Posted on by Zack Albert

Rookie finished fourth at Martinsville in fourth career NCWTS start last October

RELATED: Play NASCAR Fantasy Live

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — The season-opening NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race provided another in aseries of learning experiences for rookie driver Ben Kennedy. Now he’s back at the site of one of his biggest positive lessons in his career.

Kennedy arrived at Martinsville Speedway on Friday hoping to build upon the personal-best fourth-place finish at the .526-mile track last October. He’ll try to go one better (and then some) in Sunday’s Kroger 250 (5:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1), the series’ second race of the year.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• View all articles
• View all videos
• View all photos

Though he took to the historic, paper-clip layout quickly, it hasn’t been because of any seamless transition from another track like it. Kennedy tested with his Turner Scott Motorsports team at Motor Mile Speedway in Dublin, Va., and he drew a faint comparison with Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., where he won in 2013 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.

"As far as the racing action goes, it’s kind of survival of the fittest and reminds me of Bowman Gray a little bit," said Kennedy, who was fifth and 15th in Friday’s practice sessions at Martinsville. "As far as the actual track, I don’t think you can experience much like it until you actually get here. … Anything with getting track time, especially at a place we’re going to race, is super-beneficial. I think we’re pretty good today. I’m excited for it. We still have some stuff to work on. I don’t think it’s perfect, but we’re making strides in the right direction, I feel like."

Kennedy has already found some stride just one race into the young season, having started from the pole position and leading a race-high 52 of 100 laps in the season-opening event at his hometown track, Daytona International Speedway. Though Kennedy was shuffled back to an eventual 15th-place finish, the dicing back in the pack gave him another tutorial about racing at restrictor-plate facilities.

He also got an opportunity to watch himself heading the field, catching a peripheral glance at a big-screen display on the apron out of the corner of his eye.

"It was pretty wild once you got back in the pack a bit," said Kennedy, whose No. 31 Chevrolet carries backing from the ALS Association this weekend, "but being up front, it’s almost kind of quiet because everyone’s behind you, no one’s really saying much on the radio, you’re just kind of focused on that yellow line and hugging the yellow line and keeping it wide open and not letting anyone get beneath you."

Though the Truck Series’ schedule has significant layoffs spacing out the season’s first three races, Kennedy has kept busy with his studies at the University of Florida. He’s nearing the end of a 13-week internship program and is on pace to graduate before the series’ next race weekend, May 9 at Kansas Speedway. He’s also kept track of his racing team in the K&N Pro Series East and the budding career of his driver, NASCAR Next member Kenzie Ruston.

While he’s also keeping one eye on his alma mater’s exploits in the NCAA men’s basketball championship, Kennedy is hoping to compartmentalize any madness that might come into play in Saturday’s 250-lapper.

"Every race you come to, you want to win. We’re definitely keeping championship points in the back of our head," Kennedy said. "Maybe we don’t risk it as much as we did last year, just to sort of be conservative and make sure we make the right moves out on the race track, but also be aggressive and be smart with everything this year."

READ MORE:

READ: Latest
NASCAR news

WATCH: Latest
NASCAR video

PLAY: NASCAR
Fantasy Live

FOLLOW LIVE: Get
RaceView
Posted on by Zack Albert

Joe Gibbs Racing driver blasts detractors, addresses Auto Club 400 absence

MORE: Hamlin tops Sprint Cup practice | Hamlin cleared to race at Martinsville
CARAVIELLO: Hamlin situation shows benefit of revised Chase

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Denny Hamlin said he took a "safe approach" after a rusted piece of metal in his eye blurred his vision and kept him out of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series‘ most recent race. While he was thankful to be back in the cockpit Friday afternoon, he bristled at the notion hinting that his setback could be rooted in a carefree lifestyle.

"It’s my business. People who think negatively or think that we sidestepped some kind of drug test or something is ridiculous," Hamlin said Friday at Martinsville Speedway, where he is a four-time winner in Sprint Cup competition. "I’m in one of the top three cars in NASCAR; I’d have to be an absolute moron — moron — to risk that. I have a daughter that I’ve got to provide for for a real long time and for people to question who I am inside and outside the race car. I’ve never done anything to even put that in question."

