Truck series feud? Bodine vs. Busch? UPDATE more... Kyle Busch has been called a lot of things during his career, but dirty is not one of them. So when Todd Bodine used that to reference the way he raced him in Friday night's Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway, Busch went to Victory Lane to confront the series leader. "I don't feel like I'm a dirty racer," Busch said between Sprint Cup practices at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday. "I feel like I'm a hard racer and an aggressive one. I wouldn't call it dirty. Dirty is when you run into the back of somebody down the back straightaway and put them in the fence." Busch, who dominated the race only to finish seventh because Bodine and others didn't have to pit late for fuel, was in his motorcoach changing while Bodine celebrated his fourth win of the year. Busch's biggest complaint was no late caution until Bodine said on live television, "I'd like to thank Kyle for driving me dirty and pushing us down." Bodine was referring to an incident in which he spun out while Busch passed him on the high side. "I thought that was kind of low, but that's how Bodine is," said Busch, who ironically flew to Atlanta on the plane owned by Bodine's team owner, Bob Germain. "The Germain's are great people and have the utmost respect for them. Bob [Germain] gave me a lift down here last night, I appreciate that. It was just a matter of hard racing I thought. [Bodine] didn't want me racing him that hard. Maybe next time I'll lift." (Read entire article at ESPN.com)(9-4-2010)
UPDATE: Bodine interview quotes from Frontstretch.com:
Q: What did Kyle say to you in victory lane?
Bodine: He was just upset I called him out on TV for the way he drives and things he did on the track. He doesn't have to do those things. He doesn't have to race that way. He's a hell of a race car driver, probably one of the best the sport's ever seen and for him to be driving like that -- he doesn't just do it in Trucks, he does it in every division he runs, so he doesn't discriminate. You don't have to do those things, you don't have to drive that way, but that's what he chooses to do. I finally called him out on it, nobody else will and I did.
Q: Do you regret saying it on television?
Bodine: Absolutely not. I'm tired of it. I'm tired of -- Bristol, perfect example. The kid should have been black flagged in Trucks and Nationwide and (NASCAR) didn't do a damn thing about it, so now he just thinks he's going to get away with it more. What he did to me, technically, was nothing wrong. That was racing, that's part of it, but you don't have to do it. We don't have a gentleman's agreement in the trucks, but we all know in the Truck Series you have to give more room alongside somebody because you're going to get pulled around. They are way more aero-sensitive than the cars are in side-drafting and if you don't give room you're going to suck somebody around. We all try to give room because we all have a lot [smaller] budgets. We don't race for the money they race for in the other two divisions. We can't afford to be wrecking trucks and tearing stuff up. We understand that and try to give each other room.
Q: Pennell: How frustrating is it being the points leader and being in the situation you are in -- running in this series and having to worry about Kyle Busch?
Bodine: That's the frustrating part. He has no respect. No respect for anybody else on that race track and that's wrong.
[See complete interview at Frontstretch.com](9-5-2010)

NASCAR anounces 2nd Kentucky event 2011: The National Association For Stock Car Auto Racing today announced the addition of a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event to the July 2011 NASCAR national-series race weekend at Kentucky Speedway. The Thursday, July 7 event will mark the 10th race on the NASCAR Camping World Series schedule and completes the 2011 schedule. It will be the first time the series has raced on a Thursday evening since 2005. A NASCAR Nationwide Series event follows on Friday, July 8, with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series following on Saturday, July 9. The tripleheader marks the first time all three NASCAR national series have run on the same weekend at Kentucky; it will be the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' first event there. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has raced at the 1.5-mile, tri-oval since 2000. "The Midwest fan base has supported the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Kentucky Speedway for over 10 years," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president, racing operations. "This will be a great addition to the inaugural Sprint Cup Series race weekend, adding to what will already be a tremendous three nights of racing for the fans." Out of the 10 previous NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races held at the speedway, seven were won by past, reigning or future champions. Five won the series championship in the same season. Ron Hornaday Jr. is the only two-time Kentucky winner. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to Kentucky on Oct. 1. It will be the first time the series has raced twice in the Bluegrass State in the same season. The 2011 season is the 17th for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. It begins Feb. 18 with the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway. [Revised schedule is posted on the 2011 NCWTS Schedule page.](NASCAR PR)(9-3-2010)

Starr in #81 with SS Green Light remainder of season: UPDATE image added: David Starr will return to the #81 Toyota this weekend at Kentucky Speedway with SS Green Light Racing. The team will now field the #81 truck with Starr behind the wheel for the remainder of the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Starr made 16 starts with Randy Moss Motorsports before moving to SS Green Light Racing at Chicagoland Speedway; he scored a solid tenth-place finish in his first start in the team's #21 Chevrolet. Starr driving the #81 for SS Green Light Racing will bring sponsorship with him from Zachry, Chasco Constructors, and for this weekend at Kentucky Speedway, Allegro Marinade. Visit the Allegro Marinade website for information on the full product line, recipes, and store locators. [Past information regarding this story can be found on the August NCWTS News Archives Page.](David Starr/Linkous Enterprises PR)(9-1-2010)
UPDATE: Rendering of the #81-Allegro Marinade Toyota is posted on the #81 NCWTS Paint Scheme Page..(9-1-2010)

Lia & Stringer Motorsports partner for Kentucky and more: Both Stringer Motorsports and the former two-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Series Champion and current NCWTS driver Donny Lia, both had openings in their remaining 2010 NCWTS schedules to come together and partner for a few of the remaining 2010 races with Lia driving the #90 Toyota for Stringer Motorsports led by Crew Chief Trip Bruce beginning this weekend for the Built Ford Tough 225 presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers at Kentucky Speedway. Donny is a proven two-time Champion in the NASCAR Whelen Series and working together with another proven Champion Crew Chief Trip Bruce and all the guys on our #90 Team should prove to be an exciting time this weekend". Says Doug Stringer. "Donny is a great addition to our Stringer Motorsports team along with our other driver Brad Sweet who will soon be featured once again in the #90 Great Clips Racing Truck".(Stringer Motorsports PR)(9-1-2010)

