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

December 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.
Earnhardt out at ThorSport UPDATE 3: Allen in — official: Allen in? SPEED/TV reported that Kerry Earnhardt may not return to the #13 ThorSport Racing Chevy in 2007. Willie Allen, driver of a third entry for ThorSport at Homestead, is being considered as the replacement driver.(11-17-2006)
UPDATE: Allen considered: Music City Motorplex (Nashville) driver Willie Allen is being considered as a replacement for Kerry Earnhardt on the ThorSport Racing Team. There is no word on when a decision will be made.(Tennessean)(11-29-2006)
UPDATE 2: Kerry Earnhardt and ThorSport Racing have announced that they will part ways. Earnhardt drove the #13 Chevy entry for ThorSport Racing throughout the 2006 Truck Series season, and is looking for other opportunities to further his racing career.(truckseries.com)(12-3-2006)
UPDATE 3: Allen to drive #13: Willie Allen has joined ThorSport Racing as driver of the #13 Chevy Silverado in ’07. Allen, 26, hails from Bon Aqua, Tennessee, near the same fertile racing ground that produced such stock-car racing notables as Coo Coo and Sterling Martin, Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Hamilton. Allen was named one of NASCAR’S hottest prospects in ’06 by several stock-car racing publications, and his performance last season further showcased the youngster’s enormous potential. Allen won the Dodge Weekly Series Championship at the Music City Motorplex in Nashville, and finished 8th nationally in the Dodge Weekly Series Division IV standings. He finished a strong sixth in his Truck Series debut at Martinsville in ’05, and qualified 4th in his first Busch Series start at Memphis last fall.(ThorSport Racing PR)(12-29-2006)
Tim Sauter in the #07 at Daytona: UPDATE: Greenlight Racing has Tim Sauter listed as the driver for the #07 Chevy at the season opener at Daytona. Sponsorship is listed as Lester Buildings, a previous sponsor of Sauter in the Busch Series.(Greenlight Racing)(12-19-2006)
UPDATE: Entire Season: For the fourth consecutive year, Tim Sauter and Lester Building Systems LLC are together, and now for all 25 races in the 2007 Craftsman Truck Series. Lester Buildings will be the primary sponsor of Green Light Racing’s #07 Chevy Silverado and Sauter will be a teammate to sophomore Chad McCumbee, who will pilot the #08 Silverado with support from The GPS Store/Garmin. Tom Borgman, Lester Building’s Marketing Manager is confident that the move to the CTS will bring dividends the company needs. “After a taste of the Busch Series, we spent a lot of time on this decision. While every decision has its own set of nuances, we just felt that it was better to compete full time in the Craftsman Truck Series, with a team that has been competitive – and will continue to become more so – than settle for a partial schedule in the Busch Series.” Vice President Larry Lembrich added, “After careful consideration, we feel that the CTS provides a more level playing field and will allow Lester Buildings even greater exposure to our potential customers.” Sauter, a Necedah, Wisconsin native, is the son of former NASCAR Cup driver Jim Sauter and brother of NASCAR drivers Johnny and Jay Sauter. (Tim Sauter PR)(12-22-2006)
Hamilton provides update on his battle with cancer: Bobby Hamilton continues to undergo chemotherapy treatments for cancer discovered earlier this year, according to a press release from Bobby Hamilton Racing. The Craftsman Truck Series champion and his doctors were optimistic in August after extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the release said, but microscopic cancer cells still remained in the right side of his neck. Hamilton “is continuing his chemotherapy treatment and has gone through several procedures to keep the cancer at bay,” the release said. Hamilton, a Nashville native and one of Tennessee’s most successful and popular racers, recently hired NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader to drive for his Mt. Juliet-based truck series team next season. In the press release, Hamilton said his battle with cancer is a “private matter” and thanked a number of his supporters “from the bottom of my heart. “I have great people surrounding me at BHR who really stepped up to the plate to ensure that my company is on the right track for 2007 and beyond,” Hamilton said. ” … I’m still here, despite what people say, and I’m still calling the shots around BHR. Our sponsors have been very understanding and their support is tremendous. We will continue to be a championship caliber team.” As for his fight with cancer, Hamilton said: “We are going to continue to search for the best available treatment for my form of cancer. I have flown to several places for other opinions. We know there are some of the brightest minds in the world working on a cure for cancer. I didn’t want to be labeled as a victim when I announced it and I sure won’t lie down and be a victim now.” “(Tennessean)(12-20-2006)
