Matt Crafton picks up trucks win in Martinsville

From ESPN.com

Matt Crafton rebounded from a poor showing at Talladega to take the
checkered flag in Martinsville.

Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Matt Crafton climbed back into the championship hunt by winning the Truck series race Saturday at Martinsville Speedway.

The two-time defending series champion won for the fifth time this season to chip into the cushion of points leader Erik Jones. With three races remaining, Jones leads Tyler Reddick by three points and Crafton by 10.

"This feels very, very good," Crafton said. "It's been a trying last two months for us. But we finally got this thing back in Victory Lane."

Crafton had a poor race last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway to fall 23 points behind Jones. But Jones was involved in a late accident Saturday and finished 10th to allow Reddick and Crafton to tighten the standings.

Reddick finished fifth.

"We were in really good position at the end ... and I actually hit the curb and cost us a couple more spots," Reddick said. "It was as clean as Martinsville could get. It's a shame we got fifth, really, because I thought we could have finished third or second."

John Hunter Nemechek was second, followed by Cameron Hayley, Cole Custer and Reddick.

Timothy Peters was sixth, while Brandon Jones, Caleb Holman, Johnny Sauter and Jones rounded out the top 10.

The win was the second career victory at Martinsville for Crafton and 10th of his career. He credited his ThorSport Racing crew for giving him a strong enough Toyota to win.

"We weren't very good on the short runs," Crafton said. "But I never give up on these guys, and they kept fine-tuning it."Crafton had a poor race last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway to fall 23 points behind Jones. But Jones was involved in a late accident Saturday and finished 10th to allow Reddick and Crafton to tighten the standings.

Reddick finished fifth.

"We were in really good position at the end ... and I actually hit the curb and cost us a couple more spots," Reddick said. "It was as clean as Martinsville could get. It's a shame we got fifth, really, because I thought we could have finished third or second."

John Hunter Nemechek was second, followed by Cameron Hayley, Cole Custer and Reddick.

Timothy Peters was sixth, while Brandon Jones, Caleb Holman, Johnny Sauter and Jones rounded out the top 10.

The win was the second career victory at Martinsville for Crafton and 10th of his career. He credited his ThorSport Racing crew for giving him a strong enough Toyota to win.

"We weren't very good on the short runs," Crafton said. "But I never give up on these guys, and they kept fine-tuning it."

MARTINSVILLE: Today's Sprint Cup & Trucks Practice & Qualifying Notes

UNB! NETWORK PRACTICE & QUALIFYING REPORT

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES:

First Saturday practice for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over.

After 55 scheduled minutes, top five, slowest and notes:

1.) Dale Earnhardt - 96.998 MPH
2.) Martin Truex Jr. - 96.879 MPH
3.) Ryan Newman - 96.874 MPH
4.) Joey Logano - 96.755 MPH
5.) Denny Hamlin - 96.731 MPH
Slowest: Timmy Hill - 94.041 MPH & Alex Kennedy - 93.654 MPH
Most Laps Run: Dale Earnhardt, 75 laps
Note: Tony Stewart will go to a backup car after hitting the wall.

Final practice for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over. 

Top five, slowest:
1.) Jimmie Johnson - 97.108 MPH
2.) Kevin Harvick - 96.721 MPH
3.) Brad Keselowski - 96.721 MPH
4.) Paul Menard - 96.711 MPH
5.) Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 96.538 MPH
Slowest: Alex Kennedy - 94.109 MPH & Kyle Fowler - 94.073 MPH

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES:

Cole Custer won the pole for Saturday's Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 96.959 MPH. Cameron Hayley will start second, followed by John Hunter Nemechek, Tyler Reddick, Daniel Hemric, Daniel Suarez, Gray Gaulding, Erik Jones, Tyler Young, and Ben Kennedy. Brandon Brown, Jim Weiler, Norm Benning and Charles Buchannan Jr. failed to qualify for the race.

MARTINSVILLE: Today's Sprint Cup & Trucks Practice & Qualifying Notes

UNB! NETWORK PRACTICE REPORT

Joey Logano's No. 22 car during a Sprint
Cup practice session at Martinsville on
October 30th, 2015.

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
Friday practice for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over.

