Ollie's Bargain Outlet extends sponsorship with KHI: Kevin Harvick Inc. has announced today that Ollie's Bargain Outlet, one of America's largest retailers of closeouts, surplus and salvage merchandise, has extended their relationship with KHI and will sponsor four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday in the inaugural Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway July 31. Ollie's Bargain Outlet's signature yellow, black and red will adorn the #33 truck along with the Harrisburg Senators, the host of the 2010 Eastern League All-Star Game. Ollie's Bargain Outlet, founded in 1982, is the area's largest retailer of closeouts, salvage and surplus merchandise.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(6-29-2010)

ThorSport partners with Karl Chevrolet in Iowa: UPDATE imaged added: For the second consecutive season, ThorSport Racing will partner with Karl Chevrolet for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series visit at Iowa Speedway. Just like the 2009 event, Karl Chevrolet will be the primary sponsor on the #13 Chevrolet piloted by Johnny Sauter. On Friday July 9 the #13 Karl Chevrolet/Curb Records Chevrolet will be on display at the dealership, located at 1101 SE Oralabor Road in Ankeny just outside of Des Moines from 2:30 P.M. through 4:30 P.M. Sauter will also make an appearance, signing autographs and answering questions from race fans from 3 P.M. through 5 P.M. Following the autograph session, Sauter will head to the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway to compete in a Dirt Truck Racing Association event. (ThorSport Racing PR)(6-30-2010)
UPDATE: Image of the #13 Karl Chevrolet/Curb Records Chevrolet is posted on the #13 NCWTS Paint Schemes Page.(6-30-2010)

Starr picks up sponsor for two; also some Nationwide races UPDATE 2 image added: Cash America International, Inc. and Linkous Enterprises, Inc. are pleased to announce a multi-race motorsports marketing program - a relationship where Cash America will participate in each of NASCAR's top three nationally touring series. Cash America will sponsor the Day Enterprises #05 Chevrolet Impala in the Nationwide Series and the Randy Moss Motorsports #81 Toyota in the Camping World Truck Series; both entries will be driven by David Starr [Races TBA]. Cash America International, Inc. provides specialty financial services to individuals in the United States, Australia, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.(Cash America/Integrity Sports Mgmt. PR)(6-8-2010)
UPDATE: Truck races with Cash America as sponsor; Nashville & Phoenix. The Nationwide races Starr will be the #05; Daytona, ORP, Phoenix & Homestead.(Integrity Sports Mgmt. PR)(6-8-2010)
UPDATE 2: Schematic of the #81 Cash America Toyota to be driven by David Starr is posted on the #81 NCWTS Paint Schemes Page.(6-29-2010)

Hornaday Jr. only NCWTS driver to ever be nominated for an ESPY: Defending series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 KHI Chevrolet) received a special call last week notifying him he was a 2010 ESPY nominee for Best Driver, an honor no other NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitor has received. Hornaday Jr. joins NASCAR Sprint Cup regulars Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson along with IndyCar Series driver Dario Franchitti and NHRA legend Tony Schumacher in the prestigious category.(NASCAR PR)[For more NASCAR Open Week News & Notes, visit the Iowa Race Page.](6-28-2010)

Skinner headed to England for Goodwood Festival of Speed: Mike Skinner, driver of the #5 International Truck/Monaco RV's Toyota will compete in the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend for the second time. The veteran series driver will compete in West Sussex, England against numerous drivers from nationally-recognized motorsports ranks. He is only one of two NASCAR drivers that will represent the sport on the 1.16-mile course. Skinner, who has won for five consecutive seasons, has five top-10 finishes this season and is currently in sixth position in the series standings.(NASCAR PR)[For more information, visit the Jayski Driver Appearances Page.](6-28-2010)

