Camping World Truck Series News Archives
April 2009

 

  • #90 Crew member suspended for rules violations at Kansas: Wesley Lane, a crew member for the #90 team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, has been suspended from the next six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events and all NASCAR activity until July 1 for rule violations at Kansas Speedway. Lane was found to be in violation of Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 3-5 (permitting someone else to use your NASCAR License). Lane has also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.(NASCAR PR)(4-30-2009)
  • Germain Racing welcomes Copart to #30 Toyota: Germain Racing is proud to announce Copart as the primary sponsor of the #30 Copart Tundra driven by Todd Bodine for six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races. “Copart is an exciting company and we are glad to have them sponsor Germain Racing. We’re looking forward to developing the relationship with Copart both at the race track and at our dealerships. Copart wants to get the message out that people can find a variety of cars at Copart.com and the #30 Copart Tundra will help deliver that message to the NASCAR fans,” said team owner Bob Germain. The Copart Tundra will race first at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte on Friday night, May 15, 2009. Also sponsoring: May 29, Dover International Speedway; June 5, Texas Motor Speedway; June 13, Michigan International Speedway; June 27, Memphis Motorsports Park and July 18, Kentucky Speedway.(Germain Racing PR)(4-30-2009)
  • Images added: New images added of the #5-Bad Boy Mowers Toyota driven by race winner, Mike Skinner & the #33-Copart.com Chevy driven by Ron Hornaday Jr. at Kansas. Images are posted on the 2009 Paint Scheme Page.(4-30-2009)
  • Scott returns to NNS series at Richmond: Brian Scott will be returning to the driver’s seat of the #10 Toyota for Friday night’s Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Raceway. Braun Racing’s #10 Toyota will feature a reverse Great Clips paint scheme. This will be Scott’s third race of a minimum four-race commitment to the #10 this season.(Braun Racing PR)(4-29-2009)
  • Carmichael featured in ESPN/Disney film: Motocross champion. Truck racer. And now, movie star. Ricky Carmichael is one of the featured athletes in the ESPN/Disney film, X Games in 3D. Carmichael is a two-time gold medal winner in the X Games, and will be featured alongside other extreme athletes Shaun White, Travis Pastrana, Danny Way and Bob Burnquist. The full-length film is the first sports-themed 3D movie. Carmichael is scheduled to race the Monster Energy / KHI All-Star Silverado again Friday, June 5 at Texas Motor Speedway.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(4-28-2009)
  • Rookie Ickler picks up 5th place finish; next up Texas: Brian Ickler, who was filling in for [Kyle] Busch in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 that concluded on Monday at Kansas Speedway, finished in fifth place. Not bad for Ickler, a 23-year-old rookie who was driving in his first truck race. Ickler’s talent also had something to do with the fifth-place finish. He’s been a rising star in the NASCAR ranks, as he’s picked up seven career victories in both the Camping World East and West series. Owner Billy Ballew will be relying on Ickler more this season. A San Diego native, Ickler is already scheduled to drive the truck [#51 Toyota] again on June 5 at Texas Motor Speedway.(Kansas City Star)(4-28-2009)
  • Skinner claims first victory for RMM: After tornadoes, heavy amounts of rainfall, and two attempts to complete the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, Mike Skinner claimed the first victory for co-owner Randy Moss and Randy Moss Motorsports on Monday afternoon at Kansas Speedway during a rain-delayed and rain-shortened race. Skinner, driving the #5 Bad Boy Mowers Toyota Tundra, captured the checkered flag to win his 26th NCWTS race and his 10th win with Toyota Motorsports. In addition, the 1995 Truck Series Champion has taken over the lead in the NCWTS championship point standings.(Randy Moss Motorsports)(4-28-2009)
  • Added a few images: A few images added from Kansas – #07-TheGPSstore.com/Garmin Chevy, #08-SS Greenlight Racing Chevy, #76-JandRSupply.com Ford; from Martinsville – #4-Oakley Chevy, #88-Menards/Energizer Chevy. Images are posted on the 2009 Paint Scheme Page.(4-28-2009)
  • Crafton & crew to help Menard at Toledo ARCA race: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Paul Menard has filed an entry to compete in the ARCA RE/MAX Series “Menards 200” on Sunday, May 17 at Toledo Speedway. Due to his commitments in Charlotte on Saturday, Menard has looked to Matt Crafton, driver of the Menards entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, to practice and qualify the car. In addition, the #98 team will be run under the direction of Crafton’s Truck Series Crew Chief Bud Haefle with assistance from Jeriod Prince both representing Sandusky, Ohio based ThorSport Racing. Crafton, Haefle and Prince will travel to Toledo following the Camping World Truck Series event in Charlotte on Friday night. They will be joined by the #88 ThorSport over-the-wall crew, who will pit for Menard during Sunday’s race.(Menards Racing PR)(4-25-2009)
  • Kansas City Royals Manager visits speedway for first time: Kansas City Royals Manager Trey Hillman experienced the thrill of IndyCar Series racing in an Indy car two-seater at Kansas Speedway today. Hillman also toured the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series garages and met with Mike Skinner, driver of the Randy Moss Motorsports #5. Hillman and Skinner discussed comparisons between racing and baseball, as well as their mutual respect for each other’s sport. Hillman said he follows NASCAR when he has time, but really appreciates how the sport treats its fans. “One of the things I’ve always been impressed with is how NASCAR has marketed the sport and how you guys have done an unbelievable job of catering to the fans,” said Hillman.(Kansas Speedway PR)(4-25-2009)
  • Bischoff Racing to make first start at Milwaukee: Duane Bischoff Racing will be making their first NCWTS start with the #27 truck at the Milwaukee Mile on June 19th. Co-owner and driver Duane Bischoff, along with his wife (Doty) and family have been racing in the ARCA Lincoln Welder Truck series for six years and have recently purchased two trucks from Xpress Motorsports. The team intends to make five races if funding can be secured. PartBuddy.com is the primary sponsor now, but the team is also in talks with other potential partners. PartBuddy.com is a retail and wholesale parts company selling OEM manufacturer parts.(Duane Bischoff Racing PR)(4-24-2009)
