Provided by NASCAR Statistics, Saturday, 3/31/2007 @ 5:57 pm/et (Unofficial)
Martinsville Speedway, Kroger 250
Owner Points Following Race # 4
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Saturday, 3/31/2007 @ 5:32 pm/et (Unofficial)
| Pos |
Owner |
# |
Pts |
Ldr |
| 1 |
Bill Davis |
5 |
740 |
-- |
| 2 |
Steve Germain |
30 |
651 |
-89 |
| 3 |
Tom Mitchell |
14 |
602 |
-138 |
| 4 |
Delana Harvick |
33 |
601 |
-139 |
| 5 |
Bob Germain |
9 |
600 |
-140 |
| 6 |
Delana Harvick |
2 |
583 |
-157 |
| 7 |
Jeffrey Wyler |
60 |
564 |
-176 |
| 8 |
Rhonda Thorson |
88 |
549 |
-191 |
| 9 |
Gail Davis |
23 |
543 |
-197 |
| 10 |
Jack Roush |
6 |
529 |
-211 |
| 11 |
Tom Deloach |
1 |
497 |
-243 |
| 12 |
Tad Geschickter |
9 |
485 |
-255 |
| 13 |
Wayne Spears |
75 |
482 |
-258 |
| 14 |
Jack Roush |
99 |
456 |
-284 |
| 15 |
Michael Gaughan |
77 |
443 |
-297 |
| 16 |
Jack Roush |
50 |
430 |
-310 |
| 17 |
Lois Vance |
18 |
427 |
-313 |
| 18 |
Bobby Dotter |
8 |
416 |
-324 |
| 19 |
Gregory Pollex |
10 |
409 |
-331 |
| 20 |
David Fuge |
16 |
403 |
-337 |
| 21 |
Duke Thorson |
13 |
394 |
-346 |
| 22 |
James Harris, Jr |
59 |
385 |
-355 |
| 23 |
Eddie Wood |
21 |
384 |
-356 |
| 24 |
Darrell Waltrip |
0 |
375 |
-365 |
| 25 |
Curtis Key |
40 |
374 |
-366 |
| 26 |
Bill Davis |
36 |
373 |
-367 |
| 27 |
Dave Malcolmson |
8 |
372 |
-368 |
| 28 |
Billy Ballew |
15 |
361 |
-379 |
| 29 |
Lois Vance |
4 |
346 |
-394 |
| 30 |
J L Pennington |
7 |
340 |
-400 |
| 31 |
Gene Christensen |
7 |
340 |
-400 |
| 32 |
David Dollar |
47 |
334 |
-406 |
| 33 |
Curtis Key |
44 |
271 |
-469 |
| 34 |
David Dollar |
46 |
193 |
-547 |
| 35 |
Jim Rosenblum |
28 |
134 |
-606 |
| 36 |
Scott Upshaw |
95 |
119 |
-621 |
| 37 |
David Ervin |
64 |
85 |
-655 |
| 38 |
Billy Ballew |
51 |
64 |
-676 |
| 39 |
Michael Mittler |
63 |
58 |
-682 |
| 40 |
Tracy Trotter |
49 |
31 |
-709 |
| 41 |
Jerry Reary |
54 |
28 |
-712 |
| 42 |
Rick Jones |
87 |
22 |
-718 |
| 43 |
Bob Cowen |
42 |
19 |
-721 |
(NASCAR Media)(Unofficial)(3-30-2007)
Martinsville Speedway, Kroger 250
Starting Lineup
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Sat, March 31, 2007 @ 12:14 pm/et
| Pos |
# |
Driver |
Team |
Time |
Speed |
| 1 |
5 |
Mike Skinner |
Toyota Tundra Toyota |
19.728 |
95.985 |
| 2 |
6 |
Travis Kvapil |
K&N Filters Ford |
19.771 |
95.777 |
| 3 |
9 |
Ted Musgrave |
Team ASE/Germain Toyota Toyota |
19.792 |
95.675 |
| 4 |
14 |
Rick Crawford |
Power Stroke Diesel by Interna Ford |
19.803 |
95.622 |
| 5 |
60 |
Jack Sprague |
Con-way Freight Toyota |
19.811 |
95.583 |
| 6 |
2 |
Kevin Harvick |
Camping World Chevy |
19.845 |
95.420 |
| 7 |
47 |
Kraig Kinser |
Ginn Resorts Chevy |
19.919 |
95.065 |
| 8 |
46 |
Timothy Peters |
Bailey's Chevy |
19.952 |
94.908 |
| 9 |
33 |
Ron Hornaday Jr. |
AES HR Solutions Chevy |
19.968 |
94.832 |
| 10 |
59 |
Terry Cook |
Harris Trucking Toyota |
19.987 |
94.742 |
| 11 |
1 |
Aaron Fike # |
RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota |
19.990 |