Hamlin’s absence from the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota last Sunday at Auto Club Speedway raised speculation about what was causing his vision problems. Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. was among those looking for answers beyond the initial diagnosis of a sinus infection, saying that NASCAR should be transparent in reporting the medical problems of his fellow competitors in an interview with USA TODAY. But a NASCAR spokesperson told the newspaper that information and updates should come from race teams or the driver himself, citing medical privacy laws.

When public conjecture called Hamlin’s lifestyle into question, the 33-year-old Virginia native sounded off. He said that he rarely consumes alcohol "at all, hardly" and has never used drugs, adding that it’s a stretch to believe otherwise simply because he chooses to spend personal time out in public places such as Charlotte Bobcats games or nightclubs.

"I’m as clean as they come," Hamlin said. "I don’t know why people question who I am outside the race track because I worked too hard to get here, for one, to throw it all away. If anyone has any questions about that, they can ask me directly. … It bothers me that my character is questioned and people think that there’s some kind of conspiracy. 

"I’m done justifying and defending myself on those things — I’m not going to let those people drag me down. It’s just frustrating — just because I’m out there a little bit more in the public that bugs me because I’m a human being and I like doing fun things. If people think I have to go out and I have to drink to have fun, they’re wrong and they haven’t hung out with me because I don’t. It just bothers me because there’s people that like to make rumors and of course within our NASCAR community rumors become truth when enough people say it. I’m done."

Hamlin was back behind the wheel of the No. 11 JGR Camry on Friday afternoon, turning the fastest lap in the opening Sprint Cup Series practice on the 0.526-mile track. Doctors notified NASCAR officials of Hamlin’s medical clearance Wednesday, allowing him to compete in Sunday’s STP 500, where he will start second (1 p.m. ET, FOX).

Last Sunday at Auto Club Speedway, NASCAR officials ruled Hamlin out after his vision deteriorated from an initial check-up in the infield care center the day before. The decision was made to find a replacement driver after he failed a lateral vision test Sunday morning.

Hamlin left the track mere minutes before the command to start engines, carried to a local hospital for a CT scan and further tests. Sam Hornish Jr. subbed for Hamlin and finished 17th as an emergency replacement in the Auto Club 400.

Hamlin described the process in detail Friday at the track, saying he didn’t want to be a liability in competition. He credited NASCAR’s new format for playoff eligibility, which allowed him to miss the event without thwarting his championship hopes. He also said that while he wanted to race, he knew that series officials, team personnel and doctors had his best interests in mind and that sitting out was becoming inevitable as race-day morning ticked away.

"I hope this doesn’t keep drivers going to the infield care center and make sure you’re 100 percent before any race," Hamlin said. "Drivers are going to drive through being sick and under the flu and things like that — you can do that. You can’t mess with your vision. That’s all we’ve got, that what we have to go off of when we’re driving these cars."

Hamlin said that he started having eye issues in Friday’s practice at Auto Club, when irritation in his upper eyelid led him to believe he had a sty. Team officials initially reported the problem Sunday as a sinus infection that resulted in irritation and altered vision in his left eye, but doctors found and removed a sliver of metal. Hamlin, who was unsure whether the stray metal came from a cooling vent or outside the window net, rapidly improved after the extraction and he was released to fly back to North Carolina on Sunday night.

It was the second straight year that Hamlin wound up in a hospital on race day at the Southern California track. In 2013, a last-lap crash with rival Joey Logano left him with a broken back that forced him out of four races and part of a fifth.

"It’s just bad luck," Hamlin said. "Track hates me."

Even with the missed race, Hamlin still ranks 11th in Sprint Cup standings, 46 points behind series leader Carl Edwards. While Edwards wasn’t intimately familiar with Hamlin’s case, he did say that he trusted NASCAR’s medical judgment implicitly. 

