DEI's Earnhardt, Truex lead Saturday practices (cont'd)

"My luck hasn't been too great lately," Truex said. "It seems like every time we run good, something weird happens, but we're going to give it everything we've got.

"The guys are doing a great job -- they're doing all the right things, and Bono [Manion, crew chief] is really on top of his game lately. He's giving me good cars and he's giving me what I'm asking for.

"When I ask for something he knows how to give it to me these days, so things are going good."

Considering there were no accidents in either practice, an interesting sight occurred after the checkered flag fell on Happy Hour. More than 20 teams rolled their backup cars out of their transporters and prepared to take them outside the infield to waiting backup haulers.

NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said at least 23 teams had requested the track's Turn 4 gate be opened between Happy Hour and the Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race.

The teams intend to remove their backup cars from Martinsville and prepare them for a two-day open test next Tuesday and Wednesday at Richmond International Raceway.

Among the organizations that unloaded cars were Robert Yates Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Haas CNC Racing, Petty Enterprises, Evernham Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Ginn Racing, Penske Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Robby Gordon Motorsports and Team Red Bull.