NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Race #3 | Martinsville 250
Martinsville Speedway
Friday April 17, 2004

PM Practice: Martinsville 250


Starting Lineup: Martinsville 250


Entry List: Martinsville 250


AM Practice: Martinsville 250


Official Results: Martinsville 250


Nead Named Team ASE/CARQUEST Motorsports Technician of the Race for Martinsville
Gene Nead from Circle Bar Racing has been named as the Team ASE/CARQUEST Motorsports Technician of the Race for his winning efforts at the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. $500 will be donated in Gene's name to National Automotive Technician's Education Foundation (NATEF) from Team ASE and CARQUEST.  NATEF was founded in 1983 as an independent, non-profit organization with a single mission: To evaluate technician training programs against standards developed by the automotive industry and recommend qualifying programs for certification (accreditation) by ASE, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.

TV Timeout: MARTINSVILLE
The NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series race from Martinsville scored a .77 (470,000 households) on SPEED Channel. Ratings for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series are up 61 percent from 2003 (.69 three-race average in 2003, 1.11 three-race average in 2004).

Diary of a Champion: Groundhog Day
Have you ever seen that movie Groundhog Day where Bill Murray wakes every day and goes through the same events over and over and over again? He just can’t seem to change anything around him. It’s pretty frustrating to watch. But it’s even more frustrating to feel like you’re living that same scenario. That’s about the best way I can describe my experiences at Martinsville.

Cautions Cramp Skinner's Style at Martinsville
Mike Skinner was seeing double at the Kroger 250 on Saturday as the caution flag became his biggest competitor in contending for his first win of the season.  "It was just the luck of the cautions again," Skinner said. "I think the caution cost us winning at Atlanta, and it cost us here."  After qualifying in eighth position, Skinner was primed to carve his way to the front of the pack and battled his way to sixth place prior to the fourth caution despite an ill handling ride that was, at times, 'pushing like a dump truck.'  During the team's first pit stop on Lap 82 for track bar, air pressure adjustments and four tires...

Déjà Vu for Reigning Champ Kvapil at Martinsville
It was déjà vu all over again during the Kroger 250 as he struggled with tight conditions and looming doubts about the team’s pit strategy.

Huffman, No. 12 Toyota Race Report: MARTINSVILLE


Shane Hmiel Race Report: Martinsville
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway turned out to be an accident filled event with a record breaking 12 cautions with the first caution occurring on lap two after a single car spin.

Rhonda Greer Photo Gallery: Martinsville
Check out all the race action from Martinsville...

Parker, Jr. Posts Solid Run in Martinsville
After a horrific accident in Atlanta last month, Hank Parker, Jr. rebounded to a hard fought 12th place finish in Martinsville.

NASCAR Notables: Martinsville
Crew chiefs get International recognition …Love, McFarland join Raybestos Rookie program …Huffman leads how-to for Cleveland Soap Box hopefuls...

Veteran Drivers Dominate Martinsville
The 2004 Truck Series season has barely begun but, already, it’s taken on a veteran look in spite of a near-record crop of rookie drivers.

Hines Finds No Luck in Martinsville


WIX Filters Lap Leader Winners Keep it together in Martinsville


Starr Hangs Tough, Comes Home 9th in Martinsville
Battling his way lap after lap throughout the entire Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway earned David Starr and Spears Motorsports a top 10 finish at Round 3 of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Crawford Wins at Martinsville
Rick Crawford, one of three drivers injured in an incident in March at Atlanta Motor Speedway, held off Dennis Setzer to win Saturday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 250.  Crawford, whose right foot was broken just over a month ago, drove 254 laps around the .526-mile Martinsville Speedway edging two-time Kroger 250 winner Setzer by just over a third of a second.  The Alabama native, driving the No. 14 Circle Bar RV & Motel Ford, became the series' 10th different winner at the Virginia track over which only Setzer has multiple victories.

TV Timeout: NCTS Ratings on SPEED
The NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series race from Martinsville scored a .77 (470,000 households) on SPEED Channel. Ratings for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series are up 61 percent from 2003 (.69 three-race average in 2003, 1.11 three-race average in 2004).

Toyota Race Notes and Quotes: Martinsville


Fear the Wounded Athlete and other Notes from Martinsville
Beware the wounded athlete was true in every sense of the term on Saturday at Martinsville Speedway.

Tire Troubles Plague Musgrave in Martinsville


Another Top-10 for 'Mr. Consistency'
Mr. Consistency, Chad Chaffin notched another top-10 finish as he wrestled back from one lap down in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway to finish the event on the lead lap.

