Robert Yates battling liver cancer: Doug Yates tweeted Monday afternoon, "My dad @robertyates28 was diagnosed w liver cancer, treatment starts today. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers!"
Robert Yates started in NASCAR as an engine builder before becoming a Sprint Cup team owner from 1989-2007. He was a 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee.(10-31-2016)

Entry List for the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is posted, 41 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed, including: #21-Blaney*, #30-Wise*, #32-Joey Gase, #55-Sorenson*, #83-DiBenedetto, #93-Ryan Ellis*, #95-McDowell, #98-Whitt*.
Drivers who are not a Charter team, an Open Team, and must get in via speed: #21-Blaney, #30-Wise, #55-Sorenson, #93-Ellis, #98-Whitt
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts, then owners pts): #93-Ellis*.
* Open Team (no Charter)
See the full entry list on Jayski.com's Texas Entry List

Drivers treated after Martinsville race: Following the Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, Sprint Cup drivers #95-Michael McDowell, #47-AJ Allmendinger and #46-Michael Annett were treated in the infield care center for various ailments.
McDowell, driver of Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing's #95, was treated for dehydration and burns on his feet. McDowell had to be taken to the medical center on a stretcher. McDowell entered the race having dealt with pneumonia and strep throat according to NBC Sports' Mike Massaro.
Allmendinger, driver of the #47 Chevrolet for JTG-Daugherty Racing, was treated for overheating but was quickly released from the medical center.
HScott Motorsports' Annett was treated for carbon monoxide poisoning a team spokesman told NBC Sports. Damage to the left-rear of Annett's #46 car caused fumes to enter the car. (NBC Sports)(10-31-2016)

Variety of factors led to long caution at Martinsville: The convergence of several unusual incidents during Sunday's Goody's 500 at Martinsville Speedway, produced a record 29-lap and nearly 20-minute delay - one NASCAR officials vowed not to let repeat in the future. At the end of an unusually long green-flag run and in the middle of green-flag pit stops, Carl Edwards' #19 Toyota blew a tire on Lap 356 of 500 which immediately put the race under caution. Many teams had not yet completed their stops when the caution was displayed and several teams were caught on pit road, a phenomena which typically causes scoring headaches for NASCAR. In addition, the race leader at the time of the caution, A.J. Allmendinger ran out of fuel and was forced to pit, while Jimmie Johnson - one of the cars still on the lead lap - had a fuel pickup problem and accidentally hit his engine kill switch, which briefly cut off his engine. The individual problems kept delaying the restart, as some drivers took it upon themselves to pull up along other cars - a practice to indicate to NASCAR they were questioning their position in the lineup.
"Today's situation was very unique and we were in the middle of green-flag pit stops," said Sprint Cup Series director Richard Buck. "That presents one set of issues and then as we got the lineup ready we had the leader run out of fuel, so we had to start over. We understand the stakes of the Chase - they are extremely high. Our job is to get it right. We then had another dynamic with (a large group) of wave-arounds. We took our time to make sure we got it right. It took a while but we felt very confident we got it right." Buck said NASCAR would consider a stopping the race (a red flag) but the problem Sunday was the circumstances kept changing. "We felt we were headed to a quick resolution and then we were presented with completely different circumstances and we were focused on making sure we got it right."(Motorsport)(10-31-2016)

Dale Jr. making plans for 2017: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. met with members of the media Sunday:
Q: In your conversations with sponsors have you start committing to things for next year?
Earnhardt, Jr. "My intentions are to race and that is the plan that we have going forward so we are booking things as normal per usual. We are doing all our photoshoots and everything with anticipation of our sponsors marketing me as the driver of the #88 car. I think that is perfectly on track and a reasonable goal to be in the car and be competing in Daytona. We can't sort of sit and wait. We've got to make a decision. Those types of things have to be decided quite early. So, we are moving forward with the plan to be in the car and I don't see anything that says that is not going to happen. Things are good."(Team Chevy)(10-31-2016)

Simon Pagenaud interested in NASCAR race: Unlike many drivers from the open-wheel ranks, 2016 IndyCar champion Simon Pagenaud says he would like to give NASCAR a try on an oval track rather than a road course. During an appearance on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, he said: "I'm obviously pretty open-minded as a driver. I've raced sports cars, I've raced in IndyCar obviously, I've raced rally cars in Europe and I'm open to any kind of racing. I've raced different-size cars, different engines, different tires and that makes it interesting for a driver to taste all these different things. Everybody asks me if I would like to drive on a road course, but I actually would enjoy it more to try it on an oval." However, the 32-year-old native of France said he didn't know when an opportunity to run a NASCAR race with Team Penske might occur as his priority right now is in IndyCar.(Motorsport)(10-31-2016)

Martinsville Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2016 Goody's Fast Relief 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 1:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 4:39 PM (all times are EDT). NBCSN was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 125
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 59
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 100
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 51
Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 25
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 23
Number of times NBCSN utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 5
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:39 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 219
Minutes of race broadcast: 176
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 43
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 176 Total comm. brdcst time 43
See past races, more info on the commercials with links at CawsnJaws.com.(10-31-2016)

XFINITY Entry List: There are 40 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway. A few notes:
Austin Dillon will drive the RCR #2;
Brandon Hightower returns to the #13;
Clint King will drive the #15;
Matt Tifft is in the JGR #18;
Corey LaJoie will drive the JGL#24;
Austin Teriault is in the RWR #25;
The Obaika #77 & #97 are TBA.(10-31-2015)
See the complete list on the Texas entry list page.

Truck Series Entry List: There are 35 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Friday's Striping Technology 350 at Texas Motor Speedway. A few notes:
The #10 is TBA;
Shane Lee is in the #24;
Norm Benning is in the #63;
Jordan Anderson is in the #66;
Austin Dillon Is in the #71;
The 78 is TBA;
Jesse Little is in the #97;
(10-31-2016)
See the complete list on the Texas entry list page.

Hill partners with Lone Survivor Foundation: Austin Hill Racing (AHR) is pleased to announce today a new partnership with Lone Survivor Foundation (LSF) which was founded in 2010 by Navy SEAL (Ret.) Marcus Luttrell. The partnership's goal will be to raise awareness to the mission of the Lone Survivor Foundation, to restore, empower and renew hope for wounded service members and their families through health, wellness and therapeutic support. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the Lone Survivor Foundation will make their NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) debut, Friday, October 4 at Texas Motor Speedway. Hill will prominently showcase their logo on the hood of his #20 Ford F-150, as he makes his second career start at the Great American Speedway. The partnership again hits the track during the Friday, November 18th season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(Austin Hill Racing)(10-31-2016)

Death Wish Coffee sponsoring Nemechek at Texas: When NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver John Hunter Nemechek rolls into the Texas Motor Speedway, his #8 Chevrolet Silverado for NEMCO Motorsports will have a very different look, thanks to sponsorship from new partner, Death Wish Coffee Company, a privately-owned coffee manufacturer. Since 2014, Nemechek has been associated with the skull and crossbones of SWM International Inc., a long-time partner of NEMCO Motorsports. On November 4, the skull and crossbones will return to the hood of the #8 Chevrolet Silverado with Death Wish Coffee Co. - a small business that roasts and packs the "World's Strongest Coffee," as the primary sponsor at the Texas Motor Speedway with Nemechek. The "World's Strongest Coffee" stands successful thanks to their loyal fans and dedicated staff of 15, led by Mike Brown. Brown perfected the Death Wish Coffee recipe in the basement of his coffee shop, Saratoga Coffee Traders, a cafe he owned in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in 2012.(NEMCO)(10-31-2016)

Pedestrians struck after Martinsville race UPDATE: Multiple pedestrians were struck by a vehicle in a Martinsville Speedway parking lot after Sunday's race, a track official confirmed. A track spokesperson told NBC Sports that it didn't appear that there were any life-threatening injuries. The spokesperson stated that some pedestrians were evaluated and treated on scene and others were taken to Memorial Hospital in Martinsville, Virginia. A track spokesperson also stated that one person was taken into custody after the incident. At least four ambulances and eight police cars were spotted at the scene.(NBC Sports)(10-30-2016)
UPDATE: More than 20 people were injured when a vehicle hit them in a parking lot after Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. According to the Virginia State Police, 22 people were injured, with the majority treated at the scene for minor injuries. There were no fatalities among those injured, whose ages ranged from 13 to 65. Of the 22 injured, 13 patients were treated at the scene for minor injuries; another nine patients were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Seven individuals were transported to Memorial Hospital of Martinsville, Virginia, with two taken to Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden, North Carolina. The accident occurred about an hour after the race, when a 2005 Chevrolet SSR convertible attempted to pass a Jeep Patriot. The Chevrolet struck the Jeep and then struck several nearby pedestrians. Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor in the crash, according to the state police.(ESPN.com)(10-31-2016)

Pedestrians struck after Martinsville race: Multiple pedestrians were struck by a vehicle in a Martinsville Speedway parking lot after Sunday's race, a track official confirmed. A track spokesperson told NBC Sports that it didn't appear that there were any life-threatening injuries. The spokesperson stated that some pedestrians were evaluated and treated on scene and others were taken to Memorial Hospital in Martinsville, Virginia. A track spokesperson also stated that one person was taken into custody after the incident. At least four ambulances and eight police cars were spotted at the scene.(NBC Sports)(10-30-2016)

Johnson wins at Martinsville: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway for his 4th win of the season, 9th win at Martinsville and 79th career win. Johnson led 92 of the 500 laps.
#2-Keselowski finished 2nd, followed by #11-Hamlin, #20-Kenseth, #18-Busch, #88-Gordon, pole sitter #78-Truex, Jr., #1-McMurray, #22-Logano, and #47-Allmendinger.
Three Chase drivers finished off the lead lap - #4-Harvick in 20th, #41-Busch in 22nd, and #19-Edwards in 36th.
#19-Edwards cut a tire down with just over 100 laps to go and hit the wall. He had to go to the garage for repairs. NASCAR had to throw the caution during green flag pit stops, which led to a 29 lap caution period as NASCAR had to work to determine the restart positions for all drivers.
There were 15 lead changes among 9 drivers and 5 cautions for 54 yellow flag laps.
Average race speed: 78.540mph
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more [NOTE: money/winnings are no longer reported] at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Lap Summary Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
Pit Stop Times (pdf)
(10-30-2016)

Race Fast Facts - Martinsville Speedway:
Jimmie Johnson (C) won the 68th Annual Goody's Fast Relief 500, his 79th victory in 540 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his fourth victory and 15th top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his ninth victory and 24th top-10 finish in 30 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Brad Keselowski (second) posted his eighth top-10 finish in 14 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 22nd top-10 finish in 2016.
Denny Hamlin (C) (third) posted his 17th top-10 finish in 22 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Chase Elliott (12th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Jimmie Johnson (C) leads the point standings by 5 points over Denny Hamlin (C).
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-30-2016)

Finishing positions of the 2016 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers at Martinsville:
(by Chase standings before the race)
1) #22-Joey Logano, 9th
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, WON
3) #4-Kevin Harvick, 20th
4) #20-Matt Kenseth, 4th
5) #19-Carl Edwards, 36th
6) #11-Denny Hamlin, 3rd
7) #41-Kurt Busch, 22nd
8) #18-Kyle Busch, 5th
(10-30-2016)

Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Round of 8:
[after Martinsville, race 33 of 36, Chase race 7 of 10]
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson*,[4 wins], 4044 (won Martinsville)
2) #11-Denny Hamlin,[3 wins], 4039, +6 ahead of 5th
3) #20-Matt Kenseth,[2 wins], 4039, +6
4) #18-Kyle Busch,[4 wins], 4037, +4
5) #22-Joey Logano,[2 wins], 4033, -4 behind 4th
6) #4-Kevin Harvick,[4 wins] 4021, -16
7) #41-Kurt Busch,[1 win], 4019, -18
8) #19-Carl Edwards,[2 wins], 4005, -32
* will advance to the Championship Round by winning a Round of 8 race
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)

Unofficial Top 25 in 2016 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings (not the Chase):
[after Martinsville, race 33 of 36]
(using current points system, but not the Chase rules, unofficial)
1) #4-Kevin Harvick (C6), 1048,
2) #2-Brad Keselowski (EC), 1029, -19
3) #22-Joey Logano (C5), 1010, -38
4) #18-Kyle Busch (C4), 993, -55
5) #11-Denny Hamlin (C2), 984, -64
6) #41-Kurt Busch (C7), 970, -78
7) #78-Martin Truex Jr. (EC), 946, -102
8) #19-Carl Edwards (C8), 931, -117
9) #48-Jimmie Johnson (C1), 929, -119
10) #20-Matt Kenseth (C3), 908, -140
11) #3-Austin Dillon (EC), 866, -182
12) #24-Chase Elliott (EC), 866, -182
13) #5-Kasey Kahne, 833, -215
14) #42-Kyle Larson (EC), 826, -222
15) #31-Ryan Newman, 819, -229
16) #1-Jamie McMurray (EC), 819, -229
17) #47-AJ Allmendinger, 749, -299
18) #21-Ryan Blaney, 735, -313
19) #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 718, -330
20) #6-Trevor Bayne, 717, -331
21) #10-Danica Patrick, 638, -410
22) #16-Greg Biffle, 619, -429
23) #27-Paul Menard, 607, -441
24) #43-Aric Almirola, 599, -449
25)#14-Tony Stewart (EC), 587, -461
28)#34-Chris Buescher (EC), 495, -553
(C# = chase driver and current Chase position)
(EC = chase driver that has been eliminated from the Chase)
(10-30-2016)

Ragan uncertain of next year's plans: #23-David Ragan, who is in his 10th fulltime season in the Cup series, said he is uncertain what his NASCAR future holds after this season. "I don't have any commitments and I've made no plans for next year," he said. "I want to be in the Cup series. I'd like to drive the most competitive car that I can and if that's not in the Cup series, I would be satisfied with a good Xfinity program or even a good Truck program. I want to race in NASCAR's top three series but I'm at a point in my career where I'm not really racing for a paycheck or a bio sheet that says 'Cup driver.' I want to race and be competitive. My heart's in the Cup series - that's where I want to be and I want to win some more races but I want to be in the right situation."(Motorsport)(10-30-2016)

Martinsville Race Notes & Facts:
· There have been 135 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, one in the inaugural year and two races per year since 1950.
· Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 23 - Jeff Gordon (nine), Jimmie Johnson (eight), Darrell Waltrip (four), Geoffrey Bodine (one) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (one).
· A total of 11 manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville. Chevrolet leads series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 55 victories; followed by Ford with 26 wins and Toyota has six.
· There have been five NSCS green-white-checkered finishes at Martinsville Speedway: fall 2007 (500/506), fall 2008 (500/504), fall 2009 (500/501), spring 2010 (500/508), and spring 2012 (500/515).
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway is the April 1, 2007 race won by Jimmie Johnson with a MOV of 0.065 second.
(NASCAR)

NBCSN and NASCAR Productions present 'NASCAR Seasons: 2001' Sunday: Immediately following this Sunday's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup coverage at Martinsville Speedway, NBCSN presents "NASCAR Seasons: 2001," a new, 60-minute documentary that chronicles a NASCAR season and a year that will never be forgotten. Unfolding through Dale Earnhardt's tragic death at the 2001 Daytona 500, the enormous outpouring of emotions that followed, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s stirring victory at the July Daytona race, "NASCAR Seasons: 2001" also covers the sport's passionate reaction to the tragic events of the September 11th attacks. The story of this unforgettable year illustrates how NASCAR's legion of supporters came together at times of sorrow and jubilation to exhibit a tremendous sense of unity, and how the experiences of 2001 generated several advancements in safety that continue to evolve today. Produced in partnership with NASCAR Productions, the documentary candidly presents the events through rarely seen archival footage and new interviews with those who experienced the season firsthand. "NASCAR Seasons: 2001" premieres Sunday at 6:30pm/et on NBCSN.(NASCAR)(10-30-2016)

Final practice for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 50 minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#42-Larson 96.088
#14-Stewart 96.019
#27-Menard 95.845
#23-Ragan 95.781
#18-Busch 95.748
Best 10 consecutive lap ave (of 38 drivers): #42-Larson, 95.462mph
slowest: #30-Gaulding 93.217 & #32-Earnhardt 92.646.
most laps run: #11-Hamlin 99 & 18-Busch 89.
See fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap avg on the Martinsville Final Practice speeds page (pdf).(10-29-2016)

First Saturday practice for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 55 minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#1-McMurray 96.780
#22-Logano 96.736
#23-Ragan 96.671
#78-Truex, Jr. 96.652
#47-Allmendinger 96.622
Best 10 consecutive lap ave (of 39 drivers): #78-Truex, Jr. 96.198mph
slowest: #83-Lupton 93.840 & #32-Earnhardt 93.331.
most laps run: #43-Almirola 84, #38-Cassill 79.
See fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap avg on the Martinsville Practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-29-2016)

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway have been made.
With the field downsized to 40 cars, three pit stalls (21,30,43) have been eliminated, are not in play and don't count towards driving through more than three pit boxes.
Pole sitter #78-Truex, Jr. chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #22-Logano took the 2nd pit stall.
#48-Johnson, who starts 3rd took the 22nd pit stall, with an opening in front of it.
The final pit stall was taken by #1-McMurray, who starts 14th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.

Gordon's final race? UPDATE: Sunday will mark four-time champion Jeff Gordon's final scheduled NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. Gordon will be driving the blue-and-silver #88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS this weekend. His career began on Nov. 15, 1992, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Richard Petty's final start. From 1992 through 2015, Gordon made 797 consecutive starts and racked up 93 wins, 325 top-five and 475 top-10 finishes in addition to his four championships. This weekend's race at Martinsville Speedway will be his eighth race filling in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2016. On Nov. 1, 2015, Gordon led the final 22 laps at Martinsville Speedway en route to his ninth win at the Virginia short track and his 93rd career Cup victory. The defending race winner leads all active Cup drivers in wins (nine, third on the all-time list), poles (seven, second on the all-time list), top-five finishes (29), and laps led (3,779, second on the all-time list). He is tied with Richard Petty for the most top-10 Cup finishes of all time with 37, and holds the all-time record for lead-lap finishes (38) and for the least DNFs, having been running at the finish in every single one of his 46 races at the half-mile paperclip.(Hendrick Motorsports)
AND: If Gordon leads 64 laps on Sunday, he will become only the sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver all-time to lead 25,000 or more laps, joining NASCAR Hall of Famers Petty, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and David Pearson.(NASCAR)(10-27-2016)
UPDATE: Gordon talked to the media Friday at Martinsville Speedway and was asked if this was his final race;
Gordon: "Your guess is as good as mine. I can promise you I had no intentions of this happening, but here I am. Never say never is all I know what to say. I really don't think that I will be getting back in the Cup car again, but go ask Rick Hendrick. That really has more to do with him than anything else. I hope in the future that the drivers don't have a situation like what we had with (Dale Earnhardt) Junior where they need somebody to fill in for them. This little bit of experience has been kind of good for me, good for the organization and we have had a little bit of fun with it as well. If I had to do it, then certainly I would, but I don't anticipate it."(Team Chevy PR)(10-29-2016)

Who's Hot and Who's Not - Martinsville:
HOT
" Kyle Busch: defending Martinsville winner; 7 straight top-15 finishes at track
" Jeff Gordon: 9 career Martinsville wins; 19 top 5s, 23 top 10s in last 26 Martinsville races
" Denny Hamlin: 9.5 career Avg finish at Martinsville, 3rd-best among active drivers
" Joey Logano: led 336 laps led in last 3 Martinsville race (2nd behind Kyle Busch's 352)
NOT
" Jimmie Johnson: 22.0 Avg finish in last 4 Martinsville races (5.2 in first 25 career starts)
" Kurt Busch: 1 top-10 finish in last 21 Martinsville races (spring 2014 win)
" Carl Edwards: 1 top-5 finish in 24 career Martinsville races (3rd in 2008 Chase race)
" Matt Kenseth: finished 38th in last year's Martinsville Chase race after being parked after incident with Joey Logano
(ESPN Stats & Info)(10-29-2016)

Martinsville Driver Notes & Facts:
· 612 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville; 389 in more than one.
· 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 46.
· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Martinsville Speedway with a 7.196. Ryan Newman (9.138), Denny Hamlin (9.714) and Joey Logano (9.867) each have an average starting position at Martinsville inside the top 10.
· In total 60 drivers have made their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Martinsville.
· Chase Elliott (03/29/2015) and Michael McDowell (3/30/2008) are active drivers that made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Martinsville Speedway.
· 49 different drivers have won at Martinsville Speedway, led by Richard Petty with 15; Jeff Gordon leads the series among active drivers with nine wins; followed by Jimmie Johnson with eight.
· 22 drivers have multiple wins at Martinsville Speedway; nine drivers have won five or more times; three of which are active: Jeff Gordon (nine), Jimmie Johnson (eight) and Denny Hamlin (five).
· 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.
· Kyle Busch competed at Martinsville Speedway 21 times before winning in the earlier this season; the longest span of any the seven active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
· Three active winners have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Martinsville Speedway: Kevin Harvick (19), Ryan Newman (20) and Kyle Busch (21).
· 11 drivers posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was Ricky Craven (10/15/2001).
· 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 Jimmie Johnson with four, AJ Allmendinger, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray and Matt Kenseth each have two.
· Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 30; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 29, followed by Jimmie Johnson with 18.
· Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon lead the series in top-10 finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 37 each.
· Three active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series average finish in the top 10 at Martinsville: Jeff Gordon (6.761), Jimmie Johnson (7.517) and Denny Hamlin (9.524).
· Jeff Gordon has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway without a DNF (46).
· 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)

Sauter wins Truck Series Race at Martinsville: #21-Johnny Sauter won the Texas Roadhouse 200 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday after holding off challenges from pole-sitter #71-Chase Elliott. #8-John Hunter Nemechek opted for track position under the final pitstop of the day, taking two tires only. He led for a bit, before ending the race in third. #4-Christopher Bell, #17-Timothy Peters, #51-Daniel Suarez, #00-Cole Custer, #9-William Byron, #19-Daniel Hemric, and #20-Austin Hill were the remainder of the top-10.
There were 5 cautions for 33 laps and 6 lead changes among 5 leaders.
The average speed was 73.839mph.
Complete results are on the Martinsville race results page (pdf).(10-29-2016)

Martinsville Race Fast Facts:
Johnny Sauter (C) won the 18th Annual Texas Roadhouse 200 Presented by Alpha Energy Solutions, his 12th victory in 195 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his second victory and 16th top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his third victory and ninth top-10 finish in 18 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Chase Elliott(i) (second) posted his second top-10 finish in three races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2016.
John Hunter Nemechek (third) posted his third top-10 finish in seven races at Martinsville Speedway.
Cole Custer (seventh) was the highest finishing rookie.
Johnny Sauter (C) leads the point standings by 7 points over Christopher Bell # (C).
(NASCAR Statistics)(10-29-2016)

Driver standings following Martinsville:
1)#21-Johnny Sauter [2 wins], 3036
2) #4-Christopher Bell# [1 win], 3029 -7
3) #17-Timothy Peters, 3028, -8
4) #9-William Byron# [6 wins], 3025, -11
Bottom 2 drivers will be eliminated after Phoenix:
5) #88-Matt Crafton [2 wins], 3016, -20
6) #33-Ben Kennedy [1 win], 3015, -21
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(10-29-2016)

Owner Standings following Martinsville: are posted (pdf).(10-29-2016)

Free Pass - Who got a lap back on each caution at Martinsville: (and their finish)
Caution 1: #92-Whitt, 12th
Caution 2: #92-Whitt, 12th
Caution 3: #05-Townley, 21st
Caution 4: #02-Theriault, 20th
Caution 5: #88-Crafton, 17th
(10-29-2016)

Elliott on pole at Martinsville: #71-Chase Elliott won the pole for the Texas Roadhouse 200 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 96.254mph. #51-Daniel Suarez will start second, followed by #00-Cole Custer, #29-Tyler Reddick, #21-Johnny Sauter, #4-Christopher Bell, #9-William Byron, #13-Cameron Hayley, #11-Matt Tifft, #24-Kaz Grala.
Elliott led all three rounds of qualifying.
Did Not Qualify: #10-Brad Foy, #28-Kyle Soper, #45-Casey Smith, and #62-Donnie Levister.
See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(10-29-2016)

Martinsville Qualifying Notes:
Chase Elliott(i) won the Keystone Light 21 Means 21 Pole Award for the 18th Annual Texas Roadhouse 200 Presented by Alpha Energy Solutions with a lap of 19.673 seconds, 96.254 mph.
This is his second pole in ten NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2016.
This is his first pole in three races at Martinsville Speedway.
Daniel Suarez(i) (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2016 and his third in four races at Martinsville Speedway.
Cole Custer (third) posted his fifth top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 10th in 20 races this season.
Cole Custer (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-29-2016)

Snider to debut with AM at Phoenix: Myatt Snider, son of NBC Sports sportscaster Marty Snider will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in two weeks at Phoenix International Raceway for AM Racing. Snider will drive the #22 AM Racing Toyota Tundra typically driven by Austin Wayne Self in the penultimate Truck Series race of the season. Snider will be guided by crew chief Rick Ren, a two-time NCWTS championship crew chief. Steadily, Snider has worked his way through the ranks of Motorsports, despite a late start. Finding success with strong finishes in the CARS Tour Late Model Series last season, Snider leaped to the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards this season competing in nine races for Cunningham Motorsports. In his series debut at Toledo Speedway, Snider started third, led 35 laps en route to his first career victory. Since then, Snider tallied two more top-five finishes at Iowa Speedway and Lucas Oil Raceway before being plagued by mechanical issues and a crash in his final three races at Chicago, Kentucky and Kansas respectively.(Catchfence)(10-29-2016)

Speedway Christmas returns to Charlotte November 19: While Halloween is around the corner, Charlotte Motor Speedway is already prepping for a Christmas light show extravaganza like no other. Speedway Christmas returns Nov. 19 with three million lights totaling a record 3.75 miles around the speedway, infield and concourse that will illuminate the iconic race track with Christmas-related staples including Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman. Building on the fan-friendly holiday atmosphere, this year's Speedway Christmas - which runs until Dec. 31 but is closed on Christmas Day - will also feature an infield Christmas village with a petting zoo, Bethlehem village, horse-drawn wagon rides and photos with Santa. Additionally, fans can sit in their cars and cozy up to Movie Nights on the giant Speedway TV every Thursday-Sunday, with classic Christmas films including "A Christmas Story" and "Frozen" among those scheduled to air. The first day of Speedway Christmas coincides with the Egg Nog Jog 5K, a high-energy fun run to kick off the holiday festivities. Fans can buy tickets to Speedway Christmas, which start at just $20, by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267), or visiting charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets/.(CMS)(10-29-2016)

Truex, Jr. wins Martinsville pole: #78-Martin Truex, Jr. won the Coors Light pole for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway with speed of 98.206mph for his 5th pole of 2016, 1st at Martinsville and 12th of his career. Truex, Jr. has won 1 race from the pole in his career in 11 tries.
#22-Logano will start 2nd, followed by #48-Johnson, #47-Allmendinger, #24-Elliott, #14-Stewart, #19-Edwards, #11-Hamlin, #18-Busch, #88-Gordon, #42-Larson, and #23-Ragan.
#24-Elliott was fastest in the 2nd round with a speed of 98.129mph and will start 5th.
#22-Logano was fastest in the first round at 98.323mph. He starts 2nd.
Did not qualify: None, only 40 drivers entered.
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Martinsville qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Martinsville Starting Lineup page (pdf).(10-14-2016)

Where the 2016 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers will start at Martinsville:
[listed by driver points position]
1) #22-Joey Logano, 2nd
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 3rd
3) #4-Kevin Harvick, 20th
4) #20-Matt Kenseth, 17th
5) #19-Carl Edwards, 7th
6) #11-Denny Hamlin, 8th
7) #41-Kurt Busch, 23rd
8) #18-Kyle Busch, 9th
(10-28-2016)

Martinsville Speedway - Qualifying Fast Facts:
Martin Truex Jr won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 68th Annual Goody's Fast Relief 500 with a lap of 19.282 seconds, 98.206 mph.
This is his 12th pole in 402 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his fifth pole and 24th top-10 start in 2016.
This is his first pole in 22 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Joey Logano (C) (second) posted his 24th top-10 start of 2016 and his 11th in 16 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Jimmie Johnson (C) (third) posted his 19th top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 16th in 33 races this season.
Chase Elliott (fifth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(10-28-2016)

Second Round of Qualifying for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over, after 10 scheduled minutes.
#24-Elliott 98.129
#78-Truex, Jr. 98.124
#18-Busch 98.114
#14-Stewart 98.012
#42-Larson 97.790
the rest of the top 12: 22 88 48 19 47 23 11;
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 31 1 21 43 20 27 2 4 7 5 41 10
(10-28-2016)

First Round of Qualifying for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#22-Logano 98.323
#14-Stewart 98.145
#78-Truex, Jr. 97.785
#11-Hamlin 97.739
#24-Elliott 97.709
the rest of the top 24: 18 88 21 47 1 48 19 31 2 20 4 23 42 10 5 27 43 41 7;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 16 13 93 15 34 95 6 3 38 55 44 30 83 32 17 46
Drivers who will miss the race: None, only 40 drivers entered.
(10-28-2016)

Friday practice for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 85 minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#42-Larson 98.710
#11-Hamlin 98.058
#22-Logano 98.053
#24-Elliott 98.007
#10-Patrick 97.972
Best 10 consecutive lap ave (19 drivers): #42-Larson 95.242.
slowest:#44-Scott 94.284 & #55-Sorenson 92.642
most laps run: #43-Almirola 54, #93-DiBenedetto & #30-Gaulding 48.
Notes: Qualifying is scheduled for 4:40pm/et, with TV coverage on NBCSN.
See fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap avg on the Martinsville Practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-28-2016)

Qualifying Order for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted. 40 cars/drivers are listed.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #6-Bayne.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #10-Patrick.
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 Order Page (pdf).

Virginia Tech returns to the #21 at Martinsville: For the Wood Brothers and their crew chief Jeremy Bullins, this week's trip to Martinsville Speedway is like returning to the home place for a family reunion. Both the Woods and Bullins consider Martinsville their home track, and their sponsor for the weekend, Virginia Tech, is from nearby Blacksburg. This weekend's race is a first at Martinsville for the Virginia Tech athletic program, but the Woods have been competing at Martinsville since the 1950s. The home track feeling takes on a new meaning this weekend as the #21 Fusion will be adorned with burgundy and orange colors of the Hokies. Virginia Tech took its first ride on the #21 back in August at Bristol Motor Speedway. The paint scheme and the association with the Hokies were a hit in the garage and in the grandstands at Bristol.(Wood Brothers Racing), see an image of the car on the #21 team paint schemes page.(10-28-2016)

Toy State adds Martinsville to #7 sponsorship deal: Tommy Baldwin Racing announced that Nikko RC/ Toy State has added to their race schedule and will sponsor Regan Smith and the #7 Nikko RC/ Toy State Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway. With the addition of Martinsville, Nikko RC/ Toy State will be on the #7 Chevrolet for the final four races of the 2016 season. "Heading into the final four races of the season we are proud to have Nikko RC / Toy State back on board the No. 7 Chevrolet," said team owner Tommy Baldwin. "Toy State has given us some fantastic paint schemes this season but we are proud to end it with the familiar blue paint scheme that our fans know and recognize."(Tommy Baldwin Racing)(10-28-2016)

Kenseth's tire changer back on the job: Front tire changer John Royer has been a mainstay on the #20 crew for years. Earlier in the year John suffered a broken thumb and ligament damage in his changing hand. He was out from Darlington thru Charlotte and made his return two weekends ago in Kansas. Back up David Mayo had been changing on the #20 and did a good job anchoring the fronts.(Pit Talks)(10-28-2016)

Martinsville Pole Notes & Facts:
· 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 poles.
· 13 drivers have won two or more consecutive Coors Light poles at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was Joey Logano who has won the last three poles at Martinsville.
· Five of the 13 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) and Joe Logano (2015 sweep, 2016 spring).
· 12 drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Martinsville Speedway; the two most recent are Scott Riggs (4/10/2005) and Tony Stewart (4/18/1999).
· 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.
· 21 of 135 races (15.5%) at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; four of those 21 wins came from active drivers: 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 135 (26.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the front row: 21 from the pole and 15 from second-place.
· 97 of the 135 (71.9%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Seven of the 135 (5.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20 - including both races in 2015
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started is 36th, by Kurt Busch in the fall of 2002.
(NASCAR)

Byron fastest in final Truck practice: #9-William Byron was fastest in final practice for the Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 96.185 mph. He was followed by #21-Johnny Sauter, #51-Daniel Suarez, #00-Cole Custer, #29-Tyler Reddick, #41-Ben Rhodes, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #23-Spencer Gallagher, #19-Daniel Hemric, and #4-Christopher Bell. 36 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Martinsville practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-28-2016)

Suarez fastest in first Truck practice: #51-Daniel Suarez was fastest during opening practice at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 95.525 mph. #13-Cameron Hayley was second, followed by #9-William Byron, #88-Matt Crafton, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #21-Johnny Sauter, #18-Harrison Burton, #4-Christopher Bell, #41-Ben Rhodes, and #24-Kaz Grala. 35 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Martinsville practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-28-2016)

Sprint's Meesters to serve as honorary pace car driver at Martinsville: For the last 13 years, Sprint has led NASCAR, by serving as the entitlement sponsor of the sport's top series. On Sunday, they will once again be out front of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but this time it will be in a more literal role, as Kimberly Meesters, the general manager of the NASCAR Sprint Cup sponsorship will serve as the honorary pace car driver before the Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. While Meesters will be holding the steering wheel, she said she is just the representative for the entire Sprint family. "It's a very kind gesture from Martinsville Speedway to recognize us in such a visible way," Meesters said. "We have really worked hard to be a member of the motorsports family and I think this is a great example of that coming to fruition." Meesters said looking back there are too many memories to list, but seeing the first class of inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Jimmie Johnson make history with five straight Sprint Cup Series championships, the start of the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup and the retirement of Jeff Gordon all come to mind as some of the highlights.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-28-2016)

Farmers to end sponsorship of #5 Hendrick team after 2017: Farmers Insurance and Hendrick Motorsports have both confirmed that the L.A.-based insurer will not renew its primary sponsorship of the NASCAR team's #5 Sprint Cup Chevy after its deal expires following the 2017 season. Farmers originally came aboard with HMS' #5 driven by Kasey Kahne in 2011 for 22 races in a deal that sources valued between $10-15M annually. Farmers, which is represented in motorsports by Just Marketing Int'l, eventually extended its deal in 2014 through the 2017 season, while reducing to 12 primary race sponsorships and serving as an associate sponsor for all other races. The deal with HMS represents Farmers' only play in NASCAR, and sources were not sure if the brand had plans to redirect resources in the sport or if the move indicated a total exit from NASCAR.(Sports Business Daily)(10-27-2016)

First Data featured on #1 at Martinsville: First Data Corporation, a global leader in commerce-enabling technology, announced that it will partner with Credit One Bank and be featured on the #1 Credit One Bank Chevrolet SS driven by Jamie McMurray at this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway. McMurray will be behind the wheel of the car from Chip Ganassi Racing, which, for the first time, will feature First Data's logo alongside Credit One Bank, one of the largest and fastest growing issuers of credit cards in the United States. Leading up to Veteran's Day on November 11, First Data will host a veteran business owner at Martinsville Speedway to take part in one of America's most popular spectator sports. First Data is deeply committed to veterans and their families through First Data Salutes, the company-wide military engagement strategy aimed at providing the military community with career opportunities, educational resources, and business solutions for veteran-owned businesses. On race day, First Data will recognize Phil Lennon, a former member of the Marine Corps and a graduate of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, of which First Data is a major sponsor. In May 2015, First Data and the IVMF launched the Coalition of Veteran Owned Business (CVOB) to support the success of businesses owned by veterans, service members, and military spouses.(First Data)(10-27-2016)

NASCAR considering smaller pit crews next year UPDATE: There are ongoing discussions between team owners and NASCAR of further reducing the number of pit crew members going over the wall from six to five, Motorsport.com has learned. The cost-cutting initiative could go into effect as early as 2017. It would be up to each team's discretion how to choreograph the pit stops. However, under a full fuel stop, the most likely scenario would feature the elimination of one tire carrier. In the evolution of NASCAR pit stops, most team incorporated two tire carriers in the mid-90s. The current proposal to limit crew personnel over the wall is twofold: As a cost-cutting measure for mid-level operations. Second, as a safety initiative to eliminate additional bodies on pit road.(Motorsport(9-27-2016)
UPDATE: NASCAR confirmed Wednesday it won't be making changes to pit crews for the 2017 season. There had been reports that NASCAR was considering smaller pit crews next year, and a reduction from six to five over-the-wall crew members had been discussed in meetings with the team owner council. Teams also have floated ideas about elongated pit stops to de-emphasize their importance and impact on a race. But NASCAR has elected to keep its Sprint Cup pit crews at six, which has been the limit since 2011 when the catch-can man was eliminated.(NBC Sports)(10-27-2016)

NASCAR would consider moving up race start times because of weather: On Tuesday night, Major League Baseball announced it was moving the start time of Wednesday's World Series Game 2 an hour earlier based on rain in the forecast. Fox adjusted its TV schedule to accommodate the change. So when bad weather is predicted, why can't NASCAR do the same for its events? Well, it can -- under the right circumstances. "Every situation is unique, but we would consider altering a scheduled race start time due to weather, especially if we thought it would benefit fans," said Steve Herbst, NASCAR senior vice president, broadcasting and production, in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. "There are a multitude of variables that would factor into such a decision that would include tracks, broadcast partners and all of our stakeholders. That said, we would be open to having those discussions on a case-by-case basis and have had initial conversations of how that could work in 2017." Traditionally, NASCAR has been reluctant to move up the green flag time by more than 10 or 15 minutes - using the listed TV time as a barrier (when the race broadcast begins). NBC and Fox both declined to comment to USA TODAY Sports for this story, instead referring comment to NASCAR -- but it's clear there's some flexibility if the sport's officials, the network and the venue all agree. That was what happened for Wednesday night's World Series game, and it could potentially be the case at some point in NASCAR.(USA Today)(10-27-2016)

Gordon's final race...again: Sunday will mark four-time champion Jeff Gordon's final scheduled NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. Gordon will be driving the blue-and-silver #88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS this weekend. His career began on Nov. 15, 1992, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Richard Petty's final start. From 1992 through 2015, Gordon made 797 consecutive starts and racked up 93 wins, 325 top-five and 475 top-10 finishes in addition to his four championships. This weekend's race at Martinsville Speedway will be his eighth race filling in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2016. On Nov. 1, 2015, Gordon led the final 22 laps at Martinsville Speedway en route to his ninth win at the Virginia short track and his 93rd career Cup victory. The defending race winner leads all active Cup drivers in wins (nine, third on the all-time list), poles (seven, second on the all-time list), top-five finishes (29), and laps led (3,779, second on the all-time list). He is tied with Richard Petty for the most top-10 Cup finishes of all time with 37, and holds the all-time record for lead-lap finishes (38) and for the least DNFs, having been running at the finish in every single one of his 46 races at the half-mile paperclip.(Hendrick Motorsports)
AND: If Gordon leads 64 laps on Sunday, he will become only the sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver all-time to lead 25,000 or more laps, joining NASCAR Hall of Famers Petty, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and David Pearson.(NASCAR)(10-27-2016)

Speedway Motorsports earnings benefit from Battle at Bristol: SMI this morning announced a mixed bag for its Q3 earnings report, as admissions revenue for core events was down but profit from non-core events was up sharply on the back of the Battle at Bristol college football game. For the quarter ended Sept. 30, total revenue was $170.7M, up 16% from last year's $144.41M, thanks to the Tennessee-Virginia Tech football game on Sept. 10 at Bristol Motor Speedway. SMI reported in [Wednesday's] earnings that it profited between $5-6M from the game. SMI President & CEO Marcus Smith followed up in the earnings call by saying that SMI is ""pleased with the results of the game" and is "certainly working to that goal"" of adding more major, non-core events of this nature as a result. Q3 admissions revenue from core events, which included eight races, was down about 6%, from $31.6M in Q3 last year to $29.7M this year. SMI noted that it has continued to be plagued by poor weather at some of its events this season, including Bristol's Sprint Cup race during Q3, which was postponed a day. As expected, broadcast revenue rose by $2M or 3.1%, as part of the track's take from NASCAR's media-rights deals. (Sports Business Daily)(10-27-2016)

Talladega TV Ratings: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Talladega, the sixth race in the Chase For the Cup, earned a 2.2 final rating and 3.6 million viewers on NBCSN Sunday afternoon - down 15% in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year (2.6, 4.2M) and down 27% and 28%, respectively, from 2014 on ESPN (3.0, 4.8M). Joey Logano's win ranks as the lowest rated edition of the race since at least 2000 and the least-watched since at least 2001, falling below the previous marks set last year. Even with the lower numbers, Talladega delivered the highest rating and viewership of this year's Chase For the Cup, edging the previous marks of 2.1 and 3.4 million. It ranks as the highest rated and most-watched race since Darlington on NBC Labor Day weekend (2.8, 4.6M).(Sports Media Watch), see race-by-race TV Ratings for 2016 and a comparison chart on the 2016 TV Ratings page.(10-27-2016)

Stewart-Haas Racing signs deal with Nike: Stewart-Haas Racing has signed a six-figure value-in-kind deal with Nike to outfit the team starting next season, when SHR switches manufacturers from Chevy to Ford. SHR did not previously have a sole apparel manufacturer and instead had different brands worn by team members. However, because of the switch to Ford, SHR will have to get all new apparel since Chevy's logo is on its current gear, and the team decided the time was right to go out and find one official partner. Nike will outfit the organization with various forms of apparel, and in return gets the exposure from the gear being worn publicly, plus signage on SHR's pit practice facility and weight room.
Meanwhile, [SHR VP/Sales & Marketing Mike Verlander] said that as part of the switchover from Chevy to Ford, SHR will also slightly tweak its logo. The new logo is not ready to be released, but Verlander said it will be a small change. SHR currently has a light blue logo, so switching to a darker shade to align with Ford's darker-blue logo is a possibility.(Sports Business Daily)(10-27-2016)

Martinsville Track Notes & History:
· 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)

Donahue brothers to debut in Martinsville: Even with MB Motorsports long history of finding and grooming young talent, the team heads to Martinsville to do something never done before- have two brothers make their NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut as teammates. 16 year-old Kyle Donahue will be behind wheel of the #63 Agile Network Chevy Silverado in the Alpha Energy 200. Brother Kevin will pilot the team's #07 entry. Agile Network LLC designs, builds, and implements world class, multi-carrier shipping software for shippers that need automated transportation for UPS, FedEx, USPS and hundreds of LTL and FTL carriers to operate within their current business information systems. Donahue's #63 Chevy will also receive support from Pantechnik and Express Cube.(CM2 Commander Motorsports Marketing)(10-27-2016)

