JIMMIE JOHNSON PUTS CHEVROLET ON THE POLE AT PHOENIX

Team Chevy Sweeps Front Row, Takes four of top-five and nine of top-12 Starting Spots

AVONDALE, AZ Nov. 14, 2015 – Jimmie Johnson put the No. 48 Lowe’s Patriotic Chevrolet SS on the pole for Sunday’s Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Phoenix International Speedway (PIR), the final race in the Eliminator round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.  This was Johnson’s first pole of the season and third pole at PIR in 25 races.

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Patriotic Chevrolet SS, captures the Pole position Friday, November 13, 2015 for Sunday’s final round of the Eliminator 8 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase race at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Chase contender Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation Chevrolet SS will join him on the front row start Sunday. (Photo by Harold Hinson/HHP for Chevy Racing)

“Qualifying has never really been my sweet spot,” said Johnson after his pole winning run.  “It’s nice to get one.  I definitely wanted one this year.  I didn’t think it would come at this ‘new’ Phoenix racetrack.  The ‘old’ Phoenix was real good to us, but we have been searching to get it right here.  I’m just so thankful that everybody on this No. 48 team and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports have been working so hard to get better.  We picked up a lot in many place or a little in a lot of places I should say and it’s turned into a lot.  Very proud of this Lowe’s team, everybody at Chevrolet and also want to send and prayers across the pond to everybody in Paris and France.”

While Johnson is no longer eligible for the 2015 championship, Chase contender, Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet SS posted the second fastest time in the final session.   Busch, a former winner at PIR, is one of several drivers that will need to win Sunday’s event to move into the final Championship Four.

Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr., qualified third in his No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS.   Earnhardt, like teammate Johnson, has already been eliminated from Chase contention.  Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 78 Furniture Row/Visser Precision Chevrolet SS team are still in contention and notched a solid fifth place starting spot for Sunday’s race.

Kyle Larson posted the sixth fastest time in his No. 42 Target Camo Chevrolet SS, but is also a non-Chase Contender.   Kevin Harvick, defending NSCS Champion and winner of the past four Sprint Cup Series races at PIR, will start eighth in his No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet SS.  Harvick is still alive in the Chase contention and can solidify his spot in the Championship round with a fifth consecutive victory at PIR.

Hendrick Motorsports drivers Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon helped the team get all four drivers into the top-12. Kahne, who is not Chase eligible, posted the ninth fastest time in his No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS; while Gordon was 11th in his No. 24 Pepsi Chevrolet SS.  Gordon has already earned a Championship round spot at Homestead next week, but is also competing in his final race at PIR this weekend.

Jamie McMurray rounded-out the Chevrolet power in the top-12 by earning the 12th spot in his No. 1 Sherwin Williams Chevrolet SS.

Carl Edwards (Toyota) was fourth in the the top-five qualifiers.

The 312-lap/312-mile Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m., ET on Sunday November 15. Live coverage will be available on NBC, PRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and NASCAR.com.

 

 

WIDE OPEN CHASE GRID SHIFTS TO TEXAS

Carl Edwards

Nov. 05, 2015 – The Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup kicked off at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday with Jeff Gordon winning the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 to earn the first of four spots in the Championship Round race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

This is how the Chase Grid shapes up: 1. Gordon (Leader, locked in) 2. Kyle Busch (9 points above the cutoff line) 3. Martin Truex Jr. (+9), Harvick (+7), Edwards (-7), Keselowski (-24), Kurt Busch (-26) and Joey Logano (-28).

The next Chase race is Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Five of the eight Chase drivers have won at Texas, led by Carl Edwards, who has taken three checkered flags there. Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon and Logano have each won at Texas once, while Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski have never been to Victory Lane there.

Harvick leads the eight Chase drivers with a 12.7 average finish at Texas, followed by Kyle Busch (12.9), Carl Edwards (15.0), Truex (15.1), Kurt Busch (15.9), Logano (16.9), Gordon (17.3) and Keselowski (17.3).