94.727 |
| 12 |
99 |
Erik Darnell |
Northern Tool + Equipment Ford |
20.059 |
94.402 |
| 13 |
00 |
AJ Allmendinger |
Red Bull Toyota |
20.089 |
94.261 |
| 14 |
07 |
Tim Sauter # |
Lester Buildings Chevy |
20.094 |
94.237 |
| 15 |
51 |
Paul Menard |
Moen Faucets/Pittsburgh Paints Chevy |
20.097 |
94.223 |
| 16 |
75 |
Dennis Setzer |
Spears Mfg. Co. Chevy |
20.103 |
94.195 |
| 17 |
23 |
Johnny Benson |
360 OTC Toyota |
20.120 |
94.115 |
| 18 |
88 |
Matt Crafton |
Menards/Moen Chevy |
20.124 |
94.097 |
| 19 |
15 |
Bill Lester |
Red Top Auto Auction Chevy |
20.126 |
94.087 |
| 20 |
36 |
Tyler Walker # |
360 OTC Toyota |
20.167 |
93.896 |
| 21 |
50 |
T.J. Bell |
Heathcliff's Cat Litter Ford |
20.174 |
93.863 |
| 22 |
16 |
Stacy Compton |
Melling Engine Parts Ford |
20.189 |
93.794 |
| 23 |
10 |
David Starr |
Int'l/MaxxForce Diesel Ford |
20.230 |
93.604 |
| 24 |
09 |
Joey Clanton # |
Zaxby's Ford |
20.242 |
93.548 |
| 25 |
8 |
Blake Bjorklund # |
MRD Motorsports Chevy |
20.250 |
93.511 |
| 26 |
30 |
Todd Bodine |
Lumber Liquidators Toyota |
20.271 |
93.414 |
| 27 |
44 |
Frank Kreyer |
Culver's Restaurant Chevy |
20.275 |
93.396 |
| 28 |
21 |
Kelly Bires # |
Bush's Baked Beans Ford |
20.322 |
93.180 |
| 29 |
08 |
Chad McCumbee |
The GPS Store/Garmin Chevy |
20.360 |
93.006 |
| 30 |
18 |
Ken Schrader |
Fastenal Dodge |
20.363 |
92.992 |
| 31 |
7 |
Brad Keselowski |
Hooters Energy Drink Chevy |
20.377 |
92.928 |
| 32 |
40 |
Mike Bliss |
Curtis Key Plumbing Chevy |
20.394 |
92.851 |
| 33 |
4 |
Chase Miller |
Open Joist Dodge |
20.408 |
92.787 |
| 34 |
77 |
Brendan Gaughan |
South Point Hotel Chevy |
20.441 |
92.637 |
| 35 |
13 |
Willie Allen # |
Chevy |
Owner Points |
| 36 |
64 |
Jimmy Simpson |
Prime Development Group Chevy |
20.463 |
92.538 |
| DNQ - #49 Bradley Riethmeyer; #54 Brian Sockwell; #28 Shane Sieg; #87 Chris Jones; #42 Tim Cowen |
(#-denotes Rookie)(NASCAR PR)(3-30-2007)
Martinsville Speedway, Kroger 250
Final Practice Results
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, March 30, 2007 @ 03:32 pm/et
| Pos |
# |
Driver |
Team |
Time |
Speed |
| 1 |
14 |
Rick Crawford |
Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l Ford |
19.766 |
95.801 |
| 2 |
60 |
Jack Sprague |
Con-way Freight Toyota |
19.783 |
95.719 |
| 3 |
*2 |
Kevin Harvick |
Camping World Chevy |
19.792 |
95.675 |
| 4 |
9 |
Ted Musgrave |
Team ASE/Germain Toyota Toyota |
19.838 |
95.453 |
| 5 |
5 |
Mike Skinner |
Toyota Tundra Toyota |
19.872 |
95.290 |
| 6 |
99 |
Erik Darnell |
Northern Tool + Equipment Ford |
19.898 |
95.165 |
| 7 |
77 |
Brendan Gaughan |
South Point Hotel Chevy |
19.910 |
95.108 |
| 8 |
47 |
Kraig Kinser |
Ginn Resorts Chevy |
19.926 |
95.032 |
| 9 |
75 |
Dennis Setzer |
Spears Mfg. Co. Chevy |
19.933 |
94.998 |
| 10 |
6 |
Travis Kvapil |
K & N Filters Ford |
19.945 |
94.941 |
| 11 |
88 |
Matt Crafton |
Menards/Moen Chevy |
19.975 |
94.799 |
| 12 |
33 |
Ron Hornaday Jr. |
AES HR Solutions Chevy |
19.977 |
94.789 |
| 13 |
