Kerry Earnhardt to the Trucks? UPDATE 2: during the Truck Series race at California Speedway, it was mentioned that there is a chance that Kerry Earnhardt will race the #15 Bill Ballew truck in 2005. Shane Hmiel is driving the truck this year, has won a race and there is a good chance Hmiel will move up to Nextel Cup in 2005, running the #23 Dodge.(10-3-2004) UPDATE: Hmiel recently signed to drive the #32 Trim Spa car for 2005-2006 and the team switched to Chevy and DEI engines. UPDATE 2: Craftsman Truck Series owner Billy Ballew has joined forces with driver Kerry Earnhardt and plans to use Dale Earnhardt Inc. engines in his #15 Chevrolet Silverado during the 2005 NCTS season. Kerry Earnhardt, the oldest son of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt, will be running for the first time in Craftsman Truck Series competition. The 34-year-old NASCAR Busch Series veteran has four ARCA Re/Max Series victories, as well as two top-five and five top-10 Busch Series finishes. Ballew is looking to secure primary sponsorship for the full 2005 season. It is a task that he hopes will be aided by his addition of Earnhardt to the mix.(NASCAR.com)(11-29-2004)
Passmore to run part-time Busch and Trucks: ARCA driver Christi Passmore, who finished 8th place in the season points, is planning on competing in the speedway portion of the ARCA RE/MAX schedule in 2005 and a limited number of events in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Busch Series.(SpeedwayMedia.com)(11-27-2004)
Reutimann wins Rookie of the Year:
· David Reutimann won 2004 Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in
the Craftsman Truck Series. He clinched the honors in fine style at
the season ending Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, winning the
pole position and scoring a fourth-place finish. The pole was the
second of Reutimann's 25-race career. Reutimann took Raybestos Rookie
of the Race honors for the 10th time this season.
· Reutimann officially captured Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors
by 67 points (273-206) over Tracy Hines.
· Reutimann led the most laps of any Raybestos Rookie this season.
He led five times in four races for 37 laps (62.97 miles). Other
Raybestos Rookies to lead a lap this season: Shane Sieg (twice in two
races for 2.83 miles) and Tracy Hines (once in one race for two laps,
2.50 miles).
· Reutimann finished the season 14th in Craftsman Truck Series
points, 50 behind 13th-place Shane Hmiel and 60 ahead of 15th-place
Jon Wood.
· Reutimann won his first career Bud Pole at the Easy Care 200 at
Atlanta Motor Speedway. The pole came in just his second career start
and marks the second consecutive season a Raybestos Rookie has won a
pole. Reutimann becomes the second driver for Darrell Waltrip
Motorsports to win a pole, joining Rich Bickle who took the top
starting spot at Martinsville Speedway in 1997.
· Joining Reutimann on the front row at Atlanta was fellow
Raybestos Rookie Robert Huffman. The Atlanta race was the first time
in the history of the Craftsman Truck Series that two Raybestos
Rookies have started from the front row.
· The greatest margin of victory in the final Raybestos Rookie
standings is 138 points, set by Carl Edwards in 2003.
· The record for most Bud Poles set by a rookie is four, shared by
Greg Biffle (1998) and Kurt Busch (2000).
· The record for most top-five finishes is 13, which is shared by
Busch and Edwards. Ricky Hendrick (2001) holds the mark for most
top-10 finishes: 19.
· Busch holds the record for best championship finish (2nd), most
wins (four), and most money won ($745,632).
· The record for quickest win by a Raybestos Rookie is held by Tony
Raines. In 1997, Raines scored his first career Craftsman Truck
Series win in just his fifth career start.
· The record for most top-10 finishes by a Raybestos Rookie is 19,
by Ricky Hendrick in 2001.
· Three drivers from Roush Racing have won Raybestos Rookie of the
Year while competing in the Craftsman Truck Series: Carl Edwards
(2003), Greg Biffle (1998) and Kurt Busch (2000).