Theriault in for Young at Martinsville: Known for his short track racing skills, Austin Theriault has been named driver of the #02 Young's Building Systems / Randco. Chevrolet Silverado for Saturday afternoon's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Texas Roadhouse 200 at Martinsville Speedway. The Fort Kent, Maine native will make his first laps around the 0.526-mile paperclip this weekend, but will do so with the expertise of Young's Motorsports general manager and driver Tyler Young. The Midland, Texas native has four straight top-20 finishes at the historic short track, including back-to-back 13th place finishes last October and this past April. Theriault is poised to make his 11th career NCWTS start and second of the year. The 22-year-old participated in the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway driving for Brad Keselowski Racing before accepting some racing opportunities in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.(Young's Motorsports)(10-27-2016)

Foy set for truck return: Late model driver Brad Foy will make his return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Saturday at Martinsville Speedway driving the #10 Harvester Performance Center/Rocky Mount, VA Chevy for Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing Chevrolet with associate sponsorship from CPAStaffSupport.com and The Ultimate Kart Series. Foy, a native of Moneta, Virginia, attempted to qualify for this race in 2015 but an engine failure in practice prevented him from racing. In 2016, Brad Foy was able to assemble a team of partners to support his effort at Martinsville this weekend including CPA Staff Support among other local organizations. Company Information - CPA Staff Support is an accounting and financial staffing firm delivering on-call, interim, part-time and permanent placement staffing solutions to CPA Firms and privately held corporate accounting departments. The firm is owned and operated by licensed CPA's with more than 15 years of public practice experience.(Vision Point)(10-27-2016)

Tricia Helfer to give command to fire engines at Martinsville: A star on the FOX hit drama "Lucifer" and long-time NASCAR fan Tricia Helfer will say the most famous words in racing, "Drivers, Start Your Engines," before the Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. Best known as the face of the series, and for her Leo award-winning lead performance as the humanoid, Cylon 'Number Six' in the critically acclaimed Syfy series, "Battlestar Galactica," Helfer has since gone on to book leading roles on a wide variety of networks. Before acting, Helfer launched her modeling career at age 17, and erupted into an international superstar after winning the Ford Models' Supermodel of the World Contest in 1992.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-27-2016)

Talladega warnings announced: NASCAR has announced penalties and warnings following the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2016.
#5-Kahne (0; penalty served in Talladega) & #78-Truex, Jr. (0; penalty served in Talladega) Failed LIS twice in pre-race inspection and were given written warnings.
#32-Labonte (0; penalty served in Talladega) & #47-Allmendinger (1) Failed template inspection twice in pre-race inspection and were given written warnings.
() -- total current warnings.
See the Talladega Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(10-26-2016)

Mike Wallace testifies in assault trial UPDATE: Former NASCAR driver Mike Wallace still suffers from black floaters in his right eye and still has problems with depth perception from injuries suffered in an alleged assault June 17 following a Rascal Flatts concert. Wallace testified about his injuries Tuesday during the first day of trial for three men charged with misdemeanors assaulting him, his daughter and son-in-law. The men -- Paul Lucas, 29, Nathan Lucas, 24, and Randolph Mangum, 23 -- pleaded not guilty during the arraignment prior to the start of the trial. The 57-year-old Wallace also suffered a broken tooth that he still needs to have replaced as well as lacerations in his mouth. His daughter in law Lindsey Wallace Van Wingerden suffered a broken wrist and black eye. Under cross examination, the focus was on Wallace's actions that night. He said he had four drinks - two at dinner and two during the concert. He said he wasn't inebriated. He had taken anti-anxiety medication earlier in the day, medication that his prescription indicated he was not supposed to mix with alcohol. In other testimony, the arresting police officer indicated that he was told the men charged in the fight acted in self-defense. The police investigation report includes three additional victims, including people with the last name Lucas and Mangum. The trial will continue Wednesday morning.(ESPN.com)(10-26-2016)
UPDATE: A mistrial was declared in the trial of three men charged in a alleged assault of former NASCAR driver Mike Wallace, his daughter and son-in-law. Two potential witnesses were in the courtroom for part of the first day of trial Tuesday -- violating the sequestration order in the case -- and North Carolina District Court Judge Ronald Chapman determined their testimony could be influenced by what they saw. No new trial date was set.(ESPN.com)(10-26-2016)

NASCAR will limit Cup drivers in lower series: In an announcement that will put an even brighter spotlight on the next generation of stars and bolster the identity of all three of its national series, NASCAR announced on Wednesday driver participation guidelines for the 2017 season. The new guidelines limit the number of events a premier series driver can race in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Starting next season, premier series drivers with more than five years of full-time experience will be eligible to compete in a maximum of 10 races in the XFINITY Series and seven races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Additionally, drivers with more than five years of full-time premier series experience will be ineligible to compete in the final eight races in each series, as well as the Dash 4 Cash races in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. The final eight races are comprised of the regular season finale and the entirety of the Chase in each series. Drivers earning premier series points in 2017 also are not eligible to compete in the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
"The updated guidelines will elevate the stature of our future stars, while also providing them the opportunity to compete against the best in professional motorsports," said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. "These updated guidelines are the result of a collaborative effort involving the entire industry, and will ultimately better showcase the emerging stars of NASCAR."
Drivers with more than five years of full-time experience in the premier series still can run for an XFINITY Series or Camping World Truck Series championship, provided they have declared for championship points in the respective series.
Wednesday's announcement signals the next step in NASCAR's driver participation guideline evolution. Prior to the 2016 season, NASCAR announced that members of the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field would be ineligible to compete in the 2016 Championship Race in both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In 2011, NASCAR implemented a rule requiring drivers to select one of the three national series in which to collect championship points.(NASCAR)(10-26-2017)

Richard Petty Motorsports partners with American Red Cross at Martinsville: Richard Petty Motorsports announced that the American Red Cross, one of the nation's premier humanitarian organizations, will be featured as the primary partner on the #44 Ford Fusion driven by Brian Scott this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. With a history of giving back to the community, Richard Petty Motorsports and Scott will support giving back to the victims of Hurricane Matthew with a paint scheme donning a phone number to text and donate money to relief efforts. More than two weeks after Hurricane Matthew struck Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and parts of Virginia, the American Red Cross has served more than 1.3 million meals and snacks, and provided 99,000 overnight shelter stays to people in need, prompting the charity to issue a call for the public's help. The Red Cross depends on donations to provide immediate relief. Fans can help people affected by Hurricane Matthew by visiting http://www.redcross.org/rpm-pub, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or texting the word MATTHEW to 90999, which will be featured on the #44 Ford Fusion this weekend, to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.(Richard Petty Motorsports), see images of the car on the #44 team paint schemes page.(10-26-2016)

Martinsville Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series will run the same tire set-up at Martinsville this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires these teams have run at this track since October 2014 . . . this left-side tire code has been run at this track since April 2013 . . . Martinsville is the only track at which NASCAR teams have run either of these two tire codes this season . . . Goodyear held a tire test at Martinsville on October 4-5, looking ahead to 2017 . . . drivers participating in that test were Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Paul Menard and Martin Truex Jr. . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Martinsville.(Goodyear), see full notes, tire codes, pressures, set limits and more on the Martinsville Race Info page

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Martinsville:
#88-Jeff Gordon............................... 119.5
#48-Jimmie Johnson........................ 117.8
#11-Denny Hamlin........................... 108.1
#18-Kyle Busch................................. 98.8
#14-Tony Stewart.............................. 96.0
#4-Kevin Harvick.............................. 95.4
#15-Clint Bowyer............................... 90.2
#2-Brad Keselowski......................... 89.7
#22-Joey Logano............................... 89.1
#20-Matt Kenseth.............................. 87.1
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2016 races (23 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)

Talladega warnings announced: NASCAR has announced penalties and warnings following the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2016.
#44-Martins (1) Failed heights & weights measurements three times in pre-race inspection and was given a written warning and loss of 15 minutes practice time.
#02-Lupton (2), #19-Hemric (1), #29-Reddick (1) Failed heights & weights measurements twice in pre-race inspection and were given written warnings.
() -- total current warnings.
See the Talladega Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(10-269-2016)

Whitt partners with RBR team: It's time to take on the challenge of Martinsville again. An exciting and historic place for racing, the BTS/RBR #92 will be there Saturday for all the adventure. The truck will have Cole Whitt holding the reins Saturday, and our good friends at Gerald's Tires & Batteries will be prominently on the truck and providing support.(RBR Enterprises)
AND: The Ricky Benton Racing (RBR) Enterprises /BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors/Valvoline Ford F-150 is returning to NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) action this week for the Texas Roadhouse 200 at Martinsville Speedway. And while the team is bringing its venerable short-track truck (chassis T-4), they are coming with a new driver behind the wheel. Cole Whitt will be making his debut with the in the #92 Ford.(RBR Enterprises/Red Flag Communications)(10-26-2016)

Texas offering VIP experience to Antarctica resident Texas Motor Speedway has become an international destination over the past five years with NASCAR and Verizon IndyCar Series race fans visiting the world-renowned motorsports venue from 41 countries and territories. They have arrived from literally all ends of the earth, with six of the world's seven continents represented including North America, South America, Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe. Not surprising, the lone one missing is Antarctica, the southernmost continent and site of the South Pole that is a virtually uninhabited, ice-covered landmass. But that isn't going to deter Texas Motor Speedway for striving for perfection by having a fan representing every continent attend a race in this five-year span during its 20th anniversary season of racing. It may appear to be an implausible idea to identify a race fan from Antarctica, but let's not forget that the National Science Foundation's United States Antarctic Program (USAP) is stationed there and those employees return to their U.S. homes after their tenures. There also have been military deployments over the years. Texas Motor Speedway is searching for any individual that can prove they were a temporary resident of Antarctica and their reward will be a free VIP package to the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR tripleheader weekend Nov. 4-6. The speedway will provide that individual along with a guest a pair of suite tickets for the race weekend, pre-race passes to the concert by country artist Jake Owen, access to the Sprint Cup drivers' meeting and garage passes along with a Texas Motor Speedway "No Limits" merchandise package.(TMS)(10-26-2016)

Biffle ready for a change? UPDATES: After re-signing with RFR in 2014, Biffle hasn't sniffed the Chase for the Sprint Cup in the last two seasons. He thought 2016 might be the year. With a new crew chief in Brian Pattie, a lower-downforce aero package from the sanctioning body and a renewed effort at Roush, things appeared to line up for NASCAR's elder statesman. And now, he's 24th in the standings with just one top-five finish, at Loudon. So when Biffle said his most recent contract might be his last, it's understandable. "Well, if I talk to you Sunday after the race in here, maybe that will be some inspiration," Biffle said in the media center where the winner is interviewed following the race. "I want to be competitive in races and run in the top 10. That's my goal and my focus. If I'm not doing that, then I am probably going to do something different." Biffle has been rumored to be leaving Roush Fenway Racing at the end of the season. Although he owns the building that headquarters HScott Motorsports in North Carolina, Biffle said he has not discussed racing for Harry Scott after Clint Bowyer leaves in November. Biffle has heard the rumors that he'll end up and Front Row Motorsports - a technical partner - but given his loyalty to Roush over his career, that's unlikely to be something he'd consider. Still, it would take something more promising - and competitive - to pique his interest in continuing down the current path.(Motorsport)(10-15-2016)
UPDATE: hearing Biffle will leave Roush Fenway Racing and go to a second team fielded by JTG Daugherty Racing. No word if the team would secure a charter.(10-22-2016)
UPDATE 2: When motorsport.com reached out to JTGD team owner Tad Geschickter via text on Monday, he replied, "We are weighing the pros and cons of starting a second team as we speak." Geschickter expects to stay the course with RCR after their contract expires at the end of the year. Although the Wood Brothers have shared a shop with JTGD since the end of the 2005 season, the #21 team is transitioning to a new home in Mooresville. The additional space would provide ample room for JTGD to expand to a second car.(Motorsport)(10-25-2016)

Five Non-Chase Storylines Heading into the Goody's Fast Relief 500: This weekend NASCAR returns to Martinsville Speedway for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 weekend. With the a lot of focus being on the Chase for the Sprint Cup, here are five non-chase related storylines:
1. Jeff Gordon - The defending race winner finds himself back in the Martinsville lineup, subbing for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. Gordon, a nine-time Martinsville winner, could very well be making his last start in NASCAR's top series and has the chance to go out on top.
2. Ford - A Ford has not won at Martinsville since Kurt Busch won driving for Roush-Fenway Racing in 2002. Recently, Brad Keselowski has finished second and Joey Logano was in a position to win last fall, before an incident with Matt Kenseth late in the race ended his day. Could this be the year that Ford returns to Victory Lane at Martinsville?
3. Non-Chasers Winning - The focus will be on the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and which driver will be the first to clinch a spot in the Championship Round at Homestead-Miami Speedway. However, two years ago, after being eliminated from championship contention, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won, keeping a Chase driver from locking up a spot. Can it happen again? A.J. Allmendinger, Jamie McMurray, Keselowski and Gordon have finished second in the last four Martinsville races and all four are out of championship contention.
4. Jimmie Johnson - The six-time champion is an eight-time Martinsville winner, the most among full-time, active drivers. However, the driver of the No. 48 hasn't won at Martinsville since April, 2013 and averaged a 22nd place finish in his last four Martinsville starts.
5. Joey Logano - The driver of the No. 22 will look to make Martinsville Speedway history on Virginia Lottery Pole Day, by becoming the first driver to win four consecutive Sprint Cup Series poles in the track's 69 year history.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-25-2016)

Halloween M&M's scheme for Busch at Martinsville: Halloween is here and, as has been typical for Kyle Busch the #18 M&M'S Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), the colorful candy maker will go racing with a special Halloween scheme Sunday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway to celebrate Halloween the following day. The spooky-looking M&M'S scheme will race Sunday at a place that used to challenge Busch earlier in his career and early on in his now almost nine-year tenure with JGR. In fact, Busch finished outside the top-10 in three out of his first four races with JGR in 2008 and 2009. By contrast, Busch has scored four top-five finishes in his last seven starts there, with his worst finish being 15th.
Q) Your racecar is sporting the special M&M's Halloween paint scheme this week. What was your favorite Halloween costume that you wore as a kid?
Kyle Busch: "Actually, one year I went as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. I think that was my favorite costume as a kid. I was Michelangelo and I even had the fake nunchuk. One year, I was a football player and, one year, I even dressed up as Jeff Gordon since he was my favorite racecar driver when I was a kid."(JGR), see an image of the car on the #18 Team Schemes page (10-25-2016)

State Water Heaters returns to sponsor Kurt Busch: The #41 Chevy of Kurt Busch wears the colors of State Water Heaters at Martinsville Speedway. State Water Heaters, based in Ashland, Tennessee, is a leading manufacturer of commercial and residential water heaters, and has seven water heater manufacturing plants and hundreds of distribution centers across the United States to ensure efficient service to the company's national customer base of homeowners, wholesalers, contractors and members of the engineering community (SHR), see an image of the car on the #41 Team Schemes page (10-25-2016)

E.J. Wade Construction Returns to Sponsor two BK Racing cars :BK Racing announced that E.J. Wade Construction will return at Martinsville Speedway as primary sponsor on the #83 Toyota driven by Dylan Lupton and the #93 Toyota driven by Matt DiBenedetto. The Goody's Fast Relief 500 will be Dylan Lupton's third race with BK Racing. "We're proud to have E.J. Wade Construction back on two cars at Martinsville Speedway this weekend," said Doug Fritz, CMO of BK Racing. "E.J. Wade Construction has strong ties with the Virginia community and we love being able to partner with local companies." Headquartered in Mechanicsville, Virginia, E.J. Wade Construction is a Class A Contractor and a VDOT Prequalified Contractor. They have highly trained professionals with tradesman licenses in electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas fitting. "We are excited to expand our relationship with Ron Devine, Doug Fritz and everyone at BK Racing by adding another E.J. Wade sponsored race to the schedule," said Jeff Wade President of E.J. Wade Construction. "All of us here at E.J. Wade Construction can't wait to watch Matt and Dylan race at Martinsville."(BK Racing)(10-25-2016)

Lap Leaders after 32 races:
Driver, Laps Led
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr, 1,590
2) #18-Kyle Busch, 1,371
3) #4-Kevin Harvick, 1,305
4) #19-Carl Edwards, 834
5) #20-Matt Kenseth, 715
6) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 626
7) #2-Brad Keselowski, 540
8) #11-Denny Hamlin, 467
9) #22-Joey Logano, 440
10) #24-Chase Elliott, 350
39 drivers have led at least one lap

Kyle Busch gives teens NASCAR experience of a lifetime: #18-Kyle Busch gave two NASCAR fans the homecoming experience of a lifetime, but the fun didn't stop there. In addition to sending the couple a race car to drive to the dance in style, Busch invited the two out to Talladega to watch him compete in the NSCS Hellmann's 500 on Sunday. Holman Head and his long time friend, Taylor Johnson, got to experience NASCAR like they never had before. "Holman said it was the best day of his life," said Johnson. "And it truly was great!" When they arrived, the couple had the opportunity to ride around the track in a pace car, got a tour from Busch's crew chief, learned what the crew does on race day and took home many goodies.(WCNC.com)(10-25-2016)

Fontaine to debut with AM Racing at Martinsville: AM Racing announced that 19-year old Justin Fontaine will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) debut driving the team's #22 ProMATIC Automation Toyota Tundra during the Texas Roadhouse 200 on October 29 at Martinsville Speedway. Justin Fontaine, a native of Ashville, NC and freshman at UNC Charlotte is a three-year veteran of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series with four NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts in 2016. Making the move up the ranks, Fontaine began his career racing Quarter Midgets, Mini Cup and Late Models on local short tracks throughout North Carolina and Tennessee. Fontaine occupying the seat normally reserved for NCWTS rookie Austin Wayne Self, was part of a decision between AM Racing and driver Self to lay the foundation for the team's long term strategic growth plans of fielding multiple fulltime trucks in the series starting in '17.(AWS Racing)(10-25-2016)

Charlotte Motor Speedway & Red Cross to collect donations for NC Flood Victims: Charlotte Motor Speedway and SMI Properties will host a week-long donation drive to collect bottled water and trash bags for victims of the recent flooding in eastern North Carolina following Hurricane Matthew. Crews will collect bottled water and heavy-duty trash bags, to be distributed in partnership with the American Red Cross to communities in need. Monetary donations will also be accepted. From Monday, Oct. 24, through Saturday, Oct. 29, 12:00pm - 6:00pm/et. A collection site will be set up at the main entrance of Charlotte Motor Speedway throughout the week. Fans in town for the Bad Boy Off Road World of Outlaws World Finals can also leave donations at the main entrance to The Dirt Track at Charlotte.(CMS)(10-25-2016)

Chuck Norris to introduce Chase drivers at Texas: International film and television star Chuck Norris, known universally for his ageless machoism, will introduce the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers still vying for the series championship when they arrive Sunday, Nov. 6, for the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Norris will introduce the eight drivers still in contention for the championship - Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Kurt Busch - that will include a special twist during pre-race activities leading up to the AAA Texas 500. Texas Motor Speedway also will begin a week-long contest that will run through Monday, Oct. 31, where fans can submit their own meme for any of the Round of 8 Chase drivers. The contest info will be available on all of the speedway's social media platforms with a link to the meme album on its Facebook page for submissions. If a fan's submission is selected, it will be featured on Big Hoss during the driver introductions and then printed, signed by Norris and mailed to the individual. Tickets for the AAA Texas 500 begin as low as $49 and are available by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 817.215.8500.(TMS)(10-25-2016)

Entry List for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted, 41 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed, including: #21-Blaney*, #30-Gray Gaulding*, #32-Jeffrey Earnhardt, #55-Sorenson*, #83-Dylan Lupton, #93-DiBenedetto*, #95-McDowell, #98-Whitt*.
Drivers who are not a Charter team, an Open Team, and must get in via speed: #21-Blaney*, #30-Gaulding*, #55-Sorenson*, #93-DiBenedetto*, #98-Whitt*
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts, then owners pts): #93-DiBenedetto*.
* Open Team (no Charter)
See the full entry list on Jayski.com's Martinsville Entry List

NASCAR: JGR strategy didn't violate 100% rule: NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O'Donnell, appearing on "The Morning Drive" on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Monday, said he did not expect the sanctioning body to take action against Joe Gibbs Racing for its strategy of dropping three cars to the back of the pack during Sunday's Chase elimination race at Talladega Superspeedway. O'Donnell said employing that strategy did not constitute a violation of NASCAR's 100% rule. "I would say that they do not fall into that," O'Donnell said when asked about the 100% rule. "The spirit of that rule is really to prevent somebody from intentionally allowing another teammate to do something that would not be really within the spirit of the rules of the race. In this case, we look at the strategy decision that the team made, and they executed it. ... In this case, that wouldn't be something that we look at that violated that rule."(NASCAR). The 100% rule: "NASCAR requires its competitors to race at 100 percent of their ability with the goal of achieving their best possible finishing position in an event" (ESPN)
AND #20-Kenseth finished 28th, #20-Edwards 29th and #18-Busch 30th at Talladega, good enough to advance to the semifinal round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The three Joe Gibbs Racing drivers never made much of a move, dropping to the rear of the field before the green flag ever fell and staying there throughout the day.(ESPN)(10-24-2016)

Confrontation between Harvick and Kurt Busch on pit road: #4-Kevin Harvick confronted Stewart-Haas Racing teammate #41-Kurt Busch on pit road after Sunday's race at Talladega, appearing to lean into Busch's car and initiate physical contact. Harvick apparently was upset that Busch hit the #4 car on the cool-down lap; it's unclear why Busch was angry with Harvick. Busch finished fourth while Harvick was seventh, and both drivers advanced to the third round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. But NBC Sports Network later showed footage of a confrontation, which occurred while Busch still was sitting in his car.(USA Today, see video at NBCSports)(10-24-2016)

Talladega Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2016 Hellmann's 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 2:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 5:34 PM (all times are EDT). NBCSN was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 122
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 58
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 96
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 54
Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 26
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 21
Number of times NBCSN utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 4
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 2:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 5:34 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 214
Minutes of race broadcast: 175
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 39
Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 10
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 175 Total comm. brdcst time 39
See past races, more info on the commercials with links at CawsnJaws.com.(10-24-2016)

Brian Scott scores career best finish at Talladega: Before Sunday's race at Talladega, Richard Petty Motorsports had suffered through 31 races without a top-10 finish. Drivers #44-Brian Scott and #43-Aric Almirola changed that. Scott ran a perfectly crafted race and finished second to #22-Joey Logano, and Almirola came home eighth after working his way forward during the final 40 laps of the Hellman's 500. "A good finish always helps," Scott said. "It helps with the team. It helps with the guys at the shop, the morale. Just trying to get any bit of a bright spot in this year has been difficult. I think that this is by far the brightest spot that we've had in a really challenging 2016 for Richard Petty Motorsports. I don't know. ... I guess the results and what this does for us going forward is yet to be determined. But just proud. I mean, the guys have worked hard all year. They've deserved a lot better finishes than we've given them. Just proud to deliver a good, solid top five, to do my job behind the wheel to give us a shot at the win-just have a good day for Richard Petty Motorsports." Scott's previous best finish in his first 48 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts was 12th (two times), most recently at Auto Club Speedway in March.(NASCAR Wire Service), and Scott was the rookie of the race.(10-24-2016)

Dillon fails to advance in Chase due to tiebreaker: Facing an overtime restart with two laps left in the Hellman's 500 on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, crew chief Slugger Labbe reminded driver #3-Austin Dillon of the relevant numbers. Dillon had to finish no more than five positions behind #11-Denny Hamlin to secure a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup's Round of 8-as long as Hamlin didn't win the race. Dillon had done everything right to that point. He had earned a bonus point by staying out for an extra circuit and leading Lap 117 under the second caution of the afternoon. He gained three spots after a restart on Lap 186 and was 11th when the green flag waved for the final time on Lap 191. On the final two laps, he worked his way forward to ninth before the checkered flag ended the race. Only one problem. Hamlin beat #41-Kurt Busch to the stripe by .006 seconds-approximately two feet-to finish third. The two drivers finished the Round of 12 tied for eighth with 3,078 points, but Hamlin won a tiebreaker for the final Chase spot because his third-place finish on Sunday was better than Dillon's best Round-of-12 finish of sixth last week at Kansas.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-24-2016)

Keselowski comments on engine failure and getting eliminated from Chase: #2-Brad Keselowski was for the lead at Talladega with 44 laps to go when his engine expired. He was in the lead when debris stuck to the grille, forcing him to give up the lead to #21-Ryan Blaney and try to get the debris off the grille and cool the water temp of the engine. The engine blew a lap after he dropped to second. Some commnets from Keselowski:
Q) YOU HAD A DOMINANT CAR. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE END?
Keselowski: "It looks like we lost an engine. I'm pretty confident I lost a rod or something in the lower end. That's just the way it goes."
Q) COULD IT BE FROM GETTING TOO HOT FROM THE DEBRIS?
Keselowski: "I don't know. I'm not an engine guy, but the car was really strong and we definitely kept finding debris. I thought I got it cooled off and only got it slightly over, but I don't know."
Q) DISHEARTENING WITH A CAR THAT DOMINANT?
Keselowski: "Yeah, that's racing."
Q) HOW DEVASTATED ARE YOU?
Keselowski: "We just had a tremendous racing going, but it wasn't meant to be."
Q) ANY WARNING?
Keselowski: "No, it just went right away. That's the way it goes."
Q) WHAT HAPPENED?
Keselowski: "Something let go. I'm not sure exactly what, but it's unfortunate. We had a really fast Miller Lite Ford and that kind of ended our day. It was a lot of fun to be leading at Talladega. I really like this track. It's been good to us and there are a lot of great fans here today. We were doing the best we could to make a show of it and have some fun and lead some laps and just happy and proud to have a fast car."
Q) WHAT NOW THAT YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HOPES ARE OVER?
Keselowski: "Win more races."
(Ford Performance)(10-24-2016)

Kansas XFINITY TV Ratings: The most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race, from Kansas on October 15, had a 1.0 final rating and 1.4 million viewers on NBC - up 43% in ratings and 48% in viewership from last year on NBCSN (0.7, 971K) and flat and down 6%, respectively, from 2014 on ESPN (1.0, 1.5M).(Sports Media Watch)(10-24-2016)

Hill gets sponsor for three races: Austin Hill Racing (AHR) officials announced that Lawless Jerky, America's Craft Jerky available in unique "Braver Flavors," has partnered with the team for the remainder of the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) season. Lawless Jerky will serve as an associate sponsor for driver Austin Hill in his three remaining scheduled races. Racing into action at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, October 29, the newly formed partnership is set to also be on display in the NCWTS events at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4 as well as the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 18. (Austin Hill Racing)(10-24-2016)

Joey Logano wins at Talladega: #22-Joey Logano won the Hellman's 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway running four extra laps in NASCAR Overtime for his 2nd win of the season, 2nd win at Talladega and 16th career win. Logano led 45 of the 192 laps.
#44-Brian Scott finished 2nd, his career best finish and first ever top-five and top-ten, followed by #11-Hamlin, #41-Busch, #17-Stenhouse Jr., #42-Larson, #4-Harvick, #43-Almirola, #3-Dillon and #47-Allmendinger.
#78-Truex Jr., the pole winner, had an engine expire on lap 41, and finished 40th/last. Truex is the first pole winner to finish last since Denny Hamlin won the pole at Atlanta in September 2010 and finished 43rd/last. The finish also knocked Truex Jr. out of the Chase.
#2-Keselowski led th most laps at 90 but had an engine expire on lap 144, ending his day and knocking him out of the Chase. Eight drivers advance to the Round of 8 of the Chase: #48-Johnson, #22-Logano, #4-Harvick, #41-Busch, #20-Kenseth, #18-Busch, #19-Edwards and #11-Hamlin.
Eliminated from the Chase: #3-Dillon, #78-Truex Jr., #24-Elliott and #2-Keselowski. #3-Dillon and #11-Hamlin were tied for 8th but Hamlin finished 3rd and Dillon 9th. Tie goes to the driver who had the best finish in that round. Hamlin had the 3rd and Dillon had a 6th from Kansas, so Hamlin advances.
There were 31 lead changes among 14 drivers and 6 cautions for 25 yellow flag laps.
Average race speed: 159.905mph
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more [NOTE: money/winnings are no longer reported] at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Chase Reset Points (pdf)
Lap Summary Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
Pit Stop Times (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Talladega Race & Points Report (pdf).(10-23-2016)

Race Fast Facts - Talladega Superspeedway:
#22-Joey Logano won the 48th Annual Hellmann's 500, his 16th victory in 287 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his second victory and 22nd top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in 16 races at Talladega Superspeedway. This is his second consecutive win in the Talladega Chase race.
#44-Brian Scott (second) posted his first top-10 finish in four races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2016.
#11-Denny Hamlin (third) posted his eighth top-10 finish in 22 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
The following drivers advance tot he Chase's Round of 8 (ordered by seed): Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch.(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-23-2016)

Finishing positions of the 2016 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers at Talladega:
(by Chase standings before the race)
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson 23rd
2) #4-Kevin Harvick 7th
3) #20-Matt Kenseth 28th
4) #18-Kyle Busch 30th
5) #19-Carl Edwards 29th
6) #41-Kurt Busch 4th
7) #78-Martin Truex Jr. 40th, engine, eliminated
8) #22-Joey Logano WON
9) #3-Austin Dillon 9th, eliminated
10) #11-Denny Hamlin 3rd
11) #2-Brad Keselowski 38th engine, eliminated 12) #24-Chase Elliott 12th, eliminated
(10-23-2016)

Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Round of 12:
[after Talladega, race 32 of 36, Chase race 6 of 10]
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson*,[3 wins], 3100 (won Charlotte)
2) #22-Joey Logano*,[2 wins], 3089 (won Talladega)
3) #4-Kevin Harvick*,[4 wins] 3082 (won Kansas)
4) #41-Kurt Busch,[1 win], +21 ahead of 9th
5) #20-Matt Kenseth,[2 wins], +10
6) #18-Kyle Busch,[4 wins], +6
7) #19-Carl Edwards,[2 wins], +4
8) #11-Denny Hamlin,[3 wins], +0 (wins tiebreaker over Dillon)
Eliminated from the Chase:
9) #3-Austin Dillon, -0 pts out of 8th (loses tiebreaker to Hamlin)
10) #78-Martin Truex Jr., [4 wins] -18
11) #24-Chase Elliott, -28
12) #2-Brad Keselowski,[4 wins], -35
(ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
* will advance to the Round of 8 by winning a Round of 12 race
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Chase Reset Points (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Talladega Race & Points Report (pdf).

Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Round of 8:
[after Talladega, race 32 of 36, Chase race 6 of 10]
1) #22-Joey Logano[2 wins], 4000
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson[3 wins], 4000
3) #4-Kevin Harvick[4 wins], 4000
4) #20-Matt Kenseth[2 wins], 4000
5) #19-Carl Edwards[2 wins], 4000
6) #11-Denny Hamlin[3 wins], 4000
7) #41-Kurt Busch[1 win], 4000
8) #18-Kyle Busch[4 wins], 4000
Points are reset after each round, for the Round of 8 it goes to 4000, no points for wins
Standings are reset by best finish of previous round.
If tied, then next-best finish.
(ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, within that round of the Chase)
See reset points for the Round of 8 on the Round of 8 Reset Points Standings page (pdf).(10-23-2016)

Unofficial Top 25 in 2016 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) #4-Kevin Harvick(C12), 1027
2) #2-Brad Keselowski(EC), 990, -37
3) #22-Joey Logano(C1), 977, -50
4) #18-Kyle Busch(C8), 956, -71
5) #41-Kurt Busch(C7), 951, -76
6) #11-Denny Hamlin(C6), 945, -82
7) #19-Carl Edwards(C5), 926, -101
8) #78-Martin Truex Jr.(EC), 911, -116
9) #48-Jimmie Johnson(C2), 885, -142
10) #20-Matt Kenseth(C4), 869, -158
11) #3-Austin Dillon(EC), 842, -185
12) #24-Chase Elliott#(EC), 837, -190
13) #5-Kasey Kahne, 803, -224
14) #42-Kyle Larson(EC), 798, -229
15) #31-Ryan Newman, 794, -233
16) #1-Jamie McMurray(EC), 786, -241
17)#47-AJ Allmendinger, 717, -310
18)#17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 717, -310
19)#21-Ryan Blaney#, 713, -314
20)#6-Trevor Bayne, 699, -328
21)#10-Danica Patrick, 621, -406
22)#16-Greg Biffle, 591, -436
23)#27-Paul Menard, 591, -436
24)#43-Aric Almirola, 573, -454
25)#14-Tony Stewart(EC), 572, -455
28)#34-Chris Buescher#(EC), 481, -546
(C# = chase driver and current Chase position)
(EC = chase driver that has been eliminated from the Chase)
(10-23-2016)

Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Talladega: (and their finish)
Caution 1: #55-Sorenson, 37th, still down 12 laps
Caution 2: #23-Ragan, 24th
Caution 3: #16-Biffle, 15th
Caution 4: #46-Annett, 33rd
Caution 5: #83-JEarnhardt, 34th, still down a lap
Caution 6: #83-JEarnhardt, 34th
(10-23-2016)

Truex Jr. talks about the engine failure at Talladega: #78-Martin Truex Jr. saw his championship hopes go up in smoke on Lap 41 of the Hellmann's 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway when his #78 Toyota suffered engine failure. A transcript of an interview after the incident:
Q) What happened that took you out of the race?
Martin Truex Jr.: "Just developed a vibration and started to lose a little bit of power. Originally I thought it could have been a tire because it was shaking worse and worse and worse until it was time to pit. I slowed down to hit pit road and felt the vibration still there and knew it was the engine. Definitely not the way we wanted today to go - it's a tough way to go out, but proud of the effort and proud of all the guys. The engines have been great all year and every once in a while you'll have a failure and it's unfortunate that it was with everything on the line. I don't know, it is what it is and it's racing. It's part of it and we'll move on. We're going to go try to win the last five races or whatever is left and have a good end to our season."
Q) Should the other Toyota teams be concerned for the rest of this race?
Truex Jr.: "I don't think so. I guess you never know, but it seems like we're still running the same engines at plate tracks that we've been running the rest of the year and they've been really good and really reliable. I'm sure it was just a part failure or mechanical issue. Just unfortunate."
Q) How difficult is it to walk away with this as the end to your championship hopes this season?
Truex Jr.: "It will be real hard when we win the next four races."
Q) What did you see when you were under the car in the garage and what happened?
Truex Jr.: "Got a big hole in the oil pan. It was a catastrophic engine failure, but all in all it's just a tough way to go out for us. We really thought we were going to have a good day. We had a fast Toyota and it's just a shame. We didn't really get to see what we had or see if we could make it through the big wrecks. I wish we could have raced all day at least and see how it shakes out. It's part of racing and that's the way it goes some days and unfortunately today wasn't our day."
Q) How would you sum up your team's Chase this year?
Truex Jr.: "It's been a roller coaster that's for sure. I wish we could have done a better job at Kansas and Charlotte and maybe had a free pass coming here. That certainly would have been big knowing the circumstances, but we did the best we could. We have a great team and we've had a great season and we're going to go out and try to win the rest of the races and see what we can do."
Q) How disappointing is this outcome after how strong your Chase has been?
Truex Jr.: "It's definitely disappointing, but what else can you say. We had a team capable of competing for the championship and unfortunately we're not going to be able to show that. I guess there's still a chance of a miracle, but I don't see it happening. Just have to wait and see how it all plays out today. Just disappointed, but all in all proud of my team for the effort. It's been a really good season for us. We've still got four more races we can go out and win and we plan on doing that. We'll hold our heads high, it's been a good year and it's disappointing knowing the possibilities, but all in all you can't do anything about it and that's racing some days."
Q) How is your team handling this situation?
Truex Jr.: "I'm sure they're devastated. They've worked so hard this year to put us in the position to battle for a championship and we felt like we could do it. This year and this sport is tough and we didn't perform at Kansas and Charlotte the way we were capable and we had some issues there and that put us in the hole and if we could have went there and done better and maybe got a win then we wouldn't be talking about this right now. We didn't get the job done, but we've got a great team and we've got four more races to go out there and try to get a win and I know we can win all four of them and that's what we're going to try to do."
Q) What were your thoughts when you realized it was the engine?
Truex Jr.: "Just damn, it just hurts to go out like that. We could have raced all day, got in a big wreck and still not made it - there's no telling, but it sure would have been nice to at least find out and at least play the whole game so to speak and see what would have happened. To barely make it to the first pit stop hurts. It's the way it goes some days. Some things you just can't explain. TRD (Toyota Racing Development) has done a great job with our engines all year long with no failures and our plate tracks engines have been great, no failures. I'm sure it was a part failure or some unforeseen circumstance and that makes it hurt a little bit worse even. All in all, we can't hang our heads and we have a lot to be proud of. This is going to make us stronger."(Toyota Racing)(10-23-2016)

Race Coverage of the Hellmann's 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is scheduled for Sunday, October 23, 2016.
Television (TV): NBCSN at 2:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 1:30 pm/et; green flag approx. 2:20pm/et
Live updates on JAYSKI.com's #NASCAR Twitter
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
Scheduled Race Re-Air: Monday, October 24 at 7:00pm/et on NBCSN

Talladega Sprint Cup Series Pre-Race Schedule for Sunday, October 23: (eastern time)
12:00:00pm: NSCS Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
1:25:00pm: NSCS Drivers Introductions
2:00:00pm: Presentation of Colors by: Alabama National Guard
2:00:20pm: Invocation by: Reverend Billy Dickey, Alabama Raceway Ministry
2:01:00pm: National Anthem: 313th United States Army Brass Quintet, Birmingham, AL
2:02:15pm: Fly-By: B-1 Lancer, 354th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX
2:03:00pm: "This is Talladega" by Grant Lynch, Chairman of Talladega Superspeedway
2:07:15pm: Command to start engines by Bobby Allison, four-time Talladega winner and leader of the Alabama Gang
2:19:15pm: Start of the race - Green Flag for the Hellmann's 500 (188 Laps, 500 Miles)
eastern time (NASCAR.com)

First time winners at Talladega: Among the drivers outside looking in to advance in the Chase, #3-Austin Dillon and #24-Chase Elliott are both still looking for their first Sprint Cup Series win. Both were strong at the track earlier this season, Dillon finished 3rd, Elliott was 5th in his first career Cup start at the track. Ten drivers have gotten their first career wins at Talladega, including Brad Keselowski in 2009. Since the track opened in 1969, only Daytona (another restrictor plate track) has seen more first-time winners.
Most First-Time Winners by Track - NASCAR Cup Series Since 1969, Last 1st time winner
Daytona: 11, 2014 - Aric Almirola
Talladega: 10, 2009 - Brad Keselowski
Charlotte: 6, 2009 - David Reutimann
Martinsville: 6, 2001 - Ricky Craven
1st race at Talladega was in 1969 (ESPN)(10-23-2016)

Who's Hot and Who's Not - Talladega Edition:
HOT
#2-Brad Keselowski: won last 2 NSCS restrictor plate races (only Dale Earnhardt in 1990 has won 3 straight)
#18-Kyle Busch: finished in top 3 in all 3 restrictor plate races this season
#3-Austin Dillon: finished career-best 3rd in last Talladega race and 4 top-10 finishes in last 5 restrictor plate races; 2 in first 8 plate races
#4-Kevin Harvick: 6 straight top-15 finishes at Talladega
NOT
#78-Martin Truex Jr.: 3 career top-5 finishes in 46 career restrictor plate races (no better than 5th at Talladega)
#41-Kurt Busch: winless in 62 career restrictor plate races
#20-Matt Kenseth: finished 23rd or worse in 6 of last 7 restrictor plate races (14th in other)
#19-Carl Edwards: wrecked out of last 2 and 3 of last 5 restrictor plate races (5th in other 2)
#22-Joey Logano: failed to finish 5 of 15 career starts at Talladega (wrecked out earlier this year)
(ESPN)(10-23-2016)

Talladega Race Notes & Facts:
· There have been 94 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway, one NSCS event in 1969 and two races per year since 1970.
· Richard Childress Racing and Hendrick Motorsports are tied for the most wins at Talladega in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 12 each.
· Nine different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Talladega; led by Chevrolet with 40 victories; followed by Ford with 23 and Toyota with three.
· There have been nine NSCS races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Talladega Superspeedway. The scheduled number of laps is 188, below is a chart showing the number of additional laps during NASCAR Overtime:
· Only two of the 94 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)

New footbox protection making debut at Talladega: About the only change to NASCAR Sprint Cup cars since their last trip to Talladega Superspeedway is the addition of 20 pounds. The addition of the weight, theoretically, could have a small -- very small -- impact on whether a 3,300-pound stock car gets airborne, one of the concerns of drivers as they left the track in May. The changes aren't made to keep the cars on the ground but to protect the drivers who hit the wall. The weight is part of a new construction of the footbox area, which includes a new design plus foam and is meant to protect a driver's lower extremities. Kyle Busch missed 11 races when he broke his right leg and left foot in an Xfinity Series accident at Daytona in 2015. The new floorboard chassis requirements go into effect in 2017 for restrictor-plate tracks and 2018 for all tracks. Teams have the option to use it at Talladega this weekend. The four Joe Gibbs Racing cars, the Furniture Row Racing car and the Roush Fenway Racing car of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are among the cars with the changes.(in part from ESPN)(10-23-2016)

JGR cars sent back through Talladega qualifying inspection: NASCAR asked three Joe Gibbs Racing teams to make adjustments on their Toyotas just before Coors Light Pole Award qualifying Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway. The cars driven by #18-Kyle Busch, #11-Denny Hamlin and #20-Matt Kenseth were flagged in the minutes before qualifying. As the cars were being rolled out to the track, NASCAR noticed the right rear quarter panels had been manipulated around the deck lid area. NASCAR inspectors pulled the cars out of line, and the teams corrected the issue before going back through tech. However, #19-Carl Edwards' team did lose its pit stall selection for a fourth warning related to inspections. Kenseth's team lost its pit stall selection for the same reason. "The bodies on these cars can be pushed and prodded and these teams are very smart at the areas ... for a bunch of little gains," NASCAR's Senior Vice President for Competition Scott Miller said. "It's nothing huge but it's our job to make sure it's even across the board and that's what we do. A little infraction is an infraction, right? The quarter panels appeared to have been messed with around the deck lid and we brought them back in and rectified it."(NASCAR)(10-23-2016)

Ticket Prices for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Increase on Monday: With the Goody's Fast Relief 500 race weekend at Martinsville Speedway just a week away, there is no better time to purchase race tickets, as prices increase on Monday. The Goody's Fast Relief 500 is the only short-track race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The half-mile speedway offers great views of the entire track from nearly every seat and every seat has a view of the action on pit road. For families, the track is once again offering the Family 4 Pack. Starting at just $119, the package includes two adult and two youth 12-and-under tickets in the Clay Earles Tower rows 6-14. Families can also add four Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dogs and Four Pepsi products for just $20. For fans looking to enhance their race day experience, the Green Flag Experience returns on Sunday morning. Fans will hear from Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch Kasey Kahne and more in the Plaza on the top of the hill outside turn four. They can then walk on the frontstretch, sign the start/finish line and watch driver introductions from the track. The Green Flag Experience is $60 for adults and $20 for youth 12-and-under. Ticket prices for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 weekend will increase $10 on Monday. Adult ticket prices for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 start at $45. Seats in the Bill France Tower are only $50. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-22-2016)

Martin Truex Jr. wins Talladega pole: #78-Martin Truex Jr. won the Coors Light pole for the Hellmann's 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway with speed of 193.423mph for his 4th pole of 2016, 1st at Talladega and 11th of his career. Truex Jr. has won 1 race from the pole out of 10 previous poles, winning at Charlotte from the pole in May 2016.
#2-Keselowski will start 2nd, followed by #20-Kenseth, #24-Elliott, #16-Biffle, #17-Stenhouse Jr., #41-Busch, #11-Hamlin, #3-Dillon, #27-Menard, #6-Bayne and #55-Sorenson.
#55-Sorenson was fastest in the first round with a speed of 194.145mph and will start 12th.
Driver who will miss the race: #35-Gilliland
Three Joe Gibbs Racing cars #11-Hamlin, #18-Busch and #20-Kenseth didn't pass visual inspection on pit road before qualifying, forcing the three cars back thru the template inspection. Supposedly it was something to do with the decklid area. Also NASCAR confiscated front jack screws from #78-Truex Jr. during pre-qualifying inspection. NASCAR Scot Miller said on an interview with NBCSN's Mike Massaro that NASCAR said the bolts didn't fit specifications and would taken to the R&D center (Concord NC) to check them out and it was too early to say if a points penalty would occur. Penalties are usually announced on Wednesday afternoon.
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Talladega qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Talladega Starting Lineup page (pdf).(10-22-2016)

Talladega Superspeedway - Qualifying Fast Facts:
#78-Martin Truex Jr won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 48th Annual Hellmann's 500 with a lap of 49.508 seconds, 193.423 mph.
This is his 11th pole in 401 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his fourth pole and 23rd top-10 start in 2016. It is now single-season career high in poles for Truex.
This is his first pole in 24 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
#2-Brad Keselowski (second) posted his 18th top-10 start of 2016 and his fourth in 16 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
#20-Matt Kenseth (third) posted his ninth top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his 21st in 32 races this season.
#24-Chase Elliott (4th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-22-2016)

Starting positions for the 2016 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers at Talladega:
(by Chase standings before the race)
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson 17th
2) #4-Kevin Harvick 22nd
3) #20-Matt Kenseth 3rd
4) #18-Kyle Busch 14th
5) #19-Carl Edwards 13th
6) #41-Kurt Busch 7th
7) #78-Martin Truex Jr. 1st-POLE
8) #22-Joey Logano 16th
9) #3-Austin Dillon 9th
10) #11-Denny Hamlin 8th
11) #2-Brad Keselowski 2nd
12) #24-Chase Elliott 4th
(10-22-2016)

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Hellmann's 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway have been made.
With the field downsized to 40 cars, four pit stalls (1,2,33,44) have been eliminated, are not in play and don't count towards driving through more than three pit boxes.
The following teams got 4th warnings Saturday for failing inspection and lost their pit stall selection:
#78-Truex Jr.(starts 1st), #20-Kenseth(3rd), #19-Edwards(13th), #42-Larson(24th), #5-Kahne(27th) and #32-BLabonte(38th).
Pole sitter #78-Truex Jr. chose pit stall 10.
Outside pole sitter #2-Keselowski took pit stall 3, the actual 1st stall, with 1&2 closed.
#20-Kenseth, who starts 3rd took the pit stall 4.
The final pit stall was taken by #48-Johnson, who starts 17th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.

