Fall Martinsville Pre-Race Thread

[StandOnIt]

 

[Revman]

Great race. Can't wait to set the field for Phoenix. Go Bell!

 

[Jorge De Guzman]

Ah yes, the race Rick Allen and the NBC crew called the “Penultimate Race” 200 times during the broadcast

 

[Speedbowl14]

Temperatures in the upper 40s for the Xfinity race. As someone who's gone to bitterly cold October/November end-of-season short track events that run way late into the night.... that sucks.

 

[Charlie Spencer]

Temperatures in the upper 40s for the Xfinity race. As someone who's gone to bitterly cold October/November end-of-season short track events that run way late into the night.... that sucks.

Upper 40s? That's tolerable. Better than below freezing.

 

[Daytripper]

Upper 40s is nothing if you dress correctly.

 

[Mispeedway15]

Upper 40s is nothing if you dress correctly.

The breeze from the cars makes it feel frigid. I’ve spent a few cold days out at Florence Speedway before. Sunday should be terrific though

 

[Daytripper]

The breeze from the cars makes it feel frigid. I’ve spent a few cold days out at Florence Speedway before. Sunday should be terrific though

Don't come to the Northeast in the winter then!

 

[Brentford]

40’s is perfect hiking weather. It’s not so perfect weather for sitting and watching a race though. Cold enough to where I’d probably pass if I had thought about going.

 

[Revman]

Upper 40s is nothing if you dress correctly.

42 degrees for the drop of the flag for last Fontana race. Piece of cake.

 

[Charlie Spencer]

40’s is perfect hiking weather. It’s not so perfect weather for sitting and watching a race though. Cold enough to where I’d probably pass if I had thought about going.

It doesn't take much to be comfortable sitting in the upper 40s. A long-sleeve T-shirt, a good sweater, a wind-resistant jacket or hoodie, and maybe gloves. Ears are likely under a headset. Unless there's a significant wind, it doesn't take long johns or much layering. I usually buy race tickets well in advance, and upper 40s wouldn't discourage me from attending. Heck, I'm more likely to be discouraged by driving in the dark after a long day than I am by the weather.

It is worth noting that the grandstands at M'ville don't get much daytime sunlight this time of year, so there won't be residual warmth.

 

[Daytripper]

I tailgate down to about 20 degrees, anything above freezing is warm. I ski in single digits and am fine. You just have to dress correctly.

 

[Charlie Spencer]

I tailgate down to about 20 degrees, anything above freezing is warm. I ski in single digits and am fine. You just have to dress correctly.

I admin that when it gets below 35, temp or wind chill, I usually pack it in. Maybe I don't have enough experience, or don't do it often enough to make it worth investing in the proper gear, or don't have an activity I enjoy enough to make it worth enduring the conditions and the constant dressing and undressing. Most likely all of the above.

 

[aunty dive]

Goodyear Tire Notes

NASCAR Cup Series teams will pair a new left-side Goodyear Racing Eagle tire with a familiar right-side tire at Martinsville Speedway this weekend.

The new left-side tire, which is designed for more fall-off than its predecessor, will make its race debut at Martinsville having been tested earlier this year at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The right-side tire has been used five times this year, including the spring race at Martinsville and most recently at New Hampshire in September.

“We have brought a new left-side Goodyear Racing Eagle tire for the final short track race of the NASCAR Cup Series season,” said Rick Heinrich, Goodyear NASCAR product manager. “Fitting in with our ongoing efforts to deliver tires that offer increased grip and more lap time fall-off over the course of a run, we look forward to seeing this new tread compound tackle the concrete corners and the asphalt straightaways that make up Martinsville.”

Both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will race on their tried and tested Martinsville setup, which has been featured at the Virginia short track since 2022.

All three series will also have wet-weather tires available if required.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Race: Slim Jim 200 (200 laps / 105.2 miles)
Track: Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile oval)
Date/Time: Friday, October 24, 6:00 p.m. ET
TV/Radio: FS1, NASCAR Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Tire: Goodyear Racing Eagle
Tire Code: D-6118 left side, D-6120 right side
Previous Usage in 2025: Martinsville-1
Tire Circumference: 2,218 mm (87.3 in.) left side, 2,244 (88.3 in.) right side
Recommended Minimum Inflation: LF – 10 psi, RF – 23 psi, LR – 10 psi, RR – 22 psi
Total Dry Weather Sets: 4 (2 new race / 1 qualifying transfer to start race / 1 practice)
Total Wet Weather Sets: 3