  • Strutmasters.com takes over as primary sponsor for Peters; Case Wireline new associate: Timothy Peters comes to Kansas Speedway for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250, sitting in 9th place in the Camping World Truck Series points’ standings. The team will also support a new paint scheme as it heads to Kansas Speedway with Strutmasters.com taking over as the Primary Sponsor of the #17 truck for the event. Strutmasters, based in Roxboro, North Carolina, builds automotive struts and springs for cars. They also provide both replacement air ride suspension parts, including air springs, air struts, compressors, air bag suspension and dryers, and conversion kits that convert your car to high quality passive suspension systems. In addition, Case Wireline Services, based in Woodward, Okalahoma, will come on board as a major associate sponsor for the race. Case Wireline Services, Inc., is a local family owned and operated oil well servicing company.(Premier Racing PR)(4-24-2009)
  • Trail Motorsport & Austin returning at Kansas? UPDATE 4 Entry withdrawn: On hold until funded: Hearing that the Trail Motorsport #32 team is planning to be back on the entry list at Kansas with Chase Austin driving. Also hearing that the team is lacking equipment on hand, and along with financial constraints [resulting from the recent lease of the Petty shop], have this team in the midst of reevaluating how many races they’ll run.(3-25-2009)
    UPDATE: Another Truck race, another absence for African-American prodigy-in-limbo Chase Austin, who was supposed to run the full season for African-American owned Trail Motorsport. What continues to be up – or down – as Austin’s name goes missing from the entry list for Saturday’s Truck race at Martinsville? “It’s because we’re still doing all the stuff we need to do to get our house in order,” Trail managing director Patrick Shelton said Tuesday in a telephone interview. Austin, 19, ran the first two races of the season, at Daytona and Fontana, and finished 13th and 23rd respectively. But that was in vehicles rented from other teams. “Everything that was originally laid out is still in place,” Shelton said Tuesday. “We had to modify, based on what’s transpired in the last month. But we still have Nationwide plans, Camping World East and then Camping World Truck series plans.” So now, with the regrouping, Austin is scheduled to run in the next Truck race, at Kansas City on April 25. Austin said he still doesn’t have a full-season contract, as had been planned, but that he has been paid for the Daytona and Fontana races. Shelton said a contract for Austin is “in the final stages,” as well as one for Johnson, and for a Nationwide driver still to be named.(ESPN Insider)(3-6-2009)
    UPDATE 2: Trail Motorsport had hoped to field a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry for Austin for the 2009 season (as well as a Nationwide Series car for a to-be-named driver), but after two races in enlisting MRD Motorsports to field a truck for the team and Austin, the organization has missed the last two events while regrouping and getting its own trucks prepared. Austin said the Trail team believes it can get a truck ready for him to race at Kansas Speedway, the site of the Truck series’ next scheduled event. Clint Cram, whose experience includes working at Dale Earnhardt Inc., will be his crew chief. Austin admits that he doesn’t know how much momentum he will bring from the start of the season since his earlier trucks were prepared by MRD Motorsports. Trail just finalized plans to go to Kansas a couple of days ago and will have to spend several long days at the shop to get a truck ready, Austin said.(SceneDaily.com)(4-16-2009)
    UPDATE 3: Chase Austin was informed in a team meeting this past Tuesday that his Trail Motorsport team’s entry in this Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series “O’Reilly Auto Parts 250” will be withdrawn due to funding issues. “We had set a deadline of Monday for the Truck to be ready to ‘shake down’ at Rockingham, and that didn’t happen,” said a surprisingly upbeat Austin. “So I knew what we were going to hear in the meeting. I’m really more disappointed for the team than for myself. I really want to race, but the guys in the shop have families to feed, and they need steady work and a steady paycheck” Austin’s future at Trail Motorsport is tenuous at best. “I don’t have a clue what Trail plans to do moving forward; I don’t have a contract at this point. I’ll just keep praying, keep digging and make the most out of any seat time I can get until the right opportunity comes,” says Austin. “And I definitely still believe it will come.”(Chase Austin PR)(4-22-2009)
    UPDATE 4: Trail Motorsport is working on getting its organization on the race track but won’t do so until funding is in place, team managing director Patrick Shelton said Thursday in a statement. The organization, which had hoped to run 19-year-old African-American driver Chase Austin in all of the the Camping World Truck Series races as well as field a full-time Nationwide Series team, hasn’t been on the track since February. Austin drove in two Truck races in a vehicle built and serviced by MRD Motorsports. Johnny Borneman III drove two Nationwide races with his family-owned team under the Trail banner. The team had announced big plans at a January news conference, but after the first few weeks, the Trail organization has had to step back, Shelton said. “”We got behind with funding and encountered several unplanned situations. … We are putting the operation on hold until all of our funding is in place. The team plans to participate this year but has no intention of using other teams’ equipment or personnel to compete.” The team owes MRD Motorsports $66,000 for the race at Auto Club Speedway in California earlier this year, according to a lawsuit in North Carolina Superior Court in Cabarrus County. How many races the team does in the future will depend on funding, Shelton said. “I’d rather do a full, partial, or limited season the right way than one race the wrong way,” Shelton said.(SceneDaily.com)(4-23-2009)
  • Samsung steps up for Billy Ballew: Samsung has taken Billy Ballew Motorsports up on its offer. After Samsung officials read a story in Wednesday’s editions of The Kansas City Star in which Ballew was making $150,000 worth of sponsorships available on his two NASCAR Camping World Series trucks for just $25,000, they contacted the race team and agreed to a deal for this weekend at Kansas Speedway. Ballew’s series-leading #51 truck, driven by Brian Ickler, and the #15, driven by Shane Sieg, will be sponsored by the Samsung Instinct, which is the company’s touch-tone phone with Sprint. Samsung is the title sponsor of the Samsung 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.(Kansas City Star)(4-23-2009)
