MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY FACTS & STATS:
• Hornaday has made seven NASCAR Truck Series starts at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway since the Series debut in 1995. Earning three top-five and four top-10 finishes. Hornaday holds an average starting position of seventh.
• Hornaday holds the record for the most short track (a track less than one mile in length) wins; Hornaday won seven times in a single season (1997) and has 15 career wins. Hornaday has also earned eight short-track poles in his Truck Series career.
QUOTES: Driver—Ron Hornaday: What is the importance of testing at Caraway (N.C., Speedway) in preparation for Martinsville? “It’s not important to go to Caraway (N.C.) Speedway to race at a short track like Martinsville. It’s different; the important thing is to go and do a brake test and hopefully find the balance on brakes and rotors, and have a back up plan. And the fact that Chris Rice and I don’t have a whole lot of time together; this will give us more of an opportunity to work together.”
What are your expectations for the fourth race of the season at Martinsville Speedway? “We’re taking a brand new truck to Martinsville this weekend. After my run at Bristol (Motor Speedway) in the Busch car, it’s exactly what I needed to get my head back in the game and give me that little extra boost of confidence.”
Crew Chief—Chris Rice: What is the most important key to winning at Martinsville? “This is a brand new Silverado we’ve built for Ron Hornaday to take to Martinsville. It’s an excellent short-track truck; it’s light and a lighter truck is always better. At Martinsville aero doesn’t matter, horse power doesn’t matter, but handling matters because the corners are so short. With it being a short-track, a race can also be lost in the pits; my crew guys have been practicing and improving everyday on pit stops.”
How have you prepared for the race at Martinsville? “We are going testing at Caraway (Speedway) on Monday prior to Martinsville to get some laps in and shake the truck down. Ron and I have a few races under our belt and continue to work on communication. There has to be chemistry between the team and driver, and we’ve got the right components we just gotta get it to work.”
Team Owner—DeLana Harvick: Martinsville Speedway, the hometown track for KHI; what memories does this track bring to mind for you? “Martinsville really holds a special place in my heart. I can remember my Dad racing the Busch race up there. They always used to have consolation races, and they were pretty exciting. We didn't have the money for a fancy transporter like everybody has today. We'd all pile in a cube van (that towed the race car in an open trailer) that had a little seating area in the back and drive up there. I always looked forward to going to Martinsville.”
What are some expectations for the No. 33 KHI Truck Series team at Martinsville? “I hope we can turn our luck around this weekend. We haven't gotten off to a great start this season. Things just haven't gone our way. But, everyone in the shop has really given that extra little bit of effort, and I believe that's exactly what we need. Nobody likes how we've started the season, but we're not going to give up. There is still a long way to go.”
Hornaday had a seventh-place finish at Bristol this weekend in the No. 33 Outdoor Channel Chevrolet; was that race lined up for a “test session” in preparation for Martinsville? “Watching Hornaday get around Bristol was definitely a treat. He made some great saves and brought the No. 33 home in one piece. There may have been a few places that were knocked in, but that's just Bristol. I think that will be a great motivator going into Martinsville this weekend. I know it will be for me."
POINTS OF INTEREST:
• CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION: Kevin Harvick Inc. and the No. 33 Truck Series entry are working with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to help raise awareness and funds to support vital research and care programs. A dinner party and live auction are scheduled to raise donations for the CF Foundation prior to the Truck Series event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will be the primary sponsor on the No. 33 truck at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Look for further information in weeks to come. www.cff.org
• BLACK AND WHITE: For the first three races of the 2006 NASCAR Truck Series season, the No. 33 has been painted white with a splash of red across the hood. Martinsville (Va.) Speedway is a whole different animal when it comes to race tracks; and the No. 33 truck is prepared for battle painted in all black.
APPEARANCE SCHEDULE: Friday, March 31st…………12:00 n……….WZBB B99.9 Live Radio Interview……….Radio Tent outside Turn 4
Saturday, April 1st……….10:45 a.m.-11:30a.m………..Team Chevy Silverado Autograph Session……….GM Display