Source: NASCAR

 

 

MARTIN TRUEX JR. PUTS CHEVY ON THE FRONT ROW AT MARTINSVILLE

Chevrolet SS takes four of top-5 starting spots in first race of Eliminator Round

Martin Truex Jr.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. Oct. 31, 2015 – Martin Truex Jr. put the No. 78 Furniture Row/Visser Precision Chevrolet SS on the front row and thus, put himself in good position for Sunday’s Goody’s Headache Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.   The lap of 19.227 seconds/98.548 mph gives Truex, Jr. a front row start in the first race of the Eliminator Round in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. It bests the Chase contender’s third place qualifying effort at the 0.526-mile short track in the spring, and marks his career best starting spot at the paper-clipped shaped venue.

“A good pit stall is really important here, obviously,” said Truex.  “We qualified third here in the spring. Honestly I didn’t know we had a car that was that fast today. We stuck with it. The guys did a good job making adjustments there, and we got quicker each round. That’s what you’ve got to do. It’s a good starting spot for tomorrow and we’ll see what we can do with it. We’re looking forward to it.”

AJ Allmendinger scored his third-best start of the season with a third place qualifying effort in his No. 47 Kroger/Clorox Chevrolet SS. It was also his third top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway.   Jamie McMurray posted the fourth fastest lap of the final round in his No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet SS.

Eight-time Martinsville winner, Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 AARP Member Advantages Chevrolet SS, will start his final race at the track from the fifth position – giving Chevrolet four of the top-5 starting spots for Sunday’s event.  Gordon, also a Team Chevy Chase contender, is vying for his first win of the 2015 season.

Ryan Newman was seventh-fastest time in the No. 31 WIX Filters Chevrolet SS and Kyle Larson was ninth in his No. 42 Target Plaid Chevrolet SS.

Two other Chevy drivers in contention for this season’s championship, Stewart-Haas Racing teammates, Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Outback Steakhouse Chevrolet SS and Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy Chevrolet SS, will start 12th and 15th respectively.

Joey Logano (Ford) was the pole winner.

The 500-lap Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m., ET on Sunday. Live coverage will be available on NBCSN, MRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and NASCAR.com.

 

 

NEW TERRITORY FOR CHASE ELLIOTT WITH FOUR RACES TO GO / XFINITY SERIES

Chase Elliott (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

October 16, 2015 – This time last season, Chase Elliott had a 38-point lead over second-place in the standings, three wins under his belt and the road to title town was all but paved. This season however, Elliott is voyaging into untraveled territory in his young NASCAR XFINITY Series career. He is second in points with just one win (Richmond), and only has four races left on the schedule to overcome a 26-point deficit to become the series’ sixth driver to post back-to-back titles.

Elliott’s sophomore season could be considered a slump compared to his stellar rookie year, but by no means has his performance in 2015 been subpar. In 29 starts he has one win, 11 top fives, and a series-leading 23 top 10s (a top-10 finishing percentage of 79.3%).

Buescher’s chances at a title are not assured, especially with how well Elliott has run at the final four tracks on the schedule – among the two drivers, Elliott (8.7) has an average finish that is almost six spots (5.8) better than Buescher’s (14.5).

Elliott made his series debut at Kansas last season starting 12th and finishing 10th.

 

 

TRUEX JR.’S No. 78 CHEVROLET TO SHOWCASE WORLD VISION AS THE PRIMARY PAINT SCHEME AT KENTUCKY SPRINT CUP RACE

Truex’s car for the Quaker State 400 will be fully wrapped in World Vision colors to create awareness for the Christian global humanitarian organization

Furniture Row Racing is proud to support the Christian global humanitarian organization

DENVER June 24, 2014 – Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet will have a unique paint scheme for Saturday night’s (June 28) NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.

Truex’s car for the Quaker State 400 will be fully wrapped in World Vision colors to create awareness for the Christian global humanitarian organization.

World Vision works with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. With programs in nearly 100 countries, World Vision provides emergency assistance to those affected by natural disasters and civil conflict, works with communities to develop long-term solutions to alleviate poverty and advocates on behalf of the poor.

Furniture Row Racing team owner Barney Visser has been a longtime supporter of World Vision. Visser witnessed first-hand how World Vision’s disaster relief work saves lives when he accompanied aid workers in Indonesia during the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

“I have always been impressed with World Vision for its worldwide efforts during natural disasters and humanitarian work in aiding the poor and sick,” said Visser. “But what I saw firsthand after the Tsunami in Bande Aceh was how truly prepared and competent World Vision workers were in one of the most horrific disasters in history. I was extremely proud of how World Vision took the lead with its disaster response team and how they executed a well-prepared emergency plan.”