  • NASCAR officially moves Cup banquet to Vegas; Nationwide and Truck Banquets combined: NASCAR announced that Las Vegas formally becomes the “Official Host City of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week.” NASCAR’s annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony will be held at the Wynn Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009. The move to Las Vegas provides for greater flexibility for driver and fan events. The NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events will be combined and held at the Loews Miami Beach on Monday, Nov. 23. The Grand-Am Rolex Series banquet will be held at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla. on Monday, Oct. 12. NASCAR had held the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event in New York City every year since 1981. After exploring several options, NASCAR formed a partnership with Las Vegas Events, making the change of venue a reality. “I can’t say enough about the warm reception from Las Vegas,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “Las Vegas really made it a priority to get the awards ceremony moved there. We were able to come to an agreement on reasonable room blocks, banquet facilities, and approvals to hold fan activities on the famous Las Vegas Strip.” Activities being planned for the days leading up to the Awards Ceremony include the return of the “Victory Lap,” a procession of the top 10 NSCS drivers in their race cars, the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Media Luncheon, the Pit Stop Tour and the NASCAR Street Tour to include stock cars and mobile marketing units placed throughout the city. The awards ceremony for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be consolidated in south Florida. This is designed to provide another great venue for the ceremony as well as help save NNS teams from making an additional trip following the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The top-five finishers from the NNS and NCWTS will be honored at the combined banquet celebration.(NASCAR PR)(4-23-2009) Comment here
  • Buescher makes first Kansas start; Altec showcased: James Buescher makes his first start at Kansas Speedway this weekend. Buescher, however, has experience at the 1.5-mile track, testing an ARCA car there in 2007. The 19-year-old resident of Sheridan, Texas, is scheduled to compete in his sixth career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Circle Bar Racing is proud to display the Altec logo on the rear quarter panels of its two trucks this weekend at Kansas Speedway. Altec – a leading provider of products and services to the electric utility, telecommunications and contractor markets – is a customer of International, using its trucks as the platform for the add-on equipment.(Circle Bar Racing PR)(4-23-2009)
  • Family-like bond of loyalty, trust keeps Circle Bar & Crawford going: Rick Crawford has made all 301 of his Truck Series starts for one team, but his owner has never seen him race live. How does the combination work? Trust and loyalty….[Tom] Mitchell had run a CART race team for a few years, and even put a Cup car on the track for 18 races between 1985 and ’86 before concentrating on NASCAR’s All-Pro Series. John Kelly was the driver at Mitchell’s Circle Bar Racing team. Kelly’s brother, Robert, was the head engine builder for Crawford, but moved to the Circle Bar team as crew chief for John. The existing relationship between the Kellys and Crawford ended up in Crawford practicing the Circle Bar car for a few laps one weekend. The results turned heads. Mitchell had plans to shut down the team after the 1990 season. He was finished with racing. He had been burned a few times on business deals, and had lost the glow and enjoyment of racing, according to his daughter. Crawford switched to Ford products and purchased some equipment from Mitchell’s team. He had success with it, but he needed more. He needed strong backing with a rock-solid foundation. So he called Mitchell’s office again. He got the secretary. “She shielded my dad from Rick for quite a while, which was her job — to screen things,” said Lisa Mitchell, who handles her father’s media requests now. “And I think at some point that Rick — he’s such a low-key, nice, gentleman-type person and has that personality — it’s almost like he won her over. Once he convinced her he wasn’t a bad guy out to get Tom, she kind of let the doors open a little bit for Dad to interact with Rick.” Crawford’s persistence rekindled Tom Mitchell’s flame….[just a brief excerpt from an article depicting the history surrounding the long-stand relationship between Circle Bar, The Mitchell Family and Rick Crawford] (Read the entire story at nascar.com)(4-22-2009)
  • Sauter to make first series start at Kansas: Johnny Sauter, driver of the #13 Fun Sand/Rodney Atkins-Curb Records Chevrolet for ThorSport Racing, is set to make his first Camping World Truck Series start at Kansas Speedway. Sauter, however, does have a combined seven career starts at Kansas in Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series competition. He finished 3rd in a Nationwide series race at the track in ’05.(ThorSport Racing PR)(4-22-2009)
  • DiCarlo making third series start at Kansas: This weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway will mark Gabi DiCarlo’s third career start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS). DiCarlo has been driving for Stringer Motorsports for four years, first in the Hooter’s Pro Cup Series and then in the ARCA RE/MAX Series for the last two seasons in the #90 Great Clips entry. DiCarlo, a Phoenix, Ariz.-native, has two previous starts at Kansas Speedway, both in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. In last year’s event at Kansas, she posted a career-best ninth place finish after starting 23rd. DiCarlo has two previous starts in 2009; California & Atlanta.(Stringer Motorsports PR)(4-21-2009)
  • Bad Boy Mowers back on board with Skinner: The #5 Randy Moss Motorsports Toyota Tundra, driven by Mike Skinner, will be once again be sponsored by Bad Boy Mowers this weekend at Kansas Speedway. Bad Boy Mowers, a commercial and residential lawn mower company, partnered with Randy Moss Motorsports for the first time last month as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series raced at Martinsville Speedway, where Skinner finished in the third position. For more information about Bad Boy Mowers, please visit BadBoyMowers.com. Skinner and the #5 RMM team have come out of the gate strong and even though it is early in the season, they are shaping up to be a contender for the NCWTS championship. Skinner currently sits fourth in the NCWTS championship point standings, just 76 points behind leader Kyle, however the team is still looking for sponsorship for a number of races in the 2009 season.(Randy Moss Motorsports PR)(4-21-2009)