· Kenny Irwin was the first Raybestos Rookie to win a race in the
Craftsman Truck Series. Irwin won two races on his way to capturing
1997 Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Raybestos ROOKIE CONTENDER STANDINGS
DRIVER, POINTS
#17-David Reutimann 273
#88-Tracy Hines 206
#12-Robert Huffman 202
#38-Brandon Whitt 201
#8-Chase Montgomery 185
#07-Shane Sieg 176
#02-Kelly Sutton 121
#08-Ken Weaver 89
#63-Chris Wimmer 86
Shelby Howard 58
#29-Brad Keselowski 55 HIGHEST FINISHING Raybestos ROOKIES BY RACE
EVENT HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE
Florida Dodge Dealers 250 David Reutimann, ninth
Easy Care Vehicle Service Contracts 200 David Reutimann, third
Kroger 250 David Reutimann, eighth
UAW/GM Ohio 250 Tracy Hines, fifth
Infineon 200 Robert Huffman, 12th
MBNA America 200 Robert Huffman, 11th
O'Reilly 400K David Reutimann, third
O'Reilly Auto Parts 200 Tracy Hines, 14th
Black Cat Fireworks 200 Shane Sieg, eighth
O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 Kevin Love, 11th
Built Ford Tough 225 David Reutimann, ninth
Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 200 David Reutimann, ninth
Line-X Spray-On Truck Bedliners 200 Robert Huffman, ninth
Power Stroke Diesel 200 Tracy Hines, ninth
Toyota Tundra 200 Robert Huffman, eighth
O'Reilly 200 David Reutimann, 11th
Kroger 200 Robert Huffman, sixth
Sylvania 200 David Reutimann, fifth
Las Vegas 350 Brandon Whitt, 13th
American Racing Wheels 200 David Reutimann, sixth
Silverado 350K Brandon Whitt, 15th
Kroger 200 Robert Huffman, 10th
Chevy Silverado 150 Brandon Whitt, 20th
Darlington 200 Robert Huffman, ninth
Ford 200 David Reutimann, fourth
(Camp and Assoc./Raybestos PR)(11-26-2004)
2004 Truck Series Banquet in Miami: The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will crown its 10th champion on Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla. This elegant hotel opened in 1998, becoming the first luxury hotel to be built in Miami Beach in over 30 years, at a cost of $135 million. Located in the historic Art Deco District on famed Collins Avenue and 16th Street, the Loews Miami Beach Hotel is just four blocks from the Miami Beach Convention Center, and at the heart of the fashionable South Beach dining, shopping and nightlife scene. The banquet will be telecast by SPEED Channel on the following dates:
Sunday, Nov 28th at 8:00pm/et
Monday, Nov 28 1:00am/et
Monday, Nov 29 1:00pm/et
Friday, Dec 3 1:00am/et
Sunday, Dec 26 9:00pm/et
(NASCAR PR)(4-24/11-23-2004)
Craven in the #50 Truck in 2005? UPDATE 3 Craven, Kluever: hearing that Ricky Craven will drive the #50 Roush Racing Ford in 2005. Current driver, Jon Wood is moving the ST Motorsports on the Busch Series.(11-18-2004) UPDATE: Ricky Craven has a ride for next season but it won't be a Nextel Cup ride. It will be either in the Craftsman Truck Series or Busch Series, according to reliable sources. An announcement could come as early as Friday. Craven was contacted Wednesday in North Carolina but wouldn't confirm or deny the rumor.(Bangor Daily News)(11-18-2004) UPDATE 2 - Roush Announcement: Roush Racing will announce its driver line-up for the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season on Friday, November 19th at Homestead. Craven to the #50? Who to the #99? hearing it is Todd Kluever, see my Gong Show page for a list of the possible drivers.(11-18-2004) UPDATE - official: Roush Racing announced today its line-up of drivers for the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck season. Nextel Cup veteran Ricky Craven and Roush’s “Race for the Ride” winner Todd Kluever will pilot Roush’s two Ford F-150s next year. Craven, 38, comes to Roush with a wealth of experience in NASCAR racing. He began his NASCAR career in the Busch North Series in 1990, moved up to the Busch Series in 1992 and ran his first full Nextel Cup season in 1995. He won rookie-of-the-year honors in all three divisions. Craven has also won two Nextel Cup races, with the most recent being one of the closest finishes in Cup Series history in 2003 when he beat Kurt Busch by .002 seconds, which officials tagged the closest finish in NASCAR since electronic scoring came into use in 1993. “I am really pleased to join the Roush organization,” Craven said. “I am looking forward to racing in the Craftsman Truck Series since the competition just gets better every year. Our goal is to give Roush another truck championship next year, and I’m also excited to work with an outstanding rookie like Todd. I think the combination will be exceptional.” Kluever (pronounced Kleever), 26, hails from Sun Prairie, Wisc., where he began racing motorcycles at the age of 14. In 2000, he began racing super late models in Wisconsin and was the track champion at Madison International Speedway in 2001. He made the move to ASA in 2002 and has competed in that series for the past three years. In 50 starts he has earned six top-five and 21 top-10 finishes with his own team.
