Martinsville is known for three things: 1. Fabulous short-track racing, 2. The Grandfather Clock given to race winners and 3. hot dogs.
Drivers and crew members alike love the Martinsville Hot Dogs they can get at the 0.526-mile track in Virginia. Crews even go so far as to keep a tally of how many each crew member devours.
Find out what sets the Martinsville Hot Dog apart from any other and how the track goes through between 65,000 and 70,000 hot dogs in a race weekend.
RELATED: Andy Petree retained by RCR as advisor
In an effort to strengthen its future, Richard Childress Racing dipped into its past this week, announcing that former championship-winning crew chief Andy Petree will serve in an advisory role with the three-team organization.
Petree served as crew chief at RCR from 1993-95, winning back-to-back championships with driver Dale Earnhardt in ‘93-94. Earnhardt finished second in points in ’95.
“Richard is totally committed to winning, I can tell you that,” Petree told NASCAR.com. “And that’s the whole reason behind this.”
Prior to joining RCR, Petree served as crew chief for drivers Phil Parsons (1987-88) and Harry Gant (’89-92) for team owners Richard and Leo Jackson.
An owner later in his NASCAR career, Petree fielded teams that won twice with drivers Bobby Hamilton and Joe Nemechek.
Today, RCR fields three full-time Chevrolet entries in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series — the No. 3 of Austin Dillon, the No. 27 of Paul Menard and the No. 31 of Ryan Newman. Dillon and Newman have one win apiece this season, and qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs. The victories were the first for the Welcome, N.C.-based group since 2013.
Menard will join the No. 21 with Wood Brothers Racing in 2018.
Childress, inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame earlier this year, spent 11 years racing as an independent at NASCAR’s top level before exiting the car to focus on ownership. Earnhardt won six of his seven championships while driving for RCR and 67 of his 76 victories.
Eight other drivers have accounted for the organization’s 40 remaining victories.
“It’s something Richard and I have talked about for a few months,” Petree said of his new role. “Richard is very involved with everything that goes on at RCR and he has been forever. Well, they’re not running well and it’s a really, really big machine. He’s trying to figure it all out and he needs help. He needs somebody he can trust, somebody that can come in there and evaluate all these areas and that’s going to be my mission for the next few weeks until the end of the season.
“Figure out where we could actually get the most benefit, where are the things that are really working good, where are the things that are not working so good and to help him make the decisions. That’s really what it boils down to.”
RCR already boasts a talented management staff that includes Dr. Eric Warren, the director of competition, operations director Sammy Johns as well as crew chiefs Matt Borland, Justin Alexander and Luke Lambert.
“He has some smart people there; really dedicated people,” Petree said. “A lot of them. … They do a good job and they deserve to be winning.”
Childress and Petree’s relationship didn’t end when Petree left RCR. Along with fellow team owner Dale Earnhardt, the three formed RAD, a technical alliance that combined resources to focus on research and development. Much of that work resulted in dominant superspeedway programs for the group.
“We were working on some forward-thinking things in that RAD alliance,” Petree said. “There were a lot of things that we were spending a lot of money on that weren’t producing any fruit for us. At least immediately. I convinced Dale and Richard that we shift that (focus) to things we were doing that were really moving the needle. And when we did it made a huge difference.
“That’s the kind of philosophy that (Richard) is looking for here, too. He spends a lot of money. They’ve got every single tool that they need to work with and most of it is state of the art. There is no reason that they are not one of the leading cars or top cars every week. And so he’s frustrated.”
Petree said he will be at the race track each week for the remainder of the 2017 season. He will continue to serve as an analyst on NASCAR Race Hub, the daily NASCAR news program on FS1.
“I miss being in the game,” Petree admitted. “I see a lot of things — I still stay awake at night thinking of things to do, wondering why people do certain things. And if I have smart people to bounce things off of, that would be the ultimate.
“And I’ve got that now with Richard’s teams. I’m so excited about the potential that’s there.”