First Round of Qualifying for the Hellmann's 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over, after all cars made a single lap run.
#55-Sorenson 194.145
#78-Truex Jr. 192.870
#2-Keselowski 192.800
#20-Kenseth 192.754
#16-Biffle 192.556
the rest of the top 12: 24 41 17 27 11 3 6;
out of the top 12 and not advancing to the final round: 19 18 21 22 48 99 88 31 14 4 1 42 44 43 5 13 7 10 38 47 34 95 93 15 46 32 83 23
Driver who will miss the race: #35-Gilliland
(10-22-2016)

NASCAR confiscates parts from Martin Truex Jr.'s car: Furniture Row Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. could face a points penalty after NASCAR confiscated front jack screws from his car during an inspection before qualifying Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway. NASCAR confirmed it confiscated the screws. It typically announces penalties Wednesday after the race weekend and has the option of issuing a points penalty that could be 10 to 25 points, depending on how severe NASCAR views the violation. NASCAR occasionally takes parts from cars and evaluates them after the race weekend is over in determining the penalty. Truex crew chief Cole Pearn said in a tweet that it was a mistake and also indicated it was clearly unintentional because, he said, common sense says center of gravity doesn't matter at Talladega. Truex, who has four wins this season, has a 13-point edge on the current cutoff spot in the standings heading into the final race of the Chase quarterfinal round of 12 Sunday at Talladega. Depending on how many points, if any, Truex is penalized, it could affect whether he advances in the Chase if it puts him among the four Chase drivers winless in the round with the fewest points. Motorsport.com first reported the news of the confiscated screws.(ESPN)
UPDATE: NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition, Scott Miller, said a points penalty is unlikely for Martin Truex Jr. for the jack bolt confiscated but the typical process is to evaluate after the weekend. He said it was not a competitive advantage and while it could be a safety issue it was not to the degree of where NASCAR would consider it a safety infraction.(ESPN)(10-22-2016)

Talladega Pole Notes & Facts:
· 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.
· 39 drivers have Coors Light poles at Talladega, led by Bill Elliott with eight.
· Four active drivers are tied for the most poles at Talladega with one - Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne and Brian Scott.
· 11 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Talladega. Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive poles at Talladega with six (1985 - 1987).
· Six drivers have posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Talladega; the only active driver to post his first series career pole at Talladega is Brian Scott (05/04/2014).
· 13 of the 94 (13.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the Coors Light pole.
· 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 94 (35.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the front row: 13 from the pole and 20 from second-place.
· 67 of the 94 (71.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Talladega have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· 8 of the 94 (8.5%) 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.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega with a 9.586.
· 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)

Biffle ready for a change? UPDATE: After re-signing with RFR in 2014, Biffle hasn't sniffed the Chase for the Sprint Cup in the last two seasons. He thought 2016 might be the year. With a new crew chief in Brian Pattie, a lower-downforce aero package from the sanctioning body and a renewed effort at Roush, things appeared to line up for NASCAR's elder statesman. And now, he's 24th in the standings with just one top-five finish, at Loudon. So when Biffle said his most recent contract might be his last, it's understandable. "Well, if I talk to you Sunday after the race in here, maybe that will be some inspiration," Biffle said in the media center where the winner is interviewed following the race. "I want to be competitive in races and run in the top 10. That's my goal and my focus. If I'm not doing that, then I am probably going to do something different." Biffle has been rumored to be leaving Roush Fenway Racing at the end of the season. Although he owns the building that headquarters HScott Motorsports in North Carolina, Biffle said he has not discussed racing for Harry Scott after Clint Bowyer leaves in November. Biffle has heard the rumors that he'll end up and Front Row Motorsports - a technical partner - but given his loyalty to Roush over his career, that's unlikely to be something he'd consider. Still, it would take something more promising - and competitive - to pique his interest in continuing down the current path.(Motorsport)(10-15-2016)
UPDATE: hearing Biffle will leave Roush Fenway Racing and go to a second team fielded by JTG Daugherty Racing. No word if the team would secure a charter.(10-22-2016)

Go Fas Racing looking at options for 2017: "Let's face it, anybody in the bottom three is exploring all their options right now,'' car owner Archie St. Hilaire said. St. Hilaire's Go Fas Racing team ranks last in the standings among charter teams. He seeks a partnership. He is willing to lease his charter and partner with another chartered team if that will help his team grow. If a chartered team finishes in the bottom three among the 36 chartered teams in the owner standings three consecutive years, NASCAR has the right to remove that charter. Although the first year with this system isn't yet complete, teams aren't waiting to act. St. Hilaire said he hopes to have an idea in the next month what direction he'll go.(NBC Sports)(10-22-2016)

Eagles hook up Truex Jr. with gifts: #78-Martin Truex Jr., from nearby Mayetta, New Jersey, received a customized Philadelphia Eagles jersey and game ball from their 34-3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers during his weekly press conference at Talladega Superspeedway this week. Truex, of course, is a diehard Eagles fan. He was supposed to visit the team during practice when the Sprint Cup Series was in Dover, Delaware, but had to cancel due to a scheduled NASCAR testing session.(247Sports)(10-22-2016)

Kenseth & Johnson to race Hincapie Gran Fondo cycle race: More than 2,300 cyclists will take to the backroads of Greenville County on Saturday when the fifth annual Gran Fondo Hincapie gets underway [in Greenville, SC]. The riders come from at least 18 different countries and 39 U.S. states, and they include at least two NASCAR drivers, according to ride founder Rich Hincapie. Jimmy Johnson and Matt Kenseth are avid cyclists, according to Hincapie. The NASCAR riders face a special challenge beyond the climbs in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains: they also have to get to Talladega in time for qualifying. In addition to flying the drivers in and out of Greenville County, Hincapie said organizers also have created a "NASCAR extraction plan" to help the drivers get to Talladega on time. If the NASCAR drivers don't hit a certain spot along the bike route by a certain time, they will be driven back, according to Hincapie. Also pedaling in the Gran Fondo will be members of the U.S. and Olympic cycling teams, according to organizers. Organizers said the best time to catch up with the NASCAR celebs would be at 7 a.m. during the VIP breakfast at Hincapie-owned Hotel Domestique, 10 Road of Vines, in Travelers Rest. The best place to watch the race once it is underway is from Chinquapin Road where it meets Highway 11. The ride includes three routes: The 80-mile Gran, the 50-mile Medio and the 15-mile Piccolo. The Gran route includes 8,100 feet of climbing. A portion of the proceeds from the race will benefit Greenville County's Meals on Wheels.(WYFF)(10-22-2016)

NASCAR Torque series released: Panini America, the official trading card partner of NASCAR, released their 2016 Torque NASCAR Racing cards in hobby shops across the country. Prior to teaming up with Panini in August, NASCAR was without a trading card partner for two years, and they are ready to deliver to anxious fans everything they have been waiting for and more. Panini's Torque card product contains everything from sheet-metal cards (sheet metal taken from the cars) to oversized memorabilia cards (race-worn fire suits, gloves, shoes, etc., and race-used tires). Torque is packed with content both on the autograph and memorabilia sides; it also delivers a compelling array of photography, technology, and tributes to all-time greats, paint schemes, superstar helmets and so much more.(more info at paniniamerica.net.(10-22-2016)

Coverage of Qualifying for the Hellmann's 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is scheduled for Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 4:00pm/et.
LIVE updates on: JAYSKI.com #NASCAR Twitter Television (TV): NBCSN, 4:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN)
Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: Saturday, October 22 at 9:30pm/et on NBCSN

Qualifying Order for the Hellmann's 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is posted. 41 cars/drivers are listed.
The qualifying order for the two restrictor plates races (Daytona/Talladega) is different.
The order for the 1st round is set by a practice speeds (both practices combined) from Friday, slowest to fastest.
The first driver scheduled to make an attempt is in round 1 is #32-Labonte.
The final driver scheduled to make an attempt is in round 1 is #16-Biffle (had fastest speed overall).
For the 2nd round, the remaining 12 cars line up by speed, slowest to fastest.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com's Talladega Qualifying Order Page (pdf).

Superspeedway Qualifying Format for Daytona/Talladega: The qualifying format at superspeedways consists of the following:
· Two rounds of qualifying, with the top-12 posted lap speeds advancing to the second round
· Race vehicles taking one, timed lap in each round of qualifying
· Each race vehicle will be released in a predetermined timed interval as determined by NASCAR, with the sanctioning body reserving the right to have more than one vehicle engaging in qualifying runs at the same time
· Qualifying order for the first round was be determined by practice speeds, slowest to fastest; final round qualifying order is determined by slowest to fastest speeds from the first round
· A 10-minute break will occur between the first qualifying round and the final round
· Upon completion of the first qualifying round, the field will be set with positions 13 and beyond determined from first round qualifying speed
· The 12 fastest vehicles from the first round will have their speeds reset for the final round with starting positions 1-12 determined by the fastest laps in the final round
· NASCAR will impound race vehicles following each qualifying lap; vehicles advancing to the final round will be allowed to adjust tape and utilize a cool-down unit during the 10-minute break only.

Enfinger wins Truck Series Race at Talladega: Alabama native #24-Grant Enfinger won the fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, holding off a charge from GMS Racing teammate #23-Spencer Gallagher to claim his first career win. #17-Timothy Peters, #98-Rico Abreu, #33-Ben Kennedy, #4-Christopher Bell, #21-Johnny Sauter, #81-Ryan Truex, #11-Matt Tifft, and #9-William Byron closed out the top-10.
Many of the Chase drivers had issues throughout the race. #8-John Hunter Nemechek finished last after losing an engine on lap 13. #19-Daniel Hemric was involved in multiple on-track incidents and limped his way home to an 11th place finish with a battered race truck. Nemechek and Hemric both failed to advance to the Round of 6 in the Chase.
#88-Matt Crafton also lost an engine, and other Chase drivers suffered damage during a wreck on lap 61.
There were 7 cautions for 33 laps and 15 lead changes among 9 leaders.
The average speed was 119.161mph.
Complete results are on the Talladega race results page (pdf).
(10-22-2016)

Talladega Race Fast Facts:
Grant Enfinger won the 11th Annual fred's 250, his first victory in 13 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his fifth top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his first top-10 finish in three races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Spencer Gallagher (second) posted his second top-10 finish in three races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2016.
Timothy Peters (third) posted his fifth top-10 finish in eight races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Advancing to the Round of 6 (sorted by seed): William Byron, Christopher Bell, Timothy Peters, Matt Crafton, Ben Kennedy and Johnny Sauter.
(NASCAR Statistics)(10-22-2016)

Driver standings following Talladega:
1) #9-William Byron# [6 wins], 2103
2) #4-Christopher Bell# [1 win], 2089, -14
3) #17-Timothy Peters, 2084, -19
4) #33-Ben Kennedy [1 win], 2084, -19
Bottom 2 drivers will be eliminated after Phoenix:
5) #21-Johnny Sauter [1 win], 2078, -25
6) 5) #88-Matt Crafton [2 wins], 2072, -31
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(10-22-2016)

Owner Standings following Talladega: are posted (pdf).(10-22-2016)

Custer on pole at Talladega: #00-Cole Custer won the pole for the fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 178.417mph. #24-Grant Enfinger will start second, followed by #23-Spencer Gallagher, #33-Ben Kennedy, #21-Johnny Sauter, #17-Timothy Peters, #51-Cody Coughlin, #9-William Byron, #05-John Wes Townely, and #5-Korbin Forrister.
#17-Peters was fastest in the first round at 177.936mph.
Did Not Qualify: #1-Jennifer Jo Cobb, #10-Clay Greenfield, #63-Ryan Ellis, and #75-Parker Kligerman.
See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(10-22-2016)

Talladega Qualifying Notes:
Cole Custer won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award for the 11th Annual fred's 250 with a lap of 53.672 seconds, 178.417 mph.
This is his fifth pole in 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his second pole and ninth top-10 start in 2016.
This is his first pole in one races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Grant Enfinger (second) posted his fourth top-10 start of 2016 and his first in three races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Spencer Gallagher (third) posted his second top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his seventh in 19 races this season.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-22-2016)

Two more races planned for Anderson: NASCAR XFINITY Series regular Ross Chastain will take advantage of an off weekend of his normal duties for JD Motorsports to return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Saturday afternoon's fred's 250. Chastain, the Alva, Florida native has teamed up with Bolen Motorsports and will drive the #66 Chevrolet Silverado in his first truck race since the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2013 driving for Win-Tron Racing. Bolen Motorsports driver Jordan Anderson was originally slated to drive the team's entry per NASCAR's entry list, but a last-minute arrangement was made putting the 23-year-old Chastain in his hopeful third Talladega start. Although disappointed not to be in the seat for his 16th start of the season, Anderson is at Talladega to support his Mooresville, North Carolina-based team and has committed sponsorship for the No. 66 seat for upcoming races at Texas Motor Speedway and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(Catchfence)(10-22-2016)

Allison's named dignitaries for Hellman's 500: Original members of the famed Alabama Gang, Bobby and Donnie Allison - both of whom enjoyed great success at Talladega Superspeedway over the years- will serve as Grand Marshal and Honorary Starter, respectively, for Sunday's Hellmann's 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Bobby, the 1983 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion and four-time Talladega Superspeedway winner, will deliver those most famous words in motorsports - "Drivers, Start Your Engines". Donnie, a two-time Talladega winner will show the green flag to the field to kick off the final race of the Round of 12. Both are members of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.(Alabama News)(10-22-2016)

Happy Hour practice for the Hellmann's 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over, after 55 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#48-Johnson 196.386
#20-Kenseth 196.338
#24-Elliott 196.334
#19-Edwards 196.330
#88-Bowman 196.330
#5-Kahne 196.330
slowest: #83-Earnhardt 185.051 & #23-Ragan 185.316
only 25 of 41 cars have made runs.
notes: Qualifying is scheduled for 4:10pm/et on Saturday, October 22, aired on NBCSN.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Talladega Happy Hour Practice speeds page (10-21-2016)

1st Friday practice for the Hellmann's 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over, after 55 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#16-Biffle 198.949
#47-Allmendinger 198.327
#34-Buescher 198.261
#17-Stenhouse Jr. 198.261
#6-Bayne 198.105
slowest: #32-Labonte 186.627 & #93-DiBenedetto 187.529
notes: There was a mix of drafting in packs and single car runs.
Happy Hour (final) practice is scheduled for 4:40-5:25pm/et on NBCSN.
Qualifying is scheduled for 4:10pm/et on Saturday, October 22, aired on NBCSN.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Talladega 1st Practice speeds page (10-21-2016)

Updated Entry List for the Hellmann's 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is posted, 41 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed, including: #21-Blaney*, #32-Bobby Labonte, #35-Gilliland*, #55-Sorenson*, #83-Jeffrey Earnhardt, #93-DiBenedetto*, #99-Reed*. Withdrew: #98-Whitt*
Not entered: #30-Wise*
Drivers who are not a Charter team, an Open Team, and must get in via speed: #21-Blaney*, #35-Gilliland*, #55-Sorenson*, #93-DiBenedetto*, #99-Reed*.
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts, then owners pts): #99-Reed.
* Open Team (no Charter)
See the full entry list on Jayski.com's Talladega Entry List

Latest on Mears 2017 plans: Casey Mears says he and the Germain Racing #13 team are concentrating their efforts only on the remaining five races of 2016 and can't speak about next year. "Not at the moment," Mears said Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. "Right now we're just focused on what we talked about at the beginning of the season. Focus on the remainder of this year first and foremost." Rumors have Germain opting to replace Mears next season, possibly with NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Ty Dillon. Dillon's Richard Childress Racing organization has a technical alliance with Germain. Geico, the #13 team's primary sponsor, is signed through 2018. In many cases, sponsor and driver contracts run concurrently. "As I know more, we can talk about it," Mears said. "But right now we're just focused on getting through this weekend."(NASCAR.com)(10-21-2016)

Talladega Driver Notes & Facts:
· 442 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega; 307 in more than one.
· Dave Marcis and Terry Labonte lead the series in starts at Talladega with 61 each. Tony Stewart leads all active drivers with 34 starts; followed by Matt Kenseth with 33.
· A total of 68 drivers have made their first series start at Talladega; Jamie McMurray (10/06/2002) is the only active driver to make his series debut at Talladega Superspeedway.
· 45 different drivers have won at Talladega Superspeedway, led by Dale Earnhardt with 10. Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers with four.
· 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.
· 2012 series champion Brad Keselowski (04/26/2009) and Brian Vickers (10/08/2006) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins at Talladega.
· 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 11 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 30; followed by Ryan Newman with 28.
· 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. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with 12.
· Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-10 finishes at Talladega with 27. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with 16.
· Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 12.200.
· Matt Kenseth leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Talladega with 512 laps led in 33 starts.
· Three female drivers have competed at Talladega in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Patty Moise and Danica Patrick.(NASCAR)

Go Fas Racing picks up sponsor for Talladega: Visone RV will return as a primary sponsor on the #32 Ford with Go Fas Racing for this weekend's Hellmans 500 at the Talladega Superpeedway with 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Bobby Labonte. Visone RV, based in East Bernstadt, Kentucky has the world's largest selection of new and used Motor Home parts in the nation. "With the thousands of campers and recreational vehicles filling the Talladega Superspeedway property this weekend, being present on the #32 is the perfect arena for us to market Visone RV products and services," said Terry Blakenship, owner of Visone RV. "We are excited for the opportunity we were given to work with Bobby Labonte and everyone at Go Fas Racing."(GFR)(10-21-2016)

Chevy Teams Up With American Cancer Society For Breast Cancer Awareness: Once again, during the month of October, Chevrolet has partnered with the American Cancer Society to help raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. This is Chevrolet's sixth year partnering with the ASC, in which it has raised $6 million over the course of time. Across the United States, Chevrolet and its dealerships are supporting the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer program through event sponsorships, team participation, customer engagement and other activities. But, the brand has other ways to raise awareness, too. Through October, Chevy will donate $5 for each Twitter and Instagram social post utilizing the hashtag #IDriveFor, up to $500,000. And in motorsports, the Chevrolet SS sedan pace car will be once again draped in pink. The breast cancer awareness pace car will debut at two NASCAR Sprint Cup Races at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23 and Martinsville Speedway on October 30. Furthermore, Chevrolet will donate $350 for each caution lap taken in the pink Chevy SS pace car at the two events up to $50,000.(GM Authority)(10-21-2016)

Pink Ethanol scheme for Dillon at Talladega:
Real men drive pink, and #3-Austin Dillon is doing just that for a good cause this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway driving a #3 pink E15 American Ethanol Chevy. For every gallon purchased at participating retailers, Growth Energy will donate 2¢ towards the fight against breast cancer (RCR Facebook), see an image of the car on the #3 Team Schemes page (10-21-2016)

Earnhardt Jr. Joins MRN for Talladega Broadcast: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will return to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend - not behind the wheel of a racecar but behind a Motor Racing Network microphone. "Junior" will join "The Voice of NASCAR" during the first half of Sunday's Hellmann's 500 broadcast - teaming up with MRN anchors Joe Moore and Jeff Striegle in the newly christened "Barney Hall MRN Booth." Hall of Fame driver Rusty Wallace joins Moore, Striegle and Earnhardt with analysis of the sixth race in this year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Fans who are unable to attend Sunday's race can find their local Motor Racing Network affiliate by visiting www.MRN.com and clicking on the "STATIONS" link. This weekend at Talladega Superspeedway Chevrolet in partnership with the American Cancer Society will campaign a pink Chevrolet SS pace car in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. For every pace lap the pink Chevrolet SS leads, Chevrolet will donate $350 to the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Program. On Saturday morning, Chevrolet will host a group of 25 survivors and their guests in a hospitality area and give them pace car rides with drivers Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne.(MRN)(10-21-2016)

Goody's Returns to Hood of #44: Brian Scott and the #44 Goody's team are preparing for anything as the Sprint Cup Series makes the second trip to the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. Goody's will return to the hood of the #44 Ford this weekend, their second race with the team this season. Goody's Mixed Fruit Blast purple scheme was on the car at Martinsville in April.(RPM), see images of both schemes on the #44 Team Schemes page (10-21-2016)

Final restrictor plate for Stewart: Tony Stewart might not be the biggest fan of restrictor-plate racing in NASCAR, but there are few drivers like Stewart who can say they've led almost 1,000 laps or logged more than 30,000 miles in their careers on the 200-mph, high-banked tracks at Daytona and Talladega. In Sunday's Hellman's 500 at the 2.66-mile Talladega track, the three-time champion will drive the #14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Delvac Chevy in the 70th and final superspeedway restrictor-plate start of his 18-year NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career. Going into his final Sprint Cup restrictor-plate race, Stewart owns five wins, 18 top-fives and 28 top-10s on NASCAR's current restrictor-plate tracks. He's led 997 laps and logged 30,257.2 miles.(SHR)(10-21-2016)

Blaney To Honor The Late Neil Bonnett At Talladega: Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are planning an encore presentation of their throwback theme first used at the Darlington Raceway earlier this season. Blaney, at his own request, will wear the same uniform he wore during the Southern 500 to honor David Pearson. At Talladega, he'll wear the uniform in honor of both Pearson and the late Neil Bonnett, who was from Bessemer, Ala., and considered Talladega his home track. Bonnett succeeded Pearson as driver of the iconic #21 midway through the 1979 season and used a uniform just like the one Pearson wore. Once aboard the #21, Bonnett won in his third start, at Dover. He won twice more that season, at Daytona and Atlanta. In 1980, he won back-to-back races at Pocono Raceway and Talladega. He won three more in 1981 and another in 1982, giving him nine wins in four seasons, all while running a limited schedule. His 1980 win at Talladega was classic Neil Bonnett. He had the #21 out front seven times for 53 laps, but won the race in dramatic fashion. A restart with seven laps remaining set up a shootout for the win between Bonnett, Cale Yarborough, Benny Parsons and Dale Earnhardt Sr. Yarbrough took the lead at the drop of the green flag, but Bonnett, who had been leading prior to the final caution flag, wasn't done, as team co-owner Eddie Wood recalled. It took Bonnett three laps to regain the lead, and he led the final four - just like the week before at Pocono - to score the win. Behind him, Yarborough edged Earnhardt for second place with Parsons finishing fourth.(Wood Brothers Racing)(10-21-2016)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. acquires roof from dad's 1982 car: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is continuing to build his collection of meaningful memorabilia during his time off from NASCAR. In a Twitter post on Tuesday, the driver posted a photo of a roof from a dirt car his father drove in 1982 that he's adding to his collection.(USA Today)(10-21-2016)

Sad News - Dwane James Batey: James Dwane Batey, 56, of Charlotte passed away Wednesday October 19, 2016. Dwane was employed by Hendrick Motorsports for sixteen years as a Fabricator in the Chassis Shop. He's always had a passion for cars and racing. Even as a young child he spent hours drawing cars and dreaming about racing during school. Dwane also had a passion for aviation and photography. One of his favorite events to learn about was WWII. He was a longtime volunteer at the NC Aviation Museum where he helped to restore aircraft. A service to celebrate Dwane's life will be held at Forest Lawn West on Sunday October 23, 2016. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. and his service at 2:30 p.m. Reverend Robert Shaw will be officiating. Arrangements under the direction of Forest Lawn West Funeral & Cremation Service, Charlotte, NC. For the full obituary, services info and condolences go to dignitymemorial.com(10-21-2016)

Reed to remain at Roush with Lilly Diabetes sponsorship: Roush Fenway Racing has signed a multi-year renewal agreement for driver Ryan Reed to continue to pilot the #16 Lilly Diabetes Ford Mustang in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Reed, who five years ago was told he would never race again after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, qualified for the 2016 inaugural XFINITY Series Chase and scored his first victory in the series last season at Daytona. Reed will look to make history this weekend as the only driver actively managing his diabetes to race at the Sprint Cup level. The Bakersfield, Calif., native manages his diabetes through a strict diet and exercise program, the use of a wireless glucose monitoring device to provide in-race, real-time data, and consistent communication with his medical team in California. Reed posted career highs in Chase races at Kentucky and Dover to advance to the 'Round of 8' in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase at Charlotte. He is currently only two points outside of the top four, with two races remaining before the series champion is decided in the season finale at Homestead.(Roush Fenway Racing)(10-21-2016)

Enfinger fastest in first Truck practice: #24-Grant Enfinger was fastest during opening practice at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 186.300mph. #51-Cody Coughlin, #4-Christopher Bell, #88-Matt Crafton, #05-John Wes Townley, #10-Clay Greenfield, #00-Cole Custer, #23-Spencer Gallagher, #11-Matt Tifft, and #17-Timothy Peters followed in the top-10. 34 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Talladega practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-21-2016)

Forrister fastest in final Truck practice: #5-Korbin Forrister was fastest in final practice for the fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 187.956mph. He was followed by #33-Ben Kennedy, #29-Tyler Reddick, #19-Daniel Hemric, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #11-Matt Tifft, #41-Ben Rhodes, #88-Matt Crafton, #50-Travis Kvapil, and #81-Ryan Truex.31 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Talladega practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-21-2016)

Dennis Quaid named AAA Texas 500 Grand Marshal: Award-winning actor Dennis Quaid will serve as the Grand Marshal for the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Nov. 6, at Texas Motor Speedway. Quaid, a Houston native, returns to his home state to deliver the command for the 40-car field to start their engines for one of the largest-attended, single-day sporting events in Texas. He will be giving the command for the eighth race in the 10-event, elimination-style Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship playoff. "As a Texan, I'm thrilled to be the Grand Marshal at the AAA Texas 500," Quaid said. "It is a great honor to say the greatest words in motorsports and I'm looking forward to it." The AAA Texas 500 is part of a NASCAR tripleheader weekend at Texas Motor Speedway that also includes the Camping World Truck Series Long Horn 350 on Friday, Nov. 4, and the XFINITY Series O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge on Saturday, Nov. 5. For tickets or additional information, please visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com or call the speedway ticket office at 817.215.8500.(TMS)(10-21-2016)

GEICO Extends Multiyear, Multi-Track Partnership with ISC: GEICO, the second-largest private passenger auto insurance company in the U.S., announced it will extend its multiyear partnership with International Speedway Corporation, owner / operator of 13 of the nation's major motorsports facilities. GEICO will continue its entitlement for the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway as well as its Campground naming rights at eight ISC motorsports facilities. Debuting for NASCAR's Chase double elimination weekend Oct. 21-23, GEICO will provide naming rights to Talladega's Restart Zone. Beginning in 2017, GEICO will take ownership of this area at 10 additional ISC tracks as well. GEICO's sponsorship of the GEICO 500 at Talladega will run through 2019, the year the mammoth 2.66-mile venue will celebrate its historical 50th anniversary. Next year's GEICO 500 is set for May 7, 2017. The GEICO Restart Zone will add significant brand visibility to an area just prior to the start / finish line indicating where the race leader is allowed to accelerate when the race is beginning or continuing following a caution. Further leveraging ISC's massive scale, GEICO will be represented at 11 of the Company's tracks beginning in 2017.(TSS)(10-21-2016)

Talladega Track Notes & History:
· 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)

Cheez-It / Kelloggs leaving Roush/Watkins Glen: Cheez-It is not renewing its current deals in NASCAR, as the Kellogg's-owned brand confirmed to THE DAILY this morning that it will let its deals with Roush Fenway Racing, Watkins Glen International and track owner ISC expire after this season. However, the brand stopped short of confirming that it will fully exit the sport. Cheez-It, which signed on in 2015 with RFR's #16 Ford driven by Greg Biffle for a handful of races as primary sponsor, also has been the entitlement partner of WGI's annual Sprint Cup Series race since 2013. The company in a statement said, "As part of our ongoing evaluation of company sponsorships and other business activities, the Kellogg Company has decided not to renew its sponsorship of Roush Fenway Racing, Watkins Glen International and the International Speedway Corporation. All of the people within these organizations have been tremendous partners and we have truly enjoyed our association with them, the drivers and the fans." Sources added that Cheez-It had been shopping its deal with other teams in recent months.(Sports Business Daily)(10-20-2016)

Gray Gaulding set to make Cup Series debut at Martinsville: 18 year old NASCAR Next alumnus, Gray Gaulding will take the next step in his career making a debut in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS.) Gaulding will drive the #30 Feed the Children Chevy for The Motorsports Group (TMG) at Martinsville Speedway on October 30, 2016. "It's exciting bringing a new partner into the series and to be making my NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at a track like Martinsville (Speedway) where we've had a really good history in the past is honestly unfathomable" said Gaulding. "I'm excited to partner with Feed the Children and use NASCAR as a platform to deliver our message and work to create a world where no child goes to bed hungry. A lot has happened in a short period of time but I've never been as excited to debut this beautiful Feed the Children car next week at Martinsville Speedway."
"We are pleased to sponsor Gray Gaulding, the youngest NASCAR driver in the Martinsville field and one of the most promising and fierce competitors among the many legendary NASCAR drivers who have made NASCAR one of the most exciting sports in America," said the Hon. J.C. Watts, Jr., president and CEO of Feed the Children. "He's not only bold in his approach, he's also blazing new trails, and we at Feed the Children strive to do the same. Gray knows firsthand the value of family, especially the NASCAR family who has joined us in our work as we have brought disaster relief to those whose lives and livelihoods have been severely affected by Hurricane Matthew and all the subsequent flooding."
"We're grateful to be partnering with Feed the Children in their mission to provide hope and resources for those without life's essentials" said Stephen Lynn, chief executive officer for GGR Enterprises. Along with their debut at Martinsville Speedway, Gaulding and the #30 Feed the Children team will also make starts at Phoenix and Homestead-Miami in November. Help take action and donate to end hunger by texting FEED30 to 41444.(GGR Enterprises)
Josh Wise has driven the #30 all season until the team skipped Talladega this week. The team is an open team, Gaulding will have to qualify for the races on speed.(10-20-2016)

Earnhardt Jr. joins the Cup broadcast booth for next two races: NBC Sports announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of Hendrick Motorsports' #88 Chevy, will join the NBC Sports broadcast booth for portions of two upcoming Sprint Cup broadcasts. Earnhardt, who has not raced since July as he recovers from a concussion, will lend his expertise as an analyst during NBCSN's coverage this Sunday from Talladega Superspeedway, as well as the following Sunday from Martinsville Speedway. Inside the NBCSN broadcast booth, Earnhardt will reunite with his former crew chief Steve Letarte, and work alongside race announcer Rick Allen and fellow analyst Jeff Burton. Sunday marks Earnhardt's first ever NASCAR Sprint Cup broadcasting assignment. "I'm excited to see these races from a different vantage point and hopefully offer some insight to the viewers," said Earnhardt. "I thoroughly enjoyed my opportunity to broadcast the XFINITY race at Michigan earlier this year, so I expect getting to spend time in the booth with the NBC team to be just as fun."(NBC Sports)(10-20-2016)

Keselowski going for Talladega Sweep: Team Penske driver #2-Brad Keselowski will be going for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season sweep at Talladega after winning the Geico 500 in May. The last driver to win both Talladega events was Jeff Gordon in 2007, and there have been a total of seven sweeps overall. Pete Hamilton (1970), Buddy Baker (1975), Darrell Waltrip (1982), Dale Earnhardt (1990, 1999), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2002) and Gordon (2007) are the only ones to achieve that feat. Keselowski has four career series wins at the track, including his first career triumph in 2009.(Ford Racing)(10-20-2016)

Career start 150 for Patrick: The Alabama 500 will mark #10-Danica Patrick's 150th career start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and her eighth at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. She finished a career-best 19th there in October 2014. In two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts there, she finished a career-best 13th in May 2012. Tom Cavalli, a NASCAR fan who resides in Clermont, Florida, will join the #10 Nature's Bakery team Sunday at Talladega as the latest Nature's Bakery Fantern. The Fantern program was launched in January to energize fans with an opportunity to participate in a unique, at-track journey with Patrick and the #10 team. Cavalli's race-day experience will include spending time with the Nature's Bakery pit crew, a tour of the Sprint Cup garage and pit area, meeting Patrick and watching the race from pit road.(SHR)(10-20-2016)

Baldwin meets with employees, 'exploring all my opportunities' for team's future UPDATE3: Unsure about his organization's future, #7 team owner Tommy Baldwin met with his employees Monday "so I can give them the options if they needed to go find a job.'' Baldwin said Tuesday that "I'm exploring all my opportunities right now. I'm trying to figure everything out.'' He hopes to have his plans solidified by some point in December. Among the options, there is one thing Baldwin said he won't do. "I would never shut down,'' said Baldwin, whose team debuted in the Cup series in 2009. "Don't use that word. The options are keep going or sell. That's the only two options we have.'' Baldwin admits he's given his employees a similar message "in six out of the eight years" of the team and always made it to the next season. "The technology has just increased,'' Baldwin said. "Everyone has just become smarter. The race teams, with Michael Waltrip Racing shutting down (after the 2015 season) and some other things, it put a lot good people, dispersed a lot of good people to different teams. Everyone had to spend a lot more money to keep up with the Gibbs and Hendrick programs. It's funny to me how everyone thinks our racing is not good. This is the most competitive that NASCAR has ever been.'' Baldwin admits it has been a struggle at times for the team and driver Regan Smith. Baldwin has one of the 36 charters granted to Sprint Cup teams at the beginning of this season. That adds value to his organization, ensuring that his team - or whoever purchases the charter, if that happens - would be in every Cup points race. Baldwin's car is 32nd in the car owner point standings, ahead of five other teams that have charters (another team below Baldwin's leased its charter for this season). Smith is 33rd in the driver standings. He finished a season-best third at Pocono in August. His only other top-10 finish this year has been an eighth-place result in the Daytona 500.(NBC Sports)
UPDATE: hearing that Baldwin has sold the #7 TBR charter to the #95 Circle Sport - Leavine Family Racing team. Not sure if that means the team will have two charters and run two teams or if Circle Sport gets one of the charters and runs the #33 team again. Supposedly Casey Mears will be the driver of the #95. Rumors have floated around the Ty Dillon would take over the #13 Germain Racing Chevy ride with increased support from Richard Childress Racing. No word if Baldwin would stay on as a part-owner or crew chief, move on to another team or keep running the #7 TBR team as an open team.
UPDATE2: FS1's NASCAR Racehub show confirmed Wednesday with multiple sources that Tommy Baldwain Racing has signed paperwork to transfer ownership charter to Leavine Family Racing (#95 Chevy). It was also reported that LFR leased their charter for 2016, supposedly from Circle Sport, which ran the #33 Chevy for years under the ownership of Joe Falk. Baldwin could play an advisory role with the team. TBR declined to comment. (10-19-2016)
UPDATE3: Leavine Family Racing is in the process of buying a charter for next season as its relationship with Circle Sport owner Joe Falk (who has a charter) will end after 2016, Leavine VP Jeremy Lange said Wednesday. Lange wouldn't confirm from which team it is buying a charter. The team plans to operate one Cup car (the #95) next year with a Richard Childress Racing alliance. Michael McDowell has been the Leavine primary driver since 2014 and has built a good relationship with the team but does not have a deal signed yet to drive for the team next season.(ESPN)(10-20-2016)

2,000 Fans Get to "Ride with Trevor" in Talladega: The AdvoCare Ford driven by Roush Fenway Racing driver Trevor Bayne will have a different look this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway as the faces of 2,000 race fans will adorn the blue and red Fusion as part of a "fan mosaic." "It's pretty neat to see this many people on our AdvoCare Ford," said Bayne. "It really shows how great of a fanbase we have and how supportive they are of our race team and everyone at AdvoCare. I can't thank AdvoCare enough for giving the fans this opportunity. Hopefully we will keep all these people's faces clean and get a great finish on Sunday."(RFR), see an image of the car on the #6 Team Schemes page (10-20-2016)

Gilliland returns to the #35 at Talladega; son wins title: Front Row Motorsports is bring a third team, the #35 Ford to Talladega Superspeedway. David Gilliland will be back in the saddle and need to qualify on time in the #35 Dockside Logistics Ford. Gilliland also made attempots for the team at both Daytona races (February and July) and Talladega in May. After failing to qualify for the Daytona 500, Gilliland has run both the May race at Talladega (finishing 17th) and July race at Daytona (19th). Gilliland: "I love getting in the car again for superspeedway races. It can be a little stressful because we have to qualify in, but Front Row Motorsports always brings fast cars to the plate races. So, as long as the weather's good, we should be in good shape."(FRM Facebook / FRM PR)
AND Todd Gilliland started the season with a historic winning streak. Wrapping it up Saturday night, an eighth-place finish was more than enough for the teenager to add to the record books. The 16-year-old from Sherrills Ford, NC, clinched the 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship with his 13th top 10 in 14 races. In the process, Gilliland became the youngest champion in the history of the NASCAR national or touring series at 16 years, 5 months. Gilliland joined his grandfather as a NASCAR champion. Butch Gilliland won the 1997 West crown, while Todd's father David had his best series points finish of third in 2009.(toddgilliland.com)(10-19-2016)

U.S. District Court Dismisses Case of Suspended Dirt Late Model Dream Drivers: U.S. District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino today issued a stipulation of dismissal in the case of plaintiffs Scott Bloomquist, Gregg Satterlee, Jimmy Owens, and Ricky Thornton vs World Racing Group and subsidiary DIRTcar Racing, Eldora Speedway, and its owner Tony Stewart regarding suspension following tire analysis after Eldora Speedway's Dirt Late Model Dream. Drivers will be allowed to return to competition with payment of the fine and fees imposed, following a request for reinstatement of their suspended DIRTcar membership. "We're happy this is over," said DIRTcar Racing COO Tom Deery. "It is a waste of resources that should have been invested in the sport rather than damaging it and polarizing fans." The attorney for the five plaintiffs and their team owners, R&W Motorsports, LLC, W.G. Satterlee & Sons, Inc., Best Performance Motorsports and J.R. Motorsports, LLC, filed a voluntary motion for dismissal on Monday.(DIRTcar Racing)(10-20-2016)

Reeves plans debut as Harmon, Bolen teams plan to share number: Josh Reeves' dream of racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Virginia's Martinsville Speedway is nearing fruition. The Virginia-born 23-year-old is slated to drive a truck fielded by Mike Harmon during the Oct. 29 Texas Roadhouse 200 at the .526-mile oval. Reeves, who earlier this year made a handful of ARCA Racing Series starts with a best finish of 10th at Indiana's Winchester Speedway driving a car owned by Bo LeMastus. Those starts not only helped him gain valuable experience, but also earned him NASCAR's blessing to attempt his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.The plan as it stands now is for Reeves to drive a truck owned by Harmon carrying the #66, the same number utilized by Jordan Anderson and Bolen Motorsports during the majority of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. The Bolen Motorsports team has scaled back operations and likely won't attempt many more races this year. By carrying the #66, Reeves and Harmon will keep the Bolen Motorsports team higher in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner points while also giving them a better chance of making the field via provisional if necessary. Reeves said the team could still use some help preparing for Martinsville from a sponsorship standpoint. In particular, he said the team could use help paying the tire bill for the race. He already has sponsorship from companies such as Great Valley Thrift Tire of Alaska, Crosley Brands and Glad Precision, but he admitted that the team still needs more to do things right.(Speed Sport News)(10-20-2016)

JJL to run Texas, possible 2017: Team Little Racing has been rebranded JJL Motorsports and will make its first appearance under its new name when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) hits Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 4. NASCAR Next alumnus Jesse Little will pilot the #97 Toyota Tundra in the Longhorn 350 before ending their season with the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway two weeks later on Nov. 18. JJL Motorsports is owned by Jason Little, uncle of Jesse Little and brother of former NASCAR driver now executive Chad Little. The family affair has kept the racing niche in their blood with a recent emphasis on building JJL Motorsports into a namesake within the NASCAR industry for years to come. Founded in 2005, Team Little Racing has fielded entries in the NCWTS, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West divisions, NASCAR Late Model Stock, Legends, Bandoleros and quarter midgets. Through their heavy on-track presence, the organization noted its long history and track record of success in the K&N Pro Series with 48 starts, two wins, three poles, 14 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes. Most recently with JJL Motorsports equipment and crew chief the team is fresh off a second-place finish at Dover in the K&N Pro Series East. Once the checkered flag waves at Homestead, JJL Motorsports vision will saturate on finding the right partner for a full NASCAR K&N Pro Series schedule with a new driver for 2017, while opting to complete in select NCWTS events as well with the Jesse Little.(JJL Motorsports)(10-20-2016)

