Perfect Conditions Put Bailey's Record In Jeopardy

Butch Hamlet hopes to put his Chevy in the field in qualifying.

Perfect conditions helped put the Bailey’s 300 qualifying record in jeopardy in practice Friday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway.

At least a half-dozen cars were under the track record in practice on Friday as almost 100 cars prepped for Saturday afternoon’s time trials. The Bailey’s 300 NASCAR Late Model Stock Car race is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Wayne Ramsey, of Amherst, VA, was at the top of the speed charts at the end of the day with a fast lap of 20.207 seconds (93.710 mph) around the .526-mile oval. That time is under the track record mark of  20.316 seconds (93.207 mph) set by Davin Scites for last year.

Ramsey’s position atop the practice session was no surprise; he’s won the pole position for the Bailey’s 300 in the past. There were surprises among the rest of top runners, though.

Brennan Poole, of The Woodlands, TX, had the second best time of the day, 20.219 seconds (93.654 mph) in his very first visit to Martinsville Speedway. Another pair of young drivers, Nick Smith and Richard Boswell, checked in third and fourth fastest in the practice, followed by veteran Brandon Butler.

The final driver to run under the track record was 18-year-old Brandon McReynolds, also making his first start at Martinsville Speedway.

Cars will be back on track at 9 a.m. Saturday for two more hours of practice with time trials set to begin at 1 p.m. Only the fastest 22 cars will advance to the 200-lap feature on Sunday through time trials. The remaining 20 spots will be filled through four 25-lap heat races set to begin at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday

Fan gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12 and children under six are admitted free. Tickets may be ordered by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.