), some reports have it at 7:21pm
eastern time (NASCAR.com)

Charlotte Race Notes & Facts - Saturday:
· There have been 113 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, two races per year since the track opened in 1960. In 1961, there were two 100-mile qualifying points races held the week before the May race. The first six fall races at Charlotte were 400-mile events (1960-65).
· Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at Charlotte in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 18: Jimmie Johnson (seven), Jeff Gordon (five), Darrell Waltrip (two), Ken Schrader (one), Terry Labonte (one), Casey Mears (one) and Kasey Kahne (one).
· Eight different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Charlotte; led by Chevrolet with 43 victories; followed by Ford (29), Dodge (15), Pontiac (8), Mercury (7), Buick (4), Plymouth (4) and Toyota (3).
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the May 29, 2005 race won by Jimmie Johnson over Bobby Labonte with a MOV of 0.027 second.
· There have been three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but only once for the Coca-Cola 600 (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): fall of 2005 (334/336), fall of 2007 (334/337) and the 2011 Coca-Cola 600 (400/402).
· Five of the 113 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions; the most recent was the 2009 Coca-Cola 600 won by David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip Racing. Four of the five races shortened were the 600-mile events (1968, 1997, 2003 and 2009).
(NASCAR)(10-10-2015)

Earnhardt Jr. going for a win on his birthday...a rare feat: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. turn 41 today, October 10th. He will attempt to become only the 4th driver to win a Sprint Cup Series race on their birthday. Cale Yarborough, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth are the only NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers to ever win a points paying race on their birthday. Yarborough's birthday March 27, won in 1977 at North Wilkesboro Speedway and a second time in 1983 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch won at Richmond on May 2, 2009, to become only the 2nd driver to win on their birthday, and only the third time ever.
Matt Kenseth won at Las Vegas on March 10, 2012, to become only the 3rd driver to win on their birthday, and only the 4th time ever.(10-10-2015)

Kasey Kahne on baby watch: #5-Kasey Kahne's girlfriend, Samantha Sheets, is due to deliver Kahne's son on October 10 - the same day as the Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500. When asked what the status was, Kahne told Kickin' the Tires that his impending fatherhood was "close."
"It's close, it's really close," Kahne said, as he walked back to his hauler from qualifying on the outside pole for tonight's (Friday) Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. "Sam's like, very close." Kahne didn't say whether or not he had a backup plan in place should Sheets go into labor before, or during, the race. He said he was hoping the baby would wait to make its debut until after the race weekend. "I think it will be Sunday night or Monday, is what I am hoping for. After the race tomorrow night and then we have our foundation's 5-k on Sunday morning at 10:00am down at the (NASCAR) Hall of Fame, which is always a fun event. We get a lot of support for that and enjoy it and then we will probably spend a little time at the hospital for the next few days after that. "I am actually a little nervous. I think about it more and more each day and wake earlier each morning just thinking about it. It's going to be a big change but I'm looking forward to it."(Kickin' the Tires)(10-10-2015)

NASCAR won't oversee burnouts: NASCAR officials are not expected to "regulate" post-race celebrations following events, calling the long, smoky burnouts done by many race winners a part of the sport today and something that fans have come to expect. "Post-race burnouts have been a part of the sport for a long time as they give the winning driver the opportunity to express their enthusiasm for their win and give fans an exclamation point to the victory," NASCAR spokesperson Kerry Tharp told NASCAR.com Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, site of Saturday's Bank of America 500. "We don't really see them being anything beyond that." Concerns about intentionally damaging a race-winning car came to light this week after defending Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick made contact with the inside wall while celebrating his victory in Sunday's AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway. Two days after the victory, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver said he wasn't aware that the back end of his #4 Chevy had hit the inside wall during his Dover celebration. His car passed post-race inspection at the track, as well as a more thorough inspection at the NASCAR Research & Development Center two days later. On Thursday, crew chief Rodney Childers said he wasn't surprised that some had seized on something so innocent after his driver's strong performance. He also once again stressed that his team's cars had been to the R&D center more than any other vehicles this season without officials uncovering any irregularities. The #4 team has made 14 trips to the center for final inspection this season and passed on each occasion. NASCAR officials transport the winning and second-place entries, as well as a random selection, to the center following each race where engines, fuel cells and other pieces (such as transmissions) are removed and more closely inspected. A computerized device known as a Romer Absolute Arm, the same equipment used to certify each chassis before competition, is used to check each piece for any changes or any inconsistencies.(NASCAR.com)(10-10-2015)

Roush Fenway Racing 'Driven' to Highlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October: Roush Fenway Racing is going pink in October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The team will run special pink 'Driven For a Cause' decals on all of its NASCAR Fords for all races during the month. In addition, four of the Roush Fenway Fords will feature 'pink' themed cars this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including the Sprint Cup Fusions of Trevor Bayne and Greg Biffle and the XFINITY Series Mustangs of Elliott Sadler and Bubba Wallace. Sadler's car featured a pink steering wheel, in addition to his pink fire suit. Sadler has a personal connection to the effects of breast cancer. His mother, Bell, is a breast cancer survivor and each year Sadler has done something different to help spread awareness of breast cancer and help raise money for breast cancer research. Roush Fenway Racing XFINITY drivers Chris Buescher, who currently leads the XFINITY Series Championship standings, and Wallace recently showed their support for breast cancer awareness by participating in an event at Charlotte Motor Speedway where breast cancer survivors and supporters came together to paint the pit walls pink at the speedway.
During Roush Fenway's annual fall Fan Appreciation Day, the team set up a 'Driven For a Cause photo booth where fans were encouraged to show support for breast cancer awareness by snapping 'selfies' in various pink attire. Team owner Jack Roush and several of the team's drivers took photos in the booth helping to raise awareness via social media. Fans were also encouraged to download the Early Detection Plan app to help remind them to regularly schedule exams for early detection of breast cancer.(RFR)(10-10-2015)

Hornish Jr. and Ragan working on 2016 rides: With just seven races left in the 2015 Sprint Cup season, #9-Sam Hornish Jr. and #55-David Ragan find themselves in similar predicaments: Looking to secure rides for 2016. Hornish, who took over Richard Petty Motorsports' #9 Ford this season after spending the past three years in the XFINITY Series, needs additional sponsorship to be back in the car next year. Ragan, who has been in Michael Waltrip's #55 Toyota since mid-May, is without a ride because MWR is closing its doors at season's end. With few, if any, full-time Sprint Cup Series rides available for 2016, both Hornish and Ragan have limited options and, at least theoretically, limited time to get deals in place. Both, however, remain optimistic that they will be racing -- although maybe not in NASCAR's top series -- next season.
"Some teams have reached out to me. I've reached out to a few teams. Ultimately I don't have anything in the works or coming together right now," Ragan told FOXSports.com on Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "I'm trying to be as patient as I can just to see what happens. A lot of times things change that are unexpected with some of these top teams in the last months of the season. We've had guys get fired after Homestead before. Drivers have issues, different things happen, so I'm patiently waiting for the right opportunity." Ragan said he would entertain running an XFINITY Series car for JGR next year if such an opportunity arose. Ragan, likewise, indicated he would be open to returning to Roush Fenway Racing -- the organization where he began his Sprint Cup career in 2007 and competed through 2011. Ragan wouldn't even be opposed to joining a Camping World Truck Series team, provided that team is a frontrunner. No matter where he ultimately ends up in 2016, Ragan would like to have a deal in place by the 2015 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "I'm not going to be impatient and just jump on the first thing that comes around, but I want to be in the most competitive ride that I can be in the Sprint Cup Series, and if I can't find that, where I'm happy and it's a good fit, I'll look at some options in the XFINITY Series and even in the Truck Series," he said. What Ragan does not want to do is compete for a Sprint Cup Series team that starts and parks. "I'm still young," the second-generation driver said. "I'll be 30 in December, and I want to race something to have fun. I don't want to be out here just making laps earning a paycheck. That's not what it's all about. ... I want to be in the Cup Series, but I want to be in something that I can race hard, and have a chance to win a race."
Hornish, meanwhile, admitted that the sponsorship uncertainty makes his future at Richard Petty Motorsports extremely tenuous. "From my understanding of all of it, they're still looking for money to make the 9 car happen," said Hornish, who has just three top 10s and no top fives in 29 starts for RPM. "We feel like at times if we ran a little bit better that might be a little bit easier, but all that being said, it's got to be the right fit for everybody, too. There's a ton of rumors going on about what's going to happen. There's probably a lot more rumors than there are truths." A former Indianapolis 500 winner and three-time IndyCar champion, Hornish competed full time in Sprint Cup for Team Penske from 2008-2010. He then drove two partial and two full XFINITY seasons before making a return to Sprint Cup this season. A father of three children under the age of eight, Hornish admittedly enjoyed having a few more breaks in the schedule the past three years despite wanting to get back to Cup. "I'm in a pretty good position with everything outside (of racing)," Hornish said. "I've got a wife and three kids. I'm in a great spot where I can choose to be a little bit picky about what I do, what I want to do, what I don't want to do, so that's obviously great. This year has been fun, I've done a lot of great things with the family, and I've missed some things, too. So all in all, I feel l'll be OK regardless." But make no mistake about it: Hornish wants to remain in NASCAR, preferably with a Sprint Cup Series team. "I want to be here and I want to be running these cars, whether it's on the Cup side or the XFINITY side," he said. "I want to be in something that's capable of running up front and should be able to do well, and that's all that really matters to me. Thank God that I've had enough opportunities for good things to happen that I don't have to go and get into something I don't feel comfortable with." Unlike Ragan, Hornish isn't concerned about having his plans lined up by the end of this season. "Ninety-nine percent of the things I've done in my lifetime were kind of last minute, so there's been a few times where it's been taken care of well in advance, but all in all whatever I happen to be racing next year I'd like to have a suit that matches the car, you know what I mean?" Hornish said. "I don't want it to be a last-minute thing, but I feel like there's obviously not a ton of great opportunities at this point in time for anybody that would be at this stage of the game."(FoxSports)(10-10-2015)

Kyle Larson Helps Paint Martinsville Speedway's Curbs Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness: In what has become an annual tradition at the only short-track in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, breast cancer survivors joined Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Larson and Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell in painting the curbs pink for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 on November 1. The event to raise breast cancer awareness is a part of Team Chevy and the American Cancer Society's #IDriveFor social media campaign. "To paint them pink and help them stand out even more definitely helps raise awareness for breast cancer," Larson said. "To be able to come here and play a small part to help those families beat it is pretty cool." This marks the second year Martinsville Speedway has had a driver on hand to help paint the curbs, but pink curbs in October is something that dates back even longer. "We're honored to be able to use our iconic curbs in this way to promote Breast Cancer Awareness month," Campbell said. "We all know someone who has been diagnosed with this terrible disease. I'm very pleased that on November 1, millions of people will see these pink curbs and be reminded that we all can play a part in finding a cure. We've done this for a number of years and will continue to each year." In addition to the pink curbs, a pink Chevy SS will pace the field in the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 and Team Chevy will donate $350 to the American Cancer Society for every caution lap run during the race. Tickets to the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 on November 1, the Kroger 200 on October 31 and the Virginia Lottery Pole Day on October 30 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or purchased online at martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-10-2015)

Race Coverage of the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2015.
Television (TV): NBC at 7:00 pm/et; Countdown to Green Pre-Race show at 6:00pm/et on NBCSN; green flag approx. 7:21pm/et
Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
Scheduled Race Re-Airs: Monday, October 12 at 2:00pm/et on NBCSN

Weather iffy on Saturday: rain could be a factor in Saturday nights Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The forecast for Saturday, Oct 10th: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 2pm. High near 66. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday night, the forecast improves a bit: Scattered showers, mainly before 9pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday looks good: Sunny, with a high near 69. North wind 3 to 5 mph.
For updated weather info, see links and more on the weather section of the Charlotte Race Info page.(10-9-2015)

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #20-Kenseth chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #22-Logano, took pit stall 2, right behind Kenseth.
#18-Busch, who starts 3rd took the 15th pit stall, the 1st stall with an opening in front of it (not including the 1st stall).
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #48-Johnson, who starts 7th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-9-2015)

Happy Hour practice: for the Bank of America Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over. After 50 scheduled minutes, top five, slowest and notes:
#18-Busch 189.354
#41-Busch 188.996
#22-Logano 188.508
#31-Newman 188.488
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 188.311
slowest: #98-Soresnson 178.861 & #23-Burton 179.677
most laps run: #88-Earnhardt Jr., 50; #20-Kenseth, 48
See fastest speeds, lap run, best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Charlotte Happy Hour practice speeds page (pdf).(10-9-2015)

Friday first practice: for the Bank of America Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over. After 55 scheduled minutes, top five, slowest and notes:
#41-Busch 188.772
#19-Edwards 188.620
#31-Newman 187.630
#78-Truex Jr. 187.572
#22-Logano 187.487
slowest: #33-Kennedy 177.567 and #98-Soresnson 179.247
most laps run: #14-Stewart, 49; #18-Busch 48
See fastest speeds, lap run, best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Charlotte practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-9-2015)

Spotter change for Menard:
Billy O'Dea is taking over spotting duties for the #27 Menard's Chevy and driver Paul Menard effective immediately. The veteran spotter has worked at Richard Childress Racing for 18 seasons, most recently with Ty Dillon. He was Kevin Harvick's spotter for nine years before the driver moved to Stewart-Haas Racing. O'Dea will continue with Dillon in the Xfinity Series races, except when there's a schedule conflict. O'Dea replaces Stevie Reeves, who has been with Menard for nine seasons. Prior to Menard, Reeves spotted on the #48 with Jimmie Johnson. "It was going to happen," Reeves said. "It was time for us to do something different. It's just good it happened now because it gives me time to look." Reeves remains friends with Menard and will continue to spot for Brendan Gaughan in the Xfinity Series.(Motorsport)(10-9-2015)

Charlotte Driver Notes & Facts - Friday:
· 531 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points paying race at Charlotte Motor Speedway; 379 in more than one.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Charlotte with 64. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 45 starts; followed by Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart with 32 each.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Charlotte with a 7.821.
· Four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series active drivers have made their first career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5/30/99), Jimmie Johnson (10/7/01), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (5/29/11) and Kyle Larson (10/12/13).
· 47 different drivers have won at Charlotte Motor Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with seven wins.
· Nine drivers have posted consecutive wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including three consecutive by NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen (fall 1964 and both 1965) and four straight by Jimmie Johnson (2004 and 2005 sweeps).
· A season sweep at Charlotte has occurred eight times, including each season from 2004-2007.
· Four active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted their first career win at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Jeff Gordon (5/29/94), Matt Kenseth (5/28/00), Jamie McMurray (10/13/02) and Casey Mears (5/27/07).
· Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Charlotte without visiting Victory Lane at 31; followed by Ryan Newman with 29.
· Richard Petty leads the series in runner-up finishes at Charlotte with nine. Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth lead all active drivers with three each.
· NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Bobby Allison are tied for the series most top-five finishes at Charlotte with 23 each. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 17; followed by Jimmie Johnson with 13.
· Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Charlotte with 31. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 24 followed by Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth with 17 each.
· Joey Logano leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Charlotte with a 10.231.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Charlotte with 1,733 laps led in 28 starts.
· Two female drivers have competed at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
(NASCAR)(10-9-2015)

France: don't expect major changes in 2016 schedule: NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France discussed the soon-to-be-released schedules for all three NASCAR national series recently on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's "Tradin' Paint" program, saying that teams and fans alike should not expect a dramatic overhaul to the 2016 racing calendar. "I can tell you that the schedule is not going to change materially at all," France said. "There are things in the sanction agreements with the tracks that are unrelated to the dates that have to be worked out, and that's really what we're doing now. That's taking a little longer than normal. The schedule will look very similar."(NASCAR.com)(10-9-2015)

RTA members hold meeting at Hendrick Motorsports: The Race Team Alliance met at Hendrick Motorsports on Thursday to discuss the options presented by NASCAR for future "framework concepts" in relation ownership structure. NASCAR invited all Sprint Cup owners to a meeting last Tuesday led by Chairman Brian France and Chief Operating Officer Brent Dewar. NASCAR followed up with each individual team after the meeting. On Thursday, as the RTA lunched at HMS, France reiterated a three-point message via the SiriusXM NASCAR airwaves similar to what was stated to the owners. "Anytime we can improve the structure for our team owners, that's a good thing," France said. "So if we can improve their business model, we can improve their overall structure, then what's going to happen is new owners will be looking to participate in NASCAR and that's a good thing. The other good thing is the level of competition goes up. The more team owners there are, the better we're going to be." NASCAR hopes to have a program in place by season's end, but there's still a lot of work ahead on both sides of the proposal. In a release sent out by the sanctioning body last week, it cautioned not to speculate on possible formats before a final decision has been determined.(Motorsport)(10-9-2015)

Truex Jr. Inspired by Adaptive Motorsports Technology for Spinal Cord Injured and Disabled Individuals: #78-Martin Truex Jr. experienced a new form of cutting-edge technology that will enable spinal cord injured and disabled individuals to participate in motorsports. Truex attended Wednesday's (Oct. 7) Falci Adaptive Motorsports NeuroGroove RaceDay at Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR) in Fountain, Colo., giving rides in an adaptive stock car to paraplegic and quadriplegic individuals around the 1-mile oval. "What an awesome day to be a firsthand witness to some incredible technology," said Truex. "Life is about giving back and Dr. (Scott) Falci and his partners are doing just that. To see the joy of the individuals I gave a ride to was very inspirational." One of the individuals who rode with Truex was Denver resident Stewart Lundy, a paraplegic who experienced a range of emotions as a passenger in the adaptive car. When the ride was completed an overjoyed Lundy said, "And he (Truex) gets paid to do this! I need to reassess my life goals. That is probably one them now. I loved every minute of it -- I'm coming down from an adrenalin high." The modified race car that Truex drove was donated to Falci Adaptive Motorsports by Furniture Row Racing. A number of employees at the team shop in Denver volunteered their time to help in the transformation of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car into an adaptive race car for spinal cord and disabled individuals to drive. "I wanted to add another adapted sport for the spinal cord and disabled population," said Dr. Scott Falci, a neurosurgeon at Denver's Craig Hospital. "Motorsports is a real exciting sport and we're utilizing the #78 Furniture Row car as a platform to get involved in a new adaptive sporting event and also getting involved with the NASCAR community."
Falci added, "Barney Visser (Furniture Row Racing team owner) immediately loved the idea. He donated the race car and the guys in the shop worked many extra volunteer hours to help make this happen today. And to have Martin Truex Jr., who has plenty on his table right now competing for the NASCAR championship, to come all the way to Colorado from North Carolina to take part in the event was truly spectacular. "The emotional thrill of having Martin and his Furniture Row race car was an uplifting experience not only for the spinal cord injured individuals and their families but for all of our partners who have been passionately working on this new adaptive technology." Falci Adaptive Motorsports has an impressive list of partners including U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, FalconWorks, RaceKraft & Design, the U.S. Air Force Academy and Furniture Row Racing.
One of the highlights of the day was a demonstration of smart glasses technology enabling individuals to drive a car or wheelchair with head movement. "Dr. Falci and his partners are developing life-changing technology and we are thrilled to be involved in this altruistic endeavor," said Joe Garone, president and general manager of Furniture Row Racing. "It was an overwhelming experience to see the excitement of each spinal cord injured individual who rode with Martin at PPIR. We are proud to be affiliated with Falci Adaptive Motorsports."(FRR)(10-9-2015)

