Mark Martin Takes Pole for Richmond Sprint Cup Race

Photo Credit: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR

Coming off two races on 1.5-mile ovals, the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series are steered towards the 3/4-mile Richmond International Raceway for the Capital City 400. Recent NASCAR Sprint Cup series races on at Texas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway received less than enthusiastic fanfare afterwards based on what many said were dull events. A racetrack that has for years won the approval of stock car competitors and fans as a model for short-track racing, the Richmond International Raceway's Saturday night event is seen as a great chance to see a much-needed, action-filled 400-lap race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

For the second time this season, part-time Sprint Cup competitor Mark Martin placed the #55 Aarons Toyota on the pole position. Lapping the 3/4-mile short track in 21.040 seconds at a speed of 128.327 miles per hour, Martin edged the #99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford of Carl Edwards with a slim 0.006-second advantage. Mark Martin's pole position highlights the suspreme dominance of Toyota Camrys in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Richmond International Raceway. In the past 6 races held at the short track, Toyota entries won 5 of the events. However, every win by Toyota occurred with the Joe Gibbs Racing team in victory lane. Showing some outstanding pace this season, the three-car Michael Waltrip Racing team is currently the most united in front-running Performance. With Mark Martin on the pole, Martin Truex Jr starting in 8th place and #15 car of Clint Bowyer (a previous winner at Richmond) lined up 23rd, the chances of seeing a Michael Waltrip Racing victory this season may occur sooner rather than later.

Behind Carl Edwards, last summer's race winner Kevin Harvick starts 3rd alongside the #22 car of AJ Allmendinger. The previously mentioned Joe Gibbs Racing squad placed well after qualifying with Kyle Busch in 5th, Danny Hamlin 7th and Joey Logano 18th.

Still clawing for what will be a popular 200th win for Hendrick Motorsports, three of the four teams are starting in the top-10. Leading the Chevrolet-powered Hencrick Motorsports team is Jeff Gordon in 6th place. In order, Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance car and Dale Earnhardt Jr National Guard Chevy fill the fifth row of the Capital City 400. Mustering a 27th fastest run, Jimmie Johnson encountered trouble in qualifying resulting in his #48 Chevrolet being the slowest car of the Hendrick Motorsports group. Hendrick Motorsports has won ten times in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Richmond.

The 400-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup race is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM Eastern time.




2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Capital City 400
Richmond International Raceway

Pos #	Car #	Driver	Sponsor/ Car Make
1	55	Mark Martin	Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
2	99	Carl Edwards	Ford Eco-Boost Ford
3	29	Kevin Harvick	Jimmy John's Chevrolet
4	22	AJ Allmendinger	Shell Pennzoil Dodge
5	18	Kyle Busch	M&M's Brown Toyota
6	24	Jeff Gordon	DuPont Chevrolet
7	11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Freight Toyota
8	56	Martin Truex Jr.	NAPA Brakes Toyota
9	5	Kasey Kahne	Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
10	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	National Guard / Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet
11	43	Aric Almirola	Smithfield Helping Hungry Homes Ford
12	39	Ryan Newman	Army Reserve Chevrolet
13	51	Kurt Busch	Phoenix Construction Services Chevrolet
14	9	Marcos Ambrose	Stanley Ford
15	78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row Racing / Farm American
16	2	Brad Keselowski	Miller Lite Dodge
17	36	Dave Blaney	SealWrap.com Chevrolet
18	20	Joey Logano	The Home Depot Toyota
19	47	Bobby Labonte	Bush's Beans Toyota
20	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet
21	83	Landon Cassill	Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota
22	14	Tony Stewart	MOBIL 1 / Office Depot Chevrolet
23	15	Clint Bowyer	5-hour Energy Toyota
24	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford EcoBoost Ford
25	98	Michael McDowell	Curb Records Ford
26	13	Casey Mears	GEICO Ford
27	48	Jimmie Johnson	Lowe's Chevrolet
28	16	Greg Biffle	3M / GKAS Ford
29	93	Travis Kvapil	Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota
30	31	Jeff Burton	BB&T Chevrolet
31	27	Paul Menard	Menards / NIBCO Chevrolet
32	26	Josh Wise	Morristown Drivers Service Ford
33	10	David Reutimann	Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
34	30	David Stremme	Inception Motorsports Toyota
35	87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
36	95	Scott Speed	TWD Drywall Ford
37	1	Jamie McMurray	McDonald's Chevrolet
38	34	David Ragan	Front Row Motorsports Ford
39	19	Mike Bliss	Humphrey Smith Racing Toyota
40	33	Stephen Leicht	LittleJoesAutos.com / Link-Belt Chevrolet
41	38	David Gilliland	Long John Silver's Ford
42	32	Reed Sorenson	FAS Lane Racing Ford
43	74	Cole Whitt	Turn One Racing Chevrolet

