Event: Kroger 250
Date: Saturday, April 17, 2004
Track: Martinsville Speedway (.526-mile oval) Martinsville, Virginia
Laps/Miles: 250 laps / 131.50 miles
TV: SPEED CHANNEL 1:00 p.m. EST
Radio: MRN/ XM Satellite
Qualifying: Friday, April 16, 2004 @ 1:30 p.m. EST
Chase On Martinsville: “I am really ready for some short track racing. Although this will be my first time racing at Martinsville, I have done well on short tracks thus far in my career. I have run very well at some legendary tough tracks such as Salem (IN) and Winchester (IN) and I look to have the same success at Martinsville. Plus, Martinsville is such a popular track within NASCAR and that makes it very exciting for me to finally run here this weekend.”
#8 DODGE at Martsinville: Chase will be racing a chassis nicknamed “Timmy” this weekend. The chassis was purchased last year and was totally stripped down with a new generation body put on it. Chase ran “Timmy” in his only NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start last season at Nashville and will be racing the chassis for the first time this season.
Crew Chief Randy Seals on Martinsville: “I really love this place but I think it owes me one. Last year we led something like 98 laps at Martinsville with Chad Chaffin but we ran out of gas with 5 laps to go. I really think we can have that type of run here this week with Chase – I just hope fuel does not become an issue again.”
Testing For Martinsville: Chase and his BHR2 team were scheduled for 2 days of short track testing at Greenville-Pickens (SC) Speedway on Monday and Tuesday. Due to steady rainfall – the session was limited to Tuesday afternoon. “I think we finally got the #8 DODGE to be very good right there at the end on Tuesday, said Chase. “We tested with our BHR teammates as well as a few other top trucks and I think we will be very competitive this week.”
Time Off: Although the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has been idle for the last 30 days, 20- year-old Montgomery has been very busy. In addition to working everyday in the shop and helping the guys on the building of their truck inventory, Chase also maintains an aggressive work out schedule every morning. Also, with home being in the Nashville area, last weekend was busy for Chase as he spent time entertaining and visiting with fellow competitors in the NASCAR Busch Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series as they competed at the Nashville Superspeedway.
Also, BHR2 Crew Chief Randy Seals did some extra duty last weekend at Nashville where he spotted for Michael Waltrip and ended up in Victory Lane in the Busch Series event on Saturday. “Of course I will take credit for Waltrip missing that late race accident and thus winning the race,” stated Seals. “Really, I had a blast doing it and maybe I will get the chane to do it again at some other time - but it is time for us to get Chase and this BHR2 team to Victory Lane.”
Martinsville Appearances: Chase will be making an appearance on Thursday at Arrington Engines in Martinsville as part of an open house with Team ASE, fellow drivers and local high school and college students. Also, on Thursday evening Chase will be a guest at the Raybestos “Meet the Rookie” dinner at the Chatmoss Country Club in Martinsville.
Career at Martinsville: Chase will be making his career debut at the short track of Martinsville Speedway.
2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results:
Starts: 2
Best Start: 2
Best Finish: 23
Points Standings: 28
Money Won: $23,680
Brent M. Bushu, Integrity Sports Marketing, (704) 799-7019