Kearns named fourth quarter NMPA/Pocono Spirit winner: Owen Kearns, manager of communications for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has been named the fourth quarter recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association Pocono Spirit Award.Kearns, who began his racing career as a journalist, joined NASCAR in 1983 to run what was then known as the Winston West Series. In addition, he has worked with NASCAR’s Weekly, Southwest and Northeast series. He began working with the truck series upon its inception, and worked 288 consecutive events before health issues forced him to the sidelines for a single race – the 2006 Easy Care 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway – in October of 2006. However, after only a brief stay in the hospital, Kearns was back on the beat, overseeing the series when it returned to Texas Motor Speedway the following week. “Actually, I’ve been around the truck series before it even began,” he said, “as early as 1993. Through the meetings with NASCAR in Daytona and the exhibition races, I’ve been involved with it for quite some time. “I’m humbled to receive the award … I really appreciate it.” Kearns is a native of Bakersfield, Calif. The NMPA Pocono Spirit Award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Each year, quarterly winners are selected, and an overall winner is selected by a vote of the NMPA membership. The 2006 overall winner will be announced during the NMPA’s annual convention and awards ceremony scheduled for Jan. 21.(NASCAR PR)(12-20-2006)
Lester to the #15? UPDATE 3: Cup hopes dim: Sirius Speedway host Dave Moody reported Monday that Bill Lester will announce a new deal in the next few days to drive the full Craftsman Truck Series schedule in 2007 for Billy Ballew Motorsports. Sponsorship details are still being finalized, but should be announced next weekend.(Sirius Speedway/MRN Radio)(12-4-2006)
UPDATE: Billy Ballew ,confirmed a Sirius Satellite Radio report that he’s working to finalize a deal to put Bill Lester in his #15 truck for 2007.(SceneDaily.com)(12-8-2006)
UPDATE 2: Bill Lester, whose contract wasn’t renewed by Bill Davis Racing, will drive Billy Ballew Motorsports’ #15 Chevy for the 2007 Truck Series season, Ballew crew chief Richie Wauters said Friday. “Bill Lester’s going to run the #15 truck right now,” Wauters said. Sponsorship for the team should be announced soon, Wauters said. Ballew will also field the #51 truck in selected races, with Kyle Busch, Steve Wallace and J.R. Norris likely sharing driving duties. (Scene Daily)(12-15-2006)
UPDATE 3: Lester’s Cup hopes dim: Bill Lester’s chances of landing a Nextel Cup ride in 2007 have dimmed with news that he has left the Bill Davis Racing fold to sign a full-time Craftsman Truck Series deal with #15-Billy Ballew Motorsports. Lester, who became the first black driver to start a Nextel Cup race in 20 years when he qualified for the March race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway had been looking at securing a limited Cup programme at least in 2007 with BDR and Toyota, for whom he has driven the last couple of Truck seasons with. However no that Lester has left the BDR fold that now looks unlikely. While Lester has at least secured a full time ride in one of the top three NASCAR series,’ Billy Ballew Motorsports do not have a Cup or Busch Series program and Lester must now seek occasional Cup outings around his NCTS commitments.(crash.net)(12-18-2006)
NASCAR suspends #25 crew member UPDATE: NASCAR announced today that Derek Lusk, a crew member for the #25 Dodge in the Craftsman Truck Series, has been suspended indefinitely for violation of the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. Lusk was tested for banned substances the day of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 10. Test results were positive, violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-E (violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy) of the 2006 NASCAR rule book.(NASCAR PR)(12-12-2006)
UPDATE: Woodard Racing officials say they have indefinitely suspended Craftsman Truck Series crew member Derek Lusk, who was indefinitely suspended by the sanctioning body earlier this week after failing a substance abuse test in November.(Woodard Racing PR)(12-15-2006)
JR Motorsports and Key Motorsports Form Alliance: UPDATE 2: Two of NASCAR’s newest race organizations, the Key Motorsports Craftsman Truck Series team owned by Curtis W. Key, Sr., and JR Motorsports, the Dale Earnhardt, Jr.-owned Busch Series company, have formed a marketing alliance. The new union enables the two companies to include the other organization in its marketing and sponsorship processes. It will give corporations the opportunity to establish their branding and customer-related support and activation activities in two of NASCAR’s three leading touring series and with multiple teams and drivers. The two organizations worked together in a driver development format of sorts late last year when rookie driver Shane Huffman, driver of the JR Motorsports #88 Navy Chevy, was hired to run four races in the NCTS for Key Motorsports.(Key Motorsports PR)(12-14-2006)
