NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Information, Links and News

THE RACE: Tums Fast Relief 500

TRACK: Martinsville Speedway

NASCAR Sprint Cup Race #33 of 36 for the 2012 season
Chase for the Sprint Cup race #7 of 10

Updated: often, leading up to the race

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Event Sched | Purse/Race Awards | TV / Re-airs | Radio
Practice/Qual Times | Rundown of Race/Results | Entry/Practice/Qualifying
Track/Race Info | Local Newspapers/TV | Local TV
Weather | Camping | Paint Schemes
Chassis | Goodyear Notes | Odds


Race: Sunday, October 28, 2012 in Martinsville, VA

Title Sponsor: Tums

Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 2pm/et


Television Coverage/Re-air/TV Team

  • NASCAR Countdown Pre-race: ESPN - 1:00pm/et

  • Television Race Coverage: ESPN, 1:30pm/et

  • In the Booth: Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree
    Pit Reporters: Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro, Dr. Jerry Punch
    NASCAR Countdown: Nicole Briscoe, Brad Daugherty, Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham

  • SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 11:00 am/et with John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace

  • Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
    Monday, October 29 at 12:00am/et on ESPN2; Wednesday, Septmber 31 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED

  • TV Listings, Links and Info:
    Jayski's TV Listings Page
    ESPN Network Schedules
    SPEED TV Schedule
    NASCAR on TV
    TV Racer


Radio Coverage


EVENT SCHEDULE
(Sprint Cup Series)

Times are local to the Track

Friday, October 26

11:00 - 11:50 am NCWTS practice
12:00 - 1:30 pm NSCS practice
2:10 - 3:30 pm NCWTS final practice
3:40 pm NSCS Qualifying

Saturday, October 27

9:30 - 10:25 am NSCS practice
10:35 am NCWTS Qualifying
12:00 - 12:55 pm NSCS practice
2:00 pm NCWTS Kroger 200 race

Sunday, October 28

11:30 am Drivers' Meeting
1:00 pm Driver introductions
1:30 pm NSCS TUMS Fast Relief 500 race

NSCS = Sprint Cup Series
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Times are local to the Track


PRACTICE & QUALIFYING
Dates / Times / TV coverage

(times in eastern time)
  • Practices:
    Friday, October 26, 12:00 - 1:30 pm/et, TV-SPEED
    Saturday, October 27, 9:30 - 10:25 am/et, TV-SPEED

  • Happy Hour 'Final' practice: Saturday, October 27, 12:00 - 12:55 pm/et, TV-SPEED

  • Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42, Friday, October 26 at 3:40 pm/et, TV-SPEED, re-air scheduled at 8:30pm/et and 1:30am/et.


PURSE/RACE AWARD

2012: $4,962,589
2011: $4,851,202
2010: $4,886,673
2009: $5,012,362
2008: $4,972,883
2007: $4,872,371
2006: $4,809,747
2005: $4,705,474
2004: $4,690,147
2003: $4,242,123
2002: $3,657,565
2001: $3,029,236
2000: $2,115,007


TRACK/RACE NEWS

  • Track Specifications:
    Track Size: 0.526 Mile
    Race: 500 laps, 263 miles
    Degree of Banking: Turns: 12 degrees
    Straightaways: Banking: 0 degrees(flat)
    Straights: 800 feet
    Backstretch: 800 feet
    Grandstnd Seating: 61,000
    Pit Stalls: 43 pits, 14-feet wide by 28-feet long
    Speed Limits: Pit Road, 30 mph; Pace Car, 35 mph
    Opened: 1947

  • Race Festivities/Officials:
    Grand Marshals: Sgt. Chad Willis, Sgt. Chase Noble, Spc. Mathew Lee McClintock, Pfc. Albert Boston
    Command to start engines: Sgt. Chad Willis, Sgt. Chase Noble, Spc. Mathew Lee McClintock, Pfc. Albert Boston
    Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Solomon
    Invocation: Eddie Barton, Raceway Ministries
    National Anthem: Winston Salem State University Red Sea of Sound Marching Band
    Military Flyover: 2 T-45s, Meridian Naval Air Station

  • Track Websites:
    Martinsville Speedway
    ISC Motorsports
    Facebook - Martinsville Speedway
    Twitter - MartinsvilleSwy