ALL-ACCESS PHOTOS: Behind the scenes at Miami test
Under sunny skies and comfortable temperatures, Chevrolet drivers Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Larson topped Thursday’s round of testing at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, site of the Nov. 18 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season finale.
Eight Monster Energy Series drivers participated in the two-day test with NASCAR, including five who are still racing for a shot to be among the Championship 4 challenging for that Monster Energy NASCAR Cup at the South Florida venue next month.
“Just trying to learn what we can before we come back here in a few weeks,’’ said championship leader Martin Truex Jr., whose No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota was fourth fastest Thursday. “It’s a very unique race track, very different. You know a lot of the mile-and-a-halves we go to are very different from this. I feel like this (race) is hopefully going to be a big weekend for our team. Hopefully we’re in that final four when we come back here and I have a shot at our first championship.
“It’s the only track like it — slick, old pavement, a lot of grooves. It’s a lot of fun to race here, definitely a unique challenge for us.’’
Truex, who has set the pace for Monster Energy Series drivers all season, hasn’t had a top-10 finish at Homestead in three years. His best showing is a runner-up in 2006 and a third place finish in 2011. He finished 12th two years ago as part of the Championship 4 — a race and title won by Toyota stablemate Kyle Busch.
Johnson won the race and his record-tying seventh crown here last November. He, like Truex, is also among the group of eight drivers still fighting for a shot at the 2017 title. He said he’s fond of the track, and, also like Truex, considers it a different challenge than most of the 1.5-milers the series visits.
“It’s just a fun race track, the surface is worn and really promotes good tire fall-off and lots of lanes of racing,’’ said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. “This one is more of a true oval. Everything else has a kind of D-shaped straightaway.’’
He said he’s hopeful to be able to shift his thinking to Miami sooner than later. But he reiterated his Hendrick Motorsports team will be focused on this week’s Martinsville Speedway as soon as the Homestead test concludes Thursday afternoon. A historic eighth Cup championship will be on the line if Johnson can match his win at Martinsville from last fall and assure his place among the final four in South Florida.
“Last year we were able to win Martinsville and it certainly shifted our focus and certainly helped,’’ Johnson acknowledged. “In the end it all worked out, so it’s a luxury if you can lock in early and having this test session is a big step in this direction. These sessions are so valuable. It’s big to be here and test.’’
Another driver in the Round of 8, young star Ryan Blaney, was third fastest Thursday in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. The 23-year old is making his first NASCAR playoff appearance. He has finishes of 17th (2015) and 26th(2016) in two previous Homestead Cup starts, but three top-five finishes in the XFINITY Series.
“I personally like coming here, it’s a shame we only come once a year but I can’t think of a better track to end the season on,’’ Blaney said. “It’s a fun place and really challenging and you can figure more out when you come test here.”
Also participating this week were Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Trevor Bayne and Brad Keselowski. Hamlin’s No. 11 FedEx Toyota was fastest Wednesday followed by Keselowski, Bowyer and Truex.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s speed of 174.036 mph on Wednesday was the fastest lap of the two-day test.
PHILADELPHIA – Comcast announced today the finalists for the 2017 Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award, which was created to recognize the charitable efforts of individuals associated with the NASCAR industry. Comcast’s Xfinity brand has been the Official Entertainment Provider of NASCAR® and entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR XFINITY Series™ since 2015.
The 2017 finalists are:
“Comcast is committed to community investment and we are thrilled to utilize our NASCAR partnership to once again celebrate the true spirit of the individuals that make this sport what it is today,” said Matt Lederer, Executive Director of Sports Marketing at Comcast. “The annual Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award has proven to be a great platform for us to uncover and honor the selfless heroes inside the NASCAR family we are so fortunate to be a part of.”
