Camping World Truck Series News Archives
January 2009

 

  • Lally to race for FDNY Racing at Daytona: Fresh off a win at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, Andy Lally is set to take the wheel of the #28 FDNY Racing Chevy Silverado on February 13th for the season opener of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway. A native New Yorker, Lally is happy to be a part of FDNY Racing. “Im as honored as I am excited to be racing with the team. I am from Long Island, New York and and to be racing for FDNY Racing is really cool. I have some friends in the FDNY and it will be great to represent them in the race.”(AndyLally.com)(1-31-2009)
  • Cantrell to run limited schedule with TRG Motorsports: UPDATE: 2 Changed – Sponsorship withdrawn: For 2009 Connor Cantrell will join the Mooresville based NASCAR team headed up by Butch Hylton in their driver development program in a limited schedule of ARCA cars and Camping World Trucks. More details regarding which races and sponsorship will be announced in the coming days.(Connor Cantrell Racing PR)(1-2-2009)
    UPDATE: Connor Cantrell, 18, of Los Angeles, California, will be closing his high school locker for the last time to ignite his career as a full-time NASCAR driver. In just a few weeks, Connor will be moving across the country from California to Charlotte, North Carolina to drive for MRD Motor Sports as a satellite team for Tony Stewart/HAAS Racing. Connor will have his first test on March 6th, and will debut in the Kroger 250 in Martinsville, Virginia on March 28th. His sponsors will be American Express, Expedia. Com.(Connor Cantrell PR)(1-27-2009)
    UPDATE 2: Team CCR regretfully reports that the primary sponsorship for the 2009 Camping World Trucks and ARCA ReMax Season has been withdrawn as of Friday January 30th due to the ongoing tough economic times. MRD Motorsports has everything in place, and testing is still set to begin on March 6th. This unfortunate turn of events has definitely put a damper on things, but the Team is confident that a new sponsor can be found.(CCR Racing)(1-31-2009)

  • New rules from NASCAR to help teams with costs: With the goal being to preserve the competitive racing that the Camping World Truck Series is known for among race fans, while at the same time help teams save money; NASCAR has issued new rules for the 2009 season. A brief synopsis is a follows:
    — After March 25th, teams will not be permitted to compete in more than three consecutive events without running a sealed engine. [Meaning teams cannot run four races in a row without using an engine that has been previously run by an engine builder and sealed by NASCAR.] Once a team uses a sealed engine, the count starts over again. For example, a team owner may decide to run only two races before using a sealed engine; at that point, the three consecutive count starts over.
    — Team owners make the initial decision what race they want an engine sealed, and at the discretion of the NASCAR Competition Director, the engine will be sealed. Seals will be installed and removed by NASCAR officials only.
    — Teams will be limited to five over-the-wall pit crew members for pit stops, whether under green or yellow conditions. Teams will not be allowed to fuel and change tires during the same pit stop. Teams can stop any time, under green or yellow conditions, and perform anything they would normally do during a pit stop; they just will not be allowed to do gas and tires at the same time. At one point, competition cautions were considered, however limiting the number of over-the-wall crew members seemed a more viable option. As a result, pit strategy may prove to be in the mix during many races.
    — The crew chief must designate a maximum of twelve active crew members to attend each race. Active crew members include the crew chief, driver, spotter, plus nine other people actively turning wrenches on the truck. Team owners, public relations representatives, and guests are not included in the numbers.(1-30-2009)
  • Dover Motorsports agrees to sell Memphis Motorsports Park: Dover Motorsports, Inc. has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Memphis Motorsports Park to Gulf Coast Entertainment, L.L.C. Under the terms of the agreement, Dover Motorsports will sell all of the stock of its subsidiary Memphis International Motorsports Corporation, the owner of Memphis Motorsports Park, to Gulf Coast Entertainment for $10 million in cash. Gulf Coast Entertainment is the owner of a newly proposed multi-use entertainment complex in Mobile, AL which is projected to be operational in 2011. Memphis Motorsports Park does not contemplate any schedule changes in 2009 and will continue to host events in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. It will continue operations under the ownership of Gulf Coast Entertainment, but will operate under a management agreement with Dover Motorsports.(Dover Motorsports PR)(1-30-2009)
  • Sponsor for Cope; possibly two truck teams: UPDATE 2 Foyt to drive at Daytona; Blu Frog Energy Drink to sponsor: Hearing that the #75 Cope/Keller team with Derrike Cope driving is on the verge of signing one of three major/primary sponsorships within the next week. Plans are to run one or two Truck Series teams and a limited Cup schedule. The team has purchased some Dodges from Ganassi Racing, which is now Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and will run Chevy’s in 2009.(1-4-2009)
    UPDATE: Larry Foyt will drive for Derrike Cope Racing at Daytona in the Camping World Truck Series race. Foyt will also pilot the #56 Chevy for MacHill Motorsports in the Nationwide series race. A press conference has been scheduled for later this week to announce a sponsor.(Larry Foyt PR)(1-19-2008)
    UPDATE 2: Blu Frog Energy Drink to sponsor Larry Foyt in the #74 Dodge at Daytona. Our sponsorships come at a perfect time for us, as we launch our new Blu Frog Energy Drink. said Gary Raser, Founder, President and CEO of The Limu Company. The Limu Company is a fast-growing direct sales organization located in Lake Mary, Florida and celebrating its fifth year anniversary in 2009.(Larry Foyt PR & Marketing)(1-30-2009)
