August 2006 Craftsman Truck Series Archive - Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site

August 2006 Truck Series News Archive

Winners of a race in Cup, Busch and Truck Series races: see my Misc Stats page for this and many others.
Bliss to run Busch race in California: Mike Bliss and the #30 Smith & Wesson Chevy team of SKI Motorsports are ready to make their third Busch Series appearance of the season Saturday night at California Speedway in the Ameriquest 300. (WhoWon.com)(8-31-2006)
Setzer visits Talladega Superspeedway: Truck Series driver Dennis Setzer visited Talladega Superspeedway, Wednesday, August 30 to check out the newly completed track surface and lend a hand in paving the 12-foot truck lane in turn three. Setzer also took time to share his thoughts with reporters on the series upcoming Talladega debut and the new racing surface. Crews are currently replacing fencing and Safer Barriers while others complete finishing touches with asphalt on the truck lane, skid pad, pit road and apron. The entire project will be completed by the track’s fall UAW-Ford 500 event weekend, set for Oct. 6 – 8. (TalladegaSuperspeedway.com)(8-31-2006)
Craftsman for a Cure a big success: When ‘Craftsman For a Cure’ was announced earlier this spring, event organizers from Craftsman Motorsports and Bobby Hamilton Racing had no idea what to expect from the first year event. Today, after months of tallying donations and ticket and auction sales, the organizers of ‘Craftsman For a Cure’ announce that $66,711.83 was raised for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the Victory Junction Gang Camp. – When ‘Craftsman For a Cure’ was announced earlier this spring, event organizers from Craftsman Motorsports and Bobby Hamilton Racing had no idea what to expect from the first year event. Today, after months of tallying donations and ticket and auction sales, the organizers of ‘Craftsman for a Cure’ announced that $66,711.83 was raised for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the Victory Junction Gang Camp.(Craftsman PR)(8-31-2006)
Whitt to run ARCA race at Chicagoland: Former truck series driver Brandon Whitt has announced that he will be making the trek to Chicagoland Speedway for the ARCA SK Tools 200. Whitt, 23, will attempt to make his first career start in the ARCA RE/MAX Series in the #51 Brandon Whitt Racing Dodge Charger, as well as his first career start at the challenging 1.5-mile facility in Joliet, Ill. (BrandonWhitt.com)(8-31-2006)
Kansas Truck race to move to April in 2007: on Speed Channel’s NASCAR Report, Ray Dunlap reported that the Kansas Speedway Truck Series race will move to the end of April in 2007 from it current July spot.(Speed Channel’s NASCAR Report)(8-31-2006)
Memphis gets race date change: NASCAR has agreed to the request to reschedule the Truck Series O’Reilly 200 from the peak heat of the summer for the 2007 season. The O’Reilly 200 will move to June 29-30, a week before the Daytona 400. The race will maintain its Saturday night “under the lights” format. (Memphis Business Journal)(8-30-2006)
Keselowski to run Busch race at Fontana: Brad Keselowski will drive the #23 LoveFiFi.com Chevy for Keith Coleman Racing in the Ameriquest 300 Busch Series event at California Speedway on Saturday. Keselowski has made two starts at California Speedway, including a 16th place finish at the track earlier this year. (KeithColemanRacing.com)(8-29-2006)
Lester to run Cup Race at California Speedway: Bill Lester is on the entry list for the Sony HD500 at California and is scheduled to drive the #23 Waste Management Dodge for Bill Davis Racing.(BillDavisRacing.com)(8-29-2006)
Ragan to make first Busch start for Roush: David Ragan will replace Danny O’Quinn in the #50 Roush Racing Ford for this weekend’s Busch Series race at California Speedway, a team spokesman confirmed Monday. O’Quinn is 18th in the Busch Series standings with three top-10 finishes this year, including a season-best sixth at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis earlier this month. Ragan has made 13 truck starts for Roush this year with one top-five and five top-10 finishes. The 20-year-old Ragan has made four career Busch starts, but this will be his first with Roush Racing. (SceneDaily.com)(8-28-2006)
Where Series drivers finished in the Busch Race: Congratulations go out to Ron Hornaday Jr, driver of the #33 Outdoor Channel Chevy, for his 3rd place finish in the Food City 250 at Bristol last night. The other Truck Series “regulars” also finished well with David Reutimann crossing the line 9th in the #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Dodge, Mike Skinner 13th in the #12 Supercuts Dodge and Aric Almirola 20th in the #19 Banquet Chevy. Matt Kenseth was the winner. For complete finish visit the Busch Series Bristol Race Page.(8-26-2006)
Truck Series News & Notes:
Florida native Aric Almirola (#75 Spears Manufacturing Chevy) has his eye on an eventual seat in the NEXTEL Cup Series. Almirola, 22, believes his time in the Truck Series will help him reach that goal – as it did for Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick. Almirola, part of Joe Gibbs Racing’s driver development program, hopes to better last year’s eighth-place finish – his best in the series – when he visits New Hampshire International Speedway on Sept. 16. He’s logged a pair of top 10s in the season’s first 17 races, ranks third in Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings and 18th in overall points. The Gibbs team has entered Almirola in five NASCAR Busch Series races. He finished 11th at Dover International Raceway in June.

News & Notes Part II:
Mark Martin’s (#6 Scotts Ford) Aug. 23 victory at Bristol Motor Speedway marked the 41st time a Roush Racing truck has gone to Victory Lane in a Truck Series race. Martin, one of eight drivers to win in a Roush Ford F-150, captured the team’s first trophy in September 1996 during the final weekend of competition at North Wilkesboro (NC) Speedway. Roush Racing continues to add to its lead in all-time truck owner victories and is four clear of its closest rival, Ultra Motorsports. Bobby Hamilton Racing, with 19 wins, is closest among active owners in the series. The Jack Roush-owned team accounts for 54 percent of Ford’s 76 Truck Series victories and has competed in 266 consecutive races, seven short of Jim Smith’s series record. Ford’s sixth win of the season moves the truck maker to within five points of series manufacturer leader Toyota. Martin’s victory ended Toyota’s Tennessee win streak at five races.

This Week’s Truck Series Leaders…Through 17 races of the 25-race season:
Points leader – Todd Bodine (2,624)
Winnings – Todd Bodine ($492,260)
Laps led – Mark Martin (485)
Miles led – Mark Martin (619.872)
Victories -Mark Martin (4)
Budweiser Poles -Mike Skinner (4)
Top-five finishes – Todd Bodine, David Reutimann (9)
Top-10 finishes – Todd Bodine, David Reutimann (13)
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Erik Darnell (32 over Chad McCumbee)
Races led – Todd Bodine, Mike Skinner (9)
Weeks in Top 10 – 3 drivers (17)

Etc:
Martin’s fifth career victory – and fourth of 2006 – moved the 47-year-old veteran to 14th on the series career win list…Martin is the series’ fifth different short track winner in as many races in 2006 and seventh in succession dating to Richmond International Raceway’s event in September of last season. One short track race, the Oct. 21 Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway, remains on the schedule…David Starr (#11 Red Horse Racing Toyota) has been the season’s most consistent short track driver with four of five finishes among the top five. Starr, who finished fifth at Bristol, was one-for-43 in top fives prior to his victory in April at Martinsville. … Former ppc Racing crew chief Rick Gay joined Ted Musgrave’s #9 Team ASE/Germain Toyota team in the same role prior to Bristol’s O’Reilly 200 and backed the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion’s run to a third-place finish – Musgrave’s best since April 2 when he was runner-up to teammate Todd Bodine (#30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) at Gateway International Raceway…Bodine’s second-place finish, his sixth of first or second, increased his championship lead to 154 points over Johnny Benson (#23 Exide Toyota), who was fourth…Bristol Motor Speedway continues to be inhospitable to rookie drivers. Raybestos Rookie of the Year leader Erik Darnell (#99 Roush Racing Ford) was the highest finishing freshman in 18th-place…Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 AES Chevy) and David Reutimann (#17 Team Tundra Toyota) scored top-10 finishes in Saturday’s night’s Busch Series Food City 250. Hornaday’s third-place finish was his best in the series since his 2004 victory at The Milwaukee Mile.

