Casey Kingsland has left the DCCS Motorsports team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and will not attempt to qualify for Wednesday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kingsland said Monday. Kingsland, a 19-year-old Las Vegas native, was to have made his Truck Series debut earlier this month at Indianapolis Raceway Park, but the #55 Dodge truck he was supposed to drive arrived at the track with parts missing in the engine and he was unable to practice, let alone make a qualifying attempt. DCCS Motorsports owner David Cushner assured Kingsland that he would have the truck ready in time for Wednesday’s race. When it became clear the truck would not be ready, Kingsland said he ended his association with the start-up team.(Las Vegas Sun)(8-25-2004)
UPDATE: With the sudden and unexpected departure of original driver Casey Kingsland after one race attempt, DCCS Motorsports will continue to soldier on its effort as establishing itself as a contending team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. After the unfortunate incident at IRP in which a motor was delivered to the team at the last moment in an incomplete fashion the team moved on to attempt to right the wrongs of the previous race and get the truck race ready in time for the next race. With the motor problems fixed the truck was ready to go and attempt Bristol – however the team had one problem, limited sponsorship funds. After seeing the entry list released, team owner Dave Cushner exercised financial common sense and pulled his team’s entry for the upcoming race at Bristol. Upon making his decision, Cushner contacted Kingsland’s father and manager Roger Kingsland and the two talked over and agreed to the decision. “I told Roger this is what we needed to do to make the team survive and be able to attempt more races. I assured him that Casey was still our primary driver and offered his son the opportunity to drive our truck at Martinsville and any other race in which NASCAR approved him to drive. At the time he seemed pretty ok with that decision. However, the news I hear now just shocks me and to find out by reading the newspaper leaves me speechless”. The team will continue on and compete for the balance of the 2004 season. Qualified drivers interested in driving the Langers Juices #55 Dodge Ram at Richmond or any other race should contact the team.(DCCS Motorsports PR), contact info on my CTS Team Address page.(8-28-2004)
