NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News Archives
January 2010

  • Bodine/Germain Racing still searching for sponsorship: Todd Bodine has won four of the last five NASCAR Truck Series races at Daytona and Talladega, so his Germain Racing team heads to Daytona next week with optimism. What the team doesn’t have is sponsorship yet for the 2010 season. Like many teams, Germain Racing is starting the year unsure of what the future holds. Bodine is the 2006 series champion and has finished in the top four in points in each of the last five years. The team is trying to work with partners from past seasons to put together a program. It will go to Daytona with Bodine and also bring a truck for Max Papis. For Truck teams looking for sponsorship, they have time to work on sponsorship before the meat of the truck schedule. After the Feb. 12 season-opener at Daytona, there’s only one race over the next five weeks (March 6 at Atlanta) and then after back-to-back race weekends at Martinsville and Nashville, there’s four weeks before the race at Kansas. The team was able to find enough sponsorship last year, piecing together programs throughout the season. “We did it all year last year, we made it work and survived,” [Mike] Hillman Jr. said. “We’re ready to go, building stuff, working hard in the shop.”(SceneDaily.com)(1-31-2010)
  • Sauter to run Fontana Cup race for Tommy Baldwin UPDATE more races: Per Tommy Baldwin Racing’s facebook page, looks like the team will run a 2nd team at Auto Club Speedway in February with Johnny Sauter driving the #35 Tommy Baldwin Chevy, see images on the #35 Cup Team Scheme page.(1-30-2010)
    UPDATE: Sauter is scheduled to run at least three races: Auto Club in Feb., Martinsville in March and Pheonix in April.(1-31-2010)
  • Some pit road rules changes this year: NASCAR had some media folks over at its R&D; Center to go over the pit road rules for this season. A few things that were interesting:
    # A change this season is that NASCAR is going to enforce speeding on pit road more. Remember when a wrecked car would come to pit road, the crew would furiously make repairs and the car would fire down pit road faster than the speed limit to stay on the lead lap? Speeding penalty was no big deal because it only put the driver at the rear of the field. He still got to stay on the lead lap. New this year is that speeding is speeding. NASCAR will not allow such action again. What that means is that crews will have to complete their work sooner knowing they can’t speed on pit road to stay on the lead lap.
    # As in the past, teams are allowed a 4.99 mph allowance before being penalized for speeding on pit road.
    # Another change this year is if a car is entering pit road or just entered pit road when the caution comes out (thus closing pit road), the driver can go down pit road (without stopping in his stall) while maintaining pit road speed and NASCAR will put the driver back in his spot when he entered pit road. There have been times guys entered pit road just as it closed because of a caution and never had a chance to react and all but had their day (or a good part of it) ruined with losing a lap.
    # You know how there are times when a NASCAR official in the pits will kick a tire back toward the pit wall and other times they don’t? Here is what NASCAR tells its officials on those situations: If you (the official) don’t have to move out of the way to knock the tire back, that is fine. If an official has to move out of position to do so, then let it go. The reasoning to allow officials to even knock the tire back is a safety issue. If an official can do so without getting out of position, then it prevents the tire from getting hit by a car and knocked back into that official or others on pit road.