UPDATE: JR Motorsports denies any formal alliance with Key Motorsports.(12-14-2006)
UPDATE 2: A statement from Key Motorsports owner, Curtis Key: “Yesterday, our organization released information to the media pertaining to a marketing alliance that we had established with JR Motorsports – one that would have helped both of our racing organizations. Nothing in this release was inaccurate, but we did neglect to gain approval from JR Motorsports’ officials first before releasing it. For that, we apologize to JR Motorsports for any problems or misconceptions that this action may have caused, but I must emphasize that nothing inappropriate was ever intended. It was simply an overzealous reaction to a program that we all believed in and were very excited about building.”(Key Motorsports PR)(12-15-2006)
Benson/Hornaday/Parsons part of new Sirius radio show: Sirius Satellite Radio announced that it will debut The Driver’s Seat, an exclusive daily talk show hosted by veteran broadcaster John Kernan and a roster of current and former NASCAR drivers, on January 1. The Driver’s Seat will air every weekday (11am-3pm/et) only on SIRIUS Radio. The Driver’s Seat will feature Kernan and a different driver taking calls from listeners, interviewing special guests and discussing the latest news from the world of NASCAR. Featured co-hosts will include legendary Hall of Famer Buddy Baker; 1995 Busch Series Champion & Truck Series driver Johnny Benson; two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie; two-time Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday; former Busch and Cup Series Rookie of the Year Ricky Craven; former Cup and Busch Series driver Phil Parsons, who is now the color commentator for Speed Channel’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race broadcasts; and John Andretti, one of the sport’s most versatile drivers who has made his mark racing USAC Midgets, Indy cars, NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and NASCAR stock cars. The Driver’s Seat, produced in conjunction with Performance Racing Network (PRN), will air exclusively on SIRIUS. (Sirius.com)(12-14-2006)
Bliss sues Haas Racing: UPDATE: Mike Bliss is hoping to claim $1.15 million in salary, and possibly more in damages, in a dispute with Haas CNC Racing scheduled for trial Oct. 2 in North Carolina Superior Court in Charlotte, according to a story in NASCAR Scene. In his complaint, Bliss said he thought in August 2005 he was going to continue to drive the Haas CNC Racing Nextel Cup car in 2006, so he didn’t pursue a possible opportunity to drive for another team. Team general manager Joe Custer told him in October that he wouldn’t be back for the next year. Bliss has filed suit and wants his salary for 2006 ($500,000) and 2007 ($650,000) and more in damages. In its court filings, the team claims that it invoked a clause in the contract that allowed Bliss to be terminated at the end of any season without the team having to pay the remainder of the deal. In court documents, Custer said he never “unequivocally told Bliss he was Haas’ driver for 2006.” The contract is part of the court file. The original three-year deal had Bliss getting paid $400,000 base in 2005 plus 40 percent of race purse and 30 percent of souvenir royalties. According to documents in the court file, Bliss had been approached by Hall of Fame Racing [#96 Chevy] during 2005 but did not pursue the deal because he believed he did not have to fear for his job. Bliss has driven mostly for [#16] Xpress Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series this year. One part of Bliss’ complaint already has been decided. A claim against Haas for breach of contract accompanied by a fraudulent act was dismissed by the court in August. Custer declined comment Sept. 23.(SceneDaily.com)(9-29-2006)
UPDATE: Mike Bliss has settled his breach-of-contract lawsuit with Haas CNC Racing, Bliss’ attorney confirmed Thursday. The case was scheduled to go to trial this week in North Carolina Superior Court in Charlotte. “We amicably resolved the case,” Bliss attorney Robert Muckenfuss said. The terms of the settlement are confidential.(SceneDaily.com)(12-14-2006)
Montgomery continues to look for ride: Chase Montgomery is leery of getting caught in a racing trap. Like hundreds of other aspiring young drivers, the 24-year-old Mt. Juliet racer is desperate to land a ride – any ride – in one of NASCAR’s upper series.On the other hand, he knows that too many races in too many non-competitive cars can saddle him with a losing reputation that could be difficult to overcome. “It’s hard to know what to do sometimes,” said Montgomery, who is sifting through some offers that could put him back behind the wheel after a limited and frustrating ’06 season. “I know in my heart that I’m capable of driving a race car, but I’ve got to have something decent to drive.” “Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a part of this sport,” Montgomery said. “I can assure you, I’m not giving up.”(Tennessean)(12-13-2006)
