August 2008 Truck Series News Archive

  • For winners of a race in Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series races: see the Misc Stats page for this and other statistical information.

  • Bodine, Starr crews invited to tug of war: Race fans got more than they bargained for at the end of Saturday’s Craftsman Truck Series race at New Hampshire when two of the pit crews slugged it out on pit road. Since there was no clear winner in the fray, Las Vegas Motor Speedway has invited both teams to settle the matter Saturday night before the start of the Qwik Liner Las Vegas 350. Speedway officials have invited the Germain Racing crew of Todd Bodine and the Red Horse Racing crew of David Starr to square off in a tug of war as part of prerace activities. There was no immediate word if the teams would accept the invitation.(Associated Press)(9-17-2008)
  • Team ASE not returning in 2009: The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) will not return as a primary team sponsor in the 2009 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, nor will it return as title sponsor of TruckSeries.com Presented by Team ASE. “As one of the original NCTS sponsors, our Team ASE racing program has served the organization well since 1994, but our board has decided that it’s time to redirect those resources,” said Tim Zilke, ASE President. ASE is the primary sponsor of the #59 Harris Trucking/Team ASE Toyota driven by 2005 NCTS Champion Ted Musgrave. With 16 of 25 races on the 2008 schedule completed, Musgrave currently sits 14th in points, with five top-10 finishes. Following Ultra Motorsports closing in 2005, Team ASE was the primary sponsor for Musgrave, who drove the 9 Toyota with Germain Racing for the 2006-2007 seasons and moved to HT Motorsports for the 2008 NCTS season.(TruckSeries.com)(8-29-2008)
  • Setzer to Randy Moss Motorsports in ’09? UPDATE 2 RMM to two teams in ’09; Davis, Setzer possible candidates? During the final practice session broadcast, Ray Dunlap reported that Randy Moss Motorsports will most likely be a two truck team in 2009 with one veteran driver and one rookie. Dennis Setzer is rumored to be heading the list of veteran candidates for the ride. Setzer is currently on a one-year contract with BHR-VA.(7-18-2008)
    UPDATE: In response to some recent rumors around the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series garage area, BHR-VA and driver Dennis Setzer are releasing a statement about their future together. At this time, the team and driver are working collectively with each other and individually on options for the 2009 season. Both parties will release statements at future times on their respective plans. Until this time, the team is focused on its performance in 2008 and will continue its contract together which is through the end of this season.(BHR-VA PR)(7-21-2008)
    UPDATE 2: Randy Moss and David Dollar don’t have a set time to connect on the phone, but they have been hooking up often lately. Usually on Tuesdays, when Moss is off from his day job as wide receiver with the New England Patriots, and frequently in the evenings of almost any day. Dollar said the hope is to field two trucks next year, one with a veteran driver capable of contending for a title and the other serving as a training vehicle for young drivers. [Marc]Davis could be a candidate for the latter, and someone like Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia’s Dennis Setzer, a three-time series runner-up with Morgan-Dollar, would be a natural veteran hire. “We have a short list of drivers that we’re definitely keeping our eye on. We’ll see what plays out,” Dollar said.(ESPN.com)(8-28-2008)
  • Camping World RV Rental & Winnebago sponsoring NHMS race: Camping World RV Rental and Winnebago Industries have joined together to sponsor the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 13. The Camping World RV Rental 200 Driven By Winnebago Industries will be a part of the Sylvania 300 event weekend and will feature some of NASCAR’s biggest stars competing at the only appearance by the Craftsman Truck Series in New England this season.(NHMS PR)(8-28-2008)
  • SS-Green Light Racing, one team with Goede in ’09? UPDATE Denied: Hearing that SS Greenlight Racing is working on putting something together to run the 2009 Truck Series as a one truck team with current ASA Challenge Point Leader, Jacob Goede and Butch Miller as crew chief. Goede will also run for the Rookie of the Year.(8-28-2008)
    UPDATE: SS-Green Light Racing is currently planning their 2009 season. However there are no talks going with Jacob Goede. 2009 plans will be announced soon and will come directly from the organization. Current focus is on primary drivers Sean Murphy – 2007 Rookie of the Year, currently 3rd in ASA Championship Points and Going after the Triple Crown Title and full time driver of the #08 GunBroker.com Dodge Jason White.(SS-Green Light Racing PR)(8-28-2008)
  • MRD to help Lafferty Motorsports at Talladega: Lafferty Motorsports is pleased to announce that MRD Motorsports has stepped up to help Lafferty at Talladega on October 4th . Lafferty’s entry for Talladega will be rolling out of the MRD Motorsports shop beside their #8 entry for the same event. Talladega will be Lafferty Motorsports best attempt at making their presence know in the truck series thus far. “We have been excited in the past but this truck is the best thing we have ever had and we have the best help we have ever had. Driving duties for the Talladega event are still open as Lafferty is speaking to many potential drivers. Look for an announcement soon as to who the sponsor will be for Lafferty Motorsports at Talladega, October 4th.(Lafferty Motorsports PR)(8-27-2008)

  • Next step for Davis, trucks? UPDATE: Davis to make Series debut with RMM; maybe six races? Development driver, Marc Davis and the JGR team are unsure of his next step. He remains in one of NASCAR’s Class A leagues, the Camping World East series. The best and nearest hope for advancement team president J.D. Gibbs offers is perhaps the Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR’s Double-A ball, beginning next year. [Brad] Daugherty had limited success as a Truck and Nationwide owner in the past, and just last month bought into another team that will field one car at the Cup level in 2009. The team already had three white drivers under contract for next year, one in Cup, two in Nationwide, so his hands are tied on improving diversity there. “But I’m looking at running, hopefully, an African-American driver in the Truck series,” he says. Daugherty wouldn’t confirm the likelihood that Marc Davis is his man, but also wouldn’t deny it, in a joint effort with the Gibbs team. For Marc, “I would say there’s a possibility he could run something [part-time] in Nationwide in the fall,” Gibbs says. “Next year, we’re trying to look at trucks as a great spot for him.” (Read more of this article at ESPN.com)(8-11-2008)