Cobb partners with Baker Curb: Officials from Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing and Baker Curb Racing announced they will partner for the four 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) events featuring the new car this season. Jennifer Jo Cobb will drive the #27 Driven Ford Mustang at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, Richmond International Raceway on September 10 and Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 15. A TBD driver will drive the No. 27 Mustang at Michigan International Speedway on August 14, while Cobb competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Darlington Raceway. JJCR and BCR decided that it was in each team's best interest to combine their resources for the events featuring the next generation race car. With each organization being a smaller, independent race team, JJCR and BCR aim to make a concerted effort as NASCAR transitions to its latest vehicle.(JJCR/BCR PR)(6-25-2010)

Wallace in the #15 at Iowa: Officials of Billy Ballew Motorsports announced today that Steve Wallace will return behind the wheel of the team's #15 Toyota of Des Moines Toyota Tundra for the July 11th Iowa 200 at Iowa Speedway. Wallace, driver of the #66 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has driven in two prior NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, both for BBM. Toyota of Des Moines is no stranger to NASCAR racing. The dealership has sponsored several drivers and has been involved with different racing series. Toyota of Des Moines has previously partnered with Mike Skinner in the NCWTS, Kyle Busch in the NASCAR Camping World West Series and Corey LaJoie in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(6-25-2010)

Lofton making first start with BCR at New Hampshire: 2009 ARCA Racing Series Champion Justin Lofton will climb behind the wheel of the #27 Baker Curb Racing Ford this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The New England 200 will be the first race for Lofton with Baker Curb Racing, but will mark his third career NASCAR Nationwide Series start. This weekend will mark his first run in either series at the 1.058-mile Loudon, New Hampshire track. Baker Curb Racing has announced the addition of the National FFA Organization (FFA) as a corporate partner. The partnership will launch this weekend with the FFA emblem adorning the quarter panels of Justin Lofton's #27 Ford Fusion in the New England 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.(Baker Curb PR)(6-25-2010)

KHI and JEGS forge Truck Series partnership: UPDATE images added: Kevin Harvick Inc. announced today that JEGS Mail Order will sponsor team co-owner Kevin Harvick's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 18th. The announcement, made at the JEGS world headquarters and distribution center outside Columbus, Ohio, revealed the JEGS paint scheme which Harvick will run on the #2 Chevrolet Silverado at the Loudon, New Hampshire track. "JEGS is celebrating 50 years this year and it's an exciting time for our company, our associates and our loyal customers all over the world," explained director of media and motorsports Scott "Woody" Woodruff. "We are giving away a car, we are going to put a bright yellow and black JEGS.com truck on the track with a championship-caliber driver behind the wheel, backed by a team that knows how to win and we are not even close to being done celebrating this year. It's exciting to see us put our brand out in the public eye in different ways this year." The #2 JEGS Mail Order Chevrolet can be seen on track in the September 18th running of the New Hampshire 175.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(6-23-2010)
UPDATE: Image of the #2 JEGS Mail Order KHI Chevy is posted on the #2 NCWTS Paint Schemes Page.(6-24-2010)

Labonte leaves TRG; exploring opportunities including trucks: Bobby Labonte, the 1991 NASCAR Nationwide and the 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, has terminated his contract with TRG Motorsports effective immediately. Labonte, a 21-time winner in the Sprint Cup Series, is currently exploring opportunities for the remainder of this season in the Sprint Cup Series as well as the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series. (Bobby Labonte PR)(6-23-2010)

Dillon to run NHMS Nationwide race: UPDATE more info: Richard Childress Racing is consolidating the #21 Nationwide Series team following the restructuring of the Zaxby's sponsorship. The organization released crew chief Dan Deeringhoff, car chief Tony Hamm and engineer Paul Flury this week as the company reorganizes its Nationwide program. Tim George Jr. will race the car this weekend at Elkhart Lake with veteran crew chief Gere Kennon at the helm. Austin Dillon, who won his first career truck pole at Michigan and finished fifth, will drive the car at New Hampshire with his truck crew chief Danny Stockman calling the shots. Clint Bowyer returns to the seat for Daytona.(Fox Sports)(6-16-2010)
UPDATE: Austin Dillon will drive the #21 Bass Pro Shop Chevy in this weekend's New England 200. This brand-new chassis was built in-house by the RCR team and will complete its maiden voyage on-track this weekend. Saturday's New England 200 marks Dillon's seventh NNS attempt and first start in NASCAR's No. 2 tour since finishing 19th at Michigan Int'l Speedway in August 2009.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(6-22-2010)

