Kentucky Speedway will host a major milestone in NASCAR history Saturday when Bill Lester (#22 Toyota) becomes the first African American competitor to win $1 million during his career in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Lester, 44, has won $993,586 in 90 series starts dating to the 2000 season. He needs only to take the green flag to become the series 27th driver to reach the $1 million mark. The Oakland, Calif. driver, who currently resides in suburban Atlanta, comes off a career-best performance in last weeks OReilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway. Lester won the Bud Pole, his second in the series, and finished fifth.
Four champions in top 10 a series first When Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) joined fellow champions Hamilton, Sprague and Ron Hornaday Jr. (#6 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) in the top 10 of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck standings following Kansas Speedways race it marked the first time in series history the top 10 has contained four former series champions. Skinner, who finished fourth, logged his fourth top-five finish in five races. He ranked 28th in points after a 34th-place run at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March; hes currently ninth.
Series alum joins SPEED booth this week The third man in SPEED Channels broadcast booth at Kentucky will be Boris Said, a 64-race veteran of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition and winner of the 1998 event at Infineon Raceway. Said qualified fourth for last weeks NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. SPEED Channel has announced that the popular cable broadcaster now is seen in more than 70 million homes.
Bodine, Toyota break drought Reunited with Germain-Arnold Racing for the second week, Todd Bodine (#30 Allman Brothers Band Toyota) won at Kansas Speedway to end a 14-race winless streak that followed his October 2004 victory in Fort Worth. That win also was the last for Toyota, which, for the first time, placed four of its Tundra models among the top-five finishers.
Kluevers runnerup finish best by Raybestos rookie in 05 The 2005 season hasnt been an overly productive one for Raybestos Rookie of the Year contenders, but Todd Kluevers (#50 Shell Rotella T/World Financial Group Ford) runnerup finish in Kansas could portend a different story as the schedule reaches its midpoint. Kluever, whose best previous finishes were a pair of fourth-place efforts, was backed by new Roush Racing crew chief Mike Beam. Beam, formerly boss of Ricky Cravens #99 Superchips Ford outfit, last week swapped positions with former Kluever crew chief John Monsam.
ETC. With posted awards of $736,500, this weeks Kentucky Speedway race is the second richest of the year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Daytonas awards totaled $807,103. Setzer, Terry Cook (#10 Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford) and Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford) have competed in all five Kentucky Speedway races. Crawfords 10th-place finish at Kansas Speedway was his 100th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Hamiltons 133 (of 153) laps led in last years race was the most of any Kentucky Speedway winner. The Build Ford Tough 225 is the 13th and middle race on the 2005 schedule of 25 events. There have been nine different winners over the seasons first 12 events. Lester was the seasons 11th different Bud Pole winner. Ted Musgrave (#1 Mopar Dodge) is the seasons only pole/race winner on April 30 at Gateway International Raceway. Craftsmans Win from the Pole bonus is worth $16,000 at Kentucky Speedway. Kelly Sutton (#02 Team Copaxone Chevrolet) started her 33rd race Saturday at Kansas to break a deadlock with Tammy Jo Kirk for most series appearances by a female competitor.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Points leader Setzer tough at Kentucky Speedway Setzer hasnt won at Kentucky but hes completed all 753 possible laps around the track, which translates into 1,129.5 miles. Hes the tracks leading money winner with $133,440, and with three top-five finishes, shares that mark with Sprague. Sprague has finished second, third and second in his three appearances.
10 YEARS TOUGH
Seven states Arizona, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin hosted a race in each of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series first 10 seasons. All are part of the 2005 schedule as well. Mike Skinner won the series first appearance in Kentucky on June 3, 1995 at the old Louisville Motor Speedway. The victory was the fourth of eight that Skinner won en route to the inaugural championship.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Since joining the schedule in 2000, Kentucky Speedway has been a predictor of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship on three of five occasions. The tracks winner has gone on to claim the title in 2000 (Greg Biffle), 2002 (Mike Bliss) and 2004 (Bobby Hamilton).
FAST FACTS
Next Event: The Built Ford Tough 225 by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers (Race 13 of 25).
Where: Kentucky Speedway.
When: 8:15 p.m. ET, Saturday, July 9.
Track layout: 1.5-mile paved oval.
Race length: 225 miles/150 Laps.
Posted awards: $736,500.
TV: SPEED Channel, 8:15 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: Bobby Hamilton.
2004 polesitter: Not held.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday Practice 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday Practice 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. Qualifying 5:00 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(7-7-2005)