Visser added, “World Vision has been developing systems and processes and training people for more than 60 years. They are very good at it. Everyone I meet from World Vision in the field or in a country has been people I trust. Furniture Row Racing will be proud to showcase World Vision on the No. 78 race car and hope that more NASCAR fans take notice of this extraordinary Christian humanitarian organization.”

World Vision is also looking forward to continuing the Furniture Row partnership as a means to increase awareness about its humanitarian efforts in nearly 100 countries.

“This innovative partnership with Furniture Row Racing, one of World Vision’s most loyal partners, is a unique way to raise awareness and resources to fight poverty internationally and here in the U.S.,” said Morris Franklin, Director of Sports & Entertainment at World Vision U.S. “NASCAR fans have big hearts, which is why we are confident children and families will be the real winners at the Quaker State 400.”

To further educate NASCAR fans about World Vision, a mobile semi-truck will be on display at Kentucky Speedway. The display will take fans through a journey in the Tanzania community of Kisongo.

The Kisongo Trek is a unique, interactive experience of travel to Africa. The sights and sounds of Tanzania come to life through technology, dynamic cinematography and captivating photography. Fans will be able to hear stories about how a real life village has moved from poverty to hope through the dedicated efforts of World Vision.

To see pictures and video from the race and find out more information about the World Vision/Furniture Row Racing partnership visit worldvision.org/racing

 

 

 

NASCAR DRIVERS RYAN NEWMAN, MARTIN TRUEX, JR, AND USAF THUNDERBIRDS, VISITED DAYTONA RISING

Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III and the world-renowned U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – February 28, 2014 – During Budweiser Speedweeks, DAYTONA Rising, the $400 million frontstretch renovation project, had a couple of special visitors take hard-hat tours.

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet, visited the construction on Friday, Feb. 21.

On the morning of the 56th annual DAYTONA 500, the world-renowned U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, who performed the flyover later in the day, toured the massive project with Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III.

About DAYTONA Rising

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet, visited the construction on Friday, Feb. 21.

DAYTONA Rising is a $400 million reimagining of an American icon – Daytona International Speedway. Five expanded and redesigned entrances, or “injectors,” will lead fans to a series of escalators and elevators, transporting them to three different concourse levels. Each level features spacious social areas, or “neighborhoods,” along the nearly mile-long frontstretch. At the conclusion of the redevelopment, Daytona International Speedway will have approximately 101,000 permanent, wider and more comfortable seats, twice as many restrooms and three times as many concession stands. In addition, the Speedway will feature over 60 luxury suites with track side views and a completely revamped hospitality experience for corporate guests.

DAYTONA Rising: Reimagining an American Icon, expected to create 6,300 jobs, $300 million in labor income and over $80 million in tax revenue, will be completed in time for the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona and DAYTONA 500. DAYTONA Rising was recently cited as a key source of expected job growth in Volusia County as part of the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

Toyota recently became the first Founding Partner of DAYTONA Rising, joining the Speedway to help provide the very best experience for fans through over 20,000 square feet of engagement area, branding rights for the Toyota Injector and one of the new neighborhoods.

Barton Malow is serving as the design-builder for the project. In addition to DAYTONA Rising, Barton Malow has renovated the University of Michigan “Big House” and the Rose Bowl.

ROSSETTI, an award-winning architectural design and planning firm for the past 40 years, which headed the design for Ford Field NFL Stadium, University of Notre Dame Compton Family Ice Arena and five Major League Soccer Stadiums, is leading the master planning of the DAYTONA Rising site.

Race fans can follow the progress of the DAYTONA Rising project by visiting www.DAYTONARising.com and connecting with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.  Also, fans can see the construction project up close by taking one of the daily tours available at the Speedway on non-event days throughout the year. Visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/tours or the Speedway Ticket and Tours Building for more information.

