Camping World Trucks - Paludo Preview - Martinsville

LEADER OF THE PACK: Six short months ago, Miguel Paludo and the No. 7 team were starting their fourth race together as a team at Martinsville Speedway. During that event Paludo led his first lap of his Truck Series career. Paludo actually led five laps that day and went on to earn a 12th-place finish at the paperclip-shaped track. Fast forward six months and Paludo has now led a total of 19 laps thus far this season and earned his career best finish of third in June at Michigan International Speedway. After a few tough weeks, Paludo and the team hope that Martinsville Speedway will be the place to turn their luck around and lead even more laps.

SHORT-TRACK SUCCESS: Despite a 31st-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway for a mechanical failure, Paludo has been quite successful on tracks less than one-mile in length in 2011. Paludo scored a 12th-place finish followed by a 15th-place and a solid fourth-place run at Lucas Oil Raceway in July.

LOOP DATA STATISTICS: According to NASCAR's Loop Data Statistics Paludo has spent 49.2 percent of his laps completed thus far this season running in the top-15. Despite some bad luck throughout 2011, the 28-year old Rookie of the Year contender has consistently been running in the top-15.

CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 7 team will unload chassis No. 141. This truck most recently competed at Iowa Speedway where Paludo earned a 15th-place finish. This is also the same chassis that Paludo piloted earlier this season at Martinsville Speedway when he led five laps and earned a 12th-place finish.

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Last week at Talladega Superspeedway, Paludo was running solidly in the top-10 when he got caught in the middle line and was shuffled toward the back of the pack. The team chose to come down pit road for fuel returning Paludo to the track in the 16th-position for the restart with 30 laps remaining in the event. On the restart, NASCAR penalized the No. 7 truck for changing lanes prior to the start finish line. Paludo was forced to come to pit road to serve a pass through penalty, ultimately falling one lap down to the leaders. With only a few laps remaining Paludo was able to get back on the lead lap but did not have time to make a surge back up front, finishing in the 18th position. Miguel Paludo Talks about Martinsville Speedway:

Miguel

Do you enjoy short-track racing over the bigger tracks?

Actually, I love all short racing and bigger tracks. I not only made my first Truck Series start at Martinsville earlier this year, but also raced in the K&N East series here and I love the track. We had a good run early this year and I'm excited to return to the track.

Since this is one of the tracks you have already been to once this season, what do you expect the racing to be like the second time around?

It's hard to predict something, because, anything can happen. I hope to have a good run and a great finish.