Team Information:
Crew Chief: Eddie Troconis
Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Triad Racing Technologies
2016 Driver Point Standings: 11th
2016 Owner Point Standings: 11th
Sounding Off – Cameron Hayley:
You’ve had two solid runs at Martinsville Speedway. What are your expectations going into this weekend’s race?
“I love Martinsville. Obviously growing up short track racing, Martinsville is probably the one track on the schedule where I feel 100 percent comfortable; it’s just what I grew up racing on. Last year in the spring race at Martinsville, we had a top-five run going, and got shuffled back, and got put into the wall there at the end. In the fall race, we finished third and had a shot for the win, which was a huge confidence booster for me. I think this year, we are going to be that much better, and hopefully we can get those wins this year.”
Is Martinsville Speedway a track that can be mentally draining for a driver?
“In my experience I’ve found Martinsville to be very mentally draining, but to me Martinsville is more physically draining. At these short tracks, you always have to be up on the wheel – you’re passing trucks and blocking trucks. So, there is a mental aspect to that, but I find Martinsville to be much more physically draining. Tempers can definitely get the best of you. Towards the end of the fall race, John Hunter (Nemechek) and I got together a little bit. I said some things after the race I probably shouldn’t have, but I think that’s all part of racing, especially at a place like Martinsville. I’ve tried to learn how to deal with that over the past year, and turn it into a positive, so that’s my goal this year.”
News & Notes:
- Chassis Information…The No. 13 ThorSport Racing team will utilize chassis No. 11 for Saturday’s Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. This is the same chassis that Johnny Sauter piloted at both Martinsville events in 2015 which included a fourth-place finish in the spring race, and a ninth-place finish in the fall event.
- Martinsville Minute… Among active series drivers Hayley has the best Average Start (2.5), and the best Average Finish (7.0) entering this weekend’s NCWTS at Martinsville Speedway.
- In The Loop – Martinsville… According to NASCAR’s Loop Data statistics, Hayley is scored first in Average Running Position (4.387), first in Driver Rating (115.3), and first in Green Flag Speed (91.40).
- Martinsville Rewind… In the series’ last stop at the half-mile paperclip, Hayley started second and finished third, in only his second start at the .526-mile track.
- Atlanta Recap… The ThorSport Racing driver started fifth in the 130-lap event at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway (AMS) – the top-five starting position was Hayley’s second in just two starts at the 1.54-mile track, and finished second, a career-best for the sophomore driver.
Hayley’s Martinsville Speedway Stats:
- Two starts since 2015
- 458 of 458 laps completed (100%)
- 0 laps led
- One top-five finish: 3rd (March, 2015)
- Best start: 2nd (October, 2015)
- Average start: 2.5
- Average finish: 7.0
Hayley’s Career NCWTS stats:
- Starts: 28 since 2014
- First full-time season: 2015
- Top-5 Finishes: 5
- Top-10 Finishes: 16
- Laps Completed: 3943 of 4076 (97.3%)
- Laps Led: 86
- Start: 8.2
- Finish: 10.9
- Best start: 2nd, Loudon (2014), and Martinsville (Oct., 2015)
- Best finish: 2nd, Atlanta Motor Speedway (2016)
Hayley’s 2015 NCWTS Stats:
- Finished sixth in the driver point standings
- Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
- Four top-five finishes
- 13 top-12 finishes
- 78 laps led
- Best start: 2nd (Martinsville, October)
- Best finish: 3rd (Martinsville, October)