Ray Evernham Receives Smokey Yunick Award: Ray Evernham, a former modified racer who earned 47 victories and three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships as Jeff Gordon's crew chief, received the prestigious Smokey Yunick Award prior to the Bank of America 500. Legendary car owner and mechanic Henry "Smokey" Yunick, who passed away May 9, 2001, instituted the award in 1997 to annually recognize an individual who rose from humble beginnings to make a major impact on the motorsports industry. "Ray Evernham literally redefined the role of a NASCAR crew chief during his time with Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports," said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. "Ray's experience as a driver and his understanding of the sport's rapidly advancing technology produced a unique dynamic, while his innovative work with the 'Rainbow Warriors' established a new standard for pit-road performance. Ray is a perfect match to the ideals upon which Smokey founded this award, and it is only appropriate that he will be recognized as we celebrate Jeff's final race at Charlotte Motor Speedway where they enjoyed so much success." Smith was on hand Thursday to present Evernham with the award during a media availability.
Born Aug. 26, 1957, in Hazlet, New Jersey, Evernham inherited the automotive gene and the second-generation mechanic spent his formative years turning wrenches alongside his father at the family's service station. Evernham eventually began racing them at area short tracks such as Wall Stadium and New Egypt Speedway. He advanced through the ranks and became a regular in the open-wheel modifieds that headlined the local racing circuit. He enjoyed a limited amount of success on the track, but it was soon obvious that Evernham's mechanical ability far surpassed his driving talent. His big break came in 1983 when Evernham was hired by Roger Penske and Jay Signore to work as a chassis specialist for the International Race of Champions, a New Jersey-based operation that annually presented a series of races featuring a dozen of the world's top drivers competing in identically prepared race cars. In addition to learning the business of major-league auto racing during his time with the IROC series, Evernham impressed drivers such as Dale Earnhardt and A.J. Foyt with his ability to translate what they were experiencing on the track into adjustments to the cars.
Evernham's first venture into NASCAR's premier series came during the 1989 and 1990 seasons when he prepared the #38 Fords driven by Australian Dick Johnson. At the end of the 1991 season, Evernham accepted a job with team owner/driver Alan Kulwicki and he moved his toolbox to North Carolina. What seemed like the perfect opportunity quickly turned into a nightmare as a clash of personalities resulted in Evernham leaving the Kulwicki operation during the days leading up to the 1992 Daytona 500. Frustrated and ready to return to his native New Jersey, Evernham's career took a drastic turn when Ford officials Lee Morse and Preston Miller stopped him while walking out of the Daytona garage area. They had been impressed by Evernham's work and suggested they might have another assignment for him. A young open-wheel racer named Jeff Gordon had just become a Ford stock car driver and he had mentioned to Ford officials that he would like to work with Evernham. The two had crossed paths briefly in 1990 when Evernham setup the chassis on the Pontiac in which Gordon made his NASCAR XFINITY Series debut. Evernham served as the chassis specialist on the #1 Bill Davis Racing entry Gordon drove to three victories and 11 poles during the 1992 season.
When Rick Hendrick hired Gordon to drive for his newest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, Gordon requested that Evernham come with him as the team's crew chief - and the rest is history. Over the next seven years, the Gordon/Evernham/Hendrick combination rose to the top of the sport during a time when the popularity of stock car racing was exploding. Evernham left Hendrick Motorsports in 1999 and formed his own team, bringing Dodge back into sport. The team debuted at the 2000 Daytona 500 and enjoyed modest success with drivers such as Bill Elliott, Casey Atwood, Elliott Sadler and Kasey Kahne. On Aug. 6, 2007, it was announced George Gillett Jr. had purchased a majority share in the team, which eventually merged with Petty Enterprises. Late in 2010, Evernham sold his remaining shares in the operation. Today, Evernham works as a consultant for Hendrick Motorsports and hosts Velocity's "AmeriCarna," a television program that celebrates this country's car culture. He has also assembled an extensive car collection that includes both road cars and race cars.(CMS Pit Notes)(10-9-2015)

NCMA To Honor Jeff Gordon With Achievement In Motorsports Award: Jeff Gordon will be honored at the 10th Annual North Carolina Motorsports Industry Awards Ceremony and hosted by the North Carolina Motorsports Association, January 13, 2016. Gordon, who will retire from full-time racing at the conclusion of the 2015 season, will be awarded the NCMA Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award for his personal and professional contributions to the motorsports industry in the state of North Carolina. "We are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to honor Jeff and his amazing contributions to the sport of auto racing in our state," said Greg Fornelli, NCMA Chairman. "Jeff Gordon changed the face of NASCAR with his winning personality and his winning ways. His talent, his marketability and his philanthropy opened our sport to a whole new audience." Past recipients of the Achievement Award include Bill France Jr., Benny Parsons, Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Richard Childress, O. Bruton Smith, Junior Johnson, Humpy Wheeler, Ned Jarrett & Family and Mike Helton. The NC Motorsports Industry Awards Ceremony presented by Fifth Third Bank, which will also honor companies making an impact in the state's racing industry, takes place Jan. 13, 2016 at the Embassy Suites Convention Center in Concord, N.C. Details regarding tickets to the event will be available soon at northcarolinamotorsportsassociation.org.(NCMA)(10-9-2015)

Special crew chief for Kahne at Charlotte: The 6-year-old Braylon Beam, who has become an inspiration through his dancing that has helped him cope with chemotherapy for a brain tumor, has the bluntness and the upbeat attitude that often are required for the crew chief role. Braylon spent Thursday as the honorary crew chief for Kasey Kahne for qualifying at Charlotte Motor Speedway. What will Kahne do under Braylon's leadership? "Kasey Kahne is going to step up his game," Braylon said. In a telling-it-like-it-is moment, Braylon -- who spent a day in August an honorary coach for the Carolina Panthers -- was asked who dances better: the Panthers or Kahne's crew. "Carolina Panthers," Braylon said in a room that included many of Kahne's crew. Kahne crew chief Keith Rodden had Braylon's grandparents as teachers at East Lincoln High School in Denver, NC. "They're just excellent people, and they have touched so many people in our community for so many years and just went above and beyond what any educator needed to do," Rodden said. "As soon as I found out about Braylon ... I said we have to do something for Braylon, we have to do something for their family. They have done so much for Denver, NC, and I just wanted to try to give back. Good grief, this kid has given back so much more to us than we could ever provide for him."(ESPN)(10-9-2015)

Hendrick Ride Along returns to the #5 at Charlotte: Sister companies Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group have partnered for a four-race sponsorship (Darlington, Richmond, Dover & Charlotte) built around the Hendrick Ride Along Sweepstakes. The program started at Darlington Sept. 4-6 and will continue through this weekend's Oct. 10 event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hendrickridealong.com: The Hendrick Ride Along Sweepstakes adorning the hood of Kahne's Chevy is a part of Hendrick Automotive Group's promotion to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride in a stock car with Kahne. The all-expenses-paid trip to Charlotte, NC, includes the ride along, travel, accommodations and a full behind-the-scenes tour of Hendrick Motorsports. Fans can register between Sept. 2 and Oct. 31 by visiting www.HendrickRideAlong.com or visiting their local Hendrick Automotive Group dealership (HMS), see images of the car/scheme on the #5 Team Schemes page.(10-9-2015)

Shannon Koch Wins 5th Annual Better Half Dash: Shannon Koch, wife of NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Blake Koch, won the fifth annual Better Half Dash, a charity event benefitting Motor Racing Outreach and Speedway Children's Charities. Koch led most of the race and won by only one second over Kaitlyn Sweet, girlfriend of Kyle Larson. Tandra Greenfield, Jordon Fish and Kristen Yeley finished third through fifth. Tati Papis, Ashley Stremme, Melanie Self, Jenna Robinson, Whitney Scott and Wendy Venturini rounded out the field. Koch started from the pole and survived a close call when Jenna Robinson drove on top of Koch's car and tore the rear body off. Koch retook the lead for good on lap seven of the 25-lap event.(CMS)(10-9-2015)

NASCAR Foundation Announces 2015 Finalists for Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award: Four finalists have been chosen for The NASCAR Foundation's fifth annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide, which honors volunteers from across the country who dedicate themselves to children's causes in their communities. Through December 3 at 11:59pm/et, fans have the power to decide the winner by voting for their favorite champion for children at NASCAR.com/Award.
This year's finalists include Bob Bowler of Special Olympics North Carolina, Stephanie Decker of Stephanie Decker Foundation, Carl Flatley of Sepsis Alliance and Jeff Hanson of Children's Tumor Foundation. The national winner will be announced on Dec. 4 during the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards at Wynn Las Vegas at 9:00pm/et on NBCSN. The NASCAR Foundation will donate a total of $175,000 to the charities of the finalists - with the winner's charity receiving $100,000 and remaining finalists' charities receiving $25,000 each. The winner will also receive a 2016 Ford Fusion given by the Official Car Sponsor. The Award was established in 2011 to honor The NASCAR Foundation Founder and Chairwoman Emeritus Betty Jane France's passion for service and volunteerism. Since its inception, the Award has donated $700,000 and impacted over 52,000 children nationally. More information on Jayski.com's Racing Charity page.(10-9-2015)

Austin Dillon wins XFINITY race at Charlotte: #33-Austin Dillon won the Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. #20-Erik Jones finished second, followed by #22-Brad Keselowski, #18-Daniel Suarez, #7-Regan Smith, #3-Ty Dillon, #60-Chris Buescher, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #9-Chase Elliott and #1-Elliott Sadler.
Dillon started from the pole and led for 61 laps. #54-Kyle Busch led a race high 102 laps but hit the wall on lap 152, ending his challenge. There were 3 cautions for 13 laps and 7 lead changes among 5leaders. Complete results are on the Charlotte race results page (pdf). (10-9-2015)

Charlotte XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Austin Dillon won the 34th Annual Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, his sixth victory in 94 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his fourth victory and 14th top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his second victory and fourth top-10 finish in six races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Dillon completed the season sweep at Charlotte with the win. It's the seventh sweep of Charlotte in NASCAR XFINITY Series history.
Erik Jones (second) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 14th top-10 finish in 2015.
Brad Keselowski (third) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 16 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Daniel Suarez (fourth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Chris Buescher leads the point standings by 26 points over Chase Elliott.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-9-2015)

XFINITY Driver standings following Charlotte:
1) #60-Chris Buescher, 1055
2) #9-Chase Elliott, 1029, -26
3) #7-Regan Smith, 1021, -34
4) #3-Ty Dillon, 1017, -38
5) #6-Darrell Wallace Jr., 943, -112
6) #1-Elliott Sadler, 942, -113
7) #18-Daniel Suarez, 927, -128
8) #2-Brian Scott, 901, -154
9) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 893, -162
10) #16-Ryan Reed, 798 -257
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(10-9-2015)

Austin Dillon on XFINITY pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway: #33-Austin Dillon won the Coors Light pole for the Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 183.524mph. #88-Kasey Kahne will start second. The rest of the top 10: #20-Erik Jones, #60-Chris Buescher, #54-Kyle Busch, #2-Brian Scott, #18-Daniel Suarez, #3-Ty Dillon, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., and #1-Elliott Sadler. Did Not Qualify: none. The starting lineup is posted on the Charlotte starting lineup page (pdf).(10-9-2015)

Charlotte Motor Speedway XFINITY Qualifying Notes:
Austin Dillon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 34th Annual Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina with a lap of 29.424 seconds, 183.524 mph.
This is his 16th pole in 94 NASCAR XFINITY Series races. He moves into a tie with Brett Bodine, Matt Kenseth and Elliott Sadler for 14th on the all-time series poles list.
This is his sixth pole and 15th top-10 start in 2015.
This is his third pole in six races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Kasey Kahne (second) posted his third top-10 start of 2015 and his eighth in 22 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Erik Jones (third) posted his second top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 18th in 20 races this season.
Daniel Suarez (seventh) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-9-2015)

Talladega adds SAFER barrier to cover entire track: Statement from Talladega Superspeedway chairman Grant Lynch on safety initiatives: "Working closely with NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation (ISC), Talladega Superspeedway performed an extensive review of its facility and outlined significant safety enhancements that will be in place prior to our NASCAR weekend, Oct. 23-25. Working with Cheaha Construction, we have installed more than 8,000 linear feet of Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) Barrier in 2015. We are covering the entire outside and interior retaining walls of the 2.66-mile facility. Safety of our competitors and fans is our top priority and we will continue to review the facility and provide updates as circumstances warrant. We look forward to a tremendous NASCAR weekend featuring the third and final race of the Contender Round in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The Oct. 23-25 weekend will feature the CampingWorld.com 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and the fred's 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event. The CampingWorld.com 500 is the final race of the Contender Round in the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in which the field of 12 eligible drivers to the title will be cut from 12 to eight at the checkered flag. Tickets are available by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA or by visiting www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS)(10-9-2015)

Bank of America Surprises Army Veteran with Unforgettable NASCAR Experience: Leading up to this weekend's racing activities at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bank of America unveiled today a special video of Rick Groesbeck, an Army veteran, who will wave the green flag to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 Chase playoff event. In the video, Groesbeck experiences the surprise of a lifetime when an ordinary visit to Hendrick Motorsports becomes a personally-guided shop tour from team owner Rick Hendrick. Afterwards, reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Chase Elliott takes Groesbeck out for a few hot laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and caps the day off by informing him that he'll be the honorary starter for Saturday's Bank of America 500. It's all part of Bank of America's longstanding support for service members and veterans. The company will continue this tradition by honoring members of the military throughout the race weekend.(Weber Shandwick on behalf of Bank of America)(10-9-2015)

Kenseth wins Charlotte pole: #20-Matt Kenseth won the Coors Light pole for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with speed of 194.532mph for his 4th pole of 2015, 2nd at Charlotte and 17th of his career. Kenseth swept the poles at Charlotte in 2015, also winning the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 in May. Kenseth has won 4 races from the pole out of 16 previous poles.
#18-Busch is on the outside pole followed by #22-Logano, #16-Biffle, #11-Hamlin, #41-Busch, #48-Johnson, #19-Edwards, #43-Almirola, #31-Newman, #4-Harvick and #88-Earnhardt Jr.
Missing the race were: #32-Wise & #62-Hill.
See the starting lineup, qualifying results round-by-round, qualifying order on Jayski.com's Charlotte Qualifying Page.(10-8-2015)

2015 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers starting position at Charlotte:
[listed by current driver points position]
1) #20-Matt Kenseth, starts 1st on the pole
2) #22-Joey Logano, 3rd
3) #11-Denny Hamlin, 5th
4) #19-Carl Edwards, 8th
5) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 15th
6) #41-Kurt Busch, 6th
7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 22nd
8) #2-Brad Keselowski, 13th
9) #18-Kyle Busch, 2nd
10) #31-Ryan Newman, 10th
11) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 12th
12) #4-Kevin Harvick, 11th
(10-8-2015)

Qualifying Fast Facts - Charlotte:
#20-Matt Kenseth won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 56th Annual Bank of America 500 with a lap of 27.759 seconds, 194.532 mph.
This is his 17th pole in 574 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his fourth pole and 16th top-10 start in 2015.
This is his second pole in 33 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway (both in 2015).
#18-Kyle Busch (second) posted his 14th top-10 start of 2015 and his 12th in 24 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#22-Joey Logano (third) posted his fourth top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 23rd in 30 races this season.
#34-Brett Moffitt (37th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(10-8-2015)

Second Round of Qualifying for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over after 10 scheduled minutes.
#20-Kenseth 193.521
#22-Logano 193.119
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 193.002
#4-Harvick 192.995
#18-Busch 192.349
the rest of the top 12, will advance to final round: 11 16 31 43 41 48 19;
out of the top 12 and not advancing final round: 2 3 78 21 47 9 55 5 13 24 15 10
(10-8-2015)

First Round of Qualifying for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#4-Harvick 192.685
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 192.520
#18-Busch 192.465
#2-Keselowski 192.397
#20-Kenseth 192.362
the rest of the top 24: 19 21 41 5 48 24 31 3 9 22 16 78 11 55 43 10 13 15 47;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 17 27 7 51 38 1 42 95 6 40 26 14 34 46 35 83 32 23 98 62 33
Drivers who will miss the race: #32-Wise & #62-Hill.
(10-8-2015)

Coverage of Qualifying for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 7:20pm/et.
Television (TV): NBCSN, 7:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at Performance Racing Network (PRN)
Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: October 10 at 3:30pm/et on NBCSN

Qualifying Order for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted. 45 cars/drivers are listed.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #21-Blaney.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #19-Edwards.
The order is set by a random draw, how cars park on pit road before they qualify, held about an hour before the first practice.
After the first round, the cars line up by speed.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com's Charlotte Qualifying Page.(10-8-2015)

Thursday practice: for the Bank of America Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over. After 85 scheduled minutes, top five, slowest and notes:
#4-Harvick 193.500
#20-Kenseth 192.892
#16-Biffle 192.885
#22-Logano 192.458
#5-Kahne 192.321
slowest: #62-Hill 178.136 and #33-Kennedy 178.879
Most Lap run: #40-Cassill, 29; #33-Kennedy, 28
notes: #17-Stenhouse Jr. had a tire rub and slid up the track, almost hitting the wall, but saved it.
See fastest speeds, lap run, best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Charlotte practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-8-2015)

Charlotte Pole Notes & Facts - Thursday:
· Fireball Roberts won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway (World 600) in 1960 with a speed of 133.904 mph.
· 43 drivers have Coors Light poles at Charlotte, led by David Pearson with 14. Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon lead all active drivers in poles at CMS with nine each.
· 12 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Charlotte. David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Charlotte with 11; from the fall of 1973 through 1978.
· Four active drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Jeff Gordon (10/10/93), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5/28/00), Ryan Newman (5/27/01) and Aric Almirola (5/27/12).
· 15 of the 113 (13.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Jimmie Johnson in 2014 (Coca-Cola 600).
· The second-place starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (17) than any other starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
· 32 of the 113 (28.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from the front row: 15 from the pole and 17 from second-place.
· 86 of the 113 (76.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Charlotte have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Nine of the 113 (7.9%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Charlotte is 37th, by Jimmie Johnson in the Coca-Cola 600 of 2003.
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway twice; the fall race of 2002 and the fall race of 2008.
(NASCAR)(10-8-2015)

Special Halo schemes at Kansas for #1 & #88: Guardians having gone gold, Microsoft's marketing efforts for the blockbuster shooter are shifting into high gear--literally. Microsoft and 343 Industries have announced that two cars in next weekend's Hollywood Casino 400 NASCAR event in Kansas City will be decked out with Master Chief and Spartan Locke paint jobs. #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the Chief car, while #1-Jamie McMurray rides with Locke. The Hollywood Casino 400 race takes place on Sunday, October 18. The battle between Chief and Locke is at the heart of Halo 5's galaxy-changing story. "We have many NASCAR fans at the studio--myself included--and we're excited to see both cars compete at Kansas Speedway," 343 boss Kiki Wolfkill said in a statement. This is the first event in NASCAR history that Halo has sponsored. But it's not the first time video games have showed up on the race track, as Nintendo promoted Mario Kart with a custom car, while retailer GameStop regularly sponsors drivers.(GameSpot), see images of the schemes on the #1 Team Schemes page and #88 Team Schemes page.(10-8-2015)

NASCAR will conduct a 2016 rules test at Michigan: NASCAR is scheduled to conduct a test at Michigan International Speedway on Tuesday, October. 20 in preparation for the 2016 racing season. Denny Hamlin from Joe Gibbs Racing, Chase Elliott from Hendrick Motorsports and Chris Buescher from Roush Fenway Racing are expected to participate. The Turn 1 grandstand seats will be open for fans free of charge on Oct. 20.(MIS)(10-8-2015)

