Martinsville Speedway Competition Notes
TEAM AND RACE NOTES:
The historic Martinsville Speedway is up next for all three Front Row Motorsports teams as the Cup and Truck Series takes on The Paperclip in Southern Virginia.
With just two races remaining on the schedule, Layne Riggs, the Bahama, NC native, heads to the Southern Virgina short-track looking to further solidify his spot as this year's Sunoco Rookie of the Year for the Truck Series. So far, Riggs has earned two wins, seven Top-5's, and eight Top-10's.
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will practice & qualify on Friday, November 1st at 1:30 PM ET. The 200-lap event is scheduled for later that evening at 6:00 PM ET. Fans can watch the action live on FS1 or listen in via the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.
Michael McDowell will celebrate his 500th career NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway this weekend for the penultimate race of the 2024 season. McDowell will become the 47th different driver in series history to make 500 starts or more and is one of six active full-time drivers in the Cup Series to reach the 500 start-plateau joining Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski.
The 39-year-old also made is first Cup Series start at Martinsville in 2008 driving for Michael Waltrip Racing. McDowell will be making his 28th start at the Martinsville Speedway, looking to improve on his 21st place result in the spring. Benebone will be back on the No. 34 FRM Ford Mustang Dark Horse this weekend returning back to the track since Watkins Glen International, where McDowell finished 7th-place.
Todd Gilliland will bring a new Ruedebusch Development & Construction scheme to his Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Gilliland and the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team look to increase their points position. Gilliland and the No. 38 both sit 23rd in driver and owner points. Gilliland finished 13th in the spring race and has had three Cup Series Top-15s at the track, including a 10th-place finish in the fall race last year.
The NASCAR Cup Series will practice & qualify on Saturday, November 2nd at 1:00 PM ET. The 500-lap event is scheduled for Sunday, November 3rd at 2:00 PM ET. Fans can watch the action live on NBC or listen in via the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.
CUP SERIES COMPETITION NOTES:
No. 34 Benebone Ford Mustang Dark Horse:
DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL:
"It's pretty special to be making my 500th career Cup Series start and to achieve such a big milestone in my career. Martinsville was where I got my first ever start back in 2008, so it's cool that it has come full circle to this weekend. Just want to thank everyone who has been a part of this journey - team owners, sponsors and fans - who have supported me all these years.
"It's awesome to have Benebone back on the car this weekend. We've run well every time they've been on our Ford Mustang Dark Horse this season, so we're going to try to keep the momentum up at Martinsville."
CREW CHIEF TRAVIS PETERSON:
"For anyone to have raced in this sport for as long as Michael has is pretty remarkable, especially with some of the names he's included with. It's an awesome honor to be on the box for his 500th start and I know the team is excited as well to be a part of this milestone."
No. 38 Ruedebusch Development & Construction Ford Mustang Dark Horse:
DRIVER TODD GILLILAND:
"I like Martinsville. I have a clock in my living room from when I won in the Truck Series, and I would like to add another. There’s still plenty to race for—two more races to win and two more to increase our points position."
CREW CHIEF RYAN BERGENTY:
"The next two races are big for us. I want to look back on the season and know we didn't leave anything on the table. We're bringing a fast Ford Mustang Dark Horse, we just need to focus on executing and minimizing mistakes. If we can do that, it will be a good weekend."
TRUCK SERIES COMPETITION NOTES:
No. 38 Infinity Communications Group Ford F-150:
DRIVER LAYNE RIGGS:
"I love Martinsville, and any short-track really. We had a really good qualifying run there in the Spring, but we didn't quite execute to get the finish we wanted. I think we have a good shot at it this weekend, though. The team has been on it from an execution standpoint, I just have to go out there and do what I do best to put us in contention.
"It's great to see Infinity Communications back on our Ford F-150. They have been on the frontlines during these hurricanes, and I couldn't be more proud of them for all they do. Hopefully I can pay them back with a trip to Victory Lane."
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