The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams will return to action next weekend for the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, April 2nd. Teams will race 250 laps for 131.5 miles. FOX Sports 1 will begin their pre-race show at 2 pm ET with the green flag at around 2:30 pm ET. Fans can also listen to the race on MRN or SiriusXM, channel 90.
This week, several drivers participated in a Media Day at Martinsville Speedway including, Daniel Hemric, John Hunter Nemechek, Timothy Peters, Tyler Reddick, Ben Rhodes and Tyler Young.
Hemric Discusses NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase, Abundance Of Competition –
“I think you’re going to have to win a race if not two races to make this deal. There are going to be a substantial amount of one-time winners, I think, and that’s what is so unique about the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. There’s so much talent, we may see 10 or 11 first-time winners. I feel like the fans have seen the first two races of the season and they’ll see here coming into Martinsville we legitimately feel like there’s a range from 12-15 trucks, that depending on the race track, could win the race.”
Nemechek Focused On Winning More Races –
“It feels great to have our ticket punched for the Chase. To be able to come to the race track and not have to worry about points every single week, we can come to the race track and focus on winning. I think you’re going to see a lot more strategy and gambling from the guys who have their ticket punched to the Chase, rather than trying to salvage a good day in points if you aren’t running so well. Whatever it is, a two-tire call or a four-tire call at the end when nobody else is doing it, I think you’re going to see a lot of that.”
Reddick Ready To Race–
“I’ve just been really wanting to get back to racing. I miss racing. I love racing. We run 23 times, I’m blessed to be able to run the full-season (NASCAR Camping World) Truck Series schedule, but I’m used to racing a lot more throughout my whole life. … I’m just glad to be able to come back and race here at Martinsville again. This place, it’s breathtaking, the racing it puts on here. You’ll either be the happiest guy alive leaving the race track or you’ll be the maddest guy alive … So, it definitely brings a lot of emotion out of the drivers. It definitely brings a lot of emotion out of the fans. It puts on great racing and I just can’t wait to come back.”
Rhodes Lauds The Advantages Of Finally Racing Full-Time –
“What it does for you mentally, I can’t even put it in words. Especially when you’re able to contend for points, championship, rookie of the year, there’s just something, an unspoken nature that it does for you mentally and to just be able to have that bond with all of your guys. Not to say that I didn’t have that last year, but I wasn’t in the car full-time. That was the hardest thing for a learning driver – to not be in there. When I was watching the competition, I wasn’t really advancing because I was trying to apply what I learned from one race a month later. It was just hard to do that. Just for me, it might be easier to do for others guys, but I struggled with it. This year, being able to run 23 races, it’s going to be a good time. Before this season, before running full-time, this is a full step up for me because I only ran 14 national series events (before). That’s all I ran. And now I get 23 of them in one year, I’m a happy camper.”
Young Off To Best Start Ever –
“We talked last year, if we could ever get out of Daytona ok, I think it just sets you up with big momentum for the whole year. We finally played it right this year with a good finish, and went to Atlanta and had a good run. We always have this one circled on our calendar, at Martinsville, because I feel like we can run strong here. We just have to kind of mind our own business and keep our momentum going, get out of here with a good day, just keep upbeat and get ready for Kansas a month later.”
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from Martinsville NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Media Day
Grandfather Clock:
Elder Statesman Crafton Looks to Continue Martinsville Success
Fall Martinsville race winner Matt Crafton will attempt to capture his second consecutive victory at the Virginia short track in the Alpha Energy Solutions 250.
In a series record 28 starts at Martinsville, the 39-year-old Tulare, California native claims two wins, eight top-fives and an all-time series-best 16 top-tens.
He has dominated in his last four starts at Martinsville, logging finishes of first, third, second and first from spring of 2014 through fall of 2015.
In the first two races of the season, the two-time series champion finished tenth at Daytona and 30th at Atlanta. He led 76 of the first 111 laps at Atlanta before a wreck ended his day.
Series Point Standings Snapshot
The Camping World Truck Series has a one more weekend off before the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville Speedway.
Through two races, Johnny Sauter and John Hunter Nemechek have all but clinched the first two spots in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase by winning at Daytona and Atlanta, respectively.
Parker Kligerman leads the series points. following his is Daniel Hemric (-1), Nemechek (-3), Timothy Peters (-6) and Tyler Young (-8). Ryan Truex (-10), Brandon Jones(-12), Ben Rhodes (-12), Grant Enfinger (-13) and Sauter (-14) round out the top-ten.
Joey Logano won last year’s spring race at Martinsville, while Matt Crafton took the checkered flag in the fall.
NASCAR IMC