NASCAR-CTS: Martinsville Speedway Becomes a Truck Stop on September 26
13 August 1998
Martinsville, VA---Martinsville Speedway, which is celebrating 50 years with NASCAR, will become a truck stop on Saturday, September 26.The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, which has raced virtually all across the country this season, will make its 23rd stop of the season at the speedway for the NAPA 250.
It's all part of a big week of racing that features the Taco Bell 300 for Late Model Stock cars on Sunday, September 20 and the 43rd annual NAPA AutoCare 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race on Sunday, September 27.
The truck race will mark a homecoming for two of the competitors, Stacy Compton of Hurt, VA and Jimmy Hensley of nearby Ridgeway. Compton, with one win to his credit, led 165 of 200 laps at Flemington, NJ before being involved in a wreck while Hensley finished fifth. Both know Martinsville like their own backyards and will rank among the favorites.
In 16 races, Compton stands sixth in the point standings with five finishes in the top five and eight among the top ten to win $219,000. Hensley is tenth with three top fives and six top tens for $146,215. Ron Hornaday leads the standings by only 27 points over Joe Ruttman.
Thus far this season, the truck series has raced in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The only Virginia stops will be at Richmond International Raceway on September 10 and at Martinsville in the 27-race series. There have been nine different winners in the first 16 races run.
Friday, September 25, will be Bud Pole Day for both the NAPA 250 Truck Series race and NAPA AutoCare 500 Winston Cup event.
Following second round Bud qualifying on Saturday, the NAPA 250 starts at 1 p.m. Last year's truck race was won by Rich Bickle.
The 43-car NAPA AutoCare 500, with Jeff Burton as the defending champion, gets the green flag at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 27.
Tickets may be ordered by calling (540) 956-3151.
