Friday March 30th, 2012

11:00 AM EST Truck Series Practice Not Televised

12:30 PM EST Sprint Cup Practice on SPEED

2:00 PM EST Truck Series Practice on SPEED

3:30 PM EST Sprint Cup Practice on SPEED

Saturday March 31st, 2012

10:00 AM EST Truck Series Qualifying on SPEED

11:30 AM EST Sprint Cup Qualifying on SPEED

1:00 PM EST Truck Series Race on SPEED

Sunday April 1st, 2012

12:30 PM EST Sprint Cup Race on FOX

Via Foxsports.com

Race Info

Date- April 1^st, 2012

Location- Martinsville, VA

Start Time- 1:13 PM EST

Distance- 500 Laps, 263 Miles

Broadcast TV- FOX

Broadcast Radio- MRN

Weather Forecast

High- 78 F Low- 54 F

Chance of rain- 10%

Mostly Sunny

Past Race Winners

2011- Kevin Harvick

2010- Denny Hamlin

2009- Jimmie Johnson

2008- Denny Hamlin

2007- Jimmie Johnson

Notables yet to win spring race at track

Kyle Busch

Brad Keselowski

Kasey Kahne

Clint Bowyer

Greg Biffle (Roush has not won)

Carl Edwards (Roush has not won)

Matt Kenseth (Roush has not won)

Jeff Burton

Dale Earnhardt Jr

News & Notes

Kevin Harvick looks to repeat as Martinsville spring winner

Dale Earnhardt Jr looks for strong run after a decent race last season

Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne look to rebound after poor start

Tony Stewart looks for second straight win at Martinsville

Roush-Fenway looks for first Martinsville spring race win

Dale Earnhardt Jr. continues to attempt to get back to victory lane, last visit to victory lane was 134 races ago in Michigan 2008 last year at Martinsville Earnhardt Jr finished 2^nd

My Fantasy Racing Picks

Group A- Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson

Group B- Dale Earnhardt Jr., A.J Allmendinger, Jamie McMurray, Joey Logano

Group C- Brian Vickers, Landon Cassill

Event Schedule

Cup Practice 12:30 PM EST Friday Televised on SPEED

Practice 3:30 PM EST Friday Televised on SPEED

Qualifying 11:30 AM EST Saturday Televised on SPEED

Cup Race 12:30 PM EST Sunday Televised on SPEED

Next Race- Samsung Mobile 500 @ Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, TX

Entry List via Nascar.com

Via Nascar.com

Race Info         

Date- March 31^st, 2012

Location- Martinsville, VA

Start Time- 1:30 PM EST

Distance- 250 Laps, 131.5 Miles

Broadcast- TV- SPEED

Broadcast Radio- MRN

Weather Forecast

High- 76 F Low- 45 F

Chance of rain- 30%

Isolated T-Storms

Past Race Winners

2011- Johnny Sauter

2010- Kevin Harvick

2009- Kevin Harvick

2008- Dennis Setzer

2007- Mike Skinner

Notables yet to win at track

Matt Crafton

Ron Hornaday

Timothy Peters

Joey Coulter

Parker Kligerman

News & Notes

Daytona truck winner John King looks to make two straight wins to open season

Johnny Sauter looks to repeat as Martinsville truck series winner

Jason Leffler looks to win race for team owner Kyle Busch

Kevin Harvick looks to win third truck race at Martinsville

Jeb Burton, son of Daytona 500 Champion Ward Burton, makes first truck start

Event Schedule

Truck Practice 11:00 AM EST Friday (Not televised)

Practice 2:00 PM EST Friday Televised on SPEED

Qualifying 10:00 AM EST  Saturday Televised on SPEED

Truck Race 1:00 PM EST Saturday Televised on SPEED

Next Race- Good Sam Road Assistance 200 @ Rockingham Speedway Rockingham, NC

Entry list via Nascar.com

By Caleb Slouha

Via Topuspost.net

After an official statement made Wednesday, it has been announced that by this August, Bristol will undergo slight track changes.