  • April 2012: see my Martinsville Race Info page

  • October 2011: see my Martinsville Race Info page

  • April 2012 Race Winner: #39-Ryan Newman, 78.823mph, started 5th

  • October 2011 Race Winner: #14-Tony Stewart, 68.648mph, started 4th

  • Track Race Record: Jeff Gordon, Sept 1996, 82.223mph

  • Oldest Race Winner: Harry Gant, 51 years, 8 months, 12 days, 9/22/1991

  • Youngest Race Winner: Richard Petty, 22 years, 9 months, 8 days, 4/10/1960

  • April 2012 Pole Sitter: #5-Kasey Kahne, 97.128mph, finished 38th

  • October 2011 Pole Sitter: none, rained out, field set by rules book

  • Track Qualifying Record: Tony Stewart, October 2005, 98.083mph

  • Oldest Pole Winner: Morgan Shepherd, 45 years, 6 months, 14 days, 4/26/1987

  • Youngest Pole Winner: Ricky Rudd, 24 years, 7 months, 14 days, 04/26/1981

  • The Numbers for the Tums Fast Relief 500: at Martinsville Speedway:
    1 - fewest cautions (three times, most recent 4/25/71)
    1 - fewest cars on lead lap at finish (27 times, most recent 4/27/86)
    1 - fewest lead changes (three times, most recent 4/9/61)
    2 - fewest leaders (11 times, most recent 9/26/76)
    3 - fewest caution laps (4/25/71)
    4 - fewest laps led by race winner (John Andretti, 4/18/99)
    4 - fewest running at the finish (5/6/51); 35 cars started the 200-lap race on .500-mile dirt track
    4 - number of jet dryers available for track drying this weekend
    7 - cautions in spring race
    14 - most leaders (10/15/01)
    15 - most wins by driver (Richard Petty)
    19 - races won from the pole
    21 - most cautions for a race (10/21/07)
    26 - most cars on the lead lap at finish (twice, most recent 10/22/06)
    29 - cautions for two races last year: 11 for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 and 18 for TUMS Fast Relief 500
    42 - most running at finish (two times, most recent 4/1/07)
    47 - different race winners
    57 - different pole winners
    90 - minutes, amount of time it takes to dry the .526-mile track after a significant rainfall.
    127 - Sprint Cup races at Martinsville Speedway since 1949
    127 - most caution laps (10/21/07)
    493 - most laps led by race winner (Fred Lorenzen, 9/27/64)
    2012 Caution Update:
    1 - fewest cautions this season (Fontana)
    8 - races extended beyond scheduled distance (Daytona, Martinsville, Talladega, Darlington, Sonoma, Michigan2, Atlanta and Talladega2)
    14 - most cautions this season (Kansas2)
    185 - number of cautions in the first 32 races of 2012; includes 86 for accidents, 50 for debris and 20 for spins
    961 of 9,021 - number of laps under caution in 2012
    1,359.288 of 12,234.676 - miles under caution in the first 32 races
    (Darnell Communications for SRT Motorsports and Dodge)(10-25-2012)

  • At Martinsville Speedway:
    • 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.
    • There have been 127 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, one in the inaugural year and two races per year since 1950.
    • Curtis Turner won the pole for the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville in 1949.
    • Red Byron won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
    • 57 drivers have won poles, led by Darrell Waltrip with eight. Jeff Gordon, with seven poles, can tie that mark this weekend.
    • Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin and Darrell Waltrip share the consecutive pole record, each with three.
    • 47 different drivers have won, led by Richard Petty's 15.
    • Jeff Gordon leads active drivers with seven wins. Jimmie Johnson has six and Denny Hamlin has four.
    • 19 races have been won from the pole, the last by Denny Hamlin in October 2010.
    • Petty Enterprises has won 19 races, more than any other organization. Hendrick Motorsports, with 18 wins, can tie that mark this weekend.
    • Kurt Busch won the 2002 fall race from the 36th starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.
    • Three active drivers average a top-10: Jimmie Johnson (5.7), Denny Hamlin (6.4) and Jeff Gordon (7.0).(NASCAR)(10-23-2012)

  • For news, stats, records and more about this race track, see: Jayski's Martinsville Speedway Track News/Rumors/Links page


