Martinsville Late Race Mayhem Nets Newman 2012 Cup Win

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The second short track event on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, fans packing the Martinsville Speedway for Sunday's running of the Goody's Fast Relief 500 were looking forward for a more action-filled affair than the previous humdrum race at Bristol Motor Speedway two weeks ago. A 500-lap outing for 43 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitors on the 0.526-mile track would definitely gave the NASCAR ticket-holders of the Virginian short track a great value for the hard-earned bucks.

With the #5 Chevrolet piloted by Kasey Kahne starting on pole for the second time in the young 2012 season, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Goody's Fast Relief 500 lead was stolen on the start by Richard Childress Racing's Kevin Harvick. Leading the first 21 laps, Harvick's time at the front of the field (ultimately his only moments in the lead of the Goody's Fast Relief 500) would end when the Hendrick Motorsports-owned #24 Chevrolet Impala took the top spot. Having won at Martinsville Speedway 7 times in his career, Jeff Gordon demonstrated a feverish pace at the front of the pack in this race. Starting on lap 22, Gordon and the #24 car led often on the Sunday afternoon for what would be 328 laps total.

Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

With Jeff Gordon controlling much of the Goody's Fast Relief 500 race at Martinsville, 3 of the 4 Hendrick Motorsports teams were finding their way to fortune on the 0.526-mile oval track. Still searching for his first victory since the 2008 spring event at Michigan International Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr continued what has been a very strong start to the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup with the #88 Chevrolet. Throughout the event, Earnhardt Jr was able to hang within mid-pack of the top-10 cars. In fact, much of the race was spent with the #88 Hendrick Motorsports car in the top-5.

Dealt a speeding pit road penalty early in the Goody's Fast Relief 500, 5-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson had to overcome a large, compact field of vehicles through the early half of the Martinsville Speedway event. With 6 wins to his credit on the Martinsville track, it seemingly took little effort for Johnson to find his way into the top-5. By lap 356, the #48 Chevrolet piloted by Johnson was leading the race.  

Through the early course of the 500-lap event, there was only a single caution recorded for the Joe Gibbs Racing #18 Toyota of Kyle Busch. On lap 99, the M&Ms sponsored vehicle sailed into the Martinsville Speedway turn 3 wall after the rear end axle locked up on the Toyota stock car. Requiring an extended stay behind pit wall so the crew could repair the considerable rear end damage, Kyle Busch was recorded 80 laps down to the leader in 36th place. Older brother Kurt Busch in the #51 Chevrolet also had a bad day at Martinsville finishing 33rd following two right-front tires blowing on the racetrack requiring him to pit under green on both occasions.

While three of the Hendrick Motorsports were enjoying front-running status in the Goody's Fast Relief 500 race, the pole-sitting car of Kasey Kahne followed its regular path of frustrating results in the 2012 season. An engine problem in the #5 car was clearly evident during the one-half of the Martinsville event. By lap 316, the engine of Kasey Kahne's Chevrolet expired ending the day for the #5 car. The DNF for Kahne marked the second time the #5 car did not finish a race in the 6 races starting the 2012 campaign.

Through the final 100 laps of the scheduled 500-lap event, the Hendrick Motorsports cars of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson battled for what would be Hendrick Motorsports' 200th race victory. After Johnson led 104 laps in succession, Gordon perfectly planned a move on his teammate with three laps to go. While the execution of the pass was well laid out, Jeff Gordon and the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field did not foresee the yellow flag for the #10 car of David Reutimann who stopped on the frontstretch. The pairing of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson saw their more than 7 seconds ahead of third place Dale Earnhardt Jr evaporate as the caution bunched the entire field for a green-white-checkered finish.

With many cars tight on fuel, all lead lap vehicles other than Johnson's #48 Chevrolet and Gordon's #24 Chevrolet pitted. As the green-white-checkered restart commenced, the two leading Hendrick Motorsports cars were immediately under attack from outside contenders. Clint Bowyer in the #15 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing saw an opportunity for the race win by taking his car to the inside of both Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets into turn one. This brave move for Bowyer (who was himself challenged by Ryan Newman on the restart) led to contact between himself and the top Hendrick cars of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. All three potential winners was swept up in a coming-together costing the Hendrick cars of a top-10 finish after almost winning the Goody's Fast Relief 500.

Photo Credit: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR

Skating by the top-3 cars in the lap 505 collision, the #39 Chevrolet of Ryan Newman inherited the race lead with AJ Allmendinger taking second place. Restarting on lap 513, Newman fought a determined #22 Dodge piloted by Allmendinger to go on to race victory. The first win by Ryan Newman and his #39 Stewart/Haas Racing team since New Hampshire, the victory is the Indiana driver's 16th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

AJ Allmendinger came across the line in a tight second, 0.342 seconds behind Newman. While Hendrick Motorsports' chance at a 200th win in the Goody's Fast Relief 500 was foiled, Dale Earnhardt Jr held onto 3rd place in the #88 machine. Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr rounded out the top-5 at Martinsville Speedway.



