Morgan-McClure prepares for Martinsville

April 4, 2001
11:24 AM EDT (1524 GMT)

Morgan-McClure Motorsports prepares for a return to the site of its last Winston Cup Series win in the spring of 1998. The KODAK MAX Film team tested two days last week to gain information and get driver Kevin Lepage accustomed to the set-up for the Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

The No. 4 Monte Carlo heads to the half-mile, flat oval with two top-15 finishes in a row. Lepage and company hope to carry the gained momentum into the 263-mile event.

Kevin Lepage, driver of the No. 4 KODAK MAX Film Monte Carlo, quotes:

"We have had a decent amount of success during the past two weeks. The Kodak team can carry this momentum into a track where they are proven winners. We are looking towards consistent runs right now to help propel the team into the top-25 in owner points.

"Concrete corners at Martinsville can cause a problem with set-up. Going from asphalt to concrete can be tricky. We learned from our test at Martinsville last week. The team gained two days of information that can be applied to race weekend.

"Realistically, what we need to do as a race team is qualify better. If we can pull out a top-20 to 25 starting position there, I will be glad to accept it. It would be an added bonus to qualify in the top-10.

"This team is just a tick away. The cars are incredible. We are in hopes of complementing our finish last week with an equal or better position this week.

"I will race the track, be careful not to charge the corners and most of all remain patient. It is important to save the tires and brakes. Going down a lap at Martinsville is not the end of the world. It can be pretty easy to get it back.

"The confidence level of this team has risen quite a bit in the past few weeks. We are in hopes of keeping that on an upward swing this weekend. It is incredible to step into a ride and be able to perform well in only two tries. That says a lot about this race team."