Chevy Preview: Martinsville

10-18-2005 | TruckSeries.com Report

  • Dennis Setzer (No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado) holds a five point lead in the NCTS championship standings
  • Setzer is only four-time NCTS winner this season - Michigan, Milwaukee, Kentucky and IRP
  • Chevrolet sits atop the NCTS manufacturer championship chase with 132 points and nine wins
  • Bobby Labonte will drive the No. 16 Chevy Trucks Silverado, replacing Jack Sprague
  • Ron Hornaday (No. 6 GM Goodwrench Silverado) and Bobby Labonte (No. 16 Chevy Trucks Silverado) each have one victory in 2005 - Atlanta and Martinsville respectively
  • Labonte is the only driver in NASCAR history to have won a race in each of the three major divisions at one track
  • His wins at Martinsville: Cup (2002); Busch (1992) and Truck (2005)
  • Willie Allen will make his NCTS debut in the No. 47 Chevrolet Nashville Visitors and Convention Bureau Silverado
  • Kyle Busch returns to the cockpit of the No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Silverado

After a three-weekend layoff, the Team Silverado drivers return to action for the series' second event of the season at Martinsville Speedway.  The 200-lap Kroger 200 marks the last short-track event of the year for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Dennis Setzer heads to what he considers his "home" track with a five point lead in the 2005 championship battle.  Setzer's record at Martinsville makes him one of the favorites to bring home the victory for Team Silverado.  In 11 previous NCTS starts there, he has scored two wins, six top-five and seven top-10 finishes.  He finished second in the 2004 Kroger 200.

Chevrolet can wrap up its sixth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series manufacturers championship this week. A victory will win the title outright. Chevrolet also can clinch with a second place among manufacturers if Toyota finishes fourth and Dodge third.

Bobby Labonte will make his first appearance behind the wheel of the No. 16 Chevy Trucks Silverado fielded by Xpress Motorsports, formerly driven by Jack Sprague.  Labonte is looking to win his second consecutive NCTS event at Martinsville Speedway having taken the No. 47 Morgan Dollar Motorsports All Star Silverado to victory lane in April 2005.  The win gave the 2000 NASCAR Cup Champion the distinction of being the only driver to win a race in each of NASCAR's Big Three divisions at a single track. In addition, Labonte has poles at the famed Virginia track in both NASCAR Cup and Busch Series competition.  He will be gunning to add a pole in the NCTS to make his Martinsville Speedway stats even more impressive.

An announcement from Xpress Motorsports naming the drivers of the No. 16 Chevy Trucks Silverado to compete in the final four events of the 2005 season will be forthcoming.

Willie Allen, a young standout driver from Tennessee, will make his NCTS debut in the No. 47 Nashville Visitors and Convention Bureau Chevrolet Silverado teaming with Setzer.   Allen was a participant in the GM Driver Development test in May 2005 at North Carolina's Caraway Speedway.  His performance landed him the opportunity to make his debut at Martinsville in a major NASCAR touring series.

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Rookie of the Year contender Kyle Busch will be back behind the wheel of the No. 15 ditech.com Silverado fielded by Billy Ballew Motorsports.  Busch has six NCTS starts in 2005 that have netted him two victories, four top-five and five top-10 finishes.  He has also one pole to his credit this season.