  • Bliss to drive for Key Motorsports: Curtis Key, owner of Key Motorsports, has announced that former Camping World Truck Series champion Mike Bliss will pilot the #40 Chevrolet Silverado for at least six races in 2009. Bliss will kick off the season with the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, and will remain behind the wheel for the races at California (February 21), Atlanta (March 7), Martinsville (March 28), Charlotte (May 15), and Dover (May 29). Details whether Bliss will continue as driver for the rest of the season are still in negotiation. Gary Showalter will be leading the team in the garage, serving as Crew Chief for the #40 Chevrolet. Key Motorsports announced last week that Westerman Companies renewed their sponsorship for the 2009 season, running at least six races on the #40. Bliss will run the Westerman Companies paint scheme for the company’s first appearance of the season at Martinsville.(Key Motorsports PR)(1-30-2009)
  • Harmon set for Daytona and California with Lafferty Motorsports: Lafferty Motorsports is pleased to announce that they will be making the next step in the growth of their motorsports organization by attending every race in the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck series schedule. Mike Harmon is slated to drive at Daytona and California, a decision has not been made for any further races. While still on a severely limited budget Lafferty Performance Products will serve as primary sponsor for Chris Lafferty’s team. Lafferty Performance Products is a growing performance product manufacturer of engine and chassis parts catering to racers at all levels; advanced CNC equipment and in house Spin-Tron assures quality and precision manufacturing.(Lafferty Motorsports PR)(1-30-2009)
  • Rule changes ahead for Truck Series UPDATE 3 Changes announced: In an effort to help save the teams money for the 2009 season and beyond, we are hearing that NASCAR may be ready to announce a couple of rule changes for the Truck Series. First, teams will be limited on the number of hard cards (annual credentials) they can purchase for the season. This will help control the number of people teams are bringing to the track each weekend. The other rule change rumor that is going around, is that NASCAR will limit the number of guys that can go over the wall during a pit stop. NASCAR will go from allowing seven men over the wall, to six. If this happens, expect teams to take away one of the tire carriers. Again, this would in theory help teams save money, as they would need one less crew member for pit stops.(TheNASCARInsiders.com)(12-15-2008)
    UPDATE: Now, we are hearing from a few different folks that NASCAR has made a decision and for whatever reason just hasn’t announced it publicly. The main rule change regarding the pit crews as we understand it, is as follows: NASCAR will allow only four guys over the wall at any given time. What this means, is teams will have to make one regular pit stop into two stops. They will come down and get tires on the first stop, then have to come back in for fuel. For those of you that were familiar with pit stop rules in the USAR ProCup Series, this new rule is similar to that. From what I understand, this means teams will utilize two tire changers, a jackman, and a tire carrier for tire stops.(TheNASCARInsiders.com)(1-27-2009)
    UPDATE 2: During an interview on Sirius NASCAR’s The Morning Drive program, HT Motorsports team owner, Jim Harris said that the new rules coming down from NASCAR allows teams five people over the wall during pit stops. Teams will not be allowed to gas and change tires at the same time.(1-28-2009)
    UPDATE 3: NASCAR will limit Camping World Truck Series teams to five men over the wall instead of seven and not allow them to fuel and change tires during the same pit stop this season, the sanctioning body has announced. Teams also will not be able to use three different engines in three consecutive events, excluding the races at Daytona and Talladega. After an engine’s initial use, competitors must declare the use of an engine for a future event, and the engine will be sealed by NASCAR. If an engine expires during a race weekend and the team must use a different engine, it must start in the rear of the field, just as in previous seasons. The rule applies to a team’s three consecutive races entered and not just the three consecutive races on the schedule, meaning that if a team skipped races, it would still need to race the same engine in two of any three events it enters. Many teams already had used engines in at least two events before replacing various pieces. In another cost-cutting move, a crew chief must designate a maximum of 12 active crew members for each event. Active crew members include crew chief, driver, spotter and crew members that enter the truck servicing area of pit road during the race.(SceneDaily.com)(1-29-2009)
  • Wyler Racing teams up with Stacy Compton: Wyler Racing is very excited to announce that veteran Stacy Compton has agreed to drive the #60 Wyler.com Toyota Tundra in the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starting with the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 13th, 2009. The team, which is owned by Jeff Wyler, a Cincinnati businessman who is Founder and CEO of the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, will be entering its fourth full-time year in the Camping World Truck Series. Sponsorship for the #60 Toyota Tundra is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.(Wyler Racing PR)(1-29-2009)
  • Raymer to run Daytona: Brent Raymer [#85 Ford] is scheduled to make his first run of the season in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona under the Brent Raymer Motorsports banner. Raymer will also be trying to run most of the truck races this season, pending sponsorship.(Raymer Motorsports PR)(1-29-2009)