2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Goody's Fast Relief 500
Martinsville Speedway
Race Results  

Pos #	Car #	Driver	Sponsor/ Car Make
1	39	Ryan Newman	Outback Steakhouse Chevrolet
2	22	AJ Allmendinger	Shell Pennzoil Dodge
3	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	AMP Energy/Diet Mtn. Dew/National Guard Chevrolet
4	17	Matt Kenseth	Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers/Gary Sinise Fdn Ford
5	56	Martin Truex Jr.	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
6	11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Freight Toyota
7	14	Tony Stewart	Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet
8	43	Aric Almirola	Smithfield Helping Hungry Homes Ford
9	2	Brad Keselowski	Miller Lite Dodge
10	15	Clint Bowyer	5-hour Energy Toyota
11	99	Carl Edwards	Fastenal Ford
12	48	Jimmie Johnson	myLowes Chevrolet
13	16	Greg Biffle	3M Ford
14	24	Jeff Gordon	Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
15	9	Marcos Ambrose	DeWalt Ford
16	78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row Racing / CSX Play It Safe Chevrolet
17	47	Bobby Labonte	Bush's Best Beans Toyota
18	55	Brian Vickers	RKMotorsCharlotte.com / Aaron's Toyota
19	29	Kevin Harvick	Budweiser is Back Chevrolet
20	1	Jamie McMurray	Belkin Chevrolet
21	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet
22	31	Jeff Burton	BB&T Chevrolet
23	20	Joey Logano	The Home Depot Toyota
24	34	David Ragan	Front Row Motorsports Ford
25	13	Casey Mears	GEICO Ford
26	27	Paul Menard	Menards / LIBMAN Chevrolet
27	93	Travis Kvapil	Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota
28	38	David Gilliland	Long John Silver's Ford
29	83	Landon Cassill	Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota
30	30	David Stremme	Inception Motorsports Toyota
31	33	Hermie Sadler	Anderson's Pure Maple Syrup Chevrolet
32	32	Ken Schrader	Federated Auto Parts Ford
33	51	Kurt Busch	Phoenix Construction Services Chevrolet
34	36	Dave Blaney	Ollie's Bargain Outlet Chevrolet
35	10	David Reutimann	Accell Construction Chevrolet
36	18	Kyle Busch	M&M's Toyota
37	49	JJ Yeley	America Israel Racing / JPO Absorbents Toyota
38	5	Kasey Kahne	Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
39	87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
40	98	Michael McDowell	Curb Records Ford
41	26	Josh Wise	Morristown Drivers Service Ford
42	23	Scott Riggs	North Texas Pipe Chevrolet
43	74	Reed Sorenson	Turn One Racing Chevrolet

  

Keselowski Kicks Cup Competitors for Bristol Win

Photo Credit: Brian Czobat/Autostock

The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the 2012 season held on a track under a mile in length, the 0.533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway served as the stage of 43 cars competing for the Food City 500.

 

A Sunday event offering a scheduled course of 500 laps, the Food City 500 in Bristol, Tennessee started with race’s pole sitter Roush Fenway Racing #16 Ford driver Greg Biffle taking the outside line for the start. A decision occasionally exercised by the pole sitter or race leader on coming to a green flag, Greg Biffle’s choice for the outside line was very much allowed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup rulebook. Since a dramatic resurfacing of the Bristol short track was performed in 2007, variable banking meant that competitors could chose various fast lines around the oval. For Biffle, taking the green flag on the outside lane for the start of the Food City 500 worked flawlessly in establishing the #16 Ford Fusion as the early favourite at Bristol. Leading the first 41 laps, the Food City 500 pace early was important to Greg Biffle’s presence at the top of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver’s standings.

 

With rain washing off the Bristol Motor Speedway surface the night before the afternoon event, NASCAR was prepared to throw a competition caution in order to help teams adjust to the altered racing conditions. Set for lap 50, there would be no need for the scheduled yellow flag. Initialized with contact between the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet of Kasey Kahne and the #78 Furniture Row Chevrolet through the track‘s frontstretch, the resulting pile-up swept up some front-running mainstays early in the Food City 500. The #99 Ford of Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch’s #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, the #9 Ford of Marcos Ambrose and Kevin Harvick’s #29 Chevrolet all sustained some form of noticeable damage from a multi-car tangle in turn 1.

Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

 

Under the yellow flag for 22 laps, there was a considerable time during the Food City 500 for all cars to adjust and repair their stock car. Despite the early carnage, NASCAR Sprint Cup team members thrashed away at the damage race vehicles eventually returning every car involved in the lap 24 crash. While cars like the #29 Richard Childress Racing-owned #29 Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick were serviced on pit road, the race vehicles of Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards required extensive work behind the wall that would trap both drivers down multiple laps for the event.

 

During the pit stop cycle where the NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors, the Penske Racing #22 Dodge piloted by AJ Allmendinger stayed on the race track becoming the new leader of the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Despite being challenged by cars with better tires, Allmendinger held on to the race’s top spot for an impressive 54 laps. However, after Allmendinger was passed by a Michael Waltrip Racing-owned #55 Toyota, the #22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger would become more of a handful for the driver over the course of the short track event. Never regaining the lead, AJ Allmendinger’s struggle into the later stages of the race ended with a 17th place finish two laps down.

 

Photo Credit: Russell LaBounty

 

 

 

Taking the lead on lap 118, the #55 Toyota Camry (driven by Mark Martin during the first three races as part of his limited schedule on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule), Brian Vickers was wheeling the Michael Waltrip Racing stock car. Left without a ride after the 2011 when Team Red Bull Racing exited the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Vickers’ 2012 debut at Bristol was a one chance to showcase his driving talent during the young tour. Leading three times for a total of 125 laps, Brian Vickers definitely sent a clear message that the two-time Sprint Cup Series race winning driver was determined and talented enough for more events.