“I was thrilled when I got the phone call the other day,” Kluever said. “I left the last test at Darlington trying not to get my hopes up, but to be chosen for this ride is just amazing. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I have to thank everyone at Roush for making this happen for me. I hope I can carry on the Wisconsin tradition of success at Roush that Matt Kenseth started.”
“Our truck program will be very strong next year with the combination of Ricky and Todd,” Jack Roush said. “We are lucky to get a veteran driver with the talent and experience that Ricky brings to the table. He will be a huge asset to our program and he will also be a great mentor for Todd. I was thoroughly impressed with Todd when I watched him test at North Wilkesboro,” Roush continued. “He adapted to the truck quickly, and was smooth and patient. I believe he has a bright future at Roush Racing.”(Roush Racing)(11-19-2004)
Kahne wins at Homestead, is now 2 for 2: #2-Kasey Kahne won the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, beating his teammate #1-Ted Musgrave. The rest of the top five, #75-David Starr, pole sitter #17-David Reutimann and #6-Matt Crafton. #4-Bobby Hamilton finished 16th and won the 2004 Truck Series championship, his and Dodge's first one. Runner-up, #46-Dennis Setzer finished 10th, but fell 46 points short of the championship. There were 9 caution flags for 30 laps and 13 lead changes among 9 drivers.
See race results at: MotorsportsOne Truckseries.com NASCAR.com.(11-19-2004)
Reutimann wins pole at Homestead, new track record: #17-David Reutimann won the pole for the Ford 200 with a track record speed of 171.255mph, his 2nd pole of the season and career. Starting his last race in the #6 truck, Matt Crafton will start 2nd, followed by #99-Carl Edwards, #16-Jack Sprague and #47-Bobby Labonte. Points leader #4-Bobby Hamilton will start 9th and 2nd in points #46-Dennis Setzer will start 23rd. The Japanese driver who was attempting to make the race, Shigeaki Hattori, missed the race, along with #63-Brad Keselowski, #48-Derrike Cope, 2-time winner this year #30-Todd Bodine and #59-Scott Lynch.
See starting lineups at: MotorsportsOne NASCAR.com.(11-18-2004)
Smith to run Truck at Homestead: Regan Smith, who has run part-time in the Busch Series for two seasons, will be driving the #06 BigShowFarms.com Chevy Silverado in Friday's Craftsman Truck race at Homestead. The team is running the BigShowFarms.com decal in conjunction with the new website for John Boy & Billy Christmas trees. This is an one-race deal with MRD Motorsports. At this time, Smith has no definite plans for 2005 and is wide open for any promising opportunity. Contact him at (704) 663-7223 for more information.(BGNRacing.com)(11-17-2004)
Biffle to run truck race: Fifth-grader Brien Henry from Opa Locka, the winner of the Newspapers in Education Hispanic Heritage Art Contest, will help Greg Biffle unveil his #44 NASCAR Craftsman truck Ford F-150 that will carry Brien's drawing during the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(HMS PR)(11-17-2004)
Homestead News and Notes:
New series record for wins a possibility … When Kasey Kahne (No. 2 Team ASE/Carquest Dodge) captured the Nov. 13 Darlington 200, the list of 2004 winners reached 13. The single season record is 14, in 1998. Kahne is the sixth driver to post his first series victory in Jimmy Smith’s Ultra Motorsports No. 2 truck.
Dodge Ram is No. 1 in 2004 … Dodge is the series manufacturer champion for the second-consecutive season and third time in four years. It’s the seventh time the title has been clinched with a victory and the latest – one race to go – that the championship has been decided. Dodge has won 45 of the last 95 races, a .470 winning percentage.
Awards still unclaimed entering finale … A number of special awards remain up for grabs entering the Ford 200: POWERade Pit Championship (current leader No. 99 Roush Racing), Featherlite Most Improved Driver (Musgrave/Shane Hmiel), International Crew Chief (Danny Gill, No. 46 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports) and Waste Management Picking Up Places (Shane Sieg).
Quick turnaround for championship celebration … The 2004 champion’s banquet will be held 24 hours after the checkered flag falls on the Ford 200. This year’s celebration will be held at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Highlights will be broadcast by SPEED Channel at 8 p.m. Nov. 28 and re-aired at 9 p.m. on Dec. 26.
