Mark Martin ( 6 Scotts Ford) became the season’s first three-time winner when he beat Roush Racing teammate Carl Edwards (# 50 Scotts/Ortho Ford) by just under four seconds at Dover International Speedway on June 2. The one-two finish was the organization’s first since last October when Ricky Craven beat teammate Todd Kluever at Martinsville Speedway. Martin’s victory was #40 for team owner Jack Roush, whose first start as a series owner came at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sept. 29, 1996. One of eight Roush winners, Martin has won four of his nine series starts – a record of seven top-five and eight top-10 finishes.
Most Wins by Active Owner: (275 Races)
1. Roush Racing/Jack Roush, 40
2. Bobby Hamilton Racing/Bobby Hamilton, 19
3. Morgan-Dollar Motorsports/David Dollar, 12
5. Orleans Racing/Michael Gaughan, 9; Germain Motors/Stephen Germain, 9
Roush’s victory total is four more than that of now inactive Ultra Motorsports owner Jim Smith and 21 greater than the total of the next active team. Bobby Hamilton Racing, winless in 2006, has won 19 times. Edwards’ return boosts #50 team Roush Racing put its third truck on the track in March at Atlanta and hadn’t enjoyed much success -until bringing Cup Series star and 2003 Truck Raybestos Rookie of the Year Carl Edwards out of “retirement.” Edwards’ last series start was in November 2004. This week, Michel Jourdain Jr. is due to make his debut. David Ragan also is set for duty after taking over Martin’s seat in the #6 Ford at Texas Motor Speedway.
Series Stats:
Points leader – Todd Bodine (1,305)
Money won – Todd Bodine ($298,780)
Laps led – Mark Martin (288)
Miles led – Mark Martin (466.460)
Victories -Mark Martin (3
Budweiser Poles – David Reutimann (2)
Top-five finishes – Todd Bodine, Ted Musgrave (6)
Top-10 finishes -David Reutimann (7)
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Erik Darnell (14 over Aric Almirola)
Races led – Todd Bodine (5)
Weeks in Top 10 – 4 drivers (8)
Etc:
Chevy has the most wins at Texas Motor Speedway (six); however, Toyota has won two of the last three races. All four series manufacturers have won at the 1.5-mile layoutTwo drivers have won races at TMS and championships in the same season. Sprague posted the first of two wins in 2001, the season in which he claimed his third Truck title. Greg Biffle won the 2000 Sam’s Town 400 while leading a track-high 120 lapsThe Dover race saw 35 of 36 starters take the checkered flag, three more than the previous series record for finishers. The single DNF matched the record set April 22, 1995 at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, CalifDennis Setzer (#85 FlexFuel E85 Chevy) won’t carry fond memories of career start #200. In fact, he’s likely already forgotten his 20th-place finish at DoverDavid Reutimann (#17 Team Tundra Toyota) will fly to Nashville Superspeedway following Friday night’s Sam’s Town 400 to compete in the Busch Series Federated Auto Parts 300 eventTo date, the recent Craftsman for a Cure event at Concord, N.C. has raised more than $50,000 for various charities including American Cancer Society and Victory Junction Gang. “It is truly amazing when you call on your friends to help that everyone is eager to jump on board,” said 2004 series champion and cancer patient Bobby Hamilton, one of the event’s organizers.
On the right track:
Texas good place for Setzer to kick-start seasonDennis Setzer won four times in 2005 and has yet to do so this year, but the three-time series runner-up isn’t completely off schedule. His first win came a year ago next week at Michigan International Speedway. And Texas is one of Setzer’s best tracks. He is one of four multiple race winners there – most recently in 2004 – and counts 11 top-10 finishes, most by any competitor at the Ft. Worth facility.
In the loop:
Picking a favorite who hasn’t won at Texas Motor Speedway? Loop Data statistics point to Johnny Benson, who just might collect his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory Friday night. Last year’s Sam’s Town 400 found Benson with a Driver Rating of 123.6, tying for second with Jack Sprague. Overall in 2005, Benson posted the second highest Speed in Traffic (174.098 mph), fourth in Quality Passes (tie-42) and third in Average Running Position (6.038). Mike Skinner led all drivers at Texas Motor Speedway in 2005 with a combined Driver Rating of 141.000. Here’s a snapshot of Loop Data from last year’s two events at Texas Motor Speedway. A complete rundown along with a 2006 season to-date chart is available at www.nascarmedia.com.
From the archives:
Only two drivers have scored their first series wins at Texas Motor Speedway. Bryan Reffner posted his first – and only – victory in the fall’s Silverado 350 on Oct. 13, 2001. Brendan Gaughan’s Sam’s Town 400 victory on June 7, 2002 was the first of four consecutive victories at TMS and eight overall. Ironically, Gaughan’s last win – 33 races ago – came in Ft. Worth on Oct. 11, 2003. Jack Sprague is the series’ only other active driver to count TMS on his “last” list. The defending winner of the Sam’s Town 400 has gone winless in 23 subsequent starts.
Fast facts:
What: Sam’s Town 400 (Race 9 of 25)
Where: Texas Motor Speedway, Ft. Worth, Texas
When: 9:15 p.m. ET, June 9
Track layout: 1.5-mile paved speedway
Race length: 400 kilometers/250.5 miles/167 laps
Posted awards: $668,182
TV: SPEED Channel, 9 pm/et
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite
2005 winner: Dennis Setzer
2005 polesitter: Mike Skinner
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Thursday -Practice 11 a.m. -12:00 noon. Rookie Practice 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Final Practice 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Qualifying 6:00 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(6-6-2006)