16 |
Stacy Compton |
Melling Engine Parts Ford |
19.985 |
94.751 |
| 14 |
*46 |
Timothy Peters |
Bailey's Chevy |
19.988 |
94.737 |
| 15 |
21 |
Kelly Bires # |
Bush's Baked Beans Ford |
20.008 |
94.642 |
| 16 |
09 |
Joey Clanton # |
Zaxby's Ford |
20.018 |
94.595 |
| 17 |
23 |
Johnny Benson |
360 OTC Toyota |
20.020 |
94.585 |
| 18 |
*51 |
Paul Menard |
Moen Faucets/Pittsburgh Paints Chevy |
20.052 |
94.435 |
| 19 |
1 |
Aaron Fike # |
RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota |
20.072 |
94.340 |
| 20 |
4 |
Chase Miller |
Open Joist Dodge |
20.092 |
94.247 |
| 21 |
00 |
AJ Allmendinger |
Red Bull Toyota |
20.115 |
94.139 |
| 22 |
10 |
David Starr |
Int'l/MaxxForce Diesel Ford |
20.116 |
94.134 |
| 23 |
15 |
Bill Lester |
Red Top Auto Auction Chevy |
20.122 |
94.106 |
| 24 |
59 |
Terry Cook |
Harris Trucking Toyota |
20.133 |
94.055 |
| 25 |
36 |
Tyler Walker # |
360 OTC Toyota |
20.172 |
93.873 |
| 26 |
30 |
Todd Bodine |
Lumber Liquidators Toyota |
20.188 |
93.798 |
| 27 |
*50 |
T.J. Bell |
Heathcliff's Cat Litter Ford |
20.188 |
93.798 |
| 28 |
40 |
Mike Bliss |
Curtis Key Plumbing Chevy |
20.202 |
93.733 |
| 29 |
13 |
Willie Allen # |
Chevy |
20.220 |
93.650 |
| 30 |
07 |
Tim Sauter # |
Lester Buildings Chevy |
20.266 |
93.437 |
| 31 |
18 |
Ken Schrader |
Fastenal Dodge |
20.271 |
93.414 |
| 32 |
*8 |
Blake Bjorklund # |
MRD Motorsports Chevy |
20.307 |
93.249 |
| 33 |
*49 |
Bradley Riethmeyer |
All American Driver Challenge Dodge |
20.308 |
93.244 |
| 34 |
*7 |
Brad Keselowski |
Hooters Energy Drink Chevy |
20.316 |
93.207 |
| 35 |
08 |
Chad McCumbee |
The GPS Store/Garmin Chevy |
20.316 |
93.207 |
| 36 |
*64 |
Jimmy Simpson |
Prime Development Group Chevy |
20.335 |
93.120 |
| 37 |
*87 |
Chris Jones |
LCS Technologies Chevy |
20.511 |
92.321 |
| 38 |
*54 |
Brian Sockwell |
Lowdermilk Electric Dodge |
20.586 |
91.985 |
| 39 |
*28 |
Shane Sieg |
Kissin' Kuzzins Construction Chevy |
20.866 |
90.751 |
| 40 |
*42 |
Tim Cowen |
Cowen Truck Line Ford |
30.903 |
61.276 |
| *Required to qualify on time |
(#-denotes Rookie)(NASCAR PR)(3-30-2007)
Martinsville Speedway, Kroger 250
First Practice
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, March 30, 2007 2:00 pm/et
| Pos |
# |
Driver |
Team |
Time |
Speed |
| 1 |
36 |
Tyler Walker # |
360 OTC Toyota |
19.948 |
94.927 |
| 2 |
60 |
Jack Sprague |
Con-way Freight Toyota |
19.998 |
94.690 |
| 3 |
*2 |
Kevin Harvick |
Camping World Chevy |
20.058 |
94.406 |
| 4 |
6 |
Travis Kvapil |
K&N Filters Ford |
20.088 |
94.265 |
| 5 |
59 |
Terry Cook |
Harris Trucking Toyota |
20.110 |
94.162 |
| 6 |
1 |
Aaron Fike # |
RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota |
20.121 |
94.111 |
| 7 |
16 |
Stacy Compton |
Melling Engine Parts Ford |
20.124 |
94.097 |
| 8 |
88 |
Matt Crafton |
Menards/Moen Chevy |
20.129 |
94.073 |
| 9 |
9 |
Ted Musgrave |
Team ASE/Germain Toyota Toyota |
20.131 |
94.064 |
| 10 |
23 |
Johnny Benson |
360 OTC Toyota |
20.137 |
94.036 |