Kyle Busch's Practice Speed Wins Pole at Kentucky

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

A predictable outcome for Friday's NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying at Kentucky Speedway resulted in the #18 M&M Toyota of Kyle Busch starting on the pole for the inaugural race on the 1.5 mile speedway. However, the predictability was not because the Joe Gibbs Racing driver (who came from back in the field to win Thursday's Camping World Truck Series race) fast outings on track throughout the weekend. Rather, the forecast fall of rain showers washed out the qualifying session for Saturday night's Quaker State 400. Under NASCAR's new-for-2011 using practice times instead of car owner points as the primary way to set race fields, Kyle Busch's 182.803 mile per hour time in the final practice session clinched the top spot when rain washed out the Kentucky Speedway. By virtue of their fast practice times, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson fills out the top-5 starting positions for the first Kentucky Speedway event with NASCAR Sprint Cup series.

As 48 cars would have vyed for the 43 starting spots through the time trial session, some cars were favoured entry into the Quaker State 400 as a result of qualifying attempts made by a car throughout the 2011 season. Solidifying Joe Nemechek's #87 Toyota, the #60 Toyota driven by Mike Skinner and Travis Kvapil's #38 Ford in the race field at Kentucky Speedway, the rain robbed an opportunity for other drivers. The most significant driver missing out on the Quaker State 400 is Michael Waltrip. The home state for theWaltrip brothers Michael as well as his three-time Cup champion driver Darrell, the first Kentucky Speedway Sprint Cup event will not have the famous racing family represented in the 43-car field.

NASCAR Sprint Cup regular Robby Gordon has also missed the chance to compete with his #77 car at the Quaker State 400 due to the wet track. Though Robby Gordon did not make it into the race, the #7 Dodge owned by the driver will start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Kentucky event in the hands of Scott Wimmer. TJ Bell, David Stremme and David Starr have into been forced to call their weekend's short without attempting a qualifying run.  



2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Quaker State 400
Sparta, Kentucky

1. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
2. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
3. 22 Kurt Busch Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
4. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
5. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
6. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
7. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
8. 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
9. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
10. 27 Paul Menard Sylvania/Menards Chevrolet
11. 9 Marcos Ambrose Porter-Cable Ford
12. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
13. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
14. 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
15. 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
16. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Good To Go Toyota
17. 0 David Reutimann TUMS Toyota
18. 39 Ryan Newman Tornados Chevrolet
19. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
20. 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
21. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
22. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
23. 43 A J Allmendinger Valvoline Ford
24. 47 Bobby Labonte Cottonelle Clean Care Toyota
25. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
26. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota
27. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
28. 5 Mark Martin Quaker State/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
29. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet
30. 51 Landon Cassill Security Benefits/Thank A Teacher Today
31. 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota
32. 36 Dave Blaney Big Red Chevrolet
33. 60 Mike Skinner Big Red Toyota
34. 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
35. 34 David Gilliland Taco Bell Ford
36. 46  J J Yeley Red Line Chevrolet
37. 38  Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
38. 66 Michael McDowell Standard Publishing/Relentless Hope Toyota
39. 71 Andy Lally # Cool Works Cup Ford
40. 81 Scott Riggs Whitney'sCollision.com Chevrolet
41. 37 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford
42. 32 Mike Bliss Big Red Ford
43. 7 Scott Wimmer SPEED Energy Dodge

