(Press Release from New Hampshire Motor Speedway)
Jimmie Johnson has nine career Sprint Cup victories at Dover (Photo: Courtesy NHMS)
**NHMS STORYLINES**
Adam Sandler Returns Home to Serve as Grand Marshal
Mega movie star Adam Sandler will return home on July 19 when he serves as the special 25th Anniversary Grand Marshal for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Sandler, a native of Manchester, N.H., will star in this summer’s action comedy “Pixels”, which will hit theaters July 24. New Hampshire Motor Speedway officials made the Sandler announcement on Wednesday night in front of fans and media at the speedway’s 25th anniversary event with New Englander and Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano. Sandler will participate in driver introductions on the Magic Mile frontstretch and attend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers meeting prior to giving the command for drivers to start their engines, moments before the running of the New Hampshire 301.
Logano, NHMS Celebrate 25 Years of NASCAR Racing in N.H.
Who better than 25-year-old Joey Logano, the youngest winner in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, to help celebrate New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s 25th anniversary celebration? The reigning Daytona 500 champion and Magic Mile September race winner visited with more than 150 fans, media and friends on Wednesday night in Nashua, N.H., to launch the speedway’s silver anniversary season and get everyone revved up for the New Hampshire 301 on July 19. Logano, known for his infectious grin off the track and tenacious style on it, was all smiles in an evening filled with special guests, birthday presents and fun games with fans as he gears up for his return to New Hampshire in less than two months.
SMI Executive Chairman, Bruton Smith, Leads 2016 Hall of Fame Class
O. Bruton Smith, who grew up in the small Stanly County town of Oakboro, N.C., and founded the first motorsports company to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange, leads the newest class of inductees to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Smith, the owner and longtime CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc., received 68 percent of the vote from the 57 votes that were cast by the Hall voting panel (including one vote cast by race fans). Joining Smith in the Class of 2016 are two-time Cup series champion Terry Labonte; Curtis Turner, nicknamed the “Babe Ruth of Stock Car Racing”; Jerry Cook, a six-time NASCAR modified series champion; and Bobby Isaac, a 37-time winner in the Cup series, who also won the 1970 series championship.
“When I found out that I was nominated, I realized how much this meant to my family and the 15,000 employees that work for my companies,” Smith said in a statement. “Now, I realize how much it means to me.”
Harvick to Attend ‘Champions Breakfast’
Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick will make an appearance at the Speedway Children’s Charities “Champions Breakfast” on the morning of Friday, July 17 to kickoff NASCAR race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Emceed by NBC Host Krista Voda, the breakfast will run from 8-10 a.m. in the hospitality area behind the main grandstands, where Harvick will answer questions from retired veteran pit road reporter Dick Berggren, who currently sits on the SCC Board and is president of the North East Motor Sports Museum project.
Edwards to Visit Magic Mile Club on July 13 Race Morning
Located in the infield just behind pit road, the Magic Mile Club is offering fans the opportunity to see Carl Edwards before he suits up and climbs behind the wheel of his No. 19 Arris Toyota prior to the green flag for the July 13 Camping World RV Sales 301. Hamlin’s appearance will include a 15-minute pit stop to answer questions from fans beginning at 9:40 a.m.
On the track this week …
Celebrating its 25th anniversary as the largest sports and entertainment facility in New England, the Magic Mile is at full speed as this week the speedway will host:
· 5/29 The Formula Racing Experience
· 5/30 NH Karting Association
· 5/30 Rusty Wallace Driving Experience
· 6/4 NH Cycling Club
· 6/5 NASCAR Racing Experience
· 6/6 NH Karting Association
· 6/6 Club Loose
6/6 ProWraps Bandolero Series
**NATIONAL STORYLINES**
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to action on Sunday at Dover International Speedway in Delaware:
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Next Race: FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks
The Place: Dover International Speedway
The Date: Sunday, May 31
The Time: 1 p.m.
TV: FOX Sports 1, 11:30 a.m.
Radio: SiriusXM Ch. 90
Distance: 400 miles (400 laps)
Johnson Attempts to Join HoF’s with 10 or More Wins at Single Track
Jimmie Johnson will attempt to become just the fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver with 10 or more wins at a single track in Sunday’s FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway (1 p.m. on FOX Sports 1). With a visit to Victory Lane, he will join a club that includes NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (Martinsville-15, North Wilkesboro-15, Richmond-13, Rockingham-11, Daytona-10), Darrell Waltrip (Bristol-12, Martinsville-11, North Wilkesboro-10), Dale Earnhardt (Talladega-10) and David Pearson (Darlington-10).
Johnson’s nine wins are a Dover track record. He is the defending spring race winner. Johnson entered last weekend’s race at Charlotte as the track wins record-holder and defending race victor, but finished 40th after two spins.
Mad Martin: Truex Tries to Make Home Track his “Fury Road”
Martin Truex Jr. must be pretty mad right now.
He has probably raced as well as a driver can without capturing a win this season. He led the most laps in each of the last two races (Kansas, 95; Charlotte, 131), but finished fifth and ninth, respectively. Through 12 races, he ranks second in the standings behind three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, but is still not one of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ nine winners.
