NASCAR At Martinsville: Start Time, Lineup, TV Schedule And More

Good morning from Martinsville Speedway, where it’s a bit chilly to start the day. Things are expected to warm up later, though – both on and off the track.

Here’s what you need to know heading into today’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville.

Race name/distance: Longtime Martinsville sponsor Goody’s is sponsoring today’s race, which is called the Goody’s Fast Relief 500. The race isn’t 500 miles, though – it’s 500 laps around the paperclip-shaped track that measures just over a half-mile in length. The actual distance of the race is 263 miles.

Start time: The actual green flag time is expected to be at 1:13 p.m. Eastern time. So if you want to skip the pre-race show and just tune in for the actual event, turn on your TV at 1:13.

TV/radio info: As with all of the races in the first part of the season, the Martinsville race will be televised on FOX. Martinsville is owned by International Speedway Corp., which means the ISC-owned Motor Racing Network will be broadcasting the race on the radio. To check and see the MRN station nearest you, check the network’s affiliate list here.

National anthem/race officials: Country star Trace Adkins, who has an association with Goody’s, is singing the national anthem today. The honorary starter is a camper from the Victory Junction Gang Camp, and the grand marshals are guests from the Wounded Warrior Project.

Last time: Denny Hamlin had a miracle comeback one year ago after he gave up the lead to pit with only a few laps left. He then finished his Martinsville season sweep with another victory in October. Overall, Hamlin has won the last three races at Martinsville.

Starting lineup: The starting lineup for Martinsville has been updated to reflect Joe Nemechek’s disqualification. His time was thrown out after a penalty, dropping him from 37th to 43rd.