  • TheGPSstore.com and Garmin return to SS Green Light team: After a month away from the track, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to competition at the Kansas Speedway on Saturday, May 25th. For the SS Green Light Racing team, the return to the track re-unites Chad McCumbee with TheGPSstore.com and Garmin for the second time this season. The last time the companies partnered with the #07, McCumbee finished third at the two-mile California Speedway in February, the best finish ever for Green Light Racing.(SS Green Light Racing PR)(4-21-2009)
  • Cook spreading the word about Autism: April is Autism Awareness Month: “I [Terry Cook] am encouraging everyone who has a child or knows someone with a child to take a few minutes in the month of April to learn more about Autism. This is something that hit close to home with Amy and me when our son Cody was diagnosed at 18 months of age. We learned that 1 out of 150 kids are diagnosed every day with this and early intervention is the key to helping your child or someone you know get the help they need. It is not your typical movie like “Rain Man” all the time. We know a lot of people in the racing industry who are affected, either with their own child or a family member, by Autism. So all of us are encouraging everyone to log on to autismspeaks.org right now to learn more.” Cook, driving the #25 HT Motorsports Toyota, will be making his ninth NCWTS start at Kansas Speedway this weekend.(HT Motorsports PR)(4-21-2009)
  • Yeley to drive the #73 at Kansas: UPDATE 2: To start at Kansas with Tagsby Racing; truck #65: Sources tell us that during an interview on Sirius Radio’s Morning Drive program this morning, J.J. Yeley announced he is going to be driving the #73 truck at Kansas Speedway.(4-7-2009)
    UPDATE: JJ Yeley is set to drive the #73 Chevy truck for Tagsby Racing owners Joey Sonntag and Ron Crosby. County Building Centers and Circle M Inspections are to be on the truck for 12 races. Additional sponsors are coming; crew chief to be announced soon. Tagsby Racing purchased trucks from Gaughan Racing (Michael and Brandon). All pit Equipment and race hauler was purchased from them as well. Motors are from Kevin Troyer Racing Engines. The team just built a brand new 10,000 sq. ft. shop in Ardmore, Ok and plans to make their first start at Kansas Speedway.(Tagsby Racing)(4-11-2009)
    UPDATE 2: Due to a conflict with the use of the #73, Yeley’s new truck number has been changed to the #65.(Tagsby Racing)(4-21-2009)
  • Key Motorsports discontinues full-time schedule; to run select races: Curtis Key, owner of Key Motorsports, has announced that he has cancelled his team’s full-time championship effort in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and will pursue only a limited schedule with Mike Bliss behind the wheel for the remainder of the 2009 season. Key cites lack of sponsorship and his desire to focus on the team’s first full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series entry as his reasons for discontinuing the full-time truck program. The #40 Key Motorsports Chevy Silverado will not appear on the entry list [withdrawn] for this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway, despite Key’s original intention to field a full-time NCWTS entry. The #40 will next hit the track for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Bliss will continue to drive the #40 in the remaining races Key Motorsports runs this season. While the team’s schedule for the remainder of the season has not yet been determined, Key plans to run his team for the Charlotte race, as well as seven upcoming races in which he has sponsorship commitments with Westerman Companies and Oakland Metal Buildings. (Key Motorsports PR)(4-20-2009)
  • TRG Motorsports to run reduced schedule: TRG Motorsports officials have announced that its NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team will run a reduced schedule with driver J.R. Fitzpatrick the rest of the season. Fitzpatrick, of Cambridge, Canada, finished fourth in the Truck series season opener at Daytona and was 17th in points after the first four races. “The economy has hindered our program, and unless we can get funding to run the whole season, I will be doing a handful of races for the remainder of the year,” Fitzpatrick said. “We had an excellent start at Daytona and really opened some eyes in the series. We have a lot of great things in the works, and I will be back soon. We are just being more selective of which markets we race in. I am only 20 years old and plan on being in NASCAR for a very long time, so as much as I would like to be at the track every week, it has to make sense for everybody involved.” TRG Motorsports team principal Kevin Buckler said Fitzpatrick or another driver would return.(SceneDaily.com)(4-16-2009)
  • Raybestos Rookie News & Notes – Kansas Speedway: James Buescher was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the March 30 Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Buescher scored an 11th place finish and claimed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the first time this season. J.R. Fitzpatrick holds a four-point lead (42-38) over Tayler Malsam and James Buescher in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the April 25 O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway. Four races, four different faces, four different drivers have claimed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors in the four Camping World Truck Series races this season. Colin Braun was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2008 O’Reilly Auto Parts 250, scoring a third-place finish. A Raybestos Rookie has finished in the top-10 at Kansas in each of the last four consecutive races. At least one Raybestos Rookie has led a lap in three of the last four races at Kansas. Ricky Hendrick is the only Raybestos Rookie to win in eight previous Camping World Truck Series races at Kansas. Hendrick captured the 2001 event by 2.841 seconds over Ted Musgrave.(Raybestos PR)(4-20-2009)
  • DiCarlo solid at the Rock; back to trucks for Kansas: Gabi DiCarlo continued her string of impressive early season runs with a strong performance at the ARCA RE/MAX Carolina 200 in Rockingham, North Carolina. DiCarlo started 24th and was able to fight through the fast field to finish 14th. DiCarlo will now switch seats and climb aboard The Great Clips Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra and head to Kansas Speedway for the running of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 live on SPEED April 25th at 6:30pm/et.(Stringer Motorsports PR)(4-20-2009)