Bristol was originally reconfigured back in 2007, from its old one lane, to it’s now almost 3-wide track. The only problem with this is very long green runs, less interesting racing, and fewer crashes. Ever since 2007, the Bristol race attendance number has decreased every year. This past race 2 weeks ago, the stands were barely half-full. I loved the racing we saw at Bristol a couple of weeks ago.

Side by side, a little bumping, and not the whole field getting wrecked in one mistake. Many other drivers loved it too. Brad Keselowski, the race winner, said he enjoys that type of “door to door racing” and Dale Jr. said that the race is what like racing should be. No “BS” cautions, just lining them up and letting them go. On the other side, several drivers have shown enthusiasm for this change.

Denny Hamlin said on twitter, ” So Bruton Smith is changing Bristol.. I like it.. Pave that mofo!!! With the most coarse asphalt u can find.”       Bruton Smith said that he took the last week and a half to listen to the fans. Now, he has ordered the equipment, and expects to start the changes within 2 weeks to be done before the night race at Bristol Motor Speedway this upcoming August.

These changes are expected to cost around 1 million dollars. So far, no details on the changes have been announced, but are expected to be within the next few days.

If you would like to order tickets to the August race at Bristol visit bristolmotorspeedway.com

Via @jim_utter

Tony Stewart wins the first rain shortened race at Auto Club Speedway. The race had its one and only caution come out on lap 123 for the rain that slowly moved in and ended our race. The only real racing we saw that featured a real battle was when halfway in the race was upcoming and the looming rain that everyone was murmuring about was advancing in the distance.

No race fan wants to see a rain shortened race because that race takes an exciting finish out of picture because of rain. We’ve only had five races this season and two already have had rain involved. The Daytona 500 was postponed till Monday which was the other rainy race of the season. In 2011 the first race that had rain involved wasn’t until Watkins Glen in August.

The three green flag pit stops that occurred during the duration of the rain shortened event saw few mistakes and not too much advancement in position. Kyle Busch led most of the first 75 laps then eventually passed by Tony Stewart.  Around lap 100, when teams realized we were going past halfway, the race began.

All drivers were aware of the rain that was coming, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon tried to play the rain game but they eventually had to pit and ended up with disappointing finishes of what could have been. The last two pit stops of the day hurt Jeff Gordon and his No.24 team; they occurred two penalties which stripped them of a decent finish. Gordon ended up finishing 26^th.

On lap 123 when the final caution came out drivers were offered a chance to pit and Tony Stewart faked the field out when he looked like he was going to pit, that was obviously a questionable move if he had decided to pit. Then at the last second, Stewart made a hard right to join the field once again. The second place driver at the time was Denny Hamlin who followed Stewart down pit road, which would have taken a 2^nd place finish from him. Hamlin looked as if he wasn’t going to attempted to stay out once Stewart swerved back out on the track.

Hamlin pitted and ended up finishing 11^th.  Less than 30 minutes after they brought the cars down pit road, they called the race and Tony Stewart ended up winning his second race of the season after not winning a race last season until Chicagoland last September. Smoke who is usually cool in the beginning of the season has had a hot start; this defending champion is putting up a fight to defend his crown. A rainy day in Fontana left smoke celebrating in rain.