"The medical staff in NASCAR knows more about me and keeps better tabs on me than any doctor I’ve ever been around, except for maybe my wife," said Edwards, who leads Earnhardt by just one point. "They’re amazing. I’ll say another thing, I think that at first blush when people say we should have a traveling team of doctors. Well, being around the few doctors I’ve been around, it seems that I personally feel very comfortable with local doctors and the way NASCAR goes and finds the folks that are working day-in and day-out. So if I have a major injury let’s say here at Martinsville, I feel pretty confident that I’ll be taken care of by a doctor that, A, he’s dealing with that stuff all the time and B, he’s very familiar with the local medical facilities and the way that the care works there.

"As I learn more about Denny’s situation, I obviously have a couple of questions, but I feel pretty good. I’ve had great interaction with the medical staff at NASCAR."

Hamlin also wasn’t lacking for strong opinions on his odds for scoring his first Sprint Cup win of the season at the paper-clip-shaped layout. He’s led multiple laps in the last nine races at Martinsville, but has just one top-five finish to show for himself in the last five races here.

That luck would change if Hamlin collects his fifth of the track’s trademark grandfather clock trophies, as he predicts. 

"I’m going to win it this weekend," Hamlin said, "I promise."

MORE:

READ: Latest
NASCAR news

WATCH: Latest
NASCAR video

PLAY: NASCAR
Fantasy Live

FOLLOW LIVE: Get
RaceView
Posted on by Zack Albert

New system is more compact, will allow for more room at small tracks

RELATED: NASCAR official release | Mobil 1 Technology Center

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — When NASCAR unleashed its first edition of the Air Titan track-drying system ahead of the 2013 season, the development inspired comparisons to superheroes and related feats of strength with its assault on damp racing pavement.

Now the evolution of the process will add improved mobility, speed and efficiency to the brute force.

NASCAR’s next-generation Air Titan 2.0 track-drying apparatus debuted Friday morning at Martinsville Speedway, replacing the bulkier multi-truck system with a self-contained version. The announcement was made at the 0.526-mile track by Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president of racing operations; Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR vice president, innovation and racing development; and Dr. Michael Lynch, NASCAR vice president, green innovation.

The more compact, efficient drying system is a self-contained unit that houses the drying mechanism in beds of specially equipped Toyota Tundra trucks, eight of which are here this weekend for duty at Martinsville. The units were previously located on a separate tractor-trailer, which moved in concert with the drying trucks.

The next development allows Air Titan 2.0 more room to operate, especially at tracks such as close-quarters Martinsville, where no track apron exists. It will also work in conjunction with Elgin sweepers, which will vacuum up excess water pushed down from the racing surface.

Stefanyshyn said the increased mobility will allow flexibility for either collaborative drying efforts by a team of trucks or "independent tactical deployment" to areas of greater need. He also anticipated a 25 to 50 percent improvement in track-drying time, depending on weather conditions such as temperature, cloud cover and dew point.

"Developed by our engineers at the NASCAR R&D Center, Air Titan 2.0 will help us more quickly return to racing, which serves our most important mission — the enjoyment of our fans," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. "It’s faster, more agile and eco-friendly. The new Air Titan creates the ultimate win-win-win for our sport, our fans and our environment."

The earth-friendly aspect of the next-generation Air Titan goes further than the initial version, which replaced jet-fueled dryers as the primary track-drying tool ahead of the 2013 season. The new version more than triples the blade capacity of the first edition, consumes 78 percent less fuel per hour and emits 80 percent less CO2 per hour, thanks to a lower air compression rate.

The Air Titan 2.0’s debut and environmental impact dovetails with Friday’s kickoff to NASCAR’s second annual Race to Green initiative, a month-long awareness campaign for the overarching NASCAR Green program.

"Imagine being asked by the chairman of your company to go to battle with Mother Nature, win that battle, and continuously improve over time in a way that they’ve done," Lynch said, "and do it greener and in a way that integrates partners that’s completely along the lines of the history of how we’ve built the NASCAR Green platform."

Air Titan was mandated for all tracks that host NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events in 2014. The new version was put through its paces in four of five tests, Stefanyshyn said, including one as informal as drying the parking lot of the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, N.C. The final test came at nearby Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the Air Titan 2.0 units ran for six hours before getting the stamp of approval.