Busch returns to NASCAR in 2016 as sponsor of Harvick's #4: Busch announced that the brand will return to NASCAR, reigniting its storied history in the sport by sponsoring Kevin Harvick and the #4 team of Stewart-Haas Racing for select races beginning with the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Busch, Busch Light and other special-edition Busch paint schemes will be featured on Harvick's #4 Chevy for 12 races in 2016. The iconic Busch logo will first appear on the hood for the Feb. 13 Sprint Unlimited at Daytona. Formerly known as the Busch Clash, this non-points exhibition race helped kick-start the brand's involvement with NASCAR 36 years ago. Additional races will be determined shortly after NASCAR releases the 2016 Sprint Cup schedule. "Busch's NASCAR roots go back to 1978 and we're thrilled to reconnect with these passionate fans that identify with our 'Here's to Earning It' message on a daily basis," said Chelsea Phillips, Director of Value Brands, Anheuser-Busch. "Kevin and the entire #4 team have been tremendous partners for Anheuser-Busch since 2011 and we have exciting plans to engage with the NASCAR community both on and off the track nationwide in 2016." Harvick has represented Budweiser since 2011, and in 2014 he and Budweiser moved to Stewart-Haas Racing. In their inaugural season with the team co-owned by Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, Harvick made five trips to victory lane and won the 2014 Sprint Cup championship. The Busch brand, along with its current tagline "Here's to Earning It," has a time-honored tradition of rewarding hard-working men and women who "earn it" every day, which aligns perfectly with the NASCAR fan base. "Busch beer belongs in NASCAR," said Harvick, a winner of 31 Sprint Cup races, eight of which have come with Stewart-Haas Racing. "The entire Stewart-Haas Racing team and I can't wait to have the Busch logo on the #4 car next season as we work toward another Sprint Cup championship."
To celebrate their return to the sport, Busch will employ a comprehensive marketing approach to engage with racing enthusiasts and loyal Busch consumers through on-track, experiential, in-market and retail activations during the 2016 NASCAR season. TV spots will also air leading up to the season and during races, recognizing Harvick, his pit crew and fans alike who "earn it" every day so they can enjoy race weekends. "NASCAR provides the opportunity to further the brand marketing initiative of recognizing outdoor pursuits of our Busch drinkers and celebrate those hard-working individuals behind the scenes that help the No. 4 car perform week-in-and-week-out," added Phillips. In conjunction with the NASCAR announcement, and to remain in touch with Busch drinkers, Busch is expanding its social media presence by launching the brand's first-ever Twitter handle. Starting today, consumers can follow @BuschBeer and use the hashtag #BuschIsBack.
Busch has a rich racing history and some of the highlights of the brand's involvement in the sport from its beginning include:
Sponsored the Busch Pole Award in 1978, which was presented to the pole winner of each NASCAR Winston Cup Series race
Sponsored Cale Yarborough's No. 11 car throughout the 1979 and 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup seasons
Introduced the Busch Clash in 1979, held each year at Daytona International Speedway the week prior to the Daytona 500
Served as the title sponsor of NASCAR's stepping-stone division to Sprint Cup - currently known as the NASCAR XFINITY Series - from 1984 through 2007
Expanded involvement with racing via the Busch All-Star Tour in 1985, a series of dirt track events in the Midwest
"Official Beer of NASCAR" from 1988 through 1997
"Some of my fondest racing career memories to-date involve the Busch brand, including winning the 2001 and 2006 Busch Series championships," Harvick said. "The brand is historic and I'm looking forward to building the Busch racing legacy with all that we're able to accomplish in 2016."(Stewart-Haas Racing), see an image of one of the schemes on the 2016 #4 Team Schemes page.(10-8-2015)

Charlotte Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Charlotte this week . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires these teams ran at Charlotte in May . . . NASCAR teams have run this left-side tire code at Charlotte since 2012, but this May was the first time they ran this right-side code . . . Xfinity teams also ran this right-side tire code at Darlington last month . . . this right-side is a Goodyear multi-zone tread tire, which incorporates two distinct compounds on the same tire -- one for endurance and heat resistance on the inboard two inches of the tread and one for traction on the outboard 10 inches . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire (Goodyear), see tire codes. pressures, set limits and more on the Charlotte Race Info page.(10-8-2015)

added #18 M&M's Pretty in Pink, #23 Dr Pepper / Breast Cancer Awareness, #40 Carsforsale.com / Breast Cancer Awareness and #41 State Water Heaters schemes that will run at Charlotte in October.(10-7-2015)

Carsforsale.com goes pink with Cassill at Charlotte: The familiar yellow #40 Carsforsale.com Chevy will be going pink this weekend in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month as they sponsor Landon Cassill and the Hillman Racing team. Cassill will pilot the pink #40 Hillman Racing entry at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte. "The familiar yellow Carsforsale.com Chevy SS will have a new look at Charlotte this weekend," said Sean Coffman of Carsforsale.com. "Cancer touches so many lives and we are proud to support Breast Cancer Awareness with Hillman Racing, Landon Cassill, and the pink Carsforsale.com Chevy SS."
"We're proud of our association with Carsforsale.com and seeing them support Breast Cancer Awareness Month by going pink at Charlotte is just the latest example," said Cassill. "I grew up racing on Saturday nights under the lights so a Saturday night race in The Chase is something to look forward to as we close in on the end of the season." As one of the largest automotive classifieds websites, Carsforsale.com provides consumers a feature-rich experience when searching for new and used vehicles online. In addition to connecting buyers with over 20,000 dealerships nationwide, Carsforsale.com offers a full suite of marketing solutions to car dealers including websites, lead and data management, and robust reporting.(Hillman Racing), see an image of the scheme on the #40 Team Schemes page.(10-8-2015)

State Water Heaters sponsoring the #41 at Charlotte: Kurt Busch will park his black-and-red Chevrolet SS for Saturday night's Bank of America 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte in favor of an orange-and-black model. The #41 Chevy will sport the colors of State Water Heaters, a leading manufacturer of commercial and residential water heaters. Based in Ashland City, Tennessee, State Water Heaters has seven water heater manufacturing plants and hundreds of distribution centers across the United States to ensure efficient service to State's national customer base of residential homeowners, wholesalers, contractors and members of the engineering community. Founded in 1946 by Herbert Lindahl, State Water Heaters began in a Nashville garage as a small entrepreneurial company producing coal- and wood-burning stoves. In the years that followed, State Water Heaters expanded and became a leader in the water-heating industry through steadfast commitments to seeking new materials, new technology and innovative engineering techniques (SHR), see an image of the scheme on the #41 Team Schemes page.(10-8-2015)

Special name on Bowyer's car at Charlotte: #15-Clint Bowyer has a little extra incentive to make it to victory lane this weekend at Charlotte. Bowyer will replace his name above the passenger side door with a very special name. Tiffany Dale is currently battling breast cancer. Bowyer and the 5-hour ENERGY family will show their support for the fifth-grade math teacher and mother of two from Nashville, Tenn., with the inclusion of her name on the car this weekend (MWR)(10-8-2015)

Hendrick teams guarding against parts failures: Hendrick Motorsports took time in its weekly meetings to address the parts failure that cost #48-Jimmie Johnson a shot at a seventh championship. Johnson was eliminated in the first round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship when an axle seal broke on his car Sunday at Dover. The failure occurred 103 laps into the race and he finished 41st to fall into the bottom four of the Chase standings. While the issue could be a quality control problem, #24-Jeff Gordon said HMS discussed ways to "make sure that's not something that bites us going forward. "If I wrote down the list of inexpensive parts on the car that can fail at anytime on any given weekend, you'd blow your mind," he said. "It's unfortunate that it happened, and trying to actually diagnose exactly what caused it and why it happened, it's tough. Other teams will tell you these kinds of little gremlins can reach out and grab you at any time." Gordon said HMS, which still has Gordon and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Chase, can take "procedural" steps to guard against failures. "I think we can take some extra precautions to maybe make it better, but there's more of a long-term solution to it that we can't really address right now," he said.(Associated Press)(10-8-2015)

CMS to paint restart lines on track: Charlotte Motor Speedway will paint lines on the track to denote where the restart zone begins and ends for this weekend's Sprint Cup and Xfinity races, a track official confirmed to NASCAR Talk. NASCAR marks the restart zone with lines on the outside wall but fans can't see that. Putting the lines on the track also could help NASCAR officiate restarts. Restarts have been a key topic the past two months. NASCAR has placed a senior series official near the restart zone to better monitor restarts and expanded the zone in recent weeks. An issue, though, could be the paint on the track because it could create wheelspin if a driver started at the beginning of the zone.(NBC Sports)(10-8-2015)

Dover TV Ratings: For the fourth straight week, NASCAR failed to attract 2% of metered market households. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Dover, the third race in the Chase For the Cup, drew a 1.8 overnight rating on NBCSN Sunday afternoon - down 14% from last year (2.1) and down 18% from 2013 (2.2), both of which aired on ESPN. The 1.8 is tied as the fourth-lowest Sprint Cup overnight of the season. Five of the past six Sprint Cup races have had less than a 2.0 overnight, with New Hampshire (1.7), Chicago (1.8), Richmond (1.7) and Bristol (1.9) joining Sunday's race. Overnight ratings have now declined for 16 of 17 Sprint Cup races on cable this season, with Kentucky in July the lone exception. That race, which was even in the metered markets, ended up declining in the final tally. There are only two more races on cable this season, Talladega at the end of the month and Martinsville in November.(Sports Media Watch)(10-6-2015)

UPDATE: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Dover drew 3.2 million viewers on NBCSN Sunday afternoon, down 14% from last year (3.8M) and down 18% from 2013 (4.0M), both of which aired on ESPN. The rating was not immediately available. Kevin Harvick's win ranks as the least-watched edition of the race since at least 2001, falling below the previous mark of 3.6 million in 2012. The race had 5.5 million viewers as recently as 2007 on broadcast network ABC. All 17 NASCAR races on cable this season have either had record-low viewership or the smallest audience in more than ten years. The race also earned the third-smallest audience ever for a Chase For the Cup telecast (dates back to 2004). This year's three Chase telecasts rank as the three least-watched ever, with last week's New Hampshire race dead last (2.9M). Six NASCAR races this season have had fewer than 3.5 million viewers, compared to zero in the nine previous seasons combined (excluding rainouts).(Sports Media Watch / ShowBuzz Daily)
See past race TV Ratings, five-year comparison chart and more on the 2015 TV Ratings page.(10-8-2015)

2015 Top-5's, Top-10's:
#4-Harvick leads all drivers in 2015 with 19 top-fives followed by #22-Logano with 17.
#4-Harvick and #22-Logano lead all drivers in 2015 with 23 top-Ten finishes. #2-Keselowski and #20-Kenseth are next with 19.
Four drivers have ran all the races in 2015 and do not have a top-10 finish: #38-Gilliland, #35-Whitt, #46-Annett, #40-Cassill.(10-4-2015)

Did Not Finish [DNF] Streak and stats: #16-Greg Biffle has the longest current streak of finishing races at 47 races, of drivers who have run all the races, followed by #22-Joey Logano at 46; #48-Jimmie Johnson and #15-Bowyer at 30; #2-Brad Keselowski at 28.
Four drivers have ran all the races in 2015 and do not have an DNF: #16-Biffle, #48-Johnson, #22-Logano & #15-Bowyer.
Greg Biffle holds the record at 89 (ended at Daytona in July 2014), then Clint Bowyer at 83, Kevin Harvick at 81, Harvick at 58, Jeff Gordon at 56 and Dale Earnhardt at 53.
The old all-time record for the longest streak of not having an DNF 'was' 84 races held by Herman Beam from April 30, 1961 thru March 10, 1963 [Beam didn't run all the races, but did not have a DNF in 84 straight consecutive races that he ran].
The Most DNF's in 2015: #55-Ragan and #40-Cassill have 5 DNF's; #42-Larson, #14-Stewart, #23-Yeley, #7-Bowman, #23/#26-Burton and #98/#32-Wise have 4 DNF's.(10-4-2015)

Consecutive Races Finished on Lead Lap:[since 1993]
1) Joey Logano, 24, Indianapolis, July 27, 2014 thru Texas, April 11, 2015
2) Jeff Gordon, 21 races, from June 14, 1998 thru Feb 14, 1999
Dale Earnhardt Jr., 21, Homestead, Nov 20, 2011 thru August 5, 2012
3) Jimmie Johnson, 20, April 2, 2006 thru Sept 9, 2006
4) Matt Kenseth, 19, Oct 14, 2006 thru June 17, 2007
Carl Edwards, 19, Auto Club, March 24, 2013 thru Michigan, August 18. 2013
Clint Bowyer, 19, Martinsville, April 7, 2013 thru Bristol, August 24, 2013
Joey Logano, 19, Kansas, May 9, 2015 thru current
5) Jeff Burton, 18, Charlotte, Oct 13, 2007 thru Charlotte, May 25, 2008
6) Tony Stewart, 17, Martinsville, March 29, 2009 thru Michigan, August 16, 2009
Rusty Wallace, 17, May 29, 2005 thru Sept 25, 2005
Matt Kenseth 17, May 5, 2006 thru Sept 24, 2006
CURRENT Streaks:
driver, races, race started
Joey Logano, 19, Kansas, May 9, 2015
Carl Edwards, 12, Kentucky, July 11, 2015
Brad Keselowski, 12, Kentucky, July 11, 2015
Denny Hamlin, 8, Watkins Glen, August 9, 2015
(10-4-2015)

Engines Revved For 2015 NASCAR Drive For Diversity Combine: Twenty-two drivers have three days to compete for a spot in the motorsport industry's top driver development program, the NASCAR Drive for Diversity (D4D), set to commence at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va., Oct. 19-21, 2015. Now in its 12th year, the annual Combine invites promising ethnically diverse and female drivers, ages 14 to 26, from across North America to test their skills over a three-day period in order to identify members of the NASCAR D4D Class of 2016. In partnership with Rev Racing, the Max Siegel-owned race team, D4D offers racing opportunities in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKPSE) and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) for one full season, providing drivers with equipment, mentoring, and competition experience. This year's athletes include 13 women, notably the youngest combine participant ever at 14 years old, Macy Causey. Also participating are four stars from the NASCAR Mexico Series: Abraham Calderón, Enrique Contreras, Rubén García Jr. and Santiago Tovar. Returning to defend their spots in the program are current NASCAR Whelen All-American Series drivers Dylan Smith and Natalie Decker. Driver combine participants will be evaluated on their driving skills and will also be tested on a series of strength and agility exercises at Hampton University (NASCAR), see the driver list and more info on the Driver Development page.(10-8-2015)

Kahne fastest in happy hour: #88-Kasey Kahne was quickest during happy hour for the Drive for the Cure 300 with a speed of 180.433mph. He was followed by: #54-Kyle Busch, #60-Chris Buescher, #7-Regan Smith, #20-Erik Jones, #22-Brad Keselowski, #33-Austin Dillon, #3-Ty Dillon, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #2-Brian Scott. 40 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Charlotte practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-8-2015)

Kyle Busch fastest in first practice: #54-Kyle Busch was fastest during opening practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 181.886mph. #60-Chris Buescher was second, followed by: #3-Ty Dillon, #88-Kasey Kahne, #16-Ryan Reed, #22-Brad Keselowski, #33-Austin Dillon, #2-Brian Scott, #20-Erik Jones, and #7-Regan Smith. All 40 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Charlotte practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-8-2015)

KBM changes crew chief lineup: When the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in two weeks, the #54 truck team of Kyle Busch Motorsports will have a new leader. Shannon Rursch who joined the organization earlier this year to lead Justin Boston parted ways with the Mooresville, North Carolina following this past Saturday night's Rhino Linings 350 at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, the team confirmed to Catchfence.com Thursday. Boston and Kyle Busch Motorsports separated in early July after KBM noted that Boston's sponsor ZLOOP failed to maintain its financial agreement with the organization. KBM subsequently filed a lawsuit against ZLOOP for breach of contract. ZLOOP, headquartered in Hickory, North Carolina filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August. Since Boston's departure, Rursch led dirt track standout Christopher Bell to his first NASCAR win at Eldora Speedway in July. Bell finished 14th at Las Vegas after starting fifth. Eddie Troconis will serve as the new crew chief of the #54 for the final five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races this season, the team confirmed. Troconis has been the engineer for crew chief Jerry Baxter at KBM since start of the 2013 season. The two were paired with Darrell Wallace Jr for 2013 and 2014, while they switched to the team's #51 truck this season with drivers Daniel Suarez, Kyle Busch and Matt Tifft. Troconis will make his debut as crew chief in the Oct. 24 running of the fred's 250 at Talladega, one of three remaining races with Bell and new sponsor JBL.(Catchfence.com)(10-8-2015)

Charlotte Track Notes & History - Wednesday:
· Construction began on Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) in 1959.
· The track's first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on June 19, 1960 - won by Joe Lee Johnson.
· The track was repaved midseason in 1994.
· The track name changed from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1999. It changed back to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 2010 season.
· The track was re-paved again before the 2006 season.
(NASCAR)(10-7-2015)

Michael Waltrip to run 2016 Daytona 500; Talladega in Oct? #98?: Michael Waltrip still plans to run the 2016 Daytona 500. He just needs to figure out how he'll do it. A two-time winner of the Daytona 500, Waltrip had announced in April that he would attempt to make his 29th start in the sport's biggest race with sponsorship from Maxwell House. But when Waltrip announced in August that Michael Waltrip Racing would shut down after this season, it created an obvious question of whether the deal would fall through. Waltrip, at an event Wednesday where Maxwell House gave away a free tank of gas and coffee to 250 people, said the deal is still on and he plans to put on the helmet to compete next February. He could field the car himself -- the process of shutting down MWR will take until April -- or bring the sponsorship to another team that fields Toyotas. "I'm going to Daytona in February with Maxwell House," said Waltrip, who retired from full-time racing after the 2009 season but still competes in select restrictor-plate events. "There will be some cars left over at MWR and I'm probably in line to get a good Toyota engine, being a partner with those guys from the beginning."(ESPN)
AND was sent an image of a #98 Maxwell House Toyota seen at Michael Waltrip Racing. Looks like Waltrip will team up with the #98 Premium Motorsports team to run at Talladega in October and/or the Daytona 500 in 2016. See an image of the car on the #98 Team Schemes page.(10-7-2015)

Truex advances to next Chase round despite pre-race penalty UPDATES: That last thing Martin Truex Jr. would have wanted was for his #78 Chevy to be pulled off the grid before the start of an elimination race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. But that's what happened minutes before cars were set to roll off pit road for the start of the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway Sunday. NASCAR officials deemed that the body of Truex's car failed to conform to templates. Accordingly, Truex's crew had to fix the car before the race, and Truex was sent to the rear for the start. After dodging an early wreck involving Jeb Burton and Josh Wise, Truex worked his way through the field, running as high as third after a two-tire call and ultimately finishing 11th. The result was good enough to propel Truex into the 12-driver Contender Round of the Chase. It wasn't a comfortable day for the Furniture Row Racing driver, but the end result was positive. "Yeah, we had to start last," Truex said after the race. "It is what it is. We moved on. We did what we had to do. It wasn't a great day for us. It wasn't a great weekend. We have been just struggling trying to get the thing turning. All in all, we had good speed when we would get track position." According to NASCAR officials, Truex will face no additional sanctions beyond the demotion to the rear of the field on Sunday.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-5-2015)
UPDATE: Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer, said Monday that Martin Truex Jr.'s #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevy was brought back to the laser-inspection area minutes before Sunday's AAA 400 because it was suspected that the side skirt had been manipulated -- and further inspection proved that to be true. "One of our officials noticed the side skirt of that car and thought it had perhaps been manipulated," O'Donnell told NASCAR.com on Monday. "We brought it back to the laser-inspection station and sure enough were able to prove out that it had been." The result was Truex Jr.'s crew had to work to fix the area and get it back up to code before rolling to the grid and starting from the back of the field because of "unapproved adjustments." Originally slated to start ninth in the final race of the Challenger Round in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Truex rallied for an 11th-place finish and advanced to the Contender Round (NASCAR.com)
UPDATE 2 crew chief penalized: Furniture Row Racing received a P2 penalty on Tuesday following further review of a pre-race incident at Dover International Speedway. Cole Pearn, crew chief of the #78 Sprint Cup team, has been placed on probation until the end of the year. At the time of the incident, the team and the media was told by NASCAR the penalty had been served. However, when the sanctioning body reviewed the case earlier this week, additional details led to the P2 decision.(Motorsport)(10-7-2015)

Earnhardt Jr. wants to keep pit crew for 2016: When it comes to keeping his pit crew intact throughout the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a strong proponent of the status quo. Never mind that Earnhardt's #88 team picked up front tire changer Scott Brzozowski from Jeff Gordon's #24 squad after the 24 hired free agent Nick O'Dell, late of Joe Gibbs Racing. That change aside, Earnhardt wants to keep his over-the-wall gang as is-for strong reasons-even though some have suggested Earnhardt might benefit from the temporary reassignment of some of Jimmie Johnson's crew, with Johnson eliminated from the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in last Sunday's AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway. "I really would like to keep my guys-I'll be honest with you," Earnhardt said on Tuesday during a Chase Contender Round question-and-answer session with reporters at the NASCAR Hall of Fame heading into the round's opener Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "I don't think you build a guy's trust ... he needs to know you believe in him. The same way for the driver. The driver needs to know the team believes he can do it. I think the carrier, the changer, all those guys want to know that the driver and everybody involved believe in them when they go over the wall. If I take the 48 guys because I think they're better, then what am I going to do next year? I'll have to start from scratch again. All those guys that are on my car now are going to be (ticked) off because I didn't believe in them, because I took the 48 guys when the going got tough. So I don't believe in doing that. I believe that my guys can do it. I think that we'll find a combination that works for the rest of the year and beyond."
Now that Brzozowski is on his team, Earnhardt would prefer to keep him, too. The front tire changer has been a mainstay on Gordon's team since 2013. "I hope that Scott wants to stick around beyond this season," Earnhardt said. "I actually talked to him a bit today. It's not like we need too many changes. We just need one key guy that can come in and elevate the standard and push everyone. Over the past couple years, when we've had great crews, a lot of the guys that we've been working with this year have been on those teams. But if you get one guy in there who's kind of a key player, or a bit of a superstar, like a wide receiver or a quarterback is to a football team, he can really elevate the play of everybody around him and boost the entire crew-just the confidence those guys having going over the wall when he's a part of it changes the whole consistency of the team. We really want Scott to wrap his brain around staying with us."(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-7-2015)