This year’s winner will be selected by a panel comprised of Comcast and NASCAR executives, as well as former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Petty, NASCAR.com senior writer Holly Cain and 2016 Comcast Community Champion Wade Jackson. Comcast will award $60,000 on behalf of the overall winner to his designated charity, and $30,000 on behalf of the two remaining finalists’ selected charities. The 2017 winner will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 16 at the Loews Hotel in Miami as part of NASCAR Championship Weekend.
Jackson, the 2016 Comcast Community Champion of the Year, was awarded $60,000 to help accelerate the growth of Camp LUCK (Lucky Unlimited Cardiac Kids), which provides children with heart disease a place to gather and have fun. The camp was inspired by Jackson’s son, Jacob, who suffered from a congenital heart defect and passed away at the age of 17 due to complications from open heart surgery.
“It has been a great honor to be recognized as a Comcast Community Champion of the Year, and my family and I couldn’t be more grateful for everything that Comcast has done for Camp LUCK since the nomination,” Jackson commented. “I know first-hand what this award means to those who are fortunate enough to receive it, and I am honored to be a part of the award process.”
Comcast has a long track record of community service, aiding in the advancement of local organizations, developing programs and partnerships, mobilizing resources to connect people and inspiring positive and substantive change. To learn more about the Comcast Community Champion of the Year award, please visit: ComcastCommunityChampion.com.
2017 Comcast Community Champion of the Year finalists:
Jimmie Johnson (Charlotte, North Carolina) and his wife Chandra launched the Jimmie Johnson Foundation in 2006 to assist children, families and communities in need in the United States. Since 2009, the focus of the foundation has been funding K-12 public education, primarily through the foundation’s Champions Grant program. More than $5.3 Million in Champions Grants have been awarded to 119 school projects across California, Oklahoma and North Carolina. In addition, each year the foundation selects five charities that support K-12 public education to be featured on Johnson’s Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope, allowing them to receive a cash grant. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation provides an annual $48,000 grant to a select public or charter school in the United States each year as part of its Team Up For Technology program, an effort to bring the latest technology into K-12 schools. Since inception, the foundation has contributed more than $11 million to schools and organizations across the country. In addition to their work with public schools, they partner with the Make-A-Wish foundation every year to grant wishes to children with life-threatening conditions.
Brad Keselowski (Statesville, North Carolina) founded the Checkered Flag Foundation in 2010, which honors, supports and aids in the recovery of those who have sacrificed for their country through multiple programs and partners around the United States. As part of the organization’s efforts, NASCAR fans around the country donated to place a veteran’s name on Keselowski’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car during the November Phoenix race weekend in remembrance of Veterans Day. The foundation also donated money to the National Military Family Association to cover their Operation Purple Healing Adventure, a camp designed to prepare wounded veterans and their families for life after recovery. Keselowski recently hosted the inaugural Huntsman Shootout, an event which raised funds to support the building of a Fisher House location in Keselowski’s home state of Michigan, providing families of wounded soldiers with comfortable accommodations during their treatment. Finally, the driver has partnered with North Carolina’s Dr. Matt Lineberger to offer free orthodontic care to a veteran each time Keselowski wins a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. Following each victory, Keselowski carries the American Flag during his burnout to honor those who have sacrificed.
The Chip Ganassi Racing Pit Crew Department (Concord, North Carolina) has worked closely as a group to make a lasting, positive impact in the local community under the leadership of pit crew coaches Shaun Peet and Mike Metcalf. Once a month, the entire department gathers to participate in an offsite philanthropic event benefitting the community. Charities they’ve worked with over the years include Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, Charlotte Rescue Mission, Camp Care and Barium Springs Home for the Children. Activities range from cooking and serving meals, clothing drives, disaster relief cleanup, building cleanup and restoration, and trail building. The department has also led a yearly bicycle drive called the “Race to the North Pole,” which in 2016 donated more than 150 children’s bicycles to the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. They’ve also given back to the NASCAR community in times of great need; following the unexpected passing of No. 42 NASCAR XFINITY Series car chief Ryan Shea in March 2016, the Pit Crew Department not only collected Christmas gifts for his wife and two kids, but also helped with tasks around their home to provide care and support during a difficult time.
