E
eeff
Guest
Matt is fastest so far
E
eeff
Guest
after 15 minutes
9
48
88
6
30
20
07
40
43
17
36
8
12
23
19
32
99
14
4
44
31
97
51
66
45
18
21
80
7
02
28
5
29
77
9
48
88
6
30
20
07
40
43
17
36
8
12
23
19
32
99
14
4
44
31
97
51
66
45
18
21
80
7
02
28
5
29
77
M
mlitefan01
Guest
hmmmm....no Rusty?
H
HardScrabble
Guest
Rusty just went on track. Seems most drivers are taking less than 10 laps then adjusting or something.
E
eeff
Guest
25 minutes
17
2
9
12
6
24
48
88
10
29
40
55
30
22
20
07
15
28
7
26
43
36
8
23
19
32
1
99
14
11
25
77
18
45
21
31
5
4
44
02
51
66
59
80
41
17
2
9
12
6
24
48
88
10
29
40
55
30
22
20
07
15
28
7
26
43
36
8
23
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32
1
99
14
11
25
77
18
45
21
31
5
4
44
02
51
66
59
80
41
W
Walrus_3
Guest
I think with the one engine rule they're limiting practice laps.
E
eeff
Guest
for first practice they do qualifing runs. just 2 laps & back in the pits. they only get 3 sets of tires to qualify with.
so the teams don't do a lot of laps in this practice.
so the teams don't do a lot of laps in this practice.
B
B.C. - 24
Guest
Thanks for the updates eeff! I'll keep checking back to see if anything changes.
H
HardScrabble
Guest
Biggest surprise so far (at least to me) Ted Musgrave in the #07 at 6th fastest 45 minutes in.
E
eeff
Guest
45 minutes
28
17
2
9
07
32
48
20
55
12
8
7
22
40
02
24
6
41
36
25
45
31
15
43
1
30
77
19
88
99
10
29
97
11
26
18
21
23
14
44
5
51
4
89
27
80
66
59
Hermie Sadler is doing wel
28
17
2
9
07
32
48
20
55
12
8
7
22
40
02
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6
41
36
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31
15
43
1
30
77
19
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99
10
29
97
11
26
18
21
23
14
44
5
51
4
89
27
80
66
59
Hermie Sadler is doing wel
H
HardScrabble
Guest
Interesting,
Ricky Rudd has come off the truck very quick, DJ very so-so.
Bill Elliott quick off the truck also
Ricky Rudd has come off the truck very quick, DJ very so-so.
Bill Elliott quick off the truck also
E
eeff
Guest
1:50 in
28
12
8
17
07
9
24
02
48
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41
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55
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2
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32
22
97
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1
45
29
19
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30
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43
26
99
23
77
15
5
44
11
14
21
89
51
59
66
80
27
28
12
8
17
07
9
24
02
48
7
41
25
4
55
6
2
40
36
32
22
97
88
20
1
45
29
19
10
30
18
43
26
99
23
77
15
5
44
11
14
21
89
51
59
66
80
27
A
abooja
Guest
Sweet!
Maybe Jr. will make it a hat trick with his 3rd top 5 start in the last three Martinsville qualifying attempts.
Yeah, right.
Maybe Jr. will make it a hat trick with his 3rd top 5 start in the last three Martinsville qualifying attempts.
Yeah, right.
M
mlitefan01
Guest
Hey boo...doesn't Junior hate this track?
paul
Team Owner
I think Jr even said he hates Bristol, I mean come on.
A
abooja
Guest
Nice to see you posting more frequently, mlite.
I wouldn't say Jr. hates Martinsville. He just realizes it's a major challenge for someone of his skill level:
"These short track races are like a championship fight. It feels like they've added two or three rounds of fighting to the usual distance. It's a marathon. You think you've got a great car and you're leading the race and sailing along and then you realize… 'damn! I have 300 more laps to go!' "
"We're not one of the guys that has to be laid-back and race for points. We're going out every weekend to win. But, I still have to approach this kind of race differently than I do at a place like Charlotte. I have to remind myself that I need to be patient all day and just hang in there until the last 100 laps and then really get after it. It's not really my style, but we finished fifth there in the spring, so I feel like I have some sort of idea how to get to the finish line in one piece. The guys have really been great at giving me a good qualifying car too. It's easier to be patient and avoid trouble when you're in the top five all day rather than the top 35 or something [bad] like that…
"I'm hearing a lot about the grinding they did to the surface of the turns, but I don't know what to expect as far as the race. I hear the race speeds may be up to a full second slower. I'll be happy if it's smoother than it was, but we'll see. I think most of the rubber builds up on the painted lines on the inside of the corners. That is always slicker than anything in the racing groove. I suppose we'll find out what it's like when we get there on Friday."
