Skinner's Performance Potent in Kroger 250

MARTINSVILLE, VA (March 31, 2007) Mike Skinner was hoping to lead the first lap of the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway Saturday.

He vastly underestimated the strength of his Toyota Tundra. The veteran driver led all but seven laps of the race for his third consecutive victory of the season. The 246 laps he led was a series record.

"It's hard to believe the truck was that good," said Skinner, who started on the pole. "We were hoping we could lead the first lap. I thought Kevin Harvick and Ted Musgrave were the trucks to beat. I really expected Harvick to be the guy.

"It was a shock. I can count on one hand in my career — 30 years or more — I've had a vehicle that dominant."

Skinner held off Todd Bodine on a restart with two laps to go for a .527-second victory.

Bodine wound up second to give Toyota a one-two finish. Rick Crawford was third in a Ford, followed by Harvick in a Chevrolet and Musgrave in a Toyota.

Crawford and Harvick raced each other hard on the final restart.

"Me and Kevin have raced each other quite a bit," said Crawford. "There are a lot of drivers out here you can trust and there are a lot of drivers out here you can't, but I think I can trust Kevin. He was better than me. I would have had to let him go sometime, but with a green-white-checkered at Martinsville, I'm not letting anybody go."

Rounding out the top 10 were Ron Hornaday Jr. in sixth, followed by Aaron Fike, Tyler Walker, Timothy Peters and Johnny Benson.

Good tickets remain for today's Goody's Cool Orange 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Martinsville Speedway and may be purchased online at www.racetickets.com or at the Martinsville Speedway ticket office Sunday morning.