Montgomery Earns Best CTS Finish in Martinsville


Roush Racing's Trucking Duo have Good Runs in Martinsville


Jack Sprague Brings #16 Silverado Home In Third
Jack Sprague, behind the wheel of the #16 Chevy Trucks Silverado, captured his first top-three finish of the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) taking the checkered flag in third position in the Kroger 250.

Whitt Scores Top-15 Finish in Martinsville
Brandon Whitt and the #38 Cure Autism Now Ford F-150 persevered through a wild and furious race on one of NASCAR’s shortest track to bring home a 14th-place finish, the rookie team’s best of the young season.

Reutimann Finishes Eighth At Martinsville
Rebounding from going one lap down, David Reutimann finished eighth in his No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota at Martinsville Speedway in the Kroger 250.

Terry Cook, ppc Racing Leave Martinsville With Disappointing Finish
Terry Cook and the No. 10 Power Stroke Diesel Ford race team left Martinsville Speedway with a disappointing 22nd-place finish in Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event.

First Short Track Test Garners 5 Top-20's for Toyota


Flat Tires Plague Hamilton, Finishes 31st in Martinsville


Cook Renews with EMP OilMate Sponsor


Truckin' Diva: Martinsville
Despite averaging a speed under the commonly posted 65 miles per hour speed limit on interstate highways across the country, a lame Rick Crawford saw the checkered flag first at the end of the Kroger 250...

Houston Hammers Home Hard Fought 11th Place Finish At Martinsville
Andy Houston faced a variety of challenges in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event Saturday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway, but was ultimately unable to win the track position battle.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Notables: MARTINSVILLE


Sprague, No. 16 IWX Silverado Fast Facts: MARTINSVILLE


Silverado Q&A with Matt Crafton and Kevin Harvick
Matt Crafton, No. 6 GM Goodwrench Silverado driver and team owner Kevin Harvick discuss the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Martinsville Speedway.

Chaffin Ups the Ante for Martinsville


Limelight Media Group Expands Into NASCAR, sponsors Bang Racing


Event Schedule: MARTINSVILLE - Spring, 2004

 

FORD Q&A with Jon Wood, No. 50 Roush Racing Ford


Hank Parker Jr. Ready for Martinsville after Test
Following a successful testing session in Greenville April 7, Hank Parker, Jr. is ready to take on Martinsville Speedway.

Gordon Ready for Martinsville
Tina Gordon is ready to return to NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition five weeks after suffering a broken right leg in a hard crash
at the Atlanta Motor Speedway March 13.

Dave Fuge Jr. Joins ppc Racing Truck Program
ppc Racing assembled its final piece of the puzzle Thursday with the hiring of Dave Fuge Jr. as its truck chief for the No. 10 Power Stroke® Diesel Ford.

Chevy Silverado Notes: Martinsville Speedway
Dennis Setzer, Jack Sprague, David Starr, Matt Crafton and the rest of the Team Silverado drivers weigh in on this weekends race at Martinsville.

Square D Qualifying Report: Martinsville
Square D driver Bobby Hamilton qualified his No. 4 Dodge in the fifth starting position for tomorrow’s Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway with a time of 20.674 seconds.

Keselowski Poised to make Truck Series Debut
Brad Keselowski will make his inaugural start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series tomorrow afternoon in the Kroger 250 at the Martinsville Speedway and will take the green flag from the 26th starting position.

NCTS Drivers Meet With Students From Patrick Henry Community College
Ted Musgrave, Bobby Hamilton, Chad Chaffin and Chase Montgomery met with students from PHCC's Motorsports class to discuss the importance of a continuing education.

Terry Cook Fast Facts: Martinsville
“Whether it’s a short track or superspeedway, you always want to lead. To be in the lead is a benefit and even at Martinsville because the guys behind you have to figure out how to pass you and it’s extremely hard to do that there.

Dodge Qualifying Notes: Martinsville
Ted Musgrave, Steve Park, Bobby Hamilton, Mark McFarland and the rest of the Dodge Ram drivers on qualifying Friday at Martinsville Speedway

Chaffin on Outside Pole For Kroger 250
Dickies driver Chad Chaffin qualified his No. 18 Dodge on the outside pole for tomorrow’s Kroger 250 with a time of 20.615 seconds.

Setzer and Sprague Bring Home a Pair of Top Three Finishes for Chevy at Martinsville
Jack Sprague started the Kroger 250 on the pole for Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday April 17th. It was his 21st career pole in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and first for Chevrolet this year.

Steve Park, No. 62 Dodge Pre-Race Notes: Kroger 250
The team’s primary Dodge Ram for Martinsville is a new truck. The only track time it has had was March 30 at a test at the Bullring at Las Vegas...