RACE RUNDOWN....news and links

  • Johnson wins at Martinsville: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway for his 4th win of year, 7th win at Martinsville (tying Jeff Gordon and Rusty Wallace for 3rd most wins at the track) and 59th career win.
    #18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #5-Kahne, #43-Almirola, #15-Bowyer, #2-Keselowski, #24-Gordon, #55-Vickers, #47-Labonte, and #16-Biffle. #43-Almirola's 4th place ties for his best career finish (Homestead 2010).
    With #48-Johnson's win and leading the most laps, he is now in the points lead by 2 over #2-Keselowski.
    There were 11 cautions for 64 yellow flag laps. There were 22 lead changes among 9 drivers. The average speed was 77.677mph.
    The estimated attendence was 60,000, down from 63,000 in the spring race and down from 62,000 last October.
    See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Martinsville Race Results page (pdf) and the official race and points rundown on the Official Race & Points Report.(10-28-2012)

  • Where did the 12 Chase drivers finish at Martinsville?
    [by points standings before the race (start pos)]
    1) #2-Brad Keselowski, 6th (32)
    2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, WON (1)
    3) #11-Denny Hamlin, 33rd (5)
    4) #15-Clint Bowyer, 5th (8)
    5) #5-Kasey Kahne, 3rd (15)
    6) #56-Martin Truex Jr., 23rd (12)
    7) #14-Tony Stewart, 27th (7)
    8) #24-Jeff Gordon, 7th (11)
    9) #17-Matt Kenseth, 15th (6)
    10) #29-Kevin Harvick, 32nd (13)
    11) #16-Greg Biffle, 10th (30)
    12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 21st (20)
    (10-26-2012)

  • 2012 Sprint Cup Driver CHASE Championship Points Standings:
    [after Martinsville, race 33 of 36]
    1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [4 wins], 2291
    2) #2-Brad Keselowski [5 wins], 2289, -2
    3) #15-Clint Bowyer [3 wins], 2265, -26
    4) #5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins], 2262, -29
    5) #11-Denny Hamlin [5 wins], 2242, -49
    6) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 2237, -54
    7) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 22287, -63
    8) #17-Matt Kenseth [3 wins], 2226, -65
    9) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 2222, -69
    10) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 2220, -71
    11) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 2203, -88
    12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 2151, -140
    (ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
    See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf)

  • Race Fast Facts - Martinsville
    Jimmie Johnson won the 64th Annual TUMS Fast Relief 500, his 59th victory in 396 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his fourth victory and 23rd top-10 finish in 2012.
    This is his seventh victory and 19th top-10 finish in 22 races at Martinsville Speedway.
    Kyle Busch (second) posted his eighth top-10 finish in 16 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 17th top-10 finish in 2012.
    Kasey Kahne (third) posted his third top-10 finish in 18 races at Martinsville Speedway.
    Stephen Leicht (34th) was the highest finishing rookie.
    Jimmie Johnson leads the point standings by 2 points over Brad Keselowski.
    With Jimmie Johnson's win today Chevrolet has clinched the Manufacturers' Championship for this season.
    (NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-28-2012)

  • Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Texas:
    #36 remains in 35th and and drops to 90 points ahead of 36th, the #21 team.
    there virtually no chance the top-35 will change the rest of the season.
    Rank) Car#-Driver/Team, owners pts, +/-
    34) #32-TBA/FAS Lane Racing, 458 +156
    35) #36-Blaney/Baldwin, 392 +90 ahead of 36th
    these teams / drivers will need to qualify by speed:
    36) #21-Bayne/Wood Bros., 302, -90pts out of the top 35
    37) #33-Whitt/Childress-Falk, 244, -148
    38) #30-Stremme/Inception, 222, -170
    The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
    For the owner points standings, see the Owners Points Standings (pdf).(10-28-2012)

  • 2012 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings without Chase:
    (classic system using current points but NOT the chase system)
    [after Martinsville, race 33 of 36]
    1) #48-Jimmie Johnson(X) [4 wins], 1162
    2) #2-Brad Keselowski(X) [5 wins], 1148, -14
    3) #16-Greg Biffle(X) [2 wins], 1130, -32
    4) #17-Matt Kenseth(X) [3 wins], 1120, -42
    5) #15-Clint Bowyer(X) [3 wins], 1117, -45
    6) #56-Martin Truex Jr.(X) [0 wins], 1090, -72
    7) #11-Denny Hamlin(X) [4 wins], 1080, -82
    8) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(X) [1 win], 1050, -112
    9) #5-Kasey Kahne(X) [2 wins], 1046, -120
    10) #29-Kevin Harvick(X) [0 wins], 1044, -118
    11) #14-Tony Stewart(X) [3 wins], 1021, -141
    12) #24-Jeff Gordon(X) [1 win], 1014, -148
    13) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 1006, -156
    14) #99-Carl Edwards [0 wins], 937, -225
    15) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 936, -226
    (ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
    (X) = a Chase driver.