  • Buescher joins Circle Bar Racing: Circle Bar Racing today announced the selection of James Buescher as the driver of the #10 International MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150 for the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. With continued sponsorship from Navistar Inc. of the two-truck effort at Circle Bar Racing, Buescher will team with 12-year series veteran Rick Crawford, whose livery changes to the #14 International Truck and Engine Ford F-150 for the upcoming season. Leading the #10 International MaxxForce Diesel team and Buescher in his quest for Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year honors will be veteran crew chief Jamie Jones.(JamesBuescher.com)(1-29-2009)
  • Sieg to drive #15 for BBM; Wauters as crew chief: Billy Ballew Motorsports has announced that Shane Sieg will set the line-up for the team’s 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series roster. Sieg will pilot the #15 Billy Ballew Motorsports entry in the first four Camping World events and pending sponsorship will continue through the 2009 Series season. In 2009, the team will focus on going back to their roots of the operation by putting a young driving talent in the hands of an experienced winning crew chief, Richie Wauters. Wauters took over responsibilities of the #51 truck driven by Kyle “Rowdy” Busch in 2007, but this year will trade responsibilities with the other veteran crew chief and former driver, Doug George.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(1-29-2009)
  • Todd, Geoff Bodine will share #64 Toyota Cup ride with Gunselman: Larry Gunselman is the latest to make an attempt at the Cup Series dream in 2009 as the Washington native has formed a team for himself and a pair of veteran brothers, Geoff and Todd Bodine. Gunselman, who won races in the old Winston West Series and its most popular driver award in 1996 before traveling east in 2000 to seek his racing fortunes, is the principal in the team that will field #64 Toyotas. While the team wasn’t sure who’d be in its car for Speedweeks, when the #64 will attempt to make the Daytona 500 as a “go-or-go-home” car, Gunselman said Todd Bodine would definitely drive at Fontana and Las Vegas, the second and third races on the schedule.(nascar.com)(1-28-2009)
  • New NCWTS team to form: Catchfence.com has learned that Dwayne Gaulding, a representative of GunBroker.com Motorsports department will form a two-truck NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team beginning with the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13. Jason White is expected to drive one of the team’s Dodge trucks with another driver to be announced. A formal announcement is expected next week.(Catchfence.com)(1-28-2009)
  • Starr & Red Horse Racing part ways: UPDATE 2 Starr to HT Motorsports 2nd team; Zachry as sponsor: Hearing that David Starr and Red Horse Racing have agreed to part ways and that Starr along with current sponsor, Zachry Construction are looking at other opportunities hoping to run a full-season in 2009.(1-8-2008)
    UPDATE: Starr, who rejoined the NASCAR Truck Series team for 2008 after leaving the group at the end of 2006, confirmed Friday that he has parted ways with the team and hopes to have another ride in place as early as next week. Starr says he and Red Horse co-owner Tom DeLoach mutually agreed to part ways after a sponsor that came on board Starr’s #11 Toyota for six races near the end of last season indicated it could provide primary backing on Starr’s truck for fewer than 10 races in 2009. “Hopefully, we’ll be racing full time with a good team, but right now I have options,” Starr said in a phone interview on Friday afternoon. “I haven’t chosen which way we’re going to go yet.” Starr said he has spoken with four Truck teams and hopes to remain in the Toyota camp, although he has talked to at least one team tied to another manufacturer.(Scene Daily.com)(1-9-2008)
    UPDATE 2: Zachry Holdings, Inc., a privately-held, family owned company dedicated to the planning, building and renewing of our world’s most critical industrial facilities will sponsor David Starr and the #24 HT Motorsports Toyota for the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. The green and black #24 Zachry Toyota will feature primary sponsorship from the San Antonio, Texas-based company for select races during the season and major associate sponsorship for the remainder of the year. Starr, who finished 12th in the 2008 final point standings, will be joined at HT Motorsports by returning veteran driver Terry Cook. Cook will pilot the #25 HT Motorsports Toyota Tundra and the team is working to secure sponsorship for the season. The #24 Zachry Toyota will be led by crew chief Jason Miller who notched his first victory last season at Mansfield Motorsports Park. The crew chief duties on the #25 HT Motorsports Toyota will be handled by Danny Rollins who led the late Bobby Hamilton to the 2004 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship. The #59 owners points from last year will go with the #24 truck.(HT Motorsports PR)(1-26-2009)
  • Dodge teams returning to series: Dodge Ram trucks will be racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series once again at Daytona, according to Truck Series Director Wayne Auton. Dodge ended its involvement in the truck series last year as the Chrysler brand refocused its limited resources on its Cup and Nationwide programs. Only one Dodge team was left by the end of the season. But Auton said Thursday during an interview at the NASCAR research and development center in Concord, N.C., that at least one new owner will run Dodge trucks at Daytona. “I know for sure that there’s going to be one in Daytona. I don’t want to say who they are, but I know there’s a new owner coming with two Dodge truck teams. That’s a brand new owner in the garage,” Auton said.(EverythingAlabama.com)(1-25-2009)
  • TRG enters Daytona 500; readying 2 truck entries: TRG Motorsports has announced their entry in the 51st running of the Daytona 500. The team will have veteran driver Mike Wallace pilot the #71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet on Sunday, February 15 at Daytona Int’l Speedway. The next 30 days will be a busy for TRG. The company has five cars entered in this weekend’s Grand-Am Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona and the finishing touches are going on the company’s two Camping World Truck Series entries as well as their two ARCA cars for next month.(TRG Motorsports PR)(1-22-2009)

