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Track Facts:
Banking/Turns: 12°
Distance: one lap 1 miles
500 laps (526 miles)
Shape: Oval

Goody's Cool Orange 500
Sunday, March 30
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, VA
Sunday, 1:30 p.m. EST

Schedule
Practice
12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. EST, Friday, March 28
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. EST, Saturday, March 29
12:50-1:50 p.m. EST, Final Practice Saturday, March 29

Qualifying
3:40 p.m. EST, Friday, March 28, Two laps all positions (SpeedTV)

Race Day Sunday, March 30
1:30 p.m. EST, Driver introduction
2:00 p.m. EST, 500 laps, 526 miles
TV: FOX 1:30 p.m. EST start
Radio: Motor Racing Network (PRN), XM Radio
2007 winner: Jimmie Johnson

Check the SPEED Channel schedule (speedtv.com) for various programs on the race this weekend.

Race Preview

Quotes from Kyle Petty:
“I have a lot of experience at Martinsville and that should help us qualify our way in to Sunday’s race.  This is not an enviable position to be in, but I have a good team around me and we can dig our way out of this.  We just need a little bit of good fortune, more than anything. We’ve had fast cars all year, but mechanical gremlins have gotten the better of us lately.  But I can tell you that no one on this team is giving anything less than 100%.”  
 
“I’ve been in this situation before and we’ve come out just fine.  We’re more than capable of hitting a streak where we get a string of top-10 or top-15 finishes.  Martinsville would be a good place to start one.  We’ve come home in the top-10 there as recently as 2006.  So while everyone else may think we’re in ‘panic mode,’ that’s just not the case.  This is a top-35 team and we’ll show everyone that.”
 
“You know, the Petty family has always considered Martinsville our home track.  It’s a short drive from Level Cross, N.C. and Petty Enterprises cars have won there a bunch.  For years it was a forgone conclusion that ‘The King’ was going to win when you went to Martinsville.  Even though we have moved to Mooresville, N.C., that track is still special to our family.”

Qualifying Results
March 28, 2008

1. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
2. Denny Hamlin, Toyota
3. Aric Almirola, Chevrolet
4. David Ragan, Ford
5. Jamie McMurray, Ford
32. Bobby Labonte, Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
44. Kyle Petty, Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge

Jeff Gordon grabbed his seventh career pole at the Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and will lead the field to the green in Sunday’s Goody’s Cool Orange 500.  Virginia native Denny Hamlin will start along side.

Martinsville is the smallest and oldest track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit, but it portrays a big-time persona.  The close-quarter, fender-rubbing racing is among the best in the series.  It harkens back to Saturday night short track racing, where many of today’s stars cut their racing teeth.  

Bobby Labonte and the No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team will start from the 32nd position for Sunday’s event, after posting a lap of 20.030 seconds.  Crew chief Jeff Meendering arrived at the track armed with a lot of notes and ideas on how to give Labonte what he needs to win another grandfather clock, the trophy that goes to the feature winner at Martinsville.  Labonte, who is the only driver in NASCAR history to win at the oval in all three major NASCAR series, already has a collection of them.  That experience will play well in Sunday’s race.

“You know, the qualifying lap felt better than what the clock showed,” said Labonte.  “It felt good all the way around, really neutral.  So I was surprised when I saw the time.  It felt like a top-10 lap.  But having a car that comfortable will be great for the race.  500 laps here is a long time.  I think we have a car that we can work with and pass a lot of people.  Jeff has had a lot of success here with the ‘24’ car and that gives me plenty of confidence.”

Kyle Petty posted a qualifying lap of 20.128 seconds in the No. 45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge, which tied the lap of Dario Franchitti.  This means the final spot in the 43 car field was set by 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup points, which gave the spot to Franchitti.

Kyle Petty name and/or likeness used under license by Petty Marketing Company, L.L.C.
Richard Petty name and/or likeness used under license by Petty Marketing Company, L.L.C.