  • Ickler in for Kyle Busch at Kansas UPDATE 2 First series start at Kansas: Brian Ickler has been tapped by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Kyle Busch to replace him in the #51 truck for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway on April 25. Ickler, who hails from San Diego, is a protégé of Kyle Busch and has competed in NASCAR’s grassroots racing series from 2005-08.(Topeka Capital Journal)(3-28-2009)
    UPDATE: Brian Ickler’s schedule for the 2009 season includes ten races driving the #51 Miccosukee Resorts Toyota in the Camping World Truck Series, along with six races in the #15 Ickler Motorsports entry in the Camping World East Series, and seven races in the ARCA Series.(BrianIckler.com)(3-28-2009)
    UPDATE 2: Brian Ickler is gearing up for his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Kansas Speedway. Ickler 23, will pilot the #51 Miccosukee Resort Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota Tundra. Kyle “Rowdy” Busch has piloted the Tundra in the first four events and holds the 2009 Driver/Owner Points lead after posting back to back wins at the Auto Club Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway. Due to scheduling conflicts with NASCAR national series events at Talladega, Busch is unable to compete in the fifth race of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opening the door for Ickler. This will be the Ickler’s first start at the 1.5-mile Kansas City, Kansas track; he has one previous start in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2008. He has seven NASCAR Camping World Series victories, posting his latest win at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in March 2009.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(4-20-2009)
  • Bainey & the #00 Aaron’s Dream Team move to trucks UPDATE more info: There’s a new team in the world of NASCAR…Tim Bainey Jr. will return behind the wheel of the #00 Aaron’s Dream Machine in 2009, but he’ll be trading in his car for a NASCAR Camping World Series Truck. The team will make their Debut May 29th at Dover International Speedway. Tim Jr. will pilot the #00 Aaron’s Lucky Dog Truck in a select number of events during the 2009 Season. Tim’s younger brother Dan Bainey will return for his 5th season as his Crew Chief of the #00 Aaron’s Dream Team. The #00 Aaron’s Dream Team plans to compete in the events at; Dover International Speedway May, O’Reilly Raceway Park, Bristol Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, & Martinsville Speedway.(Tim Bainey Jr. PR)(4-17-2009)
    UPDATE: They acquired two pristine trucks from Spears Motorsports, which suspended operations on the circuit after the 2007 season. The Baineys also will receive their engines from Hendrick Motorsports. Tim Jr. also said the Trucks Series campaign has garnered interest from local sponsors. Longtime sponsor DelGrosso Foods, maker of pasta sauces, has remained on board. The team could compete in as many as seven races this season, but will race no more than seven to keep Tim Jr. eligible for the Rookie of the Year in 2010.(Centre Daily Times)(4-19-2009)
  • Unser wins, Benson second, Reeves wins celebrity category at Long Beach: It was auto racing at its most thrilling as actor Keanu Reeves prevailed over a highly competitive group of stars of film, television and sports to win the Celebrity Category of the 2009 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. “The King of the Beach,” six-time Toyota Grand Prix winner Al Unser, Jr., finished first among all drivers and won in the Professional category, followed closely by NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Johnny Benson. In the Professional Category, Unser overcame the pros’ :30-second handicap by the eighth lap and held off the scrappy Benson and Southern California Toyota Dealer representative Tom Rudnai, president of Longo Toyota in El Monte, Calif., who came in third overall. The 2008 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race winner, ESPN/ABC pit reporter Jamie Little, came in fifth among the Pros. Toyota will donate $5,000 to “Racing for Kids” in the name of each celebrity racer, and another $5,000 to the winning racer’s charity of choice. Racing for Kids is a national non-profit program benefiting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, Calif. Toyota has donated $1.7 million on behalf of the race and it participants and various children hospitals since 1991. Additionally, a $15,000 donation was made in conjunction with the annual “PEOPLE Pole Award.” Sponsored by PEOPLE magazine, the award was given to Danny Way, this year’s pole-position winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race qualifying session. Way selected the Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC) as his charity, to support ASEC’s mission of progressive eco-education and empowering people to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. Way is hoping the funds generated by the “PEOPLE Pole Award” will enable ASEC to build a “green” skate park for kids in Hawaii.(PR Newswire)(4-19-2008)
  • Images added UPDATE #60 photos added: Schematics of the newly sponsored #60-SafeAuto Toyota for Stacy Compton and the #30-Ventrilo Toyota for Todd Bodine are posted on the 2009 Paint Scheme Page.(4-15-2009)
    UPDATE: Photos of the #60 SafeAuto Toyota have now been added to the 2009 Paint Scheme Page.(4-16-2009)
  • Ventrilo partners with Germain Racing & Bodine starting at Kansas: Ventrilo, a product of Flagship Industries and the premier group voice communications program used in tournaments and multiplayer games, announced today that it is the primary sponsor of the #30 Ventrilo Tundra at Kansas Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Gateway International Raceway for the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Veteran NASCAR racer, Todd Bodine, is the driver of the #30 Ventrilo Tundra of Germain Racing. (Germain Racing PR)(4-15-2009)
  • Price Chopper to sponsor Cobb at Kansas: Jennifer Jo Cobb’s ultimate goal is to be the first woman competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in over 8 years. Locally owned grocery chain Price Chopper recognized Cobb’s Kansas City spirit and is serving as the primary sponsor of the #74 “Price Chopper 400” Dodge Ram, owned by Derrike Cope, Inc. and directed by Rick Markle Racing. Regional bank Capitol Federal is proud to be an associate sponsor. Cobb is a Kansas City, Kansas, resident and began local racing at nearby Lakeside Speedway. Cobb’s Kansas Speedway experience includes the ARCA RE/MAX Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the always competitive NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.(Jennifer Jo Cobb PR)(4-15-2009)