Two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso will be competing alongside the world’s best sports car drivers in the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway’s road course on Jan. 27-28, 2018, the United Autosports team announced Thursday.
Alonso will be part of the team’s two-car prototype effort in the WeatherTech Championship’s lead class, co-driving a Ligier LM P2 with Lando Norris, a McLaren development driver, and Phil Hanson, the reigning Asian LeMans Series LM P3 champion.
“What an exciting and interesting project,” Alonso said. “Learning about a completely new racing category, adapting to a different car and to another style of driving and everything that goes with it, is a new challenge for me and I can’t wait to test myself again as a driver.
“The Daytona 24 Hours is the most iconic U.S. endurance race and one of the world’s great races. Everyone knows it.”
This is not only Alonso’s first entry in the esteemed Rolex 24, it’s his first try in any of America’s premier endurance races. In May, the versatile driver earned Rookie of the Race honors in his Indianapolis 500 debut, where he started fifth and led 27 laps before his car’s engine failed, relegating him to a 29th-place finish.
The 36-year old Spaniard won back-to-back F1 titles in 2005-06 and has won 36 grand prix races since debuting in the series in 2003.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Fernando Alonso to IMSA competition in the Rolex 24 At Daytona,” IMSA President Scott Atherton said. “It’s not possible to overstate the significance of this news. There is no question that with his Formula 1 experience and how competitive he was at the Indianapolis 500, he will be an immediate contender for the Rolex 24 victory.”
Alsonso and the United Autosports team will participate in the annual Roar Before the Rolex 24 test days on Jan. 5-7, 2018 in Daytona Beach.
RELATED: See all the Martinsville paint schemes
This weekend at iconic Martinsville Speedway, the “Gray Ghost” will ride again. This time Dale Earnhardt Jr. will indeed be behind the wheel.
Junior’s personal history with this particular paint scheme dates back to 1980. Buddy Baker won the Daytona 500 that year in a black-and-silver entry that a young Earnhardt Jr. (he was 5 at the time of Baker’s win) never could quite get out of his head.
The car was named the “Gray Ghost,” a reflection of its color scheme, which blended in with the racing surface of the track and its apparent ability to appear out of nowhere, speeding past unsuspecting rivals at a moment’s notice.
“He just seemed to be a great match with the car,” Earnhardt Jr. said last year. “They were just so good, so fast. When they won the Daytona 500 after such a devastating loss after 1979 — they were the greatest thing down there, nobody could touch them throughout the entire weekend and then they didn’t even really get to race.
“And then they went back in ’80 and won, it was pretty neat; I know that was pretty special for Buddy to get that win. You can tell in some of the interviews from back then how important the Daytona 500 win was to him.”
Prior to the 2016 Darlington throwback race, Earnhardt Jr. unveiled a Nationwide-sponsored car that paid homage to the “Gray Ghost.”
He never got to run it.
Lingering effects from a concussion forced the Hendrick Motorsports driver to sit out Darlington that year. Instead, Earnhardt Jr. watched as Jeff Gordon drove the No. 88 to a 14th-place finish in a substitute driver role.
For his final full-time season as a driver, Earnhardt Jr. and Nationwide held a fan poll to determine Earnhardt Jr.’s livery for the Martinsville fall race (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
The winner? The “Gray Ghost,” which would appear to delight Junior, who responded to a @NASCAR Instagram post in kind — check out his comment below (we’ve highlighted his user name).
“Martinsville this weekend should be a lot of fun. We’ve got the Gray Ghost — I appreciate everybody voting for that paint scheme so I can run it,” Earnhardt Jr. said earlier this week on his podcast. “I didn’t get to drive that car last year and I love that car,
The old-school, black-and-silver scheme belongs perfectly at the oldest track on the NASCAR circuit, a facility that celebrates its 70th anniversary this year.
