Darrell Waltrip Martinsville preview

Waltrip Un-retires For Advance Auto Parts 250 At Martinsville Speedway

MARTINSVILLE, VA. (March 26, 2002) -- Darrell Waltrip has been on the outside of the track looking in for the past couple of seasons.

On April 13th he'll be back on the inside.

The three-time Winston Cup champion and current NASCAR on FOX analyst will make a return to racing in the Advance Auto Parts 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway on April 13.

Waltrip will drive the Duck Head Footwear Dodge, a truck co-owned by Lynchburg, VA., businessman Jim Harris and Winston Cup team owner Mark Melling. Stacy Compton was originally slated to drive the truck, but was forced out by a scheduling conflict.

Waltrip will be reunited with his former crew chief and current FOX Sports analyst Jeff Hammond for the Advance Auto Parts 250. Waltrip has also reached back in time to re-claim his old number, 17, for the event, which will be run the day before the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race. "Jeff and I want to thank FOX Sports' David Hill and Ed Goren for letting us take advantage of this opportunity," said Waltrip. "We were supposed to be in Nashville broadcasting the NASCAR Busch Series event for FX, but they were kind enough to let us go racing. This is going to be fun." Waltrip picked up 11 of his 84 career Winston Cup wins at Martinsville, five in the spring event and six more in the fall. Waltrip finished fifth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Martinsville in 1996. In 1997, the No. 17, Waltrip-owned truck won the Martinsville event.

"This is a great opportunity to have some fun," said Hammond. "It definitely will rekindle some great memories we had together and give us another chance to make some new ones. The Duck Head Footwear people are great to work with. D.W. and I are hoping to put their truck in Victory Lane." Team owner Harris is equally excited.

"D.W.'s record at Martinsville is beyond belief," said Harris.

Waltrip will drive the truck that captured four top-10 finishes and the Bud Pole Award at Phoenix last season when piloted by Compton. Melling Racing is preparing the Dodge Ram truck at its shop in Concord, N.C. Action kicks off at Martinsville Speedway on Friday, April 12 with MW Windows Pole Day. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitors will time trial for the Advance Auto Parts 250 at 1:30 p.m. while qualifying for the Virginia 500 is set for 3 p.m. Tickets for qualifying are $15 for adults and children under 12 get in free.

The Craftsman Truck Series racing action begins at 2 p.m. on April 13 when the green flag waves on the Advance Auto Parts 250. Tickets for the Advance Auto Parts 250 Craftsman Truck race are $30 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. All seats are unreserved.

There still are great seats available for the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race for $40-$70 each. To purchase tickets call the speedway ticket office toll free at 877-722-3849 or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

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