In the loop:
For Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota), the season-to-date Scoring Loop Data provides ample of evidence of what might have been. Skinner is 15th in current point standings despite being the #2 miles and lap leader in a season sabotaged by four DNFs. Skinner, however, is second to championship leader Bodine in Driver Rating – 102.5 vs. 108.2. He ranks Fastest Early in a Run, second in Laps in the Top 15 (2,371 of 2,877), third in number of Fastest Laps and third in Speed in the Turns. One additional clue to the 1995 champion’s 2006 woes: Skinner ranks #8 in Speed on Restarts and Speed Late in the Race.(8-24-2006)
Martin’s win made him 4th in most overall NASCAR wins: Mark Martin and the #6 Scotts Ford F-150 dominated Wednesday’s Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. As a result, Martin became the fourth winningest driver in NASCAR history, with 87 total wins in the Nextel Cup, Busch and Truck Series. In eight races this season, Martin has driven to victory lane a series-high four times, and extended Roush Racing’s all-time series win mark to 41.(RoushRacing.com)(8-25-2006)
Darnell to run late-model race at Milwaukee Mile: Roush Truck Series rookie Erik Darnell plans to return to his late-model roots this weekend, joining the Wisconsin Challenge Series for the Governor’s Cup weekend at the Milwaukee Mile.(The Mercury News)(8-24-2006)
New crew chief for Musgrave: Germain Racing welcomes Rick Gay as crew chief for the #9 Team ASE/Germain Toyota Tundra driven by 2005 Truck Series champion Ted Musgrave. Gay’s new team has shown signs of championship form, sits fourth in the driver’s point standings, and boasts a record of seven top-five and ten top-ten finishes in sixteen races this year. Gay, comes to Germain Racing from ppc Racing’s Busch Series program with John Andretti.(Germain Racing)(8-22-2006)
Sponsor on board for KHI and Hornaday: Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) has announced a partnership with Pensacola, Fla based Allstates Employer Services (AES) as primary sponsor of the #33Chevy driven by Ron Hornaday for the remainder of the 2006 Truck Series season, and returning for the 2007 season. Since its inception in 2003, Allstates Employer Services has been dedicated to offering companies the very best business programs and services available – services such as human resources administration, payroll, workers’ compensation, employment compliance reporting and safety training.(Kevin Harvick Inc.)(8-21-2006)
Haas CNC Racing Partners with MRD Motorsports: Haas CNC Racing and Truck Series team MRD Motorsports have entered into an agreement for MRD Motorsports to be the driver development team for Haas CNC Racing. Haas CNC Racing currently fields the #66 Best Buy team in the Nextel Cup Series and the #00 Yellow Transportation team in the Busch Series. MRD Motorsports fields the #06 truck in the Truck Series. MRD Motorsports is refocused for the driver selection process later this year and in preparation for the 2007 season. We will be a full time team starting in 2007.” said MRD team owner Dave Malcolmson.(Haas CNC Racing)(8-19-2006)
Reutimann to run more Busch races for MWR: Aarons Sales and Lease Ownership and Michael Waltrip Racing have announced that David Reutimann will compete in six more NASCAR Busch Series races in the #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine beginning with Bristol Motor Speedway next week. Reutimann, who is in a heated battle for the Truck Series championship, couldn’t be happier with Michael Waltrip Racing’s decision. In addition to competing in the Bristol Motor Speedway Busch Series event, Reutimann will race at California Speedway, Richmond International Raceway, Kansas Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Waltrip will return to the #99 Cottman Transmission car at Dover International Speedway and then race the #99 Family Dollar car at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and the #99 Jani-King car at Phoenix International Raceway. A third driver, 21-year-old Joey Miller will make his NASCAR Busch Series debut in the #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine at Memphis Motorsports Park in October. (MichaelWaltrip.com)(8-17-2006)
Kansas Speedway awaits a new date: The Indy Racing League has opted to release the details of its 2007 schedule in bits and pieces. The piece in which people around Kansas City are most interested has not been released yet. When the Kansas announcement is made, it is expected that the race date for the IRL in Kansas City will be late April. A final detail in moving the date off of the Fourth of July weekend to April involved the Truck Series race, which serves as a companion event to the Indy cars. Kansas Speedway president Jeff Boerger has insisted that the trucks and Indy cars remain companion events. Andrew Gurtis, senior director of operational planning and integration for International Speedway Corp., which is the parent company of the speedway, said this week that things regarding moving the truck series date are “going well.” He said, however, nothing has yet been signed.(kansascitystar.com)(8-11-2006)
Eric Clapton makes NASCAR debut: Todd Bodine was the big winner on Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway when famed guitarist Eric Clapton was a guest of Bodine’s truck owners – Bob, Steve and Rick Germain. It was Clapton’s first race experience.(germainracing.com)(8-23-2006)
Four drivers do double duty at Bristol: Four drivers will run both the Truck Series and the Busch Race at Bristol Motor Speedway this week. Aric Almirola will be in the #19 J.D. Gibbs Banquet Chevy; Ron Hornaday Jr. will be in the #33 KHI Outdoor Channel Chevy, David Reutimann in the #99 Aaron’s Sales and Lease Dodge, and Mike Skinner in the #12 FitzBradshaw SuperCuts Dodge.(8-22-2006)
Bobby Hamilton Sr. to be honored at Food City Family Race Night: Hamilton will be prestigiously honored for his accomplishments in the Motorsports Industry at the Food City Family Race Night festivities in downtown Bristol on Thursday August 24th. Festivities run from 1:00 to 9:00pm ET. Hamilton Sr.’s award will be presented to him by NASCAR President Mike Helton.(Bobby Hamilton Racing)(8-22-2006)
Kittleson fulfills dream by competing at Bristol: Travis Kittleson will make his second career Truck Series start behind the wheel of the #07 Fans1st.com/Bob Steele Chevy/Universal Underwriters Group. Kittleson made his Truck Series debut at Nashville finishing a respectable 15th. (speed51.com)(8-21-2006)
Skinner Back in the #12 at Bristol: Skinner and the Supercuts team head to Bristol this weekend as they prepare to do battle at the World’s Fastest half-mile.(FitzBradshaw Racing)(8-21-2006)
Raybestos Rookie News & Notes: Marcos Ambrose was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Aug.12 Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway. Ambrose finished third, equaling his best effort of the season, and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the second time in 2006. Ambrose is the only Raybestos Rookie to capture WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race honors in the Craftsman Truck Series this season. Ambrose led twice for 49 laps to claim the honor in the July 8 Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky Speedway (race #13). Erik Darnell won the pole position for the Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville, his first pole in 17 career Craftsman Truck Series starts. He is the second Raybestos Rookie to win a pole this season, joining Ambrose. Chad McCumbee scored a seventh-place finish at Nashville, his best in 15 career Craftsman Truck Series starts. McCumbee qualified second at Nashville, his best effort in 2006. Rookie contender point standings: Erik Darnell,153; Chad McCumbee, 127; Aric Almirola, 115; Marcos Ambrose, 90; Boston Reid, 88; Joey Miller, 87; Bobby East, 85; Erin Crocker, 75; Kerry Earnhardt, 71; Kyle Krisiloff, 70; Robert Richardson, 46; Scott Lagasse Jr., 33; Ryan Moore, 25; Michel Jourdain Jr., 24; Sean Murphy, 12; J.R. Patton, 4; Tam Topham, 1.(Raybestos PR)(8-21-2006)
Kyle Busch to run Truck Race: Kyle Busch will return to Truck Series action behind the wheel of the #15 Bowen Family Homes/Manheim Auto Auctions Silverado fielded by Billy Ballew Motorsports. He will have a busy Bristol weekend competing in the O’Reilly 200 as well as the Busch Series and Nextel Cup Series races as well.(Billy Ballew Motorsports)(8-21-2006)
Lafferty Motorsports gets sponsor for Maitlen: Lafferty Motorsports announced that Blue Ox has agreed to become the primary sponsor of the #89 Chevy driven by Chuck Maitlen. Team owner Chris Lafferty was excited about the partnership. “The ability to team up with a great company like Blue Ox is fantastic. Blue Ox’s reputation is stellar and we are proud to be a part of the Blue Ox family”, stated Lafferty. The #89 Blue Ox Chevrolet will debut at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 23rd, 2006. (Chuck Maitlen PR)(8-21-2006)
Skinner, Bodine discussed truck incident: Mike Skinner said Saturday that he has talked with Todd Bodine to clear the air over their last-lap incident in last week’s Truck Series race at Nashville. Bodine bumped Skinner to take the lead on the first lap of a green-white-checkered finish. Skinner then crashed Bodine on the final lap as Johnny Benson sped by both of them for the victory. We talked,” Skinner said. “Everything is going to be all right. Two wrongs never make a right. I think he was wrong doing what he did. I was probably wrong doing what I did. We’ll go to Bristol [next week] and go race, forget about last week.” Skinner said he plans on running in the trucks next year. “There’s been some [Cup] conversation, but my intent is to stay in a Craftsman truck with Toyota on it and we’ve got their word that is what they’re going to do,” Skinner said. “We don’t have a contract yet but we do have their word and they have been very honorable people. “There is a better chance of that happening than not. I enjoy working with Bill Davis and the whole race team. We’ll just kind of see.” (scenedaily.com)(8-20-2006)
Keselowski will do double duty at Bristol: Brad Keselowski will make his first start in the Busch Series for Keith Coleman Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway on August, 25. Also, it was announced that MB Motorsports and K-Automotive Motorsports, both established Truck Series teams since 1995, have joined together to run Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, August 23, 2006. The #63 Ford F-150 Dave Porter Truck Sales sponsored truck will be piloted by veteran driver, Brad Keselowski. (K-Automotive Motorsports)(8-18-2006)
Driver point standings following the O’Reilly 200 at Bristol:(Top ten)
1) #30-Todd Bodine, 2624
2) #23-Johnny Benson, 2470
3) #17-David Reutimann, 2394
4) #9-Ted Musgrave, 2380
5) #14-Rick Crawford, 2323
6) #11-David Starr, 2295
7) #10-Terry Cook, 2248
8) #60-Jack Sprague, 2246
9) #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., 2221
10)#16-Mike Bliss, 2201