 

Along with Vickers’, the Michael Waltrip Racing team surrounding the part-time driver also showed off some fantastic talent through the Bristol Motor Speedway race. The team’s #56 NAPA Toyota driven by Martin Truex Jr did not lead a lap at in the Food City 500 by hung around the front pack throughout the event to finish third at Bristol. Behind Truex Jr, Clint Bowyer would finish the Food City 500 a strong 4th after several hiccups in the 2012 season to date. Leading so many laps through the mid-stage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, Brian Vickers ended the 500-lap race in 5th place.

 

With only five cautions breaking up an otherwise rather tame Bristol short track event, only the lap 24 caution resulted in several cars being victimized by a single mishap on-track. Other notable caution in the Food City 500 came on lap 361 through the interaction between two Hendrick Motorsports teammates. Running side-by-side down the backstretch, the #88 of Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jeff Gordon’s #24 Chevrolet touched each other gently on the side panels. Looking like innocent contact for an instant, the impact would cut-down Gordon’s left rear tire causing the #24 Chevrolet to veer into the turn 3 wall. Is it believed that the exhaust pipe area of the #88 car sliced the Goodyear tire of Jeff Gordon’s car to cause the incident.

Photo Credit: Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images for NASCAR

 

As an infuriated Gordon would finish 105 laps down at Bristol netting a 35th place finish, his teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr would see his top-5 effort go down the tubes due to a late-race speeding penalty. The #88 Chevrolet would limp around the Bristol Motor Speedway for a 15th place result.

 

A race controlled early by Penske Racing’s #22 car, the #2 Miller Lite Dodge of Brad Keselowski would emerge to the front on lap 217. Narrowly averting involvement in the lap 24 accident, Keselowski was seeking an opportunity to win repeat Bristol races following his summer 2011 victory at the short track.

Challenged by Matt Kenseth’s #17 Ford Fusion, the #2 Dodge survived a late race caution to triumph at the short track. Leading 232 laps of the Food City 500 (including the final 111 laps), Keselowski wins his first event in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. With Dodge entering the winner’s circle for this fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season, every auto company involved in the tour his won an event.

 

Behind Brad Keselowski, the top-5 for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway featured Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex Jr, Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers.

 

 

2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Food City 500
Bristol Motor Speedway
Race Results

 

1. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
2. 17 Matt Kenseth Best Buy Ford
3. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
4. 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota
5. 55 Brian Vickers Aaron's Toyota
6. 31 Jeff Burton BB&T Chevrolet
7. 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
8. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
9. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's / Kobalt Tools Chevrolet
10. 27 Paul Menard Menards / MOEN Chevrolet
11. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
12. 39 Ryan Newman Quicken Loans Chevrolet
13. 16 Greg Biffle 811 / 3M Ford
14. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet
15. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet
16. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
17. 22 AJ Allmendinger Shell Pennzoil Dodge
18. 51 Kurt Busch Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
19. 43 Aric Almirola Charter Communications Ford
20. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota
21. 10 David Reutimann TRADEBANK Chevrolet
22. 33 Brendan Gaughan South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet
23. 34 David Ragan Long John Silver's Ford
24. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing / CSX Play It Safe Chevrolet
25. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Ford
26. 38 David Gilliland Taco Bell Ford
27. 93 Travis Kvapil Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota
28. 47 Bobby Labonte Clorox / Scott Products Toyota
29. 83 Landon Cassill Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota
30. 49 JJ Yeley JPO Absorbents Toyota
31. 98 Michael McDowell K LOVE - Let It Start With Me Ford
32. 18 Kyle Busch Wrigley Doublemint Toyota
33. 32 Ken Schrader We Drive Sales - TMone.com Ford
34. 36 Dave Blaney Seal Wrap / Widow Wax Chevrolet
35. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
36. 9 Marcos Ambrose MAC Tools Ford
37. 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
38. 30 David Stremme Food Country USA / Inception Motorsports Toyota
39. 99 Carl Edwards Kellogg's / Cheez-It Ford
40. 87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
41. 23 Scott Riggs North Texas Pipe Chevrolet
42. 74 Reed Sorenson Carnegie Hotel / Turn One Racing Chevrolet
43. 26 Josh Wise Morristown Drivers Service Ford

Edwards Seizes Top Spot for Martinsville Cup Race

Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR

From the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway, the transition to the Martinsville Speedway 0.526-mile short track could lead to another unpredictable event in the second-half of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase for the Cup. While the official Friday qualifying session for the NASCAR Sprint Cup's TUMS Fast Relief 500 was rained out, the starting line-up for the Martinsville Speedway event was decided on car owner points.

Carl Edwards' recent storming run to the top of the Chase standings secured the top spot for Sunday's event. Regarded as a historically tough race track for the #99 Ford, Edwards has an average starting spot of 18.2 out of 14 races. As Carl Edwards seemingly dodged a major bullet in acquiring starting position for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, so did his teammate Matt Kenseth in the #17 Ford. For the Roush Fenway Racing team, their last win at the Martinsville Speedway track in Sprint Cup occurred in 2002 with Kurt Busch driving the #97 car.

With all 12 Chase contenders lined up at the top of the field, the 500 laps at Martinsville Speedway could prove to be a challenging situation for one driver to gain a major advantage on rivals. In a session led by the #66 Toyota of Michael McDonnell's top time of 19.747 second or 95.893 miles per hour, the pivotal prep for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.