Danica paints Martinsville Speedway's Curbs Pink: Danica Patrick joined Chevy Racing, the American Cancer Society and four breast cancer survivors Wednesday to Paint the Curbs Pink at Martinsville Speedway. The event is part of Team Chevy and the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer program. In addition to painting the iconic curbs, Chevy Racing will donate $350, up to $50,000, to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer for every caution lap run during the Goody's Fast Relief 500 on October 30. Last year the race saw 109 caution laps.
"What's unique about Paint the Curbs is it's like a precursor to the event weekend that's coming up in a couple of weeks," Jeff Chew, senior marketing manager for Chevy Racing, said. "So we want to one bring out the survivor group from the local community to join us and we want to make a splash in the local media, in the community and in the area about what's coming. The whole Martinsville Speedway Paint the Curbs Pink program is so cool. It's the only one I know of in the sport."
"It's a great honor to be a part of something that is so important," Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said. "Breast cancer has affected most of us in some way and we are thankful that Chevy Racing and the American Cancer Society want Martinsville Speedway to be a part of it."
Like most everyone, Patrick has a personal story about the importance of breast cancer awareness and research. Her story isn't about her or even an immediate family member, but a high school classmate. "I have a very good friend who, 10 years ago we were in our mid-20s, she was tested for the breast cancer gene, because it ran in her family," Patrick said. "Her results were overwhelming and she decided to have a double mastectomy to take away the chance that she would develop breast cancer someday. "Those kinds of things happen because of events like this. People like Chevrolet that donate so many millions of dollars, $6 million since 2011, that's very, very cool. Those things help with research and everything. That is why my friend won't have to worry about (breast cancer)."
For breast cancer survivors the day was filled with emotion. "When you look at the effort that everyone makes towards helping me is awesome. It's absolutely awesome," Beverly Rakes, a breast cancer survivor said. "I'm one who doesn't like attention and am just getting used to being called a survivor. It was October of last year that I got the diagnosis." "It's wonderful," April Hammock, a three year survivor, said. "I didn't even realize they did all of that for breast cancer awareness. I had no idea they do the donations for each caution lap." And from a fan standpoint, Hammock was also grateful to get to spend some time with Danica. "She was fun. I've never been that up-close-and-personal with her. I've seen her close and gotten to take pictures of her, but I've never gotten to talk to her. She's great. She's really down to earth. I liked getting to spend some time with her."
In addition to donating money for caution laps, Team Chevy will donate $5, up to $500,000, to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer every time the hashtag #IDriveFor is shared on Instagram or Twitter. The Goody's Fast Relief 500 Race Weekend is October 28-30.
The weekend starts on Friday with Virginia Lottery Pole Day and continues on Saturday with the Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is in action Sunday with the Goody's Fast Relief 500. Adult ticket prices for the Goody's Fast Relief 500 start at $45. Seats in the Bill France Tower are only $50. Ticket prices increase the week of the race. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at martinsvillespeedway.com.(PR)(10-20-2016)

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 . . . for Sprint Cup teams at Talladega, this combination of left- and right-side tires dates back to the October 2014 race . . . for Camping World Truck teams at Talladega, they began running this left-side tire code in 2014, and this right-side tire code in 2015 . . . teams in both of these series have also run this left-side tire at Daytona this season . . . this is the only track at which these teams ran this right-side tire this year . . . 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 full notes, tire codes, pressures, sret limites and more on the Talladega Race Info page

Baldwin meets with employees, 'exploring all my opportunities' for team's future UPDATE2: Unsure about his organization's future, #7 team owner Tommy Baldwin met with his employees Monday "so I can give them the options if they needed to go find a job.'' Baldwin said Tuesday that "I'm exploring all my opportunities right now. I'm trying to figure everything out.'' He hopes to have his plans solidified by some point in December. Among the options, there is one thing Baldwin said he won't do. "I would never shut down,'' said Baldwin, whose team debuted in the Cup series in 2009. "Don't use that word. The options are keep going or sell. That's the only two options we have.'' Baldwin admits he's given his employees a similar message "in six out of the eight years" of the team and always made it to the next season. "The technology has just increased,'' Baldwin said. "Everyone has just become smarter. The race teams, with Michael Waltrip Racing shutting down (after the 2015 season) and some other things, it put a lot good people, dispersed a lot of good people to different teams. Everyone had to spend a lot more money to keep up with the Gibbs and Hendrick programs. It's funny to me how everyone thinks our racing is not good. This is the most competitive that NASCAR has ever been.'' Baldwin admits it has been a struggle at times for the team and driver Regan Smith. Baldwin has one of the 36 charters granted to Sprint Cup teams at the beginning of this season. That adds value to his organization, ensuring that his team - or whoever purchases the charter, if that happens - would be in every Cup points race. Baldwin's car is 32nd in the car owner point standings, ahead of five other teams that have charters (another team below Baldwin's leased its charter for this season). Smith is 33rd in the driver standings. He finished a season-best third at Pocono in August. His only other top-10 finish this year has been an eighth-place result in the Daytona 500.(NBC Sports)
UPDATE: hearing that Baldwin has sold the #7 TBR charter to the #95 Circle Sport - Leavine Family Racing team. Not sure if that means the team will have two charters and run two teams or if Circle Sport gets one of the charters and runs the #33 team again. Supposedly Casey Mears will be the driver of the #95. Rumors have floated around the Ty Dillon would take over the #13 Germain Racing Chevy ride with increased support from Richard Childress Racing. No word if Baldwin would stay on as a part-owner or crew chief, move on to another team or keep running the #7 TBR team as an open team.
UPDATE2: FS1's NASCAR Racehub show confirmed Wednesday with multiple sources that Tommy Baldwain Racing has signed paperwork to transfer ownership charter to Leavine Family Racing (#95 Chevy). It was also reported that LFR leased their charter for 2016, supposedly from Circle Sport, which ran the #33 Chevy for years under the ownership of Joe Falk. Baldwin could play an advisory role with the team. TBR declined to comment. (10-19-2016)

Kansas warnings/fines announced: NASCAR has announced penalties and warnings following the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on October 16, 2016.
Greg Ives, the crew chief for #88-Alex Bowman, was fined $10,000 for lug nut(s) not properly installed after the race.
#20-Kenseth, failed LIS three times, pre-race. written warning and loss of 15 minutes practice time.
#19-Edwards(4), #42-Larson (4) and #78-Truex Jr. (3) Failed LIS twice, pre-race, written warning.
Edwards & Larson also loss of pit selection at Talladega for 4th violation.
#3-Dillon(1) and #7-Smith(1), failed template inspection twice, pre-race, written warning.
#55-Whitt(2), failed LIS twice, pre-qualifying, written warning.
#1-McMurray(0; penalty served in Kansas) & #78-Truex Jr.(3), failed template inspection twice, pre-qualifying, written warning.
() -- total current warnings.
See the Kansas Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(10-19-2016)

Earnhardt Jr. says he will race the #88 in 2017: Dale Earnhardt Jr. reiterated on Wednesday that he continues to have every intention of returning to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to drive the #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy in 2017, beginning with the season-opening Daytona 500 next February. Earnhardt, who has been sidelined since early July because of a concussion and will not return for the remainder of this season, spoke at a promotional event (Jeansboro Day) Wednesday at the corporate headquarters of Wrangler.(FoxSports)(10-19-2016)

Stenhouse Jr. to Honor the Late Bryan Clauson at the Jason Leffler Classic: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will return to his dirt-track roots this Thursday night as he drives the #39 for the newly formed Clauson-Marshall Racing at the Jason Leffler Classic at Wayne County Speedway to honor his late friend Bryan Clauson. "I'm always thrilled to race with Tim and this team. I value the friendship and passion he and Bryan have for racing," Stenhouse, Jr., commented. "This race means a lot to Bryan. The whole racing family comes together to remember an awesome guy and racer. I'm looking forward to representing this team and hope I can do even half of what Bryan could do in this car. Bryan's passing hasn't gotten easier, but it's been unbelievable to see the support of so many friends, family and fans. With them, I hope to continue Bryan's legacy and continue in his winning ways. It helps all of us and I'm glad to be a tiny part of it with this team." At Bristol earlier this year, the Olive Branch, Miss. native drove a Bryan Clauson Fastenal tribute scheme to a second-place finish after overcoming a two-lap deficit and a speeding penalty on pit road. The second-place finish tied his career best finish, also at Bristol in 2014. After the race on Thursday evening, Stenhouse will travel to Talladega Superspeedway for the Hellmann's 500.(RFR)(10-19-2016)

#30 TMG Team skipping Talladega: The #30 TMG Chevy is shown as being 'withdrawn' on the Hellman's 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway entry list. Per a tweet by @TMG30: "We are taking the Dega weekend off. We are still building and our plate program is just not where it needs to be to qualify." Driver @Josh_Wise also tweeted: "Pretty bummed we aren't going to make it to @TalladegaSuperS this week. One of the few tracks left that is an equalizer in the race." (10-19-2016)

Snickers Halloween scheme for Kyle Busch: As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Talladega this weekend for the final race of the Round of 12 in the 2016 Chase for the Sprint Cup, Kyle Busch's #18 Snickers Halloween Toyota is appropriately dressed for the occasion with a special Halloween-themed livery (JGR), see an image of the scheme on the #18 Team Schemes page (10-19-2016)

PEAK Becomes New Title Sponsor of NASCAR Mexico Series: NASCAR announced a multi-year agreement with Old World Industries (OWI) to make PEAK title sponsor of the NASCAR Mexico Series, which will run a full slate of races in 2017 and ensuing seasons. The NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series will kick off with an exhibition race on Dec. 3-4 in Mexico City. Its 10th season will begin in 2017 with a full championship schedule that will be announced at a later date. NASCAR XFINITY Series star Daniel Suárez - the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race, earn a national series Sunoco Rookie of the Year award and lead a national series in points - developed his talents in the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series. Suárez is currently competing for the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship in its inaugural Chase playoff. Another young talent the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series has fostered is Ruben Garcia Jr., an alumnus of the NASCAR Next initiative which highlights the sport's top up-and-coming drivers. Both Suárez and Garcia are also alums of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program. As part of OWI's deal, PEAK becomes an official NASCAR partner. The NASCAR bar mark will be featured on select PEAK products, including PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant (Official Antifreeze/Coolant of NASCAR) and PEAK Windshield Washer Fluid and Wipers (Official Washer Fluid and Wiper Blade of NASCAR), BlueDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid and Equipment (Official Diesel Exhaust Fluid of NASCAR and Official Diesel Exhaust Fluid Equipment of NASCAR) and Herculiner Truck & Bed Liners (Official Roll-On and Spray-On Bed Liner of NASCAR).(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-19-2016)

Reed to attempt to make his Cup debut: This weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, Ryan Reed will get behind the wheel of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) car for the first time in competition. Reed will attempt to make his first NSCS start this weekend at Talladega behind the wheel of the #99 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford. In three NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) starts at Talladega, Reed has never started outside of the top-10 and has led a total of 37 laps. In six NXS starts at Daytona International Speedway, Reed has earned one win, two top-fives and three top-10s. Reed kicked off the 2015 season at Daytona with an eighth-place qualifying effort. Reed would find his way to the front of the field in the closing laps, leading a total of 14 laps and crossing the finish line in first. Reed's NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) crew chief Phil Gould will also serve as his crew chief in this weekend's NSCS race. Gould has 12 superspeedway races under his belt as a NXS crew chief. The Drive to Stop Diabetes campaign strives to educate people about living well with diabetes. The campaign encourages the millions of Americans who have diabetes to talk about it with their doctor, family, and friends and to actively manage their health.(RFR), see an image of the car on the #99 Team Schemes page (10-19-2016)

Kansas XFINITY warnings announced: NASCAR has announced warnings following the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Kansas Speedway on October 15.
#5-Cole Custer (2), #86-Brandon Brown (1) Failed LIS twice in pre-race inspection and were given written warnings
#48-Brennan Poole (1), #70-Derrike Cope (2) Failed template inspection three times in pre-race inspection and were give written warnings.
See the Kansas Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(10-19-2016)

Injury forces Truck team to withdraw: In the interest of safety, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) has decided to withdraw their #30 Jones Group International / J-AAR Excavating Ford from Saturday afternoon's fred's 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race at Talladega Superspeedway. Team co-owner and part-time driver Terry Jones was attempting to make his sixth career start this weekend, but a leg injury while working on a jobsite in Canada last week will force the Amherstburg, Ontario native to be sidelined for what he hoped was his first NCWTS start of 2016. "The motor is in, the truck is ready, the guys are ready, but after talking to Terry this morning, we just decided to postpone the launch of our new truck while he heals," said RJR co-owner Mark Rette. Despite sitting out Saturday's 94-lap race, the team will now engage on competing in the 2017 season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Friday night, Feb. 24, 2017.Rette Jones Racing)(10-19-2016)

New crew chief for Abreu: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) rookie Rico Abreu will have a new crew chief for Saturday afternoon's freds' 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. Longtime ThorSport Racing employee and veteran crew chief Bud Haefele will serve as interim crew chief for Abreu and the #98 Safelite AutoGlass Toyota Tundra replacing Doug George who is no longer with the organization. Haefele served as crew chief for teammate Matt Crafton at ThorSport for a span of seven seasons from 2005 - 2011 and called the 2015 NCWTS season finale for NASCAR Next alumnus Jesse Little. Haefele has called 180 races to date, since 2004, 175 of them with Crafton. His success includes two wins with Crafton at Charlotte Motor Speedway (2008) and Iowa Speedway (2011), six poles, 42 top-five and 96 top-10 finishes. Abreu, the two-time Chili Bowl Nationals winner is looking to Haefele to resurrect his rookie season in trucks. Despite enormous success on dirt, including the 2014 USAC Midget National championship, the St. Helena, Calif. native has struggled in his freshman season of truck competition. After 18 races, the 24-year-old is 14th in points with one top-five (third at Eldora Speedway) and four top-10 finishes. Following the dirt race at Eldora, the 2013 USAC Gold Crown Midget Nationals winner finished sixth at Pocono Raceway the following race, his last top-10 finish on the tour, seven races ago. George will return to the track this weekend working with Hattori Racing Enterprises with driver Ryan Truex. The younger brother of Sprint Cup racer Martin Truex Jr. finished second in the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona this past February.(Catchfence)(10-19-2016)

Hightower to run Talladega: Brandon Hightower will be racing this weekend at Talladega in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He will be making his second start in the truck series. He has already raced in the Xfinity Series four times this year, with his best finish at Dover in 25th place. The first time he raced in the truck series was at the fall Martinsville race last year.(See an image of the truck on the #71 Team Paint Schemes page)(Let's Talk Racing)(10-19-2016)

Hellmann's joins Talladega Superspeedway as title sponsor: Hellmann's mayonnaise, which has been a staple in American kitchens for generations, and NASCAR's Most Competitive Track - Talladega Superspeedway - announced that Sunday's race in the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will now be known as the Hellmann's 500. Hellmann's, a brand of Unilever, has been involved in the sport of NASCAR since 2004 and has a reputation for delivering fans with quality, delicious products. In addition to the new Talladega Superspeedway (TSS) partnership, the Hellmann's brand has a long-time relationship with six-time TSS winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports. NASCAR fans have embraced many of the attributes that resonate with the Hellmann's family of products - plain and simple, they are the real deal. Hellmann's (hellmanns.com) flagship product, Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise, is the best-selling mayonnaise in the United States.
"In honor of our long-standing partnership with NASCAR, Hellmann's is thrilled to show our dedication to the race car community by becoming the exclusive, title sponsor of the Talladega race," said Hellmann's Marketing Director Russel Lilly. "We've been a staple on the speedway for years, getting to know Dale Jr. and establishing his No. 88 Hellmann's Chevrolet as the car to beat. Whether on the track or cheering from the stands, Hellmann's is a life-time fan of the sport of racing and we're honored to be a part of such an iconic race."
"Hellmann's is an incredible nationally known product that fits in perfectly with our facility and the fans who attend the events here," said Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch. "We have an incredible fan base who are here all week and love to cook up a variety of tasty dishes to eat while they are enjoying the best racing in the world. Take a walk on our property and you will see campers and tailgaters using a host of Hellmann's spreads. We are glad to welcome them to our Talladega family with the Hellmann's 500."
Sunday's Hellmann's 500 at the mammoth 2.66-mile, 33-degree banked layout, will be the pivotal third and final race in the Round of 12 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. When the checkered flag falls in the pressure-packed event, the field of title contenders will be reduced from 12 drivers to eight. While he won't be competing in the Hellmann's 500, Earnhardt Jr. will be at Talladega and will be interacting with fans as part of the Fan Question & Answer session at the start-finish line as part of the track's "Pre-Race Pit Pass Upgrade".
Weekend preparations for the Hellmann's 500 get underway Friday (Oct. 21) with two different practice sessions (1:00-1:55 p.m. CDT & 3:30-4:25 p.m. CDT). Foodland/Food Giant Qualifying, which will determine the starting lineup for the Hellmann's 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, is set for Saturday (Oct. 22) at 3:00 p.m. CDT. A ticket to the Hellmann's 500 also gets fans into the traditional Saturday Night Infield Concert, which will feature country star Jerrod Niemann, Tim Dugger and DJ Michaelis. The Hellmann's 500 is set for a 1:00 p.m. (CDT) start Sunday (Oct. 23). More info and to buy tickets, go to talladegasuperspeedway.com (TSS)(10-18-2016)

Chase Clinch Scenarios at Talladega: #48-Jimmie Johnson and #4-Kevin Harvick have already clinched a spot in the Round of 8. With only one race remaining in this round, a new winner would be a win by Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski or Chase Elliott. A win by any other driver would be considered a repeat winner for the clinching requirements (so, Johnson/Harvick, or a non-Chase driver, or a driver ahead of Logano in points).
#20-Matt Kenseth (0 Wins, 3074 Points) - Would clinch on points with 13 Points (28th and no laps led, 29th and led at least one lap, 30th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 11 Points (30th and no laps led, 31st and led at least one lap, 32nd and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.
#18-Kyle Busch (0 Wins, 3072 Points) - Would clinch on points with 15 Points (26th and no laps led, 27th and led at least one lap, 28th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 14 Points (27th and no laps led, 28th and led at least one lap, 29th and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.
#19-Carl Edwards (0 Wins, 3069 Points) - Would clinch on points with 18 Points (23rd and no laps led, 24th and led at least one lap, 25th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 16 Points (25th and no laps led, 26th and led at least one lap, 27th and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.
#41-Kurt Busch (0 Wins, 3062 Points) - Would clinch on points with 25 Points (16th and no laps led, 17th and led at least one lap, 18th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 24 Points (17th and no laps led, 18th and led at least one lap, 19th and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.
#78-Martin Truex Jr (0 Wins, 3058 Points) - Would clinch on points with 29 Points (12th and no laps led, 13th and led at least one lap, 14th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 28 Points (13th and no laps led, 14th and led at least one lap, 15th and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.
#22-Joey Logano (0 Wins, 3045 Points) - If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 41 Points (2nd and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins. Could clinch on points with a new winner and help.
#3-Austin Dillon (0 Wins, 3045 Points) - If there is a repeat winner, would clinch on points with 41 Points (2nd and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins. Could clinch on points with a new winner and help.
#11-Denny Hamlin (0 Wins, 3039 Points) - With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins. Could clinch on points with help.
#2-Brad Keselowski (0 Wins, 3038 Points) - With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins. Could clinch on points with help.
#24-Chase Elliott (0 Wins, 3020 Points) - With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins. Could clinch on points with help.
(NASCAR)

Testing at Homestead UPDATE: NASCAR's biggest stars from the Sprint Cup Series are headed to Homestead-Miami Speedway for team testing sessions. The tests are set for Tuesday, October 18 and Wednesday, November 19 from 9:00am-5:00pm on both days, weather permitting. Testing will take place on the Speedway's 1.5-mile oval, where one car from each of the major NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams are slated to participate. Drivers will use the testing sessions in order to gather valuable racing data in preparation for the Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race on Sunday, November 20. The testing will be open to the public from 9:00am-5:00pm where fans can watch from the infield Pit Road Cabanas, grandstands and the Speedway Club located on the fourth floor. Fans attending may park their vehicles in the parking lot located on S.W. 336th Street and S.W. 137th Avenue. Entry to the facility is through Gate 4 where a tram will be available to take fans to the infield. Concessions will be made available to fans at the infield Pit Road Cabanas. Drivers scheduled to participate include: #2-Brad Keselowski, #34-Chris Buescher, #21-Ryan Blaney, #6-Trevor Bayne, #42-Kyle Larson, #24-Chase Elliott, #3-Austin Dillon, #41-Kurt Busch, #95-Michael McDowell, #99-Carl Edwards, and #23-David Ragan.(Homestead-Miami Speedway)(10-18-2016)
UPDATE: With the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 set for November 20, drivers in NASCAR's top series made their way to Homestead-Miami Speedway on Tuesday to participate in the first of two scheduled team testing sessions. They are slated to conclude testing Wednesday from 9:00am to 5:00pm/et. In Tuesday's session, teams and their drivers took advantage of a full day's worth of testing to prepare for November's championship race. The 11 teams who took part in the tests had the opportunity to gain valuable racing data while experimenting on the Speedway's 1.5-mile oval. NASCAR testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway will resume tomorrow, October 19, and will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. where fans can watch from the infield Pit Road Cabanas, grandstands and the Speedway Club located on the fourth floor. Fans attending may park their vehicles in the parking lot located on S.W. 336th Street and S.W. 137th Avenue. Entry to the facility is through Gate 4 where a tram will be available to take fans to the infield. Concessions will be made available to fans at the Pit Road Cabanas. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers that participated in the testing session today (Tuesday) included:
#2-Brad Keselowski, #34-Chris Buescher, #21-Ryan Blaney, #6-Trevor Bayne, #42-Kyle Larson, #24-Chase Elliott, #3-Austin Dillon, #41-Kurt Busch, #95-Michael McDowell, #19-Carl Edwards and #23-David Ragan.
Tickets to the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race, in addition to the NASCAR XFINITY Series Ford EcoBoost 300 championship race Saturday, November 19, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford EcoBoost 200 championship race Friday, November 18, are now available and can be purchased by calling (866) 409-RACE (7223) or visiting www.HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com.(HMS)(10-18-2016)

Kansas Overnight TV Ratings: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Kansas, the fifth race in the Chase For the Cup, scored a 2.0 overnight rating on NBC Sunday afternoon - down 9% from last year (2.2) and even with 2014 on ESPN. Excluding rainouts, the 2.0 is the lowest for a Sprint Cup race on broadcast television since at least 2004.(Sports Media Watch), see race-by-race TV Ratings for 2016 and a comparison chart on the 2016 TV Ratings page.(10-18-2016)

Pink scheme for Allmendinger at Talladega: JTG Daugherty Racing is raising breast cancer awareness by turning AJ Allmendinger's #47 Kroger/SCOTT Products Chevrolet SS pink at Talladega Superspeedway during the Alabama 500 on Sunday, October 23rd to compliment The Kroger Co. Family of Stores Sharing Courage campaign, which has donated over $33 million directly to local breast cancer organizations. In addition to a pink car, JTG Daugherty Racing has invited Kroger associate Linda O'Connell to Talladega Superspeedway to share her inspirational story of being one-year cancer-free. Her story is humbling, one of triumph and one that is close to the hearts of JTG Daugherty Racing employees, who will display family member's names on the #47 car that have battled or are battling breast cancer.(JTG Daugherty Racing), see an image of the car on the #47 team paint schemes page.(10-18-2016)

Parking Forward joins BK Racing as associate sponsor at Talladega: BK Racing has announced a partnership with Parking Forward as an associate sponsor for the #23 sweetFrog Toyota of David Ragan, the #93 Dustless Blasting Toyota of Matt DiBenedetto, and # 83 Starter Toyota of Jeffery Earnhardt. Parking Forward offers a broad range of access and revenue control solutions to parking revenue recovery services and collections to full service parking management solutions. Their customers include parking operators, municipalities, universities, hospitals, commercial and residential buildings, hotels, and special event venues. As a sales alliance, they partner with businesses of all sizes, including new businesses, to drive sales on behalf of parking technology manufacturers and parking solutions providers.(BK Racing)(10-18-2016)

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Talladega:
#24-Chase Elliott .......... 101.3
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr .......... 92.0
#20-Matt Kenseth .......... 89.2
#48-Jimmie Johnson .......... 88.6
#41-Kurt Busch .......... 88.3
#2-Brad Keselowski .......... 87.1
#14-Brian Vickers .......... 84.0
#11-Denny Hamlin .......... 82.9
#22-Joey Logano .......... 81.9
#4-Kevin Harvick .......... 80.9
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2016 races (23 total) among active drivers at Talladega Superpeedway.
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)

Lupton in for Young at Talladega: Focused on expanding his racing resume, Wilton, Calif. native Dylan Lupton will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) debut this Saturday's fred's 250 fueled by Coca-Cola at Talladega Superspeedway for Young's Motorsports. Lupton, a NASCAR Next alumnus will become the fourth driver to compete in all three of NASCAR's national series this year aboard the #02 Young's Motorsports / Breast Cancer Awareness Chevrolet Silverado. The Californian has made two NASCAR XFINITY Series starts for RSS Racing and two Sprint Cup Series starts for BK Racing. Lupton will pilot the same truck Young's Motorsports driver Tyler Young raced to a career-best sixth place performance in February at Daytona International Speedway. Lupton, a multiple NASCAR K&N Pro Series West winner also will be guided by his BK Racing Cup spotter Chris Monez. Although limited with restrictor plate experience, Lupton did compete in the ARCA Racing Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway for Empire Racing. After qualifying 17th, Lupton quickly drafted to inside the top-five before an engine failure resulted in a 24th place finish.(Young's Motorsports)(10-18-2016)

Bad Boy Mowers returns to MAKE: 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Travis Kvapil will sport the colors of Batesville, AR., based Bad Boy Mowers, Inc. for the final NASCAR Camping World Series (NCWTS) restrictor plate race of the 2016 season at Talladega Superspeedway. Bad Boy Inc. began operation in 2002, with the sole purpose of producing the Bad Boy zero-turn commercial lawn mower. The Bad Boy Mowers research team started working with one goal in mind: to develop the strongest, most durable zero-turn mower available and to deliver excellent quality of cut, reliability, productivity and comfort. Bad Boy Mowers are now manufactured, assembled, and stored in multiple facilities comprising over One Million square feet in Batesville, Arkansas. Bad Boy Mowers has a specially equipped fleet of tractor trailer rigs that ensure the mowers arrive directly to dealers all across the country completely assembled, factory inspected and ready to mow. The #50 of Travis Kvapil and MAKE Motorsports will sport Bad Boy Mowers as the primary sponsor for the Saturday event. Associate sponsors will continue to be CorvetteParts.com, Laird Plastics, 64 Audio, Bad Ace Trading Company, ZAK Products, WIX Filters, Beaver Bail Bonds, and Markanda Social Strategies.(MAKE Motorsports)(10-18-2016)

Shield Fire Protection,joins MB: Shield Fire Protection, headquartered in Kings Mountain, NC, has partnered with MB Motorsports, the sole surviving original team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, for the remainder of the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. The partnership kicks off at Talladega Superspeedway. The #63 MB Motorsports Chevy Silverado will carry the Shield Fire Protection logo in the Fred's 250 on Saturday, October 22nd.(MB Motorsports)(10-18-2016)

Plenty of entertainment options available at Phoenix: Fans will enjoy a full weekend lineup of entertainment for the Can-Am 500 race weekend at Phoenix Raceway, Nov. 11-13. This fall will feature a new post-race Phoenix Raceway After Dark show with Christopher Shayne on Friday, Nov. 11. PIR mainstays like Harry Luge and METALHEAD will return to Busch Garage all weekend long, while NASCAR's favorite DJ Michaelis will be back to add his unique spin on driver introductions before the Can-Am 500 on Sunday, Nov. 13. Famous for deconstructing popular music, PIR fans know DJ Michaelis for putting his own twist on the traditional driver introductions before the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. Arizona's own Christopher Shayne will highlight Friday's entertainment as he will be performing a post-race concert at the Fan Midway stage immediately following the Lucas Oil 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Semi-Final Race on Nov. 11. Prior to the Can-Am 500, multiplatinum rock band Hinder will also be performing a free concert for any fan with a grandstand ticket. Race weekend entertainment officially kicks off at the Busch Garage with The Crown Kings on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7:00pm. Hitting the Busch Garage on Thursday night, Harry Luge will take the stage at 9:00pm and will also close out the weekend at Busch Garage with a performance on Saturday night. Georgia Chrome will light up the stage at the Busch Garage on Friday. Also performing at the Busch Garage on Friday will be Arizona's original and best hair band rock show, METALHEAD. Returning to PIR, the local Donny Grubb Band will kick off Saturday evening at Busch Garage with a concert starting at 7:00pm.(PIR)(10-18-2016)

Jeffrey Earnhardt and Starter join BK Racing at Talladega: BK Racing announced that Jeffrey Earnhardt will be driving the #83 Starter Toyota Camry at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2016. Earnhardt will be one of three BK Racing cars on track for the Alabama 500 as he joins teammates David Ragan and Matt DiBenedetto. "I'm really excited to drive the No. 83 Starter Toyota Camry for the fall race at Talladega," said Earnhardt. "It's my first Cup Series race at Talladega, my first race with BK Racing, the first time anyone from our family competes in a Toyota and it's the 25th anniversary of my grandfather's victory at Talladega. Having this opportunity with an iconic American partner like Starter is an incredible honor. I can't remember being so pumped up for a race and sincerely appreciate our friends at Starter for their support." Doug Richert, former crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Sr. will be the crew chief on the #83 Starter Toyota at Talladega. Starter is a premium brand established in 1971. Starter pioneered the fusion of sports clothing with popular culture by forging partnerships with the major pro basketball, football, baseball, hockey, and college leagues.(BK Racing), see an image of the car on the #83 team paint schemes page.(10-17-2017)

NASCAR considering further limiting Cup drivers in lower series: For fans who don't like Sprint Cup drivers competing in Xfinity and Camping World Truck races, a NASCAR executive says "stay tuned" for an announcement "fairly soon" on the issue. Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, uttered those words Monday on "The Morning Drive" on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio when asked about limiting Cup drivers in the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series. "It certainly is on our radar," O'Donnell said. "We've heard the fans. It's interesting, it's been a balance throughout the years. We've always had Sprint Cup drivers come into the Xfinity Series and sometimes dominate, back in the Mark Martin days. As the sport has evolved one of the great things is we've got more of a fan following in the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series. They like seeing those drivers come up through the ranks and it's our job to make sure that Xfinity is where names are made. We've got to do on that on the racetrack. That is something we're taking a really hard look at for next year, I'd say stay tuned. We're going to look at and probably have something to announce fairly soon." NASCAR prohibits any Cup driver who was in last year's Chase from competing in this year's season finale for the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway. One possibility could be for NASCAR to extend such a ban for all future Chase races in the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series. Since 2011, Cup regulars have won 138 of the 196 Xfinity races (70.4%).(NBC Sports)(10-17-2016)

Cup Series title sponsorship expected to bring in less money: NASCAR [continues] the process of replacing a title sponsor for just the third time since 1971, in an environment where the value of such partnerships are fluid based on the needs and goals of the company, and the perceived value of a sport where attendance and television ratings have trended tepid. There still is value in NASCAR sponsorship, Kim Meesters, general manager of the NASCAR Sprint Cup sponsorship, told USA TODAY Sports. "It all has to be at the right level and the right price. It all has to be customized. That's why it takes so long to put this kind of deal together," she said. But the price has changed markedly.
CSM Sport & Entertainment CEO Zak Brown said the deal will not be as lucrative as the pact NASCAR is finishing with Sprint given the current market climate. Nextel signed a $750 million, 10-year deal to become title sponsor beginning in 2004, according to the Kansas City Star, and Sprint inked a three-year extension through the end of this season at a reduced rate of about $50 million in rights and activations fees, according to Sports Business Daily. Sprint announced in December 2014 that it would not renew. Brown said NASCAR has "a few real contenders," including "a couple" companies his firm represents. Among CSM's numerous clients with existing NASCAR lineage are Budweiser, Castrol, Crown Royal, Farmers Insurance and Hisense. Brown believes that NASCAR shouldn't rush to complete a deal for 2017. "NASCAR is very profitable as a business," he told USA TODAY Sports. "It's a very wealthy organization, so for them to rush into a bad long-term deal wouldn't make any sense. So they'd be better off just continuing to look and if that means that this year they go without one and it costs them $40 (million)-$50 million, they can afford it." [NASCAR chief operating officer Brent] Dewar said securing one before the end of the season is "not an issue at all," but added that a company new to the sport would likely want or require more time to engage.
Brown said the new title sponsor should be a "big consumer product" that doesn't conflict with current series partners. Any company wishing to sign a deal of less than five years, he said, "is not thinking big and long-term enough." Though NASCAR officials won't publicly discuss their potential terms, $1 billion over 10 years was an often-quoted starting point in the industry when the process began in 2014. Dewar said it is NASCAR's "lead strategy" to secure one sponsor, but Brown said he believes the series would consider splitting a sponsorship over various parts of the season, including one for the regular season and one for the Chase.(USA Today)(10-17-2016)

Roush Yates Engines preparing for Stewart Haas switch to Ford: One of the biggest stories of the 2016 NASCAR season played out early in the year with the announcement that Stewart-Haas Racing would switch from Chevrolet to Ford in 2017 - a move that caught most everyone off-guard. Now, with the season winding down, the countdown is on for that switch to become a reality and Roush Yates Engines is working behind the scenes to ensure it is up to the task of putting power under the SHR hoods. "Roush Yates Engines, right now, is in the process of increasing inventory and getting prepared," said Jeff Clark, Vice President of Sales for Roush Yates Engines. "We don't build the engines yet because technology is always changing but we are reviewing applications and potential employees - that will be more of a November/December item. And then acquiring the inventory, a lot of the parts in these engines require long lead-times. There are three, four, five or six months of lead time on these items, so we're trying to get the hard parts together and just prepare as much as possible for when it is go-time." Clark doesn't have an exact number of people the organization will need to bring on to fulfill the new workload but he knows they will be choosing from the best-of-the-best in the sport. He said they have received a lot of interest from engine experts looking to fill the void and that have led to numerous applications and resumes. He said management is poring over stats to determine how much the workload will increase to be ready for 2017.(Kickin the Tires)(10-17-2016)

Kansas Race and Commercial Breakdown: For those of you 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 5:34 PM (all times are EDT). NBC was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 120
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 56
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 98
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 51
Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 22
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 21
Number of times NBCSN utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 4
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 2:15 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 5:34 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 199
Minutes of race broadcast: 154
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 45
Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 11
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 154 Total comm. brdcst time 45
See past races, more info on the commercials with links at CawsnJaws.com.(10-17-2016)

Truck Series Entry List: There are 38 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. A few notes:
Austin Cindric is in the #2;
Korbin Forrister is in the #5;
Clay Greenfield is in the #10;
Bobby Gerhart s in the #36;
Reed Sorenson is in the #49;
Ryan Ellis is in the #63;
Parker Kligerman is in the #75;
The #30 and #71 are TBA.
(10-17-2016)
See the complete list on the Talladega entry list page.

Boot Daddy on board with Martins: Tommy Joe Martins announced on his Twitter a new sponsor, BootDaddy.com, for this weekend's race at Talladega Superspeedway. "So happy to have a new partner, BootDaddy, alongside us for one of the biggest races of the year next weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. BootDaddy.com is the perfect one-stop shop for all of your western style clothing needs," his post read. (See an image of the truck on the #44 Team Paint Schemes page)(10-17-2016)

Kligerman, Henderson team up for Talladega: Connecticut native Parker Kligerman will be driving the #75 Food Country USA / Henderson Motorsports truck at Talladgea for the Fred's 250 powered by Coca-Cola Truck Series event this Saturday. Chris Carrier of Bristol, Virginia is the crew chief for the team, which is one of the oldest active teams still competing in NASCAR. Kligerman, an NBC Sports analyst and host, won his first Truck Series race at Talladega in 2012.(Henderson Motorsports)(10-17-2016)

Lee joins GMS for Texas: GMS Racing announced the addition of 23-year-old late model veteran Shane Lee to the team's driver lineup for the November 4 event at Texas Motor Speedway. The Newton, N.C., native will pilot the #24 GMS Racing Chevrolet entry for the Longhorn 350 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race. Lee cut his teeth at short tracks around the southeast, earning two limited late model championships and 2013 Whelen All-American Series Rookie of the Year honors. He made his NCWTS debut in February and completed a partial ARCA Racing Series schedule this season. Crew chief Jeff Stankiewicz will lead Lee in his first start at the Fort Worth mile-and-a-half track. Stankiewicz earned his first NCWTS win at Eldora Speedway with Kyle Larson in July. Additional details regarding sponsorship will be announced at a later date.(GMS Racing)(10-17-2016)

Wauters, Forrister partner for Talladega Truck race: Korbin Forrister, making his first NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series (NCWTS) start of the 2016, will pilot the #5 All Secure Document Disposal Company (ASDDC) Wauters Motorsports Toyota Tundra at Talladega Superspeedway, Saturday, October 22 in the running of the Fred's 250. The Cedartown, GA native is no stranger to the 2.66-mile superspeedway having two prior NCWTS starts. He also made his second start in an ARCA Racing Series race on the Lincoln, AL track earlier this year. Forrister teamed up with veteran NASCAR crew chief and owner, Richie Wauters earlier this year and went back to asphalt racing. The Wauters Super Late Model team and Forrister competed in the CARS Tour event at Myrtle Beach Speedway (Myrtle Beach, SC), the final Blizzard Series event at 5 Flags Speedway (Pensacola, FL) and the All-American 400 at Fairground Speedway Nashville (Nashville, TN). Wauters has one win (Kyle Busch 2009), three top five finishes in just five starts on Talladega Superspeedway as a NCWTS crew chief.(See an image of the truck on the #5 Team Paint Schemes page)(Wauters Motorsports)(10-17-2016)

youtheory sponsoring restart zone at Phoenix: Phoenix Raceway announced that the health and beauty supplement brand youtheory has been named the official sponsor of the Restart Zone at PIR for the Can-Am 500 race weekend on Nov. 11-13. The youtheory partnership marks the first sponsored restart zone at the track. Phoenix Raceway also welcomes youtheory as the official health supplement of the track. Youtheory, the leader in nutritional dietary supplement manufacturing, currently sponsors NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Corey LaJoie and his JGL Racing organization for the 2016 season. Fans who purchase tickets to the Can-Am 500 in the official Youtheory Restart Zone are eligible to receive a free special edition youtheory hat to wear as the cars race to the green flag.(PIR)(10-17-2016)

Entry List for the Alabama 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is posted, 42 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed, including: #21-Blaney*, #32-Bobby Labonte, #35-Gilliland*, #55-Sorenson*, #83-Jeffrey Earnhardt, #93-DiBenedetto*, #98-Whitt*, #99-Reed*. Not entered: #30-Wise
Drivers who are not a Charter team, an Open Team, and must get in via speed: #21-Blaney, #35-Gilliland, #55-Sorenson, #93-DiBenedetto, #98-Whitt, #99-Reed.
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts, then owners pts): #35-Gilliland, #99-Reed.
* Open Team (no Charter)
See the full entry list on Jayski.com's Talladega Entry List

Kevin Harvick wins at Kansas: #4-Kevin Harvick won the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway for his 4th win of the season, 2nd win at Kansas and 35th career win. Harvick led 74 of the 267 laps.
#19-Edwards finished 2nd followed by #22-Logano, #48-Johnson, #18-Busch, #3-Dillon, #88-Bowman (a career best), #47-Allmendinger, pole sitter #20-Kenseth, and #5-Kahne.
Two Chase drivers finished off the lead lap. #2-Keselowski spun off turn 4 during the race, slid down into the grass and ripped the front off the car. He finished 38th. #24-Elliott had a couple tire rubs that led to unscheduled pit stops. He finished 31st.
There were 16 lead changes among 10 drivers and 8 cautions for 38 yellow flag laps.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more [NOTE: money/winnings are no longer reported] at:
Unofficial Race Results page (pdf)
Lap Summary Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
Pit Stop Times (pdf)
(10-16-2016)

Race Fast Facts - Kansas Speedway:
Kevin Harvick (C) won the 16th Annual Hollywood Casino 400, his 35th victory in 569 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his fourth victory and 23rd top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his second victory and 11th top-10 finish in 22 races at Kansas Speedway.
Carl Edwards (C) (second) posted his 13th top-10 finish in 19 races at Kansas Speedway. It is his 17th top-10 finish in 2016.
Joey Logano (C) (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 15 races at Kansas Speedway.
Ryan Blaney (14th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Jimmie Johnson (C) leads the point standings by 8 points over Matt Kenseth (C).
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-16-2016)

Where the 2016 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers finished at Kansas:
(by Chase standings before the race)
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 4th
2) #20-Matt Kenseth, 9th
3) #18-Kyle Busch, 5th
4) #2-Brad Keselowski, 38th
5) #41-Kurt Busch, 13th
6) #19-Carl Edwards, 2nd
7) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 11th
8) #11-Denny Hamlin, 15th
9) #24-Chase Elliott, 31st
10) #3-Austin Dillon, 6th
11) #22-Joey Logano, 3rd
12) #4-Kevin Harvick, WON
(10-16-2016)

Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Round of 12:
[after Kansas, race 31 of 36, Chase race 5 of 10]
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson*, [3 wins], 3082 (won Charlotte)
2) #4-Kevin Harvick*, [4 wins] 3074 (won Kansas)
3) #20-Matt Kenseth, [2 wins], +29 ahead of 9th
4) #18-Kyle Busch, [4 wins], +27
5) #19-Carl Edwards, [2 wins], +24
6) #41-Kurt Busch, [1 win], +17
7) #78-Martin Truex Jr., [4 wins] +13
8) #22-Joey Logano, [1 win], +0
Bottom 4 drivers are currently out of the Chase:
9) #3-Austin Dillon, -0 pts out of 8th
10) #11-Denny Hamlin, [3 wins], -6
11) #2-Brad Keselowski, [4 wins], -7
12) #24-Chase Elliott, -25
(ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
* will advance to the Round of 8 by winning a Round of 12 race
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)

Unofficial Top 25 in 2016 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) #4-Kevin Harvick (C2), 993
2) #2-Brad Keselowski (C11), 985, -8
3) #18-Kyle Busch (C4), 944, -49
4) #22-Joey Logano (C8), 933, -60
5) #41-Kurt Busch (C6), 914, -79
6) #19-Carl Edwards (C5), 913, -80
7) #78-Martin Truex Jr. (C7), 909, -84
8) #11-Denny Hamlin (C10), 906, -87
9) #48-Jimmie Johnson (C1), 867, -126
10) #20-Matt Kenseth (C3), 855, -138
11) #3-Austin Dillon (C9), 809, -184
12) #24-Chase Elliott (C12), 807, -186
13) #5-Kasey Kahne, 797, -196
14) #31-Ryan Newman, 767, -226
15) #1-Jamie McMurray (CX), 764, - 229
16) #42-Kyle Larson (CX), 763, -230
17) #47-AJ Allmendinger, 686, -307
18) #21-Ryan Blaney, 682, -311
19) #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 680, -313
20) #6-Trevor Bayne, 675, -318
21) #10-Danica Patrick, 600, -393
22) #16-Greg Biffle, 564, -429
23) #27-Paul Menard, 563, -430
24) #14-Tony Stewart (CX), 562, -431
25) #15-Clint Bowyer, 541, -452
(C# = chase driver and current Chase position)
(EC = chase driver that has been eliminated from the Chase)
(10-16-2016)

Comcast Community Champion of the Year 2016 finalists named: The finalists for the 2016 Comcast Community Champion Award were announced Thursday night and again it features some of the most dedicated people in the NASCAR garage -- all focused on bettering the world around them.
The nominees -- one representing each of NASCAR's three premier series -- include Richard Childress Racing pit crew coach Ray Wright's work helping America's youth; JR Motorsports fabricator Wade Jackson, whose inspired organization CAMP LUCK (Lucky Unlimited Cardiac Kids) helps young heart disease patients; and Kyle Busch Motorsports co-owner Samantha Busch, who helped found the Kyle and Samantha Busch Bundle of Joy Fund, which helps families deal with financial hardships and last year alone, contributed more than $140,000 to families getting IVF (in vitro fertilization) treatments. Last year's inaugural winner of this esteemed award was XFINITY Series driver Joey Gase. He was awarded $60,000 to assist with his work with the Iowa Donor Network, which helps educate about organ donation. The effort is real for Gase, who when only 18-years old, lost his mother. Her organ donation, however, helped save the lives of 66 other people. This year's nominees have similar heartfelt, far-reaching stories of generosity, care and hope. The winner will be selected by Comcast and NASCAR executives along with former Sprint Cup driver Kyle Petty and NASCAR.com's senior writer, Holly Cain and the winner will be revealed during the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series banquet, Monday Nov. 21. In addition to the $60,000 award for the winner's designated charity, Comcast is also giving $30,000 to each of the other finalists' selected charities.(NASCAR.com)(10-16-2016)

Kansas Race Notes & Facts:
· There have been 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one NSCS event from 2001 - 2010 and two races per year since 2011.
· Four manufacturers have won at Kansas Speedway in the NSCS; led by Chevrolet with 10 victories, Ford with six, Toyota has three and Dodge has two.
· 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).
· There has been two NSCS races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Kansas Speedway: fall of 2011 (267/272) and fall of 2015 (267/269).
· Only one of the 21 races at Kansas Speedway has been shortened due to weather conditions: fall of 2007 - Completed 210 of the scheduled 267 laps.
· 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.
(NASCAR)

Tim Dugger and DJ Michaelis Join Talladega Weekend Festivities: Well-known country music singer-songwriter Tim Dugger, along with the popular DJ Michaelis, are set to open Talladega Superspeedway's traditional Saturday Night Infield Concert, Oct. 22, as part of the highly anticipated NASCAR Chase double elimination weekend featuring the Alabama 500 for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the fred's 250 Powered by Coca-Cola for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Oct 21-23. Dugger, a popular mainstay in NASCAR, and Michaelis, who recently jumped into the NASCAR scene bringing his own flare of music, will join headliner and Nashville country star Jerrod Niemann to give fans a triple dose of riveting music at NASCAR's Party Capital. The traditional concert, which takes place at the intersection of Eastaboga and Talladega Boulevards, will get rocking just hours after the conclusion of the fred's 250 Powered by Coca-Cola. The party will continue between sets as Michaelis, who will also be performing at the legendary "The Big One on the BLVD" Friday night event and during pre-race ceremonies for the Alabama 500 on Sunday, will be sure to bring the beats to keep the crowd going until Jerrod Niemann takes the stage. Michaelis has recently joined NASCAR in a collaborative project, producing original music and performing at tracks on the NASCAR circuit. He has performed with popular artists such as Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Skrillex, Ludacris, The Weekend and many more.(TSS)(10-16-2016)

Final practice for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over after 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#20-Kenseth 186.361
#42-Larson 185.842
#41-Busch 185.797
#24-Elliott 185.752
#18-Busch 185.535
Best 10 consecutive lap ave (of 28 drivers): #4-Harvick 183.740 & #14-Steart 183.490.
slowest: #55-Whitt 175.211 & #32-Gase 174.199.
most laps run: #41-Busch, 58, #1-McMurray & #24-Elliott, 53.
Notes: #41-Busch blew a tire off turn 4 as practice ended. He slid into the into the infield grass.
See fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Kansas Final Practice speeds page (pdf).(10-15-2016)

First Saturday practice for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over after 50 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#27-Menard 184.672
#4-Harvick 194.376
#42-Larson 184.024
#24-Elliott 183.955
#20-Kenseth 183.836
Best 10 consecutive lap ave (of 19 drivers): #18-Busch 182.530 & #27-Menard 181.964.
slowest:#30-Wise 173.438 & #32-Gase 172.651.
most laps run: #11-Hamlin 38 & #41-Busch 37, #16-Biffle 37.
See fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Kansas Practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-15-2016)

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway have been made.
With the field downsized to 40 cars, three pit stalls (22,42,43) have been eliminated, are not in play and don't count towards driving through more than three pit boxes.
Pole sitter #20-Kenseth chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #18-Busch took pit stall 8, the first pit stall with an opening in front of it.
#19-Edwards, who starts 3rd took the 23rd pit stall, with an opening in front of it.
The final pit stall was taken by #24-Elliott, who starts 13th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.

