Ray Evernham, Ryan Newman Join Green Flag Experience

Martinsville Speedway’s Green Flag Experience offers fans a chance to get to know some of NASCAR’s brightest stars, but a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and a veteran driver with a win at Martinsville will bring some wisdom to balance out the youth of the current driver corps.

Ray Evernham and Ryan Newman will be the third and fourth members of the Green Flag Experience, joining current drivers Joey Logano and Chase Elliott for the emceed question and answer sessions prior to the First Data 500 on October 29.

Evernham, 59, made his name as the crew chief of Jeff Gordon’s famous ‘Rainbow Warriors’ pit crew in the 1990’s and later became a car owner himself, enjoying championships atop the pit box with Gordon and race wins as an owner in the 2000’s.

Evernham is a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2018.

Ryan Newman is the driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. Newman, from South Bend, Indiana, qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs this season after his win at Phoenix International Raceway.

Newman has enjoyed success at Martinsville in his career, posting three starts from pole position, 15 top-10 finishes and eight top-five finishes on the mixed surface half-mile.

In the spring of 2012, Newman earned his first win at Martinsville, a result he will be looking to replicate in the First Data 500 on October 29.

Elliott and Logano were previously announced as Green Flag Experience contributors.

The Green Flag Experience also gives fans the chance to watch driver introductions from the track, along with a morning full of fun and excitement on the track and under the large tent in The Plaza, located on the hill behind the souvenir display area.

In addition to the emceed question-and-answer sessions, the Green Flag Experience offers fans the opportunity to walk the front stretch on race morning, sign the start/finish line, a photo opportunity in mock Victory Lane, enjoy music, games and prizes along with doughnuts, Danishes, coffee and juice.

The cost of the Green Flag Experience is $50 for adults and $30 for youth 12-and-under.

The driver question-and-answer sessions, food, music, games and prizes, and show cars will be held in The Plaza from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The track walk will be open from 9:15 a.m. – 11:15 and will open again at 1:00 pm and remain open through the conclusion of Driver Introductions.

Admission to the Green Flag Experience does not include a ticket for the First Data 500. Advance ticket prices for the First Data 500 begin at just $46.

The First Data 500 is the first race in the Round of 8 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. If the winning driver is in the Playoffs, he would be the first to clinch a spot in the Championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Last fall, Jimmie Johnson won his ninth grandfather clock, on the way to winning his record-tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship. 

Tickets can be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

Martinsville Speedway PR