The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series arrives at Martinsville Speedway for the first time in 2019 this weekend, as Kyle Busch looks to reel off three wins in a row after ISM Raceway and Auto Club Speedway.
36 cars are entered, so all are guaranteed starting spots, barring any entry list changes, with only a few major changes from previous weeks.
Most of the series’ premier teams have their usual lineups. Ross Chastain returns to Premium Motorsports, while Cody Ware returns for his fifth race in Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51.
McLeod himself is currently entered in Rick Ware Racing’s No. 52, though Jeb Burton has been announced as the driver of the car.
DJ Kennington will make his season debut behind the wheel of the No. 77 for Spire Motorsports.
The Cup Series’ STP 500 will start at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 24.
About the author
Adam Cheek joined Frontstretch as a contributing writer in January 2019. A 2020 graduate of VCU, he covered sports there and later spent a year and a half as a sports host on 910 the Fan in Richmond, VA. He's freelanced for Richmond Magazine and the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and also hosts the "Adam Cheek's Sports Week" podcast. Adam has followed racing since the age of three, inheriting the passion from his grandfather, who raced in amateur events up and down the East Coast in the 1950s.
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looks like the charter plan is working as intended.
I was thinking the same thing David. When originally enacted the ASSumption was that there would be 36 charter teams and 4 or more unchartered teams attempting to qualify each week. As we have seen this play out it appears that there are rarely more than two unchartered teams showing up most weeks (as many predicted).
So, what would happen if they created two more charters? Would 38 cars become the norm? You can kind of see where I am going with this. Assuming someone that really wants to break into NASCAR but can’t justify the uncertainty without a charter, creating more charters would expand the field. Theoretically they could define the size of the field they want (40) by just having that many charters. Of course we all know the down side of that. It wouldn’t allow anyone to show up with a car and try to make the field. But I ask, so what? No one is showing up now to try to make the race so what’s the difference.
Personally, I don’t like the charters, I’d rather go back to a reasonable provisional system. But still, I wonder, if more cars don’t start showing up to try to get into the race without a charter, how long will it take for NASCAR to create additional charters to make up the difference?
I hope Kyle Busch sweeps again at Martinsville so I can read even more articles about him all next week! 201 and 202 coming up Baby! WOOO!!!
:-/
You really have a FLAIR for comments. Vince and Brian would be proud.
I hope Joey lagano puts it to the toyotas again. Show no mercy take no prisoners and make no friends