Summer stretch proven successful for Hornaday: Once the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series resumes action after three open weekends, four guys will be gunning for bragging rights heading into the series' 10-week long stretch beginning at Iowa Speedway in July and ending at Kentucky Speedway in September. Currently, Todd Bodine (#30 Germain Racing Toyota) leads the way with a 55 point lead over Aric Almirola (#51 Graceway Pharmaceuticals Toyota). Timothy Peters (#17 Red Horse Racing Toyota) is quietly in third only 165 points back. Together the trio combines for only one victory at the 10 upcoming tracks on the circuit. The nod goes to Bodine who scored his ninth NCWTS win at Gateway International Raceway during his 2006 championship season. The sleeper of the bunch could be defending champion Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet) who is just 170 points out of the lead. Traditionally, Hornaday owns the summer stretch. Yes, he is winless so far in 2010, but last summer he won five straight races last season during the months of June, July and August. First third of the season Bodine and Almirola have proven to be the ones to beat and have the momentum heading into Iowa in three weeks. Hornaday, on the other hand, has been mired back in the series standings due to two finishes outside the top 25 in the series' first two events. If Hornaday Jr. can make a run at his prestigious fifth series title — a feat no one has yet to achieve — chances are it will happen in the next 10 races. But first he will have to beat Bodine who has finished in the top five for six straight races. (NASCAR PR)[More Open Week News & Notes are posted on the Iowa Race Page](6-21-2010)

Crawford visits home town; talks about future: Rick Crawford is a big Elvis Presley fan. So you know he'd go for "A Little Less Conversation" -- both the song and in his professional life. But talk is what the Mobilian is up to these days, on Sirius Satellite Radio on Tuesdays and with potential sponsors as he attempts to get back on the racetrack. "I'm answering a lot of phone calls," Crawford said. "We have a lot of irons in the fire. They just aren't hot enough to get us back on the racetrack. But we hope to be back on the track soon." Crawford, 51, hasn't driven in the past four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races after sitting out just one of the previous 328. Circle Bar Racing's #14 Ford started 2010 without a primary sponsor. Crawford raced in the season opener at Daytona with a one-shot sponsor, then soldiered on without a primary sponsor for three races. Despite two top-10 finishes in those events, the Circle Bar operation was shuttered by the lack of funding. Crawford filled in at Kansas for a part-time team and has been sidelined since. Of the four races he missed, Crawford was at the track for three of them -- two as a consultant and one as a spotter. He said the time out of the truck has given him a broader perspective on the series, but it's also made him want to mix it up with old rivals such as Ron Hornaday Jr., Mike Skinner and Todd Bodine all the more. "It's made Rick Crawford tougher," he said. "I'll come back hungrier. I'm working real hard to put some deals together, and we're coming back to win." Crawford visited Teledyne Continental Motors in Mobile on Thursday, presenting the company with a truck hood as thanks for serving as a sponsor for the #14 Ford at Talladega Superspeedway last season. But Crawford said his first visit to the area since the Gulf oil spill had two purposes. Even with his professional problems, Crawford said he knows the home folks are hurting, too. "I came to Mobile to say thank you to some people, but also to check out our businesses that are suffering because of the oil spill," Crawford said. "I want to let everyone know that Alabama is open for business.(al.com/Press Register)(6-18-2010)