Benson captures most popular driver award: Johnny Benson, driver of the #23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra, knew he would accept his trophy for finishing second in the Truck Series Championship standings Sunday evening during the Series awards ceremony at the Grand Floridian Resort in Orlando, Fla. What Benson did not know was that he would also accept the trophy for the Series’ Most Popular Driver. After being selected by both the fans and media, Benson captured the coveted award for the first time in his NCTS career. “I am honored to accept this award,” Benson commented. “This is pretty cool. Since this award is voted on by the fans and media, it’s a special honor to win. The Truck Series is a great place with great drivers who pour their hearts and souls into putting on a great show for the fans every week. I am honored to be recognized as a fan favorite and am looking forward to getting back into my Tundra in 2007.”(Bill Davis Racing PR)(12-12-2006)
HT Motorsports and Chaffin part ways: HT Motorsports and driver Chad Chaffin have mutually decided to part ways. Chaffin piloted an HTM entry in 13 races in 2006, earning a season-high eighth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in October. HT Motorsports will return to the Truck Series in 2007 with a new driver behind the wheel of the #59 Toyota Tundra. Championship-winning crew chief Danny Rollins returns for the season-long effort. “We certainly have enjoyed having Chad and his family being a part of HT Motorsports,” commented HTM team owner Jim Harris. “We wish him the best as he pursues opportunities in all three NASCAR series.”(HT Motorsports PR)(12-12-2006)
Congrats to Roush Racing truck series driver [and former Cup and 2003 Truck Series Champ] Travis Kvapil and wife Jen on the birth of son Caden, born on December 10th at 7:51 am, Caden joins sibblings Carson and Kelsey.(Traviskvapil.com)(12-11-2006)
Champion Todd Bodine to Collect $441,370 in Point Fund and Awards; Bodine’s Total Season Winnings Reach Record $1,046,680: Todd Bodine waited years – two decades to be exact – to win a NASCAR national touring series championship. Now he’s done it and in the process the 42-year-old Bodine of Chemung, NY set a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series single-season winnings record. Bodine, driver of the #30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota, Germain Racing co-owners Bob, Steve and Rick Germain and crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. celebrated their 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship on Sunday evening at the Grand Floridian Hotel at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Their haul – $1,046,680 – represents the most lucrative season in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history. Broken down, Bodine had race winnings of $604,310 and received a NASCAR/Craftsman point fund of $345,120 and manufacturer and special awards of an additional $97,250. In the latter category, Bodine won the $25,000 Goodyear Tire Award, $11,000 Sunoco Diamond Performance Award, $10,000 Mobil 1 Command Performance Award and $15,000 Toyota Award to co-owner Steve Germain. The team’s grand total broke the 2000 winnings record of Greg Biffle – the only previous competitor to win $1 million in a season – of $1,002,510. The series’ 12th season produced a record point fund and award distribution of $2,031,600. And, for the first time in series history, 10 drivers won more than a half-million dollars a single season. Runner-up championship finisher Johnny Benson (#23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota) wound up second on the 2006 money list with $770,157 that included point fund of $163,931 and the $10,000 Checkers/Rally’s Double Driver Thru Challenge Award. Benson, a former NASCAR Busch Series champion, also was named the series’ Most Popular Driver. He is the 11th different recipient of the award voted by NASCAR’s membership.Also presented during Sunday’s ceremonies was the $10,000 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award to Beach Park, Ill.’s Erik Darnell (#99 Woolrich/Northern Tool + Equipment Ford), at age 23 the second-youngest to claim freshman honors. Darnell is the fifth Roush Racing competitor to achieve rookie of the year status.(NASCAR PR)(12-10-2006)
Hamilton Sr.’s status for ’07 in doubt: Veteran racer Ken Schrader will drive for Bobby Hamilton Racing next season in the Truck Series, and Hamilton’s wife said she did not know if her husband, one of the area’s most popular and successful racers, will race next year. Asked Friday if Hamilton intends to race next year, Lori Hamilton said: “We don’t know. If he feels like it he’ll race.” Hamilton, who won the 2004 truck series championship, turned the driving duties over to his son Bobby Jr. during his months of grueling radiation and chemotherapy treatments. The senior Hamilton originally set a goal of racing in the Nov. 17 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but canceled those plans. Hamilton Jr. will return to the Busch Series next season.(Tennessean)(12-9-2006)