For complete standings:
motorsportsone.com
truckseries.com
nascar.com(official)(8-24-2006)
Martin wins the O’Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline at Bristol: Mark Martin dominated the race at Bristol in the #6 Scotts Ford to pick up his fourth Truck Series win this season. Todd Bodine and Ted Musgrave, once again, finished second and third to Martin; shades of the beginning of the season. Johnny Benson came in fourth, but unfortunately lost a few points to Bodine in the points chase. David Starr made a mistake on the opening flag and received a penalty for passing before the start/finish line, but came back to finish fifth. It was a one pit-stop race and pit stategy was the name of the game. The top five drivers pitted early on lap 30. There were 2 lead changes among 2 drivers and 9 cautions for 53 laps.(8-23-2006)
Results for the O’Reilly 200:(Top ten)
1) #6-Mark Martin, Scott’s Ford
2) #30-Todd Bodine, Lumber Liquidators Toyota
3) #9-Ted Musgrave, Team ASE/Germain Motors Toyota
4) #23-Johnny Benson, Exide Toyota
5) #David Starr, Red Horse Racing Toyota
6) #15-Kyle Busch, Bowen Family Homes/Manheim Chevy
7) #5-Mike Skinner, Toyota Tundra Toyota
8) ##16-Mike Bliss, Xpress Motorsports Chevy
9) #18-Bobby Hamilton Jr., Fastenol Dodge
10)#17-David Reutimann, Team Tundra Toyota
1st Rookie (18th) #99-Erik Darnell, Roush Racing Ford
Race Awards:
Bud Pole Award: David Ragan (109.838 mph)
Raybestos Rookie of the Race: Erik Darnell #99
Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award: Mike Bliss, #16 (22 Places)
Mobil 1 Oil Command Performance Driver of the Race: Todd Bodine
WIX Filters Lap Leader Award; Mike Skinner, #5 (36 Laps)
Sunoco Diamond Performance Award: Mark Martin
Checkers/Ralley’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge: Johnny Benson

For complete results:
espn.com
truckseries.com
nascar.com(official)(8-24-2006)
Mark Martin wins the pole for the O’Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline:(Top ten)
1) #6-Mark Martin, 125.248
2) #75-Aric Almirola, 124.873
3) #77-Brendan Gaughan, 124.841
4) #16-Mike Bliss, 124.226
5) #14-Rick Crawford, 124.202
6) #5-Mike Skinner, 124.130
7) #15-Kyle Busch, 123.833
8) #23-Johnny Benson, 123.778
9) #20-Marcos Ambrose, 123.754
10)#18-Bobby Hamilton Jr., 123.491
1st Rookie (2nd) #75-Aric Almirola, 124.873
Did not qualify: #89-Chuck Maitlen

For complete starting lineup:
truckseries.com
nascar.com(8-23-2006)
Final practice results for the O’Reilly 200 at Bristol:(Top ten)
1) #16-Mike Bliss, 124.170
2) #17-David Reutimann, 123.618
3) #77-Brendan Gaughan, 123.594
4) #9-Ted Musgrave, 123.491
5) #15-Kyle Busch, 123.285
6) #5-Mike Skinner, 123.024
7) #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., 122.913
8) #60-Jack Sprague, 122.858
9) #23-Johnny Benson, 122.835
10)#18-Bobby Hamilton Jr., 122.764
1st Ford (11th) #14-Rick Crawford, 122.709
1st Rookie (18th) #20-Marcos Ambrose, 121.682

For complete final practice results:
truckseries.com
nascar.com(8-23-2006)
First practice results for the O’Reilly 200 at Bristol:(Top ten)
1) #4-Timothy Peters, 120.195
2) #6-Mark Martin, 120.120
3) #9-Ted Musgrave, 119.850
4) #11-David Starr, 119.813
5) #16-Mike Bliss, 119.581
6) #23-Johnny Benson, 119.447
7) #5-Mike Skinner, 119.410
8) #60-Jack Sprague, 119.395
9) #14-Rick Crawford, 119.239
10)#77-Brendan Gaughan, 119.202
1st Rookie (13th) #75-Aric Almirola, 119.003

For complete practice results:
truckseries.com
nascar.com(8-23-2006)
Entry List for the O’Reilly 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway:
truckseries.com
nascar.com(8-22-2006)
Truck Series News & Notes – Bristol:
Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) has seen both extremes at Bristol Motor Speedway. In 1995, the inaugural season of the Truck Series, Skinner won the Budweiser Pole, missed the drivers’ meeting and – trying to battle his way back through the pack – wound up 20th. Last year, Skinner found redemption at the .533-mile track – breaking a series non-winning streak that began in 1996. The win also was the first for Bill Davis Racing, a charter Toyota team beginning in 2004. Obviously, Skinner is happy to be back in Thunder Valley for Wednesday night’s O’Reilly 200.

What he’s looking for this year is to regain that feeling by turning around some less -than-pleasant luck. Despite being among the series’ fastest competitors – tops in poles won and laps and miles led – Skinner enters the final nine races ranked 15th for the championship. Twice he’s led races with two laps remaining and come up short, most recently earlier this month at Nashville Superspeedway. A year ago, when he finished fifth in points, Skinner counted nine top fives and 13 top 10s. To date, the numbers are three and five. He’s also suffered four DNF’s. So the series’ only mid-week race couldn’t come at a better time. Skinner, a former Daytona 500 pole winner, always has taken a no-nonsense approach to racing. He says that Bristol fits that style.

News & Notes Part II:
It’s hardly news that Bristol Motor Speedway is one of NASCAR’s most difficult tracks. So it comes as no surprise that its list of Truck Series winners is star-studded, to say the least. The track’s six race winners boast a combined 101 victories. That’s 35.7% of the series’ 283 races – eight of which have been run on the .533-mile concrete track. Four Truck Series champions have won five times at Bristol. Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevy) is the only multiple winner with back-to-back victories in 1997-98. Jack Sprague (#60 Con-way Freight Toyota), Travis Kvapil and Skinner also are Bristol winners.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champions Victories at Bristol Motor Speedway (8 races):
1. Ron Hornaday Jr. 2; 1997-98*
2. Jack Sprague 1; 1999*
3. Travis Kvapil 1; 2003*
4. Mike Skinner 1; 2005
* Won in championship season

The track definitely is a championship predictor. Three champions – Hornaday in 1998, Sprague in 1999 and Kvapil in 2003 – won the O’Reilly 200. Kvapil, in fact, would have been the championship runner-up had he not claimed the Bristol victory when Kevin Harvick suffered a tire failure on the next-to-final lap.

This Week’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders…through 16 races of the 25-race season:
Points leader – Todd Bodine (2,454)
Winnings – Todd Bodine ($462,035)
Laps led – Mike Skinner (351)
Miles led – Mike Skinner (567.980)
Victories – Johnny Benson, Todd Bodine, Mark Martin (3)
Budweiser Poles -Mike Skinner (4)
Top-five finishes – Todd Bodine, David Reutimann (8)
Top-10 finishes – Todd Bodine, David Reutimann (12)
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Erik Darnell (26 over Chad McCumbee)
Races led – Todd Bodine (9)
Weeks in Top 10 – 3 drivers (16)

Four participate in Goodyear test at Las Vegas…Goodyear Tire & Rubber wrapped up a two-day test at the reconfigured Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Aug. 16. Four series drivers – Todd Bodine, #30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota), Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford), Brendan Gaughan (#77 Orleans Racing Dodge) and Dennis Setzer (#85 FlexFuel E85 Chevy) – tested a variety of Wrangler combinations in preparation for the Sept. 23 Smith’s Las Vegas 350. “This ought to be called Las Vegas Superspeedway now,” said Crawford. “You’re going to see a lot of drafting, a lot of speed (and) a lot of excitement for the fans.” Gaughan, a former winner whose race shop is a few hundred yards from the track, said, “It all depends on what tire you put on…so I think you’ll definitely see at least a second faster.” Banking in the turns has been raised from 12 to 20 degrees. The backstretch banking has been increased from three to nine degrees – the same as the track’s frontstretch. Mike Skinner’s 2004 track record of 165.320 mph likely will be shattered by the entire qualifying field as unofficial lap speeds in excess of 170 mph were recorded during the test.