Biffle ready for a change? After re-signing with RFR in 2014, Biffle hasn't sniffed the Chase for the Sprint Cup in the last two seasons. He thought 2016 might be the year. With a new crew chief in Brian Pattie, a lower-downforce aero package from the sanctioning body and a renewed effort at Roush, things appeared to line up for NASCAR's elder statesman. And now, he's 24th in the standings with just one top-five finish, at Loudon. So when Biffle said his most recent contract might be his last, it's understandable. "Well, if I talk to you Sunday after the race in here, maybe that will be some inspiration," Biffle said in the media center where the winner is interviewed following the race. "I want to be competitive in races and run in the top 10. That's my goal and my focus. If I'm not doing that, then I am probably going to do something different." Biffle has been rumored to be leaving Roush Fenway Racing at the end of the season. Although he owns the building that headquarters HScott Motorsports in North Carolina, Biffle said he has not discussed racing for Harry Scott after Clint Bowyer leaves in November. Biffle has heard the rumors that he'll end up and Front Row Motorsports - a technical partner - but given his loyalty to Roush over his career, that's unlikely to be something he'd consider. Still, it would take something more promising - and competitive - to pique his interest in continuing down the current path.(Motorsport)(10-15-2016)

Johnson comments on deal with Stewart-Haas; Hendrick backtracks: Jimmie Johnson described a less-than-ideal working relationship between Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing on Friday, prompting his team general manager to clarify how the teams shared information. Stewart-Haas has gotten its Chevrolet engines and chassis from Hendrick Motorsports since it began in 2009, but that relationship is poised to end. Stewart-Haas announced this year it would be switching to Roush Yates Engines that power Ford teams for next season. Johnson was asked before practice for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Kansas whether he would like his team to find another partner to replace Stewart-Haas racing next season. "Just to be selfishly speaking," Johnson said, "we didn't get their data. We didn't share their data. They had ours. So it was a fantastic situation for them. They had our best stuff and then they have a huge engineering staff and they can take Hendrick's best equipment and refine it." That counts as inflammatory stuff in the closely knit NASCAR garage. It also prompted Hendrick Motorsports general manager Doug Duchardt to climb out of Johnson's hauler a few hours later and clarify the relationship. The teams did share information with each other before Stewart-Haas announced its decision to leave, at which point communication was largely cut off. "That is the way it worked from the time I have been at Hendrick Motorsports," Duchardt said. "We received information from Stewart-Haas when we worked with them. When they made their announcement with Ford that changed things. But the bottom line is that as partners we exchanged data."(Associated Press)(10-15-2016)

Bowyer gearing up for 2017: #15-Clint Bowyer met with members of the media at Kansas Speedway Friday and discussed his outlook for next season as he joins Stewart-Haas Racing:
Where are you at competitively? How do you feel about where you are going next year and where you are at now?
Bowyer: "Certainly, it's always natural to start thinking about next year. You better be this time of year no matter if you are moving or staying the same and nothing changes. That is how far in advance you have to look in this sport and work. All the organizations are lining themselves us and gearing up for next year, all the while, there is a lot of racing left to do in 2016. Last weekend is a prime example. I look over and I see all the Stewart-Haas cars up front, qualified well, Danica (Patrick) was fast, all the cars raced well. Those are the things that you look at and get excited for next year. But, hey, you've got an opportunity to come back home and race and compete in front of your hometown crowd, like I said, there is plenty of racing to do and things to accomplish this year. We've got to cap it off well and start to get focused on next year. It is exciting. You get emails, like I was telling somebody last night, an email came across my phone and I look over and its #14 merchandise approvals for next year. You are like 'holy cow' it's becoming reality. It's fixing to pick up in a big way."(Team Chevy Racing)(10-15-2016)

Kansas State University logo on the #1: Textron Aviation is further strengthening its relationship with Kansas State University through a $150,000 donation to help the Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus modernize its aviation program in the sky and on the ground. Textron Aviation's generosity will dramatically increase the square footage of the Certified Flight Instructor, or CFI, Lab, creating more workspace for flight instructors and a better learning environment for students enrolled in the program. The Powercat logo also will be featured on the hood of the Textron Aviation NASCAR of #1-Jamie McMurray for the race Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Kansas Speedway, another example of Textron Aviation's continued support for the university.(Kansas State News), see an image of the car on the #1 team paint schemes page.(10-15-2016)

Who's Hot and Who's Not - Kansas Edition:
HOT
- Joey Logano: won Kansas Chase race each of last 2 seasons
- Martin Truex Jr.: 817 laps led on 1.5-mile tracks this season (409 more than any other driver)
- Kevin Harvick: top-2 finish in 4 of last 6 Kansas races
- Kyle Busch: 3 straight top-5 finishes at Kansas (won spring race); 0 in 1st 14 career starts at track
- Kurt Busch: 3 straight top 10s at Kansas (4 in his 1st 17 career starts at track)
- Chase Elliott: career-high 103 laps led last week at Charlotte (wrecked out and finished 33rd)
NOT
- Denny Hamlin: wrecked out of 2 of last 3 Kansas races (finished 41st and 37th in those races)
- Kevin Harvick: finished 37th and 38th in last 2 races; 1st time with consecutive finishes outside top 35 since March 2014
- Austin Dillon: finished outside top 25 in 2 of 3 career Chase races at Kansas
(ESPN Stats & Info)(10-14-2016)

Kansas Driver Notes & Facts:
· 126 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas; 96 in more than one.
· Four drivers have started all 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway - Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman.
· Four drivers all-time have made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career start at Kansas Speedway: Erik Jones (5/09/2015), Ryan Blaney (5/10/2014), Austin Dillon (10/09/2011) and Denny Hamlin (10/09/2005).
· 13 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).
· Jeff Gordon is the only driver to win at Kansas in his first appearance.
· Kyle Busch competed at Kansas Speedway 16 times before winning in the earlier this season; the longest span of any the 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Kansas.
· Kyle Busch (16), 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 21.
· Brad Keselowski has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway without posting a DNF (13). · Kevin Harvick has the series most runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with three.
· Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-five finishes at Kansas Speedway with 11; followed by Jimmie Johnson with eight, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle each have seven.
· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway with 16; followed by Jeff Gordon (14), Carl Edwards (12) and Matt Kenseth (12).
· Jimmie Johnson (9.150) is the only active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver with more than one start at Kansas Speedway with an average finishing position inside the top 10.
· Matt Kenseth leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Kansas Speedway with 658 laps led in 21 starts. · Danica Patrick is the only female driver that has competed at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: (NASCAR)

Kyle Busch wins XFINITY race at Kansas: #18-Kyle Busch won the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. It is his 85th XFINITY Series win and 9th win of the year. He started from the pole and led 150 of the 200 laps.
#1-Elliott Sadler finished second, followed by #19-Daniel Suarez, #22-Joey Logano, #42-Kyle Larson, #88-Regan Smith, #48-Brennan Poole, #33-Brandon Jones, #11-Blake Koch, and #44-JJ Yeley.
Several Chase drivers had problems during the race:
#16-Ryan Reed had a loose spark plug wire early and lost a couple laps. He came back to finish 16th.
#7-Justin Allgaier, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr, and #16-Reed were caught in a wreck with 36 laps to go. Wallace was unable to continue and finished 33rd. Allgaier stayed on track and managed to get back on the lead lap to finish 14th. Reed only suffered minor damage.
With 24 laps to go, #62-Brendan Gaughan spun through the grass and had to go to the garage for repairs. He finished 31st.
#20-Erik Jones was leading late in the race when #42-Kyle Larson got into the rear of his car, forcing him to make contact with #3-Ty Dillon. Jones had to pit. He finished 15th.
There were 10 cautions for 51 laps and 17 lead changes among 7 leaders.
The average speed was 109.256mph.
Complete results are on the Kansas race results page (pdf).
(10-15-2016)

Where the 2016 XFINITY Chase Drivers finished at Kansas:
(by Chase standings before the race)
1) #19-Daniel Suarez,3rd
2) #1-Elliott Sadler, 2nd
3) #7-Justin Allgaier, 14th
4) #20-Erik Jones, 15th
5) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 31st
6) #16-Ryan Reed, 16th
7) #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., 33rd
8) #11-Blake Koch, 9th
(10-15-2016)

Kansas XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Kyle Busch(i) won the 16th Annual Kansas Lottery 300, his 85th victory in 327 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his ninth victory and 13th top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his fourth victory and 10th top-10 finish in 12 races at Kansas Speedway.
Elliott Sadler (C) (second) posted his fifth top-10 finish in seven races at Kansas Speedway. It is his 27th top-10 finish in 2016.
Daniel Suarez (C) (third) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Kansas Speedway.
Brennan Poole (seventh) was the highest finishing rookie.
This is the fifth season Kyle Busch has posted nine or more wins in a single season (13 wins, 2010 - series-most), (12, 2013), (10, 2008), (9, 2016 and 2009).
The Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 team has posted their 11th victory this season (Kyle Busch nine, Denny Hamlin and Sam Hornish Jr. each have one); fourth-most wins in a single season by a single team (13 wins in 2010, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing; 12 wins in 2013, No.22 Team Penske; 12 wins in 2013, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing).
This is Kyle Busch's 10th race he has led 100 or more laps in this season.
This is the fourth season of Kyle Busch's NASCAR XFINITY Series career he has led 100 or more laps in 10 or more races (12 races, 2009 - series-most); (11, 2010); (10, 2008 and 2016).
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-15-2016)

XFINITY Driver standings following Kansas:
1) #1-Elliott Sadler [3 wins], 3039
2) #19-Daniel Suarez [2 wins], 3039
3) #11-Blake Koch, 3032, -7
4) #7-Justin Allgaier, 3027, -12
Bottom 4 drivers will be eliminated after Phoenix:
5) #20-Erik Jones [4 wins], 3027, -12
6) #16-Ryan Reed, 3025, -14
7) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 3010, -29
8) #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., 3009, -30
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(10-15-2016)

Kyle Busch on XFINITY pole at Kansas: #18-Kyle Busch won the Coors Light pole for the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway with a speed of 182.100mph. #20-Erik Jones will start second. The rest of the top 10: #42-Kyle Larson, #19-Daniel Suarez, #7-Justin Allgaier, #2-Austin Dillon, #3-Ty Dillon, #1-Elliott Sadler, #11-Blake Koch, and #88-Regan Smith.
Did Not Qualify: #10-Josh Wise, #89-Morgan Shepherd.
The starting lineup is posted on the Kansas starting lineup page (pdf).(10-15-2016)

Kansas XFINITY Qualifying Notes:
Kyle Busch(i) won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 16th Annual Kansas Lottery 300 with a lap of 29.654 seconds, 182.100 mph.
This is his 56th pole in 327 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his eighth pole and 16th top-10 start in 2016.
This is his first pole in 12 races at Kansas Speedway.
Erik Jones (C) (second) posted his 29th top-10 start of 2016 and his first in one races at Kansas Speedway.
Kyle Larson(i) (third) posted his second top-10 start at Kansas Speedway. It is his 12th in 14 races this season.
Brennan Poole (12th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-15-2016)

Coke Zero 400 tickets on sale Monday: Tickets for the 59th annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Cup Series race scheduled on Saturday, July 1 will go on sale Monday, Oct. 17 at 9:00am/et. Race fans will have the opportunity to celebrate the Independence Day holiday weekend with the stars of NASCAR battling underneath the lights in the 160-lap, 400-mile race. Guests will also enjoy all the unprecedented amenities that come with the world's only motorsports stadium including 101,500 new, wider seats, thousands of premium club seats, 40 escalators and 17 elevators, 60 luxury suites, social "neighborhoods" and three concourse levels that span the nearly mile-long frontstretch. Tickets for the Coke Zero 400 start at $60. Children 12 and under are only $20 in reserved stadium seating. Those wishing to attend should make their plans early. As part of the Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola, in addition to the action on the track, Daytona International Speedway will celebrate the July Fourth holiday by recognizing Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and showcasing one of the largest fireworks shows in the Southeast.(DIS)(10-15-2016)

Matt Kenseth wins Kansas pole: #20-Matt Kenseth won the Coors Light pole for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway with speed of 192.089mph for his 1st pole of 2016, 3rd at Kansas and 18 of his career. Kenseth has won 4 races from the pole in his career in 16 tries.
#18-Busch will start 2nd, followed by #19-Edwardsm #78-Truex, Jr., #88-Bowman, #22-Logano, #11-Hamlin, #2-Keselowski, #31-Newman, #47-Allmendinger, #4-Harvick, and #3-Dillon.
#18-Busch was fastest in the 2nd round with a speed of 192.130mph and will start 2nd.
#20-Kenseth was fastest in the first round at 190.826mph. He starts from the pole.
Since the maximum of 40 cars entered the race, everyone made the race.
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Kansas qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Kansas Starting Lineup page (pdf).(10-14-2016)

Where the 2016 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers will start at Kansas:
[listed by driver points position]
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 21st
2) #20-Matt Kenseth, POLE
3) #18-Kyle Busch, 2nd
4) #2-Brad Keselowski, 8th
5) #41-Kurt Busch, 15th
6) #19-Carl Edwards, 3rd
7) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 4th
8) #11-Denny Hamlin, 7th
9) #24-Chase Elliott, 13th
10) #3-Austin Dillon, 12th
11) #22-Joey Logano, 6th
12) #4-Kevin Harvick, 11th
(10-14-2016)

Kansas Speedway - Qualifying Fast Facts:
Matt Kenseth (C) won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 16th Annual Hollywood Casino 400 with a lap of 28.112 seconds, 192.089 mph.
This is his 18th pole in 609 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and 20th top-10 start in 2016.
This is his third pole in 22 races at Kansas Speedway.
Kyle Busch (C) (second) posted his 22nd top-10 start of 2016 and his ninth in 18 races at Kansas Speedway.
Carl Edwards (C) (third) posted his ninth top-10 start at Kansas Speedway. It is his 25th in 31 races this season.
Ryan Blaney (17th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(10-14-2016)

Second Round of Qualifying for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over, after 10 scheduled minutes.
#18-Busch 192.130
#20-Kenseth 191.198
#4-Harvick 190.867
#22-Logano 190.691
#88-Bowman 190.503
the rest of the top 12: 31 47 78 3 19 11 2;
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 24 14 41 27 21 17 10 5 48 16 1 42
(10-14-2016)

First Round of Qualifying for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#20-Kenseth 190.826
#18-Busch 190.597
#22-Logano 190.335
#19-Edwards 189.800
#4-Harvick 189.773
the rest of the top 24: 41 14 78 10 48 21 2 31 27 5 11 16 3 1 47 88 17 24 42;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 6 7 83 23 13 34 15 44 95 38 43 55 46 32 98 30
Drivers who will miss the race: None. 40 teams entered.
(10-14-2016)

Friday practice for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over 70 minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#18-Busch 194.595
#41-Busch 194.119
#19-Edwards 194.098
#88-Bowman 1943.070
#24-Elliott 194.056
Best 10 consecutive lap ave (only 2 drivers): #11-Hamlin 186.256 & #13-Mears 185.041.
slowest: #98-Sorenson 179.581 & #30-Wise 178.577
most laps run: #13-Mears, 19.
Notes: Practice started about 20 minutes late as NASCAR had to finish drying the track from some light morning rain. Qualifying is scheduled for 6:15pm/et, with TV coverage on NBCSN.
See fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Kansas Practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-14-2016)

Kyle Busch, Larson penalized for swerving after Charlotte race: #18-Kyle Busch and #42-Kyle Larson were held out of the first 30 minutes of practice at Kansas Speedway as punishment for swerving after Sunday's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "You swerve, and you're sitting," vice president of competition Scott Miller said Friday. "That's about all there is to it." It's the first instance in which the infraction has been enforced. NASCAR executive vice president chief racing development officer Steve O'Donnell warned Sprint Cup drivers before the Sept. 25 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway of penalties for swerving, which teams have employed to help ensure their cars pass the Laser Inspection Station.Asked whether the teams of Busch and Larson specifically were warned, Miller said the New Hampshire announcement "was pretty specific to what's happening" and noted NASCAR has been analyzing postrace video.(NBC Sports)(10-14-2016)

2017 rules given to teams UPDATE: Motorsport.com has obtained a copy of the proposed modifications for next season. Some of the highlights include:
1. Testing policy - An update to the National Series testing policy which would allow drivers returning to the sport following a medical absence to have an extra test under the discretion of the sanctioning body.
2. Spoiler Size - For non-superspeedway events, the spoiler height will be reduced from 3.5 inches to 2.375 inches, further reducing downforce.
3. Mandatory Roof Hatches at Superspeedways - Roof hatches will remain optional at other race tracks.
4. Energy Absorbing Material added to the toe board in the driver's cockpit - NASCAR-approved toe board will be mandatory at Superspeedways.
5. Frame Changes - In an effort to restrict movement of the rear axle during competition, NASCAR is mandating change to the main frame assembly, truck trailing arm crossmember assembly, track bar mount and truck trailing arm on rear suspension, arm spacer and pinion angle shim.
6. Restrictor Plates - For superspeedways, the initial restrictor plate hole size will decrease from 57/64 to 7/8 inch.
See more at Motorsport.(10-14-2016)
UPDATE: A further reduction of downforce and the implementation of additional safety developments highlight the 2017 NASCAR premier series rules package announced by sanctioning body officials on Friday at Kansas Speedway. Aerodynamic adjustments similar to those in place for races at Kentucky Speedway and Michigan International Speedway in 2016 form the framework for the 2017 performance platform. However, slight modifications to the overall base package have been made. According to officials, the 2017 race package will include:
" Rear spoiler dimensions for all non-restricted events will be 2 3/8 inches x 61 inches. Current spoiler dimensions are 3 1/2 x 61; for the Kentucky and Michigan races, the dimensions were 2 1/2 x 53 inches.
" Splitter measurements for the 2017 package will be the same as those for the 2016 Kentucky and Michigan races, with a 3-inch reduction in the outboard (side) areas;
" A tapered rear deck fin;
" Net rear steer setting of zero.
The aero changes are the next evolution of the platform first rolled out for select events in 2015. Mandatory for 2016, those changes reduced downforce (the pressure exerted on a vehicle as it moves through the air) from 2,700 pounds to approximately 2,000 pounds. The 2017 package is expected to reduce downforce by approximately 500 pounds, landing in the 1,500-pound range. Safety enhancements, which include strengthening the interior driver compartment, will be mandatory for superspeedway events at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway and optional at the remaining venues for 2017. The aero package for superspeedway races at Daytona and Talladega will remain unchanged, although there will be a decrease in restrictor plate size (from 57/64ths to 7/8ths of an inch) to combat increasing speeds at the two tracks.(NASCAR.com)(10-14-2016)

International Speedway Corp details 3rd quarter financials: International Speedway Corp. held its conference call with investor analysts Thursday morning to detail results from the third quarter. ISC hosted four Sprint Cup weekends during the third quarter, which ended Aug. 31 - two races at Michigan, Daytona in July and Watkins Glen. Among the items mentioned in the nearly hour-long conference call:
- Admissions for comparable Cup events was up about 1 percent compared to the same time last year. This was mostly attributed to the Daytona race in July. In 2015, the seating capacity was reduced to about 50,000 for the Daytona summer race as construction continued on the grandstand. The stadium debuted at this year's Daytona 500 with 101,500 seats.
- Watkins Glen had a second consecutive sellout this year.
- Michigan International Speedway saw admission declines for both its Sprint Cup events.
- The average ticket price for the four Cup races at ISC tracks in the third quarter was $83.11. That's an increase of about 8 percent from the same period last year. The increase was mainly generated by the new seating and pricing at Daytona.
-The average ticket price for all Cup races at ISC tracks through the first nine months of the year is $96.14. That's an increase of about 8 percent, also driven by pricing at Daytona. - For the fourth quarter, ISC reported lower attendance-related revenue for Cup weekends at Darlington, Richmond and Chicagoland Speedway. Advance sales for the remaining events at ISC tracks (Kansas, Talladega, Martinsville, Phoenix and Homestead) are down 10 percent on average. ISC officials anticipate a sellout for the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
See more at NBC Sports.(10-14-2016)

sweetFrog returns to sponsor Ragan at Talladega: BK Racing announced that sweetFrog premium frozen yogurt has returned to sponsor David Ragan and the #23 sweetFrog Toyota Camry for the Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Earlier this season sweetFrog made their NASCAR debut with BK Racing and Ragan at Richmond. Returning for their third race with Ragan and the 23 team, sweetFrog's NASCAR sponsorship has been a natural fit for the rapidly growing chain. The sweetFrog frozen yogurt chain started in Richmond, Virginia back in 2009. sweetFrog currently has over 340 stores in 25 states, and international locations in the United Kingdom and the Dominican Republic.(BK Racing), see an image of the car on the #23 team paint schemes page.(10-14-2016)

Kansas Pole Notes & Facts:
· Jason Leffler won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Kansas Speedway in 2001 with a speed of 176.499 mph.
· 14 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).
· Four of the 21 (19%) 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 21 (23.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the front row: four from the pole and one from second-place.
· 12 of the 21 (57.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· 18 of the 21 (85.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a top-20 starting position.
· Two of the 21 (9.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20. - 21st (Tony Stewart, 2006) and 25th (Brad Keselowski, 2011).
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kansas Speedway is 25th, by Brad Keselowski in the spring of 2011.
· Joey Logano leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas Speedway with a 10.571.
· Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
(NASCAR)

Truex Jr. to make 400th career start: #78-Martin Truex Jr. will make his 400th career start in Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. For his career, he owns seven wins, 47 top-five and 132 top-10 finishes.(NASCAR)(10-14-2016)

Blake Koch fastest in first XFINITY practice: #11-Blake Koch was fastest during opening practice at Kansas Speedway with a speed of 182.13mph. The rest of the top 10: #20-Erik Jones, #18-Kyle Busch, #19-Daniel Suarez, #3-Ty Dillon, #22-Joey Logano, #42-Kyle Larson, #48-Brennan Poole, #88-Regan Smith, and #16-Ryan Reed. 40 drivers practiced during the session.
See complete results on the Kansas practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-14-2016)

CarShield sponsoring Chastain for two races: CarShield, one of the nation's leading car warranty companies, has joined forces with JD Motorsports with Gary Keller to sponsor driver Ross Chastain in Saturday's Kansas Lottery 300 Xfinity Series race at Kansas Speedway and for the Ticket Galaxy 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. CarShield provides the ultimate protection for you and your vehicle. CarShield pays claims directly to a United States or Canadian ASE-Certified repair facility of your choice. Most CarShield contracts also include roadside assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, along with many other services.(Johnny Davis Motorsports)(10-14-2016)

100th start for Hill: Timmy Hill will be attempting his 100th NASCAR Xfinity Series race this weekend driving the #40 Toyota for MBM at Kansas Speedway. The 2011 NXS Rookie of the Year made his first Xfinity Series start the day after his 18th birthday in the second race of the 2011 season at Phoenix.Timmy Hill PR)(10-14-2016)

Cole Swindell named honorary starter at Kansas: ACM's 2015 New Artist of the Year Cole Swindell will wave the green flag to start the fifth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the Hollywood Casino 400, on Sunday. The Georgia native, who's current single "Middle of a Memory" is a Top 5 song on country radio and averaging over 2 million streams per week, will release his third EP, Down Home Sessions III on Oct. 28. Swindell's Platinum-certified You Should Be Here already boasts over 65 million streams, 1 million tracks sold and almost 30 million YouTube views. Swindell is currently touring with Florida Georgia Line into the fall. His headlining tour, CMT On Tour Presents the Cole Swindell Down Home Tour, begins on Oct. 26.(Kansas Speedway)(10-14-2016)

Nature's Bakery sponsoring 25 races in 2017; Code 3 moving sponsorship to Patrick: Nature's Bakery is looking at slightly reducing the size of its deal with NASCAR Sprint Cup team Stewart-Haas Racing starting next year. However, the savings are likely to be redeployed toward activation around the program, and SHR already has a partner lined up to fill the open inventory. Nature's Bakery, the Nevada-based healthy snack maker that signed on last year to replace longtime Danica Patrick sponsor GoDaddy starting this season, was announced as having 28 primary paint schemes annually on Patrick's #10 Chevy. SHR VP/Sales & Marketing Mike Verlander confirmed that Nature's Bakery evaluated this season whether it needed to have that many races moving forward, because "some brands need to be at all of them, some don't need 28." This coincided with Code 3 Associates, an animal-focused non-profit that is one of outgoing SHR driver and team co-owner Tony Stewart's sponsors, wanting to switch over to Patrick. Her other primary sponsors, Aspen Dental and TaxAct, both have four primaries each. Verlander said Nature's Bakery is looking at going down by around three races next year because "28 to 25 doesn't really affect their proportionality of owning the lead sponsor role," which Nature's Bakery is intent on retaining.(Sports Business Daily)(10-13-2016)

Furniture Row Racing skipping Homestead test: A notable championship contender - possibly the early favorite - will be absent from next week's test at Homestead-Miami Speedway, whose Nov. 20 season finale will decide the Sprint Cup title. Furniture Row Racing won't bring Martin Truex Jr.'s #78 Toyota to the Oct. 18-19 session at the 1.5-mile oval. A team spokesman said the test was removed from the team's schedule last week and didn't know the reason. Homestead-Miami Speedway will play host to the last of several "organizational tests" scheduled by NASCAR during the season. In an organizational test, which isn't mandatory, only one car per organization is permitted to participate. As a single-car team, Furniture Row Racing wouldn't have been in the predicament of having to choose who would test among multiple contenders, which is the case with Joe Gibbs Racing and its four Chase-eligible drivers. Every other remaining championship contender will be represented at Homestead-Miami Speedway next week: Team Penske (#2-Brad Keselowski), Hendrick Motorsports (#24-Chase Elliott), Stewart-Haas Racing (#41-Kurt Busch), Joe Gibbs Racing (#19-Carl Edwards), Richard Childress Racing (#3-Austin Dillon).(NBC Sports)(10-13-2016)

Fire Alarm Services returns to the #7 at Kansas: Tommy Baldwin Racing announced that Fire Alarm Services, Inc. will return as primary sponsor on the #7 Chevrolet for this weekend's Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Headquartered in Arvada, Colorado, Fire Alarm Services, Inc., provides superior fire and life safety and security services and products for protecting their client's real estate investment. Fire Alarm Services, Inc., brings a fresh and innovative approach to the fire and life safety industry with an emphasis on developing lasting client relationships, and unmatched customer service. Fire Alarm Services Inc., provides commercial property owners a single source for all of their fire and life safety needs. Since 1997, Fire Alarm Services, Inc., has provided 24-hour service throughout the greater United States. Fire Alarm Services has partnered with Smith for the past four years, going back to his time in the XFINITY series. This is the second race this season with FAS as primary sponsor on Smith's #7 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet.(Tommy Baldwin Racing) see an image of the car on the #7 team paint schemes page.(10-13-2016)

Drive for Diversity Combine rescheduled: The 2016 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine, featuring 17 drivers from the U.S., Canada and Mexico, has been rescheduled for Oct. 17-19. The annual event, originally scheduled for this week, was moved due to the impact of Hurricane Matthew. Participants will take part in a physical fitness assessment at Bethune-Cookman University on Oct. 17, followed by on-track tryouts at New Smyrna Speedway on Oct. 18-19.There are 13 female drivers competing for spots with Rev Racing this year, including Hailie Deegan, daughter of Brian Deegan, the most decorated athlete in freestyle motocross history, and Hope Hornish, the niece of 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner and current NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Sam Hornish Jr. NASCAR Drive for Diversity has proven successful in identifying and developing future stars of the sport.(NASCAR)(10-13-2016)

Kansas Track Notes & History:
· 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)

Royals catcher Butera to drive pace car at Kansas: Kansas City Royals catcher, and member of the 2015 World Series championship team, Drew Butera will be the honorary pace car driver for the Hollywood Casino 400 on Sunday, Oct. 16. Last year, Butera made his post-season debut in Game 4 of the American League Division Series, working a 10-pitch walk in the eighth inning to extend the inning as the Kansas City Royals overcame a four-run deficit in the inning. He also was behind the plate for the final inning of the World Series, replacing Salvador Perez who had been lifted for a pinch runner. Butera was drafted in 2005 by the New York Mets and made his Major League Baseball debut in 2010 with the Minnesota Twins. He's also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels. In addition to catching, Butera has made starts at first base, and also pitched in relief during his career. He is the son of former Major Leaguer Sal Butera, who is currently a coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. (Kansas Speedway)(10-13-2016)

Camo on the #88 at Talladega: There's no hiding the new paint scheme that Alex Bowman will pilot next weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The design of the #88 Mountain Dew Take it Outside Chevrolet SS was unveiled Wednesday on Hendrick Motorsports' Facebook page. In addition to the brand new design, fans will soon be able to see a new Mountain Dew commercial as well.(Hendrick Motorsports) see an image of the car on the #88 team paint schemes page.(10-12-2016)

Charlotte warnings announced: NASCAR has announced warnings following the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 9.
#27-Menard (1) failed LIS three times in pre-qualifying inspection, was given a written warning and loss of 15 minutes practice time.
#30-Wise (3) failed template inspection three times in pre-qualifying inspection, was given a written warning and loss of 15 minutes practice time.
#6-Bayne (2), #7-Smith (4), #20-Kenseth (3), #41-Busch (4), #42-Larson (3), #78-Truex, Jr. (1), and #88-Bowman (2) failed template inspection twice in pre-race inspection and were given written warnings.
#17-Stenhouse, Jr. (3), #20-Kenseth (3), #23-Ragan (2), #24-Elliott (1), #31-Newman (0; penalty served in Charlotte), #34-Buescher (2), and #43-Almirola (3) failed LIS twice in pre-qualifying inspection and were given w #4-Harvick (1), #10-Patrick (0; penalty served in Charlotte), #14-Stewart (2), and #88-Bowman (2) failed template inspection twice in pre-qualifying inspection and were given written warnings.
() -- Total current warnings.
See the Charlotte Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(10-12-2016)

Xxxtreme Motorsport owner ordered to pay Swan Racing: A U.S. District Court judge has ordered Xxxtreme Motorsport, owned by Jonathan Cohen, to pay $668,519 to Swan Racing owner Brandon Davis. The default judgment issued Tuesday was made as Cohen has missed deadlines for responses to various motions and has not attended scheduled depositions and mediation in the lawsuit that Davis filed against Cohen over the sale of the Swan Racing #30 team assets to Xxxtreme in April 2014. Cohen will also be responsible for still-to-be-determined attorney fees for Davis.(ESPN.com), see older information about the Team Xtreme news page.(10-12-2016)

FordPass featured on the #16 at Kansas: Greg Biffle's #16 Ford Fusion will feature a new look with the FordPass app on his #16 Ford Fusion at Kansas Speedway. FordPass is a smartphone app that is designed to serve as a one-stop shop for transportation needs. Launched earlier this year, FordPass is available for both Ford owners and non-owners and offers mobility solutions like find parking and connect to a Dealer. "Ford is focused on creating a great experience with our customers and FordPass provides us a new way to engage with our Ford owners," said Elena Ford, Ford Vice President, Global Dealer and Consumer Experience. "Ford owners can easily connect with their Dealer and schedule a service appointment, reserve and pay for parking in advance and get one-on-one help from FordGuides. Everything about FordPass is designed to improve the ownership experience." Biffle is a two-time NASCAR Champion and is no stranger to finding his way at Kansas Speedway. Biffle has two wins at the 1.5-mile track, seven top-five, nine top-10 finishes plus had led for a total of 364 laps.(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the car on the #16 team paint schemes page.(10-12-2016)

Kansas Goodyear Tire Notes: NASCAR Sprint Cup teams will run a completely different tire set-up than those in the Xfinity Series at Kansas this week . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Sprint Cup teams ran at Kansas earlier this season . . . Kansas is the only track at which either of these two tire codes will be run by Cup teams in 2016 . . . this right-side tire code (D-4662) employs Goodyear's multi-zone tread technology, which combines two distinct tread compounds on the same tire -- the outboard 10 inches of the tread (Traction Zone) features a compound that is designed for grip, while the inboard two inches of the tread (Endurance Zone) is toughened to enhance durability on that area of the tire which sees the most heat and takes the most abuse. . . 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, tire pressures, set limits and more on Jayski.com's Kansas race info page.(10-12-2016)

KHI Management adds Harrison Burton: Second-generation NASCAR driver Harrison Burton is the latest athlete to join KHI Management's continually expanding list of high-profile athletes and celebrities, inking a multi-year representation agreement with the company. Burton is the son of former NASCAR driver, current NASCAR on NBC analyst and fellow KHI Management client Jeff Burton. Harrison Burton, who turned 16 this week, is scheduled to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 29 and will run a partial Truck Series schedule in 2017. Burton is the second athlete announced as a part of the KHI Management stable in as many weeks. Last week, the company revealed the addition of PGA TOUR golfer James Hahn. Burton and Hahn join a roster of KHI Management athletes and celebrities that also includes: UFC fighters Miesha Tate, Donald Cerrone and Rose Namajunas; former NASCAR driver and current NASCAR on NBC analyst Jeff Burton; FOX Sports sideline reporter Shannon Spake; amateur motocross prodigy Ryder DiFrancesco; PGA golfer Jason Gore; and country music artists Jake Owen and Matt Stillwell.(KHI Management)(10-21-2016)

Chase Fast Facts: Kansas Speedway:
· This is the second year in a row the fifth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup has been held at Kansas Speedway (2015 - 2016). Kansas has occupied five different positions on the Chase schedule in the past 12 seasons: from 2004 - 2005 it was the fourth race of the Chase; from 2006 - 2010 it was the third race of the Chase; in 2011 it was moved back to the fourth race in the Chase; in 2012 it was moved to the sixth race in the Chase; from 2013 - 2014 it was again moved back to the fourth race in the Chase.
· Eight tracks have hosted Chase races all 12 previous years - New Hampshire, Dover, Charlotte, Kansas, Talladega, Martinsville, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami.
· Eight different drivers have won the Kansas Chase races, but only two active Chase drivers have multiple wins Joey Logano (2014 and 2015) and Jimmie Johnson (2008 and 2011).
· Only once has the winner of the Kansas Speedway Chase race gone on to win the title:
* In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won from the pole at Kansas, and went on to win his third consecutive NSCS title.
· The worst finish in a Chase race at Kansas by a driver that went on to win the title was 15th by Tony Stewart (2011).
· Last season's champion, Kyle Busch, finished fifth in the Chase race at Kansas after starting third.
· Three non-Chase drivers have won the Chase race at Kansas Speedway - Joe Nemechek (2004) he was ranked 21st in the points at the time of the win; Tony Stewart (2006) he was 11th in points at the time of the win; Greg Biffle (2007) he was 14th in the points at the time of the win.
· Eight drivers have won the pole for the Chase races at Kansas - Kasey Kahne (three), Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick (two each), Brad Keselowski, Greg Biffle, Joe Nemechek, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth (each have one).(NASCAR)

Smithley picks up Kansas sponsor: ETC Custom Truck Accessories will sponsor Garrett Smithley and the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller #0 Chevrolet in Saturday's Kansas Lottery 300 Xfinity Series race at Kansas Speedway as part of a new, long-term relationship. ETC Custom Truck Accessories, based in Mansfield, Texas, features a full line of custom-built truck accessories and parts for trucks, ATVs, UTVs, Mudders, Rock Crawlers, golf carts and buggies. Also included in the wide line of products are hand-built custom barbecue grills and fire pits personalized with your company name, favorite sports team, ranch name, farm name or favorite bar and grill's name.(JD Motorsports)(10-12-2016)

Charlotte XFINITY warning announced: NASCAR has announced a warning following the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 9.
#20-Erik Jones (1) failed template inspection three times in pre-race inspection and was given a written warning.
See the Charlotte Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(10-12-2016)

Charlotte XFINITY TV Ratings: Airing immediately after the rescheduled Sprint Cup race, postponed NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Charlotte had a 0.6 final rating and 905,000 viewers on NBCSN Sunday afternoon - down just 6% in viewership from last year's race, which was run as scheduled on a Friday night (962K).(ShowBuzz Daily / Sports Media Watch)(10-12-2016)

100th start for Erik Jones: When #20-Erik Jones takes the green-flag Saturday at Kansas Speedway, he will make his 100th-career start across NASCAR's top-three series. Since making his NASCAR debut in the Truck Series at Martinsville Speedway on April 6, 2013 at the age of 16, Jones has made a total of 41 Truck Series starts, 55 XFINITY Series starts and three starts in the Cup Series. Jones has seven wins in the Truck Series and six in the XFINITY Series. Competing in his first full season in 2015, Jones won the Camping World Truck Series championship and the Rookie of the Year honors. (Joe Gibbs Racing)(10-12-2016)

Charlotte paint schemes: added images of 41 of the cars at Charlotte to the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY paint schemes pages.(10-12-2016)

Martinsville Speedway to install lights: After nearly seven decades of automotive racing without lights, historic Martinsville Speedway is finally set to flip the switch. International Speedway Corporation announced that it will commit $5 million to equip the track with LED lighting, making it the first major motorsports facility to do so. The lights, which will begin installation following this year's Goody's Fast Relief 500 on October 30 and are scheduled to be in place by January 2017, represent the largest capital investment by ISC into Martinsville to date. "Bringing lights to Martinsville Speedway is something that has been a priority for us," said ISC President John Saunders. "But just like Martinsville, we wanted the lights for this project to be unique. They had to be of the highest-quality for both the competitors and the fans." The project, dubbed "Light Up Martinsville," will see the installation of an industry-leading LED lighting solution, which provides better illumination, greater flexibility and more efficiency than traditional metal halide lights. In addition to enhancing the fan experience at Martinsville Speedway, LED lighting will also enhance the quality of the broadcast for fans watching at home. The lighting solution will consist of multiple structures located around the perimeter of the facility and the infield of the track.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-12-2016)

TallaTaxi debuting at Talladega: Race fans sometimes find themselves in a need of quickly getting to various locations on property during a race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, so NASCAR's Most Competitive track has great news for those who normally travel by foot with the introduction of the all-new TallaTaxi service. The TallaTaxi golf cart service, from Patron Transportation, will make its Talladega debut during the Alabama 500 and fred's 250 Powered by Coca-Cola weekend, starting as early as Tuesday (Oct. 18) through Sunday (Oct. 23). For only $5 a seat, TallaTaxi will provide 24-hour transportation to take fans wherever they need to go, nearly anywhere on speedway property (excluding only West C campground). To catch a ride on a TallaTaxi during race weekend, fans can call or text a pick-up request at 205-863-6137 or can flag down the unmistakable black and yellow checkered carts while they make their rounds around Talladega's nearly 3,000 acres. The speedway will continue to provide free tram and ADA shuttle services throughout the weekend as well, at select locations.(TSS)(10-12-2016)

Elliott's 2017 NAPA scheme unveiled: Tuesday, Chase Elliott unveiled his 2017 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet SS paint scheme on his Instagram account. The 2016 Rookie of the Year contender wanted to "keep it all in the family," so the design will retain the same blue-and-yellow colors as well as the five blue stripes that mimic Ron Capps' NAPA AUTO PARTS NHRA Funny Car. However, the scheme also incorporates new featured elements such as yellow racing stripes surrounding the existing light blue and red stripes on the side panels, yellow stripes on the A-frames and a completely new yellow rear panel.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #24 team 2017 paint schemes page.(10-11-2016)

Entry List for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is posted, 40 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed, including: #21-Blaney*, #30-Wise*, #32-Gase, #55-Whitt*, #95-McDowell, #98-Sorenson*.
Drivers who are not a Charter team, an Open Team, and must get in via speed: #21-Blaney, #30-Wise, #55-Whitt, #98-Sorenson
Since only 40 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race, 40 is the maximum.
* Open Team (no Charter)
See the full entry list on Jayski.com's Kansas Entry List

Charlotte Overnight TV Ratings: Postponed NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Charlotte, the fourth race in the Chase For the Cup, had a 1.2 overnight rating on NBC Sunday afternoon - down 14% from the same race last year, which was also postponed to Sunday but aired on NBCSN (1.4). Figures do not include simulcast coverage on NBCSN, which could make up the difference. The last time the race was run as scheduled in its Saturday night timeslot, coverage on ABC scored a 2.9.(Sports Media Watch), see race-by-race TV Ratings for 2016 and a comparison chart on the 2016 TV Ratings page.(10-11-2016)

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Kansas:
#48-Jimmie Johnson........................ 110.4
#20-Matt Kenseth............................ 107.4
#4-Kevin Harvick............................ 103.4
#16-Greg Biffle.................................. 96.8
#78-Martin Truex Jr............................ 95.5
#19-Carl Edwards.............................. 95.4
#5-Kasey Kahne.............................. 91.8
#42-Kyle Larson................................ 91.8
#2-Brad Keselowski......................... 91.8
#14-Tony Stewart.............................. 89.1
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2016 races (17 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)

Special Thirent Builds paint scheme for the #95 at Kansas: Thrivent Financial invites NASCAR fans to be part of a special effort to benefit Habitat for Humanity. The organization is joining forces with Cotton Incorporated's Blue Jeans Go Green program for a denim recycling drive at Kansas Speedway, Thrivent Financial offices and Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations. A special paint scheme on the #95 Circle Sport - Leavine Family Racing Chevy at the upcoming race at Kansas will celebrate the denim drive and recognize Thrivent's more than 10 year partnership with Habitat through its Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity program. Through the "Recycle Your Denim" campaign fans are being asked to bring pairs of jeans or other denim items they wish to contribute to Kansas Speedway, where they can drop them off on Sunday at collection locations in the Midway, infield or entrances in exchange for a $10 NASCAR.com Superstore e-gift code which can be used online or on-site. Fans also will be able to make financial donations online and learn more about where to send their jeans for recycling at Thrivent.com/denim beginning Oct. 10. Denim jeans contributed will be upcycled into UltraTouch Denim Insulation that is often provided to Habitat for Humanity affiliates.(CSLFR), see image of the scheme on the #95 Team Schemes page (10-11-2016)

Travis Carter Honored with Smokey Yunick Award: Charlotte Motor Speedway President and General Manager Marcus Smith awarded Travis Carter, one of NASCAR's most accomplished crew chiefs and car owners, with the speedway's prestigious Smokey Yunick Award on Sunday prior to the Bank of America 500. Instituted in 1997, the Smokey Yunick Award annually recognizes an individual whose lifelong efforts have had a major impact on the motorsports industry. Carter won the 1982 Bank of America 500 as crew chief for legendary driver Harry Gant and was crew chief for Benny Parsons in 1973 when Parsons claimed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. "This is a special honor that we give to celebrate those who have really helped build our sport into what it is today," Smith said. "We couldn't be more pleased to present Travis with this award." Carter, an Ellerbe, North Carolina, native, won 11 races as a crew chief and served as a Sprint Cup Series car owner from 1990-2003 with NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip among the drivers who piloted Carter's cars. "This is a very special award to me, particularly having come from the era of the early 1970s, racing with a lot of fine people," Carter said. "It was a long, rocky road in a lot of ways but it was fun and very satisfying. I'm deeply moved by this presentation and this award."(CMS)(10-11-2016)

Stewart trial not likely until next summer: With some depositions -- including that of Tony Stewart -- still to be taken, any trial in the wrongful death case brought by the parents of Kevin Ward Jr. against Stewart won't happen until at least next summer. The deadline for motions asking the judge to rule on the case before trial was pushed from Feb. 8 to May 31 during a status conference Thursday in federal court in Utica, N.Y.(ESPN)(10-11-2016)

XFINITY Entry List: There are 39 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. A few notes:
Cole Custer returns to the #5;
The #15 for Rick Ware is TBA;
Jennifer Jo Cobb is in the #25;
Brandon Brown is entered in his #86;
Regan Smith will drive the #88 for JR Motorsports;
Jeff Green is entered in the #99;
Not entered by expected: Obaika's #77 & #97.(10-11-2015)
See the complete list on the Kansas entry list page.

