EARNHARDT KEEPS COOL, FINISHES 2OTH IN MARTINSVILLE DEBUT

 

 Hot tempers and hectic racing make Martinsville Speedway a tough place to compete under the best of circumstances.  Add a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series record sixteen cautions to the mix, and even the most-experienced driver may be tempted to turn his frustration toward the nearest truck.

 

Kerry Earnhardt kept his cool and managed to keep the hood on the No. 13 ThorSport Racing Chevy Silverado en route to a 20^th place finish in the Kroger 250 on Saturday, no small feat for a driver making his first start at the torturous half-mile track.  A miscommunication in the pit area cost Earnhardt a lap early in the race, but he kept battling, avoided any big trouble and finished on the lead lap.

 

“We got down a lap there at the beginning, but we fought back and finished in the top twenty and brought the truck home in one piece, and all things considered at Martinsville, that’s not a bad day,” Earnhardt said.  “I’m thankful that the crew hung with me.  They worked real hard all day, and battled right along with me.  Those guys don’t give up.”

 

The race also marked Lance Hooper’s debut as crew chief of the No. 13.  Earnhardt likes the potential of their partnership.  “This was my first race working with Lance, and I thought we communicated well for our first time out,” said Earnhardt.  “It will be a learning process for both of us and we’ll keep getting better together.”