  • SafeAuto enters into multi-year deal with Wyler Racing: SafeAuto Insurance Company, together with Stacy Compton and the Wyler Racing team, have announced the signing of a multi-year agreement naming SafeAuto Insurance Company as the primary sponsor of the #60 Toyota Tundra. The sponsorship agreement will kick off as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads into the 1.5-mile tri-oval of Kansas Speedway for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 on Saturday, April 25, 2009. SafeAuto offers quality, low cost, state required minimum limit car insurance at a price that is affordable. SafeAuto Insurance Company started in Ohio in 1993 and because of our unique approach to car insurance, and quickly expanded into other states: Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri.(Wyler Racing PR)(4-15-2009)
  • Guardsmen to get Speedway tickets: The Kansas Speedway is donating 2,000 tickets to members of the Kansas National Guard, Kansas adjutant general Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting said Tuesday. The tickets are for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 on April 25. The tickets are being distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. “Kansas Speedway has always been a great supporter of the Kansas National Guard,” said Bunting. “Our soldiers and airmen really enjoy themselves at these events and greatly appreciate these generous ticket donations.”(Topeka-Capital Journal)(4-14-2009)
  • KHI announces new partnership with Copart & #33: Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) announced today a new partnership with Copart, Inc. an online vehicle remarketing company that sells more than 1 million cars per year. Copart will serve as primary sponsor of KHI’s #33 Chevrolet Silverado driven by three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday for five of the 25 race events in 2009. Copart, founded in 1982, sells more than 1 million vehicles each year online for insurance companies, banks, finance companies, fleet operators, dealers, the general public and others. Copart’s extensive inventory allows buyers to browse more than 50,000 vehicles each day. Sponsorship begins at Kansas; other races are Milwaukee, New Hampshire, Las Vegas, Talladega. (KHI PR)(4-14-2009)
  • Brian Scott making second career NNS start with Braun Racing: Two Great Clips Toyotas take the green flag for Friday evening’s Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. Brian Scott will pilot the #10 Great Clips Camry and Jason Leffler will drive the #38 Great Clips Camry for Braun Racing. The Boise, Idaho-native is currently in his second year of full-time competition in the Camping World Truck Series for Xpress Motorsports. Plans call for Scott to compete in four races under the Braun Racing banner. (Braun Racing PR)(4-15-2009)
  • Starr & Austin throw out first pitch: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver David Starr and rookie Chase Austin threw out the first pitch at the Kansas City Royals game on April 14. Both Starr and Austin signed autographs and met with fans during the early innings of the game. They also led the crowd in Take Me Out to the Ballgame from the Royals dugout during the seventh inning stretch. Austin, from Eudora, Kansas, had family and friends in the stands. Both will be back in Kansas City next week for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 on Saturday, April 25.(Kansas Speedway PR)(4-15-2009)
  • Braun tests at Rockingham: Braun and the #6 Con-way Freight team spent two days testing at Rockingham’s one-mile oval in preparation for the upcoming intermediate tracks on the Camping World Truck Series schedule. Although the test was shortened by rain both days, Braun and the team took a lot of valuable information back to the shop with them. The team tested two Ford F-150s, the workhorse chassis 43, and a new truck chassis 60. The team plans to take 43 to Kansas next weekend for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250. The new truck was tested for the first time, and the team plans to run it this summer at Texas and/or Michigan.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(4-14-2009)
  • Bodine & Austin to throw out first pitch at Royals game: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers Todd Bodine and Chase Austin are scheduled at the Kansas City Royals game on Tuesday, April 14. Both drivers will throw out the first pitch prior to the game. They are in Kansas City to promote the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 on April 25 at Kansas Speedway. Bodine is the 2005 winner of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway, and was also named NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion in 2006. Austin drives the #32 truck and is a 19-year-old rookie from Eudora, Kansas. He will start his first race at Kansas Speedway this April 25 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250.(Kansas Speedway PR) [For more info on the Kansas City Royals game, visit the Driver Appearances Page.](4-13-2009)
  • MB Motorsports signs Ben Stancill to pilot #63: MB Motorsports is pleased to announce that Ben Stancill will pilot the #63 Ford F-150 NASCAR Camping World Truck, campaigned by the veteran MB Motorsports team, in the “O’Reilly Auto Parts 250” NCWTS race at Kansas Speedway on Saturday April 25th, 2009. This will be the first of 7 scheduled events in 2009 for the MB Motorsports Team with Stancill at the wheel. MB Motorsports is one of only two teams left in the NCWTS that has fielded a truck since the inaugural 1995 NCTS season. Roush Racing is the other team. Longtime partners, Dave Porter Truck Sales and Don Shetler Ford, will continue their support of MB Motorsports again in 2009.(MB Motorsports PR)(4-10-2009)