Tickets for Auto Club Speedway NASCAR races on sale: NASCAR fans will be reuniting next year to celebrate Auto Club Speedway's 20th Anniversary at the 2017 NASCAR Auto Club 400 race weekend - March 24-26 in Fontana, California. Tickets went on sale on Monday, Oct. 10 and start as low as $39. To kick-off the 20th Anniversary, fans can save 50% off a Pre-Race Pit Pass and $10.00 off of general admission tickets to the NASCAR Xfinity 300 race. Special offer valid October 10-14. With a race ticket, fans have access to 20th Anniversary celebrations in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Fan Zone including driver appearances, live entertainment, autograph sessions, Lefty's Fun Zone, motocross exhibits and other family fun. A Pre-Race Pit Pass offers fans the ability to walk along pit road to see their favorite driver's race cars, watch pit crews, hang out at autograph alley, and on Sunday see driver introductions and line the red carpet to high-five their favorite drivers. A Pre-Race Pit Pass is good for all weekend and must be accompanied by an admission ticket for each day fans would like to attend. To purchase tickets to NASCAR's Auto Club 400 Weekend at Auto Club Speedway, call 1-800-944-RACE (7223), shop online at www.autoclubspeedway.com, or stop by the Auto Club Speedway ticket office at 9300 Cherry Ave. in Fontana. Ticket office hours are Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.(ACS)(10-11-2016)

Hinder to perform pre-concert at Phoenix: Fans attending the Can-Am 500 on Sunday, Nov. 13 at Phoenix Raceway will be entertained with live music before the start of the race as multi-platinum rock group Hinder will perform a pre-race concert in the Fan Midway area at 10:30am. 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 Can-Am 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The Can-Am 500 is the final race in the Round of 8 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 - the "Phoenix 4" - that will race for the championship the next week. The fall race at PIR has sold out each of the previous five years and tickets for the race are selling faster than ever, but good seats are available online at PhoenixRaceway.com or by phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(10-11-2016)

RCR extends relationship with Ryan Newman: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran Ryan Newman has agreed to a multi-year agreement to remain with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) as the driver of the #31 Chevy. The renewal marks Newman's fourth year with RCR and 16th full season in NASCAR's premier series. "Ryan's consistency on the track has been a benefit to our organization and this extension solidifies the future of our racing program," said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of RCR. "Ryan proved the first year he was here that we could contend for championships and with this continuation, I believe we can fulfill our commitment to winning races and a championship. Ryan has worked hard to represent many of our partners, especially the primary sponsors Caterpillar, Grainger and WIX Filters, helping them to get the most out of their respective racing programs."
Newman's tenure at RCR with crew chief Luke Lambert boasts two-straight Chase appearances including the 2014 effort that culminated in a single point separating the 38-year-old driver from the coveted Cup title and a career-best finish in the Cup point standings. Entering this weekend's Cup race at Kansas Speedway, Newman and his #31 team have accumulated 11 top-five, 39 top-10 and 65 top-15 finishes in 102 starts.
"I am pleased to continue driving for Richard Childress Racing," said Newman. "Our goal to win a championship all but turned into a reality during our first year together. I feel like since then, we have some unfinished business to complete. I'm fortunate to have forged a great relationship with my crew chief Luke Lambert, and I very much want to not only help him reach our goal of winning a Cup championship but also getting him his first Cup victory."(RCR)(10-10-2016)

Truex Jr. admits mistake in causing wreck: #78-Martin Truex Jr. felt bad about an incident that resulted in a multicar accident during a restart on Lap 266 [in the Bank of America Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, when Truex got in the the back of the #3, causing it to spin out and hit the wall, causing a 12 car wreck]. "I want to say that I'm sorry to Austin Dillon, the 3 team, Slugger (Labbe, crew chief) and all those guys," said Truex. "I know they're working hard and they certainly didn't need me to turn them around on that restart. I feel terrible about that. I was just trying to help get him going and just pushed way too hard so I just want to apologize to those guys and hopefully I can talk to Austin and make sure he's okay with everything. We made a nice comeback. But I'm disappointed at how we ran today. As bad as we were we were still going to have a good day and then the clutch problem. That really just took any chance we had away. All in all, we just missed it and we fought hard. We did a good job of making something out of it until the clutch went out." Of the 12 drivers competing in Round 2 of the Chase, Truex ranks seventh in points after the first of three races. The top eight drivers advance to the third round. Truex is 19 points ahead of the ninth place driver.(FRR)(10-10-2016)

Charlotte Race and Commercial Breakdown: For those of you 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 11:47 AM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 3:59 PM (all times are EDT). NBC & NBCSN was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 155
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 56
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 131
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 53
Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 24
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 22
Number of times NBCSN utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 4
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 11:47 AM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 3:59 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 252
Minutes of race broadcast: 197
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 55
Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 11
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 197 Total comm. brdcst time 55
See past races, more info on the commercials with links at CawsnJaws.com.(10-10-2016)

NASCAR serves as vehicle for heist film: NASCAR hasn't been the vehicle for a major Hollywood feature film since Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby a decade ago. That's set to change with Logan Lucky, a heist movie starring Channing Tatum that filmed several scenes at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday. It's scheduled to wrap up filming next week. But unlike the 2006 Will Ferrell comedy, NASCAR this time will be "on the inside of the joke" when the film hits theaters next fall, NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing Zane Stoddard told USA TODAY Sports. "We wanted to make sure it was the antithesis of Talladega Nights," said Stoddard, who is also an executive producer on the film. Enter Tatum, director Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) and producer Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad, Rain Man), who came to NASCAR with a script in hand and wanted the sanctioning body's assistance to make the film as realistic as possible. The plot is an Ocean's Eleven-type heist - Soderbergh also directed that film - in which Charlotte is robbed using an underground hydraulic tube system (which exists in the movie but not in real life). In addition to Tatum, other stars include Daniel Craig, Seth MacFarlane, Hilary Swank, Katherine Heigl, Adam Driver, and Riley Keough. One of the highlights for NASCAR fans will be six driver cameos in the movie. Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch play West Virginia state troopers, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano are security guards, Kyle Larson is a limo driver, and Ryan Blaney is a delivery boy. Though the movie isn't about NASCAR, the sport is used as the background for the plot. And that's actually a good thing when thinking of the comparison to Ocean's Eleven, Stoddard said.(USA Today)(10-10-2016)

Cobb in the #25 at Kansas: Jennifer Jo Cobb will pilot Rick Ware Racing's #25 Mark One Electric Chevrolet Camaro this Saturday, October 15 in the Kansas Lottery 300. This will mark Cobb's 29th start in the NASCAR XFINITY series and her sixth race with RWR. She competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Joining Mark One Electric and Pizza Shoppe will be returning sponsor, WestsideVapor.com, an e-cigarette online retailer and continued support from Lilly Trucking.(JJCR)(10-10-2016)

Most Popular Driver voting open: In the midst of the inaugural Chase for both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, drivers from each series will begin chasing more than just the championship as voting has officially opened for the 2016 Most Popular Driver Award. The NASCAR XFINITY Series Most Popular driver race is wide open with past two-time winner Chase Elliott advancing to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this year. Notable drivers who made their name in the series by winning the Most Popular Driver Award include Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1999), Kevin Harvick (2001), Martin Truex Jr. (2004-05), Carl Edwards (2007), Brad Keselowski (2008-10) and Danica Patrick (2012). John Hunter Nemechek will try to defend his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Most Popular Driver Award. If Nemechek were to win the award, he would become only the second driver in series history to be honored multiple times, joining former series champion Johnny Benson Jr. Other notable Most Popular Driver Award winners include Greg Biffle (2000), Austin Dillon (2011), Ty Dillon (2013) and Ryan Blaney (2014). Voting is open and runs through Friday, Nov. 18, for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Saturday, Nov. 19, for the NASCAR XFINITY Series, prior to the respective season finale races at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend. Fans can vote once per day online for the Most Popular Driver Awards at NASCAR.com/mostpopulardriver. The winners will be announced at the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards. The combined postseason gala will take place at the Loews in Miami Beach, Florida, on Monday, Nov. 21. To be eligible to receive Most Popular Driver votes, drivers must have selected either the NASCAR XFINITY Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to receive 2016 championship driver points. Additionally, drivers must have attempted at least half of each series' races this season.(NASCAR)(10-10-2016)

Kentucky Speedway to Add an Additional Layer of Asphalt: Kentucky Speedway announced it is adding another surface course layer to its racing surface in preparation for the 2017 season. Work will be done in October. "When our team examined the race track, portions of the paving performed earlier this year did not meet the construction specifications," said General Manager of Kentucky Speedway Mark Simendinger. "These deficiencies had no impact on this year's racing and would affect only the long term viability of the surface if left uncorrected. In order to remedy these issues, an additional surface course of asphalt will be applied. The track will cure over the winter and be fully in use in the spring." As in the initial redesign and repave, the project will be coordinated by Vice President of Operations and Development for Speedway Motorsports Inc., Steve Swift. A comprehensive renovation of Kentucky Speedway was completed in June. The endeavor included increased banking in Turns 1 and 2, improvements to its drainage system, additional SAFER barrier and a complete repave of the racing surface.(Kentucky Speedway)(10-10-2016)

Johnson wins rain delayed Charlotte race: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the Bank of American 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for his 3rd win of the season, 8th win at Charlotte and 78th career win. Johnson led a race high 155 laps.
#20-Kenseth finished 2nd followed by #5-Kahne, #31-Newman, #42-Larson, #18-Busch, #2-Keselowski, #41-Busch, #14-Stewart and #1-McMurray.
The race was delayed a day due to rain from Hurricane Matthew that hit the area Friday and Saturday.
Five Chase drivers had problems during the race. #4-Harvick had an engine issue and didn't finish the race, finishing 38th. #22-Logano had tire issues, the 2nd time he hit the wall, finishing 36th. #3-Dillon and #24-Elliott were involved in a 13 car wreck when #78-Truex Jr. got into the back of the #3 Chevy, causing the #3 to spin out. Dillon finished 32nd and Elliott finished 33rd. #11-Hamlin had an engine go up in smoke and finished 30th.
There were 17 lead changes among 9 drivers and 8 cautions for 51 yellow flag laps.
The was one red flag period, for 10:48. The average speed was 134.929 mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more [NOTE: money/winnings are no longer reported] at:
Unofficial Race Results page (pdf)
Lap Summary Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Charlotte Race & Points Report (pdf).(10-9-2016)

Race Fast Facts - Charlotte Motor Speedway:
#48-Jimmie Johnson won the 57th Annual Bank of America 500, his 78th victory in 537 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his third victory and 13th top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his eighth victory and 19th top-10 finish in 31 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#20-Matt Kenseth (second) posted his 19th top-10 finish in 35 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 15th top-10 finish in 2016.
#5-Kasey Kahne (third) posted his 14th top-10 finish in 26 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#34-Chris Buescher (16th) was the highest finishing rookie.
#48-Jimmie Johnson leads the point standings by 5 points over Matt Kenseth.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-9-2016)

Where the 2016 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers finish at Charlotte:
(by Chase standings before the race)
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr. 13th
2) #4-Kevin Harvick 38th
3) #18-Kyle Busch 6th
4) #20-Matt Kenseth 2nd
5) #22-Joey Logano 36th
6) #24-Chase Elliott 33rd
7) #2-Brad Keselowski 7th
8) #41-Kurt Busch 8th
9) #11-Denny Hamlin 30th
10) #19-Carl Edwards 12th
11) #48-Jimmie Johnson WON
12) #3-Austin Dillon 32nd
(10-9-2016)

Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Round of 12:
[after Charlotte, race 30 of 36, Chase race 4 of 10]
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson*, [3 wins], 3045 (won Charlotte)
2) #20-Matt Kenseth, [2 wins], 31 ahead of 9th
3) #18-Kyle Busch, [4 wins], +27
4) #2-Brad Keselowski, [4 wins], +25
5) #41-Kurt Busch, [1 win], +24
6) #19-Carl Edwards, [2 wins], +20
7) #78-Martin Truex Jr., [4 wins] +19
8) #11-Denny Hamlin, [3 wins], +3
Bottom 4 drivers are currently out of the Chase:
9) #24-Chase Elliott, 3 pts out of 8th and the Chase
10) #3-Austin Dillon, -3
11) #22-Joey Logano, [1 win], -6
12) #4-Kevin Harvick, [3 wins] -8
(ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
* will advance to the Round of 8 by winning a Round of 12 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 Charlotte Race & Points Report (pdf).

Unofficial Top 25 in 2016 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) #2-Brad Keselowski(C4), 981
2) #4-Kevin Harvick(C12), 949, -32
3) #18-Kyle Busch(C3), 908, -73
4) #22-Joey Logano(C11), 894, -87
5) #41-Kurt Busch(C5), 885, -96
6) #78-Martin Truex Jr.(C7), 879, -102
7) #11-Denny Hamlin(C8), 879, -102
8) #19-Carl Edwards(C6), 873, -109
9) #48-Jimmie Johnson(C1), 830, -151
10) #20-Matt Kenseth(C2), 821, -160
11) #24-Chase Elliott#(C9), 796, -185
12) #3-Austin Dillon(C10), 773, -208
13) #5-Kasey Kahne, 766, -215
14) #1-Jamie McMurray(EC), 760, -221
15) #42-Kyle Larson(EC), 752, -229
16) #31-Ryan Newman, 738, -243
17)#17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 658, -323
18)#21-Ryan Blaney#, 655, -326
19)#47-AJ Allmendinger, 653, -328
20)#6-Trevor Bayne, 651, -330
21)#10-Danica Patrick, 577, -404
22)#16-Greg Biffle, 548, -433
23)#27-Paul Menard, 542, -439
24)#43-Aric Almirola, 539, -442
25)#14-Tony Stewart(EC), 537, -444
29)#34-Chris Buescher#(EC), 442, -539
(C# = chase driver and current Chase position)
(EC = chase driver that has been eliminated from the Chase)
(10-9-2016)

Kenseth to the rear: #20-Matt Kenseth will fall to the rear of the field of the Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The team made an unapproved parts change (adjustments) and had to go through the inspection process multiple times. Kenseth had qualified 17th.

REVISED - Race Coverage of the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is re-scheduled for Sunday, October 9, 2016.
Television (TV): NBC at 12:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 11:00 am/et on NBCSN; green flag approx. 12:05pm/et
Race updates on the JAYSKI.com #NASCAR Twitter
Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
Scheduled Race Re-Airs: Monday, October 10 at 3:00pm/et on NBCSN

Kenseth to the rear: #20-Matt Kenseth will fall to the rear of the field of the Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The team made an unapproved parts change (adjustments) and had to go through the inspection process multiple times. Kenseth had qualified 17th.

Charlotte Sprint Cup Series Pre-Race Schedule for Sunday, October 9: (eastern time)
11:02am: Hispanic Heritage Month presentation
11:04am: Freightliner Hauler Challenge winner
11:06am: Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award finalist presentation
11:15am: Driver introductions for the Bank of America 500
11:45am: God Bless America by Star Swain
11:46am: Fly By: Bandit Flight Team from Raleigh, NC
11:47am: Presentation of Colors, UNCC Air Force ROTC Detachment Color Guard
11:47am: Invocation by Billy Mauldin, MRO
11:48am: National Anthem, Danielle Peck
11:49am: Fly By(2) C-130 from the 145th Airlift Wing Charlotte
11:54am: Command to Start Engines by the USO of North Carolina
11:54am: Fly By(3): Bandit Flight Team
12:05pm: Green Flag -- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500
eastern time (NASCAR.com)

Sprint Cup race postponed; Saturday track activity postponed: NASCAR has postponed ALL track activity at Charlotte Motor Speedway for Saturday, October 8; revised schedule to be posted when available. The Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway has been postponed and re-scheduled for Sunday, October 9, 2016 at 12:00pm/et and be aired on NBC and NBCSN. Pre-race coverage is scheduled for 11:00am/et on NBCSN. The NASCAR XFINITY Series race has been re-scheduled for Sunday Oct 9th, starting 45 minutes after the Sprint Cup race and be aired on NBCSN.
AND Saturday night's scheduled Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway has been postponed to Sunday due to inclement weather. It's the second consecutive year the opening race in the Round of 12 was pushed back a day because of rain. The decision was made after rain pelted the track and surrounding area all day Saturday as the outer bands of Hurricane Matthew made their way through. Weather forecasts varied initially, with some calling for rain to end around 5 p.m. and others projecting precipitation into the night. Sunday will now serve as a doubleheader, putting on two races the same day on the same track for the second consecutive week. The Sprint Cup Series race goes green at 12:00pm/et, with TV coverage simulcast on NBC and NBCSN, and radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The XFINITY Series race would follow, with a projected start time of 4:30pm/et. It will be broadcast on NBCSN with radio coverage on PRN SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.(NASCAR)
TRACK: Gates will open Sunday at 9:00am/et. Fans with tickets to the Bank of America 500 will be admitted on Sunday and will have access to both races. Ticketholders for the XFINITY Series race will be admitted after the Bank of America 500 concludes. Fans with questions regarding tickets can contact the speedway ticket office at (704) 455-FANS (3267). The speedway's Fan Zone will open at 8:00am/et with assorted pre-race activities sure to gear up fans for a doubleheader of NASCAR Chase racing. Fans can buy tickets to the Bank of America 500 by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267), or visiting charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets/.(10-8-2016)

added all 40 paint schemes for Charlotte:
#1 McDonald's, #2 Wurth, #3 Dow Kilz, #4 Busch Hunting, #5 Great Clips, #6 AdvoCare - pink numerials, #7 Nikko / Toy State / Rev the Vote, #10 Aspen Dental Patriotic, #11 FedEx Office, #13 GEICO, #14 Mobil 1 / Rev the Vote, #15 5-Hour Energy, #16 pink Ford EcoBoost, #17 SunnyD pink numerials, #18 Interstae Battery Center, #19 Stanley, #20 Dollar General, #21 Motorcraft / Quicklane, #22 Pennzoil, #23 Dr Pepper, #24 3M, #27 Valvoline / Menards, #30 TMG, #31 Caterpillar, #32 pink Can-AM/Kappa, #34 Love Travel Stops / Roller Bites, #38 SnapChat / Rev the Vote, #41 Haas Automation / Monster Energy, #42 Target / Belkin, #43 Smithfield, #44 Jacob Industries, #46 Pilot Flying J, #47 Harris Teeter / Stouffer's, #48 Lowe's, #55 Vydox Plus #78 Furniture Row / Maaco #83 pink Cosmo Motors, #88 Axalta / Hendrick Automotive, #95 Thrivent Financial and #98 Vydox Plus

No more rain at Charlotte Motor Speedway: all Charlotte Motor Speedway track activity was postponed for Friday, October 7th and Saturday, October 8th. Both the Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series race will run on Sunday, October 9th:
Some weather info from the Charlotte Observer: While Hurricane Matthew weakened to a Category 2 storm off the Florida coast on Friday, the storm threatens the Carolinas on Saturday with 110 mph winds and potentially deadly floods. "What we feared is now happening in North Carolina," Gov. Pat McCrory said Friday. "(Matthew) will have a major impact on North Carolina, with heavy winds and rains crossing much of the state. The major concern is life-threatening rain and water throughout our state." In Charlotte, rain forecasts called for 2-to-4 inches of rain over Friday and Saturday and wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph Saturday. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for Cabarrus, Mecklenburg and Union counties and the S.C. counties of York and Chester from 6 p.m. Friday until late Saturday. Hotels across the Charlotte area, already flush with reservations for Saturday's NASCAR race and Monday night's Panthers game, now are fielding calls from evacuees. While there were some rooms available Friday night in Charlotte, other area hotels said they were sold out, due in part to people fleeing the storm.(Charlotte Observer)
Links to Charlotte area weather forecast sites are posted on Jayski.com's Charlotte race info page.
Current forecast for Sunday (as of Sunday, Oct. 9th, 11:00am/et):
Sunday: Sunny skies. High 74F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
See updates on JAYSKI.com's NASCAR Twitter.(10-9-2016)

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.
With the field downsized to 40 cars, three pit stalls (19,42,43) have been eliminated, are not in play and don't count towards driving through more than three pit boxes.
Pole sitter #4-Harvick chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #88-Bowman took pit stall 22 the 3rd pit stall with an opening in front of it.
#24-Elliott, who starts 3rd took the 15th pit stall, with an opening in front of it.
The final pit stall was taken by #14-Stewart, who starts 5th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.

Joey Logano wins XFINITY race at Charlotte: #12-Joey Logano won the Race for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday. It is his 27th XFINITY Series win and 2nd of the year. Logano took the lead on the final restart of the race. Pole sitter #12-Kyle Larson dominated much of the race, leading 165 of the 200 laps.
#1-Elliott Sadler finished second, followed by #19-Daniel Suarez, #42-Kyle Larson, #20-Erik Jones, #7-Justin Allgaier, #88-Kevin Harvick, #18-Matt Tifft, #22-Brad Keselowski, and #39-Ryan Sieg.
The race was run on Sunday after being postponed Friday because of rain from Hurricane Matthew.
There were 4 cautions for 19 laps and 12 lead changes among 5 leaders.
The average speed was 143.560mph.
Complete results are on the Charlotte race results page (pdf).
(10-9-2016)

Charlotte XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Joey Logano(i) won the 35th Annual Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, his 27th victory in 158 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his second victory and 11th top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his second victory and ninth top-10 finish in 13 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Elliott Sadler (second) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 20 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 26th top-10 finish in 2016.
Daniel Suarez (third) posted his third top-10 finish in four races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Erik Jones (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-9-2016)

XFINITY Driver standings following Charlotte:
1) #19-Daniel Suarez [2 wins], 3000
2) #1-Elliott Sadler [3 wins], 3000
3) #7-Justin Allgaier, 3000
4) #20-Erik Jones [4 wins], 3000
5) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 3000
6) #16-Ryan Reed, 3000
7) #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., 3000
8) #11-Blake Koch, 3000
Bottom 4 drivers were eliminated after Charlotte:
9) #3-Ty Dillon
10) #48-Brennan Poole
11) #39-Ryan Sieg
12) #33-Brandon Jones
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(10-9-2016)

Sprint Cup race postponed; Saturday track activity postponed: NASCAR has postponed ALL track activity at Charlotte Motor Speedway for Saturday, October 8; revised schedule to be posted when available. The Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway has been postponed and re-scheduled for Sunday, October 9, 2016 at 12:00pm/et and be aired on NBC and NBCSN. Pre-race coverage is scheduled for 11:00am/et on NBCSN. The NASCAR XFINITY Series race has been re-scheduled for Sunday Oct 9th, starting 45 minutes after the Sprint Cup race and be aired on NBCSN.
AND Saturday night's scheduled Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway has been postponed to Sunday due to inclement weather. It's the second consecutive year the opening race in the Round of 12 was pushed back a day because of rain. The decision was made after rain pelted the track and surrounding area all day Saturday as the outer bands of Hurricane Matthew made their way through. Weather forecasts varied initially, with some calling for rain to end around 5 p.m. and others projecting precipitation into the night. Sunday will now serve as a doubleheader, putting on two races the same day on the same track for the second consecutive week. The Sprint Cup Series race goes green at 12:00pm/et, with TV coverage simulcast on NBC and NBCSN, and radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The XFINITY Series race would follow, with a projected start time of 4:30pm/et. It will be broadcast on NBCSN with radio coverage on PRN SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.(NASCAR)
TRACK: Gates will open Sunday at 9:00am/et. Fans with tickets to the Bank of America 500 will be admitted on Sunday and will have access to both races. Ticketholders for the XFINITY Series race will be admitted after the Bank of America 500 concludes. Fans with questions regarding tickets can contact the speedway ticket office at (704) 455-FANS (3267). The speedway's Fan Zone will open at 8:00am/et with assorted pre-race activities sure to gear up fans for a doubleheader of NASCAR Chase racing. Fans can buy tickets to the Bank of America 500 by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267), or visiting charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets/.(10-8-2016)

REVISED - Race Coverage of the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is re-scheduled for Sunday, October 9, 2016.
Television (TV): NBC & NBCSN at 12:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 11:00 am/et on NBCSN; green flag approx. 12:05pm/et
Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
Scheduled Race Re-Airs: Monday, October 10 at 3:00pm/et on NBCSN

Latest on rain/weather at Charlotte Motor Speedway: all Charlotte Motor Speedway track activity was postponed for Friday, October 7th and Saturday, October 8th. Both the Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series race will run on Sunday, October 9th:
Some weather info from the Charlotte Observer: While Hurricane Matthew weakened to a Category 2 storm off the Florida coast on Friday, the storm threatens the Carolinas on Saturday with 110 mph winds and potentially deadly floods. "What we feared is now happening in North Carolina," Gov. Pat McCrory said Friday. "(Matthew) will have a major impact on North Carolina, with heavy winds and rains crossing much of the state. The major concern is life-threatening rain and water throughout our state." In Charlotte, rain forecasts called for 2-to-4 inches of rain over Friday and Saturday and wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph Saturday. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for Cabarrus, Mecklenburg and Union counties and the S.C. counties of York and Chester from 6 p.m. Friday until late Saturday. Hotels across the Charlotte area, already flush with reservations for Saturday's NASCAR race and Monday night's Panthers game, now are fielding calls from evacuees. While there were some rooms available Friday night in Charlotte, other area hotels said they were sold out, due in part to people fleeing the storm.(Charlotte Observer)
Links to Charlotte area weather forecast sites are posted on Jayski.com's Charlotte race info page.
Current forecast for Saturday & Sunday (as of Saturday, Oct. 8th, 2:30pm/et):
Saturday: Rain and wind. High 69F. Winds N at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Saturday Night: Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Chance of rain 20%.
Sunday: Sunny. High 74F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
See updates on JAYSKI.com's NASCAR Twitter.(10-8-2016)

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.
With the field downsized to 40 cars, three pit stalls (19,42,43) have been eliminated, are not in play and don't count towards driving through more than three pit boxes.
Pole sitter #4-Harvick chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #88-Bowman took pit stall 22 the 3rd pit stall with an opening in front of it.
#24-Elliott, who starts 3rd took the 15th pit stall, with an opening in front of it.
The final pit stall was taken by #14-Stewart, who starts 5th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.

Charlotte Race Notes & Facts: · Eight different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Charlotte; led by Chevrolet with 43 victories; followed by Ford (30), Dodge (15), Pontiac (8), Mercury (7), Buick (4), Plymouth (4) and Toyota (4).
· 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 115 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)

Truex Looks for Another Dominant Charlotte Run: The last time the Sprint Cup Series raced at Charlotte in May, #78-Martin Truex Jr. broke the record with 392 laps led (out of a possible 400) in a dominating win. It was his first win of the season and 4th of his career. Truex has now won 3 of the last 5 races. His 4 wins are tied for the most in the series this season. Truex Jr. will try to put together the 5th run of 4 wins in 6 races in the Chase era. Each of the previous 3 to have such a streak went on to win the title.
Won 4 Races in 6-Race Span - Single Season in Chase Era (Since 2004)
Points Finish
2015 Kyle Busch 1st
2007 Jimmie Johnson 1st
2005 Tony Stewart 1st
2004 Jimmie Johnson 2nd
Truex Jr.: won 3 of last 5 races (ESPN Stats)(10-8-2016)

Charlotte Spoilers: Just because a driver is not Chase-eligible doesn't mean he/she is disqualified from winning. Five non-Chase drivers have won at Charlotte: Kasey Kahne (four victories), Jamie McMurray (2), Tony Stewart (1), Clint Bowyer (1) and Casey Mears (1). Chase spoilers often make the latter races of a round even more interesting because they eschew an automatic qualifying spot that can be earned by a Chase-eligible competitor. Look out for Kahne this weekend. A one-time Charlotte fall winner, he leads all drivers with 581 laps led in the track's Chase races. Kahne has run strong lately with four top 10s in his last five starts and no finish lower than 14th in his last seven starts.*NASCAR)(10-8-2016)

Annett Set For 100th Career Start: #46 HScott Motorsports driver Michael Annett is scheduled to become the 197th driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history to make 100 or more starts when he takes the track this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(NASCAR)(10-8-2016)

Kyle Busch Looks for First Charlotte Win: Earlier this season, #18-Kyle Busch wrecked out inside the final 10 laps at Charlotte, finishing 33rd. Despite 10 top 5s in 25 career starts at Charlotte, it is 1 of 2 active tracks (the other is Pocono) on the schedule where Busch has never won. Busch has led the 13th-most laps at the track in series history, but never the final one. Most Career Laps Led at Charlotte - Drivers to Never Win:
Kyle Busch, 907 laps led, 25 races
Fireball Roberts, 467, 10
Greg Biffle, 437, 27
Tim Richmond, 362, 12
Dale Earnhardt Jr., 360, 33
(ESPN Stats)(10-8-2016)

New Thrivent Financial paint scheme for the #95: CSLFR unveiled a brand new Thrivent Financial paint scheme for the #95 Chevy while competing under the lights for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This paint scheme will be a fresh take on the team's popular paint scheme featured in the majority of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races this season. Michael McDowell will once again pilot the team's #95 Thrivent Financial Chevy this weekend, after fellow CSLFR driver, Ty Dillon, took over for last week's race at Dover.(CSLFR), see image of the scheme on the #95 Team Schemes page (10-8-2016)

Ganassi switches to Honda in IndyCar; staying Chevy in NASCAR?: Chip Ganassi Racing announced Friday it is changing brands for its IndyCar teams. Which at least prompts speculation about the NASCAR Sprint Cup team's future with its current nameplate. Ganassi will drop its affiliation with Chevy in favor of Honda engines in its Verizon IndyCar Series program. Ganassi has ties with Ford in other racing ventures. There's no immediate indication that Ganassi will leave Chevy in Sprint Cup. But for years there has been speculation that a second Japanese carmaker might jump into NASCAR to challenge Toyota. Meanwhile, Ford is trying to broaden its reach in NASCAR and make its cars more competitive. Whether Honda has interests in cracking into stock car racing is an open question. Neither is there a sign of Ganassi switching to Ford in its Cup program. Ford already picked up a headline team for next season when Stewart-Haas Racing announced it will switch from Chevy after this season. Earlier this year, Ganassi and Target parted company in open-wheel racing when the retailer ended its 27-year sponsorship. Ganassi has one more year with Target on its stock cars.(Sporting News)(10-8-2016)

Friday track activity postponed: NASCAR has postponed ALL track activity (practice, qualifying, race) at Charlotte Motor Speedway for Friday, Oct 7; revised schedule to be posted when available. The NASCAR XFINITY Series race is scheduled for Sunday Oct 9th at 11:00am/et and be aired on NBCSN. The lineup set by rules book/owners pts.
AND Persistent rain, and the forecast for more of it, forced NASCAR to cancel all of Friday's on-track activity at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase Round of 12 finale. The Drive for the Cure 300 will now run Sunday at 11:00am/et, broadcast on NBCSN. The starting lineup for Sunday's rescheduled race will be determined by the XFINITY Series rule book, which sets the field by fastest-to-slowest practice speeds from both of Thursday's sessions. During final practice, Kyle Larson turned the fastest practice lap (185.198 mph) of the day and will start on the pole. Erik Jones, who currently sits outside the top 8 cut-off line for advancement into the next round, will start second on Sunday. Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 -- the first race in the Chase's Round of 12 -- remains scheduled for 7:00pm/et on NBC.(NASCAR Wire Service)
AND Ticketholders to Friday's events will be admitted Sunday. Fans can buy tickets to the Bank of America 500 - which includes kids' tickets starting at just $10 - by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or by visiting online at charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets.(10-7-2016)

Rain at Charlotte Motor Speedway: all Charlotte Motor Speedway track activity was postponed for Friday, October 7th.
Some weather info from the Charlotte Observer: Pat Moore, of the National Weather Service office in Greer, S.C., said the forecast for the Charlotte area is tricky, because there could be a significant cut-off in rainfall over relatively short distances at the edge of Matthew's circulation. He said that as computer models have updated every six hours for the past few days, the line between light and heavier precipitation has been moved back and forth across the Charlotte metro region. "It appears as if any potential for significant rainfall would not be until after sunset Friday," Moore said. Hotels across the Charlotte area, already flush with reservations for Sunday's NASCAR race and Monday night's Panthers game, now are fielding calls from evacuees. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, who declared a state of emergency earlier in the week for 66 central and eastern counties, expanded the state of emergency to all 100 counties. He said that will enable help to Eastern North Carolina and surrounding states. Charlotte-area hotels were filling fast. The Holiday Inn Express in Pineville was about 90 percent full early Thursday evening, manager Gloria Bell said, with many of the people coming from the Charleston area. The Courtyard Charlotte Ballantyne and the Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel were sold out.(Charlotte Observer)
AND Lauren Visin, a meteorologist with the weather service office in Greer, S.C., says the track of the Category 3 storm hovering off the Florida coast has turned eastward. Not much, she says, maybe 20 miles in all. But that's still enough to affect what will be blowing through Charlotte over the next 24 to 36 hours. For now, forecasters are predicting 2 to 3 inches of rain here before the remnants of the storm blows through sometime Saturday night. Earlier projections put the precipitation totals as high as 4 1/2 inches. Wind gusts are still expected to reach 40 mph on Saturday - meaning scattered treefall and power outages are possible. A flash-flood watch remains in effect as far north as Union County. Visin says Mecklenburg County may be added to the list, as the weather services keeps an eye on several bands of rain that could hit the city Friday night. The heavier stuff should continue through Saturday afternoon, before tapering off that night and ending altogether on Sunday.(Charlotte Observer) From Thursday: It's too early to say whether the XFinity race will be postponed to Saturday or Sunday, Charlotte Motor Speedway spokesman Scott Cooper said. But speedway officials "feel very good about Saturday evening" for the Bank of America 500, he said. The speedway has 12 jet dryers - double the number required by NASCAR - and 12 Air Titans to dry the track in 90 minutes, Cooper said. An additional 10 dump truck loads of gravel and two additional dump truck loads of sand are on hand to shore up any spots on the property affected by rain, he said. The speedway, meanwhile, has plenty of dry camping spaces with restroom/bathhouse access available to Hurricane Matthew evacuees, Cooper said. At $125 for a week's stay, spaces "are much more affordable than several nights of stay at a hotel," he said. "Plus, there's a lot of free entertainment with our Fan Zone through the weekend to take an evacuee's mind off what may be happening with the storm on the coast." More info on camping at charlottemotorspeedway.com.(Charlotte Observer)
NASCAR NASCAR officials said they are closely monitoring the track of Hurricane Matthew ahead of Saturday night's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. No decision has been made that would potentially alter the status of Saturday night's Bank of America 500, the fourth event in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs. Rain is currently forecast Friday and early Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The next race in the XFINITY Series Chase -- the Drive for the Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC -- is scheduled for Friday (NASCAR.com)
Links to Charlotte area weather forecast sites are posted on Jayski.com's Charlotte race info page.
Current forecast for Friday and Saturday (as of Friday, Oct. 7th, 7:30pm/et):
Friday Night: Rain. Low 67F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Saturday: Cloudy with periods of rain. High 71F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..
Saturday Night: Windy. Cloudy skies will become mostly clear late. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Chance of rain 10%.
Sunday: Sunny. High around 75F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
See updates on JAYSKI.com's NASCAR Twitter.(10-7-2016)

ExxonMobil and Stewart-Haas Racing Extend Partnership with Multi-Year Deal: ExxonMobil announced it will be extending the Mobil 1 brand's sponsorship of Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) in a multi-year deal. Beginning next year, Mobil 1, the "Official Motor Oil of NASCAR," will provide full primary sponsorships across SHR's four NASCAR premier series drivers. Kevin Harvick's #4 car, Danica Patrick's #10, Clint Bowyer's #14 and Kurt Busch's #41 will see Mobil 1 full primaries at various NASCAR premier series races throughout the year. At the same time, the Mobil 1 brand will remain an associate sponsor for all SHR drivers at all other races. "ExxonMobil and Mobil 1 lubricant technology have been integral to my success with SHR and my 2014 Championship, so I'm excited they're coming back," said Harvick. "I'm also honored to step in as the lead representative for the Mobil 1 brand both on and off the track."
Tony Stewart, who has represented Mobil 1 since the brand joined SHR in 2011, is retiring as a NASCAR driver at the end of the 2016 season. He will remain a brand ambassador for Mobil 1 in his role as a team owner, as he co-owns SHR with industrialist Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation. Additionally, the Mobil 1 brand will be an associate sponsor of SHR's new NASCAR XFINITY Series for the 2017 season, where Cole Custer will run for rookie of the year. The company has been providing lubricant technology support to the team since 2011, which helped Stewart and Harvick earn premier series championships for SHR in 2011 and 2014, respectively.
"With two championships already, our partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing has been pushing performance limits since day one. Finishing this year and going into 2017, we're ready to add more wins and titles to the collection," said Kai Decker, global motorsports manager at ExxonMobil. "Our engineers are continuously working to advance our lubricant technology and SHR plays a large role in how we test our engine lubricants - ensuring consumers and race fans are getting the best product available."
After announcing the partnership in 2010, SHR and Mobil 1 engineers began working closely together to tackle racing challenges. The 2017 season continues a collaborative engineering relationship used to develop lubricant packages and push technology limits to new frontiers. This relationship helps the SHR team win races and ExxonMobil continue to improve the performance of Mobil 1 branded lubricants with improved power, fuel mileage, engine efficiency and reliability.
"We're thrilled to continue our partnership with ExxonMobil for the 2017 race season and beyond," Stewart said. "They've been an incredible partner. "The success we've achieved has been greatly helped by Mobil 1 lubricant technology and our engineers working hand in hand with their engineers."
Including the 2016 season, the partnership with ExxonMobil has led to significant on-track success for SHR, compiling two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles, 34 race wins, 140 top-five finishes, 266 top-10 finishes and 28 poles.
Along with its association with SHR, Mobil 1 is entering its 15th year as the "Official Motor Oil of NASCAR." Mobil 1 is used by more than 50 percent of the teams in NASCAR's top-three series.(ExxonMobil PR)(10-7-2016)