| 11 |
14 |
Rick Crawford |
Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l Ford |
20.137 |
94.036 |
| 12 |
09 |
Joey Clanton # |
Zaxby's Ford |
20.139 |
94.027 |
| 13 |
33 |
Ron Hornaday Jr. |
AES HR Solutions Chevy |
20.142 |
94.013 |
| 14 |
77 |
Brendan Gaughan |
South Point Hotel Chevy |
20.152 |
93.966 |
| 15 |
99 |
Erik Darnell |
Northern Tool + Equipment Ford |
20.165 |
93.905 |
| 16 |
75 |
Dennis Setzer |
Spears Mfg. Co. Chevy |
20.167 |
93.896 |
| 17 |
21 |
Kelly Bires # |
Bush's Baked Beans Ford |
20.174 |
93.863 |
| 18 |
30 |
Todd Bodine |
Lumber Liquidators Toyota |
20.179 |
93.840 |
| 19 |
5 |
Mike Skinner |
Toyota Tundra Toyota |
20.205 |
93.719 |
| 20 |
*51 |
Paul Menard |
Moen Faucets/Pittsburgh Paints Chevy |
20.217 |
93.664 |
| 21 |
47 |
Kraig Kinser |
Ginn Resorts Chevy |
20.220 |
93.650 |
| 22 |
00 |
AJ Allmendinger |
Red Bull Toyota |
20.249 |
93.516 |
| 23 |
*50 |
T.J. Bell |
Heathcliff's Cat Litter Ford |
20.252 |
93.502 |
| 24 |
*46 |
Timothy Peters |
Bailey's Chevy |
20.256 |
93.483 |
| 25 |
10 |
David Starr |
Int'l/MaxxForce Diesel Ford |
20.257 |
93.479 |
| 26 |
07 |
Tim Sauter # |
Lester Buildings Chevy |
20.296 |
93.299 |
| 27 |
18 |
Ken Schrader |
Fastenal Dodge |
20.314 |
93.217 |
| 28 |
*8 |
Blake Bjorklund # |
MRD Motorsports Chevy |
20.342 |
93.088 |
| 29 |
4 |
Chase Miller |
Open Joist Dodge |
20.348 |
93.061 |
| 30 |
*49 |
Bradley Riethmeyer |
All American Driver Challenge Dodge |
20.380 |
92.915 |
| 31 |
40 |
Mike Bliss |
Curtis Key Plumbing Chevy |
20.401 |
92.819 |
| 32 |
13 |
Willie Allen # |
Chevy |
20.417 |
92.746 |
| 33 |
*64 |
Jimmy Simpson |
Prime Development Group Chevy |
20.451 |
92.592 |
| 34 |
15 |
Bill Lester |
Red Top Auto Auction Chevy |
20.465 |
92.529 |
| 35 |
*7 |
Brad Keselowski |
Hooters Energy Drink Chevy |
20.646 |
91.718 |
| 36 |
08 |
Chad McCumbee |
The GPS Store/Garmin Chevy |
20.659 |
91.660 |
| 37 |
*54 |
Brian Sockwell |
Lowdermilk Electric Dodge |
20.697 |
91.492 |
| 38 |
*87 |
Chris Jones |
LCS Technologies Chevy |
20.852 |
90.811 |
| 39 |
*28 |
Shane Sieg |
Kissin' Kuzzins Construction Chevy |
20.944 |
90.413 |
| 40 |
*44 |
Frank Kreyer |
Culver's Restaurant Chevy |
21.239 |
89.157 |
| Required to qualify on time |
(#-denotes Rookie)(NASCAR PR)(3-30-2007)
Martinsville Speedway, Kroger 250
Preliminary Entry List (Unofficial)
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, March 30, 09:31 am/et
| Entry |
Truck # |
Driver |
Team |
Owner |
| 1 |
00 |
AJ Allmendinger |
Red Bull Toyota |
Darrell Waltrip |
| 2 |
1 |
Aaron Fike |
RFMS Toyota |
Tom DeLoach |
| 3 |
2 |
Kevin Harvick |
TBA Chevy |
Delana Harvick |
| 4 |
4 |
Chase Miller |
Open Joist Dodge |
Lois Vance |
| 5 |
5 |
Mike Skinner |
Toyota Tundra Toyota |
Bill Davis |
| 6 |
6 |
Travis Kvapil |
K&N Filters Ford |
Jack Roush |
| 7 |
7 |
Brad Keselowski |
Hooters Energy Drink Chevy |
J.L. Pennington |
| 8 |
07 |
Tim Sauter |
Lester Buildings Chevy |
Gene Christensen |
| 9 |
08 |
Chad McCumbee |