    UPDATE: Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Marc Davis will make his Craftsman Truck Series debut driving for Randy Moss Motorsports in the Sept. 6 race at Gateway International Raceway. Randy Moss Motorsports co-owner David Dollar said Wednesday that Davis could run more than just one race this year. Davis, who just turned 18 in June, has competed in the NASCAR Camping World East Series for the last two years.(SceneDaily.com)(8-21-2008)
    UPDATE: Randy Moss Motorsports has hired 18-year-old Marc Davis to drive in NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series beginning Sept. 6 at St. Louis, and for a total of “probably about six races this year,” Davis said Monday in a telephone interview. Davis is widely considered the African American driver nearest to making a major breakthrough in NASCAR. But his father, Harry Davis, said the deal as it came together “was never about diversity, as many would play it up to be. It’s about dollars.” Davis received special permission to drive for Moss from J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, where Davis has been a development driver alongside Joey Logano for the past two years. Harry Davis said the deal came together quickly because Marc brought his own sponsorship, from Howard University-affiliated radio station WHUR in Washington, D.C. (ESPN.com)(8-26-2008)
  • Monday Rundown – Racing Resources says…
    …Kyle Busch won the O’Reilly 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch scored his ninth series victory in his 47th race. It was Busch’s 17th NASCAR win of 2008. [He has eight Cup, six Nationwide and three Truck wins.]
    …Busch won from the third starting position, the eighth race won from the top 10 in 11 Bristol races.
    …Busch became the 10th different winner in the 11 races at Bristol. Ron Hornaday Jr. is the only two-time winner.
    …Busch became the third driver to win in all three national touring series at Bristol, joining Carl Edwards and Mark Martin.
    …Toyota posted its ninth win of the 2008 season. Chevrolet has five, and Ford and Dodge have one apiece.
    …Busch led twice for 145 laps, including the final 133.
    …The race was slowed a record 12 times for 69 laps.
    …The race featured four lead changes among three drivers.
    …The top 10 consisted of seven Toyotas, one Ford, one Chevrolet and one Dodge.
    …Jimmie Johnson was involved in an accident on Lap 101 and finished 34th in his series debut.
    …Hornaday finished 24th and remains second in points after being involved in an accident on Lap 177.
    …Points leader Johnny Benson finished fourth. His 119-point lead over second-place Hornaday is the largest of the season.(ESPN.com)(8-25-2008)
  • Ernie Cope serving as Harvick’s crew chief at California for NNS: Ernie Cope, crew chief for the #2 KHI Chevy piloted by Jack Sprague in the Truck Series, will call the shots for the #33 Camping Chevy for this weekend’s Camping World 300 at the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California. Two weeks ago at Michigan International Speedway, Cope sat atop the pit box calling the race for Cale Gale and the #33 team.(Kevin Harvick Inc PR)(8-25-2008)
  • Benson surprise visit to Berlin; finishes third: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points leader Johnny Benson made a surprise appearance to race his Coors Light Late Model machine, but couldn’t quite pull off the victory over Chris Anthony. Anthony managed to hold off two-time defending track champion Tom Thomas as well as Benson, who had caught the leaders but didn’t have enough left to get around either [Benson finished third].(Berlin Raceway PR)(8-24-2008)
  • NASCAR impounds eight truck engines for analysis: It’s the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams’ turn to have their engines looked at. NASCAR impounded eight engines for routine testing after the O’Reilly 200 Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. NASCAR will take the engines to its facility in Concord, N.C., to check horsepower numbers. NASCAR uses that data to help determine whether the rules encourage balanced competition. Bill Davis Racing’s Johnny Benson, the series points leader, had his engine taken, as did fellow Toyota driver Todd Bodine (Germain Racing). NASCAR also took the Circle Bar Racing Ford engines from Brendan Gaughan and Rick Crawford, the Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia Dodge engine from Dennis Setzer and the Chevrolet engines from T.J. Bell (TRG Motorsports), Jack Sprague (Kevin Harvick Inc.) and Jimmie Johnson (Randy Moss Motorsports).(SceneDaily.com)(8-21-2008)
  • O’Reilly Auto Parts signs three-year extension with BMS: O’Reilly Auto Parts, a longtime partner of Bristol Motor Speedway, has signed a three-year extension for the the O’Reilly 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event. The pact also extends their status as the “Official Auto Parts Store of BMS.” O’Reilly sponsors the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event, the O’Reilly 200, which takes place at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile. The auto parts dealer has nearly 5000 stores branded as O’Reilly Auto Parts, CSK Auto and Murray Auto Parts serving race fans throughout the country. O’Reilly has been part of the Bristol team for the past six years and the new contract now exends the relationship through 2011.(Bristol Motor Speedway PR)(8-21-2008)
  • Hornaday set to run Late Model race during off-week: Ron Hornaday Jr. has entered the 8th Annual Peterbilt Pro Stock 250 late model stock car race at Speedway 660 located in Geary, New Brunswick, Canada over Labor Day weekend [next event for the Truck Series is Sept. 6 at Gateway].(Speedway660.com)(8-20-2008) For more information visit the Appearances Page.