Todd Parrott helping out JTG Daugherty Racing: "We've got Todd Parrott helping us out," #47 JTG Daugherty Racing owner Tad Geschickter said. "He's a part of the Childress (Richard Childress Racing) alliance and provides an extra resource to help us improve on the last seven races." All in: "I'm 100% with JTG Daugherty Racing and making our cars better," crew chief Brian Burns said. "Richard Childress is willing to do what it takes to help us get stronger. He's volunteered Todd's experience and knowledge to work with us and help us identify some weak areas so we can get stronger." Glad to help: "We want JTG Daugherty Racing to succeed," said Parrott. "RCR has a great partnership with the team. With the alliance, it makes sense for me to help out and I want to. There are some really good people at JTG Daugherty Racing that work really hard and I know AJ is a passionate guy capable of winning races."(JTG Daugherty Racing)(10-7-2015)

Blaney's #21 to Sport PPG Colors at Charlotte: Ryan Blaney and the #21 Wood Brothers Ford Fusion will carry new colors - literally and figuratively - into this weekend's Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The iconic #21 Ford Fusion will be sponsored by PPG, the leading global coatings and specialty products company that was founded in 1883 as Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. Appropriately, the #21 PPG Fusion is colored in blue on the front of the car and streaks to white at the rear, giving a look of speed even when the car is sitting still.
Crew chief Jeremy Bullins said the PPG Ford Fusion will be hard to miss as Blaney competes in Saturday's 500-mile event. "Our PPG paint scheme is really cool and will definitely pop at night under the lights," Bullins said. But the rookie Sprint Cup crew chief is also hoping to get his team's car some notice for its speed as well. "We've been looking forward to coming back to Charlotte since the Coca-Cola 600," he said. "We feellike we were headed for a top-10 finish before we had engine trouble, and a top-10 in your first Coke 600 is a big deal."
Bullins, like most of the regulars on the Sprint Cup circuit, relishes racing close to home, as the track is just around the corner from the Wood Brothers' shop on Highway 49 in Harrisburg. "I certainly don't mind sleeping in my bedat night either," he said. Blaney, Bullins and the rest of the #21 PPG team have a lot to live up to when it comes to racing at Charlotte. Over the years, the Wood Brothers team has run 110 races at Charlotte, with six victories, 24 top-five and 38 top-10 finishes and an astonishing 20 poles including 13 in a row during the 1970s. "It's certainly a track the 21 team has had a lot of success at over the years," Bullins said. "It's always great to run well as usually we have a lot offamily guests there as well, and we want to make them proud."(Wood Brothers Racing), see an image of the scheme/car on the #21 Team Schemes page.(10-7-2015)

Harvick victory celebration raises eyebrows: #4-Kevin Harvick's victory celebration at Dover made some of his competitors wonder if the reigning Sprint Cup champion had something to hide. Many believe Harvick backed his car into the wall during his celebratory burnout perhaps in an intentional attempt to create damage to his Chevrolet that would limit NASCAR's ability to do a proper post-race inspection. Harvick on Tuesday denied any knowledge of hitting the wall. "I did?" he asked. "I didn't even know." When told that a conspiracy was potentially brewing - and growing on social media - Harvick seemed unconcerned and chalked it up as competition doing "what they're supposed to do - they're supposed to try and create commotion."
"I don't actually remember hitting the wall," he said. "I remember the tires blowing out, but I don't know if I actually hit the wall. These things are hard to win and I enjoy celebrating, and I'm going to burn the tires off for sure." #2-Brad Keselowski said Tuesday it was "absolutely" common for drivers to intentionally damage their cars after a race. #11-Denny Hamlin called on NASCAR to figure out a way to keep cars intact for the technical inspection that occurs after a car is returned to North Carolina for a thorough review at the research and development center. Keselowski said intentionally damaging the car is common and he has done it himself. NASCAR inspects several cars at the race track following a race, while three or so are brought back to North Carolina for a more detailed inspection. "The cars aren't tech'd the same way at the track as they can be tech'd at the R&D Center," Keselowski said. "It's been going on for a long time. But I'm not making any accusations. I've definitely blown tires out. I think every driver has done things to do some kind of damage to their car."(Associated Press)(10-7-2015)

2016 #88 TaxSlayer.com scheme unveiled: Last month, TaxSlayer.com announced that it had expanded its relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr. to include an affiliation with Hendrick Motorsports. As part of the partnership, TaxSlayer.com will receive primary placement on Earnhardt's #88 Chevy for one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race next season. The Sprint Cup race in which Earnhardt will drive the #88 TaxSlayer.com Chevy is still to be determined. But the brand new paint scheme for 2016 has been revealed. The red and black design received a makeover, and Earnhardt himself spearheaded the redesign. To celebrate the occasion, fans will have the opportunity to win a limited-edition, vintage Earnhardt and TaxSlayer T-shirt (more info at HMS site), see an image of the car on the 2016 #88 Team Schemes page.(10-7-2015)

Biffle's car painted pink at Charlotte: Greg Biffle's #16 Roush Performance Ford Fusion will be pink this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway in honor of Breast Cancer awareness month. In addition to the pink themed car, Biffle will also wear pink driving shoes and gloves. The "Cruise for a Cause" decal will be located on the rear quarterpanel of the No. 16 this weekend. The foundation's mission is to bring the message of hope to those who need it and along the way find the finances to cure it. They use a Shelby GT500 as a mobile billboard to spread the message. Created in 1995, ROUSH Performance Products combines race-proven technologies with advanced automotive engineering to continually provide customers the ultimate driving experience - the perfect combination of racecar and road car (RFR), see images of the scheme/car on the #16 Team Schemes page.(10-7-2015)

Thrivent Financial Celebrates 10th Anniversary Partnership with Habitat for Humanity at CMS: Thrivent Financial will celebrate its 10th Anniversary of partnering with Habitat for Humanity at the hometown race for Leavine Family Racing and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Michael McDowell. During the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend occurring Oct. 8-10 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the #95 Thrivent Financial Ford Fusion will have a fan favorite celebratory paint scheme honoring this long-time partnership between Thrivent and Habitat known as Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity.
The game and paint scheme are a continuation of the multi-year, multi-million dollar mission partnership between Thrivent Financial and Habitat for Humanity International. Through the three Thrivent Builds programs, Thrivent Builds Homes, Thrivent Builds Worldwide and Thrivent Builds Repairs, Thrivent members and other volunteers help build or repair homes in partnership with Habitat families across the U.S. and abroad. The programs are designed to involve Thrivent members and other Christians in providing a "hand up" to families in need of safe, decent, affordable housing, and offering them a path to greater economic independence.
Thrivent is Habitat's largest nongovernmental supporter. Since 2005, Thrivent members have constructed or repaired more than 4,000 homes around the world and committed more than $213 million and 4.4 million volunteer hours. In 2015, Thrivent has pledged $12 million to build 121 homes, repair up to 450 homes and support 120 Thrivent Builds Worldwide trips for volunteers to build homes in countries around the globe.
Leavine Family Racing and McDowell have participated in two Thrivent Builds projects in local race markets alongside partner families and volunteers from Thrivent and the local community. The team visited Hickory, N.C. in April to build an access ramp for a local homeowner and volunteered to make critical repair to a home in Indianapolis prior to the Brickyard 400 race. McDowell, a Thrivent member himself, has joined the more than 200,000 Thrivent members who have volunteered and changed lives through Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity and is honored to run this celebratory paint scheme.
Race fans have until Oct. 15, 2015 to participate in the Driven To Thrive - To 95 online game* that benefits Habitat for Humanity. By playing the online game, participants will trigger donations to Habitat from Thrivent. All players will be entered to win the grand prize - a VIP trip for two to the championship race in Homestead, Fla. For official rules and to play, visit www.ThriventRacing.com.(Leavine Family Racing), see images of the scheme/car on the #95 Team Schemes page.(10-7-2015)

NASCAR Night & Hauler Parade Kick Off Bank of America 500 Weekend: Charlotte Motor Speedway will officially kick of race festivities with NASCAR Night and Hauler Parade at zMAX Dragway. The free fan event begins at 6:00pm/et on Wednesday, October 7th with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series haulers parading down the quarter-mile drag strip and continuing on to the infield at Charlotte Motor Speedway where they will set up for Saturday's Bank of America 500. Following the parade, NASCAR drivers, crew members and other personalities will race their personal vehicles down the Bellagio of drag strips in a series of exhibition races. Admission is free. Gates open at 5:00pm/et. The hauler parade will begin at approximately 6:15pm/et with racing to follow.
Fans can catch all the action surrounding the only Saturday night race in the Chase, including Bojangles' Pole Night on Oct. 8, the NASCAR XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina on Oct. 9 and the Bank of America 500 on Oct. 10 with weekend packages starting at just $99, go to charlottemotorspeedway.com for info and tickets.(CMS)(10-7-2015)

Statement from Jamie McMurray regarding the passing of his niece: "I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of the friends and fans for the thoughts and prayers to our family, following the loss of my niece Lauren [Montez], who passed away last Sunday Oct. 4. Lauren was the inspiration behind my becoming involved with Autism awareness and the work that we have done through the Jamie McMurray Foundation with Autism Speaks. My sister Trisha and our entire family appreciate the respect of privacy during this difficult time.(more info at jamiemcmurray.com.(10-7-2015)

Former NASCAR driver sets Tractor speed record: A 1952 Ford 8N series farm tractor, dubbed the "8NCREDIBLE," stunned those on hand September, 27th at Wilmington Ohio's Airborne Park when it roared to a final round top speed of 96.3185 miles per hour. The tractor, driven by Fletcher, NC's Jack Donohue (ran five NASCAR Cup races in the 1970's), is the first to ever compete at an East Coast Timing Association (ECTA) sanctioned land speed record event.(Bang Shift/JackDonohue.com)(10-7-2015)

Final 2015 start for Truex: Ryan Truex will make his third and final start of the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series season this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. While short track racing is Truex preferred style, he has shown good speed at the mile-and-a-half tracks. In his second start of the season at Kentucky, Truex ran in the Top-10 before becoming collateral damage in an on-track scuffle between other competitors. The #98 Carrol Shelby Engine Company team looks to redeem themselves at Charlotte this weekend. The team has a solid notebook to work from after strong runs at similar style tracks earlier in the year from Sprint Cup drivers Aric Almirola and Sam Hornish, Jr.(Richard Petty Motorsports)(10-7-2015)

Koch goes pink at Charlotte: The #8 LeafFilter Gutter Protection hauler will travel 33-miles this weekend to NASCAR's hometrack, Charlotte Motor Speedway. Blake Koch will be behind the wheel of the pink LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camry this weekend, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. With four previous starts at the 1.5-mile oval, Koch will carry the names of family members of LeafFilter employees who have battled breast cancer. Koch is looking to improve upon his best finish of 18th at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend.(TriStar Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #8 team paint schemes page(10-7-2015)

Las Vegas Speedway had plans for SAFER barrier before Truck crash: A Las Vegas Motor Speedway official said plans were already in place to put an energy-absorbing barrier on the outside wall that Austin Theriault smashed into head-on during the Camping World Truck Series race Saturday night. Theriault suffered a compression fracture in his lower back from the accident into an unprotected concrete barrier on the frontstretch. LVMS spokesman Jeff Motley said Tuesday that a plan was already in place to add a SAFER barrier to that section before the Sprint Cup Series race there March 6. Since Kyle Busch wrecked into a concrete barrier at Daytona International Speedway in February and suffered a broken right leg and broken left foot, NASCAR has worked with the tracks to review whether to add additional energy-absorbing barriers to areas other than the turns, which NASCAR mandated in 2005. NASCAR, which can dictate to the tracks what safety improvements they must make for NASCAR to race there, declined to comment or acknowledge publicly its plans or the results of its review earlier this year, deferring to the tracks.(ESPN)(10-7-2015)

Actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar Grand Marshal at Kansas: Actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar has been chosen to give the most famous words in motorsports - "Drivers, Start Your Engines" - for the Hollywood Casino 400 on Oct. 18. Gosselaar currently stars as Mitch on NBC's new comedy "Truth Be Told," which premieres on Friday, Oct. 16. Prior to his current role, his extensive and successful television career has had him starring in a number of series, including "Commander In Chief," the critically acclaimed drama "NYPD Blue," "Raising the Bar," and most recently in "Franklin & Bash." Gosselaar made his television debut as Zack Morris in the popular teen sitcom "Saved by the Bell." He has a passion for a variety of sports, including golf, hockey, cycling and motorcross racing and is also an avid pilot.
Racing returns to Kansas Speedway as this October with the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season finale (Full Throttle S'loonshine 98.9) on Oct. 16, the NASCAR XFINITY Series (Kansas Lottery 300) on Oct. 17, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Hollywood Casino 400, the fifth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup) on Oct. 18, and tickets are currently on sale and available by calling 866.460.7223, logging onto www.kansasspeedway.com or at the Kansas Speedway Ticket Office Monday - Friday from 9 AM - 5 PM. Parking is always free at Kansas Speedway and fans can bring in one 14x14x14-inch soft-sided cooler with their favorite food and beverages.(Kansas Speedway)(10-7-2015)

Bristol Motor Speedway announces world's largest outdoor, permanent, center-hung digital display: Bristol Motor Speedway (The Last Great Colosseum) will soon be the home of the world's largest outdoor, permanent, center-hung digital display, officials announced Wednesday. The display, named Colossus, will plunge fans into the color, roar and rumble of events through four high-resolution screens and a thunderous sound system, making the Bristol experience more immersive than ever before. "Combine all the energy and excitement of Bristol with the ultimate home theater system, and you've got Colossus," said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS). "The size, resolution, and sound of this display will draw our guests into every bit of action on the track and in the infield." Each of Colossus' four custom-built screens is approximately 30 feet tall by 63 feet wide. In total, the system hosts nearly 54 million LEDs and 18 million pixels. At 6mm pitch, the pixels are grouped tighter than the large-scale outdoor displays in Times Square. The result: a glimmering visual experience capable of offering 281 trillion different color combinations, and one that's 23 times brighter and 25 percent sharper than the typical home HD TV. The display will hang from a halo-shaped truss and features an additional circular LED display beneath the screens which measures nearly six feet in height. Between the screens and the LED ring, that's more than 8,500 square feet of high-resolution, active viewing area.
Colossus also boasts a state-of-the-art, 540,000-watt audio system powering 380 3-way loudspeakers and 48 stadium subwoofers, enough to make any rock star squirm with envy. By contrast, the current system hosts 2,400 watts of power, with only 10 2-way loudspeakers and 8 subwoofers. The scale and quality of the project draws on the technology solutions expertise of partners such as Panasonic, a company known for creating large displays in numerous iconic sports venues across the U.S., including other Speedway Motorsports, Inc., (SMI) tracks like Charlotte and Texas Motor Speedways.
"Panasonic is honored to be chosen by Bristol Motor Speedway as their technology partner for a project that so dramatically transforms the fan experience," said Douglas Moss, senior vice president, Marketing and Sales, president of Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company. "We worked closely with Bristol to recommend a unique, high-end technology solution that we believe is a true game-changer. Colossus lives up to its name in every respect, creating a completely immersive fan experience with its sheer size, unparalleled resolution and imaging crispness. Panasonic has a proud relationship with Speedway Motorsports, Inc., delivering customized technology solutions to SMI-owned and operated member race tracks, a legacy that continues to grow and now includes Bristol as the latest high-profile success story."
Once the build begins in November, the track's existing pylon and screen frame will be removed, clearing the infield for next year's NASCAR events and the Battle at Bristol, college football's biggest-ever game. Colossus will rise via four massive support towers ranging in height from 190-220 feet and weighing in at approximately 437 tons. These will be positioned outside the bowl, and the display will then be suspended over the infield by miles of cabling, the largest of which exceeds the diameter of the vertical cables supporting the Golden Gate Bridge. Rentenbach Constructors of Knoxville, Tenn. is taking on the build of the structure. "It's a real thrill for Rentenbach to be back at BMS to help install this exciting piece of technology," said Don Freeman, chairman, Rentenbach Constructors, a Christman Company. "Construction of the Speedway continues to be a special point of pride for everyone at our company, and the chance to do more than be on the sidelines cheering at the upcoming Battle at Bristol will make this once-in-a-lifetime game day even more special."
According to Caldwell, Colossus will be ready to dazzle guests at the Spring 2016 NASCAR race. Throughout the year, BMS will demonstrate one of Colossus' additional design elements: the ability to transfer screens around the facility for events like the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in June and the track's annual holiday celebration, Speedway in Lights. "Colossus will transform the way we see, hear and experience events at Bristol, and provide additional opportunities for events here," said Caldwell. "We're fortunate to have entrepreneurs and owners like Bruton and Marcus Smith who care about providing fans with the best possible entertainment experience."
Colossal Facts: Colossus is brilliant.
Colossus has the highest viewing quality of any permanent outdoor stadium display in the world. It features 2880 x 1350 lines of resolution, compared to the average home HDTV screen at 1920 x 1080.
Colossus hosts nearly 54 million LEDs and 18 million pixels, and is capable of displaying 281 trillion different color combinations.
The space between pixels, known as pitch, is closer on Colossus than any other large-scale outdoor installation. At 6mm pitch, the pixels are grouped tighter than the large-scale outdoor displays in Times Square.
Colossus is big.
It's the largest outdoor, center-hung screen display in the world.
Colossus features four LED screens. Each one is 5 feet tall and 62.9 feet wide, and all together, equals approximately 1,145 50-inch TV's.
Each screen will be at least 20 feet closer to guests and 5 times larger than current screens.
The unit will also have a lower viewing ring measuring 5 feet 11 inches high by almost 189 feet in circumference, for an additional 961.2 total square feet of screen space.
Colossus weighs nearly 700 tons. This includes:
437 tons of steel among the four supporting towers, or roughly the same weight as 1,748 college football goal posts.
127 tons in the supporting ring, screen frame and screens. That's more than the combined weight of every player and coach on the UT and VT football teams-for the next five years.
117 tons of cabling. The largest diameter cable weighs 63 pounds per foot, and the suspension cables are larger than the vertical cables supporting the Golden Gate Bridge.
The main cable suspending the screens is long enough to circle the track twice.
Colossus is bold.
With 540,000 watts powering 380 3-way loudspeakers and 48 stadium subwoofers, Colossus' sound system will go boom. By comparison, the former system featured 2,400 watts, 10 2-way loudspeakers and 8 subwoofers.
Colossus provides a listening distance of no more than 90 feet from speakers to ears, compared to a previous listening distance of 200-400 feet.
The quality of the system's speakers means there will be less than 3 decibels of difference among any seat in the grandstands.
The sound system hosts 40 miles of cabling and fiber optics, enough for 80 track laps.
All of Colossus' electrical power is certified Green for energy efficiency.(bristolmotorspeedway.com).(10-4-2015)

Brand new Lowe's Red Vest Chevy SS unveiled: To celebrate Lowe's 265,000 employees, Jimmie Johnson will drive the #48 Lowe's Red Vest Chevy this weekend at Charlotte. Johnson debuted the Red Vest Chevy last November when he drove to Victory Lane at Texas. The red vests Lowe's employees wear have become symbolic of the company's commitment to its customers and providing outstanding service each and every day. In fact, Lowe's announced Monday a $500,000 donation to the American Red Cross to help those in the southeast impacted by Hurricane Joaquin. Johnson comment: "After 14 years of partnership, I know what the red vest means to everyone at Lowe's. It's why I'm proud to have red on my car at Charlotte and Lowe's as part of my team."(Team Lowe's Racing), see images of the scheme on the #48 Team Schemes page.(10-6-2015)

