NASCAR WCUP: Wood Brothers Plan To Double Dip At Martinsville
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
March 16, 2001
MARTINSVILLE, VA (March 16, 2001) – The Wood Brothers could be in for a busy weekend when they make the short trip from Stuart to Martinsville Speedway later this spring.
Although the Virginia 500 Winston Cup race on Sunday, April 8 will be the big event of the weekend for the Wood Brothers team, they’ll have a little Saturday action this time around.
The Wood Brothers, in the midst of a season of resurgence on the Winston Cup circuit with driver Elliott Sadler, will have one of their own family competing in the Advance Auto Parts 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday, April 7.
Jon Wood, grandson of team founder Glen Wood, and son of team owner Eddie Wood, will make his first truck start in the Advance Auto Parts 250, driving a Ford for Billy Ballew Motorsports.
Sadler is off to the best start in recent seasons for the Wood Brothers, with three top-20 finishes in the first four races.
“Man, it’s a world of difference this year,” said the driver of the Motorcraft Ford. “We just feel like a different team, which we are. This is a different race team than it’s ever been and hopefully we’re showing that.
“This team has gone through a lot of changes this year, especially with Motorcraft coming on board and getting us in the right direction with the right resources we need to get us on track. It really shows. We’re a lot better in points and we’re racing a lot better on Sundays.”
Jon Wood has been racing stock cars full time for a couple of years, but he shortened the learning curve and is spending this season alternating between the Winston West Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. And picking Martinsville Speedway for his Truck debut was a bit of a no-brainer.
“Number one, I knew I could get a lot of media attention with this and that’ s important,” said the 19-year-old Wood who is also taking classes at Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville this year. “(team owner) Billy Ballew told me I had my choice of where to start and I picked Martinsville because it’s my hometown track.”
And Wood has at least a little bit of experience on the .526-mile oval. He ran a Legends race here, attempted to make a Late Model Stock race and tested his Hooters Pro Cup car during one of Sadler’s tests last year.
“Martinsville’s also good for us because I have a lot of short track experience in the Hooters car and in the Late Model,” said Wood, who had four top-five finishes and 11 top-10 finishes on the way to finishing eighth in the overall Hooters Pro Cup standings last year.
Wood also plans to get a little more seat time at Martinsville. He is bringing his Winston West car when Sadler comes to test next week. Wood, who started fourth and finished 11th in his Winston West debut earlier this year, will return to that series on April 28 at California Speedway.
Ballew should be a huge help to Wood. He’s fielded trucks in the past for the likes of Geoff Bodine, Rich Bickle and Joe Ruttman.
“Jon has formed a good relationship with Billy and crew chief Richie Waters,” said Eddie Wood. “We felt that putting Jon with an existing team that had experience in the series along with existing equipment was the best shot for him to do well. Wood Brothers Racing will do whatever we can to help Jon and Billy Ballew Motorsports. Whether that’s in a consulting capacity or a more hands on approach remains to be seen.”
The Virginia 500/Advance Auto Parts 250 weekend kicks off with Bud Pole qualifying for the Craftsman Truck Series at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 6 followed by time trials for the Winston Cup Series at 3 p.m. Tickets for qualifying are $15 for adults and children under 12 get in free.
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-$65 each. To purchase tickets call the speedway ticket office toll free at 877-722-3849 or go online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Text provided by Mike Smith
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos and racing art, please visit The Racing Image Galleries and The Visions of Speed Art Gallery .