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Truck Series Returns To Action At Martinsville
posted 10/20/09
10:43 pm
After taking the last three weekends off, the Camping World Truck Series season resumes at Martinsville. When the series last raced on September 26 at Las Vegas, Matt Crafton finished second and trimmed 20 points off of Ron Hornaday Jr.'s lead. Hornaday, who finished sixth, left Las Vegas 197 points in front of Crafton with five races to go in the season.
Johnny Sauter captured his first career truck victory at Las Vegas. Sauter, a rookie in the series this year, passed Crafton for the lead with 17 laps remaining and then held off his ThorSport Racing teammate for the win. He became the first rookie on the circuit to win a race since Carl Edwards did it in 2003 at Nashville.
Hornaday has been the driver to beat this season with six victories, including a record five straight wins during the summer. The three-time series champion has yet to win at Martinsville. His best finish in 14 starts there is second, which came in March.
"I've been coming here for a while now and for some reason, we just can't seem to break through," Hornaday said. "It would mean a lot to win at Martinsville. It's one of those tracks we've been coming to since the truck series started in 1995, and to finally add my name to the list of legends who have won there would mean a lot to me."
Crafton finished third at Martinsville in April 2006 for his best run in 15 starts there.
Mike Skinner, currently third in points (-255), will celebrate a career milestone at Martinsville with his 200th series start. Skinner and Dennis Setzer lead all drivers with three wins each at Martinsville.
"I love Martinsville," Skinner said. "It's very unique and just an awesome place. I love the fans up there and the whole setting."
Skinner won both races at Martinsville in 2007.
Thirty-seven teams are on the preliminary entry list for the Kroger 200.
Denny Hamlin is scheduled to drive the No.51 Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota this week. Kyle Busch has driven the No.51 truck into Victory Lane five this season, but Busch's Nationwide Series obligations at Memphis prevent him from competing in the truck race at Martinsville.
Kevin Harvick also will compete in Saturday's race at Martinsville. Harvick won the spring race there.
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