Hornish Jr. one and done at RPM? UPDATE: Prior to his full-time return to the Sprint Cup Series this season with Richard Petty Motorsports, #9-Sam Hornish had competed in just 23 series events over the course of the past four years. Twenty of those came from a partial schedule with his former employer Team Penske, and the other two were a fill-in stint for the injured Denny Hamlin and a one-off deal with Front Row Motorsports. RPM came into 2015 with a renewed feeling of promise and an extra skip in their step. The famed #43 team had made some great strides in 2014 with Aric Almirola, including a slot in the Chase and the return of Smithfield Foods. Prior to the Chase last season, Marcos Ambrose announced that he would not be returning to the team, leaving RPM with the task of finding a successor. David Ragan and Hornish were at the top of the list, and it had seemed as though Ragan was leading in the polls. Ultimately, Hornish got the nod and it was well received by his long-standing fan base, originating from his open-wheel days. This season, Hornish has scored just three top-10s; one in the Daytona 500 and the others in both road courses. He's currently 25th in the standings and has finished on the lead lap just seven times. Nine years in the series with a total of 153 starts, he's led less than 75 laps and finished in the top-10 only 12 times. After ten races this season, crew chief Drew Blickensderfer was out and Kevin "Bono" Manion was in, but that hasn't seemed to moved the needle in a positive direction. 2016 will probably have a different look and feel for RPM. The King [Richard Petty] has already moved into his new castle and they're rumored to be changing manufacturers. It's likely that Sam Hornish will be done at RPM. And with the impending demise of Michael Waltrip Racing, It is expected that David Ragan to be on a very short list of candidates - including Regan Smith.(Popular Speed)(8-15-2015)
UPDATE: Brian Moffitt, CEO of Richard Petty Motorsports, says that the team is not set on who will drive the #9 car next year. Sam Hornish Jr., in his first year with RPM, is 27th in the points heading into Charlotte. "Sam has been disappointed, we've been disappointed,'' said Moffitt, about the #9 car's performance this season. Hornish has three top-10 finishes and eight finishes of 30th or worse this year. He's scored five top-20 results in the last eight races. After struggles early in the season, Kevin Manion replaced Drew Blickensderfer as Hornish's crew chief in May. "We've seen good improvement,'' Moffitt said of Hornish. "He had a great race going at New Hampshire. He was in that range that we needed him to be, that 11th to 16th. We just need to finish. That's been our issue.'' Performance, though, isn't the only factor that will determine who will drive the #9 car next year. "Really, what it's going to boil down to is funding, where that funding comes from,'' Moffitt said. "We like Sam. We hope that that can continue there, but we're also looking at all options.'' Moffitt said the team does not have sponsorship set for the #9 car next year. Aric Almirola will return to the #43 next year - he and sponsor Smithfield signed a three-year extension in Jan. 2014. Smithfield is set to sponsor the car for 29 races annually. Moffitt says he's confident the other races will be set in the near future.(NBC Sports)(10-6-2015)

Axalta to sponsor Dale Jr. in 2016: Axalta Coatings Systems will continue its long-standing partnership with Hendrick Motorsports after agreeing to a contract extension that will expand its presence and take one of the most enduring sponsorships in NASCAR through 2018. Beginning in 2016, Axalta will become a primary sponsor of the #88 Chevy team of driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. for 13 Sprint Cup Series races annually, an increase of three per season. Axalta will also be featured as a major associate sponsor during all non-primary events.
The agreement extends a multi-faceted partnership -- now in its 23rd full season -- that began in November 1992 when the company (as DuPont) first sponsored driver Jeff Gordon and the #24 Hendrick Motorsports team. Gordon, who is in the midst of his final full-time Sprint Cup campaign, will continue to work with Axalta as a spokesperson and global business advisor. The multi-year relationship was announced earlier this year.(Hendrick Motorsports)(10-6-2015)

Petty expected to continue running Fords UPDATE: Richard Petty Motorsports will continue its relationship with Ford Performance. An announcement is expected at the team's Mooresville, N.C. shop on Tuesday. The organization enjoys a storied past under the guidance of seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty. RPM currently fields two Sprint Cup teams and an Xfinity Series program. The foundation of RPM stems from Evernham Motorsports, which debuted in 2000. RPM evolved from the four-Dodge team from Gillett Evernham Motorsports and began making the transition to Ford at the end of the 2009 season. The organization is currently evaluating the status of the #9 Ford as Sam Hornish Jr. has struggled to remain in the top 25 despite a change of crew chiefs. The relationship with Ford Performance and the King dates back to 1969 when Petty piloted the #43 Ford Torino to nine wins and a second-place finish in the point standings to fellow Ford racer David Pearson.(Motorsport)(10-4-2015)
UPDATE: Key takeaways from the Ford extension annoucement with Richard Petty Motorsports:
- The extension is a multiyear agreement vs one year agreements in the past.
- RPM will run Roush Yates Engines.
- RPM are continuing to work on a services agreement with Roush Fenway Racing.
"The goals and vision for Ford Performance are the same that we have here at Richard Petty Motorsports, win races and compete for championships and ultimately be champions. We both want to use technology and engineering to better our cars and teams to give our drivers the best chance to win races and championships." - Brian Moffit, CEO.(RPM Facebook)
AND Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) and Ford Performance announced today their commitment to winning races and championships together in an extension that will see the most storied organization in NASCAR continue to carry the iconic blue oval in years to come. The announcement ensures that Richard Petty Motorsports' two NASCAR Sprint Cup race teams and its XFINITY Series race team will continue to have the championship caliber engineering, technology and resources of Ford Performance. The partnership will also allow RPM to be leaders in race engineering, technology and to build for the future. Over the past year, officials from RPM and Ford Performance have worked diligently toward building a mutually beneficial relationship that has seen immediate results. Richard Petty Motorsports and Ford Performance have worked together in the wind tunnel, on aerodynamic packages and on collecting engineering data. The result has been increased consistency and performance for the organization proven by Aric Almirola and the #43 Ford Fusion having their most consistent season together and highest average finish to date.
"Our relationship with Ford Performance has a history, a present and now a future of winning races and competing for championships," said Richard Petty, co-owner, Richard Petty Motorsports. "As we took on additional internal responsibilities within our organization over the past 12 months, Dave Pericak and his team at Ford Performance have been with us supporting Richard Petty Motorsports each step of the way. And to know they will continue to be our partner is very important to our combined desire to make RPM a championship caliber organization.
Ford Performance has been the manufacture partner of RPM since 2010 and their roots with Richard Petty date back to 1969 when "The King" won nine times in a Ford Torino on his way to a runner-up finish in the championship. Ford Performance and RPM have three wins in the Sprint Cup Series and two wins in the XFINITY Series together, along with a total of 10 poles in both series. "Richard Petty Motorsports has made steady progress since joining our program, and we're looking forward to seeing them take that next step to being a consistent Chase participant," said Dave Pericak, director, Ford Performance. "We feel they have the people in place to achieve that goal, and we're going to do everything we can to provide them the resources to make that happen."(RPM)(10-6-2015)

$5 part failure knocks Johnson out of the Chase: It will go into the theoretical faulty part hall of fame, season-ruining wing, the right rear axle seal that on Sunday at Dover International Speedway helped eject six-time series champion #48-Jimmie Johnson from the Chase for the Sprint Cup after one round. It'll be near the display the for cracked cylinder head that cost Jeff Gordon a 111-point lead in the standings with four races left in the 1996 Sprint Cup season and preceded a Terry Labonte comeback for the championship. The broken suspension piece that sent IndyCar driver Juan Pablo Montoya into the wall at Iowa Speedway this year - he lost the points lead and title to Scott Dixon on tiebreakers in the final race - will be mounted soon. And so the Jimmie Johnson display will follow, proving yet again, that every little thing matters in racing. And sometimes the little things matter a lot, even though, he said, "We take for granted how indestructible these cars are."
"We didn't expect an axle seal would be the culprit and take your championships hopes away (but) it's racing," he said. "I've had mechanicals take me out of championships growing up that led to success for myself and I'm sure helped me with a championship or two. It's just part of racing. It just shows how critical everything on a race team is and how critical every component is. You can't take anything for granted. Heart-breaking for sure, but there's nothing we can do about it."
Johnson estimated the axle seal's cost at $5. Kevin Harvick crew chief Rodney Childers agreed on that as its fair cost, but said the sums NASCAR teams pay for some semblance of peace of mind and pieces of quality price it at about $50. Race cars are made of thousands of bits and pieces, many of those parts crafted within team race shops, some purchased in bulk from vendors with the assumption and hope, that one bad batch or one bad component within that lot doesn't fail at a crucial point to ruin in a season of work for drivers and mechanics alike. (USA Today)(10-6-2015)

Gase returning to the #32 at Texas: Joey Gase will be diving the ZAK Products #32 for the Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway and Donate Life Texas will be the assocate sponsor on the car. Joey will also be driving the Donate Life Texas #52 car for the XFINITY Series race and Donate Life Texas will be the primary sponsor.
The Donate Life Texas organ, eye and tissue donor registry announced its partnership with NASCAR driver, Joey Gase, for the November NASCAR race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Even with his 2015 top-5 Xfinity race finish at Talladega, Gase is more than just an up-and-coming NASCAR name. Gase races for a cause that is very close to his heart - to promote organ, eye and tissue donation. Gase was only 18 when his mother, Mary Jo, died of a brain aneurysm in 2011, and he gave consent to donate her organs and tissues. He races in her honor and is now as passionate about promoting organ, eye and tissue donation as he is about racing. Gase's schedule for the NASCAR Xfinity O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge and the NASCAR Sprint Cup AAA Texas 500 race weekend includes several activities designed to inspire fans to join the Donate Life Texas donor registry. Donate Life Texas will also host a donor registration drive throughout the race weekend at TMS and Gase will drop in to sign autographs and thank those signing up. The registration drive will be staffed by Donate Life Texas volunteers, many of whom are transplant recipients or donor family members, like Gase. TMS will support the registration drive by encouraging its more than 2,000 employees to sport green Donate Life wristbands throughout the event. (Joey Gase Racing)(10-6-2015)

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Charlotte:
#48-Jimmie Johnson....................109.6
#18-Kyle Busch....................106.6
#5-Kasey Kahne....................100.1
#20-Matt Kenseth....................95.6
#11-Denny Hamlin....................93.9
#24-Jeff Gordon....................91.1
#19-Carl Edwards....................90.4
#22-Joey Logano....................89.6
#16-Greg Biffle....................89.2
#2-Brad Keselowski....................88.0
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2015 races (21 total) among active drivers at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)(10-6-2015)

Sieg gets Charlotte sponsors: RSS Racing welcomes Hunky Monkey Clothing Company as a co primary sponsor for the Friday night race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hunky Monkey is a cause-based business that focuses on more than just the bottom line. Additionally, Pull-A-Part used auto parts will be a primary sponsor for the #39 car driven by Ryan Sieg. Uncle Bob's Self Storage and JoeUSA.com will be associates for the race. Sieg, driving for is family owned team, is currently 13th in driver points and has been averaging an impressive 15th place finish in the last 11 races.(RSS Racing)(10-6-2015)

Voting begins for XFINITY and Truck Series Most Popular Driver: As on-track competition heats up, there's another showdown on the line in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR's seven touring series, as voting for the Most Popular Driver Awards begins on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Chase Elliott looks to defend his NASCAR XFINITY Series Most Popular Driver title while the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is guaranteed a new winner. Fans can vote once per day online for the Most Popular Driver Awards at www.NASCAR.com/mostpopulardriver. Voting is open and runs through Friday, Nov. 20 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Saturday, Nov. 21 for the NASCAR XFINITY Series, prior to the respective season finale races at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend. Voting for the seven NASCAR touring series will also conclude Saturday, Nov. 21. The winners will be announced at the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards. The combined postseason gala will take place at the Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, Florida on Monday, Nov. 23. To be eligible to receive Most Popular Driver votes, NASCAR XFINITY Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers must have selected to receive 2015 championship driver points in their respective series. Additionally, drivers in every series must have attempted at least half of each of their series' races this season.(NASCAR)(10-6-2015)

Daytona Rising project nearing completion: After breaking ground more than two years ago, the $400 million DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project at Daytona International Speedway is nearing the finish line. Monday, the project reached the 100-day mark until its completion. "It's hard to believe that we're entering the final stretch of construction related to DAYTONA Rising," said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. "Witnessing the world's first motorsports stadium come to life has been incredible. We can't wait for our fans to see the finished product in January." Steel installation for the FPL Solar Pavilion located in the Midway is now underway. DIS also recently completed the final removal/demolition of the backstretch tower. Upcoming construction activities include:
" Completion of the new suite tower roof
" Initial installation of solar panels for FPL Solar Pavilion in the Midway
" Ongoing Midway work/development
" Arrival of letters for new supersign near center injector/entrance
(DIS)(10-6-2015)

David McGrath replaces Jerry Gappens at New Hampshire: Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Marcus Smith has announced the promotion of David McGrath to the position of executive vice president and general manager at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. McGrath takes over the position previously held by Jerry Gappens, who has resigned. "During his time at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, David has shown tremendous leadership and great passion for his work," Smith said. "He has earned the respect of his peers across the company and has embraced opportunities to tackle new challenges. Under his direction, I am confident the future of New Hampshire Motor Speedway is in good hands." McGrath, 51, joined the speedway in November of 2011 as the director of advertising and promotions. He was voted by his peers as the speedway's Employee of the Year in 2012. McGrath was promoted to vice president of marketing and promotions in January of 2013 and then to vice president of corporate sales in January of 2014. Smith continued, "Jerry Gappens has been a significant part of our company's growth both at Charlotte Motor Speedway and in New Hampshire. We are appreciative for his 23 years of service and wish him the very best for the future." McGrath's background in motorsports includes serving as the marketing manager for the pro racing division of the Sports Car Club of America in Englewood, Co. At SCCA, McGrath was responsible for sponsor acquisition, contingency programs and marketing from the sponsorship side to a fan base of more than 55,000. Before joining the Magic Mile, McGrath worked for Comcast Spotlight, the local advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, for a period of 12 years. McGrath currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine, with his wife, Marybeth, and their two children Garrett, 18, and Samantha, 11.(NHMS)(10-5-2015)

Entry List for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 45 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #21-Ryan Blaney, #32-Wise, #33-Kennedy, #62-Hill, #95-McDowell, #98-Sorenson.
Drivers who need to be in the top-36 in speed and have no provisional available to them (lowest in owners points): #62-Hill (45th), #95-McDowell (44th)
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts): #95-McDowell (16 attempts), #21-Blaney (14)
See the full entry list on Jayski.com's Charlotte Entry List

Allgaier unsure of 2016 plans: With this week's news that Clint Bowyer will join HScott Motorsports for the 2016 season before moving over to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2017, questions remain about the team's complete lineup for next season. The team currently fields two Sprint Cup Series cars with drivers #51-Justin Allgaier and #46-Michael Annett, something that is likely to change for next season with Bowyer coming on board. During Friday's press conference at Dover International Speedway, team owner Harry Scott indicated he has not "ruled out anything for 2016 or beyond," but it appears Allgaier may be the odd man out. With Annett bringing support from Pilot/Flying J, Allgaier indicated there are a lot of unknowns surrounding his current situation and future plans. Allgaier said there were "definitely a lot of options" for 2016 and beyond, but added that it was too early to tell how it would all come together. A longtime representative of Brandt, he hopes to continue that relationship wherever he lands after this season. Along with its Sprint Cup organization, HScott Motorsports fields teams in the XFINITY and K&N Series, another possible landing place for Allgaier next season. "There are definitely a lot of options, but there are also a lot of moving parts. This has got to be something that works out on all sides for everybody no matter how we do it," he said. "I've been proud to wear the Brandt colors for five, six years now and I look forward to doing that in the future. I don't know what series or what car that's going to end up being in. There's just a lot of excitement for me to see what the future holds."(Fox Sports)(10-5-2015)

Harvick's win is 750th for Chevy: In dominating fashion, Kevin Harvick won the AAA 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway in his #4 Budweiser/Jimmy John's Chevy SS by leading 355 circuits of the 400-lap event. The victory advanced the defending champion to the next stage in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. This was Harvick's third win of the season, his first at Dover; and sixth consecutive victory for Team Chevy at the 1.0-mile concrete track. In addition, the victory marked the 750th for Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, more than any other manufacturer. It is the 48th win for the Chevy SS since its debut in 2013. Fonty Flock, driving a '55 Chevy, scored the manufacturer's first-ever victory in the series on March 26, 1955, at Columbia (S.C.) Speedway. "To be the first manufacturer to reach 750 wins is a credit to all of the drivers and teams who have partnered or worked with Chevrolet over all of these decades," said Jim Campbell, US Vice President Performance Vehicles & Motorsports. "These victories - from the very first by Fonty Flock 60 years ago, to Kevin Harvick's today, to all of the others in-between - are a result of tremendous teamwork involving owners, drivers, crew chiefs, crews and technical partners."(Chevy Racing)(10-5-2015)

Late caution saves Earnhardt, Jr's. Chase chances: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #1-Jamie McMurray had a "game seven" moment in the third race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Earnhardt Jr. outran McMurray in a late-race battle that could be the dividing point between an ultimate payday of millions of dollars. Earnhardt Jr. finished third and McMurray fourth in the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway, and that one position kept Junior in the running for the championship and closed the door on McMurray. Earnhardt Jr. passed McMurray on the outside on the race's final restart and stayed in front of him the rest of the way to drive into the 12th and final Chase spot going into Race Four next weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Earnhardt Jr. and McMurray tied in points (2,098) after the first three Chase races, but Junior won the tiebreaker (best finish in the round). The last green flag flew on lap 377 (of 400) after a caution for oil on the track. Twenty laps earlier, Earnhardt Jr. got a season-saving break when #34-Brett Moffitt hit the wall and caused the race's next-to-last caution. Junior had reported a loose wheel to his pit and later said he would have had to pit under green if the caution had not flown. "The left rear was falling off," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I was a couple laps from coming in. It was shaking real bad in the corner, and it started shaking on decel(eration), and I knew it was a matter of time before it was coming off. It wasn't going to make 50 laps. We had 50 to go at that point, and I wasn't going to bash my head against a concrete wall somewhere for a damn loose wheel, so we just came in sooner than later."(USA Today)(10-5-2015)

Truex advances to next Chase round despite pre-race penalty: That last thing Martin Truex Jr. would have wanted was for his #78 Chevy to be pulled off the grid before the start of an elimination race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. But that's what happened minutes before cars were set to roll off pit road for the start of the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway Sunday. NASCAR officials deemed that the body of Truex's car failed to conform to templates. Accordingly, Truex's crew had to fix the car before the race, and Truex was sent to the rear for the start. After dodging an early wreck involving Jeb Burton and Josh Wise, Truex worked his way through the field, running as high as third after a two-tire call and ultimately finishing 11th. The result was good enough to propel Truex into the 12-driver Contender Round of the Chase. It wasn't a comfortable day for the Furniture Row Racing driver, but the end result was positive. "Yeah, we had to start last," Truex said after the race. "It is what it is. We moved on. We did what we had to do. It wasn't a great day for us. It wasn't a great weekend. We have been just struggling trying to get the thing turning. All in all, we had good speed when we would get track position." According to NASCAR officials, Truex will face no additional sanctions beyond the demotion to the rear of the field on Sunday.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-5-2015)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Laps Led Leaders:
(after Dover, 29 of 36 races)
1. #4-Kevin Harvick, 2,031
2. #22-Joey Logano, 863
3. #41-Kurt Busch, 765 (26 races)
4. #20-Matt Kenseth, 699
5. #18-Kyle Busch, 678 (18 races)
6. #2-Brad Keselowski, 611
7. #78-Martin Truex Jr., 536
8. #11-Denny Hamlin, 521
9. #48-Jimmie Johnson, 467
10. #19-Carl Edwards, 361
(10-5-2015)

Dover Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2015 AAA 400: For those NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday's race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 2:30 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 6:11 PM (all times are EDT). NBCSN was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 123
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 63
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 99
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 59
Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 24
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 21
Number of times NBCSN utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 4
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 4 min. 15 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 2:30 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 6:11 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 221
Minutes of race broadcast: 179
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 42
Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 10
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 1
Total race brdcst time 179 Total comm. brdcst time 42
See full reports, sponsor links, many more details at CawnJaws.com.(10-5-2015)

Cope gets Charlotte sponsor: "Sugar Skulls on Wheels" will be the theme and brand new paint scheme for DCR this week and hashtag for Derrike Cope Racing and the #70 on Friday night's Charlotte Xfinity Race. DCR's primary sponsor AlegriaShoeShop.com is the leading website for the nation's fastest-growing brand of comfort footwear. "Nurses,teachers, hair stylists, and others on their feet for long hours appreciate the comfort and support of Alegria shoes, and AlegriaShoeShop.com is happy to support Derrike Cope and his Team 70 this week at Charlotte," states owner Eric Johnson.(Derrike Cope Racing), see an image of the car on the #70 team paint schemes page.(10-5-2015)

XFINITY Entry List: There are 40 cars on the preliminary entry list for Friday's Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A few notes:
Josh Reaume will be in the #13;
The Rick Ware #15 is TBA;
Erik Jones returns to the JGR #20;
Brad Keselowski will drive the #22 for Penske;
The #25 is on the list with John Wes Townley;
TJ Bell returns to the #26;
Brennan Poole will drive the #42;
Kasey Kahne is in the #88 for JR Motorsports;
The #97 is TBA;
Ryan Truex will run his second race in the #98.(10-5-2015)
See the complete list on the Charlotte entry list page.