I wouldn't say Jr. hates Martinsville. He just realizes it's a major challenge for someone of his skill level:
"These short track races are like a championship fight. It feels like they've added two or three rounds of fighting to the usual distance. It's a marathon. You think you've got a great car and you're leading the race and sailing along and then you realize… 'damn! I have 300 more laps to go!' "
"We're not one of the guys that has to be laid-back and race for points. We're going out every weekend to win. But, I still have to approach this kind of race differently than I do at a place like Charlotte. I have to remind myself that I need to be patient all day and just hang in there until the last 100 laps and then really get after it. It's not really my style, but we finished fifth there in the spring, so I feel like I have some sort of idea how to get to the finish line in one piece. The guys have really been great at giving me a good qualifying car too. It's easier to be patient and avoid trouble when you're in the top five all day rather than the top 35 or something [bad] like that…
"I'm hearing a lot about the grinding they did to the surface of the turns, but I don't know what to expect as far as the race. I hear the race speeds may be up to a full second slower. I'll be happy if it's smoother than it was, but we'll see. I think most of the rubber builds up on the painted lines on the inside of the corners. That is always slicker than anything in the racing groove. I suppose we'll find out what it's like when we get there on Friday."
E
eeff
Guest
2:08 in
I think there done
12 92.357 mph
24
28
07
8
10
17
2
9
02
25
48
7
31
41
6
19
4
55
22
43
88
20
40
11
36
32
97
18
99
26
44
29
30
1
45
23
77
15
5
51
14
21
89
59
66
80
27
I think there done
12 92.357 mph
24
28
07
8
10
17
2
9
02
25
48
7
31
41
6
19
4
55
22
43
88
20
40
11
36
32
97
18
99
26
44
29
30
1
45
23
77
15
5
51
14
21
89
59
66
80
27
A
abooja
Guest
Paul, I'd venture to say that most drivers would claim to hate Bristol. It's the fan's favorite, not the drivers'.
paul
Team Owner
You think? Hmm...I doubt it but ok.
6
66mustang
Guest
Man I'll tell, I'm pretty surprised by the 07 and the 02. Even the 7 car is doing sorta OK.
paul
Team Owner
Was wondering if anyone would take their eye off the number 8 and see that.
Very good to see, definately.
Very good to see, definately.
A
abooja
Guest
Hey, what else do you expect from a Jr. fan, Paul?
6
66mustang
Guest
When looking at the numbers I usually go top to bottom like everybody else does. But it seems with Harvick in practices and qualifing I have to go from the bottom to top to find his number faster.
H
HardScrabble
Guest
Never can I recall a team which seems to have lost a track the way the Wood Bros have this one.
Qualifying over the last 3 years has been abysmal vitually living in provisional land with starts of 37, 39, 37, 43, 41, 41, and 36. Finishes are not much better, one top 20 in that time with no DNF's equals running like crap. Now practice at 42nd.
If the Woods can't get this program moving in general next season, them, Ricky and Ford are gonna like a bigger ass than a mule at the Kentucky Derby.
Qualifying over the last 3 years has been abysmal vitually living in provisional land with starts of 37, 39, 37, 43, 41, 41, and 36. Finishes are not much better, one top 20 in that time with no DNF's equals running like crap. Now practice at 42nd.
If the Woods can't get this program moving in general next season, them, Ricky and Ford are gonna like a bigger ass than a mule at the Kentucky Derby.
H
HardScrabble
Guest
Report from Martinsville following first practice.:
Practice times are in and the one consistency throughout was Ricky Rudd.
He'll be a solid contender for the pole. Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth and
Bill Elliott also hung around the top for the majority of practice. It
was late when Jeff Gordon posted a fast time to make himself a contender
as well. A surprise to some was Ted Musgrave making a rare 2002
appearance in the cup series. Dale Jr. muttled around in mid pack
before posting some late quick times as well.
As for the point contenders, Tony Stewart bounced in and out of the top
ten as did Jimmie Johnson. Stewart seemed not to pick up throughout
practice as much as everyone else and started falling to the twenties.
Mark Martin had solid times and stayed mostly in the teens.
Practice times are in and the one consistency throughout was Ricky Rudd.
He'll be a solid contender for the pole. Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth and
Bill Elliott also hung around the top for the majority of practice. It
was late when Jeff Gordon posted a fast time to make himself a contender
as well. A surprise to some was Ted Musgrave making a rare 2002
appearance in the cup series. Dale Jr. muttled around in mid pack
before posting some late quick times as well.
As for the point contenders, Tony Stewart bounced in and out of the top
ten as did Jimmie Johnson. Stewart seemed not to pick up throughout
practice as much as everyone else and started falling to the twenties.
Mark Martin had solid times and stayed mostly in the teens.