  • Carmichael to trucks if sponsorship in place? UPDATE 2 Monster Energy to sponsor Carmichael in 14 races; Wilburn as crew chief: Hearing that Ricky Carmichael will be the driver of the #2 truck for Kevin Harvick Inc. in 2009 if sponsorship can be obtained.(12-21-2008)
    UPDATE: Carmichael, who most recently competed in the NASCAR Camping World East Series for Ken Schrader Racing, has signed with KHI and plans to compete full time in the Camping World Truck Series in 2009. “We’re really close,” said Carmichael about sponsorship for his Truck Series season, which will start with a 250-mile race at Daytona on Feb. 13. “I’ve got a good feeling about it. Obviously, it’d be good if it’s a 100 percent done but I feel really, really good about it. That’s the plan.” During this weekend’s test, Carmichael is getting acclimated to the 2.5-mile tri-oval and using the ARCA race as a tune-up in advance of the 250-mile Truck race.(nascar.com)(12-21-2008)
    UPDATE 2: Former motocross champion Ricky Carmichael has signed a contract with Kevin Harvick, Inc., and says a sponsorship deal is close that would allow him to run a partial schedule on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2009. Carmichael offered a hint at the identity of the potential sponsor yesterday, saying, “they have been very good to me in the past, and I hope we can find a way for it to continue.” Sources tell Sirius Speedway that Monster Energy Drink is negotiating to back Carmichael’s Truck Series effort.(Sirius-Speedway.com)(12-23-2008)
    UPDATE 3: Monster Energy has signed with Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) to sponsor Ricky Carmichael in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) during the 2009 season. Carmichael, a 29-year-old native of Clearwater, Fla., and the most successful motocross racer in history, will drive the #4 Monster Energy Silverado for the KHI All-Star Team in at least 14 truck events and also pilot a Monster Energy Chevrolet in the season-opening Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) race at Daytona. The driver lineup and sponsors for the KHI All-Star Team for the 11 remaining Camping World Truck Series races will be announced later and will include stars from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The #4 team, led by recently hired crew chief Bill Wilburn, will assume the ninth-place owners points from the #2 KHI truck from 2008.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(1-20-2009)
  • Swedish Match’s Longhorn brand to sponsor KHI’s #33: UPDATE Formal announcement; to sponsor #33 for ten races, Harvick #4 at PIR: Hearing that Swedish Match North America’s newest moist snuff brand, Longhorn, will be sponsoring Kevin Harvick Racing’s #33 for some races in 2009, and that the sponsorship will kick-off during SpeedWeeks in Daytona. (1-6-2008)
    UPDATE: Swedish Match North America and Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) has announced that Longhorn, the fastest growing moist snuff in the country, will be the primary sponsor of the #33 Chevrolet Silverado driven by three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) champion Ron Hornaday. The Longhorn colors will be featured on #33 for 10 of the 25 race events in 2009. Not only will Longhorn sponsor KHI’s three-time Truck Series champion, they will also adorn the #4 Chevrolet Silverado with KHI co-owner and two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Kevin Harvick behind the wheel. Longhorn will serve as primary sponsor for Harvick at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) November 13.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(1-20-2009)
  • GEICO announces six race deal for Papis & Germain: Just a few weeks remain before NASCAR’s opening weekend in Daytona, and GEICO has announced the expansion of their Max Papis race program. Papis, the driver of the #13 GEICO Camry in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, will pilot a GEICO Toyota Tundra for Germain Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for six races beginning on February 21, 2009, at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Other race venues will include Atlanta, Dover, Bristol, Phoenix and an additional race to be named in the future.(Player Mgmt/Max Papis PR)(1-20-2009)
  • Scott joins Venturini Motorsports Daytona ARCA lineup: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Brian Scott will pilot a Venturini Motorsports prepared Toyota Camry in the ARCA RE/MAX Lucas Oil SLick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 7. He will be teammates with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano, and ARCA rookie Ryan Fischer.(Venturini Motorsports PR)(1-19-2009)

  • BDR Employees Laid-Off; But…UPDATE 7 Skinner talking to teams; 500 ride with Slugger Labbe: Hearing that most of Bill Davis Racing’s employees were laid-off earlier this week following the sale of the team to Marty Gaunt and Mike Held. Despite the bad news, all team members are getting a chance to reapply for their position with the team. They will begin bringing back employees after the first of the year. The move appears to be an attempt at restructuring the organization. By doing this, they can cut loose any employees they do not want while removing any seniority and cutting salaries they might see as high. Given the present climate, it is very much an owner’s market. There are a lot of talented people who are looking for work and those with an opportunity to stay where they are at are very likely to take a pay cut in order to avoid job loss.(NASCAR Insiders)(12-28-2008)
    UPDATE: Hearing that Triad Racing Technologies has not re-hired many of the people laid off and that the team will only attempt to run the Sprint Cup Series along with chassis, engines and tech support to other teams. And supposedly will not run ANY Truck Series team leaving driver Mike Skinner looking for a ride. [No word on status of Tayler Malsam & Brian Scott teams as well.](1-6-2009)
    UPDATE 2: Brian Scott [who had signed with BDR for 2009] will return to the Truck Series as a one-truck team with Xpress Motorsports driving the #16 Albertson’s Toyota. Jeff Hensley returns as crew chief as well as some former BDR crew members have joined the team.(Xpress Motorsports)(1-6-2009)