After 85 scheduled minutes, top five, slowest and notes:

1.) Joey Logano - 98.826 MPH

2.) Jeff Gordon - 98.364 MPH

3.) Brad Keselowski - 98.338 MPH

4.) Kevin Harvick - 98.328 MPH

5.) Casey Mears - 98.195 MPH

Slowest: Kyle Fowler - 95.161 MPH & Timmy Hill - 94.242 MPH

Most Laps Run: Kyle Larson, 48 laps

Best 10-Consecutive Lap Average: Kevin Harvick - lap 8-17 - 95.762 MPH

Note: Qualifying will be this afternoon at 4:20pm/et. It will be shown on tape-delay at 6:00pm/et on NBCSN. Live coverage will be provide online at NBC Sports Live Extra.

Top-5 From Round 1 Of Qualifying:
1.) Jamie McMurray - 98.599 MPH
2.) Clint Bowyer - 98.308 MPH
3.) Carl Edwards - 98.297 MPH
4.) Kevin Harvick - 98.145 MPH
5.) Joey Logano - 98.119 MPH

Top-5 From Round 2 Of Qualifying:
1.) Joey Logano - 98.800 MPH
2.) Kevin Harvick - 98.466 MPH
3.) Jeff Gordon - 98.420 MPH
4.) Martin Truex, Jr. - 98.415 MPH
5.) Jamie McMurray - 98.354 MPH

Joey Logano won the Coors Light pole for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway with speed of 98.548 MPH for his 6th pole of 2015, 2nd at Martinsville and 14th of his career. Logano has won 2 races from the pole out of 13 previous poles. Martin Truex, Jr. is on the outside pole followed by AJ Allmendinger, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Aric Almirola, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Kevin Harvick. With only 43 cars entered, no one missed the race.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
Timothy Peters was fastest during opening practice at Martinsville Speedway on Friday with a speed of 96.019 mph. Matt Crafton was second, followed by Cameron Hayley, Spencer Gallagher, Brandon Jones, Johnny Sauter, Daniel Hemric, Daniel Suarez, Ross Kenseth, and Cole Custer. 37 drivers are entered for Saturday's race and all practiced during the session.

Timothy Peters led the way during final practice for Saturday's Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 96.083mph. Cameron Hayley was second, followed by Tyler Young, Daniel Suarez, Cole Custer, Gray Gaulding, Erik Jones, Brandon Jones, Johnny Sauter, and John Hunter Nemechek. 36 drivers practiced during the session.

FANTASY NASCAR: Martinsville Truck Series Points/Tire Notes/Facts

UNB! NETWORK FANTASY REPORT

Standings Following Talladega:
1.) Erik Jones, 742
2.) Tyler Reddick, 724, -18
3.) Matt Crafton, 719, -23
4.) Johnny Sauter, 687, -55
5.) Timothy Peters, 642, -100
6.) Cameron Hayley, 622, -120
7.) Daniel Hemric, 612, -130
8.) John Wes Townley, 594, -148
9.) Ben Kennedy, 565, -177
10.) Spencer Gallagher, 559, -183

Tire Notes & Facts:

Tire: Goodyear Eagle Short Track Radials

Set Limits: Camping World Truck: 5 sets for the event

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4588; Right-side -- D-4468

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.44 in. (2,221 mm); Right-side -- 88.70 in. (2,253 mm)

Minimum Recommended Inflation: Left Front -- 10 psi; Left Rear -- 10 psi; Right Front -- 23 psi; Right Rear -- 22 psi

Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Martinsville this weekend. This is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that these teams have run at this track since last October. This left-side tire code has been run at this track since April 2013. Martinsville is the only track where NASCAR teams are scheduled to run either of these two tire codes. As on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Martinsville.

Stroylines:

• 2015 Eldora runner-up Bobby Pierce, 18, will attempt to make his second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start this weekend for MB Motorsports. At Eldora, he won the pole, and won  Heat race #1 to go along with his fantastic second-place finish to Christopher Bell.

• Ray Black Jr. will run a special Halloween paint scheme on the No. 07 Chevrolet on Saturday.

• Could this be the weekend Daniel Suarez notches his first NASCAR national series win? The Monterrey, Mexico native will pilot the No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota in Saturday's Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway. KBM has won the last four fall races at Martinsville with Darrell Wallace Jr. (twice) and Denny Hamlin (twice). In nine NCWTS start this season, Suarez has failed to place in the top 10 just once and has posted five top-10 finishes. He has finished runner-up twice (Dover and Texas) and placed fourth in his last series start at Chicagoland.

