KASEY KAHNE WINS POLE FOR GOODY’S FAST RELIEF 500 AT MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY

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Kasey Kahne NASCARTeam Chevy Drivers Occupy Three of the Top-5 Starting Positions For Sunday’s Race

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Kasey Kahne No. 5 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet, earned his second straight pole in NASCAR Sprint Cup series (NSCS) competition in the past four weeks, and fifth top-10 start in 2012, by capturing the top spot in today’s qualifying session at the .586-mile Virginia short track. It was Kasey’s 24th career Coors Light Pole Award but was his first career NSCS pole at Martinsville Speedway in 17 races.

A total of 46 cars took turns at the front row for Sunday’s race and when the 43-car field was set, Chevy drivers took the front row and three of the top-5 starting spots for the 500-lap race. Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Budweiser is Back Chevrolet, held the top spot until being bumped by Kahne by a mere 0.016 seconds. It is the best qualifying effort (barring events where the race was set by points) since Phoenix International Raceway in November of 2006 for Harvick. It was also his fourth top-10 start of 2012.
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Jeff Gordon Interview and Quotes from Martinsville Speedway

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Jeff Gordon NASCARJEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DRIVE TO END HUNGER CHEVROLET, Interview at Martinsville Speedway and discussed his seven victories at Martinsville Speedway, tire testing at Michigan International Speedway and other topics.

YOU HAVE SEVERAL OF THE GRANDFATHER CLOCKS (MARTINSVILLE TROPHIES) IN YOUR POSSESSION I’M SURE YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET ANOTHER ONE TOMORROW:
“Absolutely, who doesn’t want one? It’s a great trophy and it’s a great race track. You have to work hard. You put yourself in a good position to win this race and it’s a challenge from the first time you are on the track all the way to the final lap of the race. It is certainly not easy to get those clocks. We are fortunate to have seven of them. Number eight would be amazing and number 200 for Mr. H (Hendrick) would be amazing as well. There are a lot of inspiring reasons why we want this one pretty bad.”

YOU ARE ONE OF JUST FOUR DRIVERS OVER THE PAST 15 SEASONS WHO HAVE WON SEVEN RACES IN A 15 RACE STRETCH. WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE AS A COMPETITOR WHEN YOU ARE IN THAT ZONE? TONY STEWART IS IN THAT KIND OF STREAK RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS YOUR IMPRESSION OF WHAT HE IS DOING RIGHT NOW?
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Interview with Kevin Harvick on Changes to Bristol and on racing at Marinsville

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Kevin Harvick NASCARKEVIN HARVICK, NO. 29 BUDWEISER IS BACK CHEVROLET, discussed his success at Martinsville, the announced changes at Bristol Motor Speedway, baby-proofing his home and other topics.

TALK ABOUT YOUR OUTLOOK FOR THIS WEEKEND AND JUST HOW YOU’VE BEEN RUNNING. “Last year we ran well here and obviously we like to run here being so close to home. We end up with a lot of guys from the shop that put in a lot of time. They bring their families, and then local fans and everybody that comes to the race track. So, it’s a fun weekend and a race track that we’ve run well at as a company over the past couple of years. I felt like we’ve always run well here, we just haven’t always got the results that we needed. It’s fun to finally get that win out of the way last year, and hopefully we can start putting a few more of them in the victory column and go from there. It’s been a good start to the season, and hopefully we can keep it rolling.”

THIS TRACK IS SO CLOSE TO YOUR HOME AND YOU’VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS IN THE TRUCK; ARE YOU MISSING AT ALL NOT BEING A TEAM OWNER THIS WEEKEND? “It really hasn’t been on mind at all. As I’ve gone through the weeks, I think its become even less of a thought as I’ve been able to do the things on the race track and away from the race track. I’ve been able to spend time at home and concentrate on a lot of things at home with the big boy coming and the things that are required to change around the house. So there’s a lot of things going on. I really haven’t missed it at all, and really underestimated how big of a relief it would actually be. So, its been great and I still get to drive the cars and trucks, and enjoy that part of it. I get to be more a part of my Cup team off the race track, in the trailer, and at the shop. That part of it is going well.”
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Interview with Kasey Kahne on 2012 Season at Martinsville Speedway

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Kasey Kahne NASCARKASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET, met with members of the media and discussed getting Hendrick Motorsports their 200th win, the first practice session at Martinsville Speedway and other topics. Full Transcript:

YOU ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING THE TRUCK SERIES RACE AT ROCKINGHAM. ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICE THE TRUCK PRIOR TO THE RACE?
“No, actually Brad Sweet is going to practice and qualify my truck and then I’m going to race it at Rockingham. Turner Motorsports has three really good solid truck teams that can all work together. I feel like it will have a really good set-up in it on Sunday when I get there.”

