Martinsville Speedway has changed in many ways since Wood Brothers Racing began competing there in 1953. It has more grandstands and a newer concrete surface ,but the historic track still races just as hard as it did in 1958 when Glen Wood won the pole in the #21 Ford Convertible. He then went on to lead 185 laps of the rain shortened 325 lap race. Never in his wildest dreams did he believe that two generations later, his grandson, Jon Wood would be running the #21 Barnhill Group Ford F-150 on the exact half-mile oval as he did in those early years of the sport.

The Wood Brothers Racing team is looking forward to going back to their heritage in Virginia this weekend to race the Kroger 250 on Saturday, March 29th. After testing for two days at the speedway during the second week in March, the team and Jon feel prepared for the race this weekend.

Crew Chief, John Monsam, states how beneficial this test was for them.  Monsam said, "In the last two years, our short track program needed every lap of practice we could get. This time, we can go back with the confidence that we've already had 16 hours of practice. That really helped us and that will be key this week."  Jon Wood agrees that the test gave the team a chance to gel and gave them the opportunity to dial in their short track program.

Jon admitted that he's always a bit nervous about testing at a speedway like Martinsville. He said, "I'm always apprehensive before a test there because based on how the test goes, that is a vivid depiction of what our performance will be like when we go back to race. With that said, I'm excited about the results of the test." He added, "John Monsam and all of the guys have put me in a good situation and they've done everything that they can to ensure that I have all of the tools that I need to have a good weekend."
 
Both Wood and Monsam won in Martinsville together in 2003. They both agree that they have what it takes to do it again. Wood said, "It's a special track to me not just because its home and I have a win there, it's that my grandfather raced on this same track during the time of grassroots racing and the inception of the sport."

The no. 21 Barnhill Group F-150 will also be displaying the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life logo to help bring more awareness to and the prevention of cancer while also celebrating cancer survivors. The race team is going to donate two dollars for every Kroger 250 race lap that Jon runs to help raise funds for his mother, Carol Wood, who is a supporter and a Relay For Life of Patrick County team member. She will participate in the event that will take place on May 17th, 2008 at Dehart Park in Stuart, VA.

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's signature fundraising activity. It began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt of Tacoma, Washington, walked around a track for 24 hours and raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society, since the inaugural event, it has grown into an international annual event that is held in 23 countries, on 6 continents, and in over 4,600 communities. Today, Relay For Life is the largest nonprofit fundraising activity in the world with over 3.5 million participants. While each community's Relay For Life is unique, its greater power lies in the synergy created by all of the Relays taking place worldwide.