• Timothy Peters led 23 laps, including the final one, to win Saturday's fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway - his second consecutive victory at the 2.66-mile behemoth. Peters might be turning into a superspeedway ace now. Three of his nine career victories have come at Talladega (two) and Daytona. The No. 17 Red Horse Racing driver is also on fire with four top-five finishes in his last five races (first at Talladega, second at Las Vegas, fourth at New Hampshire, third at Chicagoland). He has moved from seventh to fifth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings since the beginning of the streak. This Saturday, the Danville, Virginia native heads to his home track - Martinsville Speedway - for the Kroger 200 (1:30 p.m. ET on FS1). Martinsville is the site of Peters' first career victory. In 19 career starts at the famous short track, Peters boasts one win, six top fives and 12 top 10s.

Tony vs. Tony

If you haven't seen it already you may not want to see it because you'll never be able to unsee it. Go to Espn.com to see it if you want to. Tony Stewart had a Halloween party last night & invited Tony Gibson's family, Ken Gober (#14 Hauler driver) & his wife & of course the Zipadelli family (Greg & Nan) Tony Gibson was dressed as a middle finger (kinda appropriate as to how nascar is running things nowadays). Tony Stewart was dressed as Carmen Miranda. Miranda was a Latin American singer/dancer in the 1950's & I must say he wears the costume well. There's maybe 10 or more photos from him wearing it last night. The simple Twitter pic said "Yep I lost & Tony Stewart won. Hopefully he'll be able to channel that costume win to a race win come Sunday at Martinsville.

The Smooth Operator makes his return to NASCAR at Martinsville.

Official Press Release | Sent to us by Michael Kamp, RPM Services LLC

PHOTO: Bobby Pirece (No. 63 Chevy) races with Christopher Bell
(No. 54 Toyota) in the 2015 1-8--CAR-CASH Mud Summer Classic at
Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio on July 22nd, 2015.

Bell will be making his first NASCAR non-dirt start this weekend
in the Truck Series' Kroger 250 at Martinsville.

Bobby Pierce impressed in his NASCAR debut at the sanction's only dirt race earlier this year at Eldora and now makes his long-awaited asphalt debut this saturday in the Kroger 250 for MB Motorsports.

"Bobby is a very talented young driver, that's for sure" says team owner Mike Mittler. "He's had a lot of laps around that place, but this is a new ballgame", referring to Martinsville's reputation as a track that few have mastered.

Led by champion crew chief, Rick Wren, Pierce has every tool available to make a successful transition.  After taking 2nd earlier this summer at Hickory Motor Speedway for JR Motorsports, insiders look for another eye-opening performance.

   Joined by teammate Brandon Hightower, also a young talent with a dominating dirt background, MB Motorsports fields 2 rookies at arguably THE most difficult venue to have a good showing. "All good" says Mittler with a confident smile.

While Pierce returns with sponsor RPM Services LLC, among other contengency sponsors,  Bobby debuts a new sponsor to NASCAR, Pixographs. A highly anticipated app designed for fans to instantly capture the excitement, autographed by their favorite personality, then immediately posted to their choice of social media."This app is a game changer for everything from sports to entertainment to family occasions" boasts RPM owner and app designer Mike Kamp. Hightower brings his charity work for St. Jude Children's Hospital and Operation:Second Chance to his debut.

All eyes will undoubtedly be watching this pair of incredibly talented rookies as they work for more treats than tricks this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. The Kroger 250 can be seen on local Fox affiliates.

This Work Was Originally From:

Kevin Howdeshell 

STL Motorsport Magazine 

Kevin H. GSS

FANTASY NASCAR: Martinsville Sprint Cup Info/Stats/Records

UNB! NETWORK FANTASY REPORT

FOLLOW our Fantasy NASCAR division on Twitter!

Track Specifications:
Track Size: 0.526 Mile
Race: 500 laps, 263 miles
Degree of Banking: Turns: 12 degrees
Straightaways: Banking: 0 degrees(flat)
Straights: 800 feet
Backstretch: 800 feet
Grandstand Seating: 55,000
Pit Stalls: 43 pits, 14-feet wide by 28-feet long
Speed Limits: Pit Road: 30 mph; Pace Car: 35 mph

Opened: 1947

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Martinsville:
1.) Jimmie Johnson..............119.4
2.) Jeff Gordon..............119.1
3.) Denny Hamlin..............111.4
4.) Dale Earnhardt Jr..............99.5
5.) Tony Stewart..............96.8
6.) Kyle Busch..............96.2
7.) Clint Bowyer..............94.6
8.) Kevin Harvick..............93.6
9.) Joey Logano..............88.0
10.) Brad Keselowski..............86.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2015 races (21 total) among active drivers at Martinsville Speedway. Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.

Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Eliminator Round:
[after Talladega, race 32 of 36]
1.) Joey Logano [6 wins], 4000
2.) Carl Edwards [2 wins], 4000
3.) Jeff Gordon, 4000
4.) Kurt Busch [2 wins], 4000
5.) Brad Keselowski [1 win], 4000 points
6.) Martin Truex, Jr. [1 win], 4000
7.) Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 4000
8.) Kyle Busch [4 wins], 4000

Goodyear Tire Notes & Facts:
Tire: Goodyear Eagle Short Track Radials
Set limits: Sprint Cup: 5 sets for practice/qualifying and 10 sets for the race;
Tire Codes:
Left-side -- D-4588; 
Right-side -- D-4468

Tire Circumference: 
Left-side -- 87.44 in. (2,221 mm); 
Right-side -- 88.70 in. (2,253 mm)

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 10 psi; Left Rear -- 10 psi;
Right Front -- 23 psi; Right Rear -- 22 psi


Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Martinsville this weekend. This is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that these teams have run at this track since last October. This left-side tire code has been run at this track since April 2013. Martinsville is the only track where NASCAR teams are scheduled to run either of these two tire codes. As on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Martinsville.

Race Records/Info:
March 2015 Race Winner: Denny Hamlin, 68.843mph, started 15th
October 2014 Race Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr, 70.725mph, started 23rd
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
March 2015 Pole Winner: Joey Logano, 98.461mph, finished 3rd
October 2014 Pole Winner: Jamie McMurray, 99.905mph, finished 16th
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

Martinsville Track Notes & History:
· Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States.
· The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville was on July 4, 1948.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was Sept. 25, 1949.
· The track was paved in 1955.
· The first 500-lap event at Martinsville was in 1956.
· Concrete corners were added atop asphalt in 1976.

GARAGE TALK: GMS Racing Hit Hard With Penalty/XFINITY crew member Resinated

UNB! NETWORK STAFF REPORT

GMS Racing's No. 33 Truck Series team of Brandon
Jones has been given a P4 Penalty due to infractions
this past weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.

GMS Racing Truck Team Hit Hard With P4 Penalty
NASCAR has assessed a P4 level penalty to the No. 33 GMS Racing team of Camping World Truck Series driver Brandon Jones for an infraction discovered during pre-qualifying inspection for last weekend's Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.

The penalty was issued for illegal brackets/supports on Jones' truck. Crew chief Shane Huffman has been fined $10,000, suspended for the next three truck races, as well any non-championship races or other special races or events that may occur during that period, and placed on NASCAR probation for six months after the issuing of the penalty.

Jones and team owner Maurice Gallagher Jr. have been docked 25 championship driver points and 25 championship owner points, respectively.

Jones finished second to Timothy Peters in said race this past weekend at Talladega.

Crew Member Resinated
NASCAR has reinstated Brian R. Allen, a crew member in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. On September 30, 2015, Allen was found to have violated Sections 7.5 (Violation of the NASCAR Code of Conduct) and 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR Rule Book.

NASCAR Statement On Talladega Results

This is an official NASCAR release found on NASCAR.com from October 27th, 2015.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 27, 2015) – "NASCAR has worked to review an extensive amount of material from Sunday's NASCAR race in Talladega including video, team radio transmissions and downloadable data. Based on that review, the race results are considered official as we prepare for the upcoming 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Eliminator Round starting Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

"Post-race inspection is currently being conducted. The five cars at the NASCAR Research & Development Center for post-race inspection are the No. 22 (winner), No. 88 (runner-up), No. 18 (final car qualifying for the Eliminator Round), No. 31 (first car not qualifying for the Eliminator Round) and the No. 98 (random).

"Additionally, aside from today's post-race inspection, NASCAR has completed review of any other potential penalties from the track this past weekend, and there will be no further actions."

Austin Cindric to drive for BK Racing at Martinsville

UNB! NETWORK STAFF REPORT

Austin Cndric

Brad Keselowski announced Tuesday that he has found a replacement driver for the No. 29 Ford that his Truck Series team, Brad Keselowski Racing fields. It will be Austin Cindric, son of Team Penske president Tim Cindric.

The replacements come after Austin Theriault was hospitalized after a truck series crash two races ago in the series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, Keselowski let his brother Brian drive the No. 29 Truck.

Cindric, the Columbus, Ohio native, currently drives full-time in the IMSA Continental Sports Car Challenge, driving the No. 158 Ford Shelby GT 350R-C for Multimac Motorsports. Cindric has two-career ARCA Racing Series starts.

