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Weekend Schedule (all times EASTERN)

Friday October 17

11:00 a.m. – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice, 50 minutes
Noon – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, 90 minutes
1:45 p.m. – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series final practice, 90 minutes
3:40 p.m. – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying

Saturday October 18

10:10 a.m. – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying
11:10 a.m. – NASCAR Sprint Cup series practice, 60 minutes
12:50 p.m. – NASCAR Sprint Cup series final practice, 60 minutes
3:00 p.m. – Start of the Kroger 200

Sunday October 19

1:30 p.m. – Start of the TUMS QuikPak 500

*REAL THREAD*

I wish Martinsville was as fun as the other short tracks on the schedule.

FCC to sponsor #38 in three races: Yates Racing announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will sponsor the #38 entry with driver David Gilliland for a total of three races in the remaining Sprint Cup Series schedule. The primary sponsorship will debut at Martinsville Speedway on October 19th as the #38 Digital TV Transition Ford will take to the track. The primary sponsorship is to help educate the American public about the fact that on February 17th, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United State will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality along with additional channels. The debut of the #38 Digital TV Transition Ford Fusion will take place on October 19th, 2008 at Martinsville Speedway. The remaining two races of the primary sponsorship will include the Sprint Cup Series events at Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Digital Television (DTV) is a new type of broadcasting technology that will transform television since the DTV signal is delivered digitally the television signal is virtually free of interference. DTV is more efficient than our current analog signal and with DTV broadcasters are able to offer television with improved quality pictures and surround sound. For more information about the Digital Transition visit www.DTV.gov.(Yates Racing)
AND: Hoping to rev up awareness for the transition to digital TV, the Federal Communications Commission is putting up $350,000 to sponsor NASCAR team #38. The price tag covers a race Sunday at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia, another in Phoenix and a third in Miami and includes the posting of www.dtv.gov along the track, on the car's sides and on the driver's helmet and suit. The market rate for the package is around $450,000.

No sponsor for Benson at Martinsville: The weekend's 200-lap event will be the first time this season the #23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota will not have corporate sponsorship. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship-contending team will bring a blank red-and-black Toyota Tundra to the Virginia short track. The #23 Toyota Tundra team remains in a heated battle for the Craftsman Truck Series championship. Johnny Benson sits only 39 points behind Ron Hornaday for the championship lead. Benson has captured 12 top-five finishes and 14-top 10 finishes thus far in the 2008 campaign.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(10-15-2008)