    # NASCAR penalizes drivers for running over air hoses, yet there are cases when a driver won’t be penalized for doing so. Think of it this way: On a four-tire pit stop where the front tire changer comes over to the left side, the air hose might not flip over completely away from the car. If the car runs over a small portion (small the key) then NASCAR more than likely will let it go.(Hampton Roads)(1-29-2010)
  • NASCAR cutting race purses to all three series: NASCAR is cutting by about 10 percent the race winnings it will award teams in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series this season, officials confirmed on Friday. The reduction is part of cost-cutting measures that will alleviate some of the financial burdens on tracks that have suffered during a tough economic environment that has forced them to cut ticket prices with declining attendance. “Last year we launched an industry-wide effort to help the sport manage budgets in this economy,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Friday. “NASCAR did the right thing to work with the tracks to reduce their costs in order to manage the economic realities. In return, the tracks have done a great job reducing ticket prices and enhancing the fan experience. Likewise, we worked with the teams to contain costs such as elimination of testing and other steps. This is consistent with how virtually every sport and business has adjusted to the economy over the past year.” Bruton Smith, the chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns nine tracks that host Cup, Nationwide and Truck events, applauded NASCAR for making the cut. He doesn’t believe drivers will particularly like it, “but they understand.”(ESPN.com)(1-29-2010)
  • Image added: Schematic of the #01-KOMA UNWIND Chevy for Daisy Ramirez Motorsports is posted on the 2010 Paint Scheme Page.(1-27-2010)
  • Setzer & Team Gill Racing team up for Daytona UPDATE 2 PlaneGuts.com to sponsor: Hearing that there will be a second entry for Team Gill Racing at Daytona that reunites former teammates Danny Gill and Dennis Setzer. Setzer is scheduled to be behind the wheel of the #46-Dodge for the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Friday, February 12th.(1-22-2010)
    UPDATE: Team Gill Racing announced that former teammates Danny Gill and Dennis Setzer will reunite to run at Daytona. Setzer has finished second in the truck series points race in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He has 18 career truck series along with 159 top-tens since 1995.(Team Gill Racing PR)(1-23-2010)
    UPDATE 2: Team Gill Racing continues its growth with the announcement that veteran driver Dennis Setzer will pilot the #46 PlaneGuts.com Dodge Ram in the upcoming NextEra Energy Resources 250 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona, February 12, 2010. Plane Guts is the pinnacle of aircraft interior refurbishing and complete makeovers. The company’s facility is based centrally in the United States in Tyler, Texas. With the capability of working on every major large jet down to the smallest personal aircraft, there is not a plane that they can’t turn into a show piece.(Team Gill Racing PR)(1-26-2010)
  • ThorSport Racing — no changes for 2010: With major personnel movement throughout most of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams during the off-season making news, one team that has been notably silent on that topic is ThorSport Racing. Matt Crafton returns to the seat of the #88 Menard Chevrolet with crew chief Bud Haefele calling the shots for the fifth consecutive season. Together they have scored one win (Charlotte 2008), 25 top-five finishes, 53 top-ten finishes, two poles, and two top-five finishes in the championship standings. Johnny Sauter teamed up with long-time friend – and sometimes crew chief – Joe Shear, Jr. in the second half of the 2009 season. Shear led Sauter to his first series win just four races later at Las Vegas, six top-five finishes, eight top-ten finishes, and one pole. He also led the charge from eleventh in the standings after Chicagoland to sixth at the end of the year.(ThorSport Racing PR)(1-25-2010)
  • VFW to sponsor NCWTS race at Michigan: In an effort to recognize and salute veterans and their families around the country, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation will be the title sponsor of its first-ever NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, the “VFW 200” on Saturday, June 12 at Michigan International Speedway. Additionally the Foundation will provide activities and informational venues at the track during the entire weekend to highlight the service and sacrifice of America’s U.S. service members and their families. Service members attending the event (many of whom are on leave from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan) will be given VIP status and provided with pit passes and access to NASCAR drivers, grandstand seating and complimentary food. The venue will allow the VFW Foundation to showcase its “Salute to Military Families” campaign, designed to bring awareness to the unique problems and needs of troops and their families. It will be the second year the VFW Foundation has sponsored the “Salute to Military Families” program. Through its “Unmet Needs” initiative, the VFW Foundation has provided more than $3 million in direct financial assistance to military families for rent, mortgage, utilities, vehicle repair, medical expenses and basic food assistance.(Michigan Int’l Speedway PR)(1-22-2010)