For tickets and more information on Daytona International Speedway events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

 

BRISTOL NIGHT RACE ON SATURDAY: THE WILD CARD IN THE DECK

At Bristol Motor Speedway, the unpredictability is the only element that’s predictable.

August 21, 2013 – Saturday night’s IRWIN Tools Night Race (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC, Performance Racing Network radio, SiriusXM radio) just might be the biggest remaining unknown with the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ just three races away.

Bristol’s tall concrete banks well may determine who does or doesn’t qualify for the postseason.

The racing will be close, pressure-packed and physical. Who doesn’t remember Dale Earnhardt “rattling” Terry Labonte’s cage or Tony Stewart’s thrown helmet that bounced off Matt Kenseth’s windshield?

A few drivers – like five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who has already clinched a Chase berth – know Bristol’s twists and turns won’t end their championship hopes.

Others – not so much.

Drivers ranked seventh through 11th – Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Kasey Kahne – are separated by just 20 points. Last year’s Bristol night race saw 20 cars finish all 500 laps. Among those finishing off the lead lap was Carl Edwards, who needed a solid finish to close crucial ground on the points leaders.

He didn’t get it and ultimately failed to reach the Chase.

Saturday’s race could be huge for what’s now become a crowded field of four current Chase Wild Card hopefuls scoring victories in 2013. Although Tony Stewart remains eligible by virtue of a top-20 points position, Stewart-Haas Racing has pronounced its injured driver out for the remainder of the year.

Spring Bristol winner Kasey Kahne, attempting to become the first to score a sweep since Kyle Busch in 2009, would virtually lock up one Wild Card spot with his third victory of the year. That might be moot since Kahne is just four points out of the top 10.

The same could be said for Martin Truex Jr., 10 points out of the top 10. Truex finished 12th at Bristol in March and 11th a year ago. The New Jersey native has only two top-five finishes at the track but they are good ones – third in the spring of 2012 and second in the 2011 night race.

Neither Michigan winner Joey Logano nor Indianapolis winner Ryan Newman has been able to score a Bristol victory. Logano’s No. 22 Penske Racing Ford, however, is owned by Roger Penske. Penske Racing is No. 2 in the Bristol win column with 10 trips to Victory Lane – most recently in spring of 2012 with reigning series champion Brad Keselowski.

 

MARTIN TRUEX JR. No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS TOYOTA BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY PREVIEW

CORNELIUS, N.C. – August 21, 2013 – No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. plans to continue Michael Waltrip Racing’s success at Bristol Motor Speedway when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on Saturday night. MWR’s three drivers own the best average finish in the last three races.

The MWR surge began in March 2012 when Truex, Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers finished third, fourth and fifth — a first for the organization co-owned by Michael Waltrip and Rob Kauffman.

There’s a lot on the line Saturday night. Truex is 12th in the standings with three races remaining before the start of the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup. Truex holds the second and final provisional wild card (653 points, one win) as he seeks his second consecutive Chase berth. Kasey Kahne has the first transfer spot with 659 points and two victories. Only 14 points separate positions eight through 12 and 10 points separate Truex from 10th place in the standings.

TRUEX ON BRISTOL: “It’s just insane — it’s out of control. Bristol is like having a boxing match in an elevator. Everything is so right there and so packed together. The fans are on top of the action. When you’re driving the car, you’re always in the middle of something.  You’re always busy and you don’t get any time to rest. It’s just an exciting place and it keeps you amped up and keeps you on the edge of your seat all night long.”

WINNING AT BRISTOL: “The NAPA team has been close to winning there. We’ve been second there a few times and third — we’ve been really good there. It would be a fun one to win. I won there in Nationwide and it sure would be great to win. We want to win everywhere, but there are certain tracks that are really cool to win at and Bristol is definitely one of them with that night race and getting to drive on top of the building with the fireworks shooting off. Yeah, that is one I want to get especially considering how close the points are with three races to go. A second win would certainly help us if we need a wild card to make it into the Chase.”

RACING WITH VICKERS: “He’s been a great part-time teammate. He fits in so well with our group that Monday’s announcement to put Vickers in the seat for 12 of the 13 races left makes the most sense. It gives us all a head start and allows for a seamless transition into 2014. I think with the few races he’s run with us this year — obviously it includes a win, he’s done an incredible job. Now, he’s going to be able to help us even more as we try to lock up two of our three cars into the Chase with just three races to go.”