Etc. … Deborah Renshaw (No. 29 Dealers Motion Services Ford) became the first female driver to lead a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race when the Bowling Green, Ky. resident led lap 36 of the Darlington 200. The race was the 71st in which a female competitor has participated. … Raybestos Rookie of the Year contenders have one more chance to extend a four-season streak in which a freshman driver has won a race. David Reutimann (No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota), who carries a 55-point lead into the season finale, has the best finish to date – third at Atlanta Motor Speedway and June’s Texas Motor Speedway event. … Add Greg Biffle (No. 44 Newspapers in Education Ford) to the list of former series champions to compete in the Ford 200. Biffle’s last start – at Phoenix International Raceway in 2001 – was win No. 16. … Indy Racing League veteran Shigeaki Hattori (No. 01 Aisin Toyota) attempts to become the second native of Japan to compete in a series race. Kenji Momota participated in the fall event at Phoenix in 1995. … Milestones: The Ford 200 will mark Terry Cook’s (No. 10 International Trucks and Engines Ford) 190th series start. Andy Houston (No. 20 Chevrolet), the 2000 Homestead winner, will make his 120th appearance. … The Ford 200 has gone into “overtime” just once, in 1999 when five extra laps were required for Mike Wallace to seal the victory over Mike Stefanik. … Four of Homestead’s eight races have been decided by .461 of a second or less. Last year’s winning margin was .186 of a second. … The Bud Pole starter has won just once at Homestead-Miami Speedway – Hamilton in 2003. Craftsman’s win from the pole bonus hits $32,000 in the season finale.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Crawford’s top-10 streak on line … Rick Crawford (No. 14 Circle Bar Motel & RV Park Ford) has posted six consecutive top-10 finishes at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Mobile, Ala., veteran is the leading money winner as well with $146,101 in seven trips to the 1.5-mile speedway.
Sprague not a winner here but … Jack Sprague (No. 16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet), the three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, has finished on the lead lap in six of the seven Homestead races in which he’s participated. Sprague counts two second-place and two third-place finishes among six top-five performances. The Spring Lake, Mich., native was fifth in 2003.
QUOTEBOOK
“You want to put the year behind you, but you don’t want to forget about it because that’s how you learn.” – David Reutimann, who will accomplish his goal of winning Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors but is likely to fall short of a top-10 championship finish.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Homestead-Miami Speedway has crowned five first-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series winners, most of any track on the schedule. That’s one more than Richmond International Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway. First-time winners in South Florida are Dave Rezendes (1996), Kenny Irwin (1997), Rick Crawford (1998), Mike Wallace (2000) and Ted Musgrave (2001)
Fast Facts
What: Ford 200 (Race No. 25 of 25).
Where: Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Homestead, Fla.)
When: 3:30 p.m. ET, Friday, Nov.19.
Track layout: 1.5–mile paved speedway.
Race length: 201 miles/134 laps.
Posted awards: $592,374.
TV: SPEED Channel, 3:30 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2003 winner: Bobby Hamilton.
2003 polesitter: Bobby Hamilton
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Thursday – Practice 8:30 a.m. – 10:45 Qualifying 1:00 p.m. Final practice 4:15 p.m. time permitting.(NASCAR PR)(11-17-2004)
Japanese Driver Looking To Make NCTS Debut At Homestead: Former CART driver and current part-time Indy Racing League driver Shigeaki Hattori will look to make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut this weekend from Homestead behind the wheel of the #01 Aisin Toyota. Pat Wall is listed as the owner. While never a threat in CART, Hattori from Okayama, Japan does have some solid finishes in his #16 EPSON Honda in IRL. Should he qualify for the event, he will be the only third Japanese driver to compete in an "official" NASCAR sanctioned points event. The other Japanese driver Toshio Suzuki, made his NASCAR Busch Series debut at Nazareth Speedway in 1996 for Joe Bessey. The other, Hideo Fukuyama driving in the now Nextel Cup Series for Travis Carter in 2002 and 2003.(Catchfence)(11-16-2004)
