NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Hanes 250: Preview from Martinsville Speedway
25 September 1997
HANES 250 HAS POTENTIAL FOR SURPRISE WINNER
MARTINSVILLE, VA - Martinsville Speedway's Hanes 250 includes past
winners, Winston Cup regulars and some newcomers who could take the
Craftsman Truck Series regulars by surprise.
Winston Cup drivers entered in next Saturday's Hanes 250 are Bobby
Hamilton, Michael Waltrip, Johnny Benson, Jr., David Green and Ernie
Irvan. Irvan has one Winston Cup win to his credit at Martinsville and
Green has won in the NASCAR All Pro Series. Kenny Irwin, Jr., will
make his second Winston Cup start in the Hanes 500 on Sunday, Sept. 28
and will pull double duty that weekend as he also drives the
Raybestos/Ford Credit Ford in the Hanes 250 on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 1
p.m..
But there are others who could also be a threat to the series stars
like Jack Sprague, Rich Bickle and Ron Hornaday, Jr.
There are several NASCAR Late Model Stock drivers who know their way
around the 0.526-mile Martinsville Speedway and could take the field
by surprise. Joe Gaita and B.A. Wilson are both past winners in the
Late Model division. Other Late Model drivers with great runs at
Martinsville include Jeff Agnew and Philip Morris. Morris tested at
Martinsville and turned some very quick times in his Beaty
Construction Chevrolet.
Curtis Markham, who will drive the Horner Racing Chevrolet, has the
record for the most Martinsville Late Model wins with four. Other
notable Late Model drivers entered are brothers Wayne and Kevin Grubb.
Craftsman Truck Series regular Stacy Compton moved from the Late Model
division a year ago to run both NASCAR Winston Cup races at
Martinsville. Compton shocked the Goody's Headache Powder 500 field
last year by qualifying ninth and then also making the Hanes 500
starting lineup last September.
The field also has several past Martinsville winners from the Busch
Grand National Series including Jimmy Hensley, Brad Teague and Chuck
Bown. Hensley, who drives the Cummins Engine Dodge owned by Richard
Petty, has a total of six victories at Martinsville including one in
the NASCAR Modified Series. Hensley knows his way around Martinsville
as well as anyone and has often been used by Winston Cup teams in the
past as a test driver. Hensley put Dale Earnhardt's Goodwrench
Chevrolet on the pole for the Goody's 500 in 1989 when Hurricane Hugo
prevented Earnhardt from making qualifying.
Past Martinsville Modified winners in the Hanes 250 are Mike Ewanitsko
and Tom Baldwin. Rick Crawford and David Green have claimed NASCAR
All-Pro victories at Martinsville.
Joe Ruttman, driver of the LCI Worldwide Communications Ford, won the
first Craftsman Truck race at Martinsville. Last year's winner and now
Winston Cup driver Mike Skinner is not entered, but his son Jamie will
attempt to make the field in the Llumar Window Film Chevrolet. Barry
Bodine, son of Winston Cup driver Geoff Bodine, competed in the 1996
Hanes 250 and is entered again this year.
Winston Cup cars time trial for the Hanes 500 at 3 p.m. Friday to
decide the Busch Pole position and first 25 starting spots while the
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will qualify immediately after with all
36 starting positions up for grabs. The speedway is offering a
commemorative 50th anniversary time trial ticket, sure to be a
collector's item.
Following second round Winston Cup time trials at 11:30 a.m. Saturday,
the $313,319 Hanes 250 for the Craftsman Truck Series will be run at 1
p.m. Tickets for the Hanes 250 are $25 for adults and children ages
6-12 get in for $5.
The $1,242,331, 42nd annual Hanes 500 takes the green flag at 12:30
p.m. Sunday. The track still has $35 reserved seats and 8,000
unreserved seats go on sale at 7:30 race morning.
By Martinsville Speedway Public Relations