  • Benson to Team Gill Racing for Daytona UPDATE other races with TGR? Team Gill Racing announced today that 2008 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, Johnny Benson, will be debuting their #95 Ford F-150 in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 NCWTS event at Daytona, February 12, 2010. TGR will be competing in all 25 Camping World Truck Series events for the 2010 season. “We really needed to start this year out right. We wanted to show up and let everyone know that Team Gill Racing is bringing a lot to the table every weekend. We have a lot of really good things working in or favor right now. We feel like we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with all season and well into the following years.” says Gill. Benson, who logged six wins in the NCWTS in the 2008 season, just edging out second place to win the points championship, will be sharing the seat of the #95 with rookie Lance Fenton for the 2010 season. Fenton is scheduled to run at least seven of the 25 events for 2010 behind the wheel of the #95. Fenton will be making his first event start with Team Gill Racing in the ASA Transcontinental Series event scheduled for January 31st at the 1.5-mile Phakisa Freeway Circuit in South Africa. Upon his return from the event in South Africa, Fenton will also compete in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 in the ARCA racing series presented by ReMax and Menards February 6, 2010.(Team Gill Racing PR) [Past news on Gill & Fenton team merger is posted on the December Archives Page.] (1-21-2010)
    UPDATE: A press release was published on jayski.com Thursday night stating that Team Gill Racing was committed to racing all 25 races. However, Benson said the team has committed to race only Daytona at this point. “I haven’t seen that release,” said Benson, the 2008 Camping World champion who lost his ride this past June when his Red Horse Racing team folded due to lack of sponsorship. “As far as I know, right now, I am only doing Daytona. It might be more races, or it might be a one race deal. I just don’t know. “But I am extremely excited about going to Daytona. (Car owner) Danny Gill has been around a long time and he’s a great guy, and I’m confident that we will be able to run in the top five.”(MLive.com)(1-22-2010)
  • MRD close to sponsorship UPDATE Johns as driver? Statement from Dave Malcolmson: “MRD Motorsports does not currently have sponsorship for the 2010 season. However, the #8 team is working with a driver and a unique marketing program and feel confident that we will have sponsorship in place shortly. It is unclear if we will commence at Daytona or start after missing the first few races. When the MRD team does show up it will be for the balance of the 2010 season and hopefully we will carry the sponsorship into the 2011 season. On a separate path, we are working on a program that will not start until mid year. If we successfully put this program in place we will field a second team commencing mid-year.”(MRD Motorsports)(1-18-2010)
    UPDATE: Beyond Tribute.org announced today that it has joined with Asset Integrated Marketing and Richard Johns to create a marketing initiative within NASCAR to support and promote its Eleven-Eleven Campaign. Together the organizations will work to field a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team, featuring Richard Johns as the driver, which will work with corporate marketing partners to promote the Eleven-Eleven Campaign to the millions of NASCAR fans worldwide. Beyond Tribute.org is a non-profit corporation providing funding to a coalition of 11 charities that specialize in Direct Services and/or Advocacy for Active Duty service members and Veterans from all eras and conflicts.(RichardJohns.com) [Hearing that Richard Johns is the driver under consideration for the #8 MRD Motorsports Chevy if sponsorship is put in place.](1-22-2010)
  • NASCAR reiterates 2010 NCWTS rule changes during Media Tour: NASCAR has announced that it will relax some on-track rules, putting racing back in drivers’ hands in 2010. The changes, which begin with next month’s season-opening events at Daytona International Speedway, will allow drivers to be even more competitive. Race rule changes were one of several announcements during Thursday’s annual media-tour presentation at NASCAR’s Research & Development Center in Concord, NC. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams will use double-file restarts “shootout style” in 2010, making restart rules uniform across all three national series. Teams also will return to traditional pit stops, eliminating last year’s procedure of refueling and changing tires on separate stops. Teams also may use a new, vented fuel dump can, eliminating the need for a catch can.(NASCAR PR)(1-21-2010)