Kahne wins at Darlington: #2-Kasey Kahne won the rain-delayed Darlington 200 at Darlington Raceway, his first career won in the Truck Series and winning in his first start in the series [only Mike Skinner in the first ever race and Robert Pressley have done that]. Kahne is the 7th driver to ever win in the #2 truck. The win allows Dodge to win the Manufacturers Championship. The rest of the top 5 were #4-Hamilton, #1-Musgrave, #99-Edwards and #62-Park. 2nd in points, #46-Setzer got spun out by #43-Richeson, but came back and finished 15th and is now 64 points behind Hamilton. Hamilton needs to finish 12th or better at Homestead and nothing Setzer can do to win the championship. #4-Hamilton wrecked #59-Hamilton Jr. on the green-white-checker when Hamilton Jr. missed a shift or something, Hamilton hit the #59 in the back, Hamilton Jr. spun and nosed into the outside wall, came back down the track and #17-Reutimann t-boned the #59 as he had no place to go. Both are OK. Truckseries.com MotorsportsOne.(11-13-2004)
Special Member of the #14 Crew: The truck #14 team of Rick Crawford will have a veteran crew member working today's race. Not a veteran of working on a car, a veteran of the war in Iraq. Maj. Bill Lukaskiewicz of Kansas City will be serving on Crawford's crew in an honorary basis. Lukaskiewicz, who returned from his tour of duty in Iraq in early September, is not real sure what his duties will be. “I'll follow orders,” he said. “I'm good at that.” Word is he will be the tire catcher — the guy who leans over the wall and grabs tires after they are taken off the car. Asked how he would feel if a tire got away and Crawford was penalized, Lukaskiewicz said, “That would be bad. I probably would not be asked back.” Lukaskiewicz was just awarded the bronze star for his efforts in Iraq.(Kansasa City Star)(11-13-2004)
Flat Stanley rides with Hmiel: Flat Stanley has traveled to Darlington Raceway with Shane Hmiel to take a ride in #15 TRIMSPA Chevrolet. The Flat Stanley Project is a nationwide elementary school program based on the book Flat Stanley written by Jeff Brown about Stanley Lambchop who gets flattened by a bulletin board. One of the many advantages is that Flat Stanley can now visit his friends by traveling in an envelope. His parents sent him by mail to see some relatives in California to seek some new adventures with instructions to keep a diary of his journey. Started in the summer of 1995, the Flat Stanley Project gives children the opportunity to expand their communication skills by broadening their borders by sending their own Flat Stanley on an adventure. Many of these students at the school are of low social-economic backgrounds. Eric T. from Lori Pierce's fourth grade class at Dover Elementary School in Richardson Texas from wrote to Hmiel and asked him to take Flat Stanley on an adventure with him and what an adventure it will be. Ms. Pierce goal is to help her students learn what life is like outside their immediate neighborhood and to be able to share Stanley's adventures with their classmates. So, keep your eye out in the NASCAR garages for Flat Stanley with Hmiel who is racing in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Series races with Team TRIMSPA this weekend in Darlington. In addition, Flat Stanley will make an exciting trip to the Florida Keys with Hmiel prior to returning to his Texas home. A journal with photos of Flat Stanley's NASCAR adventure will be featured on Hmiel's website, www.shanehmielracing.com. To learn more about the book Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown and the Flat Stanley Project visit the projects website at Flat Stanley Project.(PR)(11-12-2004)
RAIN at Darlington postponed the Darlington 200 at Darlington Raceway. The race is now scheduled to start at 5:30pm/et on Saturday, November, 13th at 5:30pm/et [it'll be dark] and be televised on Speed Channel and aired on MRN radio live.(11-12-2004)
Edwards wins pole at Darlington: #99-Carl Edwards held off #15-Shane Hmiel to capture the pole for Friday night's Darlington 200 at Darlington Raceway. Edwards' lap at 167.487 mph set a new track record, but Hmiel came closest to knocking Edwards from the top, with a lap at 166.947mph. #59-Bobby Hamilton Jr. was third, #9-Kasey Kahne fourth and series points leader #4-Bobby Hamilton Sr. will line up fifth. Hamilton Sr. leads #46-Dennis Setzer by seven points with two races remaining. Setzer qualified 17th-fastest.
Qualifying Results/Starting Lineup at: Truckseries.com - qualifying Truckseries.com - starting lineup MotorsportsOne NASCAR.com.(11-11-2004)
Darlington News and Notes:
Handicapping the title contenders at Darlington … Hamilton has won both series starts at Darlington Raceway in 2001 and ‘03. Musgrave won in 2002 and finished second a year ago. Setzer counts a best finish of 11th. Edwards was 23rd last year as a Raybestos rookie. Crafton finished eighth in 2001.
Manufacturer championship battle goes down to the wire … Dodge leads Chevrolet by four points – 144 to 140 – in the race for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series manufacturer championship. Dodge can clinch its third title by winning either of the final two races. Chevrolet victories at Darlington and Homestead would give General Motors a sixth crown.