Chevy and Ford owned Bristol Motor Speedway, winning a combined seven times, until a year ago when Skinner’s Toyota visited Victory Lane. Dodge has yet to record a victory at BMS. Chevrolet’s track-leading five wins came in consecutive seasons – 1996 through 2003. Jack Roush and Bill Davis are the only active owners with Bristol victories. Roush’s Carl Edwards was the winner in 2004; Davis won with Skinner last year.

Etc:
Mark Martin (#6 Scotts Ford) dominated the season’s early stages with three victories but hasn’t competed since finishing second on June 17 at Michigan. Martin will make his first series start at Bristol, joined by fellow NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competitor Kyle Busch (#15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Chevy). Busch won in May at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and finished fifth in last year’s O’Reilly 200…Skinner is the only repeat short track winner in the past 14 races. He followed his Bristol victory with a win at Richmond International Raceway…Hornaday is the career short track winner with 16, the most recent in May at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway. He led all 200 laps of the O’Reilly 200 in 1997…Six of eight Bristol races have been won from a start of third or better including both of Hornaday’s victories off the pole. Six former Bristol pole winners are expected to compete…Jay Sauter’s third place in 1996 is the best Bristol finish by a Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate….Veteran teams K Automotive and Mittler Bros. Motorsports will join forces at Bristol to field the #63 Dave Porter Truck Sales Ford for Brad Keselowski…Kevin Harvick Inc. has announced a partnership with Pensacola, Fla.-based Allstates Employer Services (AES) as primary sponsor of the #33 Chevy driven by Ron Hornaday Jr. for the remainder of the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, and returning for the 2007 season.

On the Right Track:
Sprague solid in Thunder Valley…Sprague has competed in seven of eight series races at Bristol, missing only the 2002 season during which he competed on the NASCAR Busch Series. He’s the track’s laps completed leader with 1,330 run of a possible 1,356. His four top-five and six top-10 finishes also are tops among all competitors. Sprague leads in Bristol winnings with $110,665. Championship contenders should be okay…Here are the best Bristol finishes of the current top five: Bodine, 2nd, 2005; Johnny Benson (#23 Exide Toyota), 4th, 2005; David Reutimann (#17 Team Tundra Toyota), 11th, 2004; Ted Musgrave, (#9 Team ASE Toyota), 6th, 2005 and Crawford, 3rd, 2003.

In the Loop:
How do you dominate a race like Mike Skinner did in winning last year’s O’Reilly 200? Simple – just consult the Scoring Loop Statistics. Skinner, who led all but 10 laps and racked up a perfect, 150.0 Driver Rating, was first in a number key statistics. Here they are: Skinner turned 38 of the race’s fastest laps (19 percent), was fastest on restarts by nearly 1.5 mph over his closest competitors, was fastest early in a run at 119.873 mph and logged the fastest green flag speed. Toyota wasn’t the fastest truck at any point on the track but Skinner was solid all the way around the .533-mile concrete layout. Skinner was second fastest in Turns 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and stood fourth quickest on both front and back stretches.

From the Archives:
Rick Carelli, a former NASCAR AutoZone West Series, Grand National Division and AutoZone Elite Division Southwest Series champion, won his first of four Truck Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway in 1996. Carelli is retired from competition but will return to Bristol this week as the general manager of Ron Hornaday Jr.’s Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevy team.

Fast Facts:
What: O’Reilly 200 (Race 17 of 25)
Where: Bristol Motor Speedway
When: 9:15 pm/et, Aug. 23
Track layout: .533 -mile banked concrete oval
Race length: 200 laps/106.6 miles
Posted awards: $481,962
TV: SPEED Channel, 8:30 pm/et
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite
2005 winner: Mike Skinner
2005 polesitter: David Reutimann
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Wednesday -Practice 11 am – noon. Rookie Practice 12:30 pm-1 pm Final Practice 1 p.m. -2 p.m. Qualifying 5:30 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.
Chaffin to run Cup race at Michigan: Chad is back in the #61 Front Row Motorsports Ford for this weekend’s GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan Int’l Speedway. Continental Fire and Safety, out of New Jersey, has joined Chad and Front Row Motorsports as their sponsor for this weekend’s race. Continental Fire and Safety is a company specializing in all aspects of fire and safety equipment from fire hydrant hoses to first aid kits.(ChadChaffin.com)(8-17-2006)
Four teams tire test at LVMS: UPDATE: Four Truck Series teams are testing tires for Goodyear in a closed session on Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s new pavement and banked turns Tuesday and Wednesday: #14-Rick Crawford [Ford], #85-Dennis Setzer [Chevy], #30-Todd Bodine [Toyota] aNd #77-Brendan Gaughan [Dodge](images at LVMS.com)(8-16-2006)
UPDATE: Four Truck Series teams conclude tire tests at LVMS: Four Truck Series teams concluded tire tests for Goodyear at Las Vegas Motor Speedway tonight. The next time they see the track will be Smith’s Las Vegas 350 on Saturday, Sept. 23. Each of the four participating manufacturers were represented: Dodge (Brendan Gaughan of Las Vegas), Chevrolet (Dennis Setzer), Toyota (Todd Bodine) and Ford (Rick Crawford). The track qualifying record of 165.320mph was set by Mike Skinner in 2004 [the Nextel Cup track record in 174.904mph, set in 2004], and the teams ran in the 170mph in race trim [reports from Tuesday had the speeds close to 180mph]. Tickets for the Smith’s Las Vegas 350 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Sept. 23 may be purchased by calling the LVMS ticket office at (702) 644-4444 or online at www.LVMS.com.(LVMS PR)(8-17-2006)
Texas Motor Speedway Announces 2007 Schedule: The season kicks off April 12-15 with the RadioShack 500 weekend that features the Nextel Cup Series, Busch Series and Crown Royal International Race of Champions. The Indy Racing League IndyCar Series makes its annual visit June 7-9 for the Bombardier Learjet 500k weekend and will be joined by the Truck Series. The season wraps up in grand fashion Nov. 1-4 with the Dickies 500 NASCAR triple-header weekend featuring the NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Truck series. (Texas Motor Speedway)(8-16-2006)
Truck Series News & Notes:
By some standards, 2006 could be seen as disappointing for Kerry Earnhardt (#13 National Pork Board/Thorsport Chevy) but the third-generation competitor prefers to take the more optimistic view of his first full season in the Truck Series. Earnhardt, who won the 2005 Budweiser Pole at Daytona International Speedway in his first series start, believes he’s making progress as teammate to Matt Crafton (#88 Menards/Energizer Chevy). Crafton is 12th in a tight battle for the series’ top 10 while Earnhardt stands 22nd in what arguably is the most competitive season top-to-bottom in the 12-year history of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Earnhardt has flirted with top-five and top-10 finishes and finally – last Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway – the stars aligned to put the driver in 11th-place at the checkered flag. The finish bettered by six positions the North Carolinian’s career-best in the series. In Nashville, Earnhardt and crew chief Lance Hooper, a former Truck Series driver, appeared close to finding the puzzle’s missing pieces. Where Earnhardt’s career goes from the Truck Series is anyone’s guess but for the moment he – and wife Renee and their four children – are pleased with his situation.

News & Notes Part II:
Jack Sprague (#60 Con-way Freight Toyota) became the Truck Series’ “Six Million Dollar Man” following his second-place finish in Saturday’s Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway. Sprague, who shares the series’ total start mark of 238 races with Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford), won $31,050 to reach a series high $6,013,695. That’s $1.5 million more than the next highest career winnings of $4,503,750 logged by Dennis Setzer (#85 FlexFuel E85 Chevrolet) Setzer has won $4,503,750 in 208 appearances.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leading Money Winners:
1. Jack Sprague, 238 races, $6,013,695
2. Dennis Setzer, 208 races, $4,503,750
3. Ted Musgrave, 140 races, $4,075,914
4. Ron Hornaday Jr., 166 races, $3,954,170
5. Rick Crawford, 238 races, $3,751,655
(Through Nashville Superspeedway, Aug. 12, 2006 – 283 races.)

All of the current top five leading money winners are active drivers – and each occupies a spot in the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship chase. Ted Musgrave (#9 Team ASE Toyota) is highest ranked in fourth place. The top of the career money list contains three former champions – Sprague, Musgrave and Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevy) – counting a combined six titles.

