Martinsville Truck Race Started Big And Grew From There
Martinsville Speedway’s Clay Campbell wasn’t among the doubters when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was created.
The track was among its charter hosts in 1995 and added a second event to the schedule in 2003.
Saturday’s Kroger 200 marks the 20th time series drivers have competed at the south Virginia track — second only to Texas Motor Speedway’s 21 races.
“We knew the series would be good and it would be big,” said Campbell. “We just didn’t have any idea how big and how good it would be.”
Martinsville’s race was one of 17 short track races on the inaugural schedule. Just six remain; two on the flat, .526-mile oval.
To say that action is constant is an understatement.
“Our two truck races have grown into huge fan favorites,” said Campbell. “Fans know when they come to Martinsville Speedway for a truck race, they are in for a special show.
“Some of the best races we’ve ever had can be found in those (19) truck races that have been here.”
Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) nearly won Martinsville’s inaugural race. He’s one of seven drivers competing this week who participated in the 1995 event.
Three of them — Skinner, Dennis Setzer (No. 18 Dodge Dealers Dodge) and Jack Sprague (No. 60 Wyler.com Toyota) — are among 15 Martinsville Speedway winners.
Skinner’s eldest son, Jamie, made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck debut in 1997. The driver’s second son, Dustin, hopes to do likewise on Saturday.
“It’ll be a real special weekend for me because it’ll be the first time I’ve got to race against one of my sons in a NASCAR race, or any race for that matter,” said Skinner.
Fathers and sons have competed in 16 races—the last in 2007 when Bobby and Bobby Hamilton Jr. participated at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Setzer Says: Drive With Care And Follow Directions
It can be said that Martinsville Speedway is Dennis Setzer’s personal playground.
Setzer added a third Martinsville victory to his resume when he captured March’s Kroger 250. The North Carolina native has seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes and has led 458 laps in his 17 Martinsville appearances.
He’s failed to finish just once — his first race in 1995.
Setzer is one of two drivers in this week’s field bidding for a record-matching fourth victory at a single track. Mike Skinner swept both Martinsville races in 2007, adding to a 1996 victory.
“I think it takes two things to have success at Martinsville; the first being track position and second taking care of your equipment,” said the 48-year-old Setzer. “It is easy to get aggressive during practice and use up your brakes and tires.”
Ultimately, Setzer thinks the make-or-break factor is the crew chief. Saturday’s Kroger 200 likely is a one-stop affair and pit timing is crucial.
“Track position is so important. I think the crew chief is more important than the driver now,” he said. “He has to make the call when to come down pit road and when to stay out.”
Director’s Take: Wayne’s Words
“Like many of my generation, I grew up attending NASCAR races at Martinsville Speedway. Everyone has a favorite track for many reasons but Martinsville always has stood out with me — particularly because the fans are so enthusiastic.
“Racing at Martinsville is pretty basic: Get your track position and protect it but at the same time, keep the nose on the truck. Sometimes that’s a pretty tall order, especially as competitive as the racing has become in 2008.
“It’s an old story but one that bears repeating visit after visit to Martinsville. No matter how much the technology advances and how big your brakes become, it doesn’t mean a driver can abuse those brakes.
“You never can have enough pedal, especially in the closing laps.
“Pit strategy has become extremely important with the increased durability of the Goodyear Wrangler tire. Speeds just don’t fall off like they once did and track position usually trumps fresh rubber even with more than half a race to go.
“That puts a tremendous burden on the crew chief to chart a strategy that will get his driver in and out with both track position and enough Sunoco fuel to carry the truck to the finish.
“That doesn’t mean everything’s out of the driver’s hands — especially on pit road. The best strategy can be foiled by a speeding ticket or bad luck. The pits are tight and the potential for being boxed in or a collision is always there.”
— Wayne Auton, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Director
This Week’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders
(Through 20 races of the 25-race season)
Points leader – Ron Hornaday, Jr. (3,027)
Driver Rating – Ron Hornaday Jr. (115.2)
Laps led – Ron Hornaday Jr. (980)
Victories – Ron Hornaday, Jr. (5)
Keystone Light Poles – Three drivers with three
Top-five finishes – Johnny Benson, Ron Hornaday, Jr. (12)
Top-10 finishes – Mike Skinner (16)
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Colin Braun
Races led – Ron Hornaday Jr. (16)
Weeks in Top 10 – Three drivers with 20
Martinsville Speedway is one of four tracks to host a race in each of the series’ 14 seasons. It’s also one of three to appear twice on the 2008 schedule. The .526-mile layout is one of five tracks of less than a mile in length currently scheduled.
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