Sutton Gears Up for Short Track Racing at Martinsville
Nestled within the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains lays one of the oldest tracks on the NASCAR circuit — Martinsville. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) rookie Kelly “Girl” Sutton is ready to tackle whatever challenges the famous ½-mile paper clip-shaped track has to offer.

Earl Small's Harley-Davidson Wants You


Dodge Q&A with Bobby Hamilton and Chad Chaffin
Bobby Hamilton, No. 4 Square D Dodge and No. 18 Dickies Dodge Driver Chad Chaffin discuss Martinsville and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Montgomery, #8 BHR2 Dodge Preview: MARTINSVILLE
Chase will be racing a chassis nicknamed “Timmy” this weekend. The chassis was purchased last year and was totally stripped down with a new generation body put on it.

Brad Keselowski Set to Make NCTS Debut This Weekend at Martinsville Speedway
After months of preparation both on and off the race track, 20-year old Brad Keselowski is set to make his debut into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this weekend at the .526-mile Martinsville Speedway.

Bodine/Team EJP Notes: Kroger 250
Geoffrey Bodine will be making his third attempt at the wheel of the No. 03 Team EJP Chevrolet Silverado.  Overall, it will be Bodine's 19th career NCTS start.

Huffman Ready to take his Toyota to Martinsville
Last month at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Huffman captured the outside pole in qualifying, along side fellow Toyota driver and Raybestos Rookie pole sitter, David Reutimann to help create history in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Hines Confident Heading Back to Martinsville
Tracy Hines will return to a track at which he has a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start under his belt
when the series visits Martinsville Speedway this week.

Crawford Gets Best Possible Medicine in Martinsville
Rick Crawford returned for Saturday’s Kroger 250 in Martinsville with something to prove. After more than a month of rehabilitation for a broken left foot, Crawford showed the strength and determination his #14 Circle Bar Ford F-150 team had in returning to the track by reaching victory lane. “Everyone at Circle Bar Racing deserves this win,” said Crawford. “After the wreck we had in Atlanta everyone worked late nights and sacrificed a great deal of personal time to prepare for Martinsville. We all rallied together and showed that hard work equals success. I couldn’t be prouder of this team.” (Nice Hat!)

Crawford Edges Setzer in Classic Martinsville Truck Battle
There’s no better tonic for an ailing driver than a visit to victory lane.  And that’s where Rick Crawford put his Circle Bar Motel & RV Ford at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 250.  Crawford, who broke his right foot in an incident a little more than a month ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway, had little trouble climbing back into the driver’s seat, wearing a protective shoe over his still-tender extremity. The race’s No. 3 qualifier, Crawford was at or near the front of the field most of the afternoon before overhauling 1995 NASCAR Craftsman Truck champion Mike Skinner on the 202nd of 254 laps.  Setzer, driving the Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet, knocked on the door...

Sprague Top Qualifier at Martinsville
Jack Sprague took a big step Friday to breaking his longstanding Martinsville Speedway jinx as he won the Bud Pole for Saturday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 250. Sprague, who's never led a lap at the .526-mile track despite winning 23 times on the series, lapped his No. 16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet at an average speed of 92.375 mph to knock Chad Chaffin's No. 18 Dickies Dodge off the provisional pole. Sprague topped his previous Martinsville best qualifying effort of fourth in 2000. He's finished third on three occasions at Martinsville, most recently in 2000.

Starr Confident Heading into Martinsville
Filled with confidence and armed with a strong running Spears Manufacturing Chevy Silverado, David Starr and the Spears Motorsports crew are ready to set sail for Martinsville Speedway and the running of the Kroger 250, Saturday, April 17. After a four-week hiatus, Starr is more than eager to get behind the wheel of his Chevy truck again. "Four weeks off is too long for me, so I am really looking forward to this round of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series," smiles Starr. "Running at Martinsville definitely takes me back to my roots.

Hamilton Good to Go for Two in a Row
A Habitat for Humanity logo will be on the TV panel of the Square D Dodge this weekend in Martinsville. It will be the first of several times Square D will be teaming up with Habitat for Humanity this season. For the past three years, Square D has been the sole supplier of electrical distribution equipment for Habitat homes. This year they are celebrating its partnership with Habitat and the milestone of supplying the 10,000 homes since 2001 with safe, quality Square D Brand load centers and circuit breakers. "The work Square D is doing with Habitat for Humanity is vital," says Millard Fuller, founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International.

Wimmer Ready for First Career NASCAR Start
It has been a long winter for Chris Wimmer.  The last time he was in a racecar to compete was the American Speed Association’s finale in Nashville, October, 2003.

