Todd Bodine (# 66 Fiddle Back Racing Toyota) is skeptical that the grinding of the race surface has significantly altered the personality of Lowes Motor Speedway. Its definitely different, but its the same old Lowes; just a lot faster and a lot smoother, said Bodine, seventh in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship standings entering Fridays Quaker Steak & Lube 200 presented by Click It or Ticket at the Charlotte-area facility. And thats just fine with Bodine, who finished 20th as a stand-in driver for the Tom Eldredge-owned team in 2004. Bodine has been a big fan of Lowes Motor Speedway from the first time he saw the 1.5-mile track, one of the oldest and most historic of NASCARs superspeedways. I like them all but Lowes definitely is among my favorites, said the 41-year-old native of Chemung, N.Y., who has a combined 37 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and NASCAR Busch Series starts at the track. Its awesome. From the first time I was there as a crew member, it was obvious that the track had its own style and feel.
Bodine, who didnt participate in the recent open test at the facility, believes that fans are in for some interesting competition as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series joins the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge for the first of two weekends of May racing at Lowes Motor Speedway. The track cant be compared to other 1.5-mile tracks on the schedule; its neither Texas Motor Speedway nor Atlanta Motor Speedway. Its, well, Lowes but with a twist. Theres definitely a second groove, said Bodine. Its still unique but with better racing than before. Bodine was a double winner on the series in 2004 with Germain-Arnold Motorsports. He moved to Eldredges operation when the Wyoming native switched to Toyota and tapped veteran crew chief Tony Furr to direct whats become one of the series strongest teams. Bodine finished third at Daytona and added a fourth at Martinsville and seventh in St. Louis. Hes led three of the years first six races. This is really a totally different team, said Bodine. Bringing in Tony was a big key with his experience and knowledge. Thats whats allowed us to come out of the box so strong. Bodine has been around the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from the beginning. His first race, at Heartland Park Topeka in July 1995, resulted in a 20th-place finish. Hes amazed at how far the series has come not only in 10 years but from 2004 to the present. I compare it to [NASCAR NEXTEL] Cup racing, said Bodine. There are no gimmes here; youve got to earn everything. Youve got 15 teams that can win. Bodine believes he can add Fiddle Back Racing to that list of winners possible at Lowes. All it takes is the right strategy since, according to Bodine; most of the series drivers are equal in terms of skill. Track position is going to be everything, he predicted.
NEWS & NOTES, PART II
Urban Youth Racing comes to Charlotte Four students of Philadelphias Urban Youth Racing School, a component of NASCARs Diversity Initiative, will intern in various capacities during the week leading up to Fridays event at Lowes Motor Speedway. The annual event is sponsored and coordinated by Craftsman. Carnell Roberts, 18, will intern with Goodyear; Stephanie Hartfield, 18, with NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series inspectors; Taj Muhammad, 16, with SPEED Channel and Jason Simmons, 17, with NASCAR Scene. Short-track streak ends at Mansfield UAW/GM Ohio 250 winner Bobby Hamilton (# 04 TECH-NET/Torch Run Dodge) ended the series string of 13 different short-track winners with a close victory over defending race winner Jack Sprague (# 16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet). Hamiltons previous victory during the streak came at Memphis Motorsports Park on June 19, 2004. Hamilton is the 2005 seasons first repeat winner.
Hamilton regains the top spot The championship standings again have swung back into Hamiltons favor with last years titleholder 45 points ahead of Ted Musgrave (# 1 Mopar Dodge) entering Fridays Quaker Steak & Lube 200 presented by Click It or Ticket. Ricky Craven (# 99 Superchips Ford) maintains the third position 71 points back. Hamilton is the first to crack $200,000 in season winnings with a $218,815 total.
ETC. Spragues second-place finish at Mansfield marked the three-time series champions 150th top 10, a continuing record. Country super group Diamond Rio will perform the national anthem prior to Fridays Quaker Steak & Lube 200 presented by Click It or Ticket. Diamond Rio also will be associate sponsor of Tony Stewarts # 47 Chevrolet Tork Silverado Chevrolet. The team, led by crew chief Randy Goss, won in its last outing at Martinsville Speedway with Bobby Labonte behind the wheel. Last years race saw 22 of 36 starters finish on the lead lap. There has been an average of 12.5 lead changes in each of the two series races at Lowes Motor Speedway. Jimmy Spencer (# 2 Team ASE Dodge) recorded the highest unofficial speed 178.879 mph during an abbreviated open test on April 26. David Starrs (# 75 Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet) qualifying record is 178.577 mph recorded last year. Fridays race will be the 249th in series history. Milestone race # 250 is the June 3 MBNA NASCAR Points 200 at Dover International Speedway.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Veteran trio bears watching Three competitors expected to compete at Lowes Motor Speedway have average finishes below 10 in their two previous starts. Rick Crawford (# 14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford) has the best average 5.0. Hes followed by Hamilton at 8.5 and Matt Crafton (# 88 Menards Chevrolet) with 9.0. Spencer a NASCAR Busch winner at Lowes Spencer won the 1997 All Pro 300. He started fourth. Spencers best NASCAR NEXTEL Cup finish in 31 starts is fourth, two times, most recently in the 2003 Coca-Cola 600. Craven finished third in the 2002 Coca-Cola 600.
10 YEARS TOUGH
The month of May has been a good one for Dodge. Bickle, driving for Richard Petty, gave the manufacturer its first series pole on May 3, 1996 at the old Portland Speedway. On May 24, 1997 Tony Raines won at I-70 Speedway east of Kansas City. The win was the first by Dodge in a NASCAR national touring series since Neil Bonnetts Nov. 20, 1977 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series victory at the old Ontario Motor Speedway near Los Angeles.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Last years Quaker Steak & Lube 200 featured 13 lead changes, three of which came in the final 13 laps. Three different drivers Michael Waltrip, Carl Edwards and Dennis Setzer swapped the lead before Setzer edged Edwards by .869 of a second. There have been six consecutive different winners on 1.5-mile speedways. Setzer was the last back-to-back winner at Lowes and Texas Motor Speedway on June 11, 2004.
Fast Facts
Next Event: Quaker Steak & Lube presented by Click It or Ticket 200 (Race 7 of 25).
Where: Lowes Motor Speedway.
When: 8:45 p.m. Friday, May 20, 2005.
Track layout: 1.5 -mile banked oval.
Race length: 201 Miles/134 Laps.
Posted awards: $502,682.
TV: SPEED Channel, 8:45pm/et.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2005 winner: Dennis Setzer.
2004 polesitter: David Starr
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Thursday Practice 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Qualifying 7:00 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(5-19-2005)
