Preece hopes short track background helps at Martinsville
(WorldNews Sport)

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) - Ryan Preece is a rookie struggling to find his rhythm at NASCAR`s top level. But as the series shifts to Martinsville Speedway, the first short track on the schedule, Preece may have a slight advantage on some of his competition for the first time this season. Preece took an unconventional path to the Cup Series and established himself on short tracks across the Northeast. The Connecticut native eased into NASCAR via the Whelen Modified Tour, where he won 22 races and the 2013 series championship. His first win in that series? At Martinsville, of course. `I expect that we should show really well and at least be running top 10 and hopefully get a top five by the end...