Okay, granted. It is in the #08, but he has a GREAT history at this track. Glad to see you back, Tony!

Tony Raines to compete in Martinsville Sprint Cup Race
MEMPHIS, TN (March 19, 2008) – EM Motorsports owner John Carter announced today that Tony Raines would pilot the Rhino’s Energy Drink Dodge Charger in the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 on March 30, at Martinsville Speedway. Raines is a veteran of six NASCAR SPRINT CUP Series starts at Martinsville. Raines’ best finish at the historic half-mile track was a 10th place finish in last October’s Subway 500. Raines qualifies well at the track with an average starting position of 17.3 in his 6 races.

Raines began his NASCAR career in the Craftsman Truck Series in 1997, driving a Ford F-150 for Kurt Roehrig Racing. Raines won the Western Auto/Part’s America 200 at Odessa, MO in only his fifth series start. Overall, Raines has recorded 53 Craftsman Truck Series starts with 4 wins, 11 Top-Fives and 22 Top-Tens.

In 1999, Raines began running the NASCAR Busch Series for Bill Baumgardner and BACE Motorsports. In 2001, Raines finished sixth in the Busch Series standings driving for the BACE Motorsports team. Raines has 192 Busch Series starts with 14 Top-Five and 47 Top-Ten finishes to his credit.

In 2003, Raines and BACE Motorsports moved to the NASCAR Sprint CUP Series and together scored an impressive sixth place finish in the POP Secret 500 at Rockingham. 2006 saw Raines join forces with Hall of Fame Racing, where he competed in 63 SPRINT CUP Series events during two seasons. During his career, Raines has competed in 117 SPRINT CUP Series races with 3 Top-Tens.

EM Motorsports is based in Toccoa, Georgia and is led by owner John Carter, Crew Chief Charles Swing and Marketing VP Doug Barron.

Thats cool to see him get a chance, I think he is a under rated driver imo.

I wonder if they'll give him a shot at Talledega too. He has a 19th place finishing average there in 7 starts with only 1 DNF and had a 9th place finish there last year.

Talon64 - 19 March 2008 04:09 PM

I wonder if they'll give him a shot at Talledega too. He has a 19th place finishing average there in 7 starts with only 1 DNF and had a 9th place finish there last year.

Hope so. I did an quick analysis. As long as Tony stays away from Daytona and the 1-1/2 mile tracks, he does fine.

Basically, I am hoping he runs the remaining 10 remaining short track races after Martinsville, Dega, Texas and Chicago (yes, I know, both 1-1/2 milers), Pocono and Michigan. Chicago, Indy and Michigan are all "home" tracks for him. Does okay at Pocono and good at Dega.

Tony did pretty well for John Carter back in 2005, even leading a race for a couple of laps back in Michigan (Benny Parsons was going NUTS in the booth when Tony was leading...I miss ol' Benny Parsons. He always had a good word to say about Tony).

GoRainesGo - 19 March 2008 04:17 PM

Talon64 - 19 March 2008 04:09 PM

I wonder if they'll give him a shot at Talledega too. He has a 19th place finishing average there in 7 starts with only 1 DNF and had a 9th place finish there last year.

Hope so. I did an quick analysis. As long as Tony stays away from Daytona and the 1-1/2 mile tracks, he does fine.

Basically, I am hoping he runs the remaining 10 remaining short track races after Martinsville, Dega, Texas and Chicago (yes, I know, both 1-1/2 milers), Pocono and Michigan. Chicago, Indy and Michigan are all "home" tracks for him. Does okay at Pocono and good at Dega.

Tony did pretty well for John Carter back in 2005, even leading a race for a couple of laps back in Michigan (Benny Parsons was going NUTS in the booth when Tony was leading...I miss ol' Benny Parsons. He always had a good word to say about Tony).

Benny though he going to win the race that day.

Another animal energy drink? Bull, Shark and now Rhino? They seem to be the new beer. (market wise)

Well good luck to the 08 team.

Good news! I am quite sure weather permitting, TR will put the #08 car in the show.

Question for those who would like to chime in. Weather permitting, does Tony Raines make the show at Martinsville?

SOONERKIP - 25 March 2008 08:22 PM

Question for those who would like to chime in. Weather permitting, does Tony Raines make the show at Martinsville?

Tony is quite capable of getting a good lap, no problem there. Is the car up to it, is the question in my mind.

well.. so much for that ride.. better luck next time, Tony

GhostPoster - 28 March 2008 07:42 PM

well.. so much for that ride.. better luck next time, Tony

.044 sec off. The blink of an eye. It's a tough racket.