Story by: Andy Marquis ~ [email protected]
Photo by: Corey Latham ~ [email protected]

Ridgeway, VA(October 3, 2012) – Philip Morris clocked the fastest official lap time during Wednesday’s Test Day presented by Performancenter Racing Warehouse for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300.  Morris clocked a 20.473 second, 92.493 mph lap around the historic Martinsville Speedway oval.

“We’d like to win this race again,” Morris, a two-time winner of the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300, said.  “We haven’t won it enough times.  I feel good about this race.  I feel like we’re finally on a level playing field with everybody else.   We’ve given up the whole season and going to the racetracks now, just seems like you’re trying to make up so much that you can’t.  When we come to Martinsville, I feel like we’re the same as everybody else and whatever we do, whatever hard work we come up with, whatever setups we come up with, we’re going to be equal to whatever everybody else can come up with.

“It feels good.  The excitement’s here at Martinsville.  I can’t wait.  I can’t wait to see what we come up with.  We seem to have hit on some good setups today.  Certainly, the car’s running fast.”

Kris Bowen was officially the second quickest time with a 20.489.  Jeff Oakley was officially third fastest with a 20.491, Mike Looney fourth fastest with a 20.509 and Peyton Sellers was fifth fastest also with a 20.509.  However, many cars either did not have transponders or the transponders were not working and registering with the speedway’s timing system.

Unofficially, Jamie Yelton clocked times in the high 20.3s, with Matt McCall and BJ Mackey also clocking fast laps in the 20.4 second range.

With testing now out of the way, the teams now know what they need to do to make their final preparations for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300, which will be run on October 21, 2012 at Martinsville Speedway.  And a grandfather clock and $25,000 check are not the only things up for grabs.  CE Falk, Peyton Sellers and others have a chance to duel for the Virginia Triple Crown.