Jon Wood knows all about running well at Martinsville Speedway. He also knows how tough the historic half-mile track can be on drivers and equipment and that's why he tried not to be too excited Thursday afternoon.

Nearing the end of a two-day NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series test at Martinsville on Thursday, Wood's name had consistently been near the top of the speed chart. He finished Wednesday's day-long test in preparation for the March 29th Kroger 250 with the fifth fastest speed of the day. He hovered in that same area all day Thursday.

"The past couple of days have been pretty good," said Wood. "I could be a lot more frustrated right now than I am. Actually I'm pretty optimistic."

Wood, a third generation member of the storied Wood Brothers Race Team, has a Martinsville truck win to his credit, taking the checkered flag in the 2003 Kroger 200. But he's struggled at times, too, at the track that is less than 25 miles from his birthplace.

"Actually Martinsville is unique in that you never go away in the middle of the road," said the 26-year-old Wood. "You either hate it or can't wait to get back and I've been on either side of that fence.

Wood probably rolled up more than 400 laps in his two-day test, and when he wasn't on the track, he was huddled with crew members, working hard to get his Ford faster.

"You work harder here in testing than any other track because there is no comfort zone," said Wood. "You can't ease up. Before lunch you can be in the top five and an hour into the afternoon you're not in the top 15."

Wood will come into the Kroger 250 on March 29th 24th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points, but that's not indicative of the season he's experienced. In the season-opener at Daytona, he started 34th, was up to eighth by lap six, but wound up getting caught up in someone else's wreck. He struggled at Las Vegas, but finished 10th at Atlanta last week after a pit gamble failed.

Even though he knows not to get too excited about his successful Martinsville test, he says it's hard not to feel good coming to Martinsville.

"The win I had here helps me in the mental area. I can go to bed at night saying I've won on one of the toughest tracks there is," said Wood. "Nothing can describe the feeling I have coming to Martinsville. I'm always anxious to get here. When I walk through the tunnel, I may not be the most admired sports figure, but at Martinsville, everybody knows me. It gives me a good, hometown feeling."