Five series champions entered at Bristol With Mike Bliss (#06 MRD Motorsports Chevrolet) making his first appearance since November 2002, five NASCAR Craftsman Truck champions could be part of the OReilly 200 starting field. He joins series regulars Hornaday, Sprague, Bobby Hamilton (#04 Baileys Dodge) and Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota). Bliss is the only former NASCAR Craftsman Truck champion without a start since winning the title.
ETC. The Bristol event is the fifth (of seven) races held this season on tracks of less than a mile. There have been four different winners and eight consecutive different winners on short tracks dating to Chad Chaffins (#60 Jeff Wyler Toyota) Aug. 6, 2004 victory at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Hornaday and Sprague are the only OReilly 200 winners expected to compete this week. Kyle Busch (#15 ditech.com Chevrolet) returns to the series at Bristol. Busch won back-to-back races at Lowes Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway and finished second in his most recent start in June at Michigan International Speedway. Raybestos Rookie of the Year leader Todd Kluever (#50 World Financial Group Ford) hopes to improve on the best rookie performance at Bristol. Jay Sauter finished third in 1996. Chevrolet has won five times at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ford counts two victories. The OReilly 200 is the third and final series race to be run this year in Tennessee. It is the 26th race to be held in the Volunteer State. Virginia also has hosted 26 events with two more on the schedule at Richmond Sept. 8 and Martinsville Oct. 22.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Bodine, Spencer shine in Thunder Valley Todd Bodine (#30 Germain Motors Toyota) and Jimmy Spencer (#2 Team ASE Dodge) may be first-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck competitors at Bristol, but each has tasted victory at the speedway. Bodines NASCAR Busch Series wins came in 1992-93 while Spencer also won twice in the division in 1997 and 2002. Spencer has three top-five finishes in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition including a second place in March 2002. Hornaday is Bristol lap leader Hornaday didnt lead a lap at Bristol until his third appearance there but the California native is the series laps/miles leader with 378/201.474. Hes the only competitor to lead three different races 1997, 98 and 99.
10 YEARS TOUGH
Bristol Motor Speedway is the site of Fords first victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on June 23, 1995. Ruttman and Butch Miller battled fender-to-fender until the 143rd of 150 laps when Ruttman amazingly surprised his rival by diving onto the apron between Turns One and Two. Geoffrey Bodine was second with Miller third and sprint car star Sammy Swindell fourth as Ford swept the first four positions.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The last three drivers to win the Bud Pole at Bristol Motor Speedway have failed to finish among the top five. Greg Biffle (1999) finished ninth, Ted Musgrave (2003) was 15th and Ken Schrader (2004) placed 10th. Neither Biffle nor Schrader was able to lead a lap racing from the #1 starting position.
Fast Facts
Next Event: OReilly 200 presented by Valvoline. (Race #17 of 25)
Where: Bristol Motor Speedway.
When: 9:15 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Aug. 24.
Track layout: .533-mile banked concrete oval.
Race length: 200 laps/106.6 miles.
Posted awards: $461,774.
TV: SPEED Channel, 9:00 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: Carl Edwards.
2004 polesitter: Ken Schrader.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Wednesday Practice 11:15 12:30 p.m. and 1 2 p.m. Qualifying at 5:30 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(8-24-2005)