  • Benson faces sponsor dilemma UPDATE Travesty or not? Grand Rapids native Johnny Benson Jr. and his Red Horse Racing team are either going to have to continue its sponsorship search or accept less television time. That’s what the defending NASCAR Camping World Trucks champion said when he visited Grand Rapids on Monday with Michigan International Speedway president Roger Curtis. It appears Benson has a company lined up, but the television networks that carry the races, including Speed, which airs the majority of the events, have Red Horse Racing putting the brakes on that plan for now. “We have somebody in the works to do it, but TV said they would avoid us if we had this sponsor, and it’s a gun manufacturer,” Benson said. “We are not sure why that would be the case, but that’s the information they are giving us. We have to choose whether we want to head down that road or not. We would hate to have good finishes and run in the top three and have TV avoid us for that reason. “Originally, I said NASCAR had revoked that, and it wasn’t. NASCAR called me Tuesday after I had said that they had shot it down,” Benson added. “Apparently it is the TV. It is a very interesting scenario. We have had other (gun) manufacturers in there, and why it is an issue today, I don’t know. I haven’t had a conversation with them yet to get to the bottom of it. “I think we are going to have to explore it. Money is money. That’s going to have to be one of the things we have to do. But it’s awful hard to sell a sponsorship if they know they are not going to show us. That’s a tough place to be in for both sides.”(MichiganLive.com)(4-1-2009)
    UPDATE: In these crazy economic times, the last thing anyone needs is one more obstacle toward making a living. So it seemed ridiculous that defending NASCAR truck champion Johnny Benson and his team would be told that if their potential sponsorship deal came through – from an undisclosed gun manufacturer – they wouldn’t be shown on television. But that’s what happened, Benson told his hometown Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press. First he thought it was NASCAR’s call, but then he learned, “apparently it is the TV.” One problem. Not only was the representation of the situation untrue as it related to Speed TV, the series’ primary network, but no one in a position to make such a decision for Speed even knew about the sponsor, a spokesman said. Although Newscorp, Speed’s parent company, follows a common television practice in not accepting advertising for weapons and ammunition, the network “does not omit coverage” of a team or venue because of such a sponsor, the spokesman said. NASCAR has had firearm sponsors before; a shotgun manufacturer was prominent in the Cup series in the 1990s, and more recently an online dealer has become involved in the truck series.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(4-10-2009)
  • Crew Chief Doug George to be inducted in West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame: Billy Ballew Motorsports NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Crew Chief, Doug George will be inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame July 3, 2009 at Irwindale Speedway in Southern California. George is a native of Atwater, California and won the 1990 NASCAR Southwest Tour title, posting nine victories. He also won the 1995 NASCAR Camping World Series West Series title. George has two starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Sonoma and Phoenix, 1995) and 56 starts in the Camping World Truck Series Career before moving into a crew chief position. George has been with Billy Ballew Motorsports since early spring 2007 as the crew chief on the No. #15 Toyota Tundra. In 2009, George moved to the #51 Miccosukee Resort Toyota Tundra driven by Kyle “Rowdy” Busch. In just his second race at the helm, Busch gave George his first win as a crew chief in Fontana, California. The team went on to repeat the win at Atlanta Motor Speedway two weeks later.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(4-9-2009)
  • The Harvicks & Hornaday visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center: Kevin Harvick Inc. co-owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick along with three-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday paid a special visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Tuesday, April 7th. The Harvicks and Hornaday were greeted by Walter Reed’s commander general, Maj. Gen. Carla Hawley-Bowland, upon arrival. Being accompanied by VFW National Commander Glen Gardener the group participated in a tour of the hospital, visiting injured soldiers, signing autographs and experiencing the services provided by proud KHI sponsor Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). “This is an opportunity very few people get to experience,” said Kevin Harvick. “I am very proud of our affiliation with the VFW and all of the programs they offer to our veterans and their families. I was able to personally say thank you to some of our country’s finest men and women who have given so much for all of us. This visit was an eye-opening experience at how far medical research has come and it was truly an honor to be able to meet and talk with these brave men and women.” The Army also used yesterday’s visit to present Hornaday and the Harvicks with Freedom Team Salute commendations in recognition of their strong support of soldiers. The commendations, which are signed by Army Secretary Pete Geren and Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., is part of a program established in 2005 to formally recognize individuals within the civilian and military communities who actively support the Army and its soldiers.(KHI PR)(4-9-2009)
  • Lori Hamilton urges cancer screenings during Oral, Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Week: For the second year in a row, Lori Hamilton, wife of late NASCAR racing legend Bobby Hamilton, is urging Americans to get screened for cancer during the 2009 Oral, Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Week (OHANCAW), being held nationwide April 27 – May 3. In addition to the more than 150 sites nationwide that annually offer free oral, head and neck cancer screenings during OHANCAW, screenings also are being offered at select NASCAR races this year, including the Allstate 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2009. Further information about the free screenings can be found at OHANCAW.com.(PR Newswire)(4-8-2009)
  • Camping World to leave Truck Series? UPDATE 2 Denied: Statement from Camping World: NASCAR is putting out feelers for a sponsor to replace Camping World for the Truck Series. Camping World entered the sport as the sponsor for Richard Childress Racing and Kevin Harvick Inc. on Ron Hornaday’s truck in 2007. Later that season CW expanded to include what was formerly the NASCAR Busch East and North developmental series. Camping World was named title sponsor of the Truck Series last fall following an extensive search after Craftsman Tools bowed out.(FoxSports)(4-4-2009)