Harvick wins at Dover: #4-Kevin Harvick won the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway for his 3rd win of the season, 1st win at Dover and 31st career win. He dominated most of the race, leading 355 of the 400 laps.
Harvick had to win the race to advance to the Contender round of the Chase.
#18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #88-Earnhardt, Jr., #1-McMurray, #43-Almirola, #5-Kahne, #20-Kenseth, #17-Stenhouse, Jr., #42-Larson, and #22-Logano.
Drivers advancing to the Contender Round of the Chase: #20-Kenseth, #11-Hamlin, #4-Harvick, #22-Logano, #19-Edwards, #78-Truex, #24-Gordon, #41-Busch, #2-Keselowski, #31-Newman, #18-Busch, and #88-Earnhardt, Jr.
#48-Johnson, who entered the race 5th in points, broke a rear axle seal early in the race. He had to go to the garage for repairs and lost 37 laps. He finished 42nd.
#1-McMurray finished 4th, but lost out on a Chase spot to #88-Earnhardt, Jr. They tied in points, but Earnhardt, Jr had the better finish during the Challenger round races (third place today).
McMurray, Johnson, Menard, and Bowyer have been eliminated from the Chase.
There were 14 lead changes among 3 drivers. There were 8 cautions for 43 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 119.870mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
(10-4-2015)

Where did the 2015 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers finish at Dover?
[by points standings before the race (start pos)]
1) #20-Matt Kenseth, finished 7th (1)
2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 18th (2)
3) #19-Carl Edwards, 15th (3)
4) #22-Joey Logano, 10th (4)
5) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 41st (5)
6) #31-Ryan Newman, 19th (6)
7) #41-Kurt Busch, 17th (7)
8) #2-Brad Keselowski, 16th (8)
9) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 11th (9)
10) #24-Jeff Gordon, 12th (10)
11) #1-Jamie McMurray, 4th (11)
12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 3rd (12)
13) #18-Kyle Busch, 2nd (13)
14) #27-Paul Menard, 25th (14)
15) #4-Kevin Harvick, 1st WON (15)
16) #15-Clint Bowyer, 14th (16)
(10-4-2015)

2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Standings: Challenger Round
[after Dover, race 29 of 36, Chase race 3 of 10]
1) #20-Matt Kenseth [5 wins], 2137 (Won New Hampshire*)
2) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 wins], 2119, -18 (Won Chicago*)
3) #4-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 2082, -55 (Won Dover*)
4) #22-Joey Logano [3 wins], 2123, -14
5) #19-Carl Edwards [2 wins], 2118, -19
6) #78-Martin Truex Jr. [1 win], 2104, -33
7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 2100, -37
8) #41-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 2100, -37
9) #2-Brad Keselowski [1 win], 2100, -37
10) #31-Ryan Newman, 2099, -38
11) #18-Kyle Busch [4 wins], 2099, -38
12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.[2 wins], 2098, -39 from lead, +0 over 13th (won on tiebreaker)
Eliminated from the Chase:
13) #1-Jamie McMurray, 2098, -0 from 12th place (lost on tiebreaker)
14) #48-Jimmie Johnson [4 wins], 2100, -12
15) #27-Paul Menard, 2075, -23
16) #15-Clint Bowyer, 2048, -50
* automatically advance to Contender round by winning a Challenger round race
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
(10-4-2015)

Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Contender Round:
[after Dover, race 29 of 36]
1) #20-Matt Kenseth [5 wins], 3000
2) #22-Joey Logano [3 wins], 3000
3) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 win], 3000
4) #99-Carl Edwards [2 wins], 3000
5) #78-Martin Truex, Jr. [1 win], 3000
6) #41-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 3000
7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 3000
8) #2-Brad Keselowski [1 win], 3000 points
9) #18-Kyle Busch [4 wins], 3000
10) #31-Ryan Newman, 3000
11) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [2 wins], 3000
12) #4-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 3000
Points are reset after each round, for the Contender Round it goes to 3000, no points for wins
The order is set by the points standings after the last round.
(ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
See reset points for the Contender Round (Chase races 4-6) on the Contender Round Reset Points Standings page (pdf).(10-4-2015)

Unofficial Top 25 in 2015 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings (not the Chase):
[after Dover, race 29 of 36]
(using current points system, but not the Chase rules, unofficial)
1) #22-Joey Logano (C4), 1062
2) #4-Kevin Harvick (C3), 1054,-8
3) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (C12), 986, -76
4) #2-Brad Keselowski (C9), 970, -92
5) #20-Matt Kenseth (C1), 949, -113
See the top 25 classic drivers points on the 2015 Chase page.(10-4-2015)

Race Fast Facts - Dover:
Kevin Harvick won the 46th Annual AAA 400, his 31st victory in 531 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his third victory and 23rd top-10 finish in 2015. It was his first victory since March 15, 2015 at Phoenix, 24 races ago.
Kevin Harvick led a single-race career high 355 laps. His previous high was 272 laps led at Richmond on May 6, 2006.
This is his first victory and 14th top-10 finish in 30 races at Dover International Speedway.
Kyle Busch (second) posted his 14th top-10 finish in 22 races at Dover International Speedway. It is his 11th top-10 finish in 2015.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (third) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 32 races at Dover International Speedway.
Those advancing to the Contender Round, in order of seed: Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr., Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick.
Those eliminated from championship contention: Jamie McMurray, Jimmie Johnson, Paul Menard and Clint Bowyer.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-4-2015)

Dover Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
#83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 34th, 11 rookie points
#33-Alex Kennedy, finished 38th, 10 rookie points
#34-Brett Moffitt, finished 42nd, 9 rookie points
#23-Jeb Burton, finished 43rd, 8 rookie points
See the 2015 Rookie of the Year page for rules, standings and more.(10-4-2015)

Petty expected to continue running Fords: Richard Petty Motorsports will continue its relationship with Ford Performance. An announcement is expected at the team's Mooresville, N.C. shop on Tuesday. The organization enjoys a storied past under the guidance of seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty. RPM currently fields two Sprint Cup teams and an Xfinity Series program. The foundation of RPM stems from Evernham Motorsports, which debuted in 2000. RPM evolved from the four-Dodge team from Gillett Evernham Motorsports and began making the transition to Ford at the end of the 2009 season. The organization is currently evaluating the status of the #9 Ford as Sam Hornish Jr. has struggled to remain in the top 25 despite a change of crew chiefs. The relationship with Ford Performance and the King dates back to 1969 when Petty piloted the #43 Ford Torino to nine wins and a second-place finish in the point standings to fellow Ford racer David Pearson.(Motorsport)(10-4-2015)

Rain could still be an issue at Dover: While the forecast has improved dramatically throughout the weekend, rain could still impact Sunday's race at Dover International Speedway. The National Weather Service forecast is: A chance of showers before 2pm, then a slight chance of rain after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 65. Breezy, with a northeast wind around 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
NASCAR_WXMAN says on twitter, "SUN #NASCAR weather - I feel we race - Think we can get an "Official race" maybe even Full Race. Chc. of a shower or two. @MonsterMile".
Dover does not have lights. The race is scheduled to go green at 2:45pm/et. Sunset is at 6:40pm/et.
(10-4-2015)

Preece to make another start at Homestead: Ryan Preece got his first taste of competition at the highest level of NASCAR when he made his series debut in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sunday. And the Berlin driver will get a second plateful of Sprint Cup action before the close of the 2015 season. Preece will get a front row of seat NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series championship deciding event. He'll be watching as part of the lineup. Preece will compete in the Sprint Cup Series season finale on Nov. 22 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. "That's definitely happening," Preece said. "There's been some talk about maybe some other stuff. I don't know yet. But Homestead is a definite right now. It's good to have opportunities like this." Like he did at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Preece - a regular on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and at Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson Speedway - will compete for Premium Motorsports in an effort also backed by Tommy Baldwin Racing. It will mark Preece's second experience at the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway. He started the XFINITY Series season finale in 2014 at the track in a Tommy Baldwin Racing ride. He finished 28th in that event.(RaceDayCT)(10-4-2015)

Pretty in Pink M&M's scheme on the #18 at Charlotte: When the 43 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers take the green flag on October 10 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Bank of America 500, Kyle Busch's race car may look a little different than usual. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and all those who are affected, Busch will be driving the #18 M&M'S Pink Toyota. Joe Gibbs Racing will donate a portion of the proceeds from every diecast sold to the North Carolina-based Pretty in Pink Foundation. The Pretty in Pink Foundation serves people diagnosed with breast cancer who have limited or no health insurance benefits. Busch fans can now order an Action Racing Collectables die-cast of his #18 M&M'S Pink Toyota from Lionel Racing. See an image of the scheme on the #18 Team Schemes page.(10-4-2015)

Gordon for changes to green-which-checker finishes on superspeedways: #24-Jeff Gordon said Friday that NASCAR should reduce the number of green-white-checkered finishes at restrictor-plate tracks. Gordon's comments come three weeks before NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeedway. That will be the first race at a restrictor-plate track since #3-Austin Dillon's car crashed into the catch fence at Daytona International Speedway. Five fans were injured. Dillon's crash marked the third time since Feb. 2012 that fans were injured at Daytona by a vehicle crashing into the fence. All three incidents came on a green-white-checkered finish. "I certainly don't think we need multiple green-white-checkereds at a restrictor-plate track," Gordon said at Dover International Speedway. NASCAR permits a maximum three attempts to end a race under green-flag conditions before calling the event. NASCAR has stated it's considering making a race procedure change before Talladega.(NBC Sports)(10-4-2015)

NASCAR will increase restart zone for remaining races UPDATE: The restart zone for this weekend's NASCAR races at Dover International Speedway will double from 70 feet to 140 feet, according to NASCAR. The sanctioning body will also lengthen the restart zone for the 2015 season's remaining races post-Dover -- the exact increase will be determined by an at-track basis. The restart rules have not changed. Drivers will still line up double file, with the leader being the "control car," meaning the second-place car can't take off before the leader in the restart zone located before the start/finish line.(NASCAR.com)(10-1-2015)
UPDATE: In response to drivers' concerns over restart rules and the ostensible growing tendency of drivers to break them, NASCAR announced this week a doubling of the length of the restart zones. In feet, the length of the restart zone has been set at two times pit road speed. At Dover, where pit road speed is 35 mph, the restart zone measured 70 feet. Now it's 140 feet, and most drivers felt the expansion will restore, appropriately, some of the advantage the race leader should have. "To lengthen that box, I think is a great move," said six-time Sprint Cup champion #48-Jimmie Johnson. "I'm hopeful that they lengthen the box and bring it closer to the start/finish line. I think it will slow down some of the three- and four-wide into Turn 1 scenarios we have had. It will be less distance to get speed built up closer to the start/finish line and I think we will maybe control that space a little bit better. We should have better side-by-side restarts, which is what everybody is after. And then, obviously, the goal here is to give control back to the guy that has earned it - to the leader. That's what happens, and I'm in favor of it. It's a good call, and I am excited to see how it plays out."(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-4-2015)

Dover Race Notes & Facts - Sunday:
· There have been 91 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Dover International Speedway, one race in 1969 and 1970, two races per year since 1971.
· 385 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway; 279 in more than one.
· Ricky Rudd leads the series in starts at Dover with 56. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 45 starts; followed by Matt Kenseth with 33.
· Three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series active drivers have made their first career start at Dover International Speedway: Matt Kenseth (9/20/98), Kurt Busch (9/24/00) and David Ragan (9/24/06).
· Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at Dover in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 18: Jimmie Johnson (10), Jeff Gordon (five), Geoff Bodine (one), Ken Schrader (one) and Ricky Rudd (one).
· Nine different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Dover; led by Chevrolet with 37 victories; followed by Ford with 25.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Dover with 2,999 laps led in 27 starts.
· If Jimmie Johnson leads one lap or more this weekend he will surpass the 3,000 laps led mark at Dover International Speedway, becoming the seventh driver in series history to lead 3,000 or more laps at a single track. Jeff Gordon is the only other active driver to accomplish the feat (Martinsville - 3,744 laps led).
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Dover International Speedway was the September 25, 2005 race won by Jimmie Johnson over Kyle Busch with a MOV of 0.08 second.
· There has been two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Dover International Speedway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): fall of 2005 (400/404) and spring of 2015 (400/405).
· Not one of the 91 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Dover International Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions.
(NASCAR)(10-4-2015)

Sad News - Check Sadler: Chester "Check" Goodwin Sadler of Nashville, TN, age 64, passed away Friday, October 2, 2015, at his home in Nashville, TN. He was born July 10, 1951, in Davidson County, TN. Sadler was with Sadler Brothers Trucking and Leasing. He and his father formed Sadler and Son Racing Team with NASCAR running in the Daytona 500 (57 races) in Car #95. Some famous race drivers (Sterling Marlin, Davey Allison, Jeremy Mayfield) got their start driving for Sadler and Son Racing Team in Car #95.(full obituary and services at the Tennessean)(10-4-2015)

Theriault airlifted after Vegas crash UPDATE: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Austin Theriault was airlifted to a local hospital Saturday night after a high-speed, head-on wreck into an unprotected concrete wall at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Just 14 laps into the Rhino Linings 350, Tyler Reddick got loose in Turn 4 and was unable to correct his truck, catching the rear of Theriault and sending him into an area of the wall not protected by SAFER barrier. After the wreck, Theriault was able to climb out under is own power, but was placed on a backboard before being loaded into an ambulance. He will undergo further treatment at the hospital.(Sporting News)(10-3-2015)
UPDATE: Brad Keselowski Racing driver Austin Theriault was transported to University Medical Center in Las Vegas during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Theriault underwent a comprehensive CT scan of the upper body, which showed a 10 percent compression fracture of the lower back. Theriault was released and will travel back to North Carolina where he will follow up with an orthopedic specialist for further treatment. No further updates are expected today.(Brad Keselowski Racing)(10-4-2015)

Dover Sunday Pre-Race Schedule:
-- 12:30pm: NSCS Driver Crew Chief Meeting
-- 2:00pm: NSCS Drivers Introductions
-- 2:30pm: Presentation of Colors: Dover Air Force Base Color Guard
-- 2:30pm: Invocation: Pastor Dan Schafer, Calvary Assembly of God in Heightstown, NJ
-- 2:31pm: National Anthem: Sam Harris, X Ambassadors
-- 2:37pm: "Drivers, Start Your Engines" by: Actress & Philanthropist Rosie Perez
-- 2:45pm: Start of the AAA 400 (400 Laps, 400 Miles)
eastern time (NASCAR.com)

Final Practice for the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is over after just 15 minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#4-Harvick 156.033
#19-Edwards 156.013
#5-Kahne 155.783
#41-Busch 155.588
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. 155.434
slowest: #33-Kennedy 146.711 & #62-Hill 135.649
Notes: Practice was canceled after 15 minutes because of more rain at the track.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap Ave on the Dover Practice 2 Speeds (pdf).(10-3-2015)

Saturday first practice: for the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is over. After approx 25 minutes, top five and notes:
#5-Kahne 160.506
#19-Edwards 160.442
#11-Hamlin 160.285
#4-Harvick 159.964
#43-Almirola 159.943
slowest: #33-Kennedy 149.884 & #98-Sorenson 152.840
no speed: #62-Hill
Best Five lap average (reported by CNBC coverage)
#4-Harvick 159.531
#5-Kahne 159.470
#43-Almirola 159.115
#48-Johnson 158.870
#17-Stenhouse Jr, 158.654
Most Lap run: #5-Kahne, 33; #42-Larson, 31
Notes: As of 11:50am/et, the track at Dover International Speedway is dry after the Air Titan's dried out the track. The practice session was scheduled to start at 11:00am/et and was to run until 11:50am/et. This practice is scheduled to run 12:15pm/et, TV coverage on CNBC. Happy Hour (final) practice is scheduled from 2:00 - 2:50pm/et, and will be televised on NBCSN.
See fastest speeds, lap run, best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Dover practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-3-2015)

Congrats....baby: Greg Biffle's crew chief, Matt Puccia, announced on his twitter: "Alyssa Puccia and I want to welcome Kennedy Harper Puccia to the world! Thanks everybody for all the kind words!(10-3-2015)

Texas Motor Speedway Announces 2016 Racing Schedule: Texas Motor Speedway will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2016 by continuing to hold the distinction as the only motorsports venue that has hosted all three top-tier NASCAR Series and the Verizon IndyCar Series since its inception. The 2016 schedule will feature two races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series to go along with the only stop in Texas for the Verizon IndyCar Series. The Duck Commander 500 NASCAR doubleheader in April and AAA Texas 500 NASCAR tripleheader in November will sandwich the traditional INDYCAR/NASCAR doubleheader in June.
The season will open April 7-9 with the Duck Commander 500 weekend featuring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series. The weekend is highlighted by qualifying for the Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series as well as the XFINITY Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 on Friday, April 8, and the first Saturday night race of the Sprint Cup season with the Duck Commander 500 on April 9.
The Firestone 600 enjoys its 20th anniversary as an INDYCAR/NASCAR combination event dating to Texas Motor Speedway's inaugural year in 1997 when it returns June 9-11. The weekend features qualifying day for the Verizon IndyCar Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Friday, June 10, that will be followed that evening by the running of the Camping World Truck Series Rattlesnake 400. The Firestone 600, the weekend's marquee event known as "America's Original Nighttime IndyCar Race," will run on Saturday, June 11.
The Texas Motor Speedway racing season concludes Nov. 3-6 with a NASCAR tripleheader that includes a pivotal Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in the Eliminator Round of the playoff-style format. The AAA Texas 500, set for Sunday, Nov. 6, will be the middle event of the three-race segment (Martinsville and Phoenix are the other races) that will determine the four drivers of the eight remaining in championship contention that will earn the right to vie for the Sprint Cup Series crown at the season finale in Homestead.
The race weekend also features Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series qualifying followed by the Camping World Truck Series Longhorn 350 race on Friday, Nov. 4., and XFINITY Series O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge qualifying and race on Saturday, Nov. 5.
Season tickets go on sale beginning Monday, Nov. 2, and start as low as $199 for adults and $139 for children 12 and under. Individual tickets for the Duck Commander 500 and Firestone 600 weekends go on sale Feb. 12 and the on-sale date for the 2016 AAA Texas 500 weekend will be announced at a later date. For more information, contact the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS)(10-3-2015)

Weather forecast improving: After rain cancelled all on-track activities at Dover International Speedway on Friday, the weather forecast is slowly improving for the remainder of the weekend. As of Friday night, the National Weather Service forecast is:
Saturday - Rain, mainly before 5pm. High near 63. Windy, with a northeast wind 22 to 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday Night - A chance of rain before 8pm, then a chance of showers after 8pm. Cloudy, with a low around 57. Windy, with a northeast wind 24 to 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday - A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 67. Windy, with a northeast wind 25 to 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday Night - A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Breezy, with a northeast wind 18 to 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday - Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.
(10-3-2015)