“I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the Cooper Standard Ford F-150 and can’t thank Brad enough for this opportunity,” the 21-year-old Cindric said. “I’ve never been to Martinsville so it’ll be a whole new experience. I’ll just take it lap by lap and absorb as much information as possible. I just need to make sure I gain the respect of the competitors because I’m new to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. I have no expectations. I’ll just take what the weekend brings me and go from there."

Keselowski sounded pretty confident in Ciindric as he will race in the Truck Series' final short-track race of the season.

“One of the things I wanted to do at BKR is give talented young drivers an opportunity,” offered team owner Brad Keselowski. “Austin Cindric already has an incredibly diverse racing background. We’re happy to give him an opportunity in the Cooper Standard Ford F-150 at Martinsville to learn what it’s like to compete at a high level in NASCAR and to gain experience so he’ll be prepared to take the next step in his career."

New front and rear changer for Trevor Bayne and the #6 RFR team

UNB! NETWORK STAFF REPORT

Trevor Bayne, driver of the #6 AdvoCare Ford, pits during the
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at
Sonoma Raceway on June 28, 2015 in Sonoma, California.

(PHOTO: Jerry Markland/Getty Images North America)

For years now Kale Uphoff has been a mainstay changer at Roush Fenway Racing. As of Kansas two weeks ago, it will appear to be the last time he changes tires for a while. We are hearing that the Monday after Kansas, Uphoff had partial hip replacement surgery and will be out for a while. Kale is a great tire changer and we have no doubt that he will come back and continue his career hitting nuts.

As for now, it looks like front tire changer Cory Baldwin will be moving to the rear of the #6 and back up front changer Cory DeMarco will be moving up front to take Baldwins spot. Things can change quickly on pit road but as of Talladega that was the case. Both DeMarco and Baldwin are experienced veterans who will do just fine in those positions. Its not an easy job to move from the front to the rear but Baldwin has the skill set to handle it. With 4 races to go until the end of the season, its a good time to look forward to next year.

Good luck to Kale in his recovery and to the Cory’s on the next four races. Should be fun to watch.

- Read on PitTalks.

Piercy Scores First Track Championship

Second Generation Driver Adds To NASCAR History At Hickory

Tim Southers, NASCAR
October 27, 2015 - 10:57am

Matt Piercy celebrated winning his first NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series track championship at Hickory Motor
Speedway this season.
Photo courtesy of Sherri Stearns

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Matt Piercy knew at a young age he wanted to follow his dad’s footsteps and drive a race car at Hickory Motor Speedway. 

The 21 year-old Mechanical Engineering major at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte can now add 2015 Hickory Motor Speedway Track Champion to his resume.

Piercy battled another second-generation driver in Landon Huffman throughout the season and used consistency to win his first NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track championship in the Bojangles Late Model Division on the .363-mile track.

The achievement still hasn’t fully sunk in yet for the Conover, North Carolina native. 

“I know it’s been several weeks now and I guess the best way to describe it is surreal,” Piercy said. “It’s such an honor to be able to add your name with drivers like Ned Jarrett, Ralph Earnhardt and so many others who have won track championships at Hickory”

Piercy and Huffman both finished the season with 20 top-10 finishes in as many starts. The difference would up being Piercy’s 19 top-fives to Huffman’s 16. While Piercy only scored one win, his consistency paid off in scoring the title by 10 points (898-888). 

Piercy said felt that his car was at its best over the last handful of races he knew he had to race smart to secure the Championship. While it’s not uncommon for a second-generation driver to win a title, what is unique is how the younger Piercy was able to find the time and ability to race for a championship.

Piercy had to juggle finishing up the spring semester and starting the fall semester while competing in a close battle for his first title.

“It was a little tough in the spring finishing up classes, working on the car and racing but we found a way to get it done,” he added. “It took a lot of late nights.”

Piercy got veteran car owner and former late model racer Greg Marlowe and Roger Johnson of Performancenter to build a new car and they helped out for the first part of the season. While Piercy took the reins from there and began working on the car, Marlowe and Johnson were there for advice if he needed it.

“We really didn’t have a crew chief for the car this year,” Matt Piercy said. “Greg and Roger created a great baseline, and then I began to fine tune the car and got it ready each week the way I needed it. I was fortunate to have really good cars each week and we only finished out of the top five in one race which says something about how consistent our car was all year long.” 

Piercy had primary sponsorship for his No. 25 Chevrolet from ZLOOP IT, a computer and electronics recycling facility.

Piercy’s dad, Kevin, competed at Hickory in the 1990’s in the Late Model division and has been the General Manager at the track since 2009. While the elder Piercy is usually tied up operating the track on race nights, Matt was happy he was able to race in front of his family each week.