Survey Says! NASCAR on Family Feud … The popular game show will air special NASCAR-themed episodes the week of November 15-19. Drivers representing the sanctioning body’s top three national series will pit their NASCAR families of crew chiefs, crew members and family members against each other for the benefit of their favorite charities. The Family Feud lineup includes Ward Burton (No. 0 Net Zero HiSpeed Chevrolet), who will play for The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation; Sterling Marlin (No. 40 Coors Light Dodge), who will play for the Boys and Girls Club of Nashville, Tenn.; Casey Mears (No. 41 Target Dodge), who will play for Target House and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Bill Lester (No. 22 Toyota Tundra Toyota), who will play for the Urban Youth Racing School. Elliott Sadler (No. 38 M&M’s Ford) and NASCAR Busch Series driver Kenny Wallace (No. 23 Stacker2 Chevrolet) will play for the Autism Society of America. Kevin Harvick (No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) and Jeremy Mayfield (No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge) will play for the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
Etc. … Jason Leffler will drive the No. 47 ACXIOM Chevrolet in this week’s Darlington 200. Leffler holds the series’ qualifying record of 163.703 mph, set in March 2000. Ken Schrader (No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet) finished second in the 2001 Darlington 200 – his best performance since winning at Saugus Speedway near Los Angeles in April 1995. … Rick Crawford (No. 14 Circle Bar Motel & RV Park Ford) needs $30,643 to become the series’ fifth $3 million career winner. A victory at Darlington will do the trick. … Jack Sprague’s (No. 16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet) sixth pole of the season at Phoenix International Raceway clinched the 2004 Bud Pole Award. By leading the most laps at Phoenix, Musgrave wrapped up the Wix Filters Lap Leader prize. Each award is worth $10,000. … Sprague was second at Phoenix – his fourth consecutive runner-up finish at the track – to narrowly miss collecting Craftsman’s $28,000 Win from the Pole bonus. The bonus increases to $30,000 at Darlington.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Competitors have great Darlington finishes – just not in trucks … This could be the week that Johnny Benson (No. 23 Toyota Tundra) gets his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory. Benson runs well at Darlington, finishing second in a NASCAR Busch Series event in 1995. His best NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series finish of seventh came in 2001. Todd Bodine (No. 30 Germain Motor Company Toyota) won last spring’s NASCAR Busch Series event. Bobby Hamilton Jr. (No. 59 Harris Truck Co. Dodge) counts a pair of top-10 finishes in NASCAR Busch competition – the highpoint a fourth in last summer’s race. Schrader has hit for Darlington’s top-three cycle: second in NASCAR Craftsman Trucks and third in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (1991) and NASCAR Busch Series (1990).
QUOTEBOOK
“Our team doesn’t really have a lot of notes because we only ran a few laps here last year before we lost an engine. Darlington was our only DNF (Did Not Finish) of 2003 and the only one of two races where we didn’t finish in the top 10. But this has been a strange year for us. The tracks that we run good at have not been as good for us and we have run good at places that have not been our best tracks.” – Dennis Setzer, unsure what to expect at Darlington Raceway.
“I’ve got a shot. I’ve never given up. We’re just going to try to dominate and win that race.” – Ted Musgrave on his Darlington 200 strategy.
“We're 133 points back with two races to go. Now we just need to go out and win these last two races. It would be awesome to win at Darlington and have my name in the record books with so many legendary drivers. That place is all about history and I'd like to be a part of it." – Carl Edwards on taking the title race to Darlington.
“We are definitely not out of it. Hopefully, we can carry this little bit of momentum … and if any of the top-four drivers’ luck turns on them as bad as our luck turned on us, then we have a shot. It’s a long shot at this point, but it’s a shot.” – Matt Crafton, who finished third at Phoenix to match his best series performance.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Darlington Raceway is the ninth track measuring a mile or longer to schedule a night race in 2004. Other first-time night races were held at California Speedway, Daytona International Speedway and The Milwaukee Mile. Three different drivers scored victories: Todd Bodine (California), Carl Edwards (Daytona) and Ted Musgrave (Milwaukee).
Fast Facts
What: Darlington 200 (Race No. 24 of 25).
Where: Darlington Raceway, Darlington, S.C.
When: 8 p.m. ET, Friday, Nov. 12.
Track layout: 1.366-mile banked paved speedway.
Race length: 200 miles/147 laps.
Posted awards: $445,294.
TV: SPEED Channel, 8 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2003 winner: Bobby Hamilton.
