Robert Richardson (Team PR Photo)

Robert Richardson has embarked on a season full of firsts for the McKinney, Texas native. Specifically the first time for racing on many of the race tracks on the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series circuit. While Richardson has been able to use previous speedway experience to adapt to the larger speedways we have already raced on this season, there is little that will prepare him for the tight half-mile at Martinsville Speedway in close quarters with 35 fierce competitors.

"Of course like all racers, my background started on short tracks in Texas," said Richardson. "But I know that racing against these veterans at a track like Martinsville may be one of my biggest challenges so far. These drivers beat and bang on speedways so I can only imagine how much banging there will be on a tight little track like Martinsville. But I am looking forward to racing on a short track again and see if I can bring some of my prior short track experience to Martinsville."

In preparation for the Kroger 250 next weekend at Martinsville Speedway, Richardson and his R3 team led by crew chief, Wayne Setterington, will spend a day testing at the Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, North Carolina. The team is hoping to shake down their new short track truck as well as get Richardson some short track laps in a race truck before the first practice session at Martinsville.

"With Robert (Richardson) being a rookie this season and testing being so limited we needed to make sure he could get some laps in on a short track prior to this race," said Wayne Setterington, Crew Chief of the No. 1 WinYourMortgage.com Dodge. "We have also spent a lot of time getting this new Martinsville truck ready and I would like to get some laps on it before we unload at the track."

Several NCTS teams will be testing at Caraway and other local short tracks in preparation for the Martinsville event next weekend. The R3 team along with the rest of the competitors will take their first practice laps at Martinsville Speedway on Friday, March 31 at 1:45pm. The Kroger 250 is scheduled to take the green flag at 3:15pm ET on Saturday, April 1 and will be televised live on Speed Channel.