  • Rick Gay to Red Horse Racing: UPDATE: Starr talks about new team; announcement soon: During the prerace report on Speed/TV, Ray Dunlap reported that Rick Gay has been hired by Red Horse Racing in preparation for their plan to run a second team in 2009.(8-9-2008)
    UPDATE: One of the other exciting things that has been happening recently, as far as our Red Horse Racing team, [David Starr writes…] is that we may finally be getting close to a possible second Craftsman Truck Series team. While there hasn’t been an announcement yet, it’s been no secret that we have been trying to expand our organization. Rick Gay has been hired by Red Horse Racing, and while he’s already a huge help for our #11 team, he has also been getting people hired for the possible second team. I’m sure there will be an announcement pretty soon, but right now they are just trying to get everything in place and situated. It’s a cool thing for me because I’m excited to have a teammate, and I think it’s going to be awesome for everyone at RHR.(Frontstretch.com)(8-20-2008)
  • Double-header for Townley; first NNS start: RAB Racing with Brack Maggard has announced that driver John Wes Townley will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut on August 22nd in the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The 18-year-old racer will pilot the #09 Zaxby’s Ford and plans to make seven series starts including; Bristol, Dover, Charlotte, Memphis, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead. Prior to making his series debut at Bristol, Townley will make his fifth start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Roush-Fenway Racing in the #09-Zaxby’s Ford.(Team RAB PR)(8-20-2008)
  • NASCAR announces 2009 Schedule: NASCAR announced today its national series schedules for the 2009 season, which features realigned dates for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Truck Series. The NASCAR Truck Series in 2009 again will have 25 races, with one realigned date: The series’ late-season race at Atlanta will be replaced by a night event at Chicagoland Speedway on Friday, Aug. 28.(NASCAR PR)(8-19-2008)
    [Complete schedule is posted on the 2009 Truck Series Schedule Page.]
  • Jon Wood back in the #21 at Bristol: Jon Wood will be back driving the #21-Wood Brothers Racing Barnhill Group Ford at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday night, August 20th for the O’Reilly 200. Jon is looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the no. 21 for his first start on the half-mile oval in the Craftsman Truck Series since 2004.(Wood Bros. Racing)(8-19-2008)
  • WinStar World Casino new sponsor for Texas June race: Texas Motor Speedway’s 2009 race schedule will mirror this season’s line-up with two races each in NASCAR’s three top-tier series. WinStar World Casino recently agreed to a multi-year deal with Texas Motor Speedway to become the title sponsor of the truck series event, replacing Sam’s Town. WinStar World Casino is located in Thackerville, Okla., just 75 minutes north of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, and is in the midst of an expansion project that will transform it into Oklahoma’s largest casino. In conjunction with the [schedule] announcement, 2009 season tickets will officially go on sale beginning 9:00amTuesday at the TMS ticket office (817-215-8500), on the speedway website, and at FanFest II at Texas Motor Speedway.(Texas Motor Speedway PR)(8-18-2008)
  • TRG signs Stancill; looking toward 2009: TRG Motorsports is pleased to announce that 19-year-old Ben Stancill has been signed to a driver development deal that is aimed at preparing the North Carolina native for a full-time assault on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2009. Stancill is scheduled to participate in two test sessions and two races for TRG Motorsports in an ARCA RE/MAX Series stock car in an effort to gain clearance by NASCAR to compete in the Craftsman Truck Series full-time next year. Stancill will be behind the wheel of a TRG Motorsports prepared ARCA RE/MAX Series car on Tuesday, August 19th at the ARCA sanctioned test at Chicagoland Speedway. His first race for TRG Motorsports will be at Chicago’s 1.5-mile tri-oval on September 6th. Stancill will then test at Talladega Superspeedway on September 17th and 18th in preparation for the October 3rd race at the famed superspeedway.(TRG Motorsports PR)(8-18-2008)
  • Raybestos Rookie News & Notes – Bristol: Colin Braun was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the August 9 Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway. Braun scored a sixth-place finish, his fifth top-10 in 15 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races and claimed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the fourth time this season. Colin Braun leads Donny Lia by 16 points (155-139) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the August 20 O’Reilly 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Braun is 14th in the Craftsman Truck Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. Willie Allen was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 O’Reilly 200 at Bristol, scoring a 19th-place finish. The best qualifying effort by a Raybestos Rookie in nine previous races at Bristol is second by Aric Almirola in 2006.(Raybestos PR)(8-18-2008)
  • Carpentier to run BHR-VA #04 at Bristol: Gillett Evernham Motorsports announced today that Patrick Carpentier will enter Wednesday night’s NASCAR Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Carpentier will drive the Bobby Hamilton Racing #04 Tow Truck In A Box/SMS Equipment/Komatsu Dodge joining BHR teammates Dennis Setzer and Stacy Compton. Carpentier’s Sprint Cup team led by Crew Chief Mike Shiplett will service the truck. “Any racer who watches the truck series says, ‘Man, that looks like a lot of fun and I wish I could do that,’ ” Carpentier said. “This gives me a chance to log some laps at Bristol as well. I’ve never raced at Bristol so any seat time is priceless. Hopefully we can learn a lot and have some fun.”(GEM PR)(8-18-2008)