2003 polesitter: Time trials not held. Field set by rule book.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Thursday – Practice 11:30 a.m. –1:30 p.m. Qualifying 3:30 p.m. Practice 5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. – Final practice 6:45 p.m. –7:30 p.m.(NASCAR PR)(11-11-2004)
Cameron leaving West for Cup/Busch/Trucks: Bill McAnally Racing driver, Austin Cameron will be making his last appearance representing the team at the upcoming NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown on November 13th. Cameron, who has been a series regular since 1998, is seeking opportunities to race in one of NASCAR’s national premier series. Cameron has made an appearance in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at the Infineon Speedway in both 2004 and in 2002. He looks forward to joining one of NASCAR national premier series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck, NASCAR Grand National Busch, or the NASCAR Nextel Cup and record another Rookie-of-the-Year title and a series championship title.(RacingWest.com)(11-9-2004)
Roush Truck/Busch Lineup to Change: The makeup of Roush Racing's Busch and Truck series teams are likely to undergo major changes next season. Much of the change depends on the organization's ability to land a sponsor for its #99 Ford in the Nextel Cup Series. Carl Edwards is currently driving the car and will remain in it should a sponsor be secured. If no sponsor turns up, Edwards will likely move to the Busch series and drive the #60 Ford, team officials confirmed. Edwards would take over for Greg Biffle, who drove the car this season. Edwards and Jon Wood currently drive Roush's Truck entries this season, but Wood also appears headed for the Busch series next year, likely with ST Motorsports [#47, #59]. Roush officials say they plan to run two trucks next season and at least one of the drivers will come from a tryout system that began last week at North Wilkesboro, N.C. Ten drivers remain in the competition and they will test again Nov. 15 at Darlington.(ThatsRacin)(11-5-2004)
Starr wins at Phoenix: #75-David Starr spent the last 27 laps of Friday's Chevy Silverado 150 holding off pole winner #16-Jack Sprague through two cautions and beat Sprague to the checkers by .297 seconds at Phoenix International Raceway for his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory of the season. On Lap 123 of 150, race leader #1-Ted Musgrave quickly fell off the pace when his left-front tire went flat, putting Starr in the lead. #30-Todd Bodine and Sprague remained in the hunt, until Bodine fell off the pace with a loose wheel on a restart on Lap 141. That left Sprague to hunt down Starr. #6-Matt Crafton finished third, #15-Shane Hmiel fourth and #23-Johnny Benson completed the top-five. #4-Bobby Hamilton, with help of his seventh-place finish, moved back atop the series standings. He has a seven-point lead with two races remaining over #46-Dennis Setzer, who finished ninth. The race was slowed six times by caution for 36 laps. There were four lead changes among four different drivers.(ThatsRacin)
For race results, see: Truckseries.com Motorsports One NASCAR.com.(11-5-2004)
Ward named interim crew chief for Cook: ppc Racing officials announced Wes Ward as interim crew chief of the #10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race team with driver Terry Cook. Ward has served as Cook's crew chief in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) earlier this year at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway, where Cook finished a season-best third. Ward serves as the crew chief with driver Jason Keller in the NASCAR Busch Series.
"Phoenix will certainly be busy for us," said Ward. "The easy thing about this weekend compared to our first outing at Mansfield is both
races will be at the same track. Both Keith (Barnwell, co-owner and general manager, ppc Racing) and I had to fly from Richmond after the Busch race to Mansfield. We certainly showed everyone the Ford Power Stroke Diesel race team is competitive and a contender with our finish at Mansfield. I look for us to do it again at Phoenix."
"Wes has done a great job for us this year," said Barnwell, who is spotter for all three of ppc Racing's drivers: Cook, Keller and John
Andretti. "He (Ward) is no stranger to this position and we look for good things to come out of this weekend, both in qualifying and in the races and he's bringing his car chief from the NASCAR Busch Series with him, Steve 'Big Guy' Helwig."
"We've made a change late here in the season with the Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race team," said Cook. "Wes was our crew chief at Charlotte and Mansfield, where we scored our best finish of the year. Phoenix is a track I have a lot of laps on and it
promotes some real good side-by-side racing. It's a flat track which I enjoy racing at and I always seem to run well. I'm looking forward
again to working with Wes."(ppc Racing PR), former crew chief, Jamie Jones, recently left to tkae the same position with #38-Brandon Whitt.(11-3-2004)
Sprague wins pole at Phoenix: #16-Jack Sprague won his fifth career Truck Series pole at Phoenix International Raceway for the Chevy Silverado 150 and his 6th of 2004, with a lap of 131.186mph, a new track record. #52-Ken Schrader is on the outside pole. Rounding out the top-5 are #99-Carl Edwards, #62-Steve Park and #75-David Starr. The top three in points start as following: #46-Dennis Setzer 27th, #4-Bobby Hamilton 8th and #1-Ted Musgrave 7th. Missing the race were #72-Brad Teague and #41-Danny Bagwell.
