NASCAR 2018 Race 6: Martinsville STP 500 race thread

[dara]

Schedule: Times are Eastern

Saturday, March 24
10:05-10:55 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice, FS1
11:05 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series qualifying, FS1
12:30-1:20 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1
2 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Alpha Energy Solutions 250 (250 laps, 131.5 miles), FS1 Postponed
5:10 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Award qualifying, FS1 Cancelled

Sunday, March 25
Sunday, March 25
1:20 p.m.: Driver introductions
1:54 p.m.: Presentation of Colors by: Martinsville-Henry County Combined Law Enforcement Color Guard
1:54:20 p.m.: Invocation by: Martinsville Speedway Track Chaplin, Mike Hatfield
1:54:45 p.m.: Intro National Anthem
1:55 p.m.: National Anthem by: 392D Army Band Brass Quintet Fort Lee, Virginia
1:56 p.m.: Flyover: 2 – F18 Hornets, VFA Tact 37 Ragin’ Bulls from Naval Air Station Oceana (Turn 4 to Turn 1)
2:01:30 p.m.: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by: Executive Chairman of Spectrum Brands, parent company of STP; David Maura
2:07 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 (500 laps, 263 miles), FS1 (Canada: TSN 3); (Follow live)
Following STP 500 (approx. 7 p.m.): NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Alpha Energy Solutions 250 (250 laps, 131.5 miles), FS1 (Follow live)

UPDATE: Sunday races postponed to Monday, due to Snow.



Estimated Green flag: 2:13 p.m.

Stage 1: 130 laps
Stage 2: 260 laps
Finish: 500 laps

Facts:




Track Specs:
Track Length: 0.526 mile (0.847 km)
Degree of Banking: Turns: 12 degrees
Straightaways: Banking: 0 degrees(flat)
Straights: 800 feet
Grandstand Seating: 55,000

Pit Stalls:
Length: 28 feet
Width: 14 feet

Track Records & Stats

April 2017 Race Winner: #2-Brad Keselowski, 70.139mph, started 4th
October 2017 Race Winner: #18-Kyle Busch, 74.902mph, started 14th
Track Race Record: Jeff Gordon, Sept 1996, 82.223mph
Oldest Race Winner: Harry Gant, 51 years, 8 months, 12 days, 9/22/1991
Youngest Race Winner: Richard Petty, 22 years, 9 months, 8 days, 4/10/1960

April 2017 Pole Winner: None - due to inclement weather
October 2017 Pole Winner: #22-Joey Logano, 96.504mph, finished 24th
Track Qualifying Record: Joey Logano, March 28, 2014, 100.201mph, set in first round of qualifying
Oldest Pole Winner: Morgan Shepherd, 45 years, 6 months, 14 days, 4/26/1987
Youngest Pole Winner: Ricky Rudd, 24 years, 7 months, 14 days, 04/26/1981
Worst Starting Spot to Win: Kurt Busch, Oct 2002, started 36th

Most Wins - Active Driver: Jimmie Johnson, 8
Most Wins - All Time: Richard Petty, 15
Most Poles - Active Driver: Joey Logano, 4
Most Poles - All Time: Darrell Waltrip, 8
Most Top 5s: 30 - Richard Petty; Active leader - 19 - Jimmie Johnson
Most Top 10s: 38 - Jeff Gordon; Active leader, 24 - Jimmie Johnson

[dara]

Starting Order:

1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Kyle Busch
3. Joey Logano
4. Brad Keselowski
5. Ryan Blaney
6. Denny Hamlin
7. Kyle Larson
8. Kevin Harvick
9. Clint Bowyer
10. Aric Almirola
11. Kurt Busch
12. Austin Dillon
13. Erik Jones
14. Ryan Newman
15. Paul Menard
16. Alex Bowman
17. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
18. Jimmie Johnson
19. Darrell Wallace Jr.
20. William Byron
21. Chase Elliott
22. Chris Buescher
23. Daniel Suarez
24. Michael McDowell
25. AJ Allmendinger
26. Jamie McMurray
27. Trevor Bayne
28. David Ragan
29. Kasey Kahne
30. Harrison Rhodes
31. Matt DiBenedetto
32. Ty Dillon
33. Ross Chastain
34. Gray Gaulding
35. Cole Whitt
36. Landon Cassill
37. D.J. Kennington
38. JJ Yeley

[4me2c]

Wonder just How Well those Super Fast Hot Rods will do on a Slower Course...?!? Will be Entertaining for sure...!

[Ryu]

when is the next game so I can prepare please. im mad and its time for me to work hard now.kof
btw, you guys are awesome and especially Dara doing extra ordinary work to organize this games. of course crazed 2.0, captain as well as members who making this really fun. thanks a lot.

[crazed 9.6]

reason why Jimmy wins so much at tracks like this is because Jimmy is like the Tiger Woods in golf... You gotta be in 110% top shape to endure these short tracks. They are grueling on the drivers.
Jimmy is one of the guys that takes that serious and is always preparing with his extra work outs and such (he bikes extensively).
these short tracks are known to take phyiscal pounds of the drivers by the race end.. Its all driving and endurance to keep that up for 500 laps !
Only 70 to 90 mph at these short tracks compared to 200 mph at a big track, but the work is far greater to win a short track race compared to them Super Speedways

[4me2c]

and in His interview after the last race it would seem He is Actually Pleased with His Car not like Kyle, wasn't with His...! "Wrong Adjustment", Lol, How in Hell does the Pit Crew make a "Wrong Adjustment" in a Race...! They go thru those Race Day Preps Constantly, Over and Over...! I Think He just Gave Up and Out with all the Excitement...! LMAO...!

[4me2c]

3 Years ago :

https://www.gamblerspalace.com/articles/motor-racing/nascar/jimmie-johnson-favored-to-win-sundays-stp-500-at-martinsville-43318

[Orziz]

On the road so I'm putting my picks in early in case I'm not around,
Truex jr*
Jimmy Johnson
Kyle Larson

Good luck everyone!

[4me2c]

Harvick is Gun Shy, Truex won't get two in a row and Kyle Busch should Bounce Back so :

(1)... Kyle Busch
(2)... Brad Keselowski
(3)... Denny Hamlin

[ranagee]

Kyle Busch*
Martin Truex Jr.
Kyle Larso