Following final practice on Saturday afternoon, the plot for Sunday's race thickens as only 3 of the Chase's top-12 drivers placed in the top-10 fastest cars. All from the stables of Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson led the driver grouping with a 3rd fastest in the session driving the #48 Chevrolet. Ninth fastest on the race track practice was Jeff Gordon #24 Chevy while the #88 car of Dale Earnhardt Jr logged a 10th quickest time. Winning 10 of the 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup races run at the Martinsville Speedway short track from 2003 to 2009, Hendrick Motorsports has been winless in the past 4 visits by the series. Both Johnson and Earnhardt logged more than 100 laps on track at Martinsvile Saturday afternoon.

On a recent hot streak at the Virginian short track is Denny Hamlin. Though he finished 12th during the spring race at Martinsville, Hamlin drove his #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to three consecutive wins at the 0.526-mile oval. Involved in the Chase but largely out of contention for the title, Hamlin was 14th fastest in Saturday practice. Other Chase for the Sprint Cup notables in the practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the short track includes Kurt Busch registering 11th fastest, Kyle Busch in 15th, while the front row-starting Roush Fenway Racing group cars were 24th and 29th quickest with Matt Kenseth ahead of Carl Edwards.

Fourth to last on the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup series season, the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway has a race start time of 2pm Sunday.

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
TUMS Fast Relief 500
Martinsville Speedway
Starting Line-up

1. 99 Carl Edwards Scotts Winterguard Ford
2. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
3. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
4. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet
5. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
6. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Halloween Toyota
7. 48 Jimmie Johnson Mylowes Chevrolet
8. 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge
9. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diet Mt. Dew Paint the 88/NationalGuard Chev
10. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
11. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota
12. 39 Ryan Newman HAAS Automation Chevrolet
13. 33 Clint Bowyer American Ethanol / Cheerios Chevrolet
14. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
15. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Filtrete Ford
16. 43 A J Allmendinger AdvoCare Ford
17. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
18. 6 David Ragan UPS My Choice Ford
19. 5 Mark Martin CARQUEST / GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
20. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
21. 27 Paul Menard Richmond / Menards Chevrolet
22. 20 Joey Logano Interstate Batteries Toyota
23. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
24. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
25. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
26. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
27. 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
28. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
29. 47 Bobby Labonte Grilling.com Toyota
30. 51 Landon Cassill PhoenixCnstrctn/ThankATeacherToday Chev
31. 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
32. 36 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet
33. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
34. 32 Ken Schrader U.S. Chrome / Southern Pride Ford
35. 38 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
36. 71 Hermie Sadler Home Smart Ford
37. 7 Reed Sorenson SPEED Energy Dodge
38. 37 Mike Skinner MaxQ Motorsports Ford
39. 46 Scott Speed Green Smoke Ford
40. 66 Michael McDowell Victory Junction Toyota
41. 87 Joe Nemechek AM FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves Toyota
42. 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Chevrolet
43. 55 J J Yeley Front Row Motorsports Ford

DJ Kennington takes NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Opener at Delaware Speedway

Photo Credit: Matthew Murnaghan/NASCAR

Winter disappeared early in Ontario but the wait for NASCAR stock car action in this province waited until this weekend. Set-up for their 2010 season opener, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series were set loose on the 1/2 mile short oval of Delaware Speedway. As shiny, brand new NASCAR Canadian Tire Series machines assembled to for their first race, the field of drivers sported some of Canada's best established stock car drivers as well as a few future stars. Three driver, D.J Kennington, J.R. Fitzpatrick and Peter Shepherd III, return to 2010 race action in the Canadian Tire Series after venturing into the United States through the past few years. For most of the drivers, the Keystone Light 200 at Delaware Speedway represents the first time of 2010 to shake off the cobwebs through eight months of stock car racing hibernation.

D.J. Kennington scored the first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series pole position for 2010 leading a strong 23-car grid for the Saturday night 200 lap affair at the Delaware Speedway. It only took two laps for the season's first caution to fly as 3rd place #02 Kerry Micks got into the 2nd place #84 Chevrolet of J.R. Fitzpatrick. While the #84 sustained no major damage and was able to continue, NASCAR officials wisely enacted a rough driving penalty on Micks requiring the #02 BDI/Dickies Ford to make a stop and go pit stop after the lap 7 restart. This first caution of the night would be far from the only incident on the night for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series competitors. In all, 13 cautions consumed half the race distance of the Keystone Light 200.



Photo Credit: Matthew Murnaghan/NASCAR


Through the first 1/3 distance, DJ Kennington's #17 Castrol Edge Dodge had the edge on the stock car field. He led from lap 8 through to lap 75 until NASCAR Canadian Tire Series 2010 rookie Steven Mattews took the lap lead for a brief one circuit. As the #17 Dodge of Kennington required service on pit road, J.R. Fitzpatrick and Peter Shepherd exchanged the lead from lap 91 to 114. Longtime NASCAR Canadian Tire Series mainstay Jim Lapcevich in the Tim Hortons #23 Chevrolet also claimed a few laps as the leader.

As the lead was beign tossed between drivers, Mark Diley and the #9 Partsource/ Exide Batteries Dodge would pass Shepherd on lap 131. Through a 24 lap stint, another 2010 rookie Ron Sheridan followed Diley in his outing at Delaware. Mark Diley's run out front was ended shortly later a lap 144 accident involving four vehicles (Brennan Didero, Steve Matthews, Scott Steckly and Donald Chisholm). Sheridan would get his chance to lead for 3 laps before Mark Diley returned for the top spot. That too was short-lived as a Dodge Vs. Dodge battle mounted with D.J. Kennington retaking the lead just one lap later.



