(3-29-10) - The NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck series made their way to Martinsville Speedway this weekend. Nineteen past ARCA drivers participated in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, while 22 former ARCA competitors raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event was washed out on Sunday, so they ran the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 on Monday afternoon. Virginia native Denny Hamlin battled back after a decision to make a late pit stop to win his third race at his home track. 2008 ARCA standout Joey Logano finished second for the fifth top-5 of his young NASCAR Sprint Cup career, and four-time ARCA race winner Ryan Newman finished in fourth.
Clint Bowyer, who finished second at Nashville in his first ARCA start, had a solid seventh place finish, his fourth top-10 in six starts this season. 2003 Talladega race winner Paul Menard kept himself in the top-12 in points with a solid 14th place finish, and three-time ARCA race winner Kyle Busch was on point to finish in the top-10, when three-wide racing forced him into the wall. Busch had to settle for a 22nd place finish, two laps down.
Kevin Harvick, who made two ARCA starts during his driver development, started off leading laps and staying in the top-5. However, then a brake problem ruined his day, leaving the No. 29 to finish 35th and 100 laps down. Juan Pablo Montoya, who made two ARCA starts during his progression from open-wheel to stock cars, had a rough day as well, receiving major damage after slamming into the wall on lap 125. After working in the garage for 100 laps, Montoya got back on the track looking to salvage as many points as possible and finished 108 laps down in 36th place.
The unofficial results of past ARCA competitors in the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway:
Joey Logano - 2nd
Ryan Newman - 4th
Clint Bowyer - 7th
Sam Hornish Jr. - 13th
Paul Menard - 14th
David Ragan - 16th
Kasey Kahne - 17th
Kyle Busch - 22nd
Tony Stewart - 26th
Travis Kvapil - 27th
David Reutimann - 28th
Kevin Conway - 31st
Scott Speed - 33rd
Kevin Harvick - 35th
Juan Pablo Montoya - 36th
David Stremme - 37th
Aric Almirola - 41st
Michael McDowell - 43rd
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Past ARCA drivers encapsulated the top-4 positions in the Kroger 250. Kevin Harvick, who finished second and third in his two ARCA starts, beat out teammate and 1999 Atlanta ARCA race winner Ron Hornaday. Rounding out the top-4 was Brian Ickler, who finished in the top-five in four of his seven ARCA starts, and Timothy Peters, who ran for Richard Childress Racing in his two ARCA starts in 2006 and 2007.
Three more past ARCA racers finished in the top-10, including Aric Almirola, Mario Gosselin and current ARCA racer Ricky Carmichael.
2010 ARCA Champion Justin Lofton did not have very good luck, as he was spun on lap 25 and received heavy damage to his No. 7 truck. Lofton took his truck behind the wall and settled for a 31st place finish.
The results of the past ARCA competitors in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway:
Kevin Harvick - 1st
Ron Hornaday - 2nd
Brian Ickler - 3rd
Timothy Peters - 4th
Aric Almirola - 6th
Mario Gosselin - 9th
Ricky Carmichael - 10th
Hermie Sadler - 12th
Tayler Malsam - 14th
Johnny Sauter - 15th
Austin Dillon - 16th
Clay Greenfield - 21st
Norm Benning - 23rd
Brett Butler - 25th
Jennifer Jo Cobb - 26th
Ken Schrader - 28th
Todd Bodine - 30th
Justin Lofton - 31st
Brian Johnson Jr. - 32nd
Chris Lafferty - 33rd
Lance Fenton - 34th
Mike Harmon - 35th