This years championship battle essentially has evolved into a two-driver race with Ted Musgrave (#1 Mopar Dodge) leading Dennis Setzer (#46 Silverado Z71 Chevrolet) by 63 points. Musgrave could close out the race at Phoenix although odds are that it will go down to the Nov. 18 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the 10th time in 11 seasons.
Four drivers Musgrave, Setzer, Todd Bodine (#30 Germain Motor Company Toyota) and Ron Hornaday Jr. (#6 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) mathematically remain in the title hunt. Musgrave clinches by winning the Silverado 150 and leading the most laps if Setzer finishes 34th or worse. If Setzer finishes 36th and last Musgrave only needs to win the race.
Given both drivers records at the one-mile oval, Musgrave and Setzer have to be considered for contending roles in the Silverado 150. Until last years 19th-place finish, Musgrave had run among the top five on four occasions and never worse than sixth. Setzer has six top-10 finishes in eight starts, the best a third in 2003, and has finished off the lead lap just twice, both times due to accidents.
NEWS & NOTES, PART II
Erin Crocker makes Craftsman Truck debut in Phoenix Evernham Motorsports Erin Crocker will make her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut this week behind the wheel of Bobby Hamilton Racings #4 Betty Crocker/Cheerios/ Dodge Ram Dodge. Crocker will compete fulltime for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in 2006. Said Hamilton, We tested Erin the other day at Nashville and she just told them what she wanted to do with the truck. She is a sharp cookie and knows exactly what shes doing and I think Ray (Evernham) wants to give her some more seat time to teach her how to race a little better. Shes going to be pretty good. Three female competitors have entered the Silverado 150 Crocker, Deborah Renshaw (#8 Heritage Dodge) and Kelly Sutton (#02 Team Copaxone Chevrolet). The NASCAR record for female drivers in the same race, three, was set May 16, 2004 at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway.
ETC. Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) goes for a record fourth consecutive superspeedway pole this week, having picked up #3 last week at Texas Motor Speedway. Skinner has one career pole at Phoenix International Raceway in 1996. Craftsmans Win from the Pole Bonus has reached $20,000. Bodine became the first driver to defend a 2004 victory as he won the Nov. 4 Silverado 350 at Texas Motor Speedway. Bodine bypassed Hornaday to reach third place in the season point standings. Defending Silverado 150 winner David Starr (#75 Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet) was fourth in Texas with the teams second-best finish of the season. Starr also becomes the 12th different driver to win more than $2 million in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition with a career total of $2,007,326. Five former Phoenix winners Hornaday, Skinner, Sprague, Starr and Mike Bliss (#16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet) are among entries for the Silverado 150.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Sprague is Valley of the Sun master No NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor has a better record at Phoenix International Raceway than Sprague, whos finished outside the top five just once since 1995. Spragues nine top five finishes include eight of either first or second. He has completed every lap of all 11 races hes started – 1,857 of 1,857.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Nine of 14 races run at Phoenix International Raceway have been won by NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champions. Jack Sprague won three straight in 1995-96. Skinner and Ron Hornaday Jr. each won twice. Other champions with Phoenix victories are Mike Bliss and Greg Biffle.
Next Event: Silverado 150. (Race #24 of 25).
Where: Phoenix International Raceway (Phoenix, Ariz.).
When: 8:15 p.m. ET Friday, Nov. 11.
Track layout: 1.0 -mile paved oval.
Race length: 150 miles/150 laps.
Posted awards: $479,060.
TV: SPEED Channel, 8 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: David Starr.
2004 polesitter: Jack Sprague.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Thursday Practice 12:00 noon 1:20 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. Friday Qualifying 10:00 a.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(11-8-2005)