This Week’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders … Through 16 races of the 25-race season:
Points leader – Todd Bodine (2,454)
Winnings – Todd Bodine ($462,035)
Laps led – Mike Skinner (351)
Miles led – Mike Skinner (567.980)
Victories – Johnny Benson, Todd Bodine, Mark Martin (3)
Budweiser Poles -Mike Skinner (4)
Top-five finishes – Todd Bodine, David Reutimann (8)
Top-10 finishes – Todd Bodine, David Reutimann (12)
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Erik Darnell (26 over Chad McCumbee)
Races led – Todd Bodine (9)
Weeks in Top 10 – 3 drivers (16)

Toyota adds to truck maker lead…Johnny Benson’s (#23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota) victory at Nashville Superspeedway is Toyota’s eighth of the 2006 season – one short of the nine the truck maker put into the win column a year ago. With nine races remaining, Toyota can come close to – but not reach – the record 18 wins posted by Chevrolet in 1996. The overall competition remains close with Toyota leading current runner-up Ford by eight points, three more than after race 15. Also, the manufacturer’s Tennessee win streak of five races continues heading into the Aug. 23 O’Reilly 200 where Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) is the defending champion.

Etc:
Nashville winner Benson joined two clubs Saturday becoming the 33rd competitor to win a career $1 million in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Benson is the ninth driver to win $1 million in each of NASCAR’s three national touring series. Thirty-three different drivers have won $100,000 or more so far this year – three more than in any previous full season…Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidates swept the front row starting positions in Nashville for just the second time in series history. Current freshman leader Erik Darnell (#99 Roush Racing Ford) posted a track record speed of 162.116 mph for a single lap around the 1.333-mile concrete oval. Chad McCumbee (#08 The GPS Store/Garmin Chevrolet) took the 2 position – the highest ever by a driver in a Green Light Racing truck…Several competitors logged series-best finishes at Nashville including McCumbee (seventh); Earnhardt, 11th; Boston Reid (#25 Woodard Racing Dodge), 14th and Ryan Moore (#40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet), 18th…With Nashville’s ninth caution extending the 150-lap scheduled distance there have been 62 green-white-checkered finishes representing 22 percent of the series’ 283 races…Todd Bodine (#30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) is the NASCAR Craftsman Truck points leader for the 12th consecutive week. His 12 times atop the leader board ranks 10th in series history. The all-time leader is Sprague, who has topped the points 52 times. Bodine’s lead with nine races remaining is 144 points over Benson, who joined Bodine and Mark Martin ( 6 Scotts Ford) as three-time winners in 2006…SPEED’s expanded pre-race show will air prior to six of the final nine series events beginning with an 8:30 p.m. ET broadcast from Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, Aug. 23…Four series drivers – Bodine, Crawford, Setzer and Brendan Gaughan (#77 South Coast Dodge) – will participate in a Goodyear tire test this week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Truck Series will be the first to compete on the reconfigured, 1.5-mile superspeedway on Sept. 23.

In the loop:
Points leader Bodine continues to dominate statistics with a leading Driver Rating of 107.7 (of 150.0). He’s put down the most fast laps among all competitors – 122. Standings runner-up Benson is seventh in Driver Rating (99.2) but with McCumbee, ranks third in series Closers with 19 positions.

Fast Facts:
What: O’Reilly 200 (Race 17 of 25)
Where: Bristol Motor Speedway
When: 9:15 pm/et, Aug. 23
Track layout: .533 -mile banked concrete oval
Race length: 200 laps/106.6 miles
Posted awards: $481,962
TV: SPEED Channel, 8:30 pm/et
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite
2005 winner: Mike Skinner
2005 polesitter: David Reutimann

Pre-race schedule (all times local): Wednesday -Practice 11:00 – noon. Rookie Practice 12:30 p.m.-1 p.m. Final Practice 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Qualifying 5:30 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.
SPEED expands pre-race coverage: SPEED will deliver an additional 30 minutes of pre-race coverage as part of the network’s live and exclusive coverage of the Truck Series for seven of the season’s final nine events. SPEED pit reporter Ray Dunlap will anchor the expanded coverage. Expanded pre-race coverage is now planned for the following events (all times Eastern and subject to change): Bristol, Aug. 23, 8:30 pm; NHIS, Sept. 16, 1:30 pm; Talladega, Oct. 7, 2:30 pm, Martinsville, Oct. 21, 12:30 pm, Atlanta, Oct. 28, 4:30 pm; Texas, Nov. 3, 8:30 pm; Homestead, Nov. 3, 8:30 p.m.(Speedtv.com)(8-15-2006)
Skinner to run Busch & Cup at MIS: Mike Skinner is scheduled to drive the #12 FitzBradshaw Racing Dodge in this weekend’s Busch Series event at Michigan International Speedway. Skinner will make his fourth series start for FitzBradshaw if he qualifies for Saturday’s Carfax 250 Busch Series race. The #12 is outside the top 30 in owner points and a guaranteed starting position in the race. Skinner will also attempt to qualify for the GFS Marketplace 400 Cup race Sunday in the Bob Jenkins-owned #34. (scenedaily.com)(8-15-2006)
Jack Sprague; Six Million Dollar Man: UPDATE: With a finish of third or higher at the Nashville Superspeedway this Saturday, Jack Sprague will become the first driver in the Truck Series to reach $6 million in career winnings. Currently, Sprague has $5,982,645 – just over $17,000 shy of the record.(jacksprague.com)(8-8-2006)
UPDATE: Jack Sprague became the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ “Six Million Dollar Man” with his runner-up finish at Nashville Superspeedway in the Toyota Tundra 200 this weekend. The Series only three-time champion is the first driver in Series history to earn more than $6 million in winnings.(jacksprague.com(8-14-2006)
Darnell wins first career pole at Nashville: Erik Darnell picked up his first Truck Series Budweiser Pole award on Saturday at the Nashville Superspeedway, and did so in record fashion. Darnell’s #99 Ford eclipsed the previous track record by .124 of a second. Darnell’s first pole came in his 17th career start.(roushracing.com)(8-14-2006)
Driver point standings following Nashville:(Top ten)
1) #30-Todd Bodine, 2454
2) #23-Johnny Benson, 2310
3) #17-David Reutimann, 2260
4) #9-Ted Musgrave, 2215,
5) #14-Rick Crawford, 2199
6) #60-Jack Sprague, 2152
7) #10-Terry Cook, 2148
8) #11-David Starr, 2140
9) #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., 2139
10)#85-Dennis Setzer, 2063

For complete driver standings:
truckseries.com
nascar.com(official)(8-14-2006)
Benson surprise winner at Nashville: A green-white-checkered brought on some aggressive driving between race leader Mike Skinner and second place runner, Todd Bodine. Bodine got under Skinner on the restart giving Skinner a bump in the left rear, Skinner retaliates, getting up under Bodine causing them both to get a little sideways and up out of the groove; Skinner winds up in the wall and finishes 17th; Bodine 8th. Johnny Benson who looked to finish 3rd, winds up the winner of the coveted Gibson guitar. Jack Sprague finished second, with rookie, Marcos Ambrose finishing third. Rounding out the top five were Ted Musgrave in fourth and Brendan Gaughan in fifth. Tire problems took top drivers Rick Crawford, Dennis Setzer, Ron Hornaday, among others, out of the race. There were 9 cautions for 37 laps and 7 race leaders among 6 drivers during the race. Mike Skinner led the most laps at 49.(8-12-2006)
Johnny Benson Wins the Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway(Top ten)
1) #23-Johnny Benson, Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota
2) #60-Jack Sprague, Con-way Freight Toyota
3) #20-Marcos Ambrose,Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards Ford
4) #9-Ted Musgrave, Team ASE, Germain Motorsports Toyota
5) #77-Brendan Gaughan, South Coast Hotel Dodge
6) #17-David Reutimann, Team Tundra Toyota
7) #08-Chad McCumbee, The GPS Store/Garmin Chevy
8) #30-Todd Bodine, Lumber Liquidators Toyota
9) #88-Matt Crafton, Menards/Energizer, Chevy
10)#10-Terry Cook, Ford Power Stroke Diesel by Int’l Ford<

Race Awards: Bud Pole Award: Erik Darnell # (162.116 mph)
Raybestos Rookie of the Race: Marcos Ambrose #20
Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award: David Reutimann
Mobil 1 Oil Command Performance Driver of the Race: Marcos Ambrose #20
WIX Filters Lap Leader Award: Mike Skinner
Sunoco Diamond Performance Award: Johnny Benson
Checkers/Ralley’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge: Johnny Benson

For complete results:
espn.com
truckseries.com
nascar.com(official)(8-14-2006)
Starting Lineup for the Toyotal Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway:(Top ten)
1) #99-Erik Darnell, 162.116
2) #08-Chad McCumbee, 161.990
3) #60-Jack Sprague, 161.712
4) #4-Timothy Peters, 161.456
5) #22-Bill Lester, 161.050
6) #11-David Starr, 160.888
7) #5-Mike Skinner, 160.662
8) #16-Mike Bliss, 160.527
9) #21-Bobby East, 160.511
10)#33-Ron Hornaday Jr., 160.377
1st Rookie (1st) #99-Erik Darnell, 162,116
All entries qualified