Photo Credit: Matthew Murnaghan/NASCAR

Into the final laps of the Keystone Light 200, a late-race caution where the #95 Chevrolet of Anthony Simone collided with the backstretch wall allowed a duel between Kennington and J.R. Fitzpatrick. The #17 Castrol Edge Dodge of Kennington maintained his 1st place proceeding to win at Delaware Speedway. Having been a 1996 CASCAR Sportsman Series at Delaware, D.J. Kennington has won his 17th race in the CASCAR/NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in his 17th year of competition. Rounding out the top five was J.R. Fitpatrick, Jeff Lapcevich, John Gaunt and Peter Shepherd.

Starting on an oval, next week the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series resumes on the 2.46 mile road course of Mosport International Raceway for the Vortex Brake Pads 200.

Race Preview: 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Heath Calhoun 400 at Richmond International Raceway

Crown Royal Presents the Heath Calhoun 400 at Richmond International Raceway

Track Length: 0.75 Mile
Highest Banking: 14 Degrees
Listed Race Distance/Actual Race Distance: 300 miles
Laps: 400
Previous NASCAR Sprint Cup Events Held: 107 races

2009 Pole Winner: Brian Vickers
2009 Race Winner: Kyle Busch


Lead Changes in Past 5 Spring Richmond International Raceway Races

2009: 21
2008: 4
2007: 24
2006: 12
2005: 21


Cautions in Past 5 Spring Richmond International Raceway Races

2009: 15
2008: 11
2007: 14
2006: 11
2005: 9


Top 5 Lap Leaders In Last 10 Races

1. Denny Hamlin 899
2. Kevin Harvick 679
3. Jeff Gordon 504
4. Kyle Busch 398
5. Kasey Kahne 249


Top 5 Average Finishers In Last 10 Races

1. Kyle Busch 6.0
2. Tony Stewart 6.8
3. Denny Hamlin 8.5
4. Kevin Harvick 9.1
5. Mark Martin 9.9


Wins at Car Make In Last 10 Races

Chevrolet: 6
Dodge: 1
Ford: 1
Toyota: 2


Cars Entered for 2010 Crown Royal Presents the Heath Calhoun 400: 46

Wash out at Martinsville Speedway Sets Sprint Cup Race by Owner Points; Harvick to lead field Sunday

Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The second short track event in the NASCAR Sprint Cup's two-race mini series, teams enter the Martinsville Speedway knowing that this weekend's 500 lap affair on the flat, 0.526 mile oval is a contrast to the high-banked all-concrete oval of Bristol Motor Speedway. Having held a top NASCAR race since 1947, Martinsville Speedway history will this weekend include NASCAR's reintroduction of rear spoiler blades to the Sprint Cup stock car.

As was predicted through the week, rain poured on Virginia state and 0.526 mile Martinsville Speedway short track through the Friday afternoon canceling NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying. With the field set on the newly-established 2010 car owner points, Kevin Harvick narrow point lead margin was all the #29 Chevrolet needed to take the prime starting spot over Roush-Fenway Racing's #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth.

While qualifying for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 was scrubbed, an afternoon practice session provided a baseline for where NASCAR Sprint Cup teams measure on the Martinsville Short track. In the practice session, Ryan Newman driving the #39 Stewart/Haas Racing-owned Chevrolet scored fastest lap time at 19.535 seconds, equating to an average speed of 96.934 miles per hour. Running on the tight 0.526 mile bullring, the time differentials of the top 13 cars in the practice was only 1/10th of a second.

Hendrick Motorsports placed well through the first practice on a track they have won 7 of the last 10 event held. Leading the Hendrick bunch, Mark Martin #5 Chevrolet placed just behind Newman at a time a mere 0.015 seconds slower. Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson as well as Dale Earnhardt Jr were measured 4th, 7th and 15th respectively. Unfortunately with Sunday's grid positions being placed by car owner points, the quickest Hendrick Motorsport car will start deepest in the field in a still honourable 16th place spot.

In historic context, Martinsville Speedway had been a stumbling block for Roush-Fenway Racing Sprint Cup program. Often seen charging through the field during the race after slow qualifying times, it would be common to see the Roush-Fenway cars fight up to the top 10. Last season however, the now-Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing driver Jamie McMurray was the only top 10 finisher with a Roush-Fenway Racing Ford Fusion. Rain was probably a welcomed sight to the Four-car Ford operation as David Ragan was the highest placed team car in the practice session in 18th place. Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle both benefit with top 5 starts for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 on Sunday.

As the practice saw the top 2 positions held by Hendrick-built cars, a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota driven by quick-learning Tasmanian import Marcos Ambrose took third spot. Hoping to turn around a disappointing result in the Food City 500 at Bristol, Ambrose finished 14th in his first run at Martinsville this time last year. Fall race winner of 2009 Denny Hamlin was 5th fastest in the practice but will be haunted early in Sunday's main event by a 19th place starting spot amounting from many misfortunes for the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota on the first 5 races of 2010.

With the Martinsville Speedway round for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series to be set on 2010 car owners points, Terry Cook, Casey Mears and Johnny Sauter wheeling a second Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet failed to qualify.

The Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway set to begin Sunday at 1PM but weather forecast call for a 70 percent chance of persistent rain in the Virginia state area. Weather permitting, the 6th race in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be airing on Fox as well as TSN in Canada.


NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Starting Lineup for Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Martinsville Speedway

Pos # | Car # | Driver | Sponsor/ Car Make

1) 29 Kevin Harvick    Shell / Pennzoil Chevrolet
2) 17 Matt Kenseth     Crown Royal Ford
3) 48 Jimmie Johnson    Lowe's Chevrolet
4) 16 Greg Biffle      US Census Ford
5) 14 Tony Stewart     Old Spice / Office Depot Chevrolet
6) 2 Kurt Busch       Miller Lite Dodge
7) 31 Jeff Burton      Caterpillar Chevrolet
8) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. AMP Energy Sgr Fr Lghtng/Ntnl Grd Chevrolet
9) 98 Paul Menard      NIBCO / Menards Ford
10) 18 Kyle Busch       Snickers Toyota
11) 24 Jeff Gordon      DuPont Chevrolet
12) 33 Clint Bowyer     BB&T Chevrolet
13) 99 Carl Edwards     Aflac Ford
14) 83 Brian Vickers     Red Bull Toyota
15) 1 Jamie McMurray         McDonald's Chevrolet
16) 5 Mark Martin      CARQUEST / GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
17) 20 Joey Logano      The Home Depot Toyota
18) 82 Scott Speed      Red Bull Toyota
19) 11 Denny Hamlin     FedEx Freight Toyota
20) 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
21) 43 A J Allmendinger Charter Ford
22) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
23) 9 Kasey Kahne      Budweiser Ford
24) 00 David Reutimann    TUMS Toyota
25) 19 Elliott Sadler   Stanley Ford
26) 39      Ryan Newman      Haas Automation Chevrolet
27) 6 David Ragan      UPS Ford
28) 78 Regan Smith      Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
29) 71 Bobby Labonte     TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
30) 12 Brad Keselowski   Penske Dodge
31) 47 Marcos Ambrose    Little Debbie Toyota
32) 38 Kevin Conway     Extenze Ford
33) 77 Sam Hornish Jr.   Mobil 1 Dodge
34) 34 Travis Kvapil    A&W All American Food Ford
35) 37 David Gilliland    Gander Mountain Ford
36) 26 David Stremme    Air Guard Ford
37) 09 Aric Almirola     Phoenix Racing Chevrolet
38) 7 Robby Gordon     VIPFanExprnce.com/Blake Shelton Toyota
39) 36 Mike Bliss       Wave Energy Drink Chevrolet
40) 13 Max Papis        GEICO Toyota
41) 55 Michael McDowell PRISM Motorsports Toyota
42) 66 Dave Blaney      PRISM Motorsports Toyota
43) 87 Joe Nemechek     NEMCO Motorsports Toyota

Jimmie Johnson Takes Golden Win at Bristol

Photo Credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images


The first short track event on the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule, the running of the Food City 500 at 0.533 mile Bristol Motor Speedway was an anticipated fan pleaser. The close quarter stock car battles and Saturday Night racing roots has reflected on the Bristol track grandstands morphing the once humble short track into a 160,000 spectator NASCAR stadium.

Friday pole winner Joey Logano in the #20 Home Depot Toyota led the 43-car field for the first time in his short Sprint Cup career. Along with a new pole sitter, competitors immediately enjoyed the widened racing surface which reclaimed most of the room lost when the SAFER barrier was installed. A testament to a well-planned more by Bristol Motor Speedway track organizers, the first 100 laps of the race, there were 9 lead changes with the majority coming as legitimate passes, not pit stop exchanges. While Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski would score early Sprint Cup series bonus points for leading, 5-time Bristol winner Kurt Busch stepped up as an race favourite on the first lap. Fresh off the manic race at Atlanta, the Penske Racing-sponsored #2 Miller Lite Dodge was the lead car for 55% of the event's distance.

With only one caution Two short track favourites Clint Bowyer and David Reutimann both parked their cars due to engine problems. In fact, the fluid from Bowyer's #33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet drew the second caution of the Food City 500. Losing a cylinder, Reutimann's failed engine ended what was becoming a top-flight performance for the Aaron's #00 Toyota having been run in 3rd place prior to the lap 113 end. Only a few laps past David Reuitmann's retirement, the Bristol polesitter found trouble. After the first place start, Logano's poor luck at Bristol continued as his day went south early in the event. Dropping to 12th by lap 88, the orange #20 Toyota pitted 16 laps later under green for a flat tire. While Logano lost 3 laps as his Home Depot team tended to the #20 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing troubles worsen as teammate Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx draw a caution on lap 115 when he slammed the wall in turn 2. Tire difficulties for the #18 car of Kyle Busch later on lap 263 completed a Joe Gibbs Racing trouble trifecta. However, Busch's #18 Toyota would overcome his tire problems to finish 9th.

The biggest wreck through the Food City 500 came on lap 342 with a turn 3 incident that damaged 13 cars. Contributed by Greg Biffle having radio issues where he could not hear his Roush-Fenway Racing spotter, the accident started on the backstretch. With the #5 Chevrolet of Mark Martin running on the outside, Biffle's #16 Ford edged up the track and drove Martin into the wall. Wounded by the wall impact, Martin's car continued slower and was unable to make the turn 3 corner. Along with Mark Martin, Juan Pablo Montoya and Marcus Ambrose suffered the worst damage within the large scale pileup.


Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR


With a wet weather outlook late in the afternoon, the Bristol Motor Speedway started under the optimism that rain would hold off for at least the completion of 500 laps. Ultimately, the race went the full distance despite two cautions resulting due to rain sprinkles which ate 40 laps as the dampness lifted from the concrete surface.

