The driver earning the most points at the Music City Motorplex in 2006 in either the Late Model or Super Truck divisions was to be given the opportunity to attempt to enter and qualify for the March 31st Craftsman Truck Series race in Martinsville. In the Points battle, Mark Day scored the highest, followed by Willie Allen, Daniel Pope, and Nicholas Formosa. Day could not make this opportunity fit his current schedule, and Allen currently has a full-time ride in the Truck Series. Motorplex management mistakenly skipped over Pope and gave the opportunity to Nicolas Formosa who finished fourth in points for 2006. Subsequent meetings with Music City Motorplex owner, Joe Mattioli, admitted there was a mistake made in determining the third place points driver; Daniel Pope had finished third. However, no change has been made and Formosa is still set to drive the Harvick truck at Mansfield. For more of this story, visit Daniel Pope’s website at (drpmotorsports.com).(4-4-2007)
UPDATE: Motorplex officials realize they’d made a mistake – Daniel Pope, not Formosa, was supposed to be third in line for the ride according to last year’s standings. We messed up,” Mattioli said. “There was one race that we hadn’t accounted for. Daniel, not Nicholas, should have gotten the ride.” Mattioli said it’s too late to swap drivers because arrangements have already been completed with sponsor Dollar General and Kevin Harvick Racing. “We’ve met with Daniel and we’re going to make it right with him,” Mattioli said. “Right now we’re exploring several options.” (Tennessean)(4-4-2007)
UPDATE 2: Error means Formosa can’t drive for Harvick — Nicholas Formosa has been informed that he won’t get to drive one of Kevin Harvick’s trucks in the Craftsman Truck Series, the ride instead going to fellow Music City Motorplex racer Daniel Pope. Motorplex President Joe Mattioli admitted a mistake had been made and said he would try to correct it by finding Pope another ride. But Pope’s father, Dan, said he wouldn’t accept any other ride – he wanted the one with Kevin Harvick Racing, as announced at the start of the competition. Mattioli said Pope was not intentionally skipped over in favor of Formosa and Dan Pope said he believes him. Track General Manager Norm Partin emphasized that NASCAR will make the final determination about when and where young, untested racers such as Pope and Formosa can race.(Tennessean)(4-11-2007)
UPDATE 3: Pope is scheduled to try to qualify one of Harvick’s trucks for the May 26 race at Mansfield, Ohio, pending NASCAR approval.(Tennessean)(4-18-2007)