Rinnai expands partnership with Cole Whitt: Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters will expand its partnership with Front Row Motorsports and Cole Whitt, joining the team as co-primary sponsor for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway and as primary sponsor for the Oct. 10 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The company will also be an associate sponsor for the season-ending races at Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Rinnai, the number-one selling brand of tankless water heaters in the U.S. and Canada, has already served as a primary or associate partner on Whitt's #35 for six races in the 2015 season, including at the Peachtree City, Ga.-based company's home track of Atlanta Motor Speedway.(Front Row Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #35 team paint schemes page.(10-3-2015)

#18 JGR team makes pit crew change UPDATES: The #18 Joe Gibbs Racing team and longtime front tire changer Nick Odell have parted ways. Odell was changing this past weekend in the Chase opener at Chicagoland in a race in which Kyle Busch finished ninth. This is an unusual development considering the timing and that the #18 pit crew has been intact for eight years and is a tightly knit group. This has been regarded as one of the best pit crews for years, and Odell is a great talent. Josh Lesley will replace Odell as the front changer this weekend in the second race of the Challenger Round at New Hampshire (NASCAR.com/PitTalks)(9-22-2015)
UPDATE Odell to the #24? Ex #18 Joe Gibbs Racing tire changer Nick Odell is close to a deal with Hendrick Motorsports and the #24 team. After the news last Monday that Odell had been released by JGR, almost every team on pit road had some level of interest in talking with him. After sitting out Loudon, PitTalks sources say Odell is very close to finalizing his deal with HMS. If this deal goes down, then front tire changer Scott Brzozowski of the #24 becomes the man in question. Brzozowski came over to HMS a few years back after spending time on the #39 of Ryan Newman. HMS has four teams and Brzozowski is a top talent, seeing where he fits in will be the next piece in the puzzle. As far as when Odell starts changing tires for the #24, no idea. Supposedly the deal is almost done but we have not confirmed with HMS to verify.(PitTalks)(9-29-2015)
UPDATE 2: Nick Odell, who had served as #18-Kyle Busch's longtime front tire changer, will be #24-Jeff Gordon's front tire changer this weekend at Dover International Speedway. Front tire changer Scott Brzozowski, who had been on Gordon's team, moves to #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s pit crew. Brzozowski replaces Dave Mayo, who returns to a backup role. Mayo was elevated to Earnhardt's pit crew before the Chase.(NBC Sports)(10-3-2015)

Johnson doesn't have retirement in mind: On the heels of Tony Stewart's announcement Wednesday that he would retire after next season, #48-Jimmie Johnson was asked Friday if he's decided when to quit racing:
Q: Do you have a time in mind of when you are going to hang it up and do something else?
Johnson: "No, I do not have a number and I have not picked a number. As a kid growing up racing and as I got in the sport, I didn't say, 'when I get to this age, I am going to step down.' I haven't had that conversation and have not picked a number with my wife and said, 'okay honey, this is the point that I am going to stop'. It's really been based on feel and I have Chani's support on that as well. When I feel like it's time, I am going to make that decision. Certainly don't feel like it's time now. I remember watching Rusty (Wallace) pick a number and then remember talking to Rusty in years following that and I still think he's mad he stopped. I still think he feels like he could be out here racing with us and winning races. So conversations with him, with Dale Jarrett, with other guys....I have always been curious. Why, when, what tells you to stop? Mark (Martin) tried a half dozen times to retire and couldn't walk away. So I want to make sure I do it once and not keep coming back. What I am looking for is that moment. That moment that you say, 'alright, it's time'. When that shows up, then I will step down."(Chevy Racing)(10-3-2015)

Dover honors Jeff Gordon: In a year filled with farewells and reminiscing, Jeff Gordon - and his entire racing family - was presented with a unique tribute to his remarkable racing career. On Friday, Dover International Speedway, as well as local elected officials, made special presentations to Gordon in advance of Sunday's "AAA 400" NASCAR Sprint Cup race in recognition of his contributions to the track and sport. Gordon, 44, a five-time Dover NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winner, received 90 miniature "Miles the Monster" trophies for himself, his crew and Hendrick Motorsports team members in North Carolina. Each trophy is inscribed with the individual's name, as well as the following quote from Hall of Fame professional football coach Vince Lombardi: "The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual." In addition to the trophies, Gordon received praise from Dover Motorsports Inc. CEO Denis McGlynn, as well as Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen, Delaware State Sen. Brian Bushweller and Delaware State Rep. William Carson. Christiansen named Gordon an honorary citizen of the City of Dover, while Bushweller and Carson read recognitions from the Delaware State Senate and Delaware State House of Representatives, respectively.(Dover Speedway)(10-3-2015)

Dover Driver Notes & Facts - Saturday:
· 34 different drivers have won at Dover International Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with 10 wins (2002 sweep, fall 2005, 2009 sweep, 2010 fall, spring 2012, fall 2013, spring of 2014 and spring of 2015).
· 12 drivers have posted consecutive wins at Dover International Speedway, including three consecutive by David Pearson (fall 1972 and 1973 sweep), Rusty Wallace (fall 1993 and 1994 sweep) and Jeff Gordon (fall 1995 and 1996 sweep).
· 11 of the 12 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Dover International Speedway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jimmie Johnson won at Dover in his first two appearances.
· Among the 12 active NSCS Dover winners Kurt Busch (22) and Matt Kenseth (14) made 10 or more attempts before their first win.
· Kevin Harvick leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Dover without visiting Victory Lane at 29.
· One active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver has posted his first career win at Dover International Speedway: Martin Truex Jr. (06/04/07).
· Mark Martin leads the series in runner-up finishes at Dover with eight; followed by Dale Earnhardt with five. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with four.
· Mark Martin leads the series in top-five finishes at Dover with 24; followed by Dale Earnhardt with 19. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 18.
· Mark Martin leads the series in top-10 finishes at Dover with 33; followed by Richard Petty, Ricky Rudd and Jeff Gordon with 26 each.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Dover with a 7.889.
· Two female drivers have competed at Dover International Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
(NASCAR)(10-3-2015)

Regan Smith wins XFINITY race at Dover International Speedway: #7-Regan Smith won the Hisense 200 at Dover International Speedway for his 2nd win of the season. #20-Denny Hamlin finished second, followed by #54-Kyle Busch, polesitter #22-Ryan Blaney, #42-Larson, #33-Autin Dillon, #9-Chase Elliott, #60-Chris Buescher, #1-Elliott Sadler, and #18-Daniel Suarez.
There were 4 cautions for 29 laps and 5 lead changes among 4 leaders. The race was red flagged once for rain, for just under 31 minutes.
The average speed was 105.156mph.
Complete results are on the Dover International Speedway race results page (pdf).
(10-3-2015)

Dover XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Regan Smith won the 30th Annual Hisense 200, his sixth victory in 197 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his second victory and 21st top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in 12 races at Dover International Speedway. His previous best finish at Dover was third, earlier this season.
Denny Hamlin (second) posted his seventh top-10 finish in 11 races at Dover International Speedway. It is his ninth top-10 finish in 2015.
Kyle Busch (third) posted his 15th top-10 finish in 20 races at Dover International Speedway. He has finished in the top five in every race he has started since returning from injury in May.
Chris Buescher leads the point standings by 24 points over Chase Elliott.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-3-2015)

XFINITY Driver standings following Dover:
[5 races remaining]
1) #60-Chris Buescher, 1018
2) #9-Chase Elliott, 994, -24
3) #7-Regan Smith, 982, -36
4) #3-Ty Dillon, 979, -39
5) #1-Elliott Sadler, 908, -110
6) #6-Darrell Wallace Jr., 907, -111
7) #18-Daniel Suarez, 886, -132
8) #2-Brian Scott, 870, -148
9) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 864, -154
10) #16-Ryan Reed, 765 -253
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(10-3-2015)

Theriault airlifted after Vegas crash: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Austin Theriault was airlifted to a local hospital Saturday night after a high-speed, head-on wreck into an unprotected concrete wall at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Just 14 laps into the Rhino Linings 350, Tyler Reddick got loose in Turn 4 and was unable to correct his truck, catching the rear of Theriault and sending him into an area of the wall not protected by SAFER barrier. After the wreck, Theriault was able to climb out under is own power, but was placed on a backboard before being loaded into an ambulance. He will undergo further treatment at the hospital.(Sporting News)(10-3-2015)

Townley wins Las Vegas #05-John Wes Townley won his first Camping World Truck Series race, the Rhino Linings 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, on Saturday night after taking the lead with less than five laps to go. #88-Matt Crafton held the lead before pitting for fuel, relinquishing the top spot to Townley, who started second. #17-Timothy Peters finished second after #13-Cameron Hayley ran out of gas as Townley took the white flag. Peters was followed by: #11-Ben Kennedy, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #33-Brandon Jones, #14-Daniel Hemric, #19-Tyler Reddick, #88-Matt Crafton, #4-Erik Jones, and #13-Cameron Hayley. There were 3 caution flags for 19 laps and 15 lead changes among 9 leaders.
#29-Austin Theriault was airlifted to a local hospital for further evaluation after a wreck on lap 14. He climbed from his truck under his own power. Complete results are on the New Hampshire race results page (pdf). (10-3-2015)

Las Vegas Race Fast Facts:
John Wes Townley won the 19th Annual Rhino Linings 350, his first victory in 87 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first victory and seventh top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in four races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Timothy Peters (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in eight races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is his 11th top-10 finish in 2015.
Ben Kennedy (third) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
John H. Nemechek (fourth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Erik Jones # leads the point standings by 4 points over Matt Crafton.
(NASCAR Statistics) (10-3-2015)

Driver standings following Las Vegas:
1) #4-Erik Jones, 701
2) #88-Matt Crafton, 697, -4
3) #19-Tyler Reddick, 685, -16
4) #98-Johnny Sauter, 650, -51
5) #14-Daniel Hemric, 596, -105
6) #17-Timothy Peters, 595, -106
7) #13-Cameron Hayley, 584, -117
8) #05-John Wes Townley, 565, -136
9) #11-Ben Kennedy, 545, -156
10) #23-Spencer Gallagher, 533, -168
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(10-3-2015)

Owner Standings following Las Vegas are posted (pdf).(10-3-2015)

Crafton on pole at Las Vegas: #88-Matt Crafton will start from the pole for the Rhino Linings 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a lap of 176.396mph. #05-John Wes Townley will start second. #33-Brandon Jones, #17-Timothy Peters, #54-Christopher Bell, #13-Cameron Hayley, #29-Austin Theriault, #15-Mason Mingus, #11-Ben Kennedy and #23-Spencer Gallagher close out the top-10 qualifiers. Crafton was also fastest in the first round of qualifying. 32 trucks entered the race, so there are no DNQs. See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(10-3-2015)

Las Vegas Qualifying Notes:
Matt Crafton won the Keystone Light 21 means 21 Pole Award for the 19th Annual Rhino Linings 350 with a lap of 30.613 seconds, 176.396 mph.
This is his ninth pole in 356 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his second pole and 14th top-10 start in 2015.
This is his first pole in 15 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
John Wes Townley (second) posted his seventh top-10 start of 2015 and his first in four races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Brandon Jones (third) posted his first top-10 start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is his eighth in 12 races this season.
Brandon Jones (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics) (10-3-2015)

Pierce to return to the 63 for Martinsville: Bobby Pierce, the dirt track phenomenon that turned heads with a superb runner-up performance on the dirt at Eldora Speedway in July for MB Motorsports will soon make his return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Pierce, 18, will drive the #63 on October 31 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for his asphalt NASCAR debut in the Kroger 200.Pierce, a native of Oakwood, Illinois recently tested and raced a JR Motorsports Late Model after Eldora at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Considered one of the brightest upcoming dirt track racers in the country, Pierce wowed NASCAR Nation when he captured the 1-800-CarCash Mudsummer Classic pole and battled Christopher Bell for their first career NCWTS victory. Mittler said more NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races are possible in the future, but nothing past Martinsville has been set in stone.(Catchfence.com)(10-3-2015)

Byron moving to trucks: For all practical purposes, William Byron's racing career is just getting started. A rookie of the year title and championship in NASCAR's K&N Pro Series East is certainly a solid foundation from which to launch. Byron, 17, won four of 15 races and his ninth-place finish in Saturday's rain-delayed series finale at Dover (Del.) International Speedway easily allowed him to clinch the series title. Byron is already set to move up the NASCAR ladder. He said he will be competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series next season and he hoped a deal with a team would be finalized very soon.(Motorsport.com)(10-3-2015)

Crafton fastest in practice: #88-Matt Crafton was fastest during practice at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a speed of 177.719mph. #98-Johnny Sauter was second, followed by #17-Timothy Peters, #33-Brandon Jones, #29-Austin Theriault, #14-Daniel Hemric, #19-Tyler Reddick, #13-Cameron Hayley, #51-Matt Tifft, #23-Spencer Gallagher. 32 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Las Vegas practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-3-2015)

'The Big One on the Blvd' at Talladega is NASCAR'S Biggest Party: As anticipation continues to grow among both drivers and fans alike for NASCAR'S premier off-track party, "The Big One on the Blvd," on Friday, Oct. 23, Talladega Superspeedway announced a lineup of outrageous fun with sights only able to be seen at NASCAR's "Party Capital". Fans attending this Friday night extravaganza have the possibility to join some fierce competitors for never before seen fan competitions, where fans will have a chance to not only win a lifetime of bragging rights but a unique Talladega inspired trophy to commemorate each event. Participants are encouraged to wear their most creative of outfits to stand out in front of NASCAR's top drivers for a Costume Contest. Fans can also attempt to eat their way through as many of the track's famous 1-pound "Big One Meatballs" as they can during the 'Big One' Eating Contest. If that isn't enough, contestants can get down and dirty in "The 'Dega Cherry Chase", a one-of-a-kind course challenge which you'll just have to see to believe. The best part of all is that the huge crowd gathered in Talladega Superspeedway's infamous infield, along with many of the stars of NASCAR, will determine which fans come out on top in these mind-blowing competitions. "The Big One on the Blvd" will get rolling at 6:45 p.m. CDT on Friday evening at the north end of Talladega Boulevard. From there, drivers can be found on the float throwing out swag and welcoming race fans to the party that trumps all others. The float will pass through the most colorfully decorated campsites in all of NASCAR and wind up in the south end of the Blvd at the main stage for the fan competitions.(TSS)(10-3-2015)

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #20-Kenseth chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #11-Hamlin took the 43rd and final pit stall.
#19-Edwards, who starts 3rd took the 10th pit stall, with an opening behind it.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-2-2015)

Friday afternoon weather update: Rain forced the cancellation of all on-track activities at Dover on Friday. Saturday's schedule now includes 2 Cup practices, an XFINITY practice (teams will practice rather than qualify) and the XFINITY Series race. However, rain will still be an issue.
The National Weather Service forecast is:
Saturday - Rain or drizzle likely. Cloudy, with a high near 63. Breezy, with a northeast wind around 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday Night - A chance of drizzle or light rain. Cloudy, with a low around 59. Breezy, with a northeast wind 22 to 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday - A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 68. Breezy, with a northeast wind 21 to 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday - A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
AND: See more information on the weather from NASCAR_WXMAN at SB Nation.(10-2-2015)

Bowyer to announce plans, to the #51 in 2016 UPDATE: HScott Motorsports is expected to announce next weekend at Dover that Bowyer will drive the #51 Chevy in 2016. The announcement will come after Wednesday's press conference, which will detail Bowyer's eventual move to Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy in 2017. Multiple sources have confirmed that Tony Stewart will be stepping out from the behind the wheel of the #14 at the conclusion of next season. Sponsor 5-hour Energy will continue with Bowyer at HScott.(Motorsport.com)(9-27-2015)
UPDATE: HScott Motorsports announced that Clint Bowyer and 5-hour ENERGY will join the team for the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Bowyer and 5-hour ENERGY have been partners for four seasons, winning three races and finishing runner-up in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. Starting with the Feb. 21, 2016, Daytona 500, Bowyer will race Chevys for HScott in a technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. "I am very thankful for the continued support and commitment from 5-hour ENERGY, and for Harry Scott Jr. for putting this opportunity together," said Bowyer. "My relationship with everyone at 5-hour ENERGY is something I hold with great value. There have been some real unknowns for my career in the past couple of months, but I'm happy that my future is secured and full speed ahead." HScott Motorsports has competed full time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for two seasons, fielding Chevrolets with Hendrick Motorsports support. HScott Motorsports team owner Harry Scott Jr., said this is a watershed moment for his young organization. "This is a really important step for HScott Motorsports and one I felt our team needed to take to elevate to the next level of NASCAR Sprint Cup competition," said Scott. "Clint is a proven winner and Chase participant. For us to compete at a higher level we needed all of the right elements to come together. I believe those elements came together with the driver in Clint, sponsorship from 5-hour ENERGY and the extended relationship with Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas. This opportunity has brought an unprecedented level of excitement to our entire organization."(HScott Motorsports)
AND: Harry Scott says they have not decided if they will have two or three teams next season. Bowyer is likely to replace Justin Allgaier in the #51.(10-2-2015)

Friday's on track activity canceled: Because of the continued rainfall, NASCAR and Dover International Speedway have announced the cancellation of today's on-track activities. The "Drive Sober 125" NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race will now be run at 9:30am on Saturday, Oct. 3. Grandstand gates at Dover International Speedway will open for fans at 8:00am. The Saturday, Oct. 3 "Hisense 200" NASCAR XFINITY Series race will start at the originally scheduled time of 3:30pm.
Because both events will be run on the same day, for the convenience of fans, Dover International Speedway will allow anyone with a previously purchased NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race ticket or a NASCAR XFINITY Series race ticket to remain in the grandstands for both events if they choose. The ticket holder that holds the ticket for that specific event will have priority (i.e. a ticket to the NASCAR XFINITY Series race during the running of that race) for the seating location. The other ticket holder is asked to move to a nearby, or general admission, seating area for the event. Fans are asked to please contact your usher with any questions or concerns.
The Sunday, Oct. 4 "AAA 400" NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will start at its originally scheduled time at 2:30pm.
Qualifying for all three series this weekend has been canceled. Starting lineups will be set by NASCAR rulebooks.
We continue to work closely with NASCAR, the National Weather Service and our on-site meteorologist to monitor the weather. We are currently tracking this weekend's weather and will update fans via social media, and our website, as information becomes available. You can keep up with the track via our app (download available for Android and Apple devices under the name of Dover International Speedway), on Twitter at Facebook.com/DoverInternationalSpeedway.(Dover Speedway)(10-2-2015)

Qualifying: for the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway was canceled due to weather/rain. The starting lineup was set by the rule book: Top 36 in owners points. 37-43 by race attempts (with ties broken by owner points).
#20-Kenseth will start first [not credited with a pole award] followed by #11-Hamlin, #19-Edwards, #22-Logano, #48-Johnson, #31-Newman, #41-Busch, #2-Keselowski, #78-Truex, Jr., and #24-Gordon.
With only 43 team entered, no one misses the race.
See the starting lineup and more on Jayski.com's Dover Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(10-2-2015)

Where the 2015 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers will start at Dover:
[listed by driver points position]
1) #20-Matt Kenseth, 1st
2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 2nd
3) #19-Carl Edwards, 3rd
4) #22-Joey Logano, 4th
5) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 5th
6) #31-Ryan Newman, 6th
7) #41-Kurt Busch, 7th
8) #2-Brad Keselowski, 8th
9) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 9th
10) #24-Jeff Gordon, 10th
11) #1-Jamie McMurray, 11th
12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 12th
13) #18-Kyle Busch, 13th
14) #27-Paul Menard, 14th
15) #4-Kevin Harvick, 15th
16) #15-Clint Bowyer, 16th
(10-2-2015)