The GPS Store.com Chevy |
Bobby Dotter |
| 10 |
8 |
Blake Bjorkland |
MRD Motorsports Chevy |
David Malcolmson |
| 11 |
9 |
Ted Musgrave |
Team ASE Toyota |
Bob Germain |
| 12 |
09 |
Joey Clanton |
Zaxby's Ford |
Tad Geschickter |
| 13 |
10 |
David Starr |
Int'l MaxxForce Diesel Ford |
Greg Pollex |
| 14 |
13 |
Willie Allen |
ThorSport Racing Chevy |
Duke Thorson |
| 15 |
14 |
Rick Crawford |
Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l Ford |
Tom Mitchell |
| 16 |
15 |
Bill Lester |
TBA Chevy |
Billy Ballew |
| 17 |
16 |
Stacy Compton |
Melling Chevy |
David Fuge |
| 18 |
18 |
Ken Schrader |
Fastenal Dodge |
Lois Vance |
| 19 |
21 |
Kelly Bires |
TBA Ford |
Eddie Wood |
| 20 |
23 |
Johnny Benson Jr |
Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota |
Gail Davis |
| 21 |
28 |
Shane Seig |
TBA Chevy |
Jim Rosenblum |
| 22 |
30 |
Todd Bodine |
Lumber Liquidators Toyota |
Stephen Germain |
| 23 |
33 |
Ron Hornaday Jr |
Allstates Employer Services Chevy |
Delana Harvick |
| 24 |
36 |
Tyler Walker |
360 OTC Toyota |
Bill Davis |
| 25 |
40 |
Mike Bliss |
Curtis Key Plumbing Chevy |
Curtis Key |
| 26 |
42 |
Tim Cowen |
Cowen Truck Line Ford |
Tim Cowen |
| 27 |
44 |
Frank Kreyer |
Culver's Restaurant Chevy |
Curtis Key |
| 28 |
46 |
Timothy Peters |
Bailey's Chevy |
David Dollar |
| 29 |
47 |
Kraig Kinser |
Ginn Clubs & Resorts Chevy |
David Dollar |
| 30 |
49 |
Bradley Riethmeyer |
All-American Driver Challenge Dodge |
Tracy Trotter |
| 31 |
50 |
T.J. Bell |
Heathcliff'sCat Litter Ford |
Jack Roush |
| 32 |
51 |
Paul Menard |
TBA Chevy |
Billy Ballew |
| 33 |
53 |
Kerry Roseman |
Blankenbaker Motorsports Dodge |
Jim Blankenbaker |
| 34 |
54 |
Brian Sockwell |
Reary Racing Dodge |
Jerry Reary |
| 35 |
59 |
Terry Cook |
Harris Trucking Toyota |
James Harris |
| 36 |
60 |
Jack Sprague |
Con-way Freight Toyota |
Jeff Wyler |
| 37 |
64 |
Jimmy Simpson |
Prime Development Group Chevy |
David Ervin |
| 38 |
75 |
Dennis Setzer |
Spears Manufacturing Chevy |
Wayne Spears |
| 39 |
77 |
Brendan Gaughan |
South Point Hotel Chevy |
Michael Gaughan |
| 40 |
87 |
Chris Jones |
TBA Chevy |
Rick Jones |
| 41 |
88 |
Matt Crafton |
Menards Chevy |
Rhonda Thorson |
| 42 |
95 |
Wayne Edwards |
NRG Ford |
Scott Upshaw |
| 43 |
99 |
Erik Darnell |
Northern Tool+Equipment Ford |
Jack Roush |
(#-denotes Rookie)(NASCAR PR)(3-26-2007)
News & Notes - Martinsville - Part I (3-26-2007)
Martinsville Speedway has played an important role in the Craftsman Truck Series since the series' inception in 1995. In the first race at the track, Joe Ruttman edged Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) by one second to take the victory. Skinner eventually got the last laugh, winning the season's final two races to take the first series championship. Twelve years later, Martinsville is one of four tracks that has hosted the series each season (along with The Milwaukee Mile, O'Reilly Raceway Park and Phoenix International Raceway). When the track was awarded a second date in 2003, it became the second track (with Texas Motor Speedway) to have two races. Atlanta Motor Speedway became the third track with two races in 2005. There have been 15 different winners in the 16 races at the track. Dennis Setzer (#75 Spears Manufacturing Chevy) is the track's only repeat winner.