  • Exide returns as sponsor for Benson: Exide Batteries will serve as the primary sponsor of the #23-Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Atlanta-based Exide Batteries has been a partner of the #23 team for three seasons. The #23 has won four of the last five races and leads the Craftsman Truck Series in victories this season.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(8-18-2008)
  • Double duty for Skinner: Not only will Mike Skinner behind the wheel of his #5 Toyota Tundra this week, but he will also attempt to qualify the Michael Waltrip Racing #00 Toyota Camry for Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. This will be the second consecutive week the 51-year-old driver will be behind the wheel of the No. 00 machine.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(8-18-2008)
  • Next start for Speed – Bristol: UPDATE First time at track, Red Bull to sponsor: Scott Speed’s next Craftsman Truck start with Bill Davis Racing doesn’t come until Aug. 20 at Bristol. Speed is currently running full-time in the ARCA series and is closing in on current point leader, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., trailing by 55 entering the ARCA Series Pennsylvania 200 at Pocono.(Red Bull Racing PR)(7-31-2008)
    UPDATE: Scott Speed will rejoin the #22 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra team this week at Bristol Motor Speedway. Wednesday’s O’Reilly 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway will not only mark Speed’s first time racing on the track, but it will also be his first time seeing the half-mile track. Red Bull, the leader in energy drinks, will serve as the primary sponsor of the #22 Bill Davis Racing entry.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(8-18-2008)
  • Stremme makes first series start at Bristol: David Stremme returns to the #51-Hyprene Ergon Toyota at Bristol Motor Speedway. The O’Reilly 200 will mark David Stremme’s first Craftsman Truck Series start at the track. Stremme has six Nationwide Series starts at Bristol with a best finish of sixth.(Breaking Limits/BBM PR)(8-18-2008)
  • Atlanta to drop to one truck race in 2009 UPDATE 2: To Chicagoland? Atlanta Motor Speedway will host one truck race in 2009, not two as it has since 2005, track president Ed Clark told ESPN.com Tuesday. Atlanta will retain its spring date on the truck calendar and relinquish its fall race. Iowa Speedway, reported this week to be a candidate to replace Mexico City on the 2009 Nationwide Series schedule, may also be in contention for Atlanta’s vacated spot on the truck schedule, a source said. NASCAR officials would not comment on the 2009 truck schedule but said they would again have 25 races.(ESPN.com)(8-7-2008)
    UPDATE: Ray Dunlap reported that the truck race Spring Truck Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway will move to Saturday and that there will be no Nationwide race at AMS that weekend.(8-9-2008)
    UPDATE 2: On Sunday’s SPEED Report wrap-up, Ray Dunlap reported that with Atlanta going to one race for the trucks, the Series may be headed to Chicagoland as the replacement race.(8-17-2008)
  • New team to debut at Bristol: UPDATE 2 Scheme added: During Sunday night’s Speed Report, Ray Dunlap reported that there would be a new team making its debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Truck Series. The number will be 41 and the driver, sprint/midget car racer Tayler Malsam.(7-21-2008)
    UPDATE: Tayler Malsam, the SunTrust Rookie-of-the-Year candidate in the ARCA RE/MAX Series will be driving for Cunningham Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Bristol. We’ve also learned that Malsam will climb the ladder and run for Rookie-of-the-Year in the truck series in 2009. Fire-down Graphics is expected to jump on board as a sponsor with Barry Owens expected to crew chief.(CatchFence.com)(7-21-2008)
    UPDATE 2: Image of the #41 Cunningham Motorsports Dodge is posted on the 2008 Paint Scheme Gallery.(8-17-2008)
  • Kobalt withdraws sponsorship bid: UPDATE 2: Search continues; UPS, Camping World?? Kobalt Tools, the Lowe’s brand that was considered the leader to be the title sponsor of the NASCAR truck series, has withdrawn from the bidding, sources say. Craftsman is in its final season as the title sponsor. With Kobalt stepping away, the door is open for Craftsman to renew its status as the official tool of NASCAR, which the brand had hoped to retain even though it was not renewing title sponsorship of the series.(Sports Business Daily), hearing Craftsman may return as the sponsor of the Truck Series.(8-8-2008)
    UPDATE UPS? NASCAR isn’t back to square one in its search, but it is finding the proceedings slow in the current economy. Its asking price for entitlement is believed to be in the $5 million to $7 million range per year. “There is strong interest in title sponsorship of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and we are meeting with potential partners. NASCAR is focused on finding the best partner to continue to grow a series that’s important to the sport and our fans,” said Andrew Giangola, NASCAR’s director of communications.” “I don’t read anything into that from a sign of the sport, it’s just the economy’s bad. It’s not the world’s greatest time to be the marketplace looking for a long-term, multimillion-dollar deal,” said Zak Brown, CEO and founder of Just Marketing, an Indianapolis-based marketing group with various motorsports clients. “All they can do, which is what I know they’re doing, is just keep