Martinsville Speedway won't make changes to track surface: After trying a suggestion from a NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, Martinsville Speedway won't make any changes to its track surface for its Chase race later this month. #4-Kevin Harvick suggested NASCAR use the same substance on Martinsville Speedway that was applied to Bristol Motor Speedway's surface in August. Bristol treated its lower groove with a substance similar to what is used at the starting area in drag racing to help tires gain grip. NASCAR stated that resin was put on that track after the Camping World Truck Series race and then the Xfinity Series race. The result was two-wide racing. The 20 lead changes in Bristol's Sprint Cup race ranked second among the track's last eight races. Harvick applauded the changes and said more tracks should be treated as Bristol was. Martinsville Speedway applied the substance to its top groove in the corners during Wednesday's tire test, the second of a two-day test. #78-Martin Truex Jr., one of four drivers who took part in the session designed for the 2017 season, doesn't think Martinsville should do anything to its track next year. "It wasn't as tacky as it was at Bristol,'' Truex said of Martinsville's surface after it was treated. "I don't know if there was less of it down. The thing I didn't like about it was that you could pretty much run anywhere on the racetrack in the concrete in the corners and run like the exact same speed."(NBC Sports)(10-7-2016)

Charlotte Driver Notes & Facts:
· 534 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points paying race at Charlotte Motor Speedway; 383 in more than one.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Charlotte with 64.
· Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart lead all active drivers in NSCS starts at Charlotte with 34 each.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Charlotte with a 7.767.
· 65 drivers in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history have made their first series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
· Four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series active drivers have made their first career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Jimmie Johnson (10/7/01), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (5/29/11), Brian Scott (10/12/13) and Kyle Larson (10/12/13).
· Eight drivers have posted their first career NSCS pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Donnie Allison (5/26/1968), Brett Bodine (10/7/1990), Jeff Gordon (10/10/1993), Ward Burton (10/9/1994), Derrike Cope (10/4/1998), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5/28/2000); including two active drivers Ryan Newman (5/27/2001) and Aric Almirola (5/27/2012).
· 49 different drivers have won at Charlotte Motor Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with seven wins.
· Nine drivers have posted their first career NSCS win at Charlotte: David Pearson (5/28/1961), Buddy Baker (10/15/1967), Charlie Glotzbach (10/20/1968), Jeff Gordon (5/29/1994), Bobby Labonte (5/28/1995), Matt Kenseth (5/28/2000), Jamie McMurray (10/13/2002), Casey Mears (5/27/2007) and David Reutimann (5/25/2009).
· 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.
· Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in 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).
· Ryan Newman leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Charlotte without visiting Victory Lane at 31; followed by Greg Biffle with 27.
· Richard Petty leads the series in runner-up finishes at Charlotte with nine. Kevin Harvick leads all active drivers with four.
· NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Bobby Allison are tied for the series most top-five finishes at Charlotte with 23 each. Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with 14; followed by Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth with 10 each.
· Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Charlotte with 31. Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth lead all active drivers with 18 each.
· Joey Logano leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Charlotte with a 9.533.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Charlotte with 1,740 laps led in 30 starts.
· Martin Truex Jr. set the single-race record for the most miles led earlier this season at Charlotte when he led 591 miles (394 laps) in the Coca-Cola 600.
· Two female drivers have competed at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
(NASCAR)

Stewart to Rev the Vote at Charlotte: Tony Stewart will introduce a new corporate partner on the deck lid of the #14 Chevy at Charlotte in Rev the Vote Foundation - a non-partisan organization whose mission is to increase voter registration among the millions of unregistered motorsports fans in the United States. The #14 will be decked out in Mobil 1 colors, which will be featured on the hood. Stewart has several goals for the final seven races of his career. His next victory will be the 50th in his career and tie him for 11th place all-time with NASCAR Hall of Famers Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson.(SHR), see image of the scheme on the #14 Team Schemes page (10-7-2016)

Rev the Vote Partners with Cassill at Charlotte: Landon Cassill will bring a new partner to NASCAR's home track this weekend. Rev the Vote Foundation will be featured on Front Row Motorsports' #38 Ford for the Bank of America 500 Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Rev the Vote is a non-partisan organization that works to encourage race fans to vote. The foundation uses its website, RevTheVote.com, and social media to educate fans on the electoral process and provides instructions and forms to help people register to vote. Also, to celebrate the third time Snapchat has covered NASCAR via a Live Story during the 2016 season, the iconic Snapchat ghost will share space with Rev the Vote and adorn the hood of Cassill's #38 Ford. On Saturday, fans at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be able to share their race-day experiences with millions of Snapchatters by submitting their photo and video Snaps to the Live Story. A selection of the submitted Snaps will be packaged into a brief video, available to view on the platform for 24 hours. The 27-year-old Cassill represents the millennial demographic being targeted with encouraging messages to vote and have their voices heard in the upcoming election. Cassill is also an active Snapchatter (user name "landoncassill") and regularly chats with fans on the app.(Front Row Motorsports), see image of the scheme on the #38 Team Schemes page (10-7-2016)

Patriotic scheme for Patrick at Charlotte: As Danica Patrick hits the track this weekend, her #10 Chevy will feature the signature blue-and-white colors of Aspen Dental. Saturday night's race at Charlotte marks the fourth and final event during which Aspen Dental will serve as the primary sponsor on Patrick's racecar this season. In addition, her car will feature a patriotic scheme, complete with stars and stripes, as a nod to Aspen Dental's support of U.S. military veterans. Aspen Dental will be honoring more than 1,000 veterans and guests Saturday with a special VIP experience at the Bank of America 500 in a celebration of service and support of access to dental care as a part of its Smile 4 Your Service military veteran recognition program. The experience will include premium grandstand seats, plus access to pit road and the prerace concert by triple-platinum rock band 3 Doors Down. Some of the veterans and guests will also have the opportunity to join NASCAR driver Tony Stewart for an exclusive question-and-answer session moderated by his SHR teammate Patrick. Patrick's #10 Aspen Dental team will have a special honorary crew member for Saturday's race. Last month, she surprised U.S. Army veteran Daryl Pratt on "The Rachael Ray Show" with free comprehensive dental care courtesy of Aspen Dental and invited the native of St. Augustine, Florida to join her team at Charlotte.(SHR), see image of the scheme on the #10 Team Schemes page (10-7-2016)

RCR's cars to run decals in Memory of Johnny Siler: All Richard Childress Racing entries will run decals in memory of long-time RCR fabricator Johnny Siler this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Siler passed away on September 24 following a battle with cancer. His 22-year career at RCR was more than a job, it was his passion and he truly loved it.(RCR)(10-7-2016)

Katelyn Sweet wins the Better Half Dash: Katelyn Sweet, girlfriend of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver #42-Kyle Larson, won Thursday's 25-lap Better Half Dash at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which raised more than $70,000 for charity. Paige White, girlfriend of 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski, finished second, with Hayley Dillon, wife of NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Ty Dillon, running third despite spinning twice.(NASCAR)(10-7-2016)

Sad News - Chip Warren: condolences go out to the family and friends of Chip Warren. Chip was a long time NASCAR official in what was then called Winston Cup and Busch Series and after retiring from NASCAR went on to work for JTG Racing. Alton G. "Chip" Warren Jr., 69, of Indian Trail, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, surrounded by his family at the Harris Hospice Unit, Novant Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. Chip was born in Concord, July 18, 1947, the only child of A.G. Warren Sr. and Merilyn Clontz Warren. A graduate of Concord High School, he engaged in various occupations before signing on with NASCAR in 1978. Chip worked his way through the stock car racing organization in several positions, his most visible job being on the stand as the chief starter/flagman in the late 70s and early 80s. He put almost 50 years into the race business, but it was the close friendships that he made with everyone involved in racing that gave him such satisfaction in his career. He was quoted a few years ago as saying "It's like a family. I like a good race and the fact that we put 43 equal cars out there, but the people are what draw you back. That's the gratifying part." Survivors include his loving wife, Margie Warren; son, Alton Shawn Warren of Cornelius; daughter, Andrea Michelle "Missy" Warren of Huntersville; and his special canine companion, Minnie. The family will greet Chip's racing friends and family on Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Hartsell Funeral Home in Concord. A memorial service will follow at 7:30 p.m. in the Hartsell Funeral Home Chapel officiated by NASCAR Chaplain Kenny Crosswire. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a memorial donation in Chip's memory are asked to consider St. Jude Children's Research by visiting www.stjude.org. Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Warren family. Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com. See full obit for more info and services Independent Tribune (10-7-2016)

Friday track activity cancelled: Due to rain and the forecast, all on track activity has been cancelled for Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The NASCAR XFINITY race has been postponed until 11:00am/et on Sunday. NBCSN will have TV coverage.(10-7-2016)

XFINITY qualifying canceled; Larson on pole at Charlotte: #42-Kyle Larson will start from the pole for the Race for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The lineup was set by the rule book and Larson had the fastest overall practice speed on Friday. #20-Erik Jones will start second. The rest of the top 10: #12-Joey Logano, #19-Daniel Suarez, #33-Brandon Jones, #11-Blake Koch, #7-Justin Allgaier, #3-Ty Dillon, #39-Ryan Sieg, and #2-Austin Dillon.
Did Not Qualify: #5-Cole Custer, #10-Matt DiBenedetto, and #77-Ryan Ellis.
The starting lineup is posted on the Charlotte starting lineup page (pdf).(10-7-2016)

Daytona International Speedway Statement On Hurricane Matthew: "Daytona International Speedway experienced moderate damage from Hurricane Matthew with impacts to lights, speakers, signage, fences, gates, awnings and palm trees. Daytona International Speedway Ticket Office and Tours and the Richard Petty Driving Experience will be closed on Saturday and Sunday for facility cleanup. We will provide more updates through the weekend. Pictures of a past weather event at Daytona International Speedway have been circulating on social media during the storm. Those pictures are from a weather event in 2009. There was no flood damage to the facility from Hurricane Matthew. We are working with local, regional and state officials on recovery efforts following Hurricane Matthew. Daytona International Speedway is once again serving as a staging site for Florida Power & Light crews. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been impacted by this weather system."(Daytona International Speedway PR)(10-7-2016)

Rain expected to impact Charlotte race weekend but not the Cup race...maybe: Showers from Hurricane Matthew are expected to clear out well before Saturday's 7:05 pm/et start of the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a National Weather Service meteorologist said. Friday night's NASCAR XFinity Series Drive for the Cure 300 could be a washout, however, NWS meteorologist Lauren Visin said. The race is scheduled to start at 8:16pm, with qualifying at 4:45pm. Friday night has an 80% to 90% chance of rain, with heaviest amounts expected between 8 and 10 p.m. and after midnight, Visin said. Rain chances ramp up from a 60% chance beginning between 4 and 6 p.m. Friday, she said. Showers are forecast to continue until about 11 a.m. Saturday in Concord. While Visin said meteorologists still can't rule out the possibility of rain Saturday evening, the chance stands at only 20%. "This is very dependent on the track of Matthew," Visin said. The National Hurricane Center predicts Matthew will curve eastward from the S.C. coast Saturday afternoon, but several computer models Wednesday night predicted the storm would continue northward to near the N.C.-S.C. border before turning east.
It's too early to say whether the XFinity race will be postponed to Saturday or Sunday, Charlotte Motor Speedway spokesman Scott Cooper said. But speedway officials "feel very good about Saturday evening" for the Bank of America 500, he said. The speedway has 12 jet dryers - double the number required by NASCAR - and 12 Air Titans to dry the track in 90 minutes, Cooper said. An additional 10 dump truck loads of gravel and two additional dump truck loads of sand are on hand to shore up any spots on the property affected by rain, he said. The speedway, meanwhile, has plenty of dry camping spaces with restroom/bathhouse access available to Hurricane Matthew evacuees, Cooper said. At $125 for a week's stay, spaces "are much more affordable than several nights of stay at a hotel," he said. "Plus, there's a lot of free entertainment with our Fan Zone through the weekend to take an evacuee's mind off what may be happening with the storm on the coast." More info on camping at charlottemotorspeedway.com.(Charlotte Observer)
NASCAR NASCAR officials said they are closely monitoring the track of Hurricane Matthew ahead of Saturday night's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. No decision has been made that would potentially alter the status of Saturday night's Bank of America 500, the fourth event in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs. Rain is currently forecast Friday and early Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The next race in the XFINITY Series Chase -- the Drive for the Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC -- is scheduled for Friday (NASCAR.com)
Links to Charlotte area weather forecast sites are posted on Jayski.com's Charlotte race info page.
Current forecast for Friday and Saturday (as of Friday, Oct. 7th, 3:00am/et):
Friday: Rain. High around 70F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Friday Night: Rain. Low 68F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Saturday: Rain. High near 70F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Saturday Night: Cloudy and windy early, becoming partly cloudy late. Low 59F. Winds N at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 20%.
See updates on JAYSKI.com's NASCAR Twitter.(10-5/7-2016)

Atlanta Motor Speedway Opens Camping Facilities for Hurricane Matthew Evacuees - FREE: Atlanta Motor Speedway will open its campgrounds to evacuees seeking to escape the path of Hurricane Matthew. The Speedway, which is equipped to handle thousands of campers during its annual NASCAR race weekend, will open the Family Campgrounds to evacuees free of charge. Located adjacent to the Family Campground, AMS will also open its camper bath house facilities allowing evacuees free access to hot showers and restroom facilities. Those interested in RV or tent camping at Atlanta Motor Speedway should enter the facility at Entrance "A" off Hwy 19/41 at Speedway Boulevard and take the first left at entrance N. The Family Campgrounds will be on the left. From I-75 and GA Highway 20, campers should see signs to AMS and follow Lower Woolsey road to Speedway Boulevard. Turn right on Speedway Boulevard and follow to entrance N. For on-site assistance or directions, visit the ticket office/gift store building. Atlanta Motor Speedway is located approximately 25 miles south of Atlanta on Hwy 19/41 and approximately eight miles west of I-75 off of GA Highway 20.(AMS)(10-6-2016)

Harvick wins Charlotte pole: #4-Kevin Harvick won the Coors Light pole for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with speed of 196.029mph for his 1st pole of 2016, 1st at Charlotte and 16th of his career. Harvick has won 6 races from the pole in his career in 15 tries.
#88-Bowman (best career start) will start 2nd, followed by #24-Elliott, #18-Busch, #14-Stewart, #47-Allmendinger, #78-Truex, Jr., #19-Edwards, #11-Hamlin, #22-Logano, #48-Johnson and #5-Kahne.
#88-Bowman was fastest in the 2nd round with a speed of 196.200mph and will start 2nd.
#4-Harvick was fastest in the first round at 194.756mph. He starts on the pole.
Since the maximum of 40 cars entered the race, everyone made the race.
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Charlotte qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Charlotte Starting Lineup page (pdf).(10-6-2016)

Charlotte Motor Speedway - Qualifying Fast Facts:
#4-Kevin Harvick won the Pole Award for the 57th Annual Bank of America 500 with a lap of 27.547 seconds, 196.029 mph.
This is his 16th pole in 568 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and 17th top-10 start in 2016.
This is his first pole in 32 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#88-Alex Bowman (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2016 and his first in five races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#24-Chase Elliott (third) posted his first top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 14th in 30 races this season.
#24-Chase Elliott (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-6-2016)

Where the 2016 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers will start at Charlotte:
(by Chase standings)
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr. 7th
2) #4-Kevin Harvick 1st
3) #18-Kyle Busch 4th
4) #20-Matt Kenseth 17th
5) #22-Joey Logano 10th
6) #24-Chase Elliott 4th
7) #2-Brad Keselowski 20th
8) #41-Kurt Busch 23rd
9) #11-Denny Hamlin 9th
10) #19-Carl Edwards 8th
11) #48-Jimmie Johnson 11th
12) #3-Austin Dillon 19th
(10-6-2016)

Second Round of Qualifying for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 10 scheduled minutes.
#88-Bowman 196.200
#4-Harvick 195.404
#24-Elliott 195.228
#5-Kahne 195.087
#78-Truex, Jr. 194.925
the rest of the top 12: 11 47 22 18 19 14 48;
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 10 16 17 1 20 21 3 2 31 95 41 83
(10-6-2016)

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 194.756
#47-Allmendinger 194.252
#88-Bowman 194.140
#17-Stenhouse Jr. 193.840
#11-Hamlin 193.833
the rest of the top 24: 14 19 20 3 18 22 78 24 10 41 5 31 21 1 2 83 95 48 16;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 42 34 6 27 13 44 15 38 43 23 7 98 46 32 55 30
Drivers who will miss the race: None. 40 teams entered.
(10-6-2016)

Coverage of Qualifying for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 7:20pm/et.
Television (TV): NBCSN, 7:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at Performance Racing Network (PRN)
Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: Saturday, October 8 at 3:30pm/et on NBCSN

Qualifying Order for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted. 40 cars/drivers are listed.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #7-Smith.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #78-Truex Jr.
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 Order Page (pdf).

Group qualifying under the three-round qualifying format:
" Round 1 -- All entries will have 20 minutes to post a qualifying time, after which the 24 registering the fastest laps will advance to the second round. Those failing to advance will be sorted based on first-round times in descending order (from fastest to slowest).
" Round 2 -- The 24 fastest from the first round will have 10 minutes to post a second-round qualifying time, with the 12 fastest advancing to a third round. Those not advancing will earn starting positions 13 through 24 based on time, again in descending order.
" Round 3 -- The final round will be five minutes in length. The fastest times from this session will determine the first (Coors Light Pole Award) through 12th starting positions.
There will be a seven-minute break between each round; teams may make adjustments to their entries only during the individual breaks. They will not be allowed to jack the vehicle or raise the hood, and once the car or truck enters the garage, it will no longer be permitted to return to the track for additional qualifying attempts.

Thursday practice for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 85 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#4-Harvick 193.757
#88-Bowman 192.885
#78-Truex Jr. 192.623
#18-Busch 192.548
#11-Hamline 192.219
Best 10 consecutive lap ave speed: #5-Kahne 188.561
slowest: #30-Wise 179.766 and #98-Whitt 181.464
Sprint Cup Driver Chase Drivers Charlotte Practice 1 Rank:
(by Chase standings)
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr. 3rd
2) #4-Kevin Harvick 1st
3) #18-Kyle Busch 4th
4) #20-Matt Kenseth 14th
5) #22-Joey Logano 11th
6) #24-Chase Elliott 17th
7) #2-Brad Keselowski 15th
8) #41-Kurt Busch 10th
9) #11-Denny Hamlin 5th
10) #19-Carl Edwards 9th
11) #48-Jimmie Johnson 12th
12) #3-Austin Dillon 13th
notes: NBCSN aired the practice. Qualifying is scheduled for 7:20pm/et, also on NBCSN.
With rain forecast for Friday, this could be the only practice for the race.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap ave speed on Jayski.com's Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf) (10-6-2016)

Rain expected to impact Charlotte race weekend: Hurricane Matthew continues to make it's way towards the Southeast United States, however, meteorologists predict a sharp right turn may prevent impact on North Carolina's coast. The National Hurricane Center Wednesday's afternoon advisory extended the warning further north in Florida. "Florida, full precautions, this is going to be a major hurricane affecting the East Coast," Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich said. The storm's track appears to work its way up the Florida coast with winds between 120 to 140 mph, and then, "in the last couple of runs, Matthew is deciding to take a hard right turn." The low pressure of nearby tropical storm Nicole may change Hurricane Matthew's route. Panovich says the low pressures of nearby tropical storm Nicole may attract the hurricane, creating the possibility of a sharp right turn before hitting North Carolina's coast. In a press conference Wednesday, North Carolina Governor McCrory urged North Carolinians and visitors to closely follow the storm and listen to any evacuation orders. "This morning we received some good news that Matthew's track has moved slightly off shore, but we remain cautiously optimistic and are prepared to respond at a moment's notice," said Governor McCrory.(WCNC.com)
AND Charlotte Motor Speedway has plenty of dry camping spaces with restroom/bathhouse access available to evacuees, speedway spokesman Scott Cooper said. Spaces "are much more affordable than several nights of stay at a hotel," he said. "Plus, there's a lot of free entertainment with our Fan Zone through the weekend to take an evacuee's mind off what may be happening with the storm on the coast."(Charlotte Observer)
Links to Charlotte area weather forecast sites are posted on Jayski.com's Charlotte race info page.
Current forecast for Friday and Saturday (as of Thursday, Oct. 6th, 3:30pm/et):
Friday: Showers early, becoming a steady rain later in the day. High 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Friday Night: Periods of rain. Low 68F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near an inch.
Saturday: Cloudy with periods of rain. High near 70F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near an inch.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy skies. Windy in the evening. Low 62F. Winds N at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 20%. See updates on JAYSKI.com's NASCAR Twitter.(10-5/6-2016)

Hendrick announces new sponsor for Kahne and HMS: UniFirst and 11-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports have reached an eight-year agreement that will make the workwear and textile service company a primary sponsor of the #5 Chevy driven by Kasey Kahne. The contract runs through the year 2023. As the new Official Workwear Provider of Hendrick Motorsports, UniFirst will be a two-race primary sponsor in both 2016 and 2017, with the relationship increasing to three primary races annually from 2018-2023. In addition, UniFirst will be a full-season associate sponsor of the #5 team. UniFirst will make its Sprint Cup Series primary sponsorship debut later this season with back-to-back races Oct. 23 at Talladega and Oct. 30 at Martinsville. UniFirst is one of North America's largest workwear and textile service companies, providing managed uniform, protective clothing, custom corporate image apparel, and ancillary facility services programs to businesses in virtually all industries. As part of the new relationship, UniFirst will supply work clothing and uniforms to Hendrick Motorsports and sister company Hendrick Automotive Group, which is the largest privately held retail automotive organization in the United States (HMS), see image of the scheme on the #5 Team Schemes page (10-6-2016)

Charlotte Pole Notes & Facts:
· Fireball Roberts won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway (World 600) in 1960 with a speed of 133.904 mph.
· 44 drivers have Coors Light poles at Charlotte, led by David Pearson with 14. Ryan Newman leads all active drivers in poles at CMS with nine; followed by Jimmie Johnson with four.
· 13 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Charlotte. David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Charlotte with 11 straight from the fall of 1973 through 1978 - Matt Kenseth swept the poles in Charlotte last season.
· 16 of the 115 (13.9%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Martin Truex Jr. in 2016 (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.
· 33 of the 115 (28.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from the front row: 16 from the pole and 17 from second-place.
· 88 of the 115 (76.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Charlotte have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Nine of the 115 (7.8%) 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)

Special scheme for Harvick at Charlotte: Busch is planning a race day takeover on October 8 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to celebrate the launch of its racing platform. On the track, race-goers can expect to see the #4 Chevy of Kevin Harvick schemed to mimic the Busch hunting cans - featuring classic Busch logos, along with blaze orange throughout and green silhouettes of deer, elk, pheasant and ducks in a wilderness setting. Enlarged versions of the ever-elusive gold trophy can graphics will appear on both the driver and passenger sides. Harvick will also be outfitted in a camo fire suit to round out the hunting look and feel on the track. Race fans will be on the hunt for Busch Beer gold trophy cans as part of Busch Beer's campaign dubbed "Hunt One. Win Big." Fans will have the chance to win the grand prize hunting trip of a lifetime, as well as weekly hunting-themed prizes. The promotion will feature updated packaging with four unique hunting game cans and a new golden camouflage trophy can, more info about the contest on Jayski.com's Contest page.(Stewart-Haas Racing / ), see image of the scheme on the #4 Team Schemes page (10-6-2016)

Special Interstate Batteries scheme at Charlotte: Kyle Busch heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway with the Interstate All Battery Center logos aboard his green-and-white-striped #18 Toyota for Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500. The car's scheme represents the Interstate All Battery Center slogan "Ready for Anything," could be a perfect mantra as the Sprint Cup Series enters its fourth race of the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in this exciting and sometimes unpredictable playoff format. Busch & Company roll into Charlotte with support from Interstate All Battery Center retail stores, as the sponsor continues its franchise expansion throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America. Interstate All Battery Center stores provide consumers with just about any type of battery, with more than 16,000 portal power solutions for all household needs. From batterires for power tools around the house, to flashlight batteries in anticipation of incoming weather, Interstate All Battery Center will have consumers ready for anything. Interstate Batteries' colors are already in the win column in 2016 via Busch's victory in April at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, right smack in the backyard of Interstate's Dallas headquarters.(JGR)(10-6-2016)

Dover TV Ratings: The final NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the Chase's opening Round of 16 at Dover scored a 1.53 overnight rating on NBCSN, averaging 2.6 million household viewers. That compares with a 1.92/3.2m for this race last year and a 1.55 rating for the previous week's Chase race at New Hampshire, which had been the lowest in the history of the Chase.(Racer)
AND NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Dover, the third race in the Chase For the Cup, earned a 1.5 final rating and 2.558 million viewers on NBCSN Sunday afternoon - down 21% in ratings and viewership from last year (1.9, 3.2M) and down 35% and 32%, respectively, from 2014 on ESPN (2.3, 3.8M). Excluding rainouts, Martin Truex Jr.'s win ranks as the lowest rated Chase For the Cup race ever (120 dating back to 2004) - falling below the previous mark set a week earlier at New Hampshire (from 1.55 to 1.53). The Chase has now earned a record-low rating in three straight weeks. Sunday's race narrowly avoided a viewership low by edging New Hampshire (2.56M to 2.54M). Ratings and viewership were also the lowest for the fall Dover race since at least 2000 and 2001, respectively, falling below the previous marks set last year.(Sports Media Watch / Showbuzz Daily), see race-by-race TV Ratings for 2016 and a comparison chart on the 2016 TV Ratings page.(10-6-2016)

Tommy Baldwin Racing Partners with Rev the Vote: Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) has partnered with Rev the Vote to encourage race fans to have their voices heard on Election Day this November. Rev the Vote will partner with TBR for the upcoming race at Charlotte as they did at Dover last week. Rev the Vote is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) social welfare organization. It will not endorse or support any political party or candidate. Rev the Vote simply wants American's voices heard. While there will be no direct advocacy on any particular policy matter, Rev the Vote finds it imperative that racing fans register to vote and turn their focus to the polls on Election Day. "Our team is proud to support Rev the Vote," said Tommy Baldwin. "We hope our fans follow in our footsteps and join in this non-partisan effort by following them on social media. Let's all have our voices heard on Election Day!"(TBR)(10-6-2016)

Montoya replaced at Team Penske, NASCAR return doubtful: Juan Pablo Montoya's place in U.S. motorsports is fading. He lost his ride after the 2016 IndyCar season and will be replaced by Josef Newgarden, Team Penske announced on Wednesday. Don't look for Montoya to get another crack at NASCAR. He spend nine seasons in the Cup series, winning two of 255 races. He drove most of them for Chip Ganassi's organizations and two for Penske in his final season, 2014. Those two wins were on road course; one at Sonoma, one at Watkins Glen. Initial reports suggested Montoya, who is from Colombia, could replace Newgarden with Ed Carpenter Racing.(Sporting News)(10-6-2016)

Sad News - Brock Yates: Automotive-journalist icon Brock Yates, inventor of the Cannonball Run cross-country road race, writer of successful screenplays and a fixture for decades at Car and Driver, passed away today [October 5th] from complications of Alzheimer's. Yates's columns in Car and Driver attacked everything from the 55-mph speed limit to the arrogance of safety advocate Ralph Nader. They spoke to the frustrations of people who loved cars but who were prevented from enjoying them by meddling government bureaucrats. Yates said in the pages of the magazine and in other outlets in which his work appeared what so many car enthusiasts felt.(AutoWeek). Yates wrote many Auto Racing books including: NASCAR Off The Record (10-6-2016)

Kyle Larson paces final XFINITY practice: #42-Kyle Larson was quickest in final practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 185.198mph. #20-Erik Jones was second, followed by: #12-Joey Logano, #19-Daniel Saurez, #33-Brandon Jones, #11-Blake Koch, #7-Justin Allgaier, #3-Ty Dillon, #39-Ryan Sieg, and #2-Austin Dillon. 42 drivers practiced during the session.
See complete results on the Charlotte practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-6-2016)

Ryan Sieg fastest in first XFINITY practice: #39-Ryan Sieg was fastest during opening practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 181.659mph. The rest of the top 10: #3-Ty Dillon, #20-Erik Jones, #11-Blake Koch, #42-Kyle Larson, #19-Daniel Suarez. #2-Austin Dillon, #22-Brad Keselowski, #12-Joey Logano, and #10-Matt DiBenedetto. 41 drivers practiced during the session.
See complete results on the Charlotte practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-6-2016)

Clements honoring two at Charlotte: JCR is paying respect to both Charlie Koon, the founder of long time sponsor All South Electric and to young Jacob Hall, who lost his life in a school shooting in South Carolina, where Jeremy Clements Racing calls home. RepairableVehicles.com continues their support of the #51 JCR Chevy Camaro SS at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Drive For A Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "We've got heavy hearts heading into Charlotte," says Jeremy Clements. "Charlie Koon and his All South Electric have been supporters of our for a very long time, he and his son Chuck. We've got a picture of Charlie on the hood to pay tribute to him and offer our respects to him and his family." Jeremy's Camaro will also feature a tribute to six year old Jacob Hall, who lost his life in a shooting at his school in South Carolina. Joining All South Electric and RepairableVehicles.com this week are Federal-Mogul Motorparts, Grip Clean, Zak Products, Coca Cola of Spartanburg, Fish Camp, Robert Ianuario, Cometic, Wix and Kollegetown.(Jeremy Clements Racing)(10-6-2016)

Busch working on KBM's 2017 lineup: While he still has two drivers competing for the Camping World Truck Series championship, team owner Kyle Busch has already turned his attention to his 2017 lineup. Busch confirmed Friday that Christopher Bell will return next season to Kyle Busch Motorsports and compete again for the Truck series title in the #4 Toyota. William Byron, who drives the #9 Toyota, is moving to Hendrick Motorsports next season and will compete fulltime in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports. Busch said he has already started lining up a replacement for Byron.
"We've got another driver kind of in the works and then we'll keep our #51 team as driver of the week program let's call it with a few of them in there. It's coming along," Busch said Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
"I think we're close to being able to finish some things up and being able to put all that out there. We've talked to a few guys about the opportunity to drive fulltime in the - we'll call it the #9. It'll probably change for next year."
Byron, a rookie, has won six races already this season and entered the inaugural championship Chase in the Truck series as the No. 1 seed.(Motorsport)(10-6-2016)

Self to run Trump scheme in Talladega: With the Presidential election heating up, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, Austin Wayne Self and AM Racing announced today their joint support for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence. Self, a native of the great state of Texas, along with his AM Racing NASCAR truck team, plan to unveil their red, white and blue #22 'Trump-Pence, Make American Great Again' tribute truck at the upcoming NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - Fred's Pharmacy 250 event at Talladega Superspeedway on October 22. The Talladega race date which falls three weeks before the United States presidential election of 2016, provides a timelystage to show support.(See an image of the truck on the #22 Team Paint Schemes page)(AWS Racing)(10-6-2016)

Charlotte Cup Series Dignitaries Announced: NASCAR Team Owner, Breast Cancer Survivors, Military Personnel and Country Music Star Among Distinguished Dignitaries Taking Part in Bank of America 500 Weekend. Defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion team owner Joe Gibbs will serve as the honorary pace car driver for Saturday's 57th annual Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, joining a diverse list of dignitaries set to take the stage during the action-packed weekend. Gibbs - whose cars won the 1994, 2000 and '03 Bank of America 500s - will help lead the field to green for the only Saturday night race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Accomplished country music singer-songwriter Danielle Peck, a Jacksonville, North Carolina, native, will sing the national anthem for Saturday's race. Fans can buy tickets to the Oct. 6-8 Bank of America 500 race weekend by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267), or visiting http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets/. Tickets are also available at the speedway ticket office.(CMS)(10-6-2016)

Hurricane Matthew could impact Charlotte race weekend: It appears that the Charlotte region will see little impact from Hurricane Matthew this weekend, the National Weather Service said Wednesday morning. "The way it looks right now, it's not much of a big deal for the Charlotte area," meteorologist Justin Lane said. "It looks like the impact will be pretty minimal." That's because Matthew, now a Category 3 storm, is expected to veer sharply east and to sea after hugging the coast from Jacksonville, Fla., to Charleston, he said. A high pressure system in the Atlantic that was expected to strengthen and push Matthew into a landfall somewhere in the Carolinas is now predicted to weaken slightly Friday. That could be enough to allow the big storm to veer away from the coast and move farther offshore. Forecasters cautioned that even a small change in the storm's path could make a big difference in the Carolinas. That altered track greatly lessens the possible impact of Matthew on the immediate Charlotte area. An earlier forecast showed a possibility of gusty winds and up to 4 inches of rain in Charlotte, but with the new track, meteorologists said the Charlotte area likely would get only light rain. School officials in counties east of Charlotte didn't take a chance, rescheduling a number of high school football games from Friday night to Thursday evening. On Monday, Gov. Pat McCrory declared a State of Emergency for 66 counties in central and eastern North Carolina, from the coast to west of Winston-Salem. Evacuations began at 5 a.m. Wednesday on Ocracoke Island, off the Outer Banks. No other evacuations have been ordered yet.(Charlotte Observer)
Links to Charlotte area weather forecast sites are posted on Jayski.com's Charlotte race info page.
Current forecast for Friday and Saturday (as of Wednesday, Oct 5th, 11:00pm/et):
Friday: Rain likely. High 69F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Friday Night: Watching the tropics. Rain. Low 66F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Saturday: Watching the tropics. Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 72F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.
See updates on JAYSKI.com's Twitter.(10-5-2016)

Dover penalties/warnings announced: NASCAR has announced warnings following the Citizen Soldier 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway on October 2nd.
#30-Josh Wise's Chevy failed pre-race laser tech inspection three times and received a written warning and loss of 15 minutes practice time (will be served in at Charlotte's first practice on Thursday).
#27-Paul Menard's Chevy failed pre-qualifying laser tech inspection three times and received a written warning and loss of 15 minutes practice time (will be served in at Charlotte's first practice on Thursday).
#4-Kevin Harvick, #46-Michael Annett, #47-A.J. Allmendinger and #88-Jeff Gordon's teams received written warnings for failing pre-qualifying laser inspection twice, serving their penalties at Dover as each was at the limit of four warnings, all are reset to 0.
#6-Trevor Bayne(has 1 warning), #19-Carl Edwards(3), #23-David Ragan(1) teams received written warnings for failing pre-qualifying laser inspection twice.
See the Dover Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(10-5-2016)

Miller, Childress and Hendrick to be honored: Don Miller, the board chairman of the N.C. Auto Racing Hall of Fame, will be honored for his many years of devotion to motorsports. He is credited with his creative work in designing the NASCAR safety roof flaps as well as the carbon monoxide breathing filters for drivers. He also revolutionized the modern day racetrack souvenir trailer. Working with Roger Penske, Miller co-founded Penske Racing South, where he managed the team for 20 years. Miller and Penske brought Formula-1 level engineering to Penske Racing, setting the bar for others to follow. Miller retired as president of Penske Racing South. He is also the founder of the annual Stocks For Tots fundraiser, which has raised more than $1,000,000 for children's charities. Today, Miller spends much of his time with continued charity work, restoring performance cars and overseeing the daily operation of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, which he along with area real estate developer Bob Ebert helped open in Mooresville in May of 1995. Miller will be inducted by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Ryan Newman.
In what will again be a day of celebration, Miller will be accompanied by incoming classmate Richard Childress in being officially welcomed as this year's N.C. Hall of Fame inductees. As part of the process, each will be featured during their respective acceptances that will also include the installing of permanent in-ground plaques along the facility's two-block-long Walk of Fame located on Main Street in downtown Mooresville. NASCAR Sprint Cup car owner Richard Childress will also be honored with his Walk of Fame in-ground plaque during Wednesday's ceremony. Childress will be inducted by NASCAR Technical Institute's Dodson. Also as part of the afternoon affair, Rick Hendrick will receive the Jeff Byrd Award. Open to the public, the dedication of the Miller and Childress in-ground plaques and Jeff Byrd Award will be held Wednesday outside the Charles Mack Citizen Center on the Walk of Fame located at 215 N. Main Street in downtown Mooresville from 4-5 p.m. There will be an invitation-only VIP reception after the dedication inside the Charles Mack Citizen Center.(Mooresville Tribune)(10-5-2016)

Todd Parrott named full-time crew chief of the #95 Chevy: Team leadership at Circle Sport - Leavine Family Racing has announced that Todd Parrott will assume crew chief duties for the #95 entry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the remainder of the 2016 season. Dave Winston will move to a race engineer role within the organization. "Todd brings a depth of knowledge to our team and I'm excited to have him on top of the pit box at all of our races for the remainder of 2016," said Jeremy Lange, VP of CSLFR. "Todd has been calling the races while Ty Dillon has been in the car and we're pleased to be able to continue our alliance with Richard Childress Racing and use their resources to help our growing team." Parrott has more than 20 years of experience in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage and won a championship with driver Dale Jarrett in 1999.(Circle Sport - Leavine Family Racing)(10-5-2016)

#32 Ford goes pink for Charlotte: When the #32 Can-Am Ford of Jeffrey Earnhardt hits the track this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, it will be sporting a different 'pink' look, supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Riding along with Earnhardt this weekend will be a close friend of the Go Fas Racing family Cindi Rivera. Cindi was diagnosed with Breast Cancer back in June, and continues to keep fighting. This weekend's event will mark Earnhardt's second career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Charlotte and his 19th NSCS career start. Thus far in 2016, Earnhardt has 16 starts, with his most previous being last weekend at Dover where he finished 36th after starting 38th.(Go FAS Racing), see an image of the scheme on the #32 Team Schemes page (10-5-2016)

Charlotte Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series will run completely different tire set-ups at Charlotte . . . for Sprint Cup, this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that teams ran both weeks at Charlotte in May . . . 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, tire pressures, set limits and more on Jayski.com's Charlotte race info page (10-5-2016)

Charlotte Track Notes & History:
· 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.
· There have been 115 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).
(NASCAR)

NASCAR open to rewarding regular season champion UPDATE: For the fans - and competitors - that feel there hasn't been enough of a premium awarded to the driver/team that accumulates the most points in the regular season be patient. The point system could be changing again. NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Office Steve O'Donnell said Monday on Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio the possibility is under consideration. "One of the things we're looking at is (in) the first 26 races, are there some additional things we could do for the winner of the regular season," O'Donnell said. "I think that's certainly fair for us to look at - and we are."
"That's the beauty of this format," O'Donnell added. "You have to be on top of your game. We feel like the first 26 (races) do matter in terms of what you've learned, are you carrying any momentum in, and then who can really get hot over the next six weeks and move on." But that doesn't mean NASCAR is opposed to rewarding the regular-season points leader. "I'd say very serious consideration and it's not just snapping your fingers," O'Donnell said "There's a lot of things that need to go into it but a lot of those things have already happened with conversations. Not there yet. Not ready to announce anything but certainly taking a strong look at that for all three series for next year as well."(Motorsport)(10-4-2016)
UPDATE: Sprint Cup drivers would like to see some sort of bonus awarded for the regular-season points leader. It's also an argument many fans have raised since the beginning of the Chase era. "It's something that we want," driver Joey Logano said Tuesday. "The drivers want that. It's something to race for during the regular season, and we want more than just a trophy. There has got to be some kind of reward." Logano said the NASCAR Driver's Council has been discussing the issue and possible incentives and awards for leading the regular-season standings. One proposal is a bye into the second round of the Chase. Harvick advanced to the second round but had to win at New Hampshire after a 20th-place finish in the Chase opener at Chicagoland Speedway. He is 12th in the standings entering Round 2. Logano said drivers have discussed the issue with NASCAR, but no decisions have been made yet.(Sporting News)(10-5-2016)

Stewart subs for Earnhardt Jr. in Charity event: Dale Earnhardt Jr. was at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Tuesday for a Dale Jr. Foundation charity ride-along event. The problem: Earnhardt Jr. has not been cleared to drive by his doctors as he recovers from concussion-like symptoms. The event raises "quite a bit of money," Junior said in a video posted to Twitter. Never fear, 'Smoke' is here. The three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion volunteered to fill the seat so Tuesday's event could go off without a hitch. Earnhardt Jr. posted a thank-you video, calling Stewart a "good dude" for filling in.(see video at NASCAR.com)(10-5-20106)

Logano says not calling Kenseth may have cost him the Cup title in 2015: Declining to pick up the phone and call #20-Matt Kenseth last year may have cost #22-Joey Logano a championship, he now believes. Logano was infamously wrecked on purpose by Kenseth while leading at Martinsville Speedway in 2015, which robbed him of not only a good finish but the chance at a bye into the four-driver championship race. Kenseth was benched by NASCAR for two races. Kenseth was still angry with Logano for an incident two weeks earlier at Kansas Speedway, where Logano made contact with Kenseth while the two raced for a win. Logano took the checkered flag; Kenseth ultimately was eliminated from the Chase for the Sprint Cup after the next race. At the time, Logano just let the incident lie. He was unapologetic and never reached out to Kenseth to discuss it. "I thought at the time, 'What am I going to do, call him? He could be more mad at me. I could make this worse,' " Logano said. "Looking back at it though, it never hurts to call, it never hurts to communicate. Over-communicating is a good thing; at least you know where you're at."(USA Today)(10-5-2016)

Testing at Homestead-Miami Oct. 18 & 19: In preparation for Homestead-Miami Speedway's Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race, November 20, some of NASCAR's biggest stars in the Sprint Cup Series will be taking the track for a NASCAR test session. The testing will take place Tuesday, October 18 and Wednesday, October 19 on the Speedway's 1.5-mile oval, where one car from each of the major NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams is slated to participate. Testing sessions will run from 9am to 5pm on both days, weather permitting. Fans who would like to witness this preview of the Ford EcoBoost 400, the crowning race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, are invited to watch the two-day testing at the track. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to get an up-close look at the cars from the infield Pit Road Cabanas or enjoy a panoramic view of the track from the grandstands on the fourth floor Speedway Club. Fans attending may park their vehicles in the parking lot on S.W. 336th Street and S.W. 137th Avenue. Entry to the facility is through Gate 4 where a tram will take fans to the infield. The tram will be available from 9am to 5pm on both days. Tickets to the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race, in addition to the NASCAR XFINITY Series Ford EcoBoost 300 championship race Saturday, November 19, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford EcoBoost 200 championship race Friday, November 18, are now available and can be purchased by calling (866) 409-RACE (7223) or visiting HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com.(HMS)(10-5-2016)

Dover warning announced: NASCAR has announced a warning following the XFINITY Series race at Dover International Speedway on October 1, 2016.
#20-Erik Jones (1), Failed template inspection three times in pre-race inspection, written warning
() -- total current warnings.
See the Dover Post-Event Penalty & Warning Report (pdf) for more.(10-5-2016)

New sponsor for Cope at Charlotte: DCR with JP Motorsports has a brand new sponsor for Charlotte Xfinity Race this weekend. J Peters Bar and Grill offers steaks, seafood, sandwiches and salads in a high quality dining experience in restaurants across South Carolina. The brainchild of "Jonny Angell" (his real name), J Peters Grill believes that you don't have to sacrifice quality to provide a good value. Ehydrateracing.com continues to be a strong supporter of Team #70. Uptown Catering of Charlotte will provide food for #DCRTeam70 and provides gourmet catering for all special or corporate events. Ice-Frost will be a continuing associate on the #70 Camaro.(Derrike Cope Racing)(10-5-2016)