Mike Skinner, who won the 1996 race, is hoping to join him this weekend. Skinner currently is the standings leader and has won the last two races at California Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway. A third consecutive win would make him the only driver in series history to win three consecutive races on two different occasions. He first accomplished the feat in 1996 with wins at Tucson, Denver and Topeka - three tracks no longer on the schedule. The only other drivers to win three in a row are Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 AES Chevy) in 1997, Greg Biffle in 2000 and Todd Bodine (#30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) in 2005.
Series Returns To Network TV For First Time Since 2000:
After a nearly seven-year hiatus, the Craftsman Truck Series will return to network television this weekend.
Saturday's Kroger 250 will air live on FOX, the first time the series has appeared on the network. The series will make another appearance on FOX May 26 at Mansfield Motorsports Park. The remaining 23 races on the schedule are broadcast live by SPEED. The last time the series was seen on network television was July 15, 2000. CBS broadcast the Chevy Silverado 200 from Nazareth Speedway, which was won by Dennis Setzer.
The first broadcast of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was the Ford Credit 125 at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif. on April 22, 1995. ABC's Wide World of Sports aired the race, the fourth race in series history, which was won by Ron Hornaday Jr. Saturday's telecast will feature the regular SPEED broadcast team - Rick Allen with the play-by-play, Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip analyzing the action, and Adam Alexander, Ray Dunlap and Krista Voda as pit road analysts. Joining them will be Darrell Waltrip (FOX booth analyst), Chris Myers (FOX prerace host) and Jeff Hammond (FOX prerace analyst).
News & Notes - Part II:
Hometown Hopeful…each race at Martinsville Speedway has added significance to HT Motorsports, which is based in Martinsville, VA. The team is the only full-time team in the Craftsman Truck Series that calls Virginia home. The team has been successful in its six years in the series, finishing in the top 10 in 40 percent of its races, but has yet to post a victory. The team added veteran Terry Cook (#59 Harris Trucking Toyota) in the off season. Cook has six career wins and has started a series-record 225 consecutive races. He has had mixed results at Martinsville, compiling two top fives and five top 10s in 13 starts. His best finish was third in 2001.
