All the talk at Martinsville Speedway this weekend was about Talladega. It wasn’t just the drivers, who did their share of talking, but it also included some media members and fans. Of course, a lot of it revolves around the sport’s most popular driver and the son of NASCAR’s most favorite legend, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Johnny Sauter, driver of the No. 13 Safe Auto/Curb/Carrier Chevy Silverado for ThorSport Racing, sits third in Camping World Truck championship points, just 14 points back from leader Austin Dillon and 11 points behind second place contender James Buescher.
Friday at Martinsville those opinions were expanded upon when many were asked about their views on integrity and ethics in the sport. Brad Keselowski, never one to back down from any question, called it as he saw it by saying that NASCAR had a rough week on the ethical side of the board.
Denny Hamlin passed Austin Dillon and Ron Hornaday Jr. with 14 laps to go and won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday.
What more fitting of a facility than Martinsville Speedway to travel to on this Halloween weekend. Martinsville Speedway has been known to create some very wild and down-right ere finishes.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice had to be cancelled on Friday at Martinsville Speedway due to rain. A practice session is now scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Saturday prior to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying at 10:40 a.m.
Any NASCAR Sprint Cup driver, still in contention for the Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship, will tell you that the seven day gap between race number six and seven on the Chase schedule has been hectic.
Up next is Martinsville, a track Cousin Carl has never won at, one that could see him falter. It might not be enough to save Jimmie Johnson's hopes of maintaining his lock on the title, but it could open a door for Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, or Tony Stewart.
So, team orders made the NASCAR news this week in a very big way. It's very likely that this concept is actually nothing new and has been utilized on occasions for quite a few years.
Clint Bowyer was also hoping that teammate Jeff Burton won too. The two were trying to outrun each other to the finish line in Sunday’s Good Same Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, which Bowyer ended up winning in a photo finish.