  • Martinsville Notes-n-Nuggets:
    " Jimmie Johnson captured his 59th career win in his 396th race.
    " Jimmie Johnson took home his seventh Martinsville win in his 22nd race there, tying Jeff Gordon and Rusty Wallace for third all time.
    " Jimmie Johnson's seven victories at Martinsville ties Dover for his most career wins at a single track.
    " This was Jimmie Johnson's fifth Chase triumph at Martinsville.
    " Jimmie Johnson earned his fourth victory of the season while also garnering his first Chase win of 2012.
    " Jimmie Johnson won a Chase race for the 21st time, most of all drivers.
    " Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to win a race during every Chase.
    " Jimmie Johnson started on the pole, this was the 12th Chase race won by the polesitter, seven have been by Johnson.
    " Jimmie Johnson took over the points lead by two points over previous leader Brad Keselowski.
    " Jimmie Johnson led eight times for 193 laps on the day, including the final 15 laps.
    " Hendrick Motorsports garnered its 207th career win, including its series-leading eighth of 2012.
    " Hendrick Motorsports was victorious for the 19th time at Martinsville, tying Petty Enterprises for the most all-time wins at the track.
    " Chevrolet snapped a 11-race winless streak with its series-leading 12th win of the year.
    " Chevrolet clinched its 36th manufacturers championship with its 50th all-time victory at Martinsville, the most of any manufacturer.
    " Kyle Busch (second) posted his best Martinsville finish in his 16th race at the track.
    " Kasey Kahne (third) garnered his third top-10 finish at Martinsville in his 18th start and first since finishing 7th in this race in 2006.
    " Aric Almirola (fourth) ties his best career finish (Homestead, November 2010).
    " Clint Bowyer (fifth) ties his best finish at Martinsville; led 150 laps on the day, now is third in points, 26 back of Johnson.
    " Brad Keselowski (sixth) had his best Martinsville finish in his sixth start, he has now had or matched his best finish at a track 16 times in 2012.
    " Brian Vickers (eighth) has posted five top-10 finishes in eight starts this season.
    " Bobby Labonte (ninth) had his best finish of 2012.
    " Denny Hamlin (33rd) had two speeding penalties on the day and also had electrical problems while running third. He now sits fifth in points, 49 back of Johnson.
    (Racing Resources and Services -- Statistics Racing Recall / nascar.com)(10-28-2012)

  • Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Martinsville: (and their finish)
    Caution 1: #38-Gilliland, 30th
    Caution 2: #10-Reutimann, 36th
    Caution 3: #83-Cassill, 19th
    Caution 4: #93-Kvapil, 31st
    Caution 5: none, #9-Ambrose was involved in the caution
    Caution 6: #34-Ragan, 26th
    Caution 7: #93-Kvapil (2), 31st
    Caution 8: #47-Labonte, 9th
    Caution 9: #78-Busch, 14th
    Caution 10: #27-Menard, 12th
    Caution 11: #42-Montoya, 20th
    (10-28-2012)

  • Race Coverage of the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martisnville Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, October 28, 2012.
    Television (TV): ESPN at 1:30 pm/et; NASCAR Countdown Pre-Race show at 1:00 pm/et; green flag approx 1:43pm/et
    Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
    Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
    Monday, October 29 at 12:00am/et on ESPN2; Wednesday, October 31 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED

  • Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martisnville Speedway have been made.
    Pole sitter #48-Johnson chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
    Outside pole sitter #55-Vickers took pit stall 11, the next pitstall with an opening in front of it.
    #18-Busch, who starts 3rd took the 16th pit stall.
    The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #78-Busch, who starts 19th.
    To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-27-2012)

  • Links to results, practices, qualifying PDF's:
    Official Race Report
    Race Results
    Drivers Points
    Owners Points
    Pitstalls
    Starting Lineup
    Qualifying Results
    Happy Hour Practice Speeds
    Practice 2 Practice Speeds
    Qualifying Order
    Practice 1 Speeds
    Entry List

  • NASCAR Green-White-Checkered Race Procedure: NASCAR allows a maximum of three restart attempts prior to the White Flag under NASCAR's Green-White-Checkered flag finish. If the leader has taken the White Flag and the caution flag is displayed, the field is frozen and the race will not be restarted. Previously, there was only one restart attempt. The procedure applies to all three national series. See rule and notes on the Green-White-Checker rule page.

