Going south – to the heart of NASCAR country – was among challenges facing the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 1995. How would the sport’s core fans accept pickup truck racing?
No need to worry. Fans packed the stands at Bristol, Tenn., Richmond, Va., North Wilkesboro, N.C. and Martinsville, Va. Martinsville remains one of the most popular stops, hosting its 25th event, the Kroger 250, on Saturday.
Here’s a look back at notable races held on the .526-mile oval:
• In 1995 champion-to-be Mike Skinner and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series giant Geoff Bodine ran ferocious literally down to the white flag. The pair tangled in the track’s fourth turn, handing the victory to Joe Ruttman.
• Jimmy Hensley grew up a few miles south of Martinsville Speedway and was a favorite son from the day he turned his first laps. Hensley appeared headed for a popular victory in 1998 – until being spun between Turns 1 and 2 by Ron Hornaday Jr. Hensley recovered, spun Hornaday and Jay Sauter got the victory. Patience was rewarded the following year as Hensley became the Kroger 250 winner.
• It’s rare any race is won from a provisional starting position especially on a track as tight as Martinsville. But Dennis Setzer, slotted 33rd in 2002 after his truck failed a post-qualifying inspection, became the first in series history to go from add-on to Victory Lane.
• There were doubts right up to race week whether Rick Crawford, his leg broken in a spectacular accident at Atlanta Motor Speedway several weeks before, would even start the 2004 Kroger 250. Tough-as-nails Crawford, however, qualified third, took the lead for the first time on lap 53 and edged Setzer by 0.365 second to claim his third series victory.
• Bobby Hamilton Racing moved its operations to Martinsville a season after the untimely passing of its founder and former series champion in 2007. In storybook fashion, Setzer won the 2008 Kroger 250 for Hamilton’s widow, Lori, posting the 20th and final victory for BHR.
• Timothy Peters, a hometown favorite like previous Martinsville winners Hensley and Jon Wood, won the 2009 Kroger 200, becoming the sixth driver to record a first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at the speedway.
• Hornaday, the series’ most successful short-track driver, came up empty a record 16 times at Martinsville before winning the 2010 Kroger 200.
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