Carmichael hosting second annual charity golf tournament: Ricky will be hosting his second annual charity golf tournament on Monday, September 13th in Tallahassee, Fla., to support ECHO, a local non-profit organization that supports homeless families in the Tallahassee-area with food, clothing, job training and even housing assistance. Last year, Carmichael's tournament raised enough money to be the organization's largest contributor, and he hopes to do the same again in 2010. [For more information on the tournament visit the Jayski Charities Page.] Prior to the event, Carmichael heads to Kentucky Speedway where he scored his highest finish in 2009 by qualifying in the third position and finishing in seventh. The #4-Monster Energy Chevrolet will be hosting two associate sponsors this weekend in Kentucky; hornton's convenience stores and Remke Bigg's grocery stores.(Turner Motorsports PR)(8-31-2010)

NHMS announces sponsor for NCWTS race: New Hampshire Motor Speedway announced today that The Charity Splits Company, of Joliet Ill., will sponsor TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, September 18. Charity Splits has been established in motorsports by benefitting multiple NASCAR Charities and Foundations including: The Tony Stewart Foundation, Victory Junction, The Petty Family Foundation, The Greg Biffle Foundation, The Ryan Newman Foundation, The Dale Jarrett Foundation, and The Kyle Busch Foundation. This new and innovative model for charitable fundraising is a win-win for NASCAR enthusiasts. Not only do fans have the opportunity to support their favorite drivers' foundations, but this fall, they will also have the chance to get a big win for themselves, a brand new Camping World RV courtesy of Camping World of New Hampshire. Beginning August 31, the Race Day Raffle Series enters its own "Chase" format much like the "Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup." Fans can purchase raffle tickets, with proceeds from the raffle will be put into a pot for the fan's preferred foundation. [Visit RaceDayRaffleSeries.com for complete details.] "Our goal for the 2010 Race Day Raffle Series and TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175 is to raise over $1,000,000 for our foundation and charity partners, and to give away an RV to one lucky fan," stated Ryan West, Director of Marketing for The Charity Splits Company.(NHMS PR)(8-31-2010)

Mule Deer Fdn forms alliance with GunBroker/SS Green Light: Hunters, habitat and wildlife will benefit from a new strategic alliance announced today by the Mule Deer Foundation, GunBroker.com and SS Green Light Racing. The partnership program's first initiative is an MDF/GB NASCAR promotion open to the public. See Gunbroker.com for details on this conservation fund-raising VIP package via online bidding featuring four passes to spend the day with the GunBroker.com racing team on Saturday, Sept 25th for the Las Vegas 350 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The MDF logo will be on White's #23 GunBroker.com entry for some races shown live on SPEED TV, including this Las Vegas event. The Mule Deer Foundation is a national non-profit 501(c)3 organization with about 100 chapters across the United States and CanadaMDF's mission is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat.(SS Green Light Racing PR)(8-30-2010)

Papis to trucks full-time in 2011: Official announcement: NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway has confirmed that Casey Mears will replace Max Papis in the #13 Germain Racing GEICO Sprint Cup Series Toyota, beginning at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 5. [See prior news on the Cup News page]. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a source close to the team said the deal will be completed and contracts signed within the next 48 hours. Papis, meanwhile, will run the full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series slate next season in a GEICO-sponsored Toyota, also out of the Germain Racing stable.(Sirius Speedway)(8-9-2010)
UPDATE: Max Papis, who has occupied the seat of the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will take a new opportunity to race full-time in NASCAR. Papis will be piloting the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series beginning in 2011. The effort is fielded by Germain Racing, who, aside from winning the 2006 Truck Series championship, currently holds the points lead in the Truck Series with driver Todd Bodine. Papis will turn his attention to the #9 GEICO Toyota Tundra effective immediately beginning this week in Bristol. In addition, Papis will compete in three additional races of the remaining 2010 Camping World Truck Series season in an effort to lay a solid foundation heading into 2011. (Max Papis/GEICO PR)(8-18-2010)

Rogers & team headed to trucks in 2011? It is appearing more and more likely that Hampton Roads will house a Camping World Truck Series team during the 2011 season. Jamie Mosley, crew chief of Lamb & Robinson Motorsports in Cheseapeake, said he is virtually certain his team will compete in NASCAR's third most popular series on a near regular basis next season. For now, the team and driver Clay Rogers will continue their pursuit of the USAR Pro Cup Series championship. Rogers might not be the kind of young guy Cup Series sponsors are looking for, but Mosley thinks he'll be a great television presence in the Truck Series marketing the team's sponsors: construction materials-oriented companies USG, Building Specialties and Tidewater Interior Products. Mosley said Lamb & Robinson expects to run 15-to-20 of 25 Truck Series races next season. And, in a series where most of the cars are garaged in the Charlotte area, Lamb & Robinson will prepare for every truck from its garage in Chesapeake.(DailyPress.com)(8-14-2010)

Most Popular Driver voting underway: Online voting is underway for the Most Popular Driver of the Year awards in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, as well as NASCAR's regional touring series. Fans can visit www.nascar.com and vote for their favorite driver for the 2010 Most Popular Driver of the Year Award in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Fans may vote or submit a write-in candidate once per day and are encouraged to vote throughout the season. Voting for the Camping World Truck Series ends November 12, 2010 and results will be announced at the postseason banquet. Last year's winner was Ricky Carmichael.(NASCAR PR)(7-2-2010)