Mark Day had to choose between a one-shot ride in the Craftsman Truck Series and loyalty to his long-time Late Model team that helped him capture the Music City Motorplex championship last season. Day stuck by his team. By winning last year’s championship Day also won a ride with Kevin Harvick Racing in a competition called Operation Big Chance. Motorplex president Joe Mattioli and Dollar General put the deal together to give local drivers a chance at an upper-level NASCAR ride. The hitch came when Day got a call last week telling him he needed to practice Harvick’s truck prior to the scheduled race Saturday at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. “They called at the last minute and said a practice was scheduled on Thursday but I already had something scheduled that day,” said Day, 45, who works for Scoggins Enterprises, a racecar parts dealership. “They said if I didn’t practice I couldn’t race. I understand that; it’s just that I couldn’t do it right then.” Day was offered a backup date – June 30 at Memphis – but there was also a hitch. “We have a race at the Motorplex that night,” Day said. “In order to race at Memphis I’d have to miss the local race and I can’t do that to my team. Those guys have been with me too long and worked too hard for me to walk out on them.” Mattioli is trying to work out perhaps another truck race not conflicting with Day’s schedule. If that can’t be done, another Motorplex driver may take Day’s place. Willie Allen [#13], who was runner-up to Day last season, would be first in line for the truck opportunity, but Allen already has a ride of his own. Next in line is Nicholas Formosa.(Tennessean)(3-28-2007)
UPDATE: Twenty-one year old Nicholas Formosa, the 2006 Music City Motorplex Super Truck Champion, will be given the opportunity to enter and qualify for the May 26th Craftsman Truck event at Mansfield, Ohio, officials of the Music City Motorplex have announced. Kevin Harvick, Inc. will field the truck, with Dollar General providing title sponsorship. Mark Day, by virtue of points, earned at the Motorplex in 2006, Mark Day was scheduled to drive the truck at this weekend’s event in Martinsville, Virginia, however scheduling conflicts for that event and other potential events have moved Formosa into the ride. The 250 Lap Craftsman Truck event at Mansfield is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 26th, providing he possibility for Formosa to compete there and be back that evening for NASCAR Whelen All American racing at the Motorplex, as he shoots for his 2nd Super Truck Championship at the Fairgrounds.(Music City Motorplex PR)(3-28-2007)