“I can remember coming to the track when I was young and playing with cars while dad raced and I knew that I wanted to do this someday,” he said. It was a lot of blood, sweat and sacrifice – but I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

The competition was close all season long and while racing at a track his family promotes can be a challenge, Piercy was just focused on doing the best he could on track each week.

“The field at Hickory is so close each week, if you were off just half of a tenth or so in qualifying it could cost you six or seven spots.,” Piercy said. “I just tried to be conscious of my surroundings and respectful to my fellow competitors each week.”

While Piercy wants to take time to enjoy the title, he’s also ready to move on to the next phase in his life.

“I’m definitely looking forward to graduating and I’m excited about what lies ahead in my future,” Piercy said. “I feel that I have options. I’m going to keep driving as long as I can and I hope to have an opportunity to move up in to one of the NASCAR touring series.”

If Piercy doesn’t make it as a driver he knows he’ll still be involved in motorsports at some level.

“If I’m not driving I’ll probably be working on race cars or maybe even be part of the family business,” said Piercy. “I’ll definitely be involved in racing.”

Established in 1982, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship program for weekly short track auto racing. In all, 58 paved and dirt tracks throughout the United States and Canada participated in 2015.

Connecticut-based Whelen Engineering is the series’ title sponsor. Whelen Engineering is a leading manufacturer of automotive, aviation, industrial and emergency vehicle lighting. NASCAR tracks and pace cars are among the many showcases for Whelen products.

Hickory will hold its 2015 Banquet of Champions and recognize Piercy's accomplishments on December 12th at the Newton Expo in Newton, North Carolina.

Piercy will also be honored for his Hickory Motor Speedway crown along with other track and state/province champions from across North America as part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards on Dec. 11 at the Charlotte Convention Center and NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“We had a great year and I’m so thankful and blessed to have the opportunity to race at Hickory with my family and I appreciate everything my parents have done for me and I want them to enjoy this championship as well,” Piercy said.

- Credit to NASCAR Home Tracks for this article.

Heywood Continues Record Run

Earns Second Straight Airborne NASCAR Track Title

By Jason Cunningham, NASCAR
October 26, 2015 - 1:00pm

Nick Heywood has earned the Airborne title in each of the New York oval's
two seasons under the NASCAR banner. 
Dave Brown

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Consistency was the key in 2015 for Nick Heywood as he repeated as NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track champion at Airborne Park Speedway.

Heywood secured another title behind two wins, 15 top fives and 18 top 10s across 19 feature races in the J&S Steel Modified division at Airborne. It was his fourth-consecutive crown at the .4-mile asphalt oval in the Adirondack Park region of Plattsburgh, New York, and second under the NASCAR banner.

“Competition wise, we had a lot stiffer competition this year,” Heywood said. “I only had two wins, but had a consistent year and only one DNF.”

Heywood took home five checkered flags in 2014 to garner the Jostens National Rookie of the Year as a first-year Whelen All-American Series Division I license holder when Airborne joined the NASCAR program. This season, the native of Plattsburgh relied on regular top finishes to retain the track championship.

His two triumphs bookended the campaign as he won the opener on May 2 and the back end of a season-finale doubleheader on Sept. 5.

“We started off really strong and just stayed consistent and held our ground,” Heywood said. “I think we only dropped out of the points lead once or twice, but consistency propelled us back up.”

An owner/driver, Heywood piloted his No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet to a 96-point advantage in the division’s final standings over Jason Durgan, despite Durgan’s two more victories. With his father, Randy, serving as the team’s crew chief, Heywood finished fourth in the Whelen All-American Series New York state standings and 21st nationally.

The fourth-consecutive Airborne title overall for Heywood came with some history, as it marked the first time in the track’s 62-year history that a driver accomplished the feat.

“They started talking in early August about how nobody had ever done it,” Heywood said. “It added a little bit of pressure. There’s been some pretty big names that have come through Airborne during the years so to be the first two win four in a row feels great.”

It remains to be seen whether Heywood will have an opportunity to extend the record. Airborne is currently up for sale or lease, leaving the champion unsure of his 2016 plans.

“I don’t know if we’re going to do any championship hunting,” Heywood said. “We’re probably going to do a little traveling. We’re going to try Autodrome St-Eustache in Canada, and maybe try dirt racing as well.”

Like Airborne, St-Eustache (Quebec) also promotes dirt-style modifieds on asphalt, which provides Heywood with a natural alternative only 90 minutes from his hometown. St-Eustache is a NASCAR-sanctioned weekly track as well.