With NASCAR’s premier series getting the new treatment going forward, O’Donnell said the Air Titan’s development could be used in other forms of motorsports, including drag racing. The 2.0 version’s reduction in costs for equipment, operation and upkeep also opens the opportunity for weekly speedways in the NASCAR Home Tracks program to acquire their own Air Titan units.

"There’s still a lot more work to do," O’Donnell said. "We’re by no means at the finished product, but I think we feel confident, and when we look at the research from fans about their purchase intent for a ticket, knowing that the Air Titan was there, there was upwards of 50 percent, and I’m going to go. That was a big deal for us to look at and keep pushing and keep driving."

MORE:

READ: Latest
NASCAR news

WATCH: Latest
NASCAR video

PLAY: NASCAR
Fantasy Live

FOLLOW LIVE: Get
RaceView
Posted on by Nascar

Veteran tests at Sonoma, concedes ‘we all play a role’ in tire incident

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Four-time NASCAR Cup champion Jeff Gordon participated in a Goodyear tire test this past week at Sonoma Raceway.

But the Hendrick Motorsports driver said he did not discuss last week’s tire issues that surfaced during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway.

"I did not," Gordon said Friday at Martinsville Speedway, site of Sunday’s STP 500. "No, I’m too mad at them to have a discussion with them about that right now. I went and did everything I could to put the best test together that I could, to learn what we could to go to Sonoma and win. Tires aren’t an issue there … so I did not discuss it with them."

Several teams had tire-related problems during last week’s Auto Club 400, including defending series champion Jimmie Johnson. Johnson and Gordon were running 1-2 in the waning laps of the event when Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet slowed with a flat left rear tire.

With the series turning to Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5-mile track, next week, Gordon said he could foresee similar problems arising there as well.

"We saw issues there last year," he said. "I think as a team we’re already looking at things we were doing last year that we can … try to improve as far as abusiveness on the tires.

"My question is, did Goodyear test there? Because from what I understand they didn’t test in California and I think that that obviously was a mistake. Because I think some of those things may have shown up in that test. Did they test at Texas? If they didn’t I hope they have a backup plan because I do think we’re going to have some issues there."

This past week’s Sonoma test was the first Goodyear tire test of the season. Although teams tested at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the offseason as NASCAR ironed out its 2014 rules package, the tire combinations used at Phoenix, Las Vegas and Auto Club Speedway were the same builds used at those tracks last season.

The new rules package, formed specifically for the series’ intermediate tracks, has resulted in increased downforce on the cars and higher speeds, particularly in the turns. It was not finalized until mid-December.

Goodyear officials said the timing of the process did not allow for on-track testing for the initial races on the schedule.

At Auto Club, Goodyear’s Greg Stucker said the issues were the result of chassis adjustments and teams running less than the minimum suggested air pressures in an attempt to create more grip.

"Don’t get me wrong, we all play a role in it," Gordon said. "You can easily sit here and say, ‘well the teams were not conservative enough; there were teams that weren’t having issues.’

"Well, we saw issues on Saturday and we detuned our car from a tire-abusive standpoint; we still had a great race car but we were having problems throughout the whole day. We were one of the fortunate ones that never had one that came apart. Every pit stop, there were plenty of signs that it could happen to us just like it could happen to anybody else. I think when you have that many cars that are that close to being on the edge or going over the edge then the tire is too aggressive or something else needs to be looked at.

"With the ride heights and everything they’re doing, the teams have gotten more aggressive, no doubt about it. But that’s what it’s going to take to win races. If no tire test happens at that track, I would question why not."

MORE:

READ: Latest
NASCAR news

WATCH: Latest
NASCAR video

PLAY: NASCAR
Fantasy Live

FOLLOW LIVE: Get
RaceView
Posted on by Nascar

Johnson: ‘Statistically, I think the end of the year is where we heat up the most’

RELATED: Play NASCAR Fantasy Live | Sign up for RaceView today

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – According to track records, NASCAR records and perhaps the Greater Henry County Historical Society, Jimmie Johnson does not win every time the Sprint Cup Series competes at Martinsville Speedway.
 