their head down and keep trying. With that platform, marketers say, NASCAR is eager to land a sponsor, but the lack of one so far doesn’t raise a black flag on the series. Where might that deal lead? Brown said the likely candidates remain companies that would fit the rugged, masculine image of the Truck Series, not unlike the current sponsor, Craftsman. One of his clients — UPS, a company famous for its trucks — is said to be intrigued and looking at the series. Yet an announcement appears to still be weeks away, leaving fans, teams and manufacturers in a wait-and-see mode to discover which company will carry the Truck Series into the next decade. “Our assumption is that there will be a replacement sponsor contracted within the next two to three months, that’s the assumption we’re operating under,” said Les Unger, national motorsports manager for Toyota. “The series is still extremely popular. I think there are opportunities for a potential sponsor to jump in with both feet.”(ESPN)(8-14-2008)
    UPDATE 2 Camping World? Saying his company has enjoyed its first year as an official NASCAR sponsor, Camping World Director of Motorsports Kurt Hunt says that it wouldn’t be “outside the realm of possibility” that his company would replace Craftsman as sponsor of NASCAR’s truck series beginning in 2009. Camping World is in its first year of sponsoring the NASCAR East and NASCAR West series. “It has been a great experience,” Hunt said in a phone interview about Camping World’s involvement in NASCAR. “[The truck series] is something we have looked at. … Companion races are great [and] there are some markets where it is the top show in a market where we have a large concentration of fans and customers.” Hunt said there is no timetable and he wouldn’t characterize the talks as in the negotiation phase. Camping World sponsors a truck and Nationwide Series car at Kevin Harvick Inc. as well as serving as an associate sponsor of a Richard Childress Racing Nationwide car. It also has entered into a variety of race entitlements. If Camping World became the sponsor of the trucks, the company would have to consider whether to continue sponsoring the East and West series, Hunt said.(Scene Daily)(8-16-2008)
  • McCumbee to Cup; announcement soon? UPDATE Top candidate for Petty: Hearing that the deal for Chad McCumbee has been finalized for the move to Sprint Cup in 2009, and an announcement is expected sometime within the next week.(8-9-2008)
    UPDATE: Petty Enterprises has not decided on a driver for its #45 car next year, team official Robbie Loomis said Friday, but Chad McCumbee remains one of the top candidates for the ride. Michael McDowell and Casey Mears are some of the other drivers who have been mentioned, though Mears appears poised to sign with Richard Childress Racing. Loomis said the team was still speaking with multiple drivers. McCumbee, spending his off-week from the Craftsman Truck Series in the Cup garage at Michigan, said he’s “working hard” on trying to land a ride with the Pettys. The North Carolina native has run several events for the team in its #45 car and recently had a solid run at Pocono. “I’m just kind of floating around for now, waiting to see what’s going to happen,” he said. He added that he expects to hear a decision within the next couple weeks at the latest. Scene Daily)(8-16-2008)
  • Danny Sullivan offers to buy Bull Davis Racing: Danny Sullivan, the “Spin and Win” driver who won the 1985 Indianapolis 500, has put an offer together to purchase the Bill Davis Racing operation in NASCAR. Sullivan, one of the most popular IndyCar drivers when he raced for team owners Roger Penske and Rick Galles, told SI.com on Friday that he has discussed a deal with Bill Davis. Davis confirmed those discussions to SI.com at Michigan International Speedway. “I’ve been pursuing it but haven’t gotten a response from him (Bill Davis),” Sullivan told SI.com in a telephone interview. “He’s still dreaming on the price. I have a partner who has lined up the money to do this and we’ve been kicking around on some stuff. He is (Davis) off on the numbers and had some bigger people chasing it. The last time I talked to him (Davis), I had the money but didn’t get the documents that we requested.” Davis confirmed the conversations with Sullivan but expressed some curiosity over some of Sullivan’s statements. “We’ve had some conversations,” Davis said. “I just heard some of those quotes and I was pretty amazed by them. We’ve continued to talk to Danny. We’ve talked to several people, yes. All we’ve ever talked about with anybody is the entire operation. Davis admitted the only reason he is open to selling his team is the skyrocketing costs involved to keep a competitive NASCAR Sprint Cup team on the track during the grueling season. Davis also has a highly-successful NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series operation.(Sports Illustrated)(8-16-2008)
  • Murphy making first NCTS start at Bristol: Sean Murphy [#07-ASI LIMITED Chevy with SS-Green Light Racing] will be making his first-ever start at Bristol in the NASCAR Truck Series. Murphy has two races at the track in the ASA Late Model Series. Murphy finished 9th in his last NASCAR Truck Series short track event at Mansfield Motorsports Park.(SS-Green Light Racing PR)(8-15-2008)
  • Oklahoma native, Dugger to make series start at Martinsville: On October 18, Russ Dugger, an Owasso [OK] resident climbs into a NASCAR Craftsman Series truck and races in the Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va. It was almost a year ago that Dugger impressed Chris Lafferty of Lafferty Motorsports and signed a developmental driver contract with the team on Aug. 17, 2007. That moment last year has led to Dugger’s NASCAR debut in a little over two months.(Owasso Reporter)(8-15-2008)