New sponsor for SS Green Light Racing's #23: SS Green Light Racing is pleased to announce that the popular cable network Pursuit Channel has partnered with GunBroker.com and the #23 team of Jason White for several upcoming races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Pursuit Channel will share associate sponsorship on the #23 truck with GunBroker.com at the NCWTS races at Pocono on July 31st and Martinsville on October 23rd. White currently sits seventh in the NCWTS point standings. This partnership will assist the two companies in growing already established bases within the outdoor community. Pursuit Channel is the most widely distributed, pure hunting and fishing network featuring many of the industry's top names. It is the only outdoor network delivered in satellite provider DIRECTV's basic package. Starting in January 2011, Pursuit Channel will be available on DISH Network.(SS Green Light Racing PR)(6-16-2010)

Michigan images added: Added a few images from Michigan; #51-Aric Almirola, Zyclara/Graceway Pharmaceuticals Toyota; #2-Elliott Sadler, Granger Insurance Chevy; #13-EZ Grill Chevy; #23-Gunbroker.com/RMEF Ford. Check them out via the 2010 NCWTS Paint Scheme Page.(6-16-2010)

Hornaday in for KHI at Road America and more: UPDATE first start a Road America: #33-Kevin Harvick has announced that he will not run the full Nationwide Series schedule. Mike Bliss will drive the #33 at Nashville, Kentucky, and Gateway. Ron Hornaday will drive at Road America and O'Reilly Raceway Park. Montreal is still up in the air (SceneDaily.com)(5-27-2010)
UPDATE: Ron Hornaday. Hornaday who will make his first-career start at the 4.048-mile road course as the Nationwide Series makes their inaugural stop at the Wisconsin track. In the Nationwide Series, Hornaday has six starts on road courses among three tracks, Watkins Glen International, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Montreal, Canada) and Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico City, Mexico). In those six starts, Hornaday has two top-10 finishes and has led 11 laps at Watkins Glen International.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(6-14-2010)

Racing Resources - Post-Race Rundown:
*Aric Almirola won the VFW 200 at Michigan International Speedway. It was his second series victory in his 58th start. His last win came at Dover, three races ago.
*Almirola led just once for seven laps.
*Billy Ballew Motorsports posted its 19th series victory but only its first win at Michigan.
*Toyota posted its sixth win in 2010 and third victory at Michigan.
*Todd Bodine (second) has finished in the top five in eight of the nine races in 2010.
*Kyle Busch (third) scored his fourth top-3 finish at Michigan in five races, but remains winless there.
*Ron Hornaday (fourth) scored his best finish in seven races at Michigan. On Lap 12 under caution, Hornaday was penalized a stop-and-go for adjusting air pressure on pit road.He was running third and had to restart 27th.
*Austin Dillon (fifth) posted his second straight top-5 finish.
*Nelson Picquet Jr. (10th) posted his third top-10 finish in his fourth series start.
*The 20 lead changes set a track record.(ESPN.com)(6-14-2010)

Almirola backup driver for Jimmie Johnson, if needed UPDATE testing with Hendrick to prepare: Aric Almirola will be four-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson's backup driver in the coming weeks as Johnson's wife, Chandra, nears the due date for giving birth to the couple's first child, Johnson said Friday at Pocono Raceway. Chandra is due in five weeks, and Johnson hopes that means the baby will come sometime in the week off between the Chicago race July 10 and the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis July 29. Johnson said he had confidence in Almirola if he needs to relinquish his car. "He'll do a great job in the car and it's just a matter of time before he ends up in a full-time Cup ride," Johnson said. "The other thing that is good for us is our body size and height are very similar so he'll be an easy fit to get in the car."(SceneDaily.com)(6-4-2010)
UPDATE: Aric Almirola likely will test this week with the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 team at The Milwaukee Mile, but says he doesn't plan on having to go to Infineon Raceway next week as part of his role as backup driver for father-to-be Jimmie Johnson. "I'm going to hang out and watch the [Michigan] race and stay and listen and see how they operate," Almirola said Saturday after winning the Camping World Truck Series race at Michigan International Raceway. "The next few weeks should be interesting. "I'm not going to go to Sonoma – that's not in the plan," Almirola said about next week's race at Infineon Raceway. "After Sonoma, from that point forward, I'll be going to the race track just to be around if they need to me, hanging out and trying to watch and learn."(SceneDaily.com)(6-13-2010)

