No one will be surprised if Caudill's record quickly falls by the wayside in time trials Saturday for this year's version of the Bailey's 300 on Sunday, October 1.

"We have four cars in our team and all four of them were quicker than (Caudill's record time) on old tires in testing," said Bassett's Butch Hamlet, who is aligned with three other teams racing out of the shops of H.C. Sellers in Danville. "I think the pole will be three or four tenths (of a second) faster than last year."

Caudill's track-record qualifying time around the .526-mile oval last fall was 20.806 seconds (91.012 mph). During an open test session at Martinsville Speedway Wednesday, former Bailey's 300 winner Phillip Morris turned a lap of 20.52 seconds, which is almost 93 miles per hour. Several drivers were clocked in the 20.60 neighborhood.

The reason for the increased speed? NASCAR has allowed teams to run a larger carburetor on the Late Model Stock cars this season. In the past, the NASCAR rulebook limited teams to a 390 (cubic feet per minute) carburetor; this year they have been allowed to use a 500 CFM carburetor. Converted to layman's turns, the larger carburetor allows more air into the engine, Hamlet said, and that means more horsepower.

"There's always been plenty of fuel getting to the engine, but the limiting factor has been air," explained Hamlet. "With the 500 carburetor, we're creating 40 or so more horsepower and that is significant."

All four cars out of Sellers' shops were solid in testing. Morris, driving a Chevy sponsored Clarence's Steakhouse in Ridgeway, was by far the fastest in the day-long test. Stacy Puryear, also driving a Clarence's-sponsor Chevy out of the Sellers' shops, was close to the top of the chart all day, as were Hamlet, in a Taco Bell-sponsored Chevy and youngster Jon Denning, the fourth member of the Sellers' operation.

But there were plenty more cars that eclipsed the track record in testing.

"Phillip was the only one we had in the 50s (20.50)," said Puryear. "But there were seven or eight in the 60's and a lot more in the 70s."

Jason Mitcham, a veteran of several Bailey's 300s, said he was surprised at the difference the larger carburetor made.

"The motor was still pulling strong at the flag stand," said Mitcham, who races regularly at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford. "It's (the bigger carburetor) made a big, big difference."

It's almost a certainty the track record will fall in qualifying on Saturday, many factors will help determine how large the track-record assault will be.

"The track is very sensitive to how much rubber is on it," said Hamlet. "A lot of things will come into play: when was the last rain; how much rain fell; is the sun in or out; how warm is it. If the conditions are right, I think the pole with be in the 50s and I think a lot of people could be under the record."

Practice and qualifying for the Bailey's 300 is set for Saturday, September 30. Admission is $5. The fastest 22 cars will make the field through qualifying on Saturday. On Sunday, October 1, the remaining 20 positions will be filled through four, 25-lap heat races, with the top-five finishers in each race advancing to the feature, which will begin at about 3 p.m.

Admission to the Bailey's 300 on Sunday, October 1 is $20. Admission for children six to 12 is $5 and children under six will be admitted free.Tickets may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at racetickets.com. Tickets may also be bought at the ticket office on the day of the race.