Setzer holds point lead of historic proportions Setzer is 158 points ahead of closest rival Ted Musgrave (#1 Mopar Dodge) entering the 15th race of 2005. The last time there was a lead greater than 158 points in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was the last race of the 2000 season, following California Speedway on Oct. 28, 2000. Greg Biffle’s lead was 230 points over Kurt Busch, 110 races ago. The largest lead in the series came the same season following Dover International Speedways September event when Biffle led Mike Wallace by 290 points.
ETC. Defending race winner Chad Chaffin (#60 Wyler.com Toyota) will become the series 28th $1 million career-winner by starting Fridays race. Chaffin has current winnings of $997,839. Chaffins last-lap pass of Johnny Sauter (#43 Menards Chevrolet) was among the most dramatic finishes in series history. The 2004 IRP finish was the second in three races in which the winner led only the final lap. The IRP winner has started no worse than fifth and from among the top three on eight occasions. Johnny Bensons (#23 Toyota Certified Used Cars Toyota) first of four second-place finishes his series bests came at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1995. The Power Stroke Diesel 200 is the fourth of seven short-track races on this years schedule. There have been three different winners. The 1998 race featured the most leaders, eight and most lead changes, 11. The series closest finish at the track Biffle beating Stacy Compton by .261-second came in 1999. U.S. Auto Club 2004 National Midget champion Bobby East, 20, will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck debut this week in the #33 Roush Racing Ford. Co-owner Don Arnold has departed Germain Racing to concentrate fulltime on his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team. Germain Racing fields the #9 AISIN Toyota of Raybestos rookie contender Shige Hattori and the #30 Allman Brothers Band Toyota of Todd Bodine.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
IRP has been kind to Terry Cook Indianapolis Raceway Park would seem a perfect place for Terry Cook (#10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel Ford) to end a 72-race winless streak. Cooks last of five series wins was recorded Aug. 2, 2002 at IRP, a race he won from the Bud Pole after leading 178 laps. Cook finished second in 2001 and ninth in 2003.
Hamilton, Roush are two-time IRP winners Four owners have won twice at IRP with Bobby Hamilton and Jack Roush looking to add a third victory in 2005. Hamiltons #18 Dodge, then driven by Chaffin, is the defending race winner. Chase Montgomery is Hamiltons driver this season. Ruttman won in the #18 truck in 2000. Roushs victories came in 1999 and 2003 with Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, respectively.
10 YEARS TOUGH
The 1998 schedule of 25 races saw NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitors competing twice during the same week on two occasions. The July 30 Power Stroke Diesel 200 was run on Thursday night followed by an event at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 2. Teams did another double in September on Thursday night at Richmond International Raceway and Sunday afternoon at Memphis Motorsports Park.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
There have been two repeat winners of the Power Stroke Diesel 200 Mike Skinner in 1995-96 and Jack Sprague in 1998 and 2001. A different driver has won the race in six consecutive years dating to Greg Biffles victory in 1999. An IRP victory has been on the season champions record just twice Skinner (1995) and Sprague (2001).
Fast Facts
Next Event: Power Stroke Diesel 200 (Race #15 of 25).
Where: Indianapolis Raceway Park.
When: 8:45 p.m. ET, Friday, Aug. 5.
Track layout: .686-mile paved oval.
Race length: 200 laps/137.2 miles.
Posted awards: $498,400.
TV: SPEED Channel, 8:45 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: Chad Chaffin.
2004 polesitter: Jack Sprague.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday Practice 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12-1 p.m. Qualifying 5 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(8-2-2005)
