NASCAR-CTS: Fords Test Well At Martinsville
5 September 1998
Martinsville Speedway---Ford is making a strong run at winning the Manufacturers Championship in the Craftsman Truck Series and the company hopes the NAPA 250 at Martinsville Speedway will significantly add to their chase.Ford is only two points behind Chevrolet, which leads with 140 points, in the manufacturers race. Ford Motor Company had a two-day test at Martinsville Speedway on Tuesday and Wednesday that left the teams confident of a good run later this month.
"When we set this test up, we didnt know wed be in the position we are right now," said Kent Harrison, Ford program manager for the truck series. "I went back through all the old qualifying times and race results and decided which ones we werent good at. We also took the new tracks into consideration and tested at Pikes Peak, Memphis and Gateway."
"We didnt win a short track at all last year and, with Stacy Compton and Tony Raines doing real well, we are starting to win some short tracks this year. Thats the reason we are in the points race now," Harrison said.
Harrison believes Ford will run well at Martinsville.
"We dont want to spend all this time and money without winning the race. Looking at the times Mike Bliss, Stacy Compton and Tony Raines will all be tough. The momentum has seemed to switched back to Ford," he added.
Raines the most recent winner in the truck series, with a victory at Louisville, thinks he found a setup that will work well for the NAPA 250.
"I think we are decent. We picked up another tenth or so today. We ran in the 20.50 (seconds) range and the pole was a 20.42 seconds last year so it looks promising." The Craftsman Truck Series qualifying record at Martinsville is 20.42 seconds, 92.796 miles per hour set by Rich Bickle last year in a Chevrolet.
"You know, when you come back the weekend of the race thats when it matters," said the driver of the Pennzoil Ford. "You might be the fastest truck here today and come back for the race and struggle."
Compton also feels good about his chances.
"I think we were second quickest out of the trucks here, but we would have liked to been the quickest," said the driver of the Royal Crown Cola Ford. "I think I know some things we can do to it for qualifying that will make us a lot quicker."
"I think we will be in good shape. We made a real long run of almost 70 laps and it ran really well. I appreciate Ford doing this. When we are at the track to race we dont have time to try things and test things because all you have time to do is try to go fast. When we come to a test like this we try spindles, we try brakes and all kinds of different things, and thats what we were able to do today. We feel like this was a real successful test."
Bliss, the driver of the ASE Racing Ford, said he still had some work to do, but the truck was good.
"Yea, were running good. We have some things to work on when we get home. The truck is bottoming out going into the turns so we have to raise it. We probably ran 150 laps and did a few tire changes, and it is responding good."
Bliss said he is looking forward to the race.
"Martinsville is a fun little half-mile because its like two drag strips. It makes you really want to work on get through the center of the corner. Thats the place you can really pick up your time. From the center on, is were you beat them here. Its not driving into the turn. Its from the center of the turn and off the corner. Its a fun track," Bliss said.
The NAPA 250 gets underway at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 26. Bud Pole qualifying for the truck series is Friday, September 25 at 1:40 p.m. Tickets for the NAPA 250 are $25 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12.
The NAPA AutoCare 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race is Sunday, September 27 at 12:30 p.m. Tickets still are available for $35 to $40. Also 8,000 unreserved seats go on sale race morning at 7:30. Call the ticket office at (540) 956-3151 for tickets.
