It's a test session for the first-ever Limited Sportsman race at Martinsville Speedway on Sept. 27, part of the Made In America Whelen 300 weekend. How important is this test session? According to one veteran Limited Sportsman driver, it's almost as important as the race.

"I think that test is going to be majorly important," said Brian Pembleton, who recently captured the Limited Sportsman season championship at South Boston Speedway. "Actually, if you don't make it to the test, I don't know if you need to come and try to make the race.

"I think we can all learn a lot on that test day. We can go up, try a bunch of different stuff and then pick your best for the race. It's gonna be a lot of work, but it'll be worth it."

Wednesday's test session will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an hour break at noon. Fans will be admitted to the grandstands free of charge.

The Limited Sportsman cars are run at weekly tracks around the nation, normally one notch below the featured Late Model Stock Division. This will be the first time in recent memory that the division has competed at a track that also hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. And that, according to Pembleton, is a very big deal.

"This race is huge, it's the biggest thing ever to happen for the Limiteds," said Pembleton. "The prestige of Martinsville, that's way above everything else we've done in this division."

When the Limited cars hit the track Wednesday morning, it will be the first time most of the drivers have been on a racing surface other than their home track. And for certain most have never competed on a track configured quite like Martinsville, with its long straight-aways and tight turns.

So once they get over the initial adrenaline rush of driving on the storied track, the hard work will kick in.

"I think it's going to be a big adjustment for all of us, especially as far as braking is concerned," Pembleton said of the transition to the half-mile oval. "I don't think the speed is going to be a big factor for most of us, but getting your feet working on and off the brakes, that's gonna be important.

"And the biggest thing is going to be figuring out how to get deep enough into the corners, but not getting in too deep."

he Made In America Whelen 300 weekend will be jam-packed with racing action. Both the Limited Sportsman and NASCAR Modified Tour cars will practice and time trial on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Action kicks off on Sept 27 at 12:15 p.m. with two, 25-lap heat races to fill out the Limited Sportsman field. The top five finishers in each race will advance to the 50-lap feature, filling starting positions 27-36.

The 200-lap NASCAR Modified Tour race will begin at 1:30 p.m. followed by the 50-lap Limited Sportsman feature.

Tickets for the Made In America Whelen 300 are $25 and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.