    UPDATE 3: As of yesterday [Monday], TRT has hired 80+ people back and is in full operation.(TRT)(1-6-2009)
    UPDATE 4: TRT owners Marty Gaunt and Mike Held said recently that it would take a month for them to determine what the team’s racing plans would be. But it appears the team will sideline much, if not all, of its truck program. Angie Skinner confirmed Tuesday that her husband, Mike, has been told that he will not be in a truck for the team next year.(SceneDaily.com)(1-7-2008)
    UPDATE 5: Skinner, who still had a year left on his contract at Bill Davis Racing when Triad Racing Technologies purchased a majority interest in the team on Dec. 22, says he was told by team management the next day that new owners Marty Gaunt and Mike Held would continue to field the team’s Camping World Truck Series program in 2009 with Skinner returning to the #5 Toyota. Then on Jan. 2, Skinner says team management informed him that the entire truck program would be discontinued, leaving three likely drivers – Skinner, Tayler Malsam and Brian Scott – having to alter plans for the coming season. Skinner doesn’t have a ride as of now but says he has been in discussions with two Truck teams and some Sprint Cup teams, none of which he named. “I’m 85 percent sure we’ll land something,” the Susanville, Calif., native said. “If some sponsor comes along it will be 100 percent.” Toyota Tundra, which served as the primary sponsor on Skinner’s truck throughout his time at BDR, had planned to continue the partnership if Skinner remained with the team next season, the driver said.(SceneDaily.com)(1-9-2008)
    UPDATE 6: Skinner, who won the inaugural NASCAR Truck Series championship in 1995, said he’s had discussions with several teams, including Randy Moss Motorsports. Skinner said the slumping economy has been a headwind in this unexpected search for employment. “The same people that have wanted to hire me for the last two or three years are backing away,” said Skinner, who has 25 career truck wins. “Everybody is afraid of this economy. “When you got an opportunity to hire a former champion, who comes with a strong endorsement and help from Toyota, something will happen. We’ll put something together.” Meanwhile, Skinner said he’s “99 percent” sure he has a ride for the Daytona 500, just a one-race deal. He’s not interested in returning to Sprint Cup as a full-time driver. “The Sprint Cup is fun, but I’m a racer, and I want to drive trucks,” he said.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(1-15-2009)
    UPDATE 7: Angie Skinner writes on the discussion board — Mike and I are driving up to NC today to meet with a potential team who seems excited to take on the #5 guys and Skinner. Mike is looking to attempt the Daytona 500 in a car which Slugger Labbe is working on….this isn’t a full time team…just a fun attempt at the great race.(Mike Skinner.com)(1-17-2009)
  • Truck owners discuss limiting pit stops? UPDATE 2 may be some tweaking? more info: NASCAR officials met with owners from the Camping World Truck Series at the Kevin Harvick, Inc. shop on Thursday to discuss potential procedural changes for this season. Chief among those discussed changes was the possible elimination of green/yellow flag pit stops, multiple sources told FOXSports.com. The sanctioning body wanted to open dialogue to discuss cost saving measures to ensure the health of the series this season since the truck count – and the sponsored truck count in particular – has diminished drastically. When the truck series first debuted, the series was able to limit expenses by having teams pit once at halfway under a competition caution and have fewer men over the wall. A similar plan could be in the works that would bring trucks down pit road according to the order on the track. Teams would be allowed to pit and the trucks would then return to the track in the same order, similar to a TV time out in football or basketball. Last season, 27 teams drove full time and 11 of 25 races had a full field of 36 trucks starting. While no confirmed counts have been released yet, it appears that number will be lower as some teams have shut down during the off season. The full impact of the economy likely won’t be felt by the sport until after the season opening weekend at Daytona.(Fox Sports)(1-16-2008)
    UPDATE: During an interview on Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway, Camping World Truck Series Competition Director, Wayne Auton talked about the some of the ideas discussed during the meeting at KHI between team owners and NASCAR officials. NASCAR has already talked about putting in place limits for the number of crew members, but other topics such as how many people a team will be allowed to bring to the race track, eliminating pit stops were among the issues talked about. Auton said that there may be some “tweaks” made, however, the main focus is to find ways to cut costs while ensuring fans continue to see competitive racing. Auton said that any forthcoming announcements would be made by the end of next week to be put in place prior to the season-opener at Daytona.(1-16-2009)
    UPDATE 2: Limiting engine costs also was discussed, including the use of a spec motor for races 1-mile and under – [Mike] Hillman said his team already has tested the one used in the Camping World East and West series and it is acceptable. Usage of the engine would allow teams in those series to possibly race in the Truck Series some. “I think that motor could run everywhere except Daytona and Talladega the way it is,” Hillman said. NASCAR already has eliminated the need for each team to have a scorer, which will save teams about $30,000 a year, [TRG’s Butch] Hylton said. “There’s no good answer,” Hylton said. “I wouldn’t want to be in NASCAR’s shoes. … At least they’re trying to do something for us. They realize the economy is bad and everyone is struggling with sponsorship, so they’ve jumped in here and they’ve listened to the owners.”(SceneDaily.com)(1-17-2009)