But you would be hard-pressed to find another track where the Hendrick Motorsports driver has enjoyed better results.
 
He’s an eight-time winner on the distinctive 0.526-mile track – a high-water mark he shares with teammate Jeff Gordon. His average finish, in 24 career starts, is 5.3, tops among active drivers.
 
He’s finished outside the top 10 only three times. Ever. Two of those were 11th and 12th place results. He was 35th back in 2002, before he won his first race and before he won the first of six Cup championships.
 
So it’s not exactly breaking news when Johnson, 38, says he is looking forward to Sunday’s STP 500, stop No. 6 for the series this season.

"With this being our first trip to Martinsville with the 2014 package, I’m very confident," Johnson said Friday morning. "I know that I know the track, Chad knows the track, and we’ll figure it out. But I don’t know how we will unload.
 
"Last year coming in here we had a refined package, we knew exactly where we would be, played the game the way we needed to … we had a good feel for things. There’s a bit of uncertainty, some questions we need to answer today out on the track.
 
"But no doubt, from a mental aspect of walking into a track from a team or driver’s standpoint, when you’re walking into a track where you’ve won a bunch, it does put a little spring in your step."
 
Five races into the 2014 season have seen five different race winners. After opening the new year with three consecutive top-10s (fifth, sixth and sixth), Johnson and the No. 48 team were 19th and 24th at Bristol Motor Speedway and Auto Club Speedway, the last two stops.
 
That’s hardly indicative of the team’s strength, however. Johnson led 44 laps at Bristol and 104 at ACS. In both races, tire issues relegated Johnson to also-ran status, the most recent knocking him out of the lead late in the race.
 
A seven-race winless stretch, dating back to the final two races of 2013, is hardly anything to get worked up about for a team and driver that have visited Victory Lane 66 times through the years.
 
"It’s not uncommon," he said, "for us to get a little deeper into the season before we start winning. Statistically, I think the end of the year is where we heat up the most. … We’ve got a good track (record) here, Dover’s coming up soon. There are a lot of good opportunities for us coming along.
 
"With the new rules package … I think that’s what has allowed the five different winners. It’s just a challenge right now to find out what you need, what you want. … There is a lot of parity out there right now."

READ MORE:

READ: Latest
NASCAR news

WATCH: Latest
NASCAR video

PLAY: NASCAR
Fantasy Live

FOLLOW LIVE: Get
RaceView
Posted on by Nascar

Aric Almirola’s crew chief expected to return Saturday following Lynda Petty’s death

RELATED: Play NASCAR Fantasy Live | Sign up for RaceView today

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Aric Almirola, driver of the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford, is without the services of crew chief Trent Owens at Martinsville Speedway on Friday.

Owens is the nephew of Lynda Petty, whose memorial services are scheduled for Friday. Petty, wife of NASCAR Hall of Fame member and seven-time Cup champion Richard Petty, passed away March 25.

Owens is expected to join the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team for Saturday’s activities as well as Sunday’s STP 500.

Friday’s schedule called for one practice session (Noon-1:30 p.m. ET) and qualifying (4:40 p.m.).

During his absence, Owens’ duties are being handled by committee — car chief Greg Ebert, engineer Jason Stockert and R&D engineer Scott McDougall.

Richard Petty and Hall of Fame crew chief Dale Inman were scheduled to serve as grand marshals for Sunday’s race. Inman will now handle those duties alone.

Officials said RPM teams would carry special decals in memory of Lynda Petty on their cars this weekend, and similar decals will also be made available to other teams.

MORE:

READ: Latest
NASCAR news

WATCH: Latest
NASCAR video

PLAY: NASCAR
Fantasy Live

FOLLOW LIVE: Get
RaceView
Posted on by Nascar

Cars will adorn NASCAR’s green branding across windshields at Martinsville

RELATED: Learn more about the NASCAR Green | Official NASCAR release

NASCAR’s second annual Race to Green initiative, a month-long program aimed at building awareness around the sanctioning body’s commitment to protecting and preserving the environment, officially got underway Friday at Martinsville Speedway.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entries competing here this weekend are adorned with green branding across the top of their windshields and carry the NASCAR Green logo on their A-posts. The logo also appears on the backstretch wall of the 0.526-mile track while NASCAR officials are wearing similar logo patches on their uniforms. 