 

Elliott Sadler Claims Texas Sprint Cup Pole

Photo Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Only three races left in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the Texas Motor Speedway AAA Texas 500 race weekend is one of a dwindling opportunities left for top-level stock car drivers. Not only to capitalize on the Chase for the Cup, some racers of NASCAR's top series are determined to put their name in the news before the season wraps. At Texas Friday, one usually quiet driver piloting a Ford delivered positive result that was much needed for him and his surrounding team. Topping the speed chart after qualifying, Elliott Sadler handsomely beat off two Roush-Fenway Racing Fords of Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards to earn the coveted pole position.

Achieving a 195.397 mile per hour average lap speed around the 1.5 mile oval, Sadler claimed his 8th career Sprint Cup pole which was also his first since April of 2006. Wheeling the Richard Petty Motorsports #19 Ford, the entire four-car race team has been finishing out the NASCAR Sprint Cup of 2010 with uncertainty if a team will even exist in 2011. Elliott Sadler and the #19 Stanley Ford will at least place these parties favourably on the race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. In addition for the pole position for Sadler, the Virginian is celebrating a newly-signed deal to drive a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule for Kevin Harvick Incorporated starting in 2011.

A Ford 1-2-3 at Texas, Greg Biffle rested into the runner-up position in qualifying. Biffle's 2nd place with the #16 car for Roush-Fenway Racing was 0.249 seconds off the pace of Sadler's sizzling hot lap. Carl Edward's #99 rounded out the Blue Oval brand's top-three.

Juan Pablo Montoya with the #42 car of Earnhardt/Ganassi Racing timed lap propelled a Chevrolet into the only non-Ford present within the at the AAA Texas 500 qualifying's top-five. David Ragan's #6 car settled into 5th place for the start bringing some assurance to Roush-Fenway Racing for the future. While 3 of the Roush-Fenway Racing Fords broke into the top-5, the 4th car of Matt Kenseth starts 19th but no where near out of contention. Kenseth won the 2002 event at Texas Motor Speedway starting 31st on that day.

While Matt Kenseth's #17 team can take solace in statistics which allows winners to come from deep in the pack, this data will also be a relieve to the top-3 Chase contenders after Friday qualifying. Points leader Jimmie Johnson starts 19th in a race track where the #48 Hendrick Motorsports team have enjoyed mixed results. After crashing during the early laps of last year's fall event on the Texas oval, Johnson rebounded in the spring by finishing 2nd place. Second place in Chase points Denny Hamlin (the driver who won the spring 2010 Texas Motor Speedway race) starts in 30th place as he looks to outperform Jimmie Johnson who is just 14 points in front after the Talladega AMP Energy 500. Within the middle, Kevin Harvick starts from 26th place on Sunday only 38 markers away from taking the points lead. 

The AAA Texas 500 is set to receive the command to start engines at 2 P.M. local time or 3 P.M. for Eastern time zone residents.



2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Texas Motor Speedway
AAA Texas 500
Starting Lineup