    UPDATE: Sources confirmed to SPEEDtv.com late Monday that Camping World intends to remain as the title sponsor of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Published reports said NASCAR was shopping for a replacement Truck Series sponsor for Camping World, which is in the first year of a multi-year agreement with the sanctioning body. But a spokesperson for the retailer said the company is actually helping locate a replacement sponsor for the Camping World East and West Series. Camping World previously had announced that 2009 would be its last year as title sponsor for the East and West Series. “We have no intention at this point of trying to pull out of the Truck Series,” said Diana Ardelean of Camping World. “We’re very excited and fully in support of the Truck Series.”(SPEEDtv)(4-7-2009)
    UPDATE 2: Camping World looks forward to the long term sponsor relationship we have arranged with the NASCAR Truck Series and firmly deny we have any interest in departing and have not been informed of any discussions about replacement. The Camping World East/West Series sponsorship ends in 2009, per our announcement last November. Additionally, when Camping World signed the NCWTS deal in 2008, we were already committed to Ron Hornaday for a partial schedule in 2009. The decision was made to focus all our efforts and resources into one entire series to benefit all teams rather than one particular team. As a result, we have been diligently working with KHI and introducing new companies into the series using the sponsorship inventory we are committed to in 2009.”(Camping World PR)(4-8-2009)
  • Scott to run some Nationwide races UPDATE 2 To pilot Braun Racing’s #10 in four NNS races, Dollar General onboard at Nashville: Camping World Truck Series driver Brian Scott told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway Monday that he hopes to run a limited number of Nationwide Series events, beginning at Nashville, for a team to be announced. “I can’t say much yet because it’s not totally signed, sealed and delivered,” said Scott. “But I’m pretty confident that it’s going to happen.”(3-30-2009)
    UPDATE: Brian Scott is listed as driver of the #10-Braun Racing Toyota for the upcoming Nationwide Series race at Nashville Superspeedway. Entry list is posted on the Nationwide Nashville Race Page.(4-6-2009)
    UPDATE 2: Braun Racing is pleased to announce that Brian Scott will pilot the #10 Toyota Camry for four upcoming Nationwide Series races including this Saturday’s Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. This weekend’s event will mark Scott’s debut in the Nationwide Series. Plans call for Scott to drive the #10 Toyota for four races including events at Nashville Superspeedway and Phoenix International Raceway. The remaining two races in which Scott will drive the #10 entry will be announced at a later date. Stewart Cooper, who oversees shop operations at Braun Racing, will serve as crew chief on the #10 car for those races. This weekend Scott will carry the colors of Braun Racing marketing partner, Dollar General, whose headquarters is based just outside of Nashville in Goodlettsville, Tenn. In next weekend’s race at Phoenix International Raceway, Scott will sport the familiar black and white logo of another Braun Racing marketing partner, Great Clips, Inc.(Braun Racing PR)(4-7-2009)
  • KHI entering Carmichael in Rockingham ARCA event: Kevin Harvick will be atop of the flagstand at the start of the ARCA RE/MAX Series Carolina 200 race at the Rockingham Speedway on April 19th and will wave the green flag to begin the highly anticipated race. Kevin Harvick Incorporated will also field a car in the Carolina 200 with Ricky Carmichael getting his first laps at the one-mile speedway. “Throwing the green flag at Rockingham will definitely be a new experience for me,” said the 2007 Daytona 500 winner. “In all my years of racing, I’ve never been asked to be the honorary starter. I’m also looking forward to the ARCA race. It will be Ricky’s (Carmichael) first time at Rockingham so he should be exciting to watch.”(Rockingham Speedway PR)(4-6-2009)
  • Hackett to run limited schedule: Ryan Hackett and Ray Hackett Racing will be making their 2009 Nationwide Series debut at Nashville Superspeedway on April 11 as they attempt to qualify for the Pepsi 300. The team will be led by 1993 Busch Series Championship crew chief Bryant Frazier. Janitorial and cleaning supply company J&R Supply Corp. will serve as associate sponsor and primary sponsorship opportunities are still available. The team plans to race a limited schedule in both the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series with more races to be announced as sponsorship is found.(Hackett Racing PR)(4-4-2009)
  • Image added: Image of the KHI #2-Bounty Chevy driven by race winner Kevin Harvick at Martinsville is posted on the 2009 Paint Scheme Page.(4-3-2009)
  • Ballew charged with DUI at AMS: UPDATE Charges dropped: NASCAR team owner Billy Ballew was arrested for driving drunk at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Wednesday night. Ballew confirmed the arrest during a telephone interview Thursday. “There’s a lot of circumstances I don’t want to go into right now,” Ballew said. “I am 100 percent sure that it will be dropped.” Henry County police said a county sheriff’s department sergeant arrested Ballew at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday night. Ballew was booked into the county jail on a DUI charge and later released. Ballew said he was driving a sponsor from his condominium to the passenger’s motor home when “an irate cop” wearing a cap marked “security” stopped him. The condo and the mobile home, said Ballew, are both on racetrack property. Ballew said he refused to take a breathalyzer test, but acknowledged that he was carrying a mixed drink in the car when he was pulled over. “It was only one drink. I was not drunk,” Ballew said. “I was on Atlanta Motor Speedway property. I was not on the highway.” The NASCAR [Camping World] Truck Series team owner has enlisted an all-star lineup of drivers over the years. The list includes Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Geoffrey Bodine, John Andretti and Kyle Busch.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(3-5-2009)
    UPDATE: Henry County, Georgia has administratively dismissed DUI charges after independent investigation against NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team owner Billy Ballew. The charge relates to an incident that occurred March 4, 2009 on the grounds of Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Ballew is a native of Blairsville, Georgia and has owned a condo at Atlanta Motor Speedway since 1996. Billy Ballew Motorsports has made 263 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts since the team’s inception in1996, posting 12 wins, 36 top-five and 66 top-10 finishes.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(4-1-2009)

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