For complete starting lineup:
truckseries.com(8-12-2006)
Final practice results for the Toyota Tundra 200:(Top ten)
1) #60-Jack Sprague, 160.190
2) #22-Bill Lester, 160.093
3) #4-Timothy Peters, 159.487
4) #17-David Reutimann, 159.280
5) #11-David Starr, 159.074
6) #23-Johnny Benson, 158.843
7) #5-Mike Skinner, 158.675
8) #20-Marcos Ambrose, 158.497
9) #6-David Ragan, 158.147
10)#18- Bobby Hamilton Jr., 158.121
1st Chevy (14th) Kevin Grubb, 157.710
1st Rookie (8th) Marcos Ambrose, 158.497

For complete final practice results:
nascar.com
truckseries.com(8-11-2006)
1st practice results for the Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway:(Top ten)
1) #60-Jack Sprague, 159.976
2) #4-Timothy Peters, 159.982
3) #11-David Starr, 159.238
4) #5-Mike Skinner, 159.027
5) #18-Bobby Hamilton Jr., 159.006
6) #6-David Ragan, 158.838
7) #22-Bill Lester, 158.649
8) #15-Kevin Grubb, 158.512
9) #23-Johnny Benson, 158.486
10)#16-Mike Bliss, 158.355
1st Rookie; (14th) #25-Boston Reid, 157.731

For complete practice results:
truckseries.com
nascar.com(8-11-2006)

Preliminary Entry List for the Toyota 200 at Nashville Superspeedway:
truckseries.com
Miller to make Busch Series debut at Memphis in October: Joey Miller is scheduled to make his Busch Series debut in the #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine fielded by Michael Waltrip Racing at Memphis Motorsports Park this October. The 21-year-old is also competing in the #12 Curb Records Toyota Tundra at Bristol Motor Speedway this month, but his team will not participate in the remaining NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events due to lack of sponsorship. (michaelwaltripracing.com)(8-11-2006)
Benson and Kyle Busch to race at Berlin: Berlin Raceway is gearing up for the annual “The Chet” race, sponsored by Comerica Bank, to be held on Wednesday, August 16 at 7 p.m. Held in memory of track founder Chet Mysliwiec, the 100-lap Coors Light Late Model race will include NASCAR stars Kyle Busch and Johnny Benson. For the third straight year, the race will benefit St. John’s Home, Michigan’s premier residential treatment program for emotionally troubled children and adolescents. Berlin Raceway and Comerica Bank will donate one dollar from every ticket sold for the August 16 race to St. John’s Home. Most funding for the home comes from charitable contributions from the community, such as the Berlin Raceway/Comerica Bank fundraiser.(johnnybenson.com)(8-10-2006)
Gaughan approves of new LVMS configuration: Truck Series driver, Brendan Gaughan had the chance to experience the newly configured Las Vegas Motor Speedway today. The opportunity came via the Speedway’s public relations department and had Gaughan giving rides to the media in Petty Driving Experience cars. The following quotes are from Gaughan following his time on the new high-banked configuration. Impressions of the new LVMS;I liked the old track so I’m not one of those guys that didn’t like the old LVMS configuration. I got to talk to the guys who constructed it and they’re really proud of it. They’ve done a really good job of making it parabolic. There are no seams where the banking rises. Other tracks that have tried parabolic banking you always can see where they’ve gone from one banking level to the next. There’s a split line there almost. But not here — it’s totally seamless. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway front straight lends itself to a much more friendly and racy straightaway. At Charlotte, Atlanta, Texas those places, with their flat double dogleg, it can get dicey where you get a little nervous getting through there. This place seems like you’re going to be able to go two or three wide at the start / finish line much easier than those places. I can’ wait for the Goodyear test next week. Then the Truck race is the first event on the new surface, on September 23rd. They didn’t narrow the track up. It’s the same width, maybe a little wider. With the pit road being so far out now it gives the illusion that they had to take race track someplace. If anything the racetrack is wider now. You’ll definitely be able to run more grooves. Look at Homestead when they went to multiple banking. The top groove could be pretty quick.(brendangaughan.com)(8-8-2006)
Kittleson to make debut at Nashville: Travis Kittleson will make his Truck Series debut this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, driving the #07 Chevrolet Silverado fielded by Green Light Racing. He spent two days this week with the team testing at Chicagoland Speedway and positive results from that test have led to this weekend’s opportunity. The Chicagoland test is just the latest opportunity for Kittleson to prepare himself for racing a NASCAR Truck. He has also tested at Caraway Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and at Darlington Raceway in a truck. He’s got laps at Nashville as well, coming in a Busch Series machine.(speed51.com)(8-11-2006)
Crocker to run both races at Nashville: This will be Erin Crocker’s first truck race at Nashville. Crocker has competed at Nashville a total of four times, once in the Busch car and three times in an ARCA car. This will be Crocker´s last ARCA race for the season, and also, her last weekend of double duty until Phoenix later this year.(evernhammotorsports.com)(8-10-2006)
Raybestos Rookie News & Notes: Erik Darnell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the August 4 Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. Darnell finished 10th, his third consecutive top-10 finish and sixth of the 2006 season. He took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the eighth time in 15 races. Darnell stretched his lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings to 32 points (146-114) over second-place Chad McCumbee entering the August 12 Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway. Darnell is 13th in the Craftsman Truck Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. Carl Edwards is the only Raybestos Rookie to win at Nashville in five Truck Series races. He took the checkered flag by 1.209 seconds over Ted Musgrave in 2003. Point standings; Erik Darnell, 146; Chad McCumbee, 114; Aric Almirola, 111; Joey Miller, 87; Bobby East, 83; Boston Reid, 82; Erin Crocker, 74; Marcos Ambrose, 71; Kyle Krisiloff, 70; Kerry Earnhardt, 63; Kraig Kinser, 57; Robert Richardson, 43; Scott Lagasse Jr., 33; Michel Jourdain Jr., 24; Ryan Moore, 19; Sean Murphy, 12; J.R. Patton, 4; Tam Topham, 1.(Raybestos PR)(8-9-2006)
Kinser does Nashville/Knoxville Double Duty: Kraig Kinser has a busy schedule on tap for this weekend. The Raybestos Rookie contender will drive the #46 CENTRIX Auto Finance Silverado in the Truck Series event at Nashville Superspeedway and defend his title in the prestigious Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway. Kinser will participate in the Thursday night qualifying events at Knoxville to secure a position in Saturday night’s 30-lap A Main that pays $140,000 to the winner. Knoxville Raceway has hosted the annual event for 45 years.(kraigkinser.com)(8-9-2006)
Toyota still picks up Trucks: Toyota plans to keep on truckin’ next season after it ventures into theNextel Cup Series. “We have a long-term commitment to the truck series and we’re not pulling in our horns,” said Les Unger, a Toyota racing official. “We have had a lot of success in the Truck Series and built a lot of good relationships. We plan to continue to build on that.” Not only will Toyota enter the Cup series next year, Unger said it also will field cars in the Busch Series. No Toyota Busch teams have been announced so far, however. Despite that full plate, Unger said Toyota will not de-emphasize its involvement in the truck series.(Tennessean.com)(8-9-2006)
Shepherd to pull double duty in Nashville: Peter Shepherd will be pulling double duty this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway. Shepherd will compete Saturday in both the ARCA/REMAX Series race in the #39 Ford Taurus and in the Truck Series race in the #50 Ford 150. Headz Gamez will be the primary sponsor in both of Shepherds races. Roush Racing has teamed up with the Roulo brothers to field Shepherd in his second ARCA Series race. The pairing proved successful in St. Louis where Shepherd finished fourth in his first career start. (roushracing.com)(8-9-2006)
Prison Break star to serve as Grand Marshal at Nashville:The Toyota Tundra 200 Truck Series race Saturday, August 12 (this weekend) will be served by two very distinguished personalities – Fox’s hit drama Prison Break cast member William Fichtner will serve as the Grand Marshal and retired Tennessee Titan Brad Hopkins will served as the Honorary Starter.(nashvillesuperspeedway.com)(8-9-2006)
Sanders to pilot #04 for BHR at Nashville Superspeedway: Bobby Hamilton Racing has announced a partnership with Camp Courageous, a camp for critically ill children located in Scottsville, Kentucky, for two Truck Series events. The 2005 Music City Motorplex All American Late Model Challenge Series Champion Sammy Sanders will drive the #04 Camp Courageous Dodge at Nashville Superspeedway on August 12th and at a later to be determined date this season.(bobbyhamiltonracing.com)(8-7-2006)
BHR holds special Open House August 10th: Nashville Superspeedway and Bobby Hamilton Racing invite you to a very special Open House. Thursday August 10th from 5pm – 8pm at the Bobby Hamilton Racing facility in Mt. Juliet, TN. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society – A minimum $5 admission fee gets you in! A Truck Series Autograph Session will be held from 6:30pm – 7:30pm. Get a chance to meet some of your favorite NCTS drivers! Food and Beverage plus Music, Fun and Racing Games for the entire family.(bobbyhamiltonracing.com)(8-7-2006)
Green Light Racing hires new crew chief: Coming off the announcement of new sponsor “The GPS Store and Garmin”, Green Light Racing officials announced today that they have hired veteran crew chief Kevin Cram to oversee operations of the #08 Chevrolet Silverado. Cram comes to Green Light with experience from the both the CUP and Truck garage. Cram has worked with drives Bill Elliot, Jason Leffler, Ron Hornaday, Stacy Compton and Geoff Bodine just to name a few.(greenlightracing.com)(8-7-2006)
Where the Truck Series drivers finished: Several Truck Series drivers ran the Busch Series Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Motorsports Park on Saturday night. They finished as follows; Mike Skinner 18th, Ron Hornaday 23rd, Ted Musgrave 24th, Erin Crocker, 26th. Former Truck Series regular Steve Park finished 32nd.(8-6-2006)
Darnell Rookie of the Race at ORP in Indianapolis: Erik Darnell in the #99 FinishMaster Automotive and Industrial Paint Ford was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race at O’Reilly Raceway Park. Darnell finished 10th and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the eighth time in 15 races this season. (Raybestos PR)(8-6-2006)
Red Horse Racing welcomes Toyota Forklift Sponsorship: Red Horse Racing has announced that Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A. Inc. has signed on as an associate sponsor on the team’s #11 Toyota Tundra for the remainder of the Truck Series season. Led by driver David Starr, the #11 Toyota will feature the ToyotaForklift.net logo starting with this week’s race at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. In addition to being an associate sponsor for the remainder of the season, ToyotaForklift.net also will be the primary sponsor for Starr and Red Horse Racing for the September 23rd race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway(redhorseracing.com)(8-4-2006)
Truck Series News & Notes:
The 2005 season has not been kind to Bobby Hamilton Jr. (#18 Fastenal Dodge) or Bobby Hamilton Racing. This was supposed to be a season of redemption for the 28-year-old, second generation driver whose disappointing foray into Cup competition ended last November. Hamilton began the year with a seventh-place finish at Daytona and three top 10s in the team’s first five races. Shortly after the season began, his father, 2004 Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton, was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. The younger Hamilton was tapped to finish the season his father’s ride, but so far, the results haven’t been what anyone might have anticipated. Hamilton hasn’t finished higher than 15th in his 10 most recent starts. Since late April, BHR, which has fielded up to three trucks in each event, has recorded just one top-five finish – Bobby Labonte’s third-place performance in a substitute role at Michigan International Speedway. Saturday’s Toyota Tundra 200, a hometown race for the Mt. Juliet-based team at nearby Nashville Superspeedway, is a welcome turn of the schedule. The elder Hamilton won the race in 2004 – after his son grabbed the Budweiser Pole. The pair fought for the victory throughout, trading the lead a number of times. Race week also allows Nashville fans to visit the Bobby Hamilton Racing shops, a celebration that’s grown exponentially from a low-key autograph signing a few years ago. This is the first time anyone other than the track’s season ticket holders has been invited. There is a $5 cover charge with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