  • Sad News – Harry Davis: from Marc Davis’ website – Marc Davis Motorsports has lost a father, a leader, and a true inspiration with the passing of Harry Davis. We will always remember his courage, dedication, and the marks he left on the challenging road to make his son’s dreams a reality. Funeral arrangements are pending at this time. You may send a note of condolence to: 136 Bridle Path Lane, Mooresville, NC 28117 or by email, for the address, go to marcdavismotorsports.com or Marc Davis – Facebook.(1-21-2010)
  • Trucks headed to Darlington? UPDATE 2 formal announcement made: Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with host Dave Moody is reporting that the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will compete at Darlington Raceway in August of this year, as a replacement for the now-canceled event at the Milwaukee Mile. Expect an official announcement during tomorrow’s NASCAR portion of the annual Media Tour.(Sirius Speedway PR)(1-19-2010)
    UPDATE: Hearing that the date for the Darlington Truck race will be August 14th.(1-20-2010)
    UPDATE 2:NASCAR today announced the addition of historic Darlington Raceway to the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule. The August 14 “Too Tough To Tame 200” replaces an event at The Milwaukee Mile on the 25-race schedule and marks the series’ return to the 1.366-mile South Carolina track that hosted four races between 2001 and 2004. “Our fans have asked us to bring back the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series because Darlington is a perfect fit for the tough racing the series offers,” said Darlington Raceway President Chris Browning. “We are excited to be able to bring back the trucks in 2010 and look forward to putting on a memorable show for all of our fans.” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champions Bobby Hamilton and Ted Musgrave are among previous series winners at Darlington Raceway – Hamilton winning twice in 2001 and 2003. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Kasey Kahne won the series’ final appearance at Darlington in 2004. “It’s awesome to return to one of NASCAR’s oldest tracks,” said NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Director Wayne Auton. “There will be a full day of racing since this is a one-day show. The fans definitely will get their money’s worth.” The single-day schedule features practice, qualifying and a 200-mile, 147-lap race beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. The 2010 season is the 16th for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and begins Feb. 19 with the NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona International Speedway.(NASCAR PR)(1-20-2010)
  • Jackson joins SS Green Light Racing for seven races: SS Green Light Racing is pleased to announce that Missouri’s Tony Jackson Jr. will pilot the team’s #07 Chevy Silverado for seven races in the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season beginning at Martinsville Speedway on March 27th. Jason Miller will guide the talented rookie from atop the SS Green Light Racing pit-box. By running a seven-race schedule Jackson will retain his status for NCWTS rookie of the year in 2011. Following his debut at Martinsville, plans are for Jackson to race near his home at Kansas Speedway followed by Texas, Gateway, Chicago, Las Vegas and the high banks of Talladega pending approvals.(SS Green Light Racing)(1-20-2010)
  • Setzer still looking for full-time ride: Hearing that Dennis Setzer may run some Nationwide races for Brian Keselowski Racing this season, however is still looking to find a full-time ride in the Camping World Truck Series for 2010.(1-20-2010)
  • Hackett Racing announces new crew chief and sponsors for Daytona: Ray Hackett Racing is proud to announce the signing of Travis Sharpe, who will assume the duties of crew chief and manager of the team’s #76 Ford F-150. Sharpe is a veteran of the truck series and has spent the last few years building his own race team (Racing Dynamiks) into a successful business. The team would also like to welcome Sears Sand and Gravel of Gloucester, VA to the role of primary sponsor for the season opening Daytona race on February 12th. RHR would like to thank Mullinax Ford and Bill’s Title Service of Texas for providing associate sponsorships at Daytona. Ray Hackett Racing currently plans to run the entire season if funding continues to fall in place with driver Ryan Hackett behind the wheel of the #76. RHR also plans to run a second truck (its #75) at select events with former Bill Davis Racing driver Ryan Mathews. DoorsStopNation.com will also be a associate sponsor for Ryan Hackett at Daytona.(Ryan Hackett PR) [Image of the#76 Sears Sand and Gravel Ford is posted on the 2010 Paint Scheme Page.] (1-20-2010)