Expansion nearing completion at Key Motorsports; driver announcement soon: The expansion to one of the two 9,000-square foot racing facilities that sit on the 5.5-acre property in the new Mooresville Performance Park owned by team owner Curtis W. Key, Sr., will bring to 16,000 square feet the amount of workspace from which the race organization will now operate. “We’re continuing to make progress and give the boys what they need to get this race team to the next level,” said Key, who is also planning to make an announcement shortly on his 2007 season driver selection. After running un-sponsored for most of the 2006 season, Key is also hoping to announce sponsor signings for his race team for 2007 following the holidays.(Key Motorsports PR)(12-8-2006)
Congrats: Renshaw and Parker married: Kentuckian Deborah Renshaw and New Yorker Shawn Parker were united in marriage November 25, 2006 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. Deborah was a driver in the Craftsman Truck Series and Shawn is now the Director of Competition for Brewco Motorsports.(12-8-2006)
Setzer to the #75? UPDATE confirmed: Hearing that Dennis Setzer will be switching teams and driving the #75 Spears Racing Chevy for the 2007 season. Setzer had been driving the #85 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports truck.(12-5-2006)
UPDATE: Dennis Setzer will drive Spears Motorsports’ #75 Chevy in the Truck Series in 2007, crew chief Dave McCarty said Wednesday afternoon. The team had considered switching to Toyotas for next season but is remaining with Chevrolet. Setzer, who has spent the last six years with Morgan/Dollar Motorsports, was looking for a ride as sponsorship issues may leave Morgan/Dollar fielding just one truck next year. Development drivers from Ginn Racing, formerly MB2 Motorsports, are committed to Morgan/Dollar’s #47 entry. Aric Almirola drove for Spears this year as part of Joe Gibbs Racing’s development program, but he’ll focus more on the Busch Series next year. McCarty is looking forward to working with the veteran Setzer, who struggled to a 13th-place finish in the point standings this past season. Prior to that, Setzer had been the series’ runnerup for three consecutive years.(SceneDaily.com)(12-7-2006)
Germain Racing sets sights on Nextel Cup racing: On the heels of winning the 2006 Craftsman Truck Series championship, Todd Bodine and Germain Racing have announced that they will take their success to the Nextel Cup Series in 2007. In what will be Toyota’s inaugural season of Nextel Cup racing, Bodine, Toyota’s first ever NASCAR champion, will pilot the #03 Toyota Camry in 15 select events that represent top markets and NASCAR’s premier events. Germain Racing captured the 2006 Truck Series title in only its second full year of racing. The team hopes to mirror their immediate impact at NASCAR’s highest level. “Since we started the team in August of 2004, our primary goal has been to be Toyota’s #1 truck team and to win them their first NASCAR championship,” said Germain Racing team owner Bob Germain. “In 2007, our goal is to successfully defend our truck championship and also be the first Toyota team to win a Nextel Cup race. With the team we have, I think it’s very possible.” The team is currently seeking marketing partners for the 15 races. Interested parties should contact Germain Racing [germainracing.com]. Owned by brothers Bob, Steve, and Rick Germain, Germain Racing is home to 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Todd Bodine and 2005 champion Ted Musgrave. Since its debut in 2004, Germain Racing has captured ten victories and claimed this year’s Truck Series championship.(Sullivan Worldwide PR)(12-7-2006)
Hamilton to make announcement this weekend UPDATE: Schrader in: Bobby Hamilton Racing [#04, #4,#8,#18] is expected to make a “major” announcement this weekend, and according to reports, it will be that veteran driver Ken Schrader is joining the Mt. Juliet-based team. The name of Bill Elliott, a semi-retired racing great, also has been linked to the BHR driving vacancy. Mark Martin also is interested in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series ride. It’s unknown whether the new driver will drive a separate truck or take over permanently for Hamilton, signaling retirement for one of the area’s greatest racers. Hamilton has been unavailable for comment for more than a month. That, and the fact that he suddenly decided to skip the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway last month, has fueled speculation that he might be in ill health. Hamilton was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in March, but in August he said the cancer was in remission. Earlier this week Bobby Hamilton Jr., said his father “is doing great and he feels fine. There’s been a lot of rumors going around about his health but there’s nothing to them.” Bobby Jr. said he did not know why his father has not returned dozens of calls over the past month. He said he didn’t know what the upcoming announcement – termed “major” by a team spokesperson – will be.(Tennessean)(12-6-2006)