As Kurt Busch asserted authority over the lead position for a likely second-straight victory, the Food City 500 was slowed on lap 483 when a debris flag dropped on the Bristol Motor Speedway. Playing pit strategy with two tires instead of four, Roush-Fenway Racing Fords positioned themselves in the first three positions on the restart with Greg Biffle's #16, Matt Kenseth #17 and Carl Edwards #99.

On the final lap 490 restart, 4th place Tony Stewart driving his #14 Chevrolet stormed through the three-car Ford group taking the late lead two laps later. However, as Stewart's Chevrolet carved his way through the Blue Oval contingent, the Hendrick Motorsports #48 Lowes Chevy of Jimmie Johnson followed. With 4 laps to go, Johnson powered past Stewart to win his 50th NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

Lighting up the rear tires through a wide variety of burnouts on track, Johnson's celebration of his milestone win also involved smoking the Goodyear rubber against the dividing wall of the track and pit lane as well as on the way to victory lane. Having beaten the driver whom's nickname was Smoke, Jimmie Johnson seemingly wanted to take that away from Tony Stewart too after the Food City 500.



Photo Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Likely unsatisfied as a 'true racer' driver with 2nd place in the Food City 500, Tony Stewart position as a car owner sees the season-best result in a much more positive light. Having dominated the Bristol Motor Speedway event throughout the day, Kurt Busch captured a 3rd place and elevated himself 5 spots in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup points. The Roush-Fenway Racing trio finished 4th through 6th with Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, and Carl Edwards. Embattled by the NASCAR probation and the heightened media attention reflecting back to the Atlanta incident, the #99 of Edwards comfortably raced even with Brad Keselowski in the Food City 500.

Always receiving a high amount of media coverage, Hendrick Motorsports driver Dale Earnhardt Jr showed well in the Bristol race. Despite a pit road speeding penalty on lap 325, the #88 National Guard/Amp Energy Chevrolet dodged the lap 342 carnage to finish 7th on the day. With the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season proving better than 2009 for Earnhardt, he now sits 8th in series points.

Kevin Harvick continues to hold the points lead in NASCAR Sprint Cup recovering from another poor qualifying effort to finish 11th in the Food City 500. But the leading margin is only a single point over Matt Kenseth.


Food City 500
NASCAR Sprint Cup
Bristol Motor Speedway

Pos # | Car # | Driver | Sponsor/Car Make

1) 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
2) 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet
3) 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge
4) 16 Greg Biffle U.S. Census Ford
5) 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
6) 99 Carl Edwards Scotts Ford
7) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet
8) 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet
9) 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
10) 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
11) 29 Kevin Harvick Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet
12) 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Toyota
13) 12 Brad Keselowski Penske Dodge Dodge
14) 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
15) 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
16) 39 Ryan Newman Haas Automation Chevrolet
17) 43 A J Allmendinger Insignia/Best Buy Ford 
18) 98 Paul Menard Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford
19) 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota 
20) 19 Elliott Sadler Stanley Ford 
21) 71 Bobby Labonte TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
22) 7 Robby Gordon Warner Music Nashville/Blake Shelton Toyota
23) 38 David Gilliland Taco Bell Ford
24) 26 David Stremme Air National Guard Ford
25) 34 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
26) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
27) 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota 
28) 37 Kevin Conway  Extenze Ford
29) 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
30) 90 Casey Mears Keyed-Up Motorsports Chevrolet
31) 82 Scott Speed Red Bull Toyota 
32) 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Mobil 1 Dodge
33) 47 Marcos Ambrose Little Debbie Toyota
34) 9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser Ford
35) 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
36) 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
37) 46 Terry Cook  Whitney Motorsports Dodge 
38) 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
39) 09 Aric Almirola Phoenix Construction/Graceway Chevrolet
40) 33 Clint Bowyer BB&T Chevrolet
41) 55 Michael Waltrip PRISM Motorsports Toyota
42)     66 Dave Blaney PRISM Motorsports Toyota
43)     87 Joe Nemechek ComputerWorks Toyota

Logano in Home Depot Toyota Nails Bristol Pole

Photo Credit: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR


After a one weekend hiatus following the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series returns for a two-race short track engagement rounding out the month of March. The concrete surface of the 0.533 mile Bristol Motor Speedway oval starts the short track trek in Sunday's Food City 500 race.

Through pole qualifying on this high-banked Bristol Motor Speedway, the 19 year old Joey Logano set fastest time sailing his #20 Home Depot Toyota around in a swift 15.396 seconds. Enjoying a strong sophomore season so far in 2010, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie of the year Joey Logano pole is his first-career top start in the series. However, while Joey Logano's pole compliments the obvious maturing of the Joe Gibbs Racing's young talent, Logano's true growth will come on Sunday as he attempts to survive the Food City 500. After running the two Bristol races of 2009, Logano sported 38th and 34th place finishes.

Winding up 2nd place, Kurt Busch was only 1/100th of a second slower in his Penske Racing #2 Miller Lite Dodge. A 4-time winner at Bristol Motor Speedway with his last victory coming March of 2006, Kurt Busch has always been a perrenial front-runner almost every time race's raced on the oval.

While a racing adage says "money buys speed", the tight quarters and tricky corners of Bristol has a habit of defeating the notion even as well-funded Sprint Cup superteams adapt to the short track. With this being said, occasions in qualifying for lightly-financed teams to pull off an upset performance exists as a possibility. For this past qualifying session at Bristol, Dave Blaney driving the Prism Motorsports Toyota jockeyed his #66 car for a brilliant 3rd place. This qualifying result is Dave Blaney's 2nd top-5 qualifying performance for the short 2010 season.