Dover Weather Update: The odds of the U.S. mainland seeing its first landfalling hurricane in 15 months are dwindling as the forecast track continues to trend farther to the east. The best chance for an East Coast landfall is now shifting toward New England, but if Joaquin's center should reach land there, it would likely do so as a tropical storm rather than a hurricane. Residents along the East Coast of the U.S. should still pay close attention to the forecast now through this weekend. It's a particularly difficult forecast that hinges on the behavior of several different atmospheric features over North America and the North Atlantic Ocean. On Thursday, computer models moved closer to a consensus, as models formerly bullish on a U.S. landfall began pulling their forecast paths east, favoring tracks closer to the Atlantic seaboard or even entirely offshore. The model consensus as of Thursday evening, reflected to some extent in the National Hurricane Center's 8 p.m. advisory, favors a track east of the East Coast.(Weather Channel)
AND: According to the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, "Heavy rainfall will impact the region [Thursday] into early Saturday morning, along with the risk of localized inland flooding. Moderate to major coastal flooding is expected on Friday and Saturday. The threat of impacts from Hurricane Joaquin has lessened. We have a statement from the Office of Governor Markell related to when or if a State of Emergency will be declared for Delaware: 'The decision to declare a State of Emergency is made on a case-by-case basis and dependent on several factors, including road conditions, weather forecasts and feedback from state and local agencies throughout Delaware. We are continuing to monitor the storm and its potential impact on Delaware, and will make a decision regarding the issuance of a state of emergency if conditions warrant it.' "
AND: The Thursday evening National Weather Service forecast is:
Friday - Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 56. Breezy, with a north wind 18 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Saturday - Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 64. Breezy, with a northeast wind around 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday - Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
So: While the chance of Hurricane Joaquin hitting Dover is lessening and the forecast is looking better, weather will still dominate the weekend. Friday looks like it will be washed out. Saturday is slightly better, but still very questionable. Sunday sees a greater chance of racing than it appeared 24 hours ago, but again with a narrow window to get the race in (Dover does not have lights), the odds aren't good. However, the forecast could continue to improve. Monday's current forecast is for a 60% chance of rain, Tuesday's is 30% chance. NASCAR and the track continue to monitor the situation and will make announcements as warranted.(10-2-2015)

Nature Made partners with Ganassi on the #1 team at Dover: When the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Dover International Speedway this weekend for the AAA 400, Jamie McMurray will carry the colors for Nature Made Adult Gummies and Nature Made Kids First supplements on the #1 Chevy SS. This represents a continuation of the partnership between Target, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams and Nature Made. This will be the first time that Nature Made has appeared on the #1 Chevy with McMurray, who is making his first appearance in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. McMurray will look to make the cut-off in the final race of the Challenger 16 Round at Dover and advance to the Contender 12 Round. Nature Made will also be and associate sponsor on the #1 car throughout the month of October at Kansas Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.(Chip Ganassi Racing), see an image of the car on the #1 team paint scheme page.(10-2-2015)

New Hampshire TV Ratings UPDATE: NASCAR continues to struggle in the first year of its new television deal. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from New Hampshire drew a 1.7 overnight rating on NBCSN Sunday, down 23% from both last year and 2013, when the race aired on ESPN (2.2). The 1.7 is tied as the second-lowest for any NASCAR race this season, matching Richmond two weeks earlier and ahead of only Kansas on Fox Sports 1 in May (1.5). So far this season, five Sprint Cup races have failed to hit a 2.0 overnight rating - compared to zero such races last year. Sunday's race was the 15th of 16 on cable this season to have a decline in overnight ratings, with the July race from Kentucky the lone exception. This year is the first of a new NASCAR TV deal that moved races to NBCSN and FS1 from the more widely available ESPN and TNT.(ShowBuzz Daily / Sports Media Watch)(9-29-2015)
UPDATE: For the second straight week, NASCAR's Chase For the Cup hit a record-low on NBCSN. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from New Hampshire drew a 1.8 final rating and 2.9 million viewers on NBCSN Sunday afternoon, down 25% in ratings and 24% in viewership from last year (2.4, 3.9M) and down 25% and 21%, respectively, from 2013 (2.4, 3.7M), both of which aired on ESPN. Excluding rainouts, the race ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched Chase For the Cup telecast ever (112 telecasts dating back to 2004). The previous low was set by the Chicago race one week earlier (1.9, 3.2M). It also ranks as the lowest rated fall New Hampshire race since at least 2000 and the least-watched since at least 2001. Ratings and viewership have now declined for all sixteen NASCAR races on cable this season, with each either hitting a record-low or the lowest marks in over a decade.(Sports Media Watch)
See past race TV Ratings, five-year comparison chart and more on the 2015 TV Ratings page.(10-2-2015)

Dover Pole Notes & Facts - Friday:
· David Pearson won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Dover in 1969 with a speed of 130.430 mph.
· 39 drivers have Coors Light poles at Dover, led by David Pearson with six. Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman lead all active drivers in poles with four each.
· Nine drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Dover. David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Dover with three; from 1973 to the spring race of 1974.
· Two active drivers have posted consecutive Coors Light poles at Dover: Ryan Newman (fall 2005 and spring 2006), and Denny Hamlin (fall 2012 and spring 2013).
· Two active drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Dover International Speedway: Matt Kenseth (06/02/02) and Michael Waltrip (06/03/1991).
· 13 of the 91 (14.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Dover have been won from the Coors Light pole; the two most recent were Jimmie Johnson in 2009 and 2010.
· The second-place starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (15) than any other starting position at Dover International Speedway.
· 28 of the 91 (30.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Dover have been won from the front row: 13 from the pole and 15 from second-place.
· 71 of the 91 (78%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Dover have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Five of the 91 (5.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Dover have been won from a starting position outside the top 20 - most recently: Tony Stewart, spring 2013 (22nd-place starting position)
· Ryan Newman leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Dover with a 9.926.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Dover is 37th, by Kyle Petty in the spring of 1995.
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Dover International Speedway five times: fall of 1984, spring of 2001, fall of 2003, spring of 2005 and spring of 2011.(NASCAR)(10-2-2015)

BuckedUp sponsoring Gosselin at Dover: King Autosport and Mario Gosselin, a NASCAR Xfinity Series regular, have teamed up again with BuckedUp Apparel after their first outing together in Bristol. This second outing takes place at the Dover International Speedway for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Hisense 200. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month BuckedUp Apparel will donate the proceeds of every purchase made on www.BuckedUpApparel.com , in the month of October, to the Hart to Heart Breast Cancer Foundation. Every purchase will also receive a FREE camo and pink ribbon decal.(DGM PR)(10-2-2015)

XFINITY Series Qualifying rained out: for the Hisense 200 at Dover International Speedway. The starting lineup was set by the rule book. #22-Ryan Blaney will start from the pole (highest in owner points), followed by #54-Kyle Busch, #60-Chris Buescher, #3-Ty Dillon, #33-Austin Dillon, #9-Chase Elliott, #20-Denny Hamlin, #7-Regan Smith, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., and #1-Elliott Sadler. Did Not Qualify: none. The starting lineup is posted on the Dover starting lineup page (pdf).(10-3-2015)

Kentucky TV Ratings: NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Kentucky drew 933,000 viewers on NBCSN Saturday night, up 32% from last year (708K) and up 12% from 2013 (837K), both of which aired on ESPNEWS. Despite the rare increase, the race tied the smallest Xfinity Series audience of the season (27 telecasts) - matching Richmond two weeks earlier.(ShowBuzz Daily / Sports Media Watch)(10-2-2015)

Sadler moving to JR Motorsports with OneMain Financial: JR Motorsports announced a key component of the company's future with the addition of OneMain Financial and driver Elliott Sadler to its NASCAR XFINITY Series program for 2016. Sadler will compete full-time for JRM next season and pilot the OneMain Financial Chevy Camaro in pursuit of the NXS championship. In addition to its season-long primary placement, OneMain Financial will also receive associate branding on all JRM team cars for the full season. Crew chief duties and car number for the OneMain Financial Chevrolet Camaro are still being determined. "We are very pleased to welcome OneMain Financial and Elliott into the JR Motorsports family," said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, co-owner and general manager of JRM. "Elliott has raced a few times for us in the past, and now together with OneMain Financial, we're thrilled to put together a championship-caliber team for him in 2016. Off-track, JRM is looking forward to developing a mutually beneficial partnership with OneMain Financial and one that will help further their brand." OneMain Financial has been helping people realize their financial goals and dreams since 1912. The company is a well-established sponsor in NXS competition and embarks on its 13th year in the sport and sixth year partnering with Sadler. "It's an honor to be in the position to represent JR Motorsports and OneMain Financial on and off the track next season," Sadler said. "I've known Kelley and Dale Jr. a long time, and I respect their passion and desire to win in this business. I'm proud to partner with OneMain Financial and continue our longstanding relationship."(JR Motorsports)(10-2-2015)

Phoenix announces Sprint race date; tickets on sale Tickets for the Camping World 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend, scheduled for March 11-13, 2016 at Phoenix International Raceway, go on sale Friday, Oct. 2. Tickets start at just $25 and may be purchased by visiting PhoenixRaceway.com or by calling 866-408-RACE (7223). For the second-consecutive season, PIR's Spring race date coincides with Spring Break for nearly every school district and college in Arizona, making the Camping World 500 an ideal entertainment destination. Additionally, the race weekend will take place during Major League Baseball's Spring Training season. The Cactus League will once again feature 15 MLB teams across the Valley of the Sun. Headlining the race weekend, the Camping World 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will take place on Sunday, March 13, 2016. The race will again be a part of NASCAR's "West Coast Swing," in which America's premier racing series will compete in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles in consecutive weeks. The Camping World 500 event weekend also features the Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday, March 12 and Gatorade Pole Qualifying for the Camping World 500 on Friday, March 11.(PIR)(10-2-2015)

Everclear to play pre-race concert at Phoenix: Fans coming to the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway will be in for a treat prior to the race on Sunday, Nov. 15. That morning, the popular rock-n-roll group Everclear will perform a pre-race concert in the fan midway area at 10:30am/mt. The concert, which resulted from a partnership between PIR and Niner Sports & Entertainment, is just one part of race day excitement that is free to all fans with a grandstand ticket for the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 is the final race in the Eliminator round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. After the race, the field of championship contenders will be trimmed from eight hopefuls to the final four drivers that will race for the championship the next week. For over two decades, Everclear's sound has reflected the rock, post-punk, and singer/songwriter influences of Art Alexakis, including acts like X, the Replacements, the Pixies, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Elvis Costello. The band found success with their first three albums on Capitol Records, Sparkle and Fade, So Much for the Afterglow, and Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile, which were all certified platinum. Earlier this year, the band released their ninth studio album titled Black Is The New Black via The End Records/ADA.(PIR)(10-2-2015)

Warnings issued for infractions at New Hampshire: NASCAR announced Thursday that the sanctioning body has issued warnings to teams in each of the three major series for issues in technical inspection last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway or Kentucky Speedway. On the Sprint Cup side, the #4 Stewart-Haas Racing team of Chase driver Kevin Harvick was hit with two warnings and will be held out of practice 15 minutes this weekend at Dover for failing to pass NASCAR's LASER Inspection Platform three times in pre-qualifying inspection and twice in pre-race inspection. The #2 Team Penske team of Chase driver Brad Keselowski and the #17 Roush Fenway Racing team of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. were each issued a written warning for flunking qualifying inspection once. Meanwhile, the teams of #7-Alex Bowman and #62-Timmy Hill will be held out of practice for 15 minutes at Dover for arriving late to race inspection and qualifying inspection, respectively.
Over in the XFINITY Series, the #3 Richard Childress Racing team of Ty Dillon and the team of #25-Dylan Lupton were each issued a written warning for failing to pass NASCAR's LASER Inspection Platform too many times at Kentucky last weekend.
In the Camping World Truck Series, the #44 team of driver Josh Reaume will be held for 15 minutes of practice at this weekend's truck event in Las Vegas for being late to inspection at New Hampshire.(FoxSports)(10-1-2015)

NASCAR will increase restart zone for remaining races: The restart zone for this weekend's NASCAR races at Dover International Speedway will double from 70 feet to 140 feet, according to NASCAR. The sanctioning body will also lengthen the restart zone for the 2015 season's remaining races post-Dover -- the exact increase will be determined by an at-track basis. The restart rules have not changed. Drivers will still line up double file, with the leader being the "control car," meaning the second-place car can't take off before the leader in the restart zone located before the start/finish line.(NASCAR.com)(10-1-2015)

Hurricane Joaquin could impact Dover weekend: Hurricane warnings have been expanded to include more of the Bahamas as Hurricane Joaquin churns toward the nation of islands east of Florida. Despite considerable uncertainty, the odds of a landfall on the U.S. East Coast appear to be increasing, and the official forecast track suggests that Joaquin could become the first landfalling hurricane on the U.S. mainland in 15 months.
Computer forecast models - and the meteorologists who rely on them for guidance - are grappling with a complex interaction between Joaquin, a cold front near the East Coast, the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida, a strong bubble of high pressure aloft over the North Atlantic Ocean, and a potentially strong area of low pressure aloft digging into the southeastern U.S. later this week.
The American GFS model forecast continues to show Joaquin making an alarming northwestward turn, slamming it right into Virginia, Maryland or North Carolina this weekend. Meanwhile, the European ECMWF model suggests Joaquin has a chance of staying away from the U.S. East Coast.
Regardless of the ultimate outcome of Joaquin's path, portions of the East Coast will still see multiple impacts from the evolving large-scale weather pattern, including flooding rainfall, gusty winds, high surf, beach erosion and some coastal flooding.(Weather Channel)
AND: Dover Speedway will post weather updates to their website. As of Wednesday afternoon, "There is still a lot of uncertainty to the forecast for this weekend, and we continue to monitor the weather closely. Historically, changes that NASCAR makes to the on-track schedule are not made until the day of each event. We will update you quickly if changes must be made to the schedule as a result of the weather."
AND: As of Wednesday evening, the National Weather Service forecast calls for a 90% chance of rain on Friday, with 1 to 2 inches of perciptation, a 70% chance of rain on Saturday, and a 70% chance of rain on Sunday.
AND: Dover International Speedway does not have lights and sunset will be at 6:40pm/et Sunday. With the race start scheduled for 2:45pm/et, there will not be a lot of time available to dry the track if it's raining. If NASCAR is not able to get the race in on Sunday, they will try again on Monday and could run the race on Tuesday if needed. Sprint Cup teams race at Charlotte next week, with on track activity scheduled to begin on Thursday. Haulers are scheduled to park at Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday evening.
The track of the hurricane should come more into focus by Thursday evening.(10-1-2015)

Schwarze Industries sponsoring Go Green at Dover: Schwarze Industries will join Go Green Racing and driver Josh Wise for this weekends AAA 400 at the Dover International Speedway to help bring more awareness to their full line of street sweeping products by featuring their logo on the hood and the roof of the #32 Ford Fusion this weekend. For over forty-one years in the street sweeping business, Schwarze Industries has been committed to providing an exceptional level of customer support. Schwarze Industries offers one of the most comprehensive sweeper lines in the sweeping business, including models for parking area cleaning, industrial sweeping, mall and shopping center sweeping, airport runway sweeping, street sweeping, milling cleanup and stormwater runoff (PM-10) management and a complete line of velocity pothole patchers.(Go Green Racing)(10-1-2015)

500th start for Jimmie Johnson: Jimmie Johnson will be making his 500th career start this weekend at Dover. His first career start in the #48 was on Oct. 7, 2001, at Charlotte Motor Speedway at the age of 27. Johnson's first win came at Fontana in 2002 in just his 13th career start. Throughout the years and the changes in the sport, Johnson has been lucky enough to have a few constants. Lowe's has been Johnson's sponsor since he began his career, Chad Knaus has been his crew chief and Ron Malec has been his car chief the since the beginning. Together they have won six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships.(Hendrick Motorsports)(10-1-2015)

Dover Track Notes & History - Thursday:
· The official opening of Dover International Speedway, then called Dover Downs International Speedway, was in 1969.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on July 6, 1969 - won by Richard Petty.
· The first two races at Dover were 300 miles. The race length was changed to 500 miles in 1971.
· The track surface was changed to concrete in 1995.
· The race length was changed to 400 miles beginning with the second race in 1997.
· The track name was changed to Dover International Speedway in 2002.
(NASCAR)(10-1-2015)

Stanton Barrett returns to the #15 at Dover: Hollywood stuntman recently turned director Stanton Barrett has been used to filming monsters of his own for his upcoming motion picture Navy Seals vs. Zombies, but on Saturday afternoon, Barrett will face a different kind of monster. Miles' Monster, otherwise efficiently known as "Monster Mile" has been a solid track for Barrett who owns 11 NASCAR XFINITY Series Dover starts to his credit, including a track-best 12th earned in 2003. And even though Barrett hasn't competed at the 1.0-mile oval since 2008 Sprint Cup Series Race, he is eagerly awaiting for his return to Dover International Speedway as another prime opportunity to promote his soon-to-be-released motion picture. Navy Seals vs Zombies will serve as the primary sponsor along with Anchor Bay and BarCode Entertainment. Rick Fox (Former NBA player, Dope, "One Tree Hill", "Sharknado 3"), Michael Dudikoff ("American Ninja series", Olympus Has Fallen), Molly Hagan ("iZombie", Election, Some Kind of Wonderful, "Instant Mom"), Ed Quinn ("Revenge", "Mistresses", "True Blood"), Olympian LoLo Jones and real Navy SEALs star in the upcoming action horror thriller Navy SEALs vs. Zombies. The film arrived on Digital HD on Friday, September 25th and on Blu-ray(tm), DVD and On Demand on Tuesday, October 6th from Anchor Bay Entertainment and is directed by Stanton Barrett in his directorial debut.(Barrett PR)(10-1-2015)

McClure hospitalized after Kentucky wreck UPDATE: From Team McClure, "After wrecking hard into the outside wall with 20 laps remaining in tonight's xfinity race, [Eric] was transported to local hospital for evaluation. He was later admitted for further observation. Additional updates will be available once information is received."
McClure's wife Miranda posted Sunday morning, "Thank you to everyone who prayed for Eric McClure. His scans came back normal but the hospital kept him over night for observation. I will update when I speak with him again.Thanks again for all of the prayers!!"(9-27-2015)
UPDATE: [McClure] was released from the hospital and was diagnosed with concussion. He will follow NASCAR's guidelines to return to racing.(TMI)(9-27-2015)
UPDATE 2: McClure tweeted Wednesday evening: "Wanted to say thank you to everyone for the concern & support the past few days. It never ceases to amaze & bring great encouragement. I've spent the past few days resting & going through the steps set forth by professionals & I've received clearance to return @ Dover."(10-1-2015)

Las Vegas Motor Speedway creating new VIP areas: Race fans attending or watching Saturday's Rhino Linings 350 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race will see the signs of progress above Turns 3 and 4 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. LVMS is in the process of implementing several fan enhancements for the March 4-6 2016 NASCAR Weekend, and the beginning of those improvements will be visible in the form of a construction site during Saturday's event. The enhancements will begin with more interactive experiences in the Fan Engagement Area. Some of these improvements will require a large footprint that will require the use of more space in the area previously occupied by souvenir trailers. Also, the new Fanatics Trackside Superstore will debut at LVMS in 2016 with driver and series merchandise. In order to accommodate the expanded Fan Engagement Area, the speedway is relocating its VIP Hospitality to an area high above Turn 4 with a panoramic view of the speedway, as well as much of the Las Vegas Valley. This area will be called the Vegas Village, and will be used by corporate hospitality guests. The speedway also has created the Vegas Veranda, which will be located adjacent to the Vegas Village and will provide 25 luxury RV spaces that will include concierge services, free wifi and many other amenities in addition to the same panoramic view of the valley. The construction also will result in the removal of Section 4 from the superspeedway, which will give every permanent seat at the 1.5-mile superspeedway a view of pit lane and the start-finish line.(LVMS)(10-1-2015)

Rock band Jackyl to perform at Kansas: Rock band Jackyl, which kicked off Kansas Speedway's post-race concerts in 2011, is returning to the facility as part of a 98.9 the Rock "Low Dough" show. The Georgia-based band, who has toured with Aerosmith, Kiss, ZZ Top, Ted Nugent and others throughout their career, is best known for the song "The Lumberjack," which features a chainsaw used by lead singer Jesse James Dupree during the song. The band's self-titled first album, released in 1992, went platinum. In addition to the concert, Mike Ballard's Full Throttle S'loonshine lends its name to the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season finale with the Full Throttle S'loonshine 98.9. There will also be a Full Throttle Saloon set up in the Turn 1 area during the race weekend. A "Low Dough" ticket is required for entry into the Saloon on Friday, while a ticket to the Kansas Lottery 300, which starts at $40, will allow entrance on Saturday, Oct. 17. For admission on Sunday, Oct. 18, a ticket to the Hollywood Casino 400, which start at $64, is required. Tickets for the Jackyl concert, along with a full day of racing which includes the Full Throttle S'loonshine 98.9 and qualifying for the Hollywood Casino 400, are $9.89 for general admission tickets through Oct. 15; tickets will be $10 for general admission on the day of the race and concert.(Kansas Speedway)(10-1-2015)