Chase Montgomery will run the full NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule next year, driving for Bobby Hamilton Racing. Montgomery’s father, Ray, will finance the operation while the team seeks a sponsor. ”We will run the truck out of our shop but I’ll be driving for Hamilton Racing,” Montgomery said. ”I’ll be the third driver on the team.” #4-Hamilton will return to the truck series for his second full-time season, and also continue to field a truck for #18-Chad Chaffin. ”I think Chase is a good driver with a lot of talent and potential,” Hamilton said. ”He and his dad wanted to put this deal together, and I’m glad to work with them.” Bill Lester drove Hamilton’s third truck last season, but when Dodge Motorsports ended its backing, Hamilton was forced to park it. Lester, NASCAR’s only African-American driver, so far has not landed another ride in any division. Montgomery, who made a name for himself in the ARCA Series, had hoped to move up to the Busch Series. He ran 15 Busch races last season, but said the uncertainty that surrounded the team ”was very tough. I never knew for sure when I’d be racing, and it was hard just to sit at home. ”The great thing about the truck deal is that we’ll be running every race. That’s good for me as the driver and good for the entire team. I’m tremendously excited about it.” Montgomery has run only one prior truck race, last summer at Nashville Superspeedway. The season opens Feb. 13 at Daytona. ”I want to get in as much testing and practice as possible before the season opens,” he said. ”I need to get as much experience as possible as quickly as I can. One advantage I have is working with Bobby, because nobody knows more about truck racing than he does. I’ll have a great teacher.”(Tenneseean)(12-18-2003)
AND Catchfence.com has been informed that Chase Montgomery will be the driver, and the team will run the No. 8 Dodge in a third truck effort for Bobby Hamilton Racing. The team did tell us at this time the team does not have any plans to put Montgomery in a Busch car in 2004, but they may compete in a few ARCA RE/MAX Series events if schedules allow.(Catchfence)(12-18-2003)
UPDATE: Bobby Hamilton has worked a deal with fellow Mt. Juliet, Tenn. native Chase Montgomery to drive the #8 Dodge Ram next season. The team, which will run the full NCTS season, will be a teammate to #4-Hamilton and #18-Chad Chaffin. Randy Seals, who has been crew chief in the BHR organization for the last two years, has been named as Montgomery’s crew chief. The team will prepare for next season by participating in several test sessions before the Daytona race in February.(BHR PR)(1-7-2004)