Imagine how it would look under the lights …
The Round of 8 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs starts Sunday at Martinsville (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio), and it’s the first chance a driver will have to win his way into the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The field features four former champions in Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. But for the long-term future of NASCAR, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney offer a glimpse into the larger-than-life possibilities that could lie ahead.
The two young stars have turned heads all year and have the opportunity to do so again when they take their early-20s selves to the oldest track on the NASCAR circuit.
Which young driver is going to shake up the old guard, at the old track, and steal a spot in the season finale? George Winkler and Kelly Crandall have their picks and are ready to rough it up, short-track style.
Winkler: If “We’re going to Homestead!” is in play, it helps to have Jeff Gordon, who coined that phrase, in your corner. And that’s exactly what Chase Elliott has with the four-time champion giving him pointers at the recent Martinsville test. In addition to this, Elliott has enjoyed success at Texas Motor Speedway, the second stop in the Round of 8 where he grabbed his first career victory in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and has an average finish of sixth place in the Monster Energy Series. Three runner-up finishes in these playoffs have been frustrating for sure, but they also could be a sign that a big breakthrough win is just around the corner.
Crandall: Ryan Blaney is quietly getting the job done. Sure, Elliott has been the flashier of the two in the playoffs, but the No. 21 team has four top-11 finishes in six playoff races and 30 laps led in the last two weeks. More importantly, Blaney has the speed to run up front and has picked up stage points — and a stage win — in recent weeks. In other words, Blaney is coming on strong when it matters most, like when he rallied from the rear of the field at Kansas to finish third. Martinsville will likely be a battle for Blaney & Co., but they have momentum on their side.
RELATED: Hear Blaney’s latest podcast
It will be months before Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. makes his first official start for Richard Petty Motorsports as a full-time competitor in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Wallace, 24, was named the 2018 driver of the legendary No. 43 on Wednesday.
Announcing the hiring of Wallace was just one piece of the organization’s latest puzzle. Still to be determined are such top-shelf items as sponsorship, manufacturer support and potential team alliance.
On Wednesday, co-owner Richard Petty said announcements concerning sponsorship will be made “later on,” there are “options” as far as manufacturer alignment is concerned and that decision will dictate any possible alignment with another organization.
RPM officials announced in September that current driver Aric Almirola and primary sponsor Smithfield would not return to the organization for 2018.
On the manufacturer front, the group has fielded Ford entries since 2010.
“We are doing one thing at a time,” Petty, 80, said Wednesday. “We decided just to go ahead and get Bubba all signed up, get that behind us, so that we can then sit down and say, ‘OK, what is our next best move?’
“Bubba will be involved in that part of it, too, because he’s going to be a big, big part of RPM for the coming years. … Again, there’s a bunch of irons in the fire. There’s going to be a bunch of different things that we’re going to do. When you see us at Daytona … it’s going to be a completely different RPM than what it’s been in the past.”
Wallace made four starts in the No. 43 earlier this year while Almirola was recuperating from a back injury, recording a best finish of 11th (at Kentucky). He is a six-time winner in the Camping World Truck Series; he competed with Roush Fenway Racing in the XFINITY Series and was fourth in that series’ points standings when the team was shut down in June.
“If you look back through NASCAR history, you’ll find out that (every) 10 or 12 years a crowd comes through,” Petty said. “You know, [David] Pearson, [Cale] Yarborough, [Richard] Petty came through. Then the next crowd comes up with Darrell [Waltrip], [Dale] Earnhardt. Then Jeff Gordon comes through, Jimmie Johnson’s crowd comes through.”
NASCAR is going through another cycle, he said, and “We wanted to be part of that change this time.
“We felt like then you have the new drivers, a bunch of new drivers, coming into Cup … that Bubba has already raced with for the last 10 or 12 years,” Petty said. “There are probably six or eight of them to come up together. Now they’ve made it to the Cup Series.
