Team Chevy Silverado Looks to Defend at Martinsville

First Short Track Event of 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season Sure to be Action-Packed

• Chevrolet Silverado has more NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) wins at Martinsville Speedway, six to-date, than any other manufacturer since inaugural event in 1995
• Team Chevy Silverado is defending Kroger 250 winner - Bobby Labonte won the 2005 in the No. 47 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports All Star Silverado with Ron Hornaday in the Kevin Harvick, Inc Silverado bringing home third
• Two-time Martinsville winner Dennis Setzer holds the record for the most NCTS victories at the historic one-half mile track. Has most top-five and top-10 finishes in NCTS competition at Martinsville. Also tied for most pole wins with two.
• Chevrolet Silverado has won six of the 11 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Manufacturer's Championships
• Silverado drivers have won eight of the 11 possible Series' Driver Championships
• Silverado drivers have won more races than any other brand - 120 of 270 (1995-Present)

Team Chevy Silverado will take on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition at Martinsville Speedway for the running of the Kroger 250.  The historic Virginia race track has been a fixture on the NCTS schedule since the series' inaugural 1995 season.

Many fans and competitors alike consider the flat one-half mile flat paperclip-like oval the essence of NASCAR racing.  With fender-to-fender action from the drop of the green flag to the checkered flag, drivers and crew chiefs do not have the luxury of time to relax at any point in the race.  If a team slightly misses the setup, a truck can be in danger of being put one lap down before the race has run 25 green flag laps.

"Track position is the key at Martinsville," said Randy Goss, crew chief for rookie Silverado driver Kraig Kinser and 2005 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports winning crew chief. "Pit road is narrow and the pits are tight so pit stall choice is critical which puts additional importance on how well you qualify for the race.

"Getting laps back at Martinsville is tough. If there is a long green flag run and you get a lap down because you didn't qualify as well as you need to or you have a bad pit stop, you have to really battle to be the first truck one lap down to get the free pass when the caution does fly. If you don't it is just pretty tough to get a lap back by racing your way by the leaders and using pit strategy.

"Basically, racing at Martinsville is about as intense as it gets for our Silverado team.  The key is stay calm, come with a good plan and stick to it.  Sometimes that is just easier said than done."

Chevy Silverado has a winning record at Martinsville.  Silverado has taken the trip to victory lane six times in the 14 NCTS races run since 1995, more than any other manufacturer.

"We are looking forward to going to Martinsville this weekend, said Dayne Pierantoni, GM Racing Silverado program manager. "Our short track program always has been strong.  Most of our teams have been making some laps getting ready for this week.  We are expecting to put a Chevrolet back in the winner's circle."

Practice for the Kroger 250 will begin on Friday, March 31 at 1:45 p.m. with final practice set for approximately 5:00 p.m. the same afternoon.  Qualifying will begin at 12:05 p.m. on Saturday, April 1 to set the 36-truck field.  Trucks will be impounded until the race, which is set to take the green flag at 3:15 p.m. Saturday.  Live television coverage will begin at 3:00 p.m. on SPEED Channel with both MRN Radio and XM Satellite Radio bringing flag-to-flag coverage over the air waves.