  • Camping World named as Presenting Sponsor of the O’Reilly 200: Camping World, primary sponsor for the Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) #33 NASCAR Nationwide Series and #33 NASCAR Truck Series entries, has been named as the presenting sponsor of the O’Reilly 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The O’Reilly 200 presented by Camping World RV Sales, will be Wednesday night, August 20, and will be televised live on SPEED Channel at 7:30pm/et.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(8-14-2008)
  • NASCAR penalizes #30 for infraction at NSS: NASCAR announced today that Mike Hillman Jr., crew chief of the #30 Toyota, has been fined for an infraction discovered following the Aug. 9 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Nashville Superspeedway. Additionally, driver Todd Bodine and owner Stephen Germain have been penalized 25 championship driver and owner points, respectively. Hillman was fined $2,500 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (determination that truck, truck parts, components and/or equipment used in the event do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20B-12.8.1E (after competition, the maximum right side bed panel height exceeded the specified 39½ inches) of the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rule Book. The violation was discovered during post-race inspection.(NASCAR PR)(8-13-2008)
    NOTE: As a result of the penalties, Todd Bodine drops from 4th to 6th in driver point standings; Steve Germain drops from 5th to 7th in owner point standings. Updated standings are posted on the Nashville Race Page.(8-13-2008)
  • Kyle Busch pulling triple duty at Bristol: While Kyle Busch decided earlier in the season to cut back on the number of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Nationwide Series events he participated in, that will not be the case at Bristol Motor Speedway during August race week. For the third consecutive year the 23-year-old Busch will be going for the hat trick at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile, competing in the O’Reilly 200 Aug. 20, the Food City 250 Aug. 22 and the sold-out Sharpie 500 Aug. 23. “Actually, running in the Truck Series is just a lot of fun for me. It’s competitive and tough. And, if I can get a win at Bristol I know I’ve beaten some of the best racers out there.”(Bristol Motor Speedway)(8-13-2008)
  • Skinner running Cup at Michigan? UPDATE 2: Skinner replacing McDowell for three races: Mike Skinner is listed in the Michigan entry list as the driver of the #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota field by Michael Waltrip Racing, no word on what is up with regular driver Michael McDowell. Michigan Sprint Cup Entry Page)(8-11-2008)
    UPDATE: Sprint Cup rookie Michael McDowell said he supports Michael Waltrip Racing’s decision to replace him with Mike Skinner in the 3M Performance 400 this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. McDowell, whose #00 team is currently outside the top 35 in owner points, said in a statement that he’s in favor of doing “whatever it takes to improve the performance of our team. No driver wants to get out of the car, but I understand that every part of our program needs to be evaluated, and that certainly includes me,” McDowell said. “I plan to support Mike Skinner and our team any way I can, and hopefully learn some things that will help when I get back in the car.”(SceneDaily)(8-12-2008)
    UPDATE 2: Mike Skinner will assist Michael Waltrip Racing in efforts to evaluate its 18-month-old full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program by racing the #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota Camry at Michigan International Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and California Speedway. “Michael Waltrip Racing is fully committed to our sponsors, the success of our race teams and ensuring Michael McDowell, Josh Wise, David Reutimann and I have the necessary tools to succeed as drivers,” Waltrip said. “We’ve asked Mike Skinner to evaluate areas where we can improve our on-track performance. I thought he did a really nice job of working with Red Bull and A.J. Allmendinger earlier this year and our #00 Champion Mortgage team could use the same experienced insight.”(Michael Waltrip Racing PR)(8-13-2008)
  • Congrats to: Craig “Shrek” Kemp of the #51 Billy Ballew Motorsports team married Amy Filkins on August 2nd in Mooresville.(8-11-2008)
  • Racing Resources says…
    …Johnny Benson won the Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville. Benson scored his 13th series victory in his 115th start. He has won the last three races and four of the last five. Benson became the fifth different driver to win three consecutive races in the series. Mike Skinner (1996 and 2007), Ron Hornaday Jr. (1997), Todd Bodine (2005), and Greg Biffle (2000) are the others who won three consecutive races.
    …Bnson scored his series leading fourth win of 2008.
    …Benson became the only repeat winner at Nashville, also winning in 2006.
    …Benson only led the last three laps, passing Erik Darnell.
    …It was the series leading fifth win for Bill Davis Racing in 2008.
    …It was Toyota’s eighth win of 2008. Chevy has 5 wins, Ford has one and Dodge has one.
    …Benson extended his points lead to 45 over Hornaday.
    …Todd Bodine finished third but failed to win from the pole for the first time in his series career. In each of his last three poles he has gone on to win the race.
    …Colin Braun finished sixth, the highest finishing Raybestos Rookie of Year candidate.
    …Skinner finished 17th, breaking a streak of 10 consecutive top-10 finishes that began at Kansas.
    …The race featured five lead changes among six leaders.
    …The race was slowed seven times for 29 laps.