The NASCAR Green platform was created in 2008 to promote environmental awareness across the industry as well as among race fans. According to Dr. Michael Lynch, vice president of green innovation for NASCAR, the platform "is unquestionably the biggest and broadest green platform in sports in the world, based on our fan impact numbers."

"We have the most impactful green platform that’s ever been in the United States of any kind, whether in sports or another industry, government or non-profit, because of the size and focus of our fan base," he added.

The Race to Green initiative, unveiled last year, provides a window of opportunity to bring NASCAR Green to the forefront.

"To really raise awareness of the participation of NASCAR nation and the NASCAR industry in green sustainability in a way that … brings green to Main Street in a high performance, uncompromising way and that is also very smart business," he said.

There were 19 official partners that participated in the initiative during the inaugural year of the Race to Green campaign, Lynch said, including stalwarts such as Sunoco, Toyota, Coca-Cola, 3M and UPS.

Ninety percent of the race teams also participated. 

"There were about 24,000 trees planted by official partners, close to 180,000 that were planted by fans and the Arbor Day Foundation and the Virginia Department of Forestry," he said. "It was just an absolutely massive first year that actually resulted in a tree-planting volume that … literally does offset the greenhouse gas emissions of our racing for the next 18 years on top of the five years we’ve already been at NASCAR Green."

For 2014, he said, "We’re going to do at least another 140,000 more trees."

The list of official partners has grown — Lynch said there are now 27 activating around this year’s program — and 100 percent of the teams are participating in some fashion.

While the program officially begins this weekend at Martinsville, tracks scheduled to host upcoming NASCAR events will also be involved. Texas Motor Speedway will feature green flags across pit boxes and haulers during its April 4-6 Sprint Cup/NASCAR Nationwide Series race weekend; Darlington Raceway and Richmond International Raceway will host ceremonial tree plantings during their respective race weekends (April 11-12 and April 25-26) as well. Start/finish lines will feature green and white checkered patterns. 

"And not only our national series (tracks), but also a couple of the Virginia home tracks, specifically South Boston and Langley Speedways are going to get involved in this in a major way as well," Lynch said.

Many of the official partners already have "green" programs in place; in many instances, such programs are an extension of those companies’ current efforts.

"UPS … has a program at corporate level where they are planting 1 million trees with the Arbor Day Foundation across a range of sites to help offset their environmental impact having to do with their shipping business," Lynch said. "Their involvement with us … it absolutely is an extension of the corporate tree-planting planting program."

Fans and members of the industry can donate trees to be planted across the country (visit www.nascar.com/green for more information), including many areas that have been severely damaged due to natural disasters.

"Joplin, Missouri, is a great example," Lynch said, "as well as Oklahoma last year, with the tornado devastation that happened there (in Moore, Okla.)"

The tree planting is a large part of the program, but far from the only one. The recycling of tires, automotive fluids and waste generated by 80,000 or more fans over the course of a typical race weekend are part of the NASCAR Green program, as was the move to Sunoco’s E15 biofuel, which contains 15 percent ethanol.

Partnering with companies such as Safety-Kleen not only makes good business sense, but good ecological sense, according to Lynch.

Safety-Kleen collects all used automotive fluids during race weekends (which adds up to "about 200,000 gallons a year" according to Lynch) for disposal or re-use.

"They re-refine them with cutting edge chemistry and make them into products that can be used again, or disposed of in by far the most eco-friendly way," he said.

“What’s unique about a NASCAR Green partner is that in addition to their being a brand affiliation and the marketing and promotion and those aspects of those things that are commonly understood … NASCAR Green partners as a general group are a lot like our competition partners.

"Because regardless of whether it involves the racing product, or (something) at or around the race track, or in the infrastructure or the venue, (they) are involved in the operations of the sport by definition because we need to be implementing something with a green partner in order for it to actually matter, for it to impact our environmental footprint."