News & Notes Part II:
Bodine extends lead, but rest of top 10 fluctuates…A seventh-place finish in last week’s Power Stroke Diesel 200 allowed Todd Bodine (# 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) to boost his standings lead to 182 points over Johnny Benson (# 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota). That margin might appear comfortable until one recalls that last year’s post-Indianapolis leader Dennis Setzer (# 85 FlexFuel E 85 Chevrolet) was up by 227 points and finished second in the title race. Bodine’s pursuers remain tightly bunched with only 120 points between second and ninth places. Memphis winner Jack Sprague (# 60 Con-way Freight Toyota) dropped from seventh to 11th following a finish of 28th.

Active Drivers with Victories in Consecutive Seasons:
1. Dennis Setzer 8, 1998-2005
2. Ron Hornaday Jr. 6, 1995-1999, 2001*
& Jack Sprague 6, 1996-2001
4. Mike Bliss 5, 1995-1999
& Ted Musgrave 5, 2001-2005
6. Rick Crawford 4, 2003-2006
* Did not compete in 2000

Crawford adds to consecutive win total…Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford) became the 10th different winner at O’Reilly Raceway Park on Aug. 4 and moved to sixth among active drivers with victories in four consecutive seasons. The irony is that four winless seasons followed Crawford’s initial triumph in 1998 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Dennis Setzer (# 85 FlexFuel E85 Chevrolet) is the career leader in the category. Setzer has won in every year since 1998 – an eight-season streak he hopes to extend during this year’s final 10 races.

This Week’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders…through 15 races of the 25-race season:
Points leader – Todd Bodine (2,307)
Money won – Todd Bodine ($452,160)
Laps led – Mark Martin (321)
Miles led – Mark Martin (532.46)
Victories – Todd Bodine, Mark Martin (3)
Budweiser Poles -Mike Skinner (4)
Top-five finishes – Todd Bodine (8)
Top-10 finishes – Todd Bodine, David Reutimann (11)
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Erik Darnell (32 over Chad McCumbee)
Races led – Todd Bodine (8)
Weeks in Top 10 – 3 drivers (15)

Toyota on a roll in Tennessee…In addition to leading NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series manufacturer standings – 102 to 97 over Ford – Toyota is four-for-four in Tennessee wins since Brandon Whitt’s July 2005 victory at Memphis Motorsports Park. David Reutimann (#17 Team Tundra Toyota) will defend this week at Nashville Superspeedway. Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) won last year’s event at Bristol Motor Speedway with Sprague the winner last month in Memphis. That’s four different drivers and four teams.

Etc:
Benson is poised to become the series’ 33rd different $1 million career winner when he takes the green flag in Nashville. Benson will be the ninth competitor to win $1 million in each of NASCAR’s three national series. … Sprague can become the first NASCAR Craftsman Truck driver to win $6 million in a career by finishing third or higher in this week’s race. Sprague’s series-leading money totals $5,982,645…Nashville Superspeedway is the second of three concrete-surfaced tracks on this year’s schedule. Mark Martin (#6 Scotts Ford), who isn’t entered in Nashville…won at Dover International Speedway in early June. The schedule’s next event – at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 23 – also is run on concrete. Drivers who have won on concrete and one expected to compete are Reutimann, Skinner, Sprague, Mike Bliss (#16 Xpress Motorsports Chevrolet), Chad Chaffin (#59 Eaton Corporation Ford), Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet) and Ted Musgrave (#9 Team ASE Toyota). Hornaday is the only double winner with both victories scored at Bristol…The Toyota Tundra 200 twice has been won from the pole – Scott Riggs in 2001 and Bliss the following year. Bobby Hamilton started 16th in 2004, deepest in the field by a race winner…Sammy Sanders, a Bobby Hamilton Racing employee, will make his first start of the season in the # 04 Dodge with sponsorship from Camp Courageous, a medical camping facility under construction in Scottsville, Ky. When open in 2008, Camp Courageous will provide free, year-round camping sessions for children battling life threatening illnesses from Kentucky, Tennessee and surrounding area.

On the right track:
Musgrave solid at Nashville… Musgrave has five finishes of second or third at Nashville Superspeedway including last year’s runner-up performance. Ironically, the 2005 race marked the first time the defending series champion has failed to lead a lap. “I’m not sure if it’s because of the concrete surface or if it’s something else,” Musgrave said.

In the loop:
Mike Skinner finished fourth in last year’s Toyota Tundra 200 but wound up with the highest Driver Rating – 140.3 – of the race. He out-rated winner David Reutimann, whose performance rated at 138.2. Seven drivers posted Driver Ratings of 100 or higher on a scale of 150.Reutimann and Skinner led a combined seven times and here’s why. The pair combined for the 14 fastest laps of the race – Skinner with eight and Reutimann with six. Looking at speed in traffic, Toyota drivers posted four of the five fastest laps with Skinner topping the charts at 153.639 mph. Brendan Gaughan’s Dodge, at 152.970, was fourth and the only non Toyota among the five. Half of Reutimann’s Quality Passes – seven of 14 – came on the backstretch. Bodine was the #1 driver when it came to holding position. He went 24 consecutive laps without being passed.

From the archives:
There have been 10 races run in Music City since the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ debut at the then-Nashville Speedway USA in 1996. There have been no repeat winners. Four Nashville winners are expected to compete this week: Jack Sprague (USA, 1997), Dennis Setzer (USA, 1999), Mike Bliss (Speedway, 2002) and defending Toyota Tundra 200 winner David Reutimann.