Fourth and five place spots were snatched by the Hendrick Motorsport duo of Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon while Chevrolet brandmate Juan Pablo Montoya continues to search for his first oval victory.

With this weekend's race being the first since the dramatic Atlanta incident involving Carl Edwards' late-race revenge shot on Brad Keselowski, thoughts surround what this will mean for the short track event. One of those questions regards whether a three-race suspension will affect Edwards' on-track performance. This question was answered by the #99 Ford of Carl Edwards securing 8th place on the grid. A second question for whether a stewing Keselowski might seek a return shot on Edwards at Bristol will be revealed in the race. However, the pair will start considerably far apart as Brad Keselowski could do no better than 36th in qualifying.

Last year's Food City 500 winner Kyle Busch will have a long journey to the front as the #18 Toyota encountered troubles in qualifying. Kyle Busch will start 38th for Sunday's race.

For many car owners, a top finish in the Food City 500 will prove itself a much valued commodity. With the first 5 races concluded the NASCAR Sprint Cup field will be measured on 2010 car owner points. The top-35 cars will be guaranteed a starting position through the next races. Prior to the running the upcoming Sprint Cup race at Bristol, the #36 Chevrolet and #37 Ford are sitting tied for the 35th spot. A coveted spot which will aid teams in collecting sponsorship and respect in the Sprint Cup series, 39th place #13 Toyota is only 29 points outside of the top-35 position.


2010 Food City 500 Starting Order
NASCAR Sprint Cup
Bristol Motor Speedway

1) 20 Joey Logano      Home Depot Toyota
2) 2 Kurt Busch       Miller Lite Dodge
3) 66 Dave Blaney      PRISM Motorsports Toyota
4) 48 Jimmie Johnson   Lowe's Chevrolet
5) 24 Jeff Gordon      DuPont Chevrolet
6) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
7) 17 Matt Kenseth     Crown Royal Ford
8) 99 Carl Edwards     Scotts Ford
9) 47 Marcos Ambrose    Little Debbie Toyota
10) 00 David Reutimann   Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
11) 14 Tony Stewart     Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet
12) 98 Paul Menard      Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford
13) 5 Mark Martin      GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
14) 31 Jeff Burton      Caterpillar Chevrolet
15) 11 Denny Hamlin     FedEx Express Toyota
16) 38 David Gilliland   Taco Bell Ford
17) 1 Jamie McMurray   Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet
18) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet
19) 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Toyota
20) 78 Regan Smith      Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
21) 39 Ryan Newman      Haas Automation Chevrolet
22) 77 Sam Hornish Jr.  Mobil 1 Dodge
23) 43 A J Allmendinger Insignia/Best Buy Ford
24) 9 Kasey Kahne      Budweiser Ford
25) 16 Greg Biffle      U.S. Census Ford
26) 33 Clint Bowyer     BB&T Chevrolet
27) 09 Aric Almirola    Phoenix Construction/Graceway Chevrolet
28) 83 Brian Vickers    Red Bull Toyota
29) 82 Scott Speed      Red Bull Toyota 
30) 6 David Ragan      UPS Ford
31) 26 David Stremme    Air National Guard Ford
32) 7 Robby Gordon     Warner Music Nashville/Blake Shelton Toyota
33) 29 Kevin Harvick    Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet
34) 90 Casey Mears      Keyed-Up Motorsports Chevrolet
35) 87 Joe Nemechek     ComputerWorks Toyota
36) 12 Brad Keselowski  Penske Dodge Dodge
37) 19 Elliott Sadler    Stanley Ford
38) 18 Kyle Busch       M&M's Toyota
39) 55 Michael Waltrip  PRISM Motorsports Toyota
40) 46 Terry Cook       Whitney Motorsports Dodge
41) 34 Travis Kvapil    Long John Silver's Ford 
42) 37 Kevin Conway     Extenze Ford
43) 71 Bobby Labonte    TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet

NASCAR Sprint Cup: 2010 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedweek Preview

Bristol Motor Speedway

Track Length: 0.533 Miles
Highest Banking: 36 Degrees
Listed Race Distance/Actual Race Distance: 266.5 miles
Laps: 500 laps
Previous NASCAR Sprint Cup Events Held: 98

2009 Race Winner: Kyle Busch
2009 Pole Winner: Mark Martin


Lead Changes in Past 5 Food City 500 Bristol Motor Speedway Races

2009: 13
2008: 17
2007: 14
2006: 19
2005: 14


Cautions in Past 5 Food City 500 Bristol Motor Speedway Races

2009: 9
2008: 10
2007: 15
2006: 18 2005: 14


Top 5 Lap Leaders In Last 10 Races

1. Kyle Busch 935 laps
2. Tony Stewart 769 laps
3. Matt Kenseth 706 laps
4. Kasey Kahne 305 laps
T5. Carl Edwards 282 laps
T5. Denny Hamlin 282 laps


Top 5 Average Finishers In Last 10 Races

1. Marcos Ambrose 6.5 (Only ran 3 races)
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr 8.5
3. Kyle Busch 10.2
4. Greg Biffle 11.1
5. Jeff Gordon 11.2


Wins at Car Make In Last 10 Races

Chevrolet: 3
Dodge: 1
Ford: 4
Toyota: 2


Cars Entered for 2010 Food City 500: 45