Jacques Villeneuve - Unicef Tundra
Post Race Report
Race: Kroger 2000
Track: Martinsville Speedway
Date: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007
Started: 27th
Finished: 32nd
Laps Completed: 157
Total Laps: 200
Jacques Villeneuve went to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway hoping to run well in his first-ever short track event. He practiced at Caraway Speedway, near Asheboro, N.C., earlier in the month in preparation for this race, and he and his No. 27 Unicef Toyota Tundra team were ready to get going Friday morning.
Rain set in and halted the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice sessions, meaning teams waited all day before having the opportunity to practice that afternoon. Villeneuve and his team made a number of changes to their truck during the lone practice session. Villeneuve quickly gained speed, and the team was pleased with the outcome of the session.
Villeneuve was the second driver to make a qualifying attempt Saturday morning. A good lap 20.340 seconds earned him the 27th position on the starting grid.
After the green flag was displayed to start the race Saturday afternoon, Villeneuve immediately showed his talent, as he picked off positions one by one. By lap 20, Villeneuve had told crew chief Doug Wolcott that the handling of his Unicef Tundra was loose, and he needed a change soon.
The first caution of the day began on lap 25, during which time Villeneuve and the rest of the field dove down pit road. The No. 27 team made a trackbar adjustment during the four-tire stop, and Villeneuve restarted 20th on lap 30.
Villeneuve immediately moved forward again and had worked his way into the top 15 by lap 90 of the 200-lap event. The handling of his Tundra became tighter by the lap, yet Villeneuve remained calm and continued to prove his skills on the track.
On lap 158, there was contact between the trucks of Jason Leffler and Clint Bowyer. Villeneuve had nowhere to go, and his Unicef Tundra was shoved around like a ping pong ball before hitting the wall hard. The damage forced Villeneuve and the No. 27 team to retire from the race. They finished 32nd, 43 laps down to the leader.
From Amanda Smith Mathis / Bill Davis Racing