Truex will try to change this by making Dover International Speedway – his home track – his own “Fury Road.” The No. 78 Furniture Row Racing driver won his first NSCS race at Dover (6/4/07) and his eight top 10s there are his second-most at any track.
Roush Turnaround?: No. 16 Produces Top Finish of Season
As spring turns to summer, kids and adults alike flock to their backyards to play Wiffle Ball with plastic bats and balls.
At the same time, it looks like Greg Biffle is playing his own game … let’s call it “Biffle ball” – except there’s nothing soft about it.
The No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing driver placed second in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 – his highest finish since his runner-up showing at Talladega last year. Biffle’s finish was also tops for Roush Fenway Racing since Carl Edwards won at Sonoma last year.
In the last three weeks, Biffle has shown a marked improvement, posting a 12th-place showing at Kansas, a win in the first segment of the Sprint Showdown and the aforementioned runner-up showing in the Coca-Cola 600.
Biffle will try to continue his success and RFR’s turnaround in Sunday’s FedEx 400 benefitting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway. In 25 starts on the one-mile oval, Biffle claims two wins, six top fives (24.0%) and 11 top 10s (44.0%). He also has the fourth-most fastest laps run (435) and fifth-best driver rating (97.4) at Dover.
Backflip’s Back, Alright: Edwards Captures First Win in Almost a Year
Carl Edwards was able to celebrate a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race with his trademark backflip for the first time in nearly a year after clever pit strategy by crew chief Darian Grubb allowed him to take the lead late in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 and hold off former teammate Greg Biffle for the win.
Edwards became the NSCS’ ninth different winner this season and visited Victory Lane for the first time since placing first at Sonoma last year (6/22/14).
The No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing driver will try to win his second consecutive race in Sunday’s FedEx 400 benefitting Autism Speaks. His one Dover victory came on Sept. 23, 2007. Only Kevin Harvick has won two consecutive races this season (Las Vegas and Phoenix).
Gordon Goes for First Win of Season at Dover
Fifteen races have passed since Jeff Gordon’s last win.
The site of that victory – Dover International Speedway.
Gordon returns to the “Monster Mile” ready to put a one in the win column and improve his 12th-place standing on the Chase Grid. The No. 24 Chevrolet driver claims five wins at Dover, second-most to Jimmie Johnson among active drivers. Other than Gordon and Johnson, the drivers with at least five wins at Dover are all in the NASCAR Hall of Fame: Richard Petty (7), Bobby Allison (7) and David Pearson (5).
In 44 starts at Dover (first all-time), Gordon owns 18 top-five (40.9%) and 25 top-10 finishes (56.8%).
Smoke May Rise: Dover Strong Track for Stewart and Site Last Win
Tony Stewart has had a rough season with just one top-10 finish in 12 starts – a sixth-place showing at Bristol.
Luckily for the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, he can virtually lock up a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup with a victory. This Sunday he heads to one of his better tracks – Dover International Speedway – where has earned three wins, including his last victory (6/2/13).
Joe Gibbs Racing Keeps On Winning
Winning has been a habit for Joe Gibbs throughout his life. Not only does he boast three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships, he also owns three Super Bowl rings.
After winning just two races last season, JGR has three this year, plus Denny Hamlin’s triumph in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. In the past two months, the Huntersville, North Carolina-based organization has put Hamlin (Martinsville, All-Star Race), Matt Kenseth (Bristol) and Carl Edwards (Charlotte) in Victory Lane.
JGR’s only driver yet to win is arguably its ace, Kyle Busch, who placed 11th in his first points-paying race of the season at Charlotte. Busch missed the first 11 races of the season after suffering an injury in a crash during the NASCAR XFINITY Series opener at Daytona International Speedway.
To earn a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Busch must win a race in the regular season, while finishing it in the top 30 in points. In 20 starts at Dover, he has two wins, nine top fives (45.0%) and 13 top 10s (65.0%).
History Lesson: At Dover, Donlavey Gets First Win
Despite a career that spanned parts of six decades, the late Junie Donlavey could easily identify his high-water mark in NASCAR competition: the 1981 Mason-Dixon 500 at Dover International Speedway.
Donlavey, one of the most well-liked figures in NASCAR history, had been chasing his first NASCAR premier series win for over 30 years. The affable Virginian had 348 starts under his belt but no trophies to show for it. That is, until reigning rookie of the year Jody Ridley did what NASCAR Hall of Famers Joe Weatherly, Fred Lorenzen and Bobby Isaac were unable to do.
The race was dominated by Neil Bonnett, who led 404 laps in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford before blowing an engine with 40 laps remaining. Cale Yarborough, who picked up the lead, could only run for 20 more laps before succumbing to a similar fate.
That left Ridley in the lead in Donlavey’s classic No. 90. He led the final 20 laps of the race and took Donlavey to Victory Lane for the only time at NASCAR’s highest level.
“This has got to be a bigger thrill for Junie than it is for me,” Ridley said after the race. “He’s been at it for almost 30 years.”
Indeed, he was right.
“It’s even better, sweeter, than I ever imagined, and I am ever so grateful,” Donlavey told Tom Higgins the following week.
Donlavey continued fielding cars until 2002, amassing 863 premier series starts. He passed away on June 9, 2014.
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