  • Wave-around rule: The wave-around rule dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around.

  • See Jayski's - 2012 Sprint Cup Race Results Page for pole winner, race winner with speed and starting/finishing position, links to race results, drivers & owners points, pit stall selections, qualifying results/starting lineup, practice speeds and chase stats as well as link to race track and race information page for each race


QUALIFYING INFO, PRACTICE SPEED and ENTRIES
info, news, speeds and links

  • Final practice for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 50 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
    #55-Vickers95.874
    #24-Gordon 95.661
    #88-Earnhardt, Jr. 95.661
    #18-Busch 95.501
    #11-Hamlin 95.492
    slowest: #23-Riggs 93.520 & #98-McDowell 93.391.
    Light rain showers delayed Truck qualifying briefly so practice started about 10 minutes late.
    See speeds, best top-10 average and laps run on the Martinsville practice 3 speeds page (pdf).(10-27-2012)

  • First Saturday practice for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
    #55-Vickers 95.966
    #24-Gordon 95.898
    #42-Montoya 95.796
    #48-Johnson 95.777
    #18-Busch 95.728
    slowest: #38-Gilliland 93.673 & #33-Leicht 93.520.
    #99-Edwards spun coming off turn 2 midway through the session and ran over the curb. He didn't hit anything.
    See speeds, best top-10 average and laps run on the Martinsville practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-27-2012)

  • Johnson wins pole at Martinsville: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the pole for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martisnville Speedway with a speed of 97.598mph for his 3rd pole of 2012 and 28th career pole.
    #55-Vickers will start 2nd followed by #18-Busch, #31-Burton, #11-Hamlin, #17-Kenseth, #14-Stewart, #15-Bowyer, #27-Menard, and #43-Almirola.
    The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #98-McDowell, #26-Wise, #23-Riggs, #87-Nemechek, #91-Sorenson, #30-Stremme, #33-Leicht and #95-Speed.
    The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (2): #37-Yeley, #19-Bliss.
    See qualifying results & starting lineup on the Martinsville Qualifying Page.(10-26-2012)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts - Martinsville:
    Jimmie Johnson won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 64th Annual TUMS Fast Relief 500 with a lap of 19.402 seconds, 97.598 mph.
    This is his 28th pole in 396 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his third pole and 22nd top-10 start in 2012.
    This is his second pole in 22 races at Martinsville Speedway.
    Brian Vickers (second) posted his third top-10 start of 2012 and his second in 15 races at Martinsville Speedway.
    Kyle Busch (third) posted his eighth top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 19th in 33 races this season.
    Josh Wise (31st) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
    (NASCAR Statistics)(10-26-2012)

  • Where will the 12 Chase drivers start at Martinsville?
    [by points standings before the race]
    1) #2-Brad Keselowski 32nd
    2) #48-Jimmie Johnson 1st
    3) #11-Denny Hamlin 5th
    4) #15-Clint Bowyer 8th
    5) #5-Kasey Kahne 15th
    6) #56-Martin Truex Jr. 12th
    7) #14-Tony Stewart 7th
    8) #24-Jeff Gordon 11th
    9) #17-Matt Kenseth 6th
    10) #29-Kevin Harvick 13th
    11) #16-Greg Biffle 30th
    12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 20th
    (10-26-2012)

  • Coverage of Qualifying for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martisnville Speedway is scheduled for Friday, October 26, 2012 at 3:40pm/et.
    Television (TV): SPEED, 3:30pm/et
    Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: 8:30pm/et & 1:00am/et

  • Qualifying Order for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martisnville Speedway is posted. 46 cars/drivers are listed.
    The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #37-Yeley, slowest in practice.
    The final driver scheduled to go out is #55-Vickers, who was fastest in first practice.
    Qualifying order is set by the first practice session, with slowest driver going out by speed and the fastest going out last. The non-top 35 drivers are now mixed in with the top-35 in owners points, slowest to fastest.
    See the full qualifying order on the Martinsville Qualifying Page.(10-26-2012)

  • Rain Out Procedures: the rain-out qualifying procedure for all three NASCAR national series is as follows: If first practice is run, but qualifying is unable to take place, the starting lineup will be based on speeds from the car's fastest lap from the first practice, with top-35 cars in owner points no longer segregated from the non-top 35 cars. Previously, the top 35 cars lined up in front of all other eligible car owners.