  • Bodine to return to #30 in ’09: UPDATE 5 Germain needs sponsor; may run three at Daytona: Germain Racing plans to keep its Nationwide Series program and at least one of its two Truck Series entries on track next year while it enters the Sprint Cup Series with Max Papis for at least 18 races. Todd Bodine will return to the #30 truck likely with Lumber Liquidators as the sponsor. The #9 truck (driven by Justin Marks and others this year) and the #7 Nationwide car (currently driven by Mike Wallace) still have their programs being sorted out.(Scene Daily)(10-28-2008)
    UPDATE: Downsizing at Germain Racing? Hearing that there were layoffs at Germain Racing and there may be a few more in the coming days, and that the reason for the layoff is because the deal for the #30 has not been solidified yet.(11-20-2008)
    UPDATE 2: Hearing that Germain Racing laid off another 15 people this week and rumor has it was because Lumber Liquidators backed out.(12-5-2008)
    UPDATE 3: The #30 Tundra team needs to finalize primary sponsorship for 2009. Lumber Liquidators has informed team officials they will not return as the primary sponsor for the truck, which has Germain Racing and driver Todd Bodine searching for the right fit to take over title sponsorship on the #30 Tundra. Bodine and the #30 Tundra team brought Toyota it’s first Truck Series championship and the team has earned more wins than any other Tundra team. “Given the caliber of this team and its performance over the past four years, we’re confident that we can find support for the #30 Tundra program with champion driver Todd Bodine. We will be at Daytona to defend last year’s win…hopefully with a new primary sponsor who understands the tremendous value of the Camping World Truck Series and a championship team like Germain Racing,” said owner Bob Germain Jr.(Germain Racing PR)(12-16-2008)
    UPDATE 4: During an interview on Sirius Radio’s The Morning Drive program, Todd Bodine said they are still searching for sponsorship for the #30 Germain Racing Toyota. As of right now they plan is to run Daytona and a couple of races after that, and hopefully they will have something in place by then. As of right now, the truck remains unsponsored.(1-5-2008)
    UPDATE 5: [Mike] Hillman’s team is looking for sponsorship, too. It likely will field Max Papis and Todd Bodine in the season-opening race at Daytona and possibly a third truck.(Scene Daily.com)(1-17-2009)
  • Miccosukee returns as #51 sponsor; still searching for #15: UPDATE Busch, Sieg share ride: Billy Ballew Motorsports has confirmed that Miccosukee Resorts will return as the primary sponsor for the #51 Toyota in 2009 with driver Kyle Busch. Team owner, Billy Ballew stated that the status of the #15 truck for 2009 is subject to that team gaining sponsorship. He is diligently pursuing opportunities and remains optimistic, but at this point has nothing close enough, toward that end, to announce. Ballew has a potential driver in mind, but also said he would consider a driver who brings a sponsor to the team. To-date no team members have been released from Billy Ballew Motorsports, and Ballew stressed his desire to continue this team and take care of his employees.(Billy Ballew Motorsports)(12-29-2008)
    UPDATE: Kyle Busch will make between 12 and 15 starts for Billy Ballew Motorsports this season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, team owner Billy Ballew said on Wednesday. Busch, who is slated to drive the truck mainly on weekends when the Sprint Cup and Truck series compete at the same track, will share the seat for a second straight year with driver Shane Sieg. Ballew’s other team truck, the #15 entry shared by several drivers last season, including Marc Mitchell, David Stremme, John Andretti, Denny Hamlin and James Buescher, has no primary sponsorship and may not run past the season’s first four races, Ballew said. A driver for those first four races has not been named. If the #15 does acquire a primary sponsor, Ballew says his preference would be to have one driver in the seat for the entire season. If multiple drivers end up sharing the ride again, Ballew expects [Denny] Hamlin to be among them.(Scene Daily.com)(1-15-2009)
  • Key Motorsports to run full season; Westerman returns as sponsor for six: Key Motorsports has announced that Westerman Companies will return as a sponsor in 2009. Westerman Companies will serve as primary sponsor of the #40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet for at least six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races this season. The Ohio-based company, which performs a variety of design, engineering, manufacturing, and machining services for the oil, nuclear, and marine industries, will be entering its third consecutive season as a sponsor of the Key Motorsports Chevy Silverado, having first come on board in 2007. The green and white Westerman paint scheme will appear on track for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events scheduled at Martinsville Speedway (March 28, October 24), Kentucky Speedway (July 18), O’Reilly Raceway Park (July 24), Bristol Motor Speedway (August 19), and Gateway International Raceway (September 12). Key Motorsports has also confirmed that it will once again compete in the full 25 race season in the Camping World Truck Series. Truck Series veteran Lance Hooper will return as Crew Chief in 2009. Driver and additional sponsorship information is forthcoming and will be announced in the coming weeks.(Key Motorsports PR)(1-15-2008)
  • Stout to switch series in 2009: The Stellar-Quest Racing Team from outside Buffalo, NY has announced it will run a limited schedule in the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series in a Chevrolet bearing the #19. This small family owned, all volunteer team’s driver will again be JC Stout, who drove the team’s #91 Chevrolet in the truck series for the last six seasons. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the upcoming season and Stout is also seeking other driving opportunities in both the Nationwide and Truck series? for other teams in 2009. The crew chief for the team’s first Nationwide season will be Don Roberts, carrying over his title from the truck series last year.(Stellar-Quest Racing PR)(1-13-2009)