Established in 1982, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship program for weekly short track auto racing. In all, 58 paved and dirt tracks throughout the United States and Canada participated in 2015.

Connecticut-based Whelen Engineering is the series’ title sponsor. Whelen Engineering is a leading manufacturer of automotive, aviation, industrial and emergency vehicle lighting. NASCAR tracks and pace cars are among the many showcases for Whelen products.

Airborne Park will hold its 2015 Banquet of Champions and recognize Heywood’s accomplishments on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Rainbow Wedding and Banquet Hall in Altona, New York.

Heywood will also be honored for his Airborne Park crown along with other track and state/province champions from across North America as part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards on Dec. 11 at the Charlotte Convention Center and NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“We had a great time last year so we’re going back down and have another good time I’m sure,” Heywood said.

- Credit to NASCAR Home Tracks for this article.

NASCAR releases 2016 Sprint Cup & XFINITY Series schedules

From NASCAR.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 26, 2015) – NASCAR today announced agreements with 23 tracks to field NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for the next five years. Additionally, 24 tracks will host NASCAR XFINITY Series races through 2020.

NASCAR also announced its 2016 schedule for both of these national series. The schedule and actual placement of the dates within each given season's schedule beyond 2016 will be part of the on-going discussions between NASCAR and the tracks. Details are being finalized for the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule to be announced at a later time.

"NASCAR and the tracks take seriously our collective responsibility to the fans and each stakeholder to ensure the sport is healthy, strong and growing, so we can deliver great racing to the fans for many decades to come," said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “The live event experience always will be important to creating a lifetime fan in NASCAR.

"Among the goals that we set out to accomplish with our track partners was to provide consistency for race fans and the industry stakeholders. We feel like we have a nice balance of that for 2016. The stability of five-year agreements positions us well to deliver fans with schedules as early as possible over the next several years. This is a new approach for our industry, and one that benefits everyone: fans, tracks, teams, drivers, OEMs, media and partners."

NASCAR will kick off the 2016 season against the new backdrop of a completely reimagined Daytona International Speedway. DAYTONA Rising, the speedway’s $400 million redevelopment project, will be complete when both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series launch at Daytona Speedweeks. The 2016 DAYTONA 500 will be held on February 21 and will air live on FOX.

After the DAYTONA 500, NASCAR events will be held the following week at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Both series then will travel to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Auto Club Speedway for the return of NASCAR Goes West.

"We learned that NASCAR Goes West worked very well in keeping momentum and interest for NASCAR in these markets," O’Donnell said. "The tracks put a lot of effort behind making it successful and we think it can continue to have a positive impact as it gains traction from being an annual effort. The efficiency of conducting three consecutive events also is helpful to the teams and industry."
Among the changes to the 2016 schedule:
• Pocono Raceway will host its first NASCAR XFINITY Series event in June, with that series joining the Sprint Cup Series for a companion event at the famed three-turn track.
• The spring events at Richmond International Raceway move to a Saturday and Sunday companion event for the XFINITY Series and Sprint Cup Series, from the previous Friday and Saturday schedule.
• The first series stop at Dover International Speedway will move earlier in the schedule, to be held prior to the May events at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• NBC will usher in its 2016 race schedule in July at Daytona with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event moving back to a Saturday evening event.
• The August Sprint Cup Series event at Michigan will move to later in the month.

2016 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES SCHEDULE
Feb. 13 Daytona International Speedway - Sprint Unlimited
Feb.14 Daytona International Speedway - Daytona 500 Qualifying
Feb. 18 Daytona International Speedway - Duel
Feb. 21 Daytona 500
Feb. 28 Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 6 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 13 Phoenix International Raceway
March 20 Auto Club Speedway
April 3 Martinsville Speedway
April 9 Texas Motor Speedway
April 17 Bristol Motor Speedway
April 24 Richmond International Raceway
May 1 Talladega Superspeedway
May 7 Kansas Speedway
May 15 Dover International Speedway
May 21 Charlotte Motor Speedway (NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race)
May 29 Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 5 Pocono Raceway
June 12 Michigan International Speedway
June 26 Sonoma Raceway
July 2 Daytona International Speedway
July 9 Kentucky Speedway
July 17 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
July 24 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
July 31 Pocono Raceway
Aug. 7 Watkins Glen International
Aug. 20 Bristol Motor Speedway
Aug. 28 Michigan International Speedway
Sept. 4 Darlington Raceway
Sept. 10 Richmond International Raceway
Sept. 18 Chicagoland Speedway
Sept. 25 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Oct. 2 Dover International Speedway
Oct. 8 Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 16 Kansas Speedway
Oct. 23 Talladega Superspeedway
Oct. 30 Martinsville Speedway
Nov. 6 Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 13 Phoenix International Raceway
Nov. 20 Homestead-Miami Speedway