  • Friday practice for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 90 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
    #55-Vickers 97.679
    #88-Earnhardt, Jr. 97.488
    #11-Hamlin 97.458
    #24-Gordon 97.478
    #15-Bowyer 94.458
    slowest: #36-Blaney 95.175 & #26-Wise 95.046
    This practice will determine the qualifying order for this afternoon's qualifying, scheduled for 3:30pm/et, televised on SPEED.
    #51-Allmendinger spun off turn 2 midway through practice but did not hit anything. #56-Truex, Jr spun going into turn 3 with a few minutes remaining but did not hit anything.
    See speeds, best top-10 average and laps run on the Martinsville practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-26-2012)

  • Go-or-Go Homers practice at Martinsville: how fast/slow were the drivers who are not in the top-35 of owners points and must qualify by speed to make the Tums Fast Relife 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, where they practiced in Friday practice:
    the eight drivers who would make the race if things stayed the same:
    #95-Speed, 23rd fastest overall
    #30-Stremme, 31st
    #98-McDowell, 32nd
    #91-Sorenson, 33rd
    #23-Riggs, 35th
    #87-Nemechek, 41st
    #33-Leicht, 42nd
    #19-Bliss, 43rd
    the two drivers who would miss the race if things stayed the same:
    #26-Wise, 44th
    #37-Yeley, 45th
    (10-26-2012)

  • The Entry List for the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martisnville Speedway is posted, 45 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
    Ken Schrader returns to the #32; Dale Earnhardt, Jr. returns to the #88.
    A.J. Allmendinger will drive the #51 for Phoenix Racing.(10-23-2012)
    Not in top 35 of owners points:
    #19-Mike Bliss (45/25)
    #23-Scott Riggs (44/29)
    #26-Josh Wise (41/32)
    #30-David Stremme (38/32)
    #33-Stephen Leicht (37/32)
    #37-J.J. Yeley (50/16)
    #87-Joe Nemechek (42/32)
    #91-Reed Sorenson (52/11)
    #95-Scott Speed (43/14)
    #98-Michael McDowell (39/32)
    In the event that qualifying is cancelled:
    the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 33,30,98,26,87,23,19,37
    missing the race would be [2]: # 95,91
    See the full entry list at my Jayski's Martinsville Entry List

  • Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Martinsville:
    #36 remains in 35th and and drops to 81 points ahead of 36th, the #21 team.
    there virtually no chance the top-35 will change the rest of the season.
    Rank) Car#-Driver/Team, owners pts, +/-
    34) #32-TBA/FAS Lane Racing, 443 +141
    35) #36-Blaney/Baldwin, 383 +81 ahead of 36th
    these teams / drivers will need to qualify by speed:
    36) #21-Bayne/Wood Bros., 302, -81pts out of the top 35
    37) #33-Whitt/Childress-Falk, 234, -149
    38) #30-Stremme/Inception, 218, -165
    The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
    For the owner points standings, see the Owners Points Standings (pdf).(10-21-2012)

  • 2012 Sprint Cup Driver CHASE Championship Points Standings:
    [after Kansas, race 32 of 36]
    1) #2-Brad Keselowski [5 wins], 2250
    2) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 2243, -7
    3) #11-Denny Hamlin [5 wins], 2230, -20
    4) #15-Clint Bowyer [3 wins], 2225, -25
    5) #5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins], 2220, -30
    6) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 2207, -43
    7) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 2203, -47
    8) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 2199, -51
    9) #17-Matt Kenseth [3 wins], 2195, -55
    10) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 2191, -59
    11) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 2188, -62
    12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 2128, -122
    (ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
    See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf)


Local Newspapers

Daily Press
Danville Register & Bee
Kingsport Times-News
Lynchberg News and Advance
Martinsville.com
Martinsville Bulletin
Martinsville Daily
Roanoke Times


