Patience Is Key at Martinsville Speedway

Spencer Gallagher left a recent test session at Martinsville Speedway with a big takeaway, but it had nothing to do with the setup in his truck for the Kroger 200 Camping World Truck Series race on October 31.

“What I’ve taken away is an increasing understanding of why so many people respect anyone that wins at Martinsville,” Gallagher said during a recent test session for the race. “This is one of the toughest tracks we go to. Not because it’s anything crazy or anything, but this is the most technical track on the entire NASCAR circuit.”

Gallagher, who was joined by teammate Brandon Jones, said the biggest challenge is mental.

“The single biggest challenge to you having a good finish at Martinsville, there’s two of them,” Gallagher said. “One is you starting to see red and starting to do something stupid and two it’s the guy behind you starting to see red and doing something stupid.

“Patience is the biggest virtue you can have around this place. You can only make up spots in little tiny ways, but you can sure lose a whole bunch of spots by screwing up one little thing by being impatient about it.”

While Jones agreed that the track is one of the most difficult, his reason had more to do with the skill it takes getting around the half-mile track.”

“I think it’s one of the toughest tracks we go to, because you’re so hard on the brakes and it’s so technical getting back to the gas and rolling for so long,” he said.

With track position being at a premium at Martinsville, Jones’ wants to eliminate having to work his way through the field at the start of the race.

“The biggest thing we’re trying to do is get a good starting spot for the race,” he said. “That’s going to be the key.”

There is one more challenge that Gallagher will face, should he be fortunate enough to survive and take home the iconic grandfather clock trophy.

“I have a little apartment that I live in, so I’d probably have to put it right dead-center in the living room,” he laughed. “It would make for a terrible coffee table, but it would make for a really good conversation piece. I think I’d come out even, right?”

Jones and Gallagher will return to Martinsville Speedway for Kroger 200 Camping World Truck Series race on October 31.

The race is a part of the Goody’s® Headache Relief Shot® 500 weekend October 30 – November 1.

Adult ticket prices for the Kroger 200 are just $30. Kids 12 and under are only $5.

The Goody’s^® Headache Relief Shot^® 500 is the first race in the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Tickets to the Goody’s^® Headache Relief Shot^® 500  on November 1, the Kroger 200 on October 31 and the Virginia Lottery Pole Day on October 30 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or purchased online atwww.martinsvillespeedway.com.