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Photo Michael Jaworecki/Myracenews
Rising star Derek Griffith is heading to Martinsville Speedway this Friday, April 8, to make his second NASCAR Xfinity Series start with Sam Hunt Racing in the Call 811 Before You Dig 250. Griffith finished 26th in his Xfinity Series debut driving the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra last weekend at Richmond Raceway, gaining crucial experience, which will help him roll into the tight confines of Martinsville.
Griffith, a short track ace and multiple-time Super Late Model winner and champion, may find his home at Martinsville – a short track where he is comfortable. He cut his teeth racing short tracks in New Hampshire.
“I’m excited to get to Martinsville, a track that fits my driving style well,” Griffith said. “As a short track racer, you look forward to the day you get to race at a track like Martinsville. It’s a dream come true. I know the team is working hard at the shop to get our Toyota GR Supra ready for the race. We didn’t finish where we were hoping at Richmond – but I learned a ton behind the wheel about how the team operates. I have a few more things to work on as a driver in this series, and I’m looking forward to taking all of that knowledge over to Martinsville.”
In team history, Sam Hunt Racing has three career starts at Martinsville with three different drivers. The team recorded a highest finish of 14th with Colin Garrett in the fall of 2021.
“I’m excited to travel to Martinsville, especially with Derek, who is an extremely talented short track racer,” Sam Hunt, owner of Sam Hunt Racing, said. “He learned a lot at Richmond, especially regarding restarts and how to give feedback, and we’re looking forward to seeing that new knowledge carry over. We as a team have continued to get better each time we go to Martinsville and I’m looking forward to seeing what Derek can do with his short track skill.”
The Martinsville event for the NASCAR Xfinity Series will be a two-day show, with practice and qualifying taking place on Thursday evening. Practice will take place at 5:30 p.m. for 20 minutes, followed by qualifying at 6 p.m. On Friday, the green flag for the 250-lap race is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The race will air live on Fox Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
For more information on Derek Griffith, visit DerekGriffith.com and follow his Derek Griffith Motorsports page on Facebook for the latest updates, including on race day.