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES 2016 SCHEDULE
Feb. 20 Daytona International Speedway
Feb. 27 Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 5 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 12 Phoenix International Raceway
March 19 Auto Club Speedway
April 8 Texas Motor Speedway
April 16 Bristol Motor Speedway
April 23 Richmond International Raceway
April 30 Talladega Superspeedway
May 14 Dover International Speedway
May 28 Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 4 Pocono Raceway
June 11 Michigan International Speedway
June 19 Iowa Speedway
July 1 Daytona International Speedway
July 8 Kentucky Speedway
July 16 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
July 23 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
July 30 Iowa Speedway
Aug. 6 Watkins Glen International
Aug. 13 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Aug. 19 Bristol Motor Speedway
Aug. 27 Road America
Sept. 3 Darlington Raceway
Sept. 9 Richmond International Raceway
Sept. 17 Chicagoland Speedway
Sept. 24 Kentucky Speedway
Oct. 1 Dover International Speedway
Oct. 7 Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 15 Kansas Speedway
Nov. 5 Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 12 Phoenix International Raceway
Nov. 19 Homestead-Miami Speedway

Drivers Speak Out On Controversial Talladega Restart

By Joey Gucciardo | October 26th, 2015

Cars wreck on the final restart during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October
25, 2015 in Talladega, Alabama.

(PHOTO: Brian Lwdermilk/Getty Images North America)

Talladega, AL --- Kevin Harvick put him in a position in Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega that gave him a 15th-place finish in the 500-mile event, putting him seventh in the CHASE standings after the race, giving him a berth in the CHASE's third round, also called the Eliminator round.

But suspiscion rose about the reigning Cup champion's late restart actions.

Harvick started the race-ending green-white-checkered restart by wrecking Trevor Bayne in the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford. Some speculated that the daring move by Harvick was for Harvick to gain position so that he could clinch a berth in the third round.

"I was just trying to get out of the way once I got going there," Harvick told FOX Sports after the race. "I thought I could get going better than I did the first time and I just didn't get going. So as I was pulling up, I was looking to the inside waiting for them to shoot the gap and I hit the 6."

Harvick's crew chief Rodney Childers said after the race that "the motor was blowing up," referring to the late-race issues that caused Harvick to fall back in the pack before the final race-ending restart.

"He's trying to get out of the way, but not lose too many spots -- it's easy," Childers said. "We're not the ones that invented this (expletive)."

But Bayne wasn't so sure that engine issues were the problem for Harvick. Bayne spoke out his opinion after the 500-mile race at Talladega.


"That's a crappy way for Harvick to have to get in the Chase is to wreck somebody -- what I believe on purpose," Bayne said after the race. "Maybe it wasn't … the restart before that he had engine problems and got out of the way. I think he realized if the caution came out he was gonna be fine, so I go by and get hooked in the left-rear.


"Harvick is a really good driver. I think he knows the limits of his car and where it's at, that's why I think it was intentional."

Matt Kenseth had the sane opinion as Bayne, seconding what the driver of the No. 6 Frod has said.

"(Harvick) pulled out of the way the first time because he knew he was blowing up and this time he said he was going to hold his lane, so we went up to go around him and then he clipped the 6 (of Trevor Bayne)," Kenseth said after the race. "He knew if he put him in a slow spin the race was over and he'd make it."

Kenseth's teammate, Denny Hamlin, who was involved in the wreck and eliminated from the CHASE, spoke out on Twitter.

What a joke we have a car with no motor wreck the field to end the race. Complete crap. Sorry to anyone who spent $ coming to this circus

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) October 25, 2015

NASCAR Officials and team members met after the race at the NASCAR hauler to review the restart, and to determine whether or not Harvick's actions were intentional and if something needed to be done.

NASCAR said that no action was necessary.


"What we saw, there's no evidence right now that there's anything the 4 car did that was questionable other than moving out of line," NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton said. "…"Obviously there are some of the teams that have questioned what the 4 car did on the restarts. We went back and walked through with him but procedurally from NASCAR, we don't see anything there that was of suspect."

"So far," he added, saying the sanctioning body would review footage from different angles in case something fell "out of the woodwork in the next 24 hours."

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- Information from NASCAR.com was used in this article.

- Tweet me @GucciardoJoey