1. 19 Elliott Sadler Stanley Ford
2. 16 Greg Biffle American Red Cross Ford
3. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
4. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Lysol Chevrolet
5. 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
6. 2 Kurt Busch Operation Home Front / Miller Lite Dodge
7. 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
8. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
9. 5 Mark Martin CARQUEST / GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
10. 43 A J Allmendinger Valvoline Ford
11. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot / Old Spice Chevrolet
12. 98 Paul Menard Quaker State / Menards Ford
13. 9 Aric Almirola Budweiser Ford
14. 39 Ryan Newman Tornados Chevrolet
15. 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
16. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
17. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
18. 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Outdoors Toyota
19. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Black Ford
20. 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
21. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts / Susan G. Komen Toyota
22. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet
23. 82 Scott Speed Red Bull Toyota
24. 83 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota 
25. 25 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops / Arctic Cat Chevrolet
26. 29 Kevin Harvick Shell / Pennzoil Chevrolet
27. 77 Sam Hornish Jr. AAA Dodge
28. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft / Quick Lane Ford
29. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
30. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota
31. 10 Bobby Labonte Gander Mountain Outdoors Chevrolet
32. 47 Marcos Ambrose Tom Thumb Toyota
33. 38 David Gilliland Taco Bell Ford
34. 87 Joe Nemechek HostGator.com Toyota
35. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
36. 12 Brad Keselowski No. 12 Penske Dodge
37. 26 Patrick Carpentier Air Guard Ford
38. 66 Mike Bliss PRISM Motorsports Toyota
39. 7 Robby Gordon MAPEI / Menards Toyota
40. 71 Andy Lally TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
41. 34 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
42. 37 Dave Blaney A&W All American Food Ford
43. 09 Landon Cassill Phoenix Racing Chevrolet

Montoya Targets Talladega Pole for AMP Energy 500

Jason Smith/ Getty images for NASCAR

Drawing an early run through afternoon time trials, Juan Pablo Montoya placed the #42 Target-sponsored Chevrolet on pole for Sunday's AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Only the 6th car set to take the track, Montoya's Earnhardt-Childress Racing (ECR) Engine benefited with the earlier, cooler conditions to circulate around the 2.66 mile tri-oval in 51.863 seconds or 184.640 miles per hour. Undefeated in competition on NASCAR Sprint Cup restrictor plate races this season, the ECR engine program has yet another reason to celebrate as Montoya and Richard Childress Racing's #33 Chevrolet of Clint Bowyer occupy the front row.

Kurt Busch provided a strong run for the 3rd fastast run in qualifying with his Penske Racing #2 Dodge while Joe Nemecheck provides a minor surprise by rushing his #87 Toyota into 4th place. Saying it's a minor surprise, it is typical on restrictor plate tracks that smaller, underfunded teams like Nemechek's independent effort will take measures to add horsepower which is inadvisable but worthwhile in gaining a higher field presence in the race. Several other cars including the #36 Chevrolet of Tommy Baldwin Racing, the #13 Germain Racing Toyota, a second Nemechek #97 Toyota and the #46 Chevy owned by Dusty Whitney are shaped within the top-15 of the AMP Energy 500.

In relations to the ever-more important Chase for the Sprint Cup as only 3 races remain after Talladega, the top-two drivers in points have taken conservative runs through superspeedway qualifying. Denny Hamlin qualified 17th while Jimmie Johnson is 19th. For the #11 Toyota of Hamlin, his starting spot is the highest for the Joe Gibbs Racing team with Joey Logano placing 25th and Kyle Busch buried early in 32rd spot. In the Hendrick Motorsports stable, Jeff Gordon as well as Mark Martin will start just ahead of Kyle Busch's #18 Toyota in 30th and 31st positions. From the drop of the green flag, revered but embattled superspeedway driver Dale Earnhardt Jr #88 Chevy team leads the Hendrick drivers with a 6th place result after qualifying.



While speeds have been contained under the 185-mile per hour range for single-car qualifying, practice speeds in multiple-vehicle drafting conditions have seen NASCAR Sprint Cup cars flying more than 12 miles per hour faster.

Talladega Superspeedway, the 2.66 mile tri-oval is immediately going allow drivers to gain considerable ground within a span of a single lap. Conversely, the track also presents NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers an invitation to make a smallest mistake which will either cost positions or even their race car. The 'Big Wreck' is always a high probability at Talladega and been known to change everything. Drivers in tight points battles inside and outside of the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup will be on edge for 188 laps Sunday.


