Setzer Wants Martinsville Speedway Truck Three-Peat
Dennis Setzer has won two out of the last three NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series events at Martinsville Speedway, including last
spring's Kroger 250. And it could get worse for his competition.
Setzer will head back to Martinsville for the April 17
running of the Kroger 250 hungrier than ever after his winning streak was
snapped last fall. And he's armed with new, bigger backing.
"It's an exciting time for us. With a new
manufacturer coming into the series, Chevy has really stepped it up. They
have picked us to be one of their chosen teams," said Setzer, whose
Chevy carries the banner of Chevrolet Silverado this season.
Setzer has been a dominant force at Martinsville Speedway
ever since he joined the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series five years ago.
With the new sponsorship package, though, this could be the season he
finally takes home the big trophy at the end of the season, after
finishing second to Travis Kvapil in the championship chase a year ago.
"We had our best run ever at Daytona to start the
season," said Setzer, who ran fifth in the season-opening event.
"We think we've got the package this season to make another
charge for the title."
And of course, considering Setzer's Martinsville
success, two visits to the half-mile track in 2004, the Kroger 250 on
April 17 and the Kroger 200 on October 23, won't hurt a
championship bid.
"Without a doubt Martinsville is our home track,"
said Setzer, who lives near Hickory, N.C., a couple hours away from the
track. "It's our favorite track on the schedule. I've
just got so many laps there, it's like going back home."
Setzer has won the past two Kroger 250s, and had a shot to
make it three races in a row when he finished third in last fall's
Kroger 200, the inaugural autumn truck event at Martinsville.
"We felt like we had a really good truck up there last
fall. We had a great truck, but made some pit decisions that didn't
pay off," said Setzer.
Setzer says his team plans on building some new short-track
trucks, including one for Martinsville. That doesn't mean they have
to use it though.
"We've still got that old truck that we won
Martinsville with once or twice," said Setzer. "We reskinned
that in the new Silverado configuration. But we've built some new
trucks, too.
"But if that old one is our best one, that's the
one we'll bring to Martinsville."
Tickets for both the Advance Auto Parts 500 on Sunday, April 18, and the
Kroger 250, on Saturday, April 17, are on sale and can be purchased by
calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Martinsville Speedway's ticket office is
now open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. on Saturday; and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Advance Auto Parts 500 tickets may also be purchased online at
www.martinsvillespeedway.com
Ticket prices for the Advance Auto Parts 500 range from $40 to $75.
Tickets for the Kroger 250 are $35. Kroger 250 tickets for children ages
6 to 12 are $5.
Anyone buying an Advance Auto Parts 500 ticket between now and April 9
can receive $5 off the purchase of a Kroger 250 ticket. Children's
truck tickets are discounted $1 when bought with an Advance Auto Parts
500 ticket.
The Advance Auto Parts 500 weekend kicks off on April 16th with MW
Windows Pole Day with time trials for both the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
The Kroger 250 is scheduled for April 17 and the Advance Auto Parts 500
on April 18.
-Martinsville Speedway