    …The top 10 consisted of two Fords, four Toyotas, three Chevrolets and one Dodge.(ESPN)(8-11-2008)
  • Moss featured on ESPN Newsmagazine E:60 Tuesday: ESPN’s primetime newsmagazine E:60 will return for 14 weekly episodes beginning Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. ET. On Tuesday’s episode, E:60 cameras follow New England Patriots Pro Bowl wide receiver Randy Moss as he begins his venture as a race team owner in NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series. In the process, Moss explains why he decided to become a team owner, the challenges of establishing himself in the sport and what his ownership means for minorities in NASCAR. E:60 was given an all-access look as Moss announced his deal at Daytona, made his initial visit to his race shop in Charlotte, N.C., and attended his first race as NASCAR team owner in Kentucky. E:60’s Rachel Nichols reports.(ESPN)(8-11-2008)
  • Mike & Chrissy Wallace at NYSE: UPDATE Chrissy’s next race – Gateway: Mike Wallace and his 20-year old daughter Chrissy will ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday afternoon. The opportunity was made available through the Los Angeles public relations firm Rogers and Cohen which represents Chrissy and her Craftsman Truck Series effort. “They’re going to give us a tour of the floor and meet some of the major players at the stock market,” said Mike Wallace, driver of the Geico Toyota. “We’re incredibly excited about it.” (PRN’s Garage Pass)(8-10-2008)
    UPDATE: Chrissy’s next race will be September 6 at Gateway International Speedway in Gateway, IL, the home track for both drivers.(Wallace PR)(8-11-08)
  • Crawford open to involvement with Nashville’s Music City Motorplex: Driver Rick Crawford gave up on purchasing Montgomery Motor Speedway when residents around the track complained. Crawford said he is still interested in owning a track, possibly Music City Motorplex if it became available. “I’d entertain that,” said Crawford, who finished 23rd. “That brings back a lot of memories.” The Motorplex’s lease ends in 2008. The track received an extension to 2009, but the Metro legal department has not signed off on the extension. Residents around the Motorplex have complained about the 104-year-old track, which celebrated its 50th year of paved racing this season.(Tennessean)(8-11-2008)
  • Congrats to David & Kim Starr: Congratulations go out to David & Kim Starr on the news that they are expecting their first child; due early Spring.(8-9-2008)
  • NSS seeks earlier truck date in ’09: Cliff Hawks, the vice president and general manager at Nashville Superspeedway, is negotiating with NASCAR to move the Craftsman Truck race to an earlier date so it does not compete with the NFL preseason. “I think the chances of this event moving away from the second weekend of August looks very positive,” Hawks said. “We’ve worked closely with NASCAR to change the event so that both the superspeedway and Toyota will be happy.”(Tennessean)(8-9-2008)
  • Furr to start own truck team for son? UPDATE Correction Nephew, Ross: Hearing that former NASCAR crew chief, Tony Furr is looking for a race shop in Concord, NC to run his son Ross Furr in the 2009 Truck Series schedule; already having secured a sponsor.(8-5-2008)
    UPDATE: Hearing that Tony Furr is starting the truck team and that Ross Furr is Tony’s nephew not his son.(8-8-2008)
  • Allen in the #81 for RMM: Willie Allen has signed a one-race deal with Randy Moss Motorsports for Saturday night’s Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway. Allen’s #81 Chevy will be sponsored by Rascal Flatts with an associate sponsorship by the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau.(Tennessean)(8-7-2008)
  • Robb Brent series debut at Nashville: UPDATE: #19 for BKR: Rob Brent is scheduled to run the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Nashville Superspeedway advancing from his ARCA RE/MAX Series career for Brad Keselowski Racing. Brent, the Michigan native is still waiting on an official number from NASCAR, but speculation is that the team is gunning for either the #29 (former Keselowski Racing number) or the #00 to match their ARCA RE/MAX Series team number. Brent will run two additional events to be named later. Bob Brent’z Orchard Chrysler Dodge Jeep is expected to sponsor Brent until further sponsorship is obtained.(CatchFence.com)(7-21-2008)
    UPDATE: Brad Keselowski Racing is set to make their truck series debut at the Toyota Tundra 200 at the Nashville Superspeedway this Saturday, August 9th. Robb Brent will be behind the wheel of the #19 Chevy truck in his first series start.The team took the truck to Chicago last weekend for testing and were pleased with the results. “It was my first time in the truck and I’m feeling comfortable” said Brent. “Nashville is where Brad got his first Nationwide series win, the team is working well together and I look forward to representing BKR at this next level.”(BKR PR)(8-6-2008)
  • Justin Moore to perform post race concert at Nashville: Valory Music Company Country Artist Justin Moore will perform in a post race concert following the Toyota Tundra 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Nashville Superspeedway. The concert is presented by Dillon Transportation.(Nashville Superspeedway)(8-6-2008)
  • Toyota to donate 2,000 Nashville tickets to charities: When the Nashville Superspeedway plays host to the Toyota Tundra 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday, August 9 there will 2,000 special guests seated in the grandstands. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., has donated 2,000 tickets to Middle Tennessee non-profit organizations, with special emphasis on children’s charities and United States military personnel. “The Toyota Tundra 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race is such a fun and exciting experience for our 5,000 Toyota team members that we wanted to share the day with folks that may not usually have a chance to attend a race,” said Les Unger, Toyota’s National Motorsports Manager. Toyota NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers Johnny Benson and David Starr will be in Nashville on Thursday, August 7th to deliver race tickets and visit some of the charity organizations.(Nashville Superspeedway PR)(8-5-2008)