Weather Links

Weather Channel
Accuweather
National Weather Service
Race Weather
Race Day Forecast
Weather Underground


Camping, Eating and
Travel Info

Laid Back Racing
Speed Eats


Some Chassis Selections and Notes by Teams for this race

  • Chassis selections for the Tums Fast Relief 500: see the list of many teams and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Martinsville Speedway:
    MISSING? why are some teams missing? like the #11, #24 or others? those teams do not report what chassis in the race previews or prs.
    #1-Jamie McMurray: Crew Chief Kevin "Bono" Manion and the No. 1 McDonald's team will bring Chassis #1222 to Martinsville Speedway this weekend. This chassis will make its race debut this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.
    #2-Brad Keselowski: The #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team will race chassis PRS-831 during Sunday's Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. This is a brand-new chassis to the No. 2 fleet.
    #5-Kasey Kahne: crew chief Kenny Francis has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-651. Kahne raced this car at Martinsville earlier this year, capturing the pole position and running inside the top five before encountering an engine issue.
    #10-David Reutimann: will pilot chassis No. 356, purchased from Richard Childress Racing in the off-season. Reutimann last drove this chassis at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Reutimann drove the chassis at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Michigan International Speedway and Richmond International Raceway this season. He had his best showing in the chassis at Michigan International Speedway where he drove from the 39th starting spot to a 21st-place finish. His best qualifying effort of 16th was at Kansas Speedway.
    #14-Tony Stewart: Chassis No. 14-710: This car debuted in April in the Capital City 400 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, where it qualified 22nd and led four times for 118 laps before a late-race caution canceled Stewart's two-and-a-half second lead and forced him to settle for a third-place finish. It was then tested June 6-7 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and again during a Goodyear Tire Test June 12-13 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. The Lenox Industrial Tools 301 in July at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon marked Chassis No. 14-710's second career start. There, a new tire compound from Goodyear confounded Stewart and crew chief Steve Addington, and they labored to a 12th-place finish. The car returned to Richmond in September for its third career start via the Federated Auto Parts 400, where it rallied from its 28th-place starting spot to lead 15 laps before finishing fourth. Sunday's race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway will mark the car's fourth career start.
    #15-Clint Bowyer: Primary chassis No. 743 is a new chassis that has never been raced. Backup chassis No. 712 finished 30th at Phoenix and seventh at Richmond in the spring.
    #16-Greg Biffle: Primary: RK-822 Last ran New Hampshire - finished 18th; Backup: RK-777 Last ran Pocono - finished 24th
    #17-Matt Kenseth: Primary: RK-806 (Last ran at Loudon)
    #22-Sam Hornish, Jr.: and his Todd Gordon-led Penske Racing No. 22 Team will be utilizing the "PRS-828" Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger in this weekend's TUMS Fast Relief 400 at Martinsville Speedway. Hornish and team last raced this chassis in the September 2 Advocare 500 at Atlanta, where they started 15th and finished 11th. It was a new car for the Atlanta race and has not been utilized since. The "PRS-807" will serve as the backup Shell-Pennzoil Dodge. It was in the 22 team transporter serving as the backup at Phoenix, both Bristol races, the first Martinsville race, the second Richmond race and the second Charlotte race. It has never seen any track time to date.
    #27-Paul Menard: will pilot Chassis No. 349 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in this weekend's Tums Fast Relief 500. This Chevrolet was last raced at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September, where Menard started seventh and finished 12th, his career-best result at the one-mile race track. This chassis was also utilized this season at Martinsville Speedway (April - started 11th/finished 26th) and at New Hampshire in July (started 13th/ finished 17th).
    #29-Kevin Harvick: will pilot Chassis No.400 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in the TUMS Fast Relief 500. The No. 29 team utilized this Chevrolet at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September and brought home an 11th-place finish after starting 16th.
    #31-Jeff Burton: will race Chassis No. 329 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable this weekend. This No. 31 Chevrolet, originally built in 2010, has seen significant track time over the last two seasons including Texas Motor Speedway in November 2010 (started-16th, finished-36th), Bristol Motor Speedway in August 2011 (started-21st, finished-15th) and New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September 2011 (started-18th, finished-13th). Burton also tallied a top-five finish at Phoenix International Raceway last November, finishing fourth after starting 14th and finished 22nd at Martinsville Speedway in April after suffering electrical issues near the halfway point of the event.
    #36-Dave Blaney: will drive the No. 293 chassis, which he drove eight times this season and five times during the 2011 season. The Harford, Ohio native's best start with the No. 293 chassis was 17th at Richmond last season and best finish was 23rd at Phoenix this season. TBR purchased the chassis from Richard Childress Racing, where Jeff Burton drove the chassis prior to its debut with TBR.
    #39-Ryan Newman: Chassis No. 39-691: This weekend, Newman will pilot Chassis No. 39-691, which has four starts and three top-10 finishes to its credit. Its most recent top-10 came last month at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, where Newman led 13 laps and finished eighth. Prior to that, at Phoenix International Raceway in March, the chassis looked to be a lock for its third consecutive top-10 finish but, 56 laps shy of the checkered flag, Newman was sent spinning into the turn-four wall after contact with another car while racing side-by-side for fifth place. The incident relegated Newman to a 21st-place finish. Last season, the chassis competed at Richmond in September and Phoenix in November. At Richmond, Newman started 18th and fought his way into the top-10 near lap 100 and stayed in that relative position for the remainder of the 400-lap event, finishing eighth. Newman finished fifth at Phoenix in November.
    #42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Crew Chief Chris "Shine" Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will bring Chassis #1110 to Martinsville Speedway this weekend. This chassis has seen several tests and raced once this season at Loudon, finishing 22nd.
    #48-Jimmie Johnson:: Chassis No. 749 is a new chassis and serves as the primary for Johnson at Martinsville. Chassis No. 689 serves as the backup.
    #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Crew chief Steve Letarte will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-654 for this weekend's race at Martinsville Speedway. This will be the fourth time Earnhardt has raced this chassis, and each time, he has driven it at Martinsville to record an average fourth-place finish. He drove this chassis during the 2011 season to a second-place finish at Martinsville in April and a seventh-place finish in October. In April 2012, he drove it to a third-place finish at the Virginia short track.
    #99-Carl Edwards: RK-815 Last ran Loudon, finished 19th.
    (from team PR's/sites if reported)(10-25-2012)