MORE:

READ: Latest
NASCAR news

WATCH: Latest
NASCAR video

PLAY: NASCAR
Fantasy Live

FOLLOW LIVE: Get
RaceView
Posted on by Staff Report

Kyle Busch will lead off the start of the STP 500

RELATED: Play NASCAR Fantasy Live | Sign up for RaceView today

"#" signifies a rookie; (i) signifies driver is not eligible to earn points in the race

Entry No. Driver Sponsor
1 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Toyota
2 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota
3 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford
4 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet
5 24 Jeff Gordon Axalta Chevrolet
6 20 Matt Kenseth Dollar General Toyota
7 14 Tony Stewart Code 3 Associates / Mobil 1 Chevrolet
8 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford
9 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald’s Chevrolet
10 10 Danica Patrick GoDaddy – Get Found Chevrolet
11 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
12 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota
13 55 Brian Vickers Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota
14 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Ford
15 47 AJ Allmendinger Bush’s Beans Chevrolet
16 31 Ryan Newman Quicken Loans Chevrolet
17 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford
18 4 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
19 23 Alex Bowman # Dr Pepper Toyota
20 43 Aric Almirola STP Ford
21 27 Paul Menard Pittsburgh Paints / Menards Chevrolet
22 41 Kurt Busch Haas Automation Chevrolet
23 13 Casey Mears GEICO Chevrolet
24 34 David Ragan Taco Bell Ford
25 51 Justin Allgaier # AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet
26 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet
27 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
28 42 Kyle Larson # Target Chevrolet
29 32 Travis Kvapil Keen Parts / SK Tools Ford
30 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford EcoBoost Ford
31 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Chevrolet
32 95 Michael McDowell Triangle Office Equipment Ford
33 98 Josh Wise Phil Parsons Racing Chevrolet
34 3 Austin Dillon # Dow Chevrolet
35 26 Cole Whitt # Swan Energy Toyota
36 40 Landon Cassill(i) CRC Brakleen / FiberLock Chevrolet
37 33 David Stremme Mace Brands Chevrolet
38 83 Ryan Truex # Borla Exhaust Toyota
39 38 David Gilliland Long John Silver’s Ford
40 7 Michael Annett # Pilot / Flying J Chevrolet
41 30 Parker Kligerman # Swan Energy Toyota
42 36 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet
43 66 Joe Nemechek(i) Land Castle Title Toyota

READ MORE:

READ: Latest
NASCAR news

WATCH: Latest
NASCAR video

PLAY: NASCAR
Fantasy Live

FOLLOW LIVE: Get
RaceView
Posted on by Staff Report

Peters among early starters in Saturday’s qualifying, 11:10 a.m. ET, FS1

Order Trk Driver Team
1 66 * Josh Williams Southwest Florida Cable Construction Ford
2 17 Timothy Peters Parts Plus Toyota
3 51 Erik Jones ToyotaCare Toyota
4 00 * Cole Custer Haas Automation Chevrolet
5 57 Norm Benning Grabiak Performance Center Chevrolet
6 99 Bryan Silas Bell Trucks America Chevrolet
7 29 Ryan Blaney Cooper Standard Ford
8 88 Matt Crafton Ideal Doors / Menards Toyota
9 63 * Justin Jennings Mittler Brothers Machine & Tool Chevrolet
10 10 Jennifer Jo Cobb Sassy’s Towing / Wreaths Across America RAM
11 5 * John Wes Townley Zaxby’s Real Chicken Toyota
12 08 Korbin Forrister McNair McLemore Middlebrook CPA Chevrolet
13 23 * Spencer Gallagher Allegiant Travel Chevrolet
14 8 John H. Nemechek pelletgrillusa.com / SWM Toyota
15 9 Chase Pistone # nogginroundup.com / NTS Motorsports Chevrolet
16 7 Brian Ickler Bullet Liner Toyota
17 12 * Ted Minor Exploration Properties Chevrolet
18 98 Johnny Sauter Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff / Curb Records Toyota
19 74 Alex Guenette Motos Illimitees Chevrolet
20 32 Ben Rhodes Alpha Energy Solutions Chevrolet
21 02 * Tyler Young # Randco / Young’s Building Systems Chevrolet
22 54 Darrell Wallace Jr. Toyota No. 1 For Everyone Sales Event Toyota
23 13 * Jeb Burton VAMP / VaporBrands International Toyota
24 07 Ray Black Jr. Scuba Life / NASE Worldwide Chevrolet
25 19 Tyler Reddick # Broken Bow Records Ford
26 75 * Caleb Holman Food Country USA / Wise Snack Foods / Morning Fresh Farms Chevrolet
27 68 * Clay Greenfield ClutchDefense.com RAM
28 56 * Raymond Terczak Jr. Chevrolet
29 31 Ben Kennedy # ALS Association Chevrolet
30 77 German Quiroga NET10 Wireless Toyota
31 20 Gray Gaulding # Gemini Southern / Krispy Kreme Chevrolet
32 50 * Travis Kvapil(i) UtilityFleetSales.com Chevrolet
33 21 Joey Coulter Alamo Chevrolet
34 35 Mason Mingus # 811 Call Before You Dig Toyota
35 92 * Ross Chastain BTS Tire & Wheel / Natl. Watermelon Assoc. Ford
36 33 * Brandon Jones EXIDE Chevrolet
37 30 Ron Hornaday Jr. Rheem Chevrolet

READ MORE:

READ: Latest
NASCAR news

WATCH: Latest
NASCAR video

PLAY: NASCAR
Fantasy Live

FOLLOW LIVE: Get
RaceView
Posted on by Staff Report

Tony Stewart to go out first for Coors Light Pole Qualifying

Friday’s qualifying is scheduled to begin at 4:40 p.m. ET (FS1)

No. Car Driver Team
1 14 Tony Stewart Code 3 Associates / Mobil 1 Chevrolet
2 83 Ryan Truex # Borla Exhaust Toyota
3 55 Brian Vickers Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota
4 24 Jeff Gordon Axalta Chevrolet
5 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet
6 3 Austin Dillon # Dow Chevrolet
7 7 Michael Annett # Pilot / Flying J Chevrolet
8 41 Kurt Busch Haas Automation Chevrolet
9 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota
10 66 Joe Nemechek(i) Land Castle Title Toyota
11 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Chevrolet
12 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Ford
13 34 David Ragan Taco Bell Ford
14 47 AJ Allmendinger Bush’s Beans Chevrolet
15 40 Landon Cassill(i) CRC Brakleen / FiberLock Chevrolet
16 30 Parker Kligerman # Swan Energy Toyota
17 23 Alex Bowman # Dr Pepper Toyota
18 4 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
19 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Toyota
20 51 Justin Allgaier # AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet
21 33 David Stremme Mace Brands Chevrolet
22 13 Casey Mears GEICO Chevrolet
23 31 Ryan Newman Quicken Loans Chevrolet
24 10 Danica Patrick GoDaddy – Get Found Chevrolet
25 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald’s Chevrolet
26 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet
27 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford
28 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota
29 38 David Gilliland Long John Silver’s Ford
30 95 Michael McDowell Triangle Office Equipment Ford
31 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford
32 26 Cole Whitt # Swan Energy Toyota
33 32 Travis Kvapil Keen Parts / SK Tools Ford
34 98 Josh Wise Phil Parsons Racing Chevrolet
35 35 David Reutimann MDS Transport Ford
36 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford
37 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
38 36 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet
39 42 Kyle Larson # Target Chevrolet
40 20 Matt Kenseth Dollar General Toyota
41 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
42 43 Aric Almirola STP Ford
43 27 Paul Menard Pittsburgh Paints / Menards Chevrolet
44 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford EcoBoost Ford

* Required to qualify on time, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, # rookie

MORE:

READ: Latest
NASCAR news

WATCH: Latest
NASCAR video

PLAY: NASCAR
Fantasy Live

FOLLOW LIVE: Get
RaceView