2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup
AMP Energy 500
Talladega Superspeedway
October 30, 2010

Starting Lineup:

1. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
2. 33 Clint Bowyer BB&T Chevrolet
3. 2 Kurt Busch Operation Home Front/Miller Lite Dodge
4. 87 Joe Nemechek Gator.com Toyota
5. 31 Jeff Burton Cat Financial Chevrolet
6. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. LgndofHllwdegaAMPEnrgyJuice/NtnlGrd Chev
7. 36 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
8. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. ARMY Chevrolet
9. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota 
10. 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Mobil 1 Dodge
11. 12 Brad Keselowski No. 12 Penske Dodge
12. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops Tribute Chevrolet
13. 97 Jeff Fuller HeatRedefined.com Toyota 
14. 29 Kevin Harvick Realtree/Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet
15. 46 Michael McDowell Whitney's Collision Centers Chevrolet 
16. 83 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
17. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota 
18. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Toyota
19. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
20. 55 Michael Waltrip Aaron's 55th Anniversary Toyota 
21. 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
22. 71 Chad McCumbee TRG Motorsports/ModSpace Chevrolet 
23. 99 Carl Edwards Subway Ford
24. 09 Bobby Labonte Komatsu/TEC Chevrolet 
25. 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
26. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet
27. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Black Ford
28. 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
29. 82 Scott Speed Red Bull Toyota
30. 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
31. 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont/National Guard Chevrolet
32. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
33. 19 Elliott Sadler Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford
34. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
35. 47 Marcos Ambrose Kleenex/Clorox Toyota
36. 43 A J Allmendinger Valvoline Ford 
37.  9 Aric Almirola Budweiser Ford
38. 98 Paul Menard Serta/Menards Ford
39. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
40. 37 David Gilliland Taco Bell Ford
41. 34 Robert Richardson Jr. A&W All American Food Ford 
42.  7 Robby Gordon Speed Energy Toyota
43. 26 Bill Elliott Air Guard Ford

Johnson Bottles Up the White Lightning Qualifying at Bristol

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

In preparations for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Friday qualifying saw Jimmie Johnson delivered fastest time with a winning run of 15.540 seconds to eclipse Carl Edward's Ford for the Irwin Tools Night Race. With Johnson taking his 2nd pole of 2010 in the #48 Lowes Chevy, the Hendrick Motorsports driver returns to the track where is he rolled to victory in the spring. As Johnson and Edwards rule the front row, Joey Logano and Tony Stewart ran qualifying efforts tight with each other's time to occupy the second row.

Through the early part of the session several top teams encountered difficulty mounting a significant timed run. Including the #24 Hendrick Motorsports effort of Jeff Gordon who spun during this qualifying run. Another slow effort resulted from the championship point-leading effort of #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy driven by Kevin Harvick, both cars will start in the high-20s for Saturday's night race. Later qualifying order draws for Jimmie Johnson as well as Carl Edwards apparently could have contributed to their pace-setting runs.

The most antipicated race heading into the final Chase eligibility race at Richmond International Raceway, the short track of Bristol fast speeds within close quarters leaves many drivers and teams on edge. Because of Bristol Motor Speedway's short 0.533 mile distance, under 16 second lap times mean the margin of error would be incredibly narrow. A cut tire or a slow race stint will cost a team several laps to the lead pack. With positions counting for evermore valuable points, one miscue by a Chase contending team could throw a giant Monkey wrench into their 2010 chances for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.


2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Irwin Tools Night Race
Qualifying Order

Top-10

1) 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
2) 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
3) 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
4) 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot / Old Spice Chevrolet
5) 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
6) 39 Ryan Newman Wix Filters Chevrolet
7) 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
8) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
9) 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
10) 43 A J Allmendinger Valvoline Ford


Other Notables

11) 9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser Ford
13) 5 Mark Martin CARQUEST Auto Parts Chevrolet
14) 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Black Ford
16) 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
17) 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota
19) 18 Kyle Busch Doublemint Toyota
20) 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite / Vortex Dodge
26) 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
27) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. AMP Energy / National Guard Chevrolet
28) 29 Kevin Harvick Shell / Pennzoil Chevrolet