  • Bass Pro Shops to sponsor Dillon: UPDATE Image added: Richard Childress Racing and Bass Pro Shops have reached a partnership agreement for third-generation driver Austin Dillon to compete in the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Silverado for the majority of the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule. This RCR/Bass Pro Shops partnership is the latest chapter of a relationship which began in 1998 when the nation’s No. 1 outdoor retailer signed on as an associate sponsor of RCR’s #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo with legendary driver Dale Earnhardt. The relationship continued with Kevin Harvick and the No 29 Chevrolet and, in 2004, Kerry Earnhardt, Dale’s eldest son, drove RCR’s No. 33 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Monte Carlo in six Sprint Cup Series races. In 2009, Dillon competed in the NASCAR Camping World Series, ARCA Series, Nationwide Series and made two starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driving RCR’s famous black No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado. In the fall of 2009, he enrolled in High Point University’s Nido R. Quebin School of Communications as an incoming freshman student. “I’m very excited about welcoming Bass Pro Shops back to RCR,” said Dillon. “Hunting and racing have always been two of my family’s biggest passions and to be able to bring them together through Bass Pro Shops is truly special. This great partnership will create more awareness to hunting and wildlife conservation.”(KY3.com) [For past news on RCR & Austin Dillon visit the January Archives Page.](1-18-2010)
    UPDATE: Image of the Richard Childress Racing’s #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevy being driven by Austin Dillon is posted on the 2010 Paint Scheme Page.(1-19-2010)
  • Bischoff Racing adds Jeremy Petty as driver: Duane Bischoff Racing has made some big changes for the 2010 season. The team has signed Jeremy Petty as driver for the #27 Chevy this season for DBR. Petty raced in the ARCA RE/MAX series in 2009 finishing 13th in the point standings. The team is hoping to run Daytona if funding can be secured. DBR will be at Atlanta for sure and hopes to run the entire season.(Duane Bischoff Racing PR)(1-19-2010)
  • Trucks headed to Darlington? UPDATE: Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with host Dave Moody is reporting that the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will compete at Darlington Raceway in August of this year, as a replacement for the now-canceled event at the Milwaukee Mile. Expect an official announcement during tomorrow’s NASCAR portion of the annual Media Tour.(Sirius Speedway PR)(1-19-2010)
    UPDATE: Hearing that the date for the Darlington Truck race will be August 14th.(1-20-2010)
  • Connectyx Technologies to sponsor Stratus Racing: Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group Inc. is pleased to announce that it is co-sponsoring Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope and Stratus Racing during the Nationwide race during Daytona 500 race week on February 13, 2010. In addition, Connectyx will be co-sponsoring twin nieces Amber and Angela Cope in the Camping World Truck series later in the season. Connectyx Technologies provides unique products for the healthcare market including the electronic Personal Health Manager (PHM), MedFlash.(PRNewswire.com) [Past news on Stratus Racing is posted on the December Archives Page](1-19-2010)
  • Congrats to Cortney & Johnny Sauter: Congratulations go out to Cortney and Johnny Sauter on the birth of their baby boy, Penn Joseph who was born January 13, 2010 and weighed in at 8 Lbs. 5 ounces. Photo is posted on FrankKimmel.com.(Frank Kimmel PR)(1-15-2010)
  • Milwaukee Mile promoter, NASCAR settle suit: NASCAR and Wisconsin Motorsports, the group that put on two NASCAR races last summer at the Milwaukee Mile, quietly settled a lawsuit Friday in Waukesha County Circuit Court. NASCAR had sued Wisconsin Motorsports and its principal, Claude Napier, accusing Napier of not paying approximately $1.9 million for staging a Camping World Truck Series race and a Nationwide Series race last June. In the suit, a NASCAR attorney accused Napier of committing fraud by inducement. The settlement was confidential. But in a terse statement by NASCAR, it is clear there are still hard feelings. “While we’re glad to settle the litigation, this is a very unfortunate conclusion. NASCAR has loved racing at the Milwaukee Mile for nearly 20 years and our fans deserve better. We depend on strong partnerships in each community where we race to make the events exciting and successful for everyone.”(Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)(1-15-2010)