Results via Nascar.com

Denny Hamlin Accepts Coors Light Pole Award at Fontana Via ESPN.com/Nascar

1. Denny Hamlin (#11 FedEx Toyota)
2. Kyle Busch (#18 Interstate Batteries Toyota)
3. Mark Martin (#55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)
4. Greg Biffle (#16 3M Ford)
5. Kasey Kahne (#5 Farmers Insurance Chevy)
6. Ryan Newman (#39 U.S Army Chevy)
7. Kevin Harvick (#29 Jimmy John’s Chevy)
8. Joey Logano (#20 Dollar General Toyota)
9. Tony Stewart (#14 Office Depot/ Mobil 1 Chevy)
10. Jimmie Johnson (#48 Lowe’s/ Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevy)
11. Clint Bowyer (#15 5-Hour Energy Toyota)
12. Carl Edwards (#99 Subway Ford)
13. Martin Truex Jr. (#56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)
14. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#88 Diet Mountain Dew/ National Guard)
15. Matt Kenseth (#17 Ford EcoBoost Ford)
16. Jamie McMurray (#1 Bass Pro Shops/ Allstate Chevy)
17. Brad Keselowski (#2 Miller Lite Dodge)
18. David Reutimann (#10 Accell Construction Chevy)
19. Jeff Burton (#31 Caterpillar Chevy)
20. David Stremme (#30 @TheNASCARFans Toyota)
21. Jeff Gordon (#24 Drive To End Hunger Chevy)
22. Regan Smith (#78 Furniture Row Chevy)
23. Kurt Busch (#51 Phoenix Construction Services Chevy)
24. Juan Pablo Montoya (#42 Target Chevy)
25. A.J Allmendinger (#22 Southern California AAA Dodge)
26. Bobby Labonte (#47 Charter Toyota)
27. Paul Menard (#27 Certain Teed/ Menards Chevy)
28. Aric Almirola (#43 Medallion Financial Ford)
29. Marcos Ambrose (#9 Dewalt Ford)
30. Josh Wise (#26 Morristown Driver’s Service Ford)
31. Landon Cassill (#83 Burger King/ Dr Pepper Toyota)
32. Michael McDowell (#98 Curb Records Ford)
33. Casey Mears (#13 GIECO Ford)
34. Dave Blaney (#36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevy)
35. Scott Riggs (#23 North Texas Pipe Chevy)
36. J.J Yeley (#49 America Israel Racing Toyota)
37. Brendan Gaughan (#33 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevy)
38. David Ragan(#34 Front Row Motorsports Ford)
39. Mike Bliss (#19 Humphrey Smith Racing Toyota)
40. Travis Kvapil (#93 Burger King/ Dr Pepper Toyota)
41. David Gilliland (#38 1-800LoanMart Ford)
42. Ken Schrader (#32 U.S Chrome/ 1 Less Than 2 Ltd. Ford)
43. Reed Sorenson (#74 Turn One Racing Chevy)

Friday March 23rd, 2012 **PA= Auto Club Speedway Time**

3:30 PM EST/12:30 PM PA Sprint Cup Practice on SPEED

4:30 PM EST/ 1:30 PM PA Nationwide Practice on SPEED

7:00 PM EST/ 4:00 PM PA  Sprint Cup Qualifying on SPEED

Saturday March 24th, 2012 ** PA= Auto Club Speedway Time**

12:30 PM EST/ 9:30 AM PA Sprint Cup Practice on SPEED

1:30 PM EST/ 10:00 AM PA Nationwide Qualifying on SPEED

3:30 PM EST/ 12:30 PM PA Sprint Cup Practice on SPEED

5:00 PM EST/ 2:00 PM PA Nationwide Race on ESPN

Sunday March 25th, 2012 **PA= Auto Club Speedway Time**

2:30 PM EST/ 11:30 AM PA Sprint Cup Race on FOX

Race Info

Date- March 25^th, 2012

Location- Fontana, CA

Start Time- 3:16 PM EST/ 12:16 PT

Distance- 200 Laps/ 400 Miles

Broadcast TV- FOX

Broadcast Radio- MRN

Weather Forecast

High- 62 F Low- 44 F

Chance of rain- 30%

Few Showers

Past Race Winners

2011- Kevin Harvick

2010- Jimmie Johnson

2009- Matt Kenseth

2008- Carl Edwards

2007- Matt Kenseth

Notables yet to win spring race at track

A.J Allmendinger (Team owner Roger Penske owns track)

Brad Keselowski (Team owner Roger Penske owns track)

Kyle Busch (JGR has not won at track)

Denny Hamlin (JGR has not won at track)

Joey Logano (JGR has not won at track)

Ryan Newman (SHR has no wins)

Tony Stewart (SHR has no wins)

