By The Numbers Through 10 Events
The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has reached an even 10 races, and the numbers show it’s been a storyline-filled one. Front and center: the record-breaking race at Talladega Superspeedway, which saw 88 lead changes among 29 drivers – both all-time series highs.
Some other figures to ponder:
– There have been seven different race winners. In all of last season, there were 14.
– Eight of the 10 races have finished with a margin of victory under one second. Talladega’s MOV was .011 seconds, the eighth-closest since the inception of electronic scoring in 1993.
– The average MOV through 10 races: .661 seconds.
– 41 different drivers have led at least one lap.
– 28 different drivers have scored at least one top-10 finish this season. Aussie Marcos Ambrose became No. 28 with his ninth-place run at Richmond Saturday night.
– There has been an average of 13 different leaders and 33 lead changes per race.
– Some huge Loop Data stats, competition-wise: an average of 54 green-flag passes for the lead, and 4,201 green flag passes.

SHOW #108 – We recap the Richmond weekend, hear from all the drivers, discuss our Dover tickets contest, Gillette ProGlide razor giveaway, and preview Darlington.  Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Paul Northrop

LISTEN HERE (About 47 mins)

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NOTE: Also HEARD on Stitcher Radio

CREDITS:
Hosts: Kerry Murphey & Paul Northrop
Production: Kerry Murphey
Music: Radium Sound
Voice Over: Thomas Moog

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED AND A WINNER HAS BEEN SELECTED, THANKS FOR PLAYING

AMP ENERGY RACING

This year marks AMP Energy’s third season as a sponsor for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Since the sponsorship began, the AMP Energy brand has grown 48%

The AMP Energy 500 will take place on October 31, 2010 at Talladega Superspeedway

“6 DAYS TO RACE DAY” DVD

This DVD provides an exclusive look into how Dale Jr. and the No. 88 team prepares for the race each week by taking fans inside Hendrick Motorsports for the six days leading up to race day

The paint scheme for the 2010 AMP Energy car is revealed to Dale Jr. and his team in the DVD

The DVD will be available exclusively on specially marked 4-packs of AMP Energy for a limited time

The DVD will also:

Key in on the many moments leading up to race day that take place away from the eyes of devoted fans, as there are systems to tune, equipment to test, and literally thousands of adjustments and preparations that make race day possible. Technicians will run down the official load in check list for the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, which is 250 items long

Provide a behind the scenes look at Hendrick Motorsports, where 75 pairs of hands will touch the car each week, encompassing 500 man hours of analyzing, testing and fine tuning

AMP Energy/National Guard team practice precision pit stops and learn how the team trains and prepares for race day

Allow fans to see what Dale Jr. does with his No. 88 family away from the race track. Events include attending the 25th Anniversary Celebration for Hendrick Motorsports, public appearances and some fun on the go-kart track on Dale Jr.’s property

The site features daily sweepstakes with autographed No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Team memorabilia, and other Hendrick blogs, Twitter feeds, videos and photos making it the new destination for JR Nation and NASCAR fans to get their daily-Dale Jr. fix. AMPUPTHE88.com

NEW PAINT SCHEME
The No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet will have a fresh new paint scheme to kick off the 2010 season with a clean, fresh start. Dale Jr. personally approved the exciting new design

This AMP Energy paint scheme will be used for 16 races. AMP Energy will also run three special paint schemes: an new AMP Energy Juice car at Auto Club Speedway of Southern California (2/21), a new AMP Energy Sugar Free Lightening car at Martinsville Speedway (3/28) and the third edition of the very popular ‘Get on the 88’ car at AMP Energy 500 at Talladega (10/31)

DOVER TICKETS CONTEST RULES
Official Contest Rules – NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

CONTEST QUESTION: Tell us your favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. moment

To enter – simply tell us your favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. moment, along with your name and email address in the COMMENTS section at the bottom of this page.

Contest starts on 5/05/10; ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 5/11/10.

Only one entry per email address will be accepted. No mechanical reproductions will be accepted. Winner will be electronically selected by random from the comments section of the page listed above. Prize winner will be notified soon after contest ends. If we are unable to contact the prize winners, an alternate name will be selected electronically at random.

Prize for this contest is two (2) Tickets only to the Dover Cup Series race on May 16th 2010.

Hotel, flight, meals, parking, or any other costs associated with this prize are not included. Race tickets only.