WIX Filter Lap Leader Notes following Michigan:
*Austin Dillon three times for 18 laps to earn WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race honors in today's VFW 200. Dillon captured the honor for the first time this season. He has now led four times in two races for a total of 38 laps and at last one lap in each of the last two consecutive races.
*Dillon is just the fourth Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap at Michigan. He joins Kurt Busch (two laps in 2000), Carl Edwards (22 laps in 2003) and Scott Speed (17 laps in 2008).
*Dillon scored a fifth-place finish, his second top-five and fourth top-10 finish in nine races this season. He scored back-to-back top-fives for the first time in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career (he placed third June 4 at Texas Motor Speedway).
*Dillon is 11th in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship standings, five points behind 10th-place Matt Crafton and 98 ahead of 12th-place Justin Lofton.(WIX Filters PR)(6-12-2010)

Raybestos Rookie - post-qualifying notes:
*Raybestos Rookie Austin Dillon won the pole position for the VFW 200 here at Michigan, his second consecutive pole.
*Dillon now has two poles in 11 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts.
*Dillon has started inside the top-five in five of nine NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races this season.
*Dillon leads Justin Lofton by nine points (95-86) in the Raybestos Rookie standings.(Raybestos PR)(6-12-2010)

Texas images added: Added a few images from Texas: #30-Todd Bodine, Germain/Valvoline Toyota; #31-James Buescher, Wolf Pack Rentals Chevy; #51-Aric Almirola, Zyclara/Graceway Pharmaceuticals Toyota; #4-Ricky Carmichael, Monster Chevy; #18-Johnny Benson, KBM Toyota. Check them out via the 2010 NCWTS Paint Scheme Page.(6-10-2010)

Farewell to Longhorn for Hornaday: This week [Michigan] marks the last Truck Series race for primary sponsor Longhorn Moist Snuff. New rules enforced by the Food and Drug Administration will prevent cigarette and smokeless tobacco sponsorships in sporting events as of June 22, forcing Longhorn to discontinue their relationship with KHI. The red, black and yellow colors have adorned Hornaday's #33 truck for 19 races throughout the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Hornaday recorded four wins in the Longhorn colors in 2009. He also claimed his fourth championship title in the red, black and yellow paint scheme. Hornaday will drive his final race for Longhorn Moist Snuff next week as he climbs into the 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. Nationwide Series entry at Road America in Elk Hart Lake, Wisconsin.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(6-7-2010)

Valvoline, Germain join up: Valvoline, one of the leading brands of automotive lubricants, announced today that it has entered into a technical partnership with Germain Racing and Germain Motor Company, a top-25 automotive dealership network with headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Valvoline motor oil will be the official motor oil of both entities as well as a team sponsor for Germain Racing entries in NASCAR's three series -- Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck -- and the K&N Pro East Series. The agreement calls for Valvoline to be an associate sponsor at all races Germain Racing enters and a primary sponsor at two truck races and two Nationwide races. The truck races with Valvoline primary sponsorship will be Aug. 18 at Bristol Motor Speedway and Nov. 5 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The Nationwide primary-sponsored races will be Sept. 4 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Oct. 15 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Valvoline/Germain Racing partnership will commence this weekend with Valvoline associate sponsorship on Bodine's #30 Tundra in Friday night's truck race at Texas Motor Speedway. Bodine is the points leader in the Camping World Truck Series with six top-five finishes in seven starts.(Valvoline/Germain Racing PR)(6-3-2010)