Qualifying Results/Starting Lineup at: Truckseries.com - qualifying Truckseries.com - starting lineup MotorsportsOne
NASCAR.com.(11-3-2004)
Kenseth Makes Waste Management Team Debut at Phoenix; Lester too?: Matt Kenseth will make his debut in the #17 Waste Management Ford Taurus this weekend in the Busch Series race on November 6th at Phoenix International Raceway. He will also run the car in fourteen select events in the 2005 season. Kenseth's participation with the brand new sponsor headlines a concentrated diversity effort for Waste Management's team sponsorship which also includes Craftsman Truck driver Bill Lester in the #22 Toyota Tundra. Along with the top Waste Management executives, they have all scheduled an 8:30am/pt press conference in the infield media center to unveil their 2005 program. Waste Management executives scheduled to attend include CEO David Steiner, Vice-President of Ethics and Diversity Carlton Yearwood and Vice-President of Marketing Curt Knapp. Roush Racing Chief Diversity Officer Sam Belnavis will offer remarks and Mike Helton, the President of NASCAR, is also scheduled to offer his input on the successful pairings.(Roush Racing PR)(11-3-2004)
#2 Ultra Motorsports drivers: looks like the #2 Dodge will have different drivers in it for the last three races of 2004:
Phoenix: P.J. Jones
Darlington: hearing Kasey Kahne
Homestead: hearing Jamie McMurray.(11-3-2004)
Lynch in the #59 at Phoenix and Homestead: NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series 2003 Champion Scott Lynch will pilot the #59 HT Motorsports Dodge at the upcoming NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events at Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. "I am really pleased to be able to run in this two prestigious events," said Lynch, who will be making his fourth and fifth appearance in the Craftsman Truck Series. "I ran last year at Miami and finished 12th. While I have never run a truck at Phoenix, I have taken two wins, set a new track record and earned a Pole there in the West Series. I certainly appreciate Jim Harris (team owner) and Dodge giving me this opportunity and I am looking forward to bringing home a good finish for them."
"Scott Lynch is definitely an up and coming young talent," says Scott Richter, Dodge Truck Program Manger. We are happy to be able to provide him with some seat time in the Truck Series and feel that he will do an excellent job for us. In addition to running at Miami, Lynch has also competed in the #61 Orleans Dodge at Las Vegas Motor Speedway twice, finishing 12th and 29th.(PR)(11-2-2004)
Hornaday in the #47 at Phoenix, Ward at Darlington: during Monday's Wund Tunnel with Dave Despain on Speed Channel, #46 driver, Dennis Setzer said Ron Hornaday would be in the #47 Chevy at Phoenix, that Ward Burton would drive it in Darlington and the truck will be entered at Homestead, no driver mentioned yet.(11-2-2004)
New Ford heads approaved for Busch Series UPDATE and Trucks: NASCAR has approved Ford's new "D3" class cylinder head for use in the Busch Series. The approval came after Ford officials presented that the years old design wasn't as developable as the much newer Chevy and Dodge pieces being run now by the competition. NASCAR ordered chassis dyno tests this year, which showed that the Ford Tauruses were off by about one percent to the competition. Making the argument easier were the Ford generated graphs that showed the other makes improving at rates far beyond what the Ford operations were coaxing out of their design. This fact, along with the power deficit helped NASCAR give the green light to the "D3" for the Busch Series.(Team Ford Racing)(10-16-2004) UPDATE: According to Jack Rouch the new Busch/truck engine program is starting to take shape, now that NASCAR has approved Ford’s “D3” cylinder heads for those series. The decision was made early to create the new departments work under the same roof as the Cup program, which, according to Roush, should help engineering move from the Cup side to the Busch and trucks much faster. The new Busch/truck department for Roush/Yates Racing Engines (a 50 / 50 partnership between Roush Racing and Robert Yates Racing, will be headed by George Gable. He will receive assistance from Roush’s “Junior” Paxton. Race day duties will be split between the two engine heavies with Gable doing the Busch garage and Paxton taking the Cup garage.(Team Ford Racing)(11-1-2004)