  • Trucks get more practice time at Daytona: NASCAR has significantly increased the Speedweeks practice time for participants in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series at Daytona Int’l Speedway. With NASCAR’s ban on testing at tracks that play host to Sprint Cup, Nationwide or Camping World Truck races this year, teams will head to the season-opening events without the benefit of three days of January testing at DIS. When they announced the policy last November, NASCAR officials had indicated they would consider giving teams more practice time on the race weekend. Truck teams will get two practices totaling 160 minutes on Wednesday this year, compared to just 60 minutes on Wednesday in 2008. The Thursday Truck practice is 125 minutes, five minutes longer than a year ago.(SceneDaily.com) [Schedule is posted on the Daytona Race Page].(1-12-2009)
  • Circle Bar close to announcing driver for the #10: Rick Crawford told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway on Monday that he hopes to announce a new driver for the Circle Bar Racing #10 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford within the next 7-10 days. “We might even be able to say something by this Friday,” he said. “I’ve got 16 names on a list; people who have contacted us since last Monday, hoping to be considered for the ride. We’ve got some rookies, and some experienced veterans looking to bring something (financial) to the table.” Crawford said the team will not necessarily choose the most experienced driver, the driver with the best resume, or the driver that brings the most sponsorship to the dance. Instead, he said, Circle Car will likely choose “the best total package” of all three.(Sirius Speedway PR)(1-12-2009)
  • Silas & Fast Track Racing to run limited truck schedule: In addition to a full ARCA RE/MAX Series slate, Bryan Silas and his Fast Track Racing team will run a limited NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Silverado beginning with the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona Int’l Speedway on February 13. Reuniting with Fast Track Racing in 2009 will be Cal Boprey who will serve as Silas’s crew chief this year.(Fast Track Racing PR)(1-12-2009)
  • Key Motorsports to run full-time NNS entry; truck plans TBA: Team owner Curtis Key announced today that Key Motorsports will run its first full-time entry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2009. Leading the effort in the Key Motorsports shop is crew chief Tommy Morgan, who formerly served as the team’s competition director since 2007. Key Motorsports plans to continue their longstanding manufacturer relationship with Chevrolet. Driver, sponsor information, and car number are forthcoming. 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series plans will also be announced at a later date.(Key Motorsports PR)(1-12-2009)
  • MSRP Motorsports plan Daytona 500 attempt; Cook as driver? Phil Parsons was on Tradin’ Paint on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio with Rick Benjamin and Chocolate Myers Friday and said he intends to put a car in the Daytona 500:
    Rick Benjamin: “Chocolate and I had speculated a little – and you were one of the guys I had in mind – you might see some ARCA teams, some truck teams, some Nationwide teams go out – and we know there are ways you can acquire a Cup car. You can lease one, borrow one, buy one, whatever is takes and go put a car on the grid there. You do that with Randy Humphrey in the Nationwide Series. You had two cars last year. Are you thinking about doing that in the Cup Series in ’09?”
    Phil Parsons: “We are. We are strongly considering that. We’re going to kind of let the chips fall where they may and see how many cars are going to be there but our intention is, right now, is to race the Daytona 500. Not park and start in park but race the Daytona 500.”(Sirius PR)
    AND Hearing that the car will be a Toyota and truck series regular Terry Cook will be the driver. MSRP, owned by Phil Parsons, Randy Humphrey, and their wives, competed full time in the Nationwide Series in 2008 with two cars, #90 & #91. The #90 was primarily driven by Johnny Chapman and competed in 31 races with a best finish of 35th. The #91 had a variety of drivers, mostly Larry Gunselman and Justin Hobgood, was in 30 races, and had a best finish of 38th.(1-11-2009)
  • Braun to compete in Rolex 24 at Daytona: For the fifth-consecutive year Colin Braun will compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 24-25. The Roush Fenway Racing driver will run the #60 Michael Shank Racing Ford-Riley along with full-season pilots Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri, as well as the 2008 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Ryan Hunter-Reay. The teammates will compete in the Daytona Prototype division.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(1-7-2008)
  • Crawford still looking to buy Mobile Int’l Speedway: Doug Demmons spoke to Rick Crawford on Tuesday about the progress of his negotiations to buy Mobile International Speedway. No deal is imminent. In fact, Crawford said it is unlikely that a deal will be done before the start of the short track season, as he had earlier hoped. It may or may not get done, but one way or another Crawford seems determined to come back to Alabama and be a track owner.(EverythingAlabama.com)(1-7-2008)
  • TRG set for Rolex 24; working toward Truck Series opener: The sports car arm of TRG has entered five Porsche GT3 Cup cars for the twice around the clock race on January 24-25 with the hope and expectation of bringing home their third Rolex 24 Hour GT win. While the Porsches are logging laps in preparation for the 24, work is going on simultaneously in Mooresville, North Carolina on the team’s two Chevys in preparation for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener in February. TRG’s driver and sponsor lineup for the Truck Series program will be announced at a later date.(TRG Motorsports PR)(1-6-2009)
  • Travis Sauter to TRG’s development program? Hearing that Travis Sauter [son of Tim Sauter] has signed on as a development driver for TRG Motorsports and will run some ARCA and truck events in 2009. Schedule and crew chief have not been locked down yet.(1-6-2008)