Texas Roadhouse partners with Rhodes for Martinsville race: Ben Rhodes and Alpha Energy Solutions, in conjunction with ThorSport Racing, are pleased to announce a partnership with Texas Roadhouse for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Saturday, October 29. Rhodes, a 2016 Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, earned his career first pole at the half-mile paperclip earlier this season, and will make his third career start at the Virginia track later this month piloting the #41 Texas Roadhouse Toyota Tundra for the 36th annual event. Based in Louisville, Ky., Texas Roadhouse opened its doors on February 17, 1993 and has now grown to more than 500 locations in 49 states and 6 countries. Known for their hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, made-from-scratch sides, and fresh-baked bread, the Texas Roadhouse story is simple. Legendary Food, Legendary Service - all with Legendary Fun.(See an image of the truck on the #41 Team Paint Schemes page)(ThorSport Racing)(10-5-2016)

Barney Hall honored at Talladega: Barney Hall, the legendary voice of the Motor Racing Network (MRN) who coined the phrase "They don't race 'em anywhere in the world like they do at Talladega," will forever be a part of the venue with the dedication and naming of the "Barney Hall MRN Booth," which sits high atop the start/finish line at NASCAR's Most Competitive track. When the MRN team of announcers come back to Talladega Superspeedway for the pivotal NASCAR Chase Elimination races - the fred's 250 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Saturday, Oct. 22, and the Alabama 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event on Sunday, Oct. 23 - they will be performing their weekend duties from the all new "Barney Hall MRN Booth," named in honor of Hall, a long-time supporter of Talladega Superspeedway, who first covered racing events at the 2.66-mile mammoth track in 1970. Hall, who passed away at the age of 83 in January, was a giant inspiration among his fellow announcers, providing fans with a smooth, detailed, insightful and folksy style that fit perfectly into what Talladega was all about. His calm demeanor and storytelling were second to none. Last week, six-time Talladega Superspeedway winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. helped cut the ribbon on the "Barney Hall MRN Booth," which inside features a huge collage of photos of Hall and his memorable, iconic Talladega phrase "They don't race 'em anywhere in the world like they do at Talladega." For tickets and info about the races, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS)(10-5-2016)

Jeff Gordon Named Grand Marshal For The NWES Finals: In what will be a historic moment for the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and NASCAR fans all over Europe, 4-time NASCAR Champion Jeff Gordon is scheduled to visit the Euro-NASCAR Finals in Zolder [Belgium] on Sunday, October 9th and serve as Grand Marshal for the ELITE 1 race that will determine the European Champion title. "I've been to Zolder before, and I am really looking forward to seeing the NASCAR Euro Series race there," said Gordon, who will say the 'Most Famous Words In Motorsports' at 16:04 CET, just before the NWES cars will roll off the grid for the last race of the 2016 season. "I've become friends with (series points leader) Anthony Kumpen and I've heard great things about the series popularity. I'm looking forward to seeing it first hand." It will be the first time Gordon will serve as Grand Marshal for a NASCAR race, further cementing the unique bond between the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and NASCAR in the US. Current points leader and 2014 NWES Champion Anthony Kumpen, who drives the #24 Chevrolet SS in the Old Continent, feels honoured to have the chance to battle for the Euro NASCAR title if front of Gordon. After a hugely successful first edition in 2015, the October 8-9 American Festival Circuit Zolder NASCAR Finals promise to be even bigger and better. Action-packed races and a wide variety of American-themed attractions will delight the fans and the event will be streamed live on Fanschoice.tv. Live updates from the track will be available on the NASCAR Home Tracks Race Central Live page, on the @EuroNASCAR Twitter profile and on the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series official Facebook page.(Motorsports Unplugged)(10-5-2016)

2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Tickets On Sale: Beginning today, tickets for the 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are available to the public. Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks and Benny Parsons will be honored during this year's ceremony set for Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. Induction ticket prices range from $45 for general seats to $350 for the Exclusive Driver Dinner Package. Drivers, celebrities and legends of the sport will take the stage during this premier celebration that will honor the eighth class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. And it's an intriguing class filled with a mix of legends who both built the sport and ushered it into the massive popularity it enjoys today. Prior to the ceremony, a special Induction Dinner at the Charlotte Convention Center, which is connected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, will include a jacket presentation for the living inductees and an award presentation honoring Benny Phillips, the recipient of the sixth Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence. Returning this year, fans also have the exclusive opportunity to purchase a seat for the dinner that puts them at a table with a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver (limited quantities are available). After dinner, the Induction Ceremony will take place in the Crown Ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center and will honor the five Class of 2017 inductees as well as H. Clay Earles, the third recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Following the ceremony, a special NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day will take place at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. More details on driver appearances, activities and programming for this day will be announced at a later date. Ticket and package options at nascarhall.com.(NASCAR HOF)(10-4-2016)

NASCAR open to rewarding regular season champion: For the fans - and competitors - that feel there hasn't been enough of a premium awarded to the driver/team that accumulates the most points in the regular season be patient. The point system could be changing again. NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Office Steve O'Donnell said Monday on Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio the possibility is under consideration. "One of the things we're looking at is (in) the first 26 races, are there some additional things we could do for the winner of the regular season," O'Donnell said. "I think that's certainly fair for us to look at - and we are."
"That's the beauty of this format," O'Donnell added. "You have to be on top of your game. We feel like the first 26 (races) do matter in terms of what you've learned, are you carrying any momentum in, and then who can really get hot over the next six weeks and move on." But that doesn't mean NASCAR is opposed to rewarding the regular-season points leader. "I'd say very serious consideration and it's not just snapping your fingers," O'Donnell said "There's a lot of things that need to go into it but a lot of those things have already happened with conversations. Not there yet. Not ready to announce anything but certainly taking a strong look at that for all three series for next year as well."(Motorsport)(10-4-2016)

Chase Fast Facts: Charlotte Motor Speedway:
· This is the second year in a row the fourth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup has been held at Charlotte Motor Speedway (2015 - 2016). Charlotte was the fifth race of the Chase from 2004 - 2014.
· Eight tracks have hosted Chase races all 12 previous years - New Hampshire, Charlotte, Dover, Homestead, Kansas, Martinsville, Phoenix, & Talladega.
· 10 different drivers have won the Charlotte Chase races, but Jimmie Johnson (three) is the only driver with multiple wins (2004, 2005 and 2009).
· Twice the winner of the Charlotte Motor Speedway Chase race has gone on to win the title: In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won from the pole at Charlotte, and went on to win his fourth consecutive NSCS title. In 2014, Kevin Harvick won from the seventh starting position at Charlotte, and went on to win his first career NSCS title.
· The worst finish in a Chase race at Charlotte by a driver that went on to win the title was 25th by Tony Stewart (2005).
· Last season's champion, Kyle Busch, finished 20th in Charlotte's Chase race after starting second - the second worst finish at Charlotte by the eventual champion.
· One non-Chase driver has won the Chase race at Charlotte Motor Speedway - Jamie McMurray (2010) he was ranked 14th in the points at the time of his win.
· Nine drivers have won the pole for Charlotte's Chase races - Jeff Gordon (two), Ryan Newman (two), Elliott Sadler, Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Scott Riggs and Tony Stewart (each have one).
(NASCAR)

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Charlotte:
#48-Jimmie Johnson .... 109.6
#18-Kyle Busch .... 104.6
#11-Denny Hamlin .... 95.6
#20-Matt Kenseth .... 95.4
#5-Kasey Kahne .... 95.2
#22-Joey Logano .... 94.5
#88-Jeff Gordon .... 90.9
#19-Carl Edwards .... 90.9
#2-Brad Keselowski .... 89.7
#4-Kevin Harvick .... 88.8
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2015 races (23 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)

American Brain Tumor Association on the #18 at Charlotte: Matt Tifft continues his remaining NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule this week in the #18 American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) Toyota at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The American Brain Tumor Association will be prominently displayed this week as 20-year old Hinckley, Ohio native Matt Tifft makes his ninth series start, the eighth series race of 2016 for rookie Tifft. Remaining calendar races for Tifft with the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota include Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, and Homestead-Miami Speedway, both sponsored by NOS Energy Drink. The XFINITY Series return for Tifft comes after an almost three-month hiatus with recovery from brain surgery, when in June a low-grade glioma was discovered in his brain. Once rehabilitated and cleared by his doctors to return to NASCAR competition, Tifft made his return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series first at Chicagoland Speedway, with a successful 10th place result. Tifft additionally competed in the ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series recently at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, both with successful top-five results. Tifft continues plans to execute the rest of his remaining scheduled Camping World Truck and XFINITY Series races this year.(Joe Gibbs Racing), see an image of the car on the #18 team paint schemes page.(10-4-2016)

Clint King driving the #15 at Charlotte: Only four weeks after making his NASCAR XFINITY Series debut, Clint King has been given another opportunity to prove why he belongs in one of the sport's top-three national series. King will make his Charlotte Motor Speedway debut in Friday night's Drive for the Cure 300 aboard the #15 B.J. McLeod Motorsports Ford Mustang on Oct. 7. His recent performance at Richmond International Speedway was referred to as "exceeding expectations" and NASCAR wasted no time in granting him approval to compete on larger tracks. "I am very thankful to NASCAR for expediting my approval to compete at Charlotte," said King. "I knew I had a lot to prove in my first XFINITY race at Richmond and now I am being given an opportunity to race at one of the coolest places in motorsports. This approval is a huge step towards our process of bringing our Supply Chain awareness campaign to NASCAR. Our plan is really coming together." J&L Wire was King's inaugural supporter at Richmond and now with additional support from Warehouse Design, Inc., there's now added support to continue to reach his platform. Outside of the cockpit, King regularly speaks at high schools and colleges about his "day job" in the supply chain industry and encourages students to consider a similar path that can lead to a very rewarding career.(BJ McLeod Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #15 team paint schemes page.(10-4-2016)

Nature Made sponsoring Larson at Charlotte & Kansas: After a successful first race with Kyle Larson and Target Chip Ganassi Racing at the fall Charlotte NASCAR XFINITY Series event in 2014, Nature Made is once again back on Larson's car for two adjacent NXS races this fall. Nature Made, the number one vitamin and supplement brand, will serve as the primary partner for Larson on the #42 Chevrolet Camaro for the Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, Oct. 7, and the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 15. Larson's car will highlight Nature Made's partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) at both races. In addition to sponsoring Larson's car, Nature Made will also be the presenting partner for the Better Half Dash and the car his girlfriend, Katelyn Sweet, will be racing. Nature Made is sponsoring the Better Half Dash, a charity race organized by Motor Racing Outreach (MRO), in support of breast cancer awareness and women's health. At the event, breast cancer survivors, many of whom are alive today thanks to early detection, will be honored. In her second year competing, Sweet will be driving the #42 Nature Made car in the race and helping to raise money for the NBCF and the Autism Society.(Chip Ganassi Racing), see an image of the car on the #42 team paint schemes page.(10-4-2016)

Grand Marshal, Honorary Starter named for XFINITY Kansas race: Kansas Speedway announced that 2016 Olympic medalist Nico Hernandez has been named Grand Marshal for the Kansas Lottery 300 on Oct. 15, while lottery industry veteran Geneva McCaffrey, who currently serves as Kansas Lottery Account Director, has been named as the Honorary Starter for the race. Hernandez, who hails from Wichita, Kan., won the bronze medal in the light flyweight division in Rio earlier this year. Hernandez is an eight-time consecutive Ringside World National Champion, a six-time consecutive Silver Gloves National Champion and a two-time consecutive Junior Olympic National Champion. In addition, he is the first boxer from Wichita to make the US Olympic team. McCaffrey has almost three decades of lottery industry experience, including over 10 years with the Florida Lottery and more than 17 years with Scientific Games.(Kansas Speedway)(10-4-2016)

Entry List for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 40 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed, including: #21-Blaney*, #30-Wise*, #32-Jeffrey Earnhardt, #55-Sorenson*, #88-Bowman, #95-McDowell, #98-Whitt*.
Drivers who are not a Charter team, an Open Team, and must get in via speed: #21-Blaney, #30-Wise, #55-Sorenson, #98-Whitt
Since only 40 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race, 40 is the maximum.
* Open Team (no Charter)
See the full entry list on Jayski.com's Charlotte Entry List

Truex, Jr's hot streak continues: #78-Martin Truex, Jr's stats have improved dramatically since his dominating performance in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway earlier this season.
In the first 381 starts of his career he had 3 wins (.8 win percentage), was in the top fine 10.8% of the time, and led an average of 7.5 laps per race.
Since Charlotte he has 4 wins (23.5 win percentage), has been in the top five 35% of the time, and led an average of 69 laps per race.
(ESPN Stats & Info)(10-3-2016)

Larson fails to make Round of 12: #42-Kyle Larson finished 25th at Dover, falling out of the top 12 and failing to make the Sprint Cup Chase Round of 12:
Q: Did you find out what the problem was with the battery earlier in the race?
Larson: "I don't know if it was a mistake or what. I really don't what to call it other than just bad luck."
Q: It wasn't the day you were hoping for. You had an electrical problem and a penalty on pit road. That seemed to seal your fate.
Larson: "I don't know what happened with the battery or whatever. But, I lost power. We lost a lap. We had too many men over the wall. And, really, without too many men over the wall, we probably would have been all right because I was only a lap down. Whatever. But, our Target Chevy has been good every week. So, we'll go out and try to win some races. Even though we're not in the next round, we still have a shot at finishing fifth in points. So, we're going to try our best to run up as far as we can in points."
Q: What do you take from this that might help you and this team to be better next year?
Larson: "I don't know what I've got to do. But we'll stay positive. We'll come back next year and go for a championship. Our team came a long way this year from where we started the season, so hats off to everybody in the shop and the road crew and Target and all the sponsors for all their hard work and effort. We just didn't have good luck again this year."
(Team Chevy)(10-3-2016)

McMurray talks about engine failure: #1-McMurray fell out of the Dover race with engine failure on Lap 193. He failed to move to the Chase Round of 12.
Q: You reported several times that you felt a vibration. Is there any explanation as to why the engine let go?
McMurray: "No, I felt earlier in the race that I had a vibration; and I said something about it. And we had some issues with drive shafts and stuff vibrating. That's what it felt like. And then it went away, oddly enough. And then it started vibrating again; and a few laps later it finally broke."
Q: What did you see/hear/smell from the driver's seat?
McMurray: "Not a lot. It vibrated earlier in the race and it went away. And it's weird because engine issues usually don't go away. It felt like it had power and then I don't know about 40 laps before it finally blew up, it just started vibrating real bad. They (the team) said what broke, but I couldn't hear them over all the cars on the track. I'm not sure. Very unfortunate. It is just the way it goes."
(Team Chevy)(10-3-2016)

Dover Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2016 Citizen Soldier 400: For those of you 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 2:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 5:20 PM (all times are EDT). NBCSN was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 119
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 55
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 96
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 50
Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 23
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 20
Number of times NBCSN utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 4
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 2:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 5:20 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 200
Minutes of race broadcast: 159
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 41
Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 9
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 159 Total comm. brdcst time 41
See past races, more info on the commercials with links at CawsnJaws.com.(10-3-2016)

Roush Fenway campaign for breast cancer awareness in October: Roush Fenway Racing will again utilize its award-winning 'Driven' Marketing program in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. The 'Driven for a Cause' campaign will use various elements to highlight cause awareness and support throughout the month. All of Roush Fenway's race cars will carry special 'pink ribbon Driven logos' in each of the month's events. In addition, Greg Biffle will run a special pink Ford EcoBoost paint scheme on his #16 Ford Fusion at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 8. Other Roush Fenway Racing Fords will feature special pink numbers during the Charlotte event. During the month of October, team owner Jack Roush will don a pink 'Driven for a Cause' shirt on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race days in an effort to bring more awareness to the cause. At Roush Fenway's Annual Fall Fan Appreciation Day on Thursday, October 6, fans will be invited to participate in the pink-themed 'Driven for a Cause' selfie-booth, complete with pink props. Fans who utilize the social media platform Snap Chat and are onsite for Fan Day will also have the opportunity to use a special geofilter with the 'Driven for a Cause' logo. All participants are encouraged to share these photos with family and friends on social media using the #DrivenforaCause hashtag. Roush Fenway is offering 'Driven for a Cause' merchandise, with a percentage of the proceeds going to Carolina Breast Friends.(Roush Fenway Racing)(10-3-2016)

XFINITY Entry List: There are 45 cars on the preliminary entry list for Friday's Race for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A few notes:
Austin Dillon returns to the RCR #2;
Cole Custer will be in the #5 for JRM;
Joey Logano will drive the #12 for Penske;
Spencer Gallagher is entered in the #21;
The Okaika #77 & #97's are TBA;
Brandon Brown returns with the #86 team;
Jeb Burton makes another attempt with the #98 team.(10-3-2015)
See the complete list on the Charlotte entry list page.

Poole expected to return to Ganassi: Brennan Poole has earned his keep at Chip Ganassi Racing. The 25-year-old Sacramento, Calif. native, who pilots the #48 Chevy, will re-sign with CGR for 2017 sources have told Motorsport.com. Poole easily qualified for the inaugural Xfinity Series Chase and is currently eighth in the standings with a cut to the top eight looming at Charlotte on Friday. After running a limited schedule in 2015, when Poole posted two top-10 finishes in 17 starts, he has flourished in 2016 with four top fives and 5 top 10s in the first 28 races. Poole's best result was third at both Talladega Superspeedway and Elkhart Lake. He's shown tremendous consistency this season by completing 99.2-percent of all laps raced with an average finish of 12.1.(Motorsport)(10-3-2016)

White to pilot Cobb entry at Martinsville: United States Marine Corp (USMC) Veteran and Charleston, West Virginia native Josh White has dreamed of racing in NASCAR for as long as he can remember. His opportunity will come this October 29th at the Martinsville Speedway NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Alpha Energy Solutions 200. After serving in the USMC for five years, Lance Corporal Josh White resumed his struggling career in racing dirt late models with 12 starts in which he earned 10 Top 5's and 5 feature victories as well as 19 ARCA Racing starts. Known as "White Lightning" in his hometown, White will attempt to qualify the#10 Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing (JJCR) Chevrolet. Cobb, who supports our nation's military through her Driven2Honor.org non-profit charity, is excited to grant a U.S. Marine the opportunity to race her truck at Martinsville. This historic event makes White the first Marine to become a NASCAR national touring series driver. White is currently on Ready Reserve (IRR) duty for the USMC. The opportunity to race at the NASCAR level came about when JJCR Business Development representative and Driven2Honor Board Member, David Pack, a Gulf-War Veteran, came upon White's Facebook plea for help in raising funds to race. Pack recognized White's frustration and his unique stance as a Marine and thought he could work through JJCR to make White's dream come true. Response to White's mission has been encouraging - he has already secured a primary partner, to be announced, that will allow him to attempt to qualify at Martinsville. He is still working diligently to find more funding, whether through corporate sponsorships or individual donations, so that he can have the best effort possible.(Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing)(10-3-2016)

Better Half Dash at Charlotte Thursday: The stars of NASCAR will give way to their significant others in a fender-bending Bandolero battle for the ages on Oct. 6, when 10 ladies of speed square off in the Better Half Dash presented by Nature Made on Charlotte Motor Speedway's frontstretch quarter-mile during Bojangles' Pole Night. The 25-lap showdown, which is scheduled to unfold at 4:30pm, pits some of racing's fastest females against one another in U.S. Legend Cars-powered machines to raise money for charities including Motor Racing Outreach and Speedway Children's Charities. NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Blake Koch watched his wife, Shannon, capture the victory last year. Paige White - whose boyfriend, Brad Keselowski, will chase his second Bank of America 500 victory on Oct. 8 - will make her Bandolero debut in the event. The sixth running of the Better Half Dash presented by Nature Made includes:
" Haley Dillon, wife of NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Ty Dillon;
" Wendy Venturini Egert, Performance Racing Network broadcaster and the wife of Toyota Racing Engineer Jarrad Egert
" Julie Mauldin, wife of Motor Racing Outreach President Billy Mauldin
" Anna McAllister, fiancé of Roush Fenway Racing pit crew member Cory Baldwin
" Jessica Nichols, wife of Team Penske Tire Specialist David Nichols
" Tati Papis, wife of MPI Innovations steering wheels owner and former NASCAR driver Max Papis and daughter of Formula One World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi
" Kinsley Parsons, fiancé of NASCAR Official Patrick Merrill and daughter of former NASCAR driver Phil Parsons
" Candice Smith, wife of Red Horse Racing mechanic Chris Smith
" Katelyn Sweet, girlfriend of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Larson
" Paige White, girlfriend of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski
(Charlotte Motor Speedway)(10-3-2016)

Truex, Jr. wins at Dover: #78-Martin Truex, Jr. won the Citizen Soldier 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway for his 4th win of the season, 2nd win at Dover and 7th career win. Truex, dominated most of the race, leading 187 of the 400 laps and winning by more than 7 seconds. There were just 6 cars on the lead lap at the finish.
#18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #24-Elliott, #2-Keselowski, #20-Kenseth, #22-Logano, #48-Johnson, #3-Dillon, #11-Hamlin, and #88-Gordon.
A number of Chase drivers had problems:
#4-Harvick suffered a broken track bar mount early in the race and had to go to the garage for repairs. He finished 37th.
#42-Larson lost power to his car under the first caution. He then was penalized for too many crew members over the wall. He fell 3 laps down. Later he hit the wall and lost another lap. He finished 25th.
#1-McMurray lost an engine just before halfway. He finished 40th.
#48-Johnson led 89 laps but was penalized for a crew member over the wall too soon with just over 100 laps remaining. He finished 7th, 1 lap down.
#14-Stewart, #42-Larson, #1-McMurray, and #34-Buescher are the four drivers eliminated from the Chase.
There were 14 lead changes among 6 drivers and 4 cautions for 22 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 130.969mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more [NOTE: money/winnings are no longer reported] at:
Unofficial Race Results page (pdf)
Lap Summary Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
Pit Stop Times (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Dover Race & Points Report (pdf).(10-2-2016)

Where did the 2016 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers finish at Dover?
[by points standings before the race (start pos)]
1) #2-Brad Keselowski, 4th (1)
2) #78-Martin Truex Jr., WON (2)
3) #18-Kyle Busch, 2nd (3)
4) #20-Matt Kenseth, 5th (4)
5) #22-Joey Logano, 6th (5)
6) #4-Kevin Harvick, 37th (6)
7) #11-Denny Hamlin, 9th (7)
8) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 7th (8)
9) #24-Chase Elliott, 3rd (9)
10) #19-Carl Edwards, 14th (10)
11) #41-Kurt Busch, 15th (11)
12) #42-Kyle Larson, 25th (12)
13) #1-Jamie McMurray, 40th (13)
14) #3-Austin Dillon, 8th (14)
15) #14-Tony Stewart, 13th (15)
16) #34-Chris Buescher, 23rd (16)
(10-52-2016)

Race Fast Facts - Dover International Speedway:
Martin Truex Jr. won the 47th Annual Citizen Soldier 400, his seventh victory in 398 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his fourth victory and 15th top-10 finish in 2016. He enters the Round of 12 as the top seed.
This is his second victory and 11th top-10 finish in 22 races at Dover International Speedway.
Kyle Busch (second) posted his 15th top-10 finish in 24 races at Dover International Speedway. It is his 19th top-10 finish in 2016.
Chase Elliott (third) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Dover International Speedway.
The four drivers who will not be advancing to the Round of 12 are Tony Stewart, Kyle Larson, Jamie McMurray and Chris Buescher.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-2-2016)

2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Standings:
[after Dover, race 29 of 36]
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr.*, [4 wins] 2131 (Won Chicago & Dover)
2) #18-Kyle Busch, [4 wins], 2125, -6
3) #2-Brad Keselowski, [4 wins], 2125, -6
4) #20-Matt Kenseth, [2 wins], 2114, -17
5) #22-Joey Logano, [1 win], 2108, -23
6) #24-Chase Elliott, 2106, -25
7) #48-Jimmie Johnson, [2 wins], 2105, -26
8) #11-Denny Hamlin, [3 wins], 2103, -28
9) #19-Carl Edwards, [2 wins], 2095, -36
10) #41-Kurt Busch, [1 win], 2093, -38
11) #3-Austin Dillon, 2085, -46
12) #4-Kevin Harvick*, [3 wins] 2075, -56 (Won New Hampshire)
Bottom 4 drivers have been eliminated from the Chase:
13) #14-Tony Stewart, [1 win], 2074
14) #42-Kyle Larson, [1 win], 2073
15) #1-Jamie McMurray, 2053
16) #34-Chris Buescher, 2045
See UNOFFICIAL drivers championship points standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings (pdf).
See the UNOFFICIAL owner points standings on the Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).(10-2-2016)

Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Round of 12:
[after Dover, race 29 of 36]
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr.*, [4 wins] 3000
2) #4-Kevin Harvick*, [3 wins] 3000
3) #18-Kyle Busch, [4 wins], 3000
4) #20-Matt Kenseth, [2 wins], 3000
5) #22-Joey Logano, [1 win], 3000
6) #24-Chase Elliott, 3000
7) #2-Brad Keselowski, [4 wins], 3000
8) #41-Kurt Busch, [1 win], 3000
9) #11-Denny Hamlin, [3 wins], 3000
10) #19-Carl Edwards, [2 wins], 3000
11) #48-Jimmie Johnson, [2 wins], 3000
12) #3-Austin Dillon, 3000
Points are reset after each round, for the Round of 12 it goes to 3000, no points for wins
Standings are reset by best finish of previous round.
If tied, then next-best finish.
(ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
See reset points for the Round of 12 on the Round of 12 Reset Points Standings page (pdf).(10-2-2016)

Dover Sunday Pre-Race Schedule:
1:30pm: Driver Introductions
2:00pm: Presentation of Colors by Dover Air Force Base Color Guard
2:00pm: Invocation by Pastor Dan Schafer, Calvary Assembly of God in Heightstown, NJ
2:01pm: National Anthem by Easton Corbin
2:02pm: (2) F-16's of the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas Air National Guard
2:07pm: "Drivers, Start Your Engines" by Grammy Award Winner & Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Joe Walsh
2:15pm: Start of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Citizen Soldier 400 (400 laps, 400 miles), NBCSN/MRN
eastern time (NASCAR.com)

Sunday Weather at Dover: The National Weather Service calls for a better forecast for Sunday afternoon than there has been the rest of the weekend:
Sunday - Isolated showers. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 76. Southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
The NASCAR XFINITY Race is now scheduled for 10:00am/et (CNBC). Dover does not have lights. For more weather links, check out the Dover Race page - weather section.(10-2-2016)

Tire test at Martinsville this week: Four Sprint Cup teams will participate in a Goodyear tire test next Tuesday and Wednesday at Martinsville Speedway in preparation for the Goody's 500. #78-Martin Truex Jr., who is currently second in the standings, is testing for Toyota. Chevrolet will have two participants in the two-day exercise. Paul Menard, will pilot the #27 Richard Childress Racing Chevy. #1-Jamie McMurray is testing for Chip Ganassi Racing. #16-Greg Biffle is driving the Ford entry for Roush Fenway Racing. Following the Martinsville test, Goodyear will wrap up its current in-season testing with a one-day session at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 17. The following day, teams will test for two days at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ford EcoBoost 400.(Motorsport)(10-2-2016)

Earnhardt Jr. driving simulator but not ready for a race car: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has driven a racing simulator as part of his rehabilitation for a concussion, and he said Saturday that the next eventual step would be to get into one of his late model stock cars. When that would be has not been determined as the Hendrick Motorsports driver continues to recover from a concussion suffered June 12 at Michigan that has kept him out of the car since July 9 at Kentucky. "I'm not ready [to get in a car]," Earnhardt said Saturday. "I know that. I'll know when I'm ready and it's not one of them things that has a schedule. You don't know when you're going to be, 'All right, I'm good, let's go do this.'
"I have been driving a simulator a little bit. That is not the same thing as driving a real race car, but it does challenge me mentally and does challenge the issues and symptoms."
Earnhardt is attending the Sprint Cup practices and Xfinity race Saturday as well as the Cup race Sunday at Dover. The noises and the commotion of a race weekend is part of his rehab to see whether it will trigger the balance issues he continues to battle. "Walking through the garage and signing autographs is tough," Earnhardt said as he walked through the Sprint Cup garage Saturday and down pit road to check on his Xfinity Series team. "My balance gets bad. You've got a lot of things happening in your peripheral [vision] and stuff -- that is something that is going to challenge it. That's pretty much it. My eyes have gotten a lot better. I don't really notice issues with my eyes quite as much anymore. But the balance stuff is still needing some work." At the point where he can walk through the garage and not have a reaction, Earnhardt said he would feel 100 percent normal. And then he would work on having the reaction time needed to race. "I feel so much better than I did five weeks ago," Earnhardt said. "I would have never thought about coming to the race track five weeks ago."(ESPN.com)(10-2-2016)

Chase Fast Facts: Dover International Speedway:
· This is the sixth year in a row the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup third race has been held at Dover International Speedway (2011 - 2016). Dover was the second race of the Chase from 2004 - 2010.
· Eight tracks that have hosted Chase races all 11 previous years - Loudon, Charlotte, Dover, Homestead, Kansas, Martinsville, Phoenix, & Talladega
· Nine different drivers have won the Dover Chase races, but Jimmie Johnson (four) is the only driver with multiple wins (2005, 2009, 2010 and 2013).
· When Dover was the second race of the Chase (2004 - 2010) Jimmie Johnson won twice at Dover went on to win the title.
· Since Dover moved to the third race in the Chase (2011 - 2015) two drivers have won the event and went on to win the title: In 2012, Brad Keselowski won Dover's Chase race, and went on to win his first NSCS title. It was Keselowski's lone win during the 2012 Chase. In 2013, Jimmie Johnson won Dover's Chase race, and went on to win his sixth NSCS title.
· The worst finish in a Chase race at Dover by a driver that went on to win the title was by Tony Stewart in 2011 when he finished 25th.
· Last season's champion, Kyle Busch, finished second in Dover's Chase race.
· No non-Chase driver has ever won the Chase race at Dover International Speedway.
· Eight drivers have won the pole for Dover's Chase races - Jimmie Johnson (three), Jeff Gordon (two), Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Jeremy Mayfield, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Newman (each have one).
(NASCAR)(10-2-2016)

Dover Race Notes & Facts:
· There have been 93 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Dover International Speedway, one race in 1969 and 1970, two races per year since 1971.
· 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 have 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 93 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Dover International Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions.
(NASCAR)

Daniel Suarez wins XFINITY race at Dover: #19-Daniel Suarez won the Drive Sober 200 at Dover International Speedway. It is his 2nd XFINITY Series win and 2nd of the year. #3-Ty Dillon finished second, followed by #7-Justin Allgaier, #22-Ryan Blaney, #88-Alex Bowman, #24-Corey LaJoie, #1-Elliott Sadler, #44-JJ Yeley, #62-Brendan Gaughan, and #16-Ryan Reed.
Pole sitter #20-Erik Jones had to pit early in the race and got off pit sequence. He had to pit again for fuel with less than 10 laps to go and finished 16th.
The race was delayed by a day because of rain on Saturday.
There were 4 cautions for 35 laps and 11 lead changes among 7 leaders.
The average speed was 104.076mph.
Complete results are on the Dover race results page (pdf).
(10-2-2016)

Dover XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Daniel Suarez won the 31st Annual Drive Sober 200, his second victory in 63 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his second victory and 22nd top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in four races at Dover International Speedway.
With the victory, Saurez advances to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase.
Ty Dillon (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in eight races at Dover International Speedway. It is his 15th top-10 finish in 2016.
Justin Allgaier (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 12 races at Dover International Speedway.
Brennan Poole (15th) was the highest finishing rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-2-2016)

XFINITY Driver standings following Dover:
1) #19-Daniel Suarez* [2 wins], 2087, +33 points ahead of 9th
2) #1-Elliott Sadler* [3 wins], 2085, +31
3) #7-Justin Allgaier, 2071, +17
4) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 2068, +14
5) #16-Ryan Reed, 2065, +11
6) #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., 2064, +10
7) #11-Blake Koch, 2058, +4
8) #48-Brennan Poole, 2057, +3 ahead of 9th
Bottom 4 drivers are eliminated after Charlotte:
9) #3-Ty Dillon, 2054, -3 points out of 8th
10) #20-Erik Jones [4 wins], 2053, -4
11) #39-Ryan Sieg, 2047, -10
12) #33-Brandon Jones, 2039, -18
* will advance to the Round of 8 by winning a Round of 12 race
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(10-1-2016)

Final practice for the Citizen Soldier 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway has been cancelled due to rain at the track.(10-1-2016)

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Citizen Soldier 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #2-Keselowski chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #78-Truex, Jr. took pit stall 9, the first pit stall with an opening in front of it.
#18-Busch, who starts 3rd took the 16th pit stall also with an opening in front it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #20-Kenseth, 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.

First Saturday practice for the Citizen Soldier 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is complete, after 45 of 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#88-Gordon, 160.514
#17-Stenhouse, 159.610
#31-Newman, 159.419
#5-Kahne, 159.405
#27-Menard, 159.011
Best 10 consecutive lap ave (of 9 drivers): #27-Menard, 157.850, and #24-Elliott, 156.379.
slowest: #32-Earnhardt 148.890 & #30-Wise 148.693
most laps run: #88-Gordon, 41; #41-Busch, 35.
Notes: The session was cut short due to rain. Final practice is scheduled for 1:30pm/et, with TV coverage on NBCSN.
See fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Dover Practice 2 speeds page (pdf). (10-1-2016)

Kennington to drive for Premium Motorsports at Phoenix: D.J. Kennington tweeted Friday afternoon, "Very excited to announce I will be racing at @PhoenixRaceway in the #SprintCup series in Nov! Driving for @premiummotrspts". He did not say if he would be in the #55 or #98. It would be Kennington's first Sprint Cup race. He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Pinty's Series. He has run one XFINTY and one Truck Series race so far this season.(10-01-2016)

Bryan Clauson Racing will continue: The legacy of Bryan Clauson Racing will continue under a new name thanks to Bryan Clauson's father, Tim Clauson, and team co-owner Richard Marshall. The team will now be known as Clauson-Marshall Racing banner and will make its debut during the upcoming USAC National Midget Series Jason Leffler Memorial at Wayne County Speedway in Wayne City, Ill., on Oct. 20. Current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will drive for the team on Oct. 20. Bryan Clauson died Aug. 7 after being involved in a violent crash the previous evening during the Belleville Midget Nationals at the Belleville (Kan.) High Banks. Bryan Clauson and Marshall formed Bryan Clauson Racing in 2008 with the idea of providing their knowledge and experience with drivers and families attempting to navigate their way through the sport while at the same time providing Clauson with an outlet to pursue the venue of motorsports that he loved most, midget and sprint car racing. Along the way, the team met many of its goals including a pair of USAC National Midget championships and a USAC Sprint Car title along with three USAC Driver of the Year awards while also helping in the development of many younger drivers making their way through the ranks. Bryan Clauson Racing had the honor of having some of the nation's top drivers race out of its stable including the likes of Tyler Courtney, Shane Golobic, Spencer Bayston, Jason Johnson, Kyle Larson and Stenhouse, among others. As such, it is only fitting that the Clauson-Marshall Racing debut at the Jason Leffler Classic will feature Stenhouse at the wheel. "I'm always thrilled to race with Tim and this team. I value the friendship and passion he and Bryan have for racing," Stenhouse said. "This race means a lot to Bryan. The whole racing family comes together to remember an awesome guy and racer."(National Speed Sport News)(10-1-2016)

Dover Driver Notes & Facts:
· 35 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).
· 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 38 victories; followed by Ford with 25 and Toyota with three.
· 10 of the 11 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 11 active NSCS Dover winners Kevin Harvick (29), Kurt Busch (22) and Matt Kenseth (14) made 10 or more attempts before their first win.
· Casey Mears and Jamie McMurray lead the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Dover without visiting Victory Lane at 27 each.
· Two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted their first career win at Dover International Speedway: Martin Truex Jr. (06/04/07) and Jody Ridley (5/17/81).
· 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.
· Kyle Larson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Dover with a 6.200.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Dover with 3,003 laps led in 29 starts.
· Two female drivers have competed at Dover International Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
(NASCAR)

Cup drivers skipping XFINITY race after postponement: Normally a race car driver would love to race twice in one day. But in this case, "let's play two" isn't exactly the best thing. Sprint Cup drivers moonlighting in the Xfinity Series this weekend at Dover International Speedway face the prospect of competing in 600 miles Sunday -- the 10 a.m. ET rescheduled Xfinity race (200 miles) and then the 2:15 p.m. Sprint Cup event (400 miles). For drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, teams are evaluating whether to change plans for the rain-delayed Xfinity race to make sure the championship contenders are ready for the Cup elimination race Sunday afternoon. Team Penske has decided to replace Joey Logano with Ryan Blaney for the Xfinity race, while Richard Childress Racing will replace Austin Dillon with Regan Smith. Replacing Kyle Busch in the Joe Gibbs Racing #18 car will be Drew Herring.(ESPN.com)(10-1-2016)

XFINITY race postponed: Due to lingering heavy mist, the NASCAR XFINITY race at Dover has been postponed. It will be run Sunday morning at 10:00am/et. CNBC will have TV coverage.(10-2-2016)

First Saturday practice for the Citizen Soldier 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is complete, after 45 of 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#88-Gordon, 160.514
#17-Stenhouse, 159.610
#31-Newman, 159.419
#5-Kahne, 159.405
#27-Menard, 159.011
Best 10 consecutive lap ave (of 9 drivers): #27-Menard, 157.850, and #24-Elliott, 156.379.
slowest: #30-Wise, 148.693
most laps run: #88-Gordan, 41; #41-Ku Busch, 35.
Notes: The session was cut short due to rain. Final practice is scheduled for 1:30, with TV coverage on NBCSN.
See fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Dover Practice 2 speeds page (pdf). (10-1-2016)

Jones on XFINITY pole at Dover: #20-Erik Jones won the Coors Light pole for the Drive Sober 200 at Dover International Speedway with a speed of 158.318mph. #18-Kyle Busch will start second. The field was set following one round of qualifying. Rain canceled the remaining two rounds. The rest of the top 10: #22-Joey Logano, #88-Alex Bowman, #19-Daniel Suarez, #7-Justin Allgaier, #3-Ty Dillon, #1-Elliott Sadler, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., and #2-Austin Dillon.
Did Not Qualify: None.
The starting lineup is posted on the Dover starting lineup page (pdf).(10-1-2016)

Dover XFINITY Qualifying Notes:
Erik Jones won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 31st Annual Drive Sober 200 with a lap of 22.739 seconds, 158.318 mph.
This is his 12th pole in 54 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his ninth pole and 27th top-10 start in 2016.
This is his second pole in three races at Dover International Speedway.
Kyle Busch (second) posted his 16th top-10 start of 2016 and his 15th in 21 races at Dover International Speedway.
Joey Logano (third) posted his 13th top-10 start at Dover International Speedway. It is his 12th in 12 races this season.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-1-2016)

Reddick wins Truck Series Race at Las Vegas: #29-Tyler Reddick won the DC Solar 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday. Brad Keselowski Racing teammate Daniel Hemric finished second, giving BKR the team's first ever one-two finish in the Camping World Truck Series. #00-Cole Custer finished third, followed by #33-Ben Kennedy, #9-William Byron, #4-Christopher Bell, #21-Johnny Sauter, #88-Matt Crafton, pole-sitter, #17-Timothy Peters, and #24-Grant Enfinger.
There were 3 cautions for 14 laps and 12 lead changes among 5 leaders.
The average speed was 143.163mph.
Complete results are on the Las Vegas race results page (pdf).
(10-1-2016)

Las Vegas Race Fast Facts:
Tyler Reddick won the 20th Annual DC Solar 350, his third victory in 58 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first victory and 10th top-10 finish in 2016.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in three races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Daniel Hemric (second) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is his 14th top-10 finish in 2016.
Cole Custer (third) posted his first top-10 finish in one races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Cole Custer (third) was the highest finishing rookie.
William Byron # leads the point standings by 18 points over Christopher Bell #.
(NASCAR Statistics)(10-1-2016)

Driver standings following Vegas:
1) #9-William Byron# [6 wins], 2080
2) #4-Christopher Bell# [1 win], 2062, -18
3) #88-Matt Crafton [2 wins], 2061, -19
4) #33-Ben Kennedy [1 win], 2055, -25
5) #17-Timothy Peters, 2053, -27
6) #21-Johnny Sauter [1 win], 2052, -28
7) #19-Daniel Hemric, 2037, -43
8) #8-John Hunter Nemechek [2 wins], 2037, -43
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(10-1-2016)

Owner Standings following Las Vegas: are posted (pdf).(10-1-2016)

Free Pass - Who got a lap back on each caution at Las Vegas: (and their finish)
Caution 1: #16-Friesen, 19th
Caution 2: #92-Kligerman, 14th
Caution 3: #51-Coughlin, 17th
(10-1-2016)

Peters on pole at Las Vegas: #17-Timothy Peters won the pole for the at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Saturday night's DC Solar 350 with a speed of 175.953mph. #88-Matt Crafton will start second, followed by #00-Cole Custer, #33-Ben Kennedy, #23-Spencer Gallagher, #19-Daniel Hemric, #05-John Wes Townley, #41-Ben Rhodes, #13-Cameron Hayley, #9-William Byron.
Did Not Qualify: none.
See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(10-1-2016)

Las Vegas Qualifying Notes:
Timothy Peters won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 20th Annual DC Solar 350 with a lap of 30.690 seconds, 175.953 mph.
This is his eighth pole in 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and eighth top-10 start in 2016.
This is his first pole in nine races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway .
Matt Crafton (second) posted his 10th top-10 start of 2016 and his eighth in 16 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway .
Cole Custer (third) posted his first top-10 start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is his eighth in 18 races this season.
Cole Custer (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-1-2016)

Texas to create limited driver bobbleheads for 2017: Texas Motor Speedway will create a driver bobblehead series around its three major race weekends in 2017 featuring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, Sprint Cup Series star Danica Patrick and defending Firestone 600 Verizon IndyCar Series champion Graham Rahal. Patrick will kick off the limited-edition series as the featured bobblehead for the fan promotional giveaway at the O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, April 9. The Rahal bobblehead will be showcased at the Texas Indy 600 Verizon IndyCar Series race on Saturday, June 10, and the bobblehead of Harvick, the 2014 Sprint Cup champ, will culminate the series at the AAA Texas 500 Cup race on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. Texas Motor Speedway will produce 30,000 each of the seven-inch bobbleheads of the Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Patrick and Harvick, and 20,000 of the Rahal bobbleheads. The series was spurred by the overwhelming response following the announcement of Texas Motor Speedway honoring three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart's final season with a limited-edition bobblehead at the upcoming AAA Texas 500. The speedway will distribute Stewart bobbleheads to the first 30,000 fans attending the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Sunday, Nov. 6.The Stewart bobbleheads will be distributed in Texas Motor Speedway's Fan Zone beginning at 8:00am/ct on race day. Fans must show their individual AAA Texas 500 race ticket in order to receive a bobblehead.(Texas Motor Speedway)(10-1-2016)