  • Double-duty for Scott at Nashville: Brian Scott will running both the ARCA and Truck Series events at Nashville Superspeedway. Scott will be in the #25 Albertsons Chevy prepared and owned by Venturini Motorsports for the ARCA race as well as the #16-Albertsons Chevy for the NCTS Toyota Tundra 200.(Xpress Motorsports PR)(8-5-2008)
  • Raybestos Rookie News & Notes – Nashville: Donny Lia was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the July 25 Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park. Lia scored a ninth-place finish, his third top-10 in 14 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races and claimed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the third time this season. Lia scored the first top-10 by a rookie at O’Reilly Raceway Park since Erik Darnell placed 10th in 2006. Colin Braun leads the Raybestos Rookie standings by 13 points (143-130) over Donny Lia entering the August 9 Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway. Braun is 14th in the Craftsman Truck Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. Joey Clanton was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Toyota Tundra 200, scoring a 10th-place finish. Carl Edwards is the only Raybestos Rookie to win at Nashville in seven previous Craftsman Truck Series races. Edwards took the checkered flag by 1.209 seconds over Ted Musgrave in 2003. He is also the only Raybestos Rookie to lead the most laps at Nashville, holding the top spot twice for 76 of the 150 laps.(Raybestos PR)(8-4-2008)
  • Jeff Green to take reigns of #40 in August races: 2000 NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion Jeff Green will be back once again with Key Motorsports, but this time in a bigger role. Green will be steering the #40 Key Motorsports Chevy in both the Nashville and Bristol Truck Series races, as well as the #31 Key Motorsports Chevy in the Bristol Nationwide Series race. The NASCAR standout will be making only his second and third starts respectively in his career in the Craftsman Truck Series, and his 256th career start in the Nationwide Series. The lone start for Green in the Craftsman Truck Series came in 1997 at Richmond International Raceway, where he started 16th and finished 33rd.(Key Motorsports)(8-4-2008)
  • Double-duty for Townley at NSS: This will be John Wes Townley’s fourth start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series; his first at Nashville. Townley will be doing double duty at Nashville running both the ARCA and truck races on Saturday. -Townley is running the full ARCA schedule and is currently sixth in the championship point standings.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(8-4-2008)
  • Stremme to drive two races for BBM: UPDATE to carry special decal: Ergon Racing and Billy Ballew Motorsports have announced that David Stremme will drive the #15 Ergon Hyprene Toyota for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events at Nashville Superspeedway on August 9 and Bristol Motor Speedway on August 20. Stremme driving the #15 Toyota is an opportunity for the veteran driver to advise Ergon Racing and the Billy Ballew Motorsports team ways to expedite their goals as well as mentor Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Mitchell.(BL Marketing/BBM PR)(7-29-2008)
    UPDATE: A special decal will adorn the #15 truck this weekend. Seventeen year-old Chris Jackson, a friend of truck chief J.R. Norris, was recently paralyzed in an accident. The decal reads “Chris Jackson, In Our Prayers” as a reminder that he is in the hearts of everyone on the Ergon race team.(BBM/BL Mktg. PR)(8-4-2008)
  • Sieg back in the #51 at Nashville: Shane Sieg will be back in the seat of the #51 Miccosukee Resorts Toyota Tundra Saturday, August 9, 2008 for the running of the Toyota Tundra 200 at the Nashville Superspeedway. Sieg was last in the Billy Ballew Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck in Memphis, [where he had a season best finish of ninth with BBM].(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(8-4-2008)
  • McCumbee in the #45 at Lowe’s and more? Kyle Petty likely will run the seven races from Bristol through Talladega. Chad McCumbee, who qualified the #45 for the Pocono [Cup] race [finished 17th], will run at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in October and likely will drive in the majority of the final five races after that, Petty said.(SceneDaily)(8-4-2008)
  • Hornaday finishes fourth in rain-shortened NNS race at Montreal: Ron Hornaday and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Camping World Chevrolet started the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve from the 12th position and earned a fourth-place finish when heavy rain forced NASCAR to call the race with 48 of the 74 laps complete.(KHI PR)(8-4-2008)
  • Christopher in a Billy Ballew entry at NHIS? UPDATE Driver for NHMS & Martinsville TBA: Ted Christopher has been in negotiations to drive the second entry for Billy Ballew Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series New Hampshire 200 on Sept. 13 at NHMS. “They called me about a month ago,” Christopher said. “We’re pretty close. I talked to them the other day and asked them if this was still a reality deal if we came up with the money and they said yes. He said they still want me to drive there.” Christopher, a longtime regular on the Whelen Modified Tour and the all-time winningest driver at Stafford Motor Speedway, has made numerous starts in Sprint Cup events at New Hampshire, but always in low end equipment for car owners just looking to get starting money. With Ballew Motorsports Christopher would be in equipment likely capable of running up front.(Hartford Courant)(8-2-2008)
    UPDATE: Ergon Racing and Marc Mitchell are not scheduled to be in the #15 in Loudon and Martinsville. The team will be making an announcement in the near future as to who will be driving in those two events.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(8-3-2008)

2008
July
June
May
Jayski Truck Series Silly Season Main Page
Jayski’s Silly Season Cup News Page
Jayski’s Silly Season Main Page

Born On Date: August 1, 2008

This page designed by Jayski LLC, 1996-2016©.. All Rights Reserved.
Jayski’s® is a registered trademark of Jayski LLC
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form without permission or credit.