The drawing will be conducted electronically by The Final Lap, whose decisions are final on all matters relating to this contest. The Final Lap reserves the right to substitute prizes of equivalent kind and value.

Sponsor and its agencies assume no responsibility or liability for damages, losses, or injury resulting from acceptance or use of prize. Odds of winning are based on the total amount of entries received.

Winner will be notified by phone, e-mail, or mail. The prize is non-transferable. Only one prize per household or family. No cash equivalent prize will be offered. By entering, winner agrees to the use of their name on-air for publicity and advertising without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law. There is no purchase necessary.

The contest is open to all residents of the United States, except employees (and their families) of The Final Lap, their affiliates and affiliate stations, subsidiaries, advertising, production, promotion, and fulfillment agencies. Void where restricted by law. All Federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

All information collected for this contest will remain private, and not be sold or otherwise distributed to any third party.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL CONTEST RULES

Take a spin around this unique racetrack.
TRACK STATS | DARLINGTON
Distance: 1.366 Mile Egg Shaped Oval
Banking/Turns 1-2:25º
Banking/Turns 3-4:23º
Banking/Straights: 2º
Length/Frontstretch:1,229 ft.
Length/Backstretch:1,229 ft.
Miles/Laps: 501.3 mi. = 367 laps
Miles/Laps: 400.2 mi. = 293 laps
2009 Polesitter: Matt Kenseth
2009 Winner: Mark Martin

http://i.cdn.turner.com/nascar/.element/swf/2.2/sect/video/nascar_embed.swf?context=nascar_viral&videoId=busch/2010/05/04/nns_dar_virtual_lap.nascar

RICHMOND, Va. (April 30, 2010) – Crew chiefs Alan Gustafson and Chad Knaus have signed multi-year contract extensions with Hendrick Motorsports, the organization confirmed Friday.

During their tenure with Hendrick Motorsports, Gustafson and Knaus have become established crew chiefs in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Their teams finished the 2009 season ranked one-two in the championship standings.

Gustafson, 34, is in his sixth season as crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet and has nine wins, 49 top-five finishes, 83 top-10s and 10 pole positions heading into Saturday night’s event at Richmond International Raceway. The Ormond Beach, Fla., native joined Hendrick Motorsports 11 years ago as a chassis shop employee before being moved to the No. 5 team in 2000. He served as the shock specialist for two years and was named the lead engineer of the No. 5 car driven by Terry Labonte in 2002. In 2005, Gustafson took over as crew chief.

With Mark Martin behind the wheel in 2009, the No. 5 team finished second in the Sprint Cup championship standings after posting five wins, 14 top-five finishes, 21 top-10s and seven pole positions — all career-bests for Gustafson.

“I’m extremely happy,” Gustafson said of the extension. “I love this company. I love working for Hendrick Motorsports. I love Rick Hendrick (team owner) — everything he has done for me in my career — and to continue that on into the future is everything I’ve wanted. I truly love what I do.”

Now in his ninth season, Knaus is continuing his record-setting run as crew chief the No. 48 Chevrolet. With four consecutive Sprint Cup championships under his belt, the 38-year-old Rockford, Ill., native has etched his name in NASCAR’s history books. He also has 50 wins, 122 top-five finishes, 186 top-10s and 23 pole positions heading into Saturday’s race at Richmond.

Like Gustafson, Knaus’ NASCAR career began with Hendrick Motorsports. Knaus took his first job with Hendrick in 1993 working with the No. 24 Chevrolet and crew chief Ray Evernham. Knaus did everything from fabricating pieces to changing tires prior to leaving the organization in 1997. He became crew chief for driver Stacy Compton in 2001 before returning to Hendrick Motorsports the following year to establish the No. 48 team with then-rookie Jimmie Johnson.

Since partnering in 2002, Knaus and Johnson have turned into a dynamic duo, winning the most prestigious events on the NASCAR circuit, including the 2006 Daytona 500 and three Brickyard 400s (2006, 2008 and 2009) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“I’m pretty pleased, obviously,” Knaus said. “I’ve spent the majority of my life at Hendrick Motorsports, since 1993, and I’d have a hard time thinking I would ever go anywhere else. This (No.) 24 team and this (No.) 48 team are very important to me, and I’m glad to be a part of it. I hope I’m here for a long time to come.”