UPDATE: Schrader confirmed: NASCAR fan favorite Ken Schrader has been tabbed to drive the #18 Fastenal Dodge for Bobby Hamilton Racing during the 2007 Truck Series season. Schrader will drive the BHR entry in the majority of NCTS events with a to-be-determined driver filling in when Schrader has NASCAR Nextel Cup responsibilities that prevent him from competing in NCTS races. Schrader and 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton have been both friends and competitors throughout their NASCAR careers and now they have joined forces to help re-establish BHR as a championship caliber NCTS team. “I am thrilled to get the opportunity to drive the Fastenal Dodge,” Schrader said. “Bobby Hamilton and I have been friends for a long time so to get the chance to work with him is just an ideal situation for me. BHR has always had some of the most competitive equipment in the series and I look forward to climbing into the seat and racing hard. Fastenal is a great company, I don’t think there is a race team out there that doesn’t use most of their products in some form or fashion and I can’t wait to represent them proudly next year.” The Fastenal Company, is a Minnesota based industrial and construction supply company with more than 1,800 stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Singapore and the Netherlands.(BHR PR)(12-7-2006)
Starr let go from Red Horse Racing; Fike in: David Starr who finished fourth in the Truck Series point standings this past season, has been let go by Red Horse Racing (#11 Toyota) because of a lack of sponsorship. He’s expected to be replaced by Aaron Fike, who is bringing a sponsor to the team for 2007. At the season finale in Homestead, team co-owner Jeff Hammond said the plan was to expand to two trucks, one for Starr and one for a driver to be announced. But when the sponsorship for Starr’s team didn’t come together, Starr learned he’d be without a ride. As of Thursday afternoon, Starr didn’t have anything set for 2007 but said he may have a ride secured in a NASCAR series within days. (Scene Daily)(12-7-2006)
McCumbee to continue with #08 truck team in ’07: Chad McCumbee and Green Light Racing have announced plans for McCumbee to continue driving for the Truck Series team for the 2007 season. McCumbee will once more drive the #08 Chevy after the team finished second in the rookie-of-the-year standings this season. He was 17th in the final standings. (Scene Daily)(12-5-2006)
Zaxby’s Franchise potential sponsor in 2007 UPDATE: When Joey Clanton says he bought into the Zaxby’s franchise, he means it. The 33-year-old Tyrone resident owns two franchises, and starting in February, he’s planning to drive a Zaxby’s-sponsored truck in the Craftsman Truck Series. As part of its fall licensee conference at the Classic Center this week, Oconee County-based Zaxby’s announced that it plans to sponsor the #09 truck starting with the 2007 season. While the decision to field a truck isn’t set in stone, a final decision is expected to be made this month, said Jeff Hood, financial projects manager for Zaxby’s.(OnlineAthens.com)(10-4-2006)
UPDATE: Former ASA champion Joey Clanton of Tyrone, Ga. will compete on a part-time basis in the Truck Series in 2007. The 34-year-old Clanton will drive for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing with sponsorship from Athens, Ga.-based Zaxby’s restaurants. Clanton, who spent the past year serving as team manager for Late Model driver John Wes Townley of Watkinsville, Ga., will drive the Ford truck driven by Marcos Ambrose in 2006. The number of the truck is tentatively scheduled to change from #20 to #09. Clanton, who made 18 starts in the Busch Series in 2003 for Brewco Motorsports and two Truck Series starts in 2004 for #40-Key Motorsports, is slated to compete in 16 truck events next season for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing. Clanton’s first race will be the Chevy Silverado HD 250 at Daytona on Feb. 16. Zaxby’s is a 359-unit restaurant chain that specializes in chicken fingers and Buffalo wings. Zaxby’s currently serves customers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina [one in Mooresville], South Carolina, and Tennessee. Franchise opportunities are available throughout the southeast, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia.(Zaxby’s Franchising PR)(12-6-2006)
Richardson Racing closed? Hearing that Robert Richardson Racing (#1 Chevy) has released all employees and everything is up for sale.(12-1-2006)
#98 team closed up? hearing that Ray Evernham Motorsports has closed the #98 Dodge Truck Series Team that Erin Crocker drives. Supposedly most team members have be relocated to other EMS Teams and that Crocker will race a limited number of ARCA races in 2007.(12-1-2006)

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Born On Date: December 1, 2006