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Kasey Kahne

News & Notes

Chad Knaus remains on pit box after NASCAR heard the No.48 teams appeal and lifted all suspensions and points penalty

Brad Keselowski looks to win back-to-back races this season

Kevin Harvick looks to repeat

Jimmie Johnson looks for revenge after Harvick passed him on last lap last year to win

Race attendance looks for increase

Dale Earnhardt Jr. continues to attempt to get back to victory lane, last visit to victory lane was 133 races ago in Michigan last year at Auto Club Speedway Earnhardt Jr. finished 12^th

My Fantasy Racing Picks

Group A- Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson

Group B- Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray

Group C- Casey Mears, Aric Almirola

Event Schedule

Cup Practice 3:30 PM EST/ 12:30 PM PT Friday Televised on SPEED

Qualifying 7:00 PM EST/ 4:00 PM PT Friday Televised on SPEED

Practice 12:30 PM EST/ 9:30 AM PT Saturday Televised on SPEED

Practice 3:30 PM EST/ 12:30 PM PT Saturday Televised on SPEED

Race 2:30 PM EST/ 11:30 AM PT Sunday Televised on FOX

Next Race- Goody’s Fast Relief 500 @ Martinsville Raceway Martinsville, VA

Entry List via Nascar.com

By Caleb Slouha

Via AutoWeek.com

For more than two weeks, all NASCAR enthusiasts been anxious to see the fate of the number 48 team. The final results are in. In what seems like it was against all odds, the points, and suspensions were all over turned. The only penalty that stayed was a $100,000 fine for crew chief Chad Knaus.

With the 25 points restored to the team, Jimmy Johnson, the driver of the number 48 Lowes Chevy, jumps from 17th to 11th in the points. With him being a top contender at Auto Club, can he pull off a win this weekend?  Or maybe even be a championship contender this year. Can we count him in?         We will have to find out what the 48 team can pull together for the rest of the season. I’d say after some good and bad finishes, and having to deal with a 25 point penalty that no longer exists, he is in a good position. Even better? Chad Knaus will be on top of the pit box this weekend, and weekends to come.

By Caleb Slouha

There’s no doubt, Michael Waltrip Racing has certainly stepped up its program. The results start to show in the last 5 races of last year. Martin Truex Jr, driver of the  No.56 Napa Auto Parts car, earned four top 10 finishes at the end of the year. This year? Truex Jr’s worst finish is 19th, in the Shootout. He currently sits 4th in points.

Michael Waltrip Racing’s newest driver this year, Clint Bowyer has had a decent start to the season.

Clint Bowyer, Truex Jr’s teammate, is currently 8th in the standings. Clint has 1 top-5 and 2 top-10′s. They have struggled off and on, but have been a very strong team. Even after 2 flat tires at Phoenix, the team managed to keep the car in the top 30. Most people say that’s not a good finish, but in the championship at the season’s end, we will be looking at who salvaged points where.

So, what about the 3rd MWR entry? The number 55 car has also seen many great finishes so far this year, but not with the same driver. So far two different drivers have been in the car: Martin; and Brian Vickers.

The other huge part is Brian Vickers. Vickers is set to run 5 more races this year, and if he runs them like he ran this race at Bristol, I’m sure he can find victory lane. After Red Bull Racing closed it’s doors in 2011, Brian was left without a ride until weeks ago. Considering he hasn’t raced in a while, pulling off a top-5 and leading 125 laps of the 500 lap race is a huge success, and I expect him to keep it up.

Where will they finish this weekend? Well, the chances are looking good yet again. Clint Bowyer has 7 top-10′s out of 11 starts. This includes 3 top-5′s. Mark Martin has 1 win here, 6 top-5′s, and 10 top-10′s in 20 starts.  However, Martin Truex Jr, hasn’t been so lucky. In the last 2 years, he has finished worse than 20th due to engine issues and a crash.

What will be the fate of the 2 championship contending MWR cars? Only time will tell. Can they get a win? I wouldn’t count them out of any race