Martinsville, VA

Denis Setzer repeated his victory at the Martinsville Speedway by taking the checkers at the Advance Auto Parts 250. Setzer, who has competed in the Craftsman Truck Series since 1995 becomes the first driver to, repeats wins at the famed racetrack.

Setzer, who started fifth, took the lead for the first time on lap 198. Dominated after getting out in clean air. “The trucks were made to race at a place like this”, said an excited Setzer.

“My truck was tight for most of the race, but then it settled in with about fifty to go, we started turning, and the thing took off”.

Coming in behind Setzer were Ted Musgrave, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, and Bobby Hamilton.

Winston Cup driver Kevin Harvick returned to the scene of last year’s infamous parking by qualifying thirteenth. Harvick worked his way through the field, and appeared he had a shot at the point until he was flagged during a mid race pit stop, and penalized for pitting outside his box.

Harvick served the penalty, and returned with a vengeance, taking advantage of the caution flag to move through the field to battle the last fifty laps with Ted Musgrave. Musgrave, who won the Pole for the second consecutive year held off Harvick, but the battle allowed Setzer to pull away and repeat his 2002 win. “I burned the tires up a little bit racing with Kevin Harvick. I was trying to pinch Kevin down and make him loose his rear tires. In the meantime Setzer got away”, noted Musgrave.

The Martinsville event also marked the return of Darrel Waltrip to active competition.

The three time Winston Cup Champion entered the event fielded by “Leroy’s Boys Racing”. A team funded by DW and his brother Michael. Picking up a sponsor from Proctor and Gamble’s Tide Brand, Darrell teamed up with his Fox broadcast team of Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds to run competitively and finish seventh. “I worked hard for about three days”, noted Waltrip, referring to his fitness routine in preparation for 250-lap event.

Waltrip and team will next be seen at Indianapolis Raceway Park in August, but otherwise will remain in the booth. The victory for Setzer was the second consecutive win by the Acxiom team, following up their March win in Bakersfield.

As the series heads out of Virginia, Bobby Hamilton remains the point’s leader, followed by Rick Crawford, Brendan Gaughan, Ted Musgrave and Dennis Setzer. The trucks will return to competition on May sixteenth for the inaugural running of the Hardees 200 at the Lowes Motor Speedway.