This and That ... No driver has competed in all 16 races at Martinsville. Rick Crawford and Dennis Setzer lead all drivers with 14 starts...The winner of the Kroger 250 has never won that season's championship...A record-matching seven former series champions boasting 10 titles and 122 victories will compete in this week's race. They are Mike Skinner (1995), Ron Hornaday Jr. (1996, 98), Jack Sprague (1997, 99, 01), Mike Bliss (2002), Travis Kvapil (2003), Ted Musgrave (2005) and Todd Bodine (2006).
This Week's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders: (through 3 races of the 25-race season)
Points leader - Mike Skinner (550)
Driver Rating - Mike Skinner (129.2)
Winnings - Mike Skinner ($155,650)
Laps led - Mike Skinner (119)
Victories - Mike Skinner (2)
Budweiser Poles - Jack Sprague, Mike Skinner, Carl Edwards (1)
Top-five finishes - Mike Skinner (3)
Top-10 finishes - 3 drivers with 3
Raybestos Rookie Leader - Aaron Fike (1 over Joey Clanton)
Races led - Mike Skinner (3)
Weeks in Top 10 - 9 drivers tied with 3
Etc:
A long-time national series competitor, Joe Ruttman (#18 Fastenal Dodge) will return to the Craftsman Truck Series for seven races in 2007 beginning with the April 28 O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway. Ruttman will handle driving duties for Bobby Hamilton Racing when Ken Schrader is unable to race due to his Nextel Cup Series commitments. Ruttman is no stranger to BHR - he spent two and a half years with the organization from 1999-2001. Team employees should be glad Ruttman is returning, as well. Ruttman won at Phoenix International Raceway in 2000 season - the first win for BHR. He opened the 2000 season with three straight poles, including one at Phoenix (the third race of the season). Ruttman has 13 career wins, tied for seventh all-time with Mike Bliss. Five of his wins came during his tenure at BHR. He also posted 12 poles while with the team. Ruttman, who was born in 1944, is the oldest pole and race winner in series history. His most recent win came at Pikes Peak in May 2001 when he was age 56 years, 6 months. His most recent start came in 2002.
In the Loop:
Ted Musgrave has to feel good about this weekend. In fifth place in the Craftsman Truck Series standings, Musgrave sits a manageable 110 points behind leader Mike Skinner. He's battled his way to a top-10 finish in each of this season's three races. And now he gets to race at a track where he has excelled in the past. In 10 races at NASCAR's oldest track, Musgrave has an impressive average finish of 10.6. Though he's never won at Martinsville, Musgrave does have two runner-up finishes and four top fives. Over the past two years - four races total - Musgrave has some of the best stats in the Craftsman Truck Series. He has a Driver Rating of 114.7, which is the best of any driver competing in Saturday's Kroger 250. Musgrave rarely finds himself running out side the top 10. He has an Average Running Position of 7.744 at Martinsville - which is also top among drivers competing this Saturday - and has accumulated 734 Laps in the Top 15, which is second only to reigning series champion Todd Bodine. And not only is Musgrave consistent, he's fast. His 62 Fastest Laps Run over the last two years are second only to Jack Sprague at Martinsville, and among the drivers competing on Saturday, Musgrave is the Fastest on the Frontstretch, Turn 1 and Turn 3.
Toyota leads Manufacturers' Championship:
Toyota drivers have won all three races this season, putting Toyota on top of the manufacturers' championship standings. Toyota trucks swept both races at Martinsville last year, the first time a manufacturer has won both season stops at the track.
Manufacturers' Championship Points:
Toyota, 27
Chevy, 16
Ford, 14
Dodge, 9
Raybestos Rookie of the Year Standings:
A trio of Raybestos Rookies of the Year have finished second in their freshman campaigns at Martinsville Speedway. Travis Kvapil (#6 K&N Engineering Ford) was the first in 2001 followed by Carl Edwards in 2003 and Todd Kluever in 2005. Rookie point standings: #1-Aaron Fike 30; #09-Joey Clanton, 29; #21-Kelly Bires 26; #13-Willie Allen 24; #8-Blake Bjorklund 22; #07-Tim Sauter 21; #7-Casey Kingsland 5; #-63 Jason White 4.(NASCAR PR)(3-26-2007)
Additional Martinsville Truck Series Race Info at:
martinsvillespeedway.com
espn.go.com
NASCAR.com
truckseries.com