  • Sauter to Thorsport Racing? UPDATE 2 It’s official; Sauter to Thorsport: Hearing that Johnny Sauter toured the Thorsport Racing shop in Sandusky, Ohio last week. It’s not clear if an indicator that there may be a potential driver change for the #13 team?(12-1-2008)
    UPDATE: While the news out of most NASCAR racing teams this off-season is about layoffs and down-sizing, it’s quite the opposite at ThorSport Racing. The team, which fields the #13 and #88 entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series from its Sandusky, Ohio headquarters, is looking for experienced personnel to help expand its program in 2009. ThorSport ventured into the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the first time in 2008 and expects to enter more Nationwide events in the coming season as well as continuing with its two-truck effort.(Thorsport Racing PR)(12-3-2008)
    UPDATE 2: Hearing that Shelby Howard will not be returning to the #13 truck for Thorsport Racing and that Johnny Sauter is set to be the new driver.(12-20-2008)
    UPDATE 3: ThorSport Racing has named Johnny Sauter driver of the #13 truck in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in ’09, the organization announced on Tuesday. Sauter, a native of Necedah, WI, has raced in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series. This will be his first full-time foray into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Sauter joins forces with teammate Matt Crafton at ThorSport Racing. Crafton is the driver of the #88 Menards Silverado. [Sponsor has not been announced](Thorsport Racing PR)(1-6-2008)
  • Gaughan to Nationwide, possibly Cup? UPDATE 2 To Nationwide with RWR: Hearing that Brendan Gaughan most likely will be driving for Rusty Wallace Inc. in the Nationwide Series for 2009. Also hearing that the deal is not completely finalized as yet, and Gaughan is also looking at possible opportunities available in the Cup Series.(12-19-2008)
    UPDATE: The deal has not yet been finalized, however, because Gaughan is waiting for a final decision to be made on Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing’s #41 Sprint Cup Dodge. A source close to the situation called Gaughan’s deal with RWR “99 percent done,” with an announcement expected after the holidays. That would leave the seat of the Circle Bar Racing #10 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford vacant for next season. Asked about a possible return to the #10 Truck, Gaughan told Sirius Speedway Wednesday “I won’t drive a truck for anyone but them. We have a great relationship, and I really enjoy driving for Tom Mitchell and Rick Crawford. But there are a couple of other opportunities out there, and we want to give everything a good look before making a decision.”(Sirius-Speedway.com)(12-19-2008)
    UPDATE 2: Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC (RWR) have announced that former NASCAR Truck Series Rookie of the Year, Brendan Gaughan, will pilot the team’s #62 Chevy in a full-season bid for 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. Gaughan assumes the ride-formerly the #64-driven by David Stremme and Max Papis to a top-ten finish in the 2008 standings. Brian Berry, Gaughan’s long-time truck series crew chief, will accompany Gaughan in his move and head the #62 team in 2009.(Rusty Wallace Racing PR)(1-5-2008)
  • Bodine, Lucas win Bobsled Challenge: Boris Said is no longer king of the mountain. Todd Bodine and Morgan Lucas have taken his place. Bodine laid down a fast first run, then held on to edge Joe Gibbs Racing phenom Joey Logano on Sunday and capture the first race at the fourth annual Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge. Lucas beat Bodine in the spectacular second race. Todd Bodine, with brakeman Patrick Furman, of nearby Plattsburgh, N.Y., was the only driver to break 50 seconds on both runs of the first race down the difficult Mount Van Hoevenberg track. Bodine and Furman finished with a combined time of 1 minute, 39.18 seconds to beat Logano by 0.40 seconds. Still, Logano again proved he’s a quick study. He struggled in his inaugural appearance a year ago.(ESPN/AP)(1-5-2009)
    INFO: More info and links on the Racing Charity page and Ongoing Racing Charity News page.(1-5-2009)
  • Sponsor for Cope; possibly two truck teams? Hearing that the #75 Cope/Keller team with Derrike Cope driving is on the verge of signing one of three major/primary sponsorships within the next week. Plans are to run one or two Truck Series teams and a limited Cup schedule. The team has purchased some Dodges from Ganassi Racing, which is now Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and will run Chevy’s in 2009.(1-4-2009)
  • Todd Bodine fastest in Bodine Bobsled Challenge qualifying: Camping World Truck Series veteran Todd Bodine put his experience in a bobsled to good use Saturday evening when he turned in the fastest time in qualifying for the Fourth Annual Whelen Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge at the Olympic Sports Complex. As one of two drivers that competed in each of the previous three Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenges, Todd Bodine, younger brother of the challenge’s namesake, recorded afternoon practice runs of 52.14 and 52.26 seconds. As the last driver up in the qualifying round, the younger Bodine turned in a 52.20 in time trials to just edge Larry Gunselman at the top of the board by .01 seconds. Gunselman, who made 17 starts in the Nationwide Series in 2008, posted the two fastest afternoon practice times (51.81/51.85), but his qualifying run of 52.21 was bested only by Todd Bodine.(NASCAR PR)
    INFO: More info and links on the Racing Charity page and Ongoing Racing Charity News page.(1-4-2009)
  • Cantrell to run limited schedule with TRG Motorsports: For 2009 Connor Cantrell will join the Mooresville based NASCAR team headed up by Butch Hylton in their driver development program in a limited schedule of ARCA cars and Camping World Trucks. More details regarding which races and sponsorship will be announced in the coming days.(Connor Cantrell Racing PR)(1-2-2009)

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