 

MARTIN-FOR-STEWART SHAKES UP OWNER CHASE POSSIBILITIES

August 21, 2013 – No owner whose driver failed to reach the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ has ever qualified for postseason riches.

The 2013 season could prove to be the exception to the rule – and in a most unexpected manner.

Heading into Bristol’s IRWIN Tools Night race, it’s business as usual. Kasey Kahne and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team and Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 56 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota team hold the provisional Wild Cards.

Both could make the Chase as top-10 finishers in the regular season. Kahne and Truex are four and 10 points, respectively, behind 10th-place Greg Biffle.

Should they advance, the door would open for two teams which have undergone massive changes in the past few days. The No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet stands third in owner Wild Card standings having scored the same number of points – 653 – as the No. 56 team.

Three-time champion Tony Stewart is finished for the season as he recuperates from a broken leg suffered earlier this month in an Iowa sprint car accident. His replacement for 12 of the remaining 13 races is Mark Martin who, teamed with Michael Waltrip and Brian Vickers, has given the No. 55 MWR Toyota a shot at a Chase owner Wild Card.

The No. 55 is sixth in owner Wild Card standings on the strength of now-regular driver Vickers’ victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The irony is that Martin will battle to keep his new team ahead of his old organization, as well as the No. 22 Penske Racing Ford of Joey Logano and No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet of Ryan Newman.

Make sense?

It’s just another reason why the Race for the Chase truly won’t be over until the checkered flag falls on Sept. 7 in Richmond.

Source: NASCAR

 

MICHAEL WALTRIP WILL RACE WITH THE No. 20 NAPA AUTO PARTS TOYOTA CAMRY AT SPOKANE COUNTY RACEWAY THIS SATURDAY

CORNELIUS, N.C. August 21,2013 – Two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip flies to Spokane County (Wash.) Raceway this week to compete in Saturday night’s K&N Pro Series West race on the half-mile oval.

The founder and co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing will drive the No. 20 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota for Bill McAnally Racing in the 10th race on the 15-race schedule. Waltrip finished fourth at Talladega and fifth at Daytona in Sprint Cup competition in 2013.

Saturday night’s race marks the 50-year-old Waltrip’s first K&N start in 2013. In addition to Spokane, Waltrip is slated to race Oct. 12 at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. He owns one win (Pikes Peak—1997), three top-five and 5 top-10 finishes in six series starts. Waltrip finished sixth at Colorado in his only series start last year.

WALTRIP ON RACING AT SPOKANE: “I can’t wait to fly out to Washington State to see all the fans out there. I watched the 2011 race from Spokane and the track and fans sure made it look like a great place to race. I have a blast whenever I get to race and that’s a part of the country we don’t get to visit too often. I enjoy racing in the NASCAR K&N Series. It’s a place where you get to see the upcoming stars of NASCAR. That’s where drivers like Kevin Harvick, Trevor Bayne, Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer learned their lessons. This series is fun to race and you’re helping develop the future of NASCAR.”

 NOTES:

 · PEAK Challenge’ Winner To Compete: The winner of the PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge, Patrick Staropoli, is slated to race in the K&N West event at Spokane. In the Challenge, which premiered on FOX Sports 1 earlier this month, nine stock car racing hopefuls competed for the chance of a lifetime. Clint Bowyer, Mark Martin, Danica Patrick, Martin Truex Jr. and others coached the drivers in front of a panel of judges. Staropoli – a Florida driver who in his racing career, progressed from karting to late model stock cars – will be competing for Bill McAnally Racing at Spokane.

 · The Race: The starting field is 24 cars, including provisional. The first 20 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 150 laps and begin at 9:50 p.m. Practice is 2:30—3:15 p.m. and 4:15-5 p.m. on Saturday followed by qualifying at 7:30 p.m. All times Eastern. The race is not broadcast.

 · NASCAR Stats: Waltrip has 1,061 starts in NASCAR’s three top series. He owns 16 wins, 103 top-five and 241 top-10 finishes. He won the Daytona 500 in 2001 and 2003.