They
were all searching for that extra millisecond that would improve their
performance at the half-mile oval in 19 days.
“We’ve
learned a few things. Just trying to figure out a few dos and don’ts today,”
said veteran driver Greg Biffle. “The things that worked in the spring don’t
always work in the fall, so it’s good that we are back here testing.”
For
21-year-old Kyle Larson, who had never seen Martinsville Speedway before
Tuesday, the test was of major importance. This month’s race will mark his
second career Sprint Cup start and he said his team had a checklist of projects
to accomplish in yesterday’s test.
“We’re
mainly working on getting through the center (of the turns) and getting good
drive off,” Larson said. “I’ve never been to a track with the long straights
and tight corners like this. We’ve got pretty good on the long runs. We’re not
the fastest, but not the slowest either. We’ve got to get a little better, but
I think we’ll be OK for race weekend.”
David
Ragan and his Front Row Motorsports team wasn’t worried nearly as much about
speed on Tuesday as they were on trying new things that would make them faster
in a few weeks.
“Of
course we never accomplish everything we want to in a test unless the track
lets us line up and throw the green flag. For us, though, we want to change
some of the bigger items today that we don’t have time to work with on race
weekend. Suspension parts and pieces, brake parts and pieces,” said Ragan.
“Tomorrow we’ll work on handling and more race stuff.
“Today
has been perfect. The weather has been perfect, the track has rubbered in good.
We couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Joining
Biffle, Larsen and Ragan Tuesday were Biffle’s Roush Fenway Racing teammates
Carl Edwards, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.; Richard Childress Racing drivers Kevin
Harvick, Paul Menard and Jeff Burton; Penske Racing drivers Brad Keselowski and
Joey Logano; and Furniture Row driver Kurt Busch.
There
were also a handful of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers on hand,
including Ross Chastain and Ryan Blaney with Brad Keslowski Racing and Ben
Kennedy, who will be making only his third Truck Series start, with
Turner-Scott Motorsports.
All
the teams will return Wednesday for a second day of testing. Grandstands will
be open at no charge all day. Tickets for the Goody’s Headache
Relief Shot 500 Powered by Kroger start at just $37. Advance tickets
for the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, Oct. 26
are just $30 and tickets for Pole Day, Friday, October 25 are $15. Youth 12 and
under are admitted free on both October 25 and 26. To purchase tickets for the Goody’s
Headache Relief Shot 500 Powered by Kroger weekend, call 877.RACE.TIX or
visit www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
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