Fast Facts:
What: Toyota Tundra 200 (Race 16 of 25)
Where: Nashville Superspeedway
When: 5:15 p.m. ET, Aug. 12
Track layout: .1.333-mile banked concrete oval
Race length: 200 miles/150 laps
Posted awards: $458,186
TV: SPEED Channel, 4:30 pm/et
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite
2005 winner: David Reutimann
2005 polesitter: Mike Skinner

Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday-Practice 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Rookie Practice 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. Final Practice 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. Saturday – Qualifying 12 noon. Trucks impounded after qualifying(8-7-2006).
Driver Point Standings following Power Stroke Diesel 200: (Top ten)
1) #30-Todd Bodine, 2307
2) #23-Johnny Benson, 2125
3) #14-Rick Crawford, 2120
4) #17-David Reutimann, 2110
5) #33-Ron Hornday Jr., 2070
6) #9-Ted Musgrave, 2055
7) #11-David Starr, 2037
8) #10-Terry Cook, 2014
9) #85-Dennis Setzer, 2005
10)#16-Mike Bliss, 198

For complete driver point standings:
motorsportsone.com(official)
nascar.com
truckseries.com(8-4-2006)
Rick Crawford wins the Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly Motorsports Park: A tough battle over the last 16 laps of the race between the trucks of Crawford, Dennis Setzer, Ron Hornaday, and Mike Bliss, but through three late-race restarts, Rick Crawford maintained the lead to win the Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly Motorsports Park in Indiana. It was Crawford’s fifth win in the Truck Series. Dennis Setzer held onto the second place position to gain his first top five finish of the season, with Ron Hornaday coming in third in the #33 KHI Chevy. Finishing in fourth was David Starr and rounding out the top five was the #16 of Mike Bliss. It was reported a record crowd was on hand at O’Reilly Motorsports Park. It was also the first time for the use of unleaded fuel in the Truck Series. There were six lead changes among 5 drivers and 11 cautions.(8-4-2006)
Crawford wins at O’Reilly Motorsports Park: (Top ten)
1) #14-Rick Crawford, Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford
2) #85-Dennis Setzer, FlexFuel E85 Chevy
3) #33-Ron Hornaday, KHI Chevy
4) #11-David Starr, Red Horse Racing Toyota
5) #16-Mike Bliss, Xpress Motorsports Chevy
6) #10-Terry Cook, Power Stroke Diesel by Int’l Ford
7) #30-Todd Bodine, Lumber Liquidators Toyota
8) #9-Ted Musgrave, Team ASE/Germain Motors Toyota
9) #6-David Ragan, Scotts Ford
10)#99-Erik Darnell, FinishMaster Auto & Industrial Paint Ford

Race Awards:
Bud Pole Award: David Ragan (109.838 mph
Raybestos Rookie of the Race: Erik Darnell #99
Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award: Kraig Kinser, #46 (14 Places)
Mobil 1 Oil Command Performance Driver of the Race: Rick Crawford
WIX Filters Lap Leader Award: Rick Crawford, #14 (87 Laps)
Sunoco Diamond Performance Award: Rick Crawford
Checkers/Ralley’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge: Erik Darnell #99

For complete race results:
espn.com
motorsportsone.com
nascar.com
truckseries.com(official)(8-7-2006)
Starting lineup for the Power Stroke Diesel 200 presented by Ford at O’Reilly Motorsports Park:(Top ten)
1) #6-David Ragan, 109.838
2) #75-Aric Almirola, 109.381
3) #14-Rick Crawford,109.154
4) #11-David Starr, 109.149
5) #77-Brendan Gaughan, 109.023
6) #10-Terry Cook, 108.942
7) #85-Dennis Setzer, 108.846
8) #5-Mike Skinner, 108.807
9) #60-Jack Sprague, 108.793
10)#33-Ron Hornaday, 108.769
1st Rookie (2nd), Aric Almirola, 109.381
Going home: #89, Chuck Maitlen

For complete starting lineup:
nascar.com
truckseries.com(8-4-2006)
Final Practice results for the Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly Motorsports Park(Top Ten)
1) #60-Jack Sprague, 109.555
2) #14-Rick Crawford, 109.202
3) #85-Dennis Setzer, 109.023
4) #9-Ted Musgrave, 108.971
5) #10-Terry Cook, 108.942
6) #11-David Starr, 108.793
7) #6-David Ragan, 108.478
8) #18-Bobby Hamilton Jr., 108.435
9) #75-Aric Almirola, 108.397
10)#77-Brendan Gaughan, 108.311
1st Rookie (9th), Aric Almirola, 108.397

For complete final practice results:
nascar.com
truckseries.com(8-4-2006)
1st Practice results for the Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly Motorsports Park:(Top ten)
1) #9-Ted Musgrave, 108.903
2) #23-Johnny Benson, 108.145
3) #60-Jack Sprague, 108.145
4) #88-Matt Crafton, 108.107
5) #75-Aric Almirola, 108.088
6) #33-Ron Hornaday, 107.928
7) #59-Chad Chaffin, 107.805
8) #10-Terry Cook, 107.622
9) #13-Kerry Earnhardt, 107.575
10)#4-Timothy Peters, 107.533
1st Rookie (5th) #75-Aric Almirola, 108.088

For complete practice results:
nascar.com
truckseries.com(8-4-2006)

For complete entry list for O’Reilly Raceway Park:
(nascar.com)(7-31-2006)
FitzBradshaw taps Skinner, Musgrave for Busch race:FitzBradshaw Racing officials have announced that Mike Skinner and Ted Musgrave will drive for the organization in this weekend’s Kroger 200 Busch Series events at O’Reilly Raceway Park near Indianapolis. Skinner, who will be driving FitzBradshaw’s #12 Dodge, will also attempt to qualify for all three of NASCAR’s top series this weekend. Skinner will attempt to qualify for Sunday’s Allstate 400 Cup Series race with R&J Racing, and will also drive for BIll Davis Racing in Friday’s Power Stroke Diesel 200 Craftsman Truck Series race. Former Craftsman Truck Series champion Ted Musgrave will drive FitzBradshaw’s #14 Dodge. (scenedaily.com)(8-3-2006)
UPDATE: Reutimann shines in “Night of Stars” and wins first Shootout: David Reutimann won the first of two 10-lap Dirt Modified shootouts during Ken Schrader’s annual M&M’s Night of Stars at I-55 Raceway Wednesday night. Reutimann finished fifth in the second race to Kenny Wallace.(David Reutimann)(8-3-2006)
FinishMaster to sponsor Roush Racing teams at O’Reilly Raceway Park: Roush Racing announced today that FinishMaster Automotive and Industrial Paint has signed on to sponsor the #99 Truck Series Ford of Erik Darnell this weekend at O’Reilly Raceway Park. As a result of their partnership with 3M, FinishMaster will also have their logo on the hood of the #6 Ford of Todd Kluever.(roushracing.com)(8-2-2006)
Green Light Racing secures primary sponsor for rest of season: Green Light Racing team owners has announced that “The GPS Store” will serve as the primary sponsor for the #08 Chevy Truck Series team and driver Chad McCumbee for the final 11 races of the 2006 season. The GPS Store will be joined on the #08 by new associate sponsor Garmin International beginning this Friday for the Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. Though the #08 has had a few sponsors since McCumbee joined Green Light in June at Texas Motor Speedway, this will be the first full-time primary sponsor in the team’s six-year history.(greenlightracing)(8-2-2006)
Orleans Racing teams up with Huttig Building Products at Indy: The #77 Dodge will be sporting sponsorship from Huttig Building Products for this weekend’s event at O’Reilly Raceway Park. Huttig is a nationwide building products supplier that has 46 ranches throughout the country. (brendangaughan.com)(8-2-2006)
#12 Darrell Waltrip Racing truck ceases operations: Been told the #12 Darrell Waltrip Racing truck series team has ceased operations immediately and will not field a truck for Joey Miller. Most of the personnel will be placed at Michael Waltrip Racing in the near future.(8-1-2006)
Crawford to join Schrader’s Annual Night of Stars: Rick Crawford will join Ken Schrader for his annual All-Star charity event at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri. On August the 2nd, drivers from NASCAR’s big three Series will join Schrader for the M & M’s Night of Stars that benefit multiple charities including the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Crawford will join fellow drivers, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Rusty Wallace, Kenny Wallace, Brendan Gaughan and David Reutimann at the 3/8-mile Missouri dirt track for the annual charity event. (rickcrawford.com)(8-1-2006)
U.S. Army takes Kinser home to Indiana: With the colors of the U.S Army on the #46 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports Silverado, Kraig Kinser will make his first visit to his home state of Indiana as a full-time NASCAR competitor. The Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly (formerly Indianapolis) Raceway Park (ORP) for the Truck Series will mark the first-ever pavement race in the Hoosier state for the Raybestos Rookie. (kraigkinser.com)(8-1-2006)

2006

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May
Jayski Truck Series Silly Season Main Page
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Born On Date: August 1, 2006