Big Bang Theory: Martinsville
Martinsville. Just the mention of the word brings up a bevy of mixed reactions and descriptions from Bang Racing teammates Mike Skinner and Travis Kvapil: unique, demanding, flat, tight, competitive. But the most overwhelming sentiment about the track is one that most any driver can share...

Setzer Glad to Get Back to Martinsville


Wood Knows His Way Around Martinsville
There may not be another track on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule that Jon Wood looks forward to going to as much as Martinsville Speedway. The half-mile oval has always been a favorite of Wood’s. Due to its close proximity to his hometown of Stuart, Va., Wood spent a lot of time there while growing up and winning last fall’s truck race made it even more special. “I remember going to Martinsville as a kid,” Wood said. “I had no ambition to race. I was there to play with the other drivers’ and owners’ kids.

Roush Racing NCTS Preview: MARTINSVILLE


Houston Locked and Loaded for Martinsville Shootout


Raybestos CTS Rookie Preview: MARTINSVILLE


West Coast Native Matt Crafton Feels Right at Home in Martinsville
Matt Crafton grew up in California, a world away from Martinsville Speedway, but when he rolls into town for the Kroger 250, it will almost be like a trip back home.  “I like going back to the race tracks where we all began,” said Crafton, who will be making his fifth Martinsville appearance. “It’s one heck of a race track. I’m definitely looking forward to getting back there. We’ve had some ups and downs there, but I’m looking forward to breaking into the top five there and maybe getting a win.”  Crafton has enjoyed a mixed bag of success at Martinsville. He finished sixth in his very first start at Martinsville three years ago...

Martinsville Debut Set for Brandon Whitt
Brandon Whitt and the #38 Cure Autism Now Ford head to the tight, slightly-banked .526-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway this week for Saturday’s Kroger 250 NCTS race. This is the third race of the season for the series. Whitt, the 21-year-old phenom from El Cajon, Calif., is running for Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In 2003 Whitt was a regular top-20 qualifier in his six attempts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  While changing track temperatures cost him precious fractions of seconds during qualifying at Daytona, Whitt was one of the top-10 cars in qualifying practice throughout the day.  (MP3 AUDIO INTERVIEW with Brandon Whitt)

Sprague hopes Saturday’s Kroger 250 will end Martinsville drought
Jack Sprague’s (No. 16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series record at Martinsville Speedway mirrors the previous Augusta National stats of golf professional Phil Mickelson, who broke his Masters drought last Sunday.  Sprague, on three occasions, has finished third at the .526-mile venue, site of Saturday’s Kroger 250 – just as Mickelson did in his past three starts at Augusta before snapping an 0-for-47 winless run in professional golf’s four major tournaments.  And like “Lefty,” who’d previously won 22 PGA Tour events, there’s no question about Sprague’s credentials.

Brad Keselowski NCTS Debut Preview
20-year-old Brad Keselowski, who literally grew up in his parents' suburban Detroit race shop - gets his turn behind the wheel of the team's No. 29 Ford this weekend in Martinsville.

Brad Keselowski, Mark McFarland Ready for Martinsville Sizzler
K Automotive Racing, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series fixture since the inaugural race in 1995, will return the Keselowski name to competition at Martinsville Speedway after an absence of more than four seasons. Bob Keselowski competed in 86 series races, winning at Richmond International Raceway, before leaving the driver’s seat after the 1999 season for a crew chief’s role with the team owned by his wife, Kay. Now another Keselowski – 20-year-old Brad, who literally grew up in his parents’ suburban Detroit race shop – gets his turn behind the wheel of the team’s No. 29 Ford. He’s set to make his NASCAR national touring series debut in the Kroger 250 on April 17.

Park 'In The Ring' Preparing For Martinsville Slugfest
Steve Park completed 296 laps while testing his No. 62 Orleans Dodge at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 30.  The team tested the same truck that will compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway April 17.

Setzer Gunning for Martinsville Three-Peat
Dennis Setzer has won two out of the last three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events at Martinsville Speedway, including last spring’s Kroger 250. And it could get worse for his competition. Setzer will head back to Martinsville for the April 17 running of the Kroger 250 hungrier than ever after his winning streak was snapped last fall. And he’s armed with new, bigger backing.  “It’s an exciting time for us. With a new manufacturer coming into the series, Chevy has really stepped it up. They have picked us to be one of their chosen teams,” said Setzer, whose Chevy carries the banner of Chevrolet Silverado this season.  Setzer has been a dominant force at Martinsville Speedway ever since he joined the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series five years ago.