“We wanted to be involved in that part of it, felt like that Bubba was going to be our best bet to be right up to the cutting edge of what’s going on.”
Like father, like son?
Brexton Busch, son of Kyle Busch, is wheelin’ and dealin’ just like his dad … except instead of a race track he’s burning rubber in his neighborhood. He even checks under the hood to make sure everything is in order.
😂 @brextonbusch working on his burnout technique, I think he’s got this! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/GzBSiBUy0z
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) October 25, 2017
The toddler is already a crowd pleaser, and it’s clear he has the whole ‘celebrating a win’ down in his Lightning McQueen car.
Will we see Brexton Busch holding a trophy in Victory Lane one day? From this video, his technique might even be better than some of his dad’s competitors — let the ‘Rowdy’ legacy live on.
RELATED: Bubba Wallace to drive iconic No. 43 | Drivers of the No. 43
No. 43.
There’s just so much history behind it.
But beyond that, it’s a family.
Ever since I got the call that I was going to drive the No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2018, it’s been totally different than any other team I’ve been with. Brian Moffitt is the CEO, and he’s Richard Petty’s son-in-law, and his daughter Rebecca helps run the deal — and I’ve already met their kids. Pretty much everybody at RPM is a Petty and I’m loving it.
Even my girlfriend Amanda got to witness that dynamic. We went up to a team dinner the other night and she told me after, ‘Wow, it’s crazy how they’re already kind of taking you under their wing.’
It makes you feel good and it’s special, for sure. It’s more like a family that just happens to own a race team.
• • •
It’s been a roller coaster ride to get to this point.
Sponsorship talks had me going from Cloud 9 to the lowest low, which my mom and Amanda got to hear all about. When a sponsor deal fell through, I felt like someone just punched me in the gut. It kind of just took all the breath out of me.
So, getting the call a few weeks ago that we were back to a full season in the No. 43 was huge. It’s a great opportunity for me, but it was also a huge decision. I had a couple options on the table and was trying to figure out which path to follow. Before signing the deal, I dialed up three guys who know racing pretty well; Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick.
They gave me some great advice; Kyle and Jimmie were trying to figure out the logistics of it all and encouraging me to do some research. Harvick has been a support system for a while. He actually reached out to me two years ago to say he was there for me and that I had some support when the times were a little tough.
When I was in the midst of figuring out my next steps, I remember telling him, ‘Man this is just a risk.’ But then he said, ‘Whoa, you already took the risk, buddy, years ago when you left Joe Gibbs Racing — that was your risk right there. If you hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t be on this phone call with me right now, so don’t think this is a risk – it’s just the next step and it’s all going to unfold for you right here.’
Nothing like a Monster Energy Series champ to bestow some words of wisdom on ya like that!
I thought it was pretty special for him to say that. He’s been a big influencer on me and it has been awesome to have him in my corner. (I’ve just got to make sure I don’t get into him on the track come next season because that friendship might go away.)
• • •
Looking ahead to 2018, I’m really hoping that I can do some great things in the car. But I’m also hoping to do some good outside the car, as well.
As the first full-time African-American NASCAR driver in the premier series since Wendell Scott drove in the ’60s and ’70s, I hope this really opens the eyes and the ears of African-American business owners and the African-American demographic in regards to racing.
I’m biracial. I have black in me and that will never go away, that will never change. I’m always different, and I’ve embraced that.
It’s special that I have an opportunity to make a difference in the sport — not everyone has that platform. I really hope this step will help NASCAR grow as a sport and really just take off from there.
So, when the Daytona 500 rolls around in February, it’s going to be a big day for me, one that I’ll probably always remember for many reasons. I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself, because that’s what I’ve always done with season debuts and it tends to bite me.
But the close-knit atmosphere at Richard Petty Motorsports lets me know that even if I do have a bad race or day, they’ll be there for me.
Because that’s what family does.
MORE: Bubba’s career highlights | Wallace will keep dazzling us