Goodyear Tires Notes / Fast Facts

  • Tire:
    Goodyear Eagle Short Track Radials (Sprint Cup):
    Goodyear Wrangler Short Track Radials (Camping World Truck)

  • Number of Tires:
    Sprint Cup: Left-side -- 1,375, Right-side -- 1,375;
    Camping World Truck: Left-side -- 325, Right-side -- 325

  • Set limits:
    Sprint Cup: 5 sets for practice/qualifying and 11 sets for the race;
    Camping World Truck: 4 sets for the event

  • Tire Codes:
    Left-side -- D-4312; Right-side -- D-4468

  • Tire Circumference:
    Left-side -- 87.4 in. (2,220 mm);
    Right-side -- 88.6 (2,251 mm)

  • Technical Inspection Inflation:
    Left Front -- 25 psi; Left Rear -- 25 psi;
    Right Front -- 25 psi; Right Rear -- 25 psi

  • Minimum Recommended Inflation:
    Left Front -- 10 psi; Left Rear -- 10 psi;
    Right Front -- 23 psi; Right Rear -- 22 psi

  • Notes: Teams in both NASCAR series will run the same tire codes at Martinsville this weekend, though the Sprint Cup tires will be branded "Goodyear Eagle," while the Camping World Truck tires will be branded "Goodyear Wrangler" . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that teams in both of these series ran at Martinsville earlier this season, as well as last October . . . this right-side tire code (D-4468) is the same one Sprint Cup teams ran on all four tire positions at both road courses this season -- Infineon and Watkins Glen . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Martinsville . . . Goodyear held a tire test with the 2013 Sprint Cup cars at Martinsville on August 7-8 . . . teams and drivers participating in that test were the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet with Kevin Harvick, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet with Jimmie Johnson, No. 56 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota with Martin Truex Jr. and No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford with Carl Edwards.


PAINT SCHEME NEWS

See all Paint Scheme news, links and chart for this race on the:
Paint Schemes Gallery & Race Chart page

The chart was removed from here as it was also posted on the Paint Schemes Gallery page, makes no sense to post the same info in two spots


Race / Cup Odds

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Race / Event Information

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