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE TRUCK AT ALL BEFORE?
“No, not at all.”
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Tony Stewart Martinsville – Game Change

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Tony Stewart NASCARKANNAPOLIS, N.C., – Dating back to September of last season, Tony Stewart has won seven of the last 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, including the series’ most recent race on Sunday at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

These victories have come in many forms. Fuel mileage. Pit strategy. All-out domination. But perhaps the biggest game changer in this recent run was Stewart’s win last October at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

The driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing did what seemingly no one had been able to do in years – make a pass for the win from the outside lane. And Stewart did it dramatically, passing five-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson on a restart with three laps to go.

“I don’t think anybody has ever passed Jimmie Johnson on the outside, so I guess it was just determination,” said Stewart about his all-out, late-race pass. “To be honest, it’s really not the fact of beating Jimmie as much as it’s just hard to win in this series to begin with. You cherish these opportunities. You make sure that when you have the opportunity, you make the most of it.”
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New NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Format Places Premium

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On Winning Segments Prior To 10-Lap Shootout

Pit Road Strategy To Be Critical Component;

Fans To Again Vote One Driver Into Field

NASCAR Sprint Cup DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 28th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will provide some additional incentive for drivers to win one of the four segments heading into the final 10-lap shootout, as the emphasis on winning and pit road strategy have never been more prevalent in this special night of NASCAR star-studded competition. Through the annual Sprint Fan Vote, under way now, fans can again cast ballots for their favorite eligible driver. The driver receiving the highest number of votes will earn a spot in the field.

The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race set for Saturday, May 19 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (SPEED, 7 p.m.), will consist of four 20-lap segments, concluding with a 10-lap sprint and a $1 million payout to the race winner. This year’s format will place a higher premium for drivers who win one of the four segments, however, as the winners of the first four segments will move to the front of the field and line up 1-4 prior to the field coming to pit road for the final mandatory pit stop.
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Drivers quotes on NASCAR Sprint Cup Race at MARTINSVILLE

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NASCAR Sprint CupDALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 AMP ENERGY/NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET – 3rd IN STANDINGS:
“I look forward going to Martinsville. I always have a lot of fun there. I think everybody really enjoys running there. It’s a pretty fun track. We’ve had some good success there. I’m hoping to have a good race like we did last year and maybe have an opportunity to try to be in the battle for the win.”

TONY STEWART, NO. 14 OFFICE DEPOT/MOBIL1 CHEVROLET – 4th IN STANDINGS:
“It’s still that old short-track feel. That’s what I like. We run a lot of 1.5-mile tracks during the year and it’s the only place that races like this. We’ve got two half-mile tracks that we race on. This one’s quite a bit different than Bristol, and that’s what makes it fun. You can out-brake guys and you can run the outside if you get a shot. It’s racing the way we all grew up racing.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 MY LOWE’S CHEVROLET – 9th IN STANDINGS:
“I do have a lot of success at Martinsville, but it took me a few tries to get it right. And since then, it’s been a very good track for me. I certainly want to get back to my winning ways there. But at a minimum, we always end up with a real strong finish. When I think of how close we were to victory last fall; it didn’t happen, but we led a lot of laps and was a factor in the end. I’m looking forward to going back and trying to win there again. Martinsville is really rhythm-based. That’s me as a driver, and really takes place at any track, but that is one of the tracks where the rhythm is so important and so specific. And I have a very good rhythm for the race in the long run and have always struggled a little bit with qualifying in the short-run rhythm there. I feel like I get better each year. I did get a pole there at one point and I hope to find that magic once again when we go back because qualifying is so important. But it really is a rhythm race track.”
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RYAN NEWMAN – Hunting for This Season’s First Bloomin’ Win

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Ryan Newman NASCARKANNAPOLIS, N.C. (March 27, 2012) –As an avid outdoorsman, Ryan Newman doesn’t shy away from a hunt. Whether it’s simply the opportunity to breathe in the fresh air of the great outdoors or the adrenaline rush he gets from catching his prey, Newman doesn’t deny the thrill he gets.

It’s a thrill Newman also enjoys on the racetrack each weekend.

Newman’s “hunt” will be in full force as he searches for his first win of the 2012 season behind the wheel of the No. 39 Outback Steakhouse Chevy as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rolls into Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500,.
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