  • Ballew would like to run Waltrip & Almirola; hires “Cowboy” Starland as crew chief: Camping World Truck Series owner Billy Ballew hopes to run Michael Waltrip and Aric Almirola for the series championship he’s chased since 2002. Ballew said he and Waltrip have talked at length about their options.”Basically we were talking about the first five [races] to see if we were successful and how it worked — that was the goal,” Ballew said. “If we’re really successful in those first five, I feel very confident that [Waltrip] will run ’em all, if we have the funding in place. “That’s my goal, and [Waltrip] hasn’t committed to that, but we’re going to walk here, before we run.” At a Toyota test Thursday at New Smyrna Speedway, Ballew said he’d already figured out a couple puzzle pieces for his two-Tundra team. or one, he’s hired Kevin “Cowboy” Starland, a series veteran with a winning pedigree, as one of his crew chiefs. And he’s discussed air travel arrangements with fellow owner James Finch that will allow Almirola to possibly contest full seasons in both the Truck and Cup series. Almirola recently announced he would run Finch’s #09 car in the Cup Series. “I’d like to think how Aric ran in our trucks helped him get the ride with James, but then again James and I are good friends, he’s been very helpful in everything he’s done [for Ballew] and we talk on a daily basis,” Ballew said. “I pushed for Aric to have that opportunity because we didn’t have a sponsor and I wanted to make sure he was taken care of, was able to race. “We also have an agreement that we can run all the Truck races if we can get the funding and fly back and forth and whatever we have to do to make it work. And that was the whole goal. James is more than willing because Aric’s #1 goal was to run for a Truck championship, provided we have the money. Ballew said it was yet to be determined which crew chief would work with which driver, and despite both trucks being decaled as 51s at the test, “all of our stuff is the same, whether it’s the 15 or the 51.(NASCAR.com) [Past news on Billy Ballew Motorsports 2010 plans is posted on the January News Archive Page.](1-15-2010)
  • Hensley to Red Horse Racing UPDATE working with Timothy Peters: Hearing that following Brian Scott’s move to the Nationwide Series and the subsequent closing of Xpress Motorsports, that crew chief Jeff Hensley has been hired by Red Horse Racing — no word on which team he’ll be working with.(12-4-2009)
    UPDATE:[Tom] DeLoach already is committed to two full-time trucks next season – one for Timothy Peters, who won the October race at Martinsville in a Red Horse truck, and the other for rookie Justin Lofton. Peters’ crew chief from last year, Chad Kendrick, is working with Piquet. Jeff Hensley, who was working with Brian Scott last year at Xpress Motorsports, will be crew chief for Peters. Rick Gay, crew chief for T.J. Bell last year, has been promoted to director of competition.(SceneDaily.com.(1-14-2010)
  • Piquet to test again for RHR UPDATE 2 RHR trying to put program together for full season: Ex-Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr is scheduled for a second truck test with Red Horse Racing on Jan. 13-14 at New Smyrna Speedway. Piquet might run the truck series’ season opener at Daytona International Speedway even if he returns to F1, where he is mulling an offer. Running the full truck season also is a possibility for Piquet, who will be joined at the truck test by two-time Porsche Cup GT3 champion Miguel Paludo.(USAToday)(12-12-2009)
    UPDATE: Former Renault Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. said Tuesday he is moving to NASCAR. Piquet Jr. said that after his “first 18 months in F1 did not go as planned I have decided to focus on something different and have chosen to take a route in America.” NASCAR will be the “ultimate challenge,” Piquet Jr. said. He did not reveal which team he would race for but says more details will come soon.(AP/ESPN.com)(1-12-2010)
    UPDATE 2: Former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. tested a truck for Red Horse Racing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway on Wednesday and the team is looking for sponsorship for him to run the full Camping World Truck Series campaign, team owner Tom DeLoach said. “We think he has a lot of talent, and we’re interested in him, and we’re trying to put everything together,” DeLoach said in a phone interview. “Nelson has made the decision that he’s very curious in racing in the United States in cars with fenders on them and back to real racing.”(SceneDaily.com)(1-14-2010)
  • White reunites with SS Green Light Racing: SS Green Light Racing is pleased to announce that veteran NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Jason White will pilot the team’s #23 Dodge Ram for the full 2010 NCWTS season beginning at Daytona International Speedway on February 12th. Long-time supporter GunBroker.com will sponsor White with ASI Limited adorning the quarter panels at selected events. In 2001, the Virginia native made his debut in the NCWTS and ran partial schedules for numerous teams until joining the series full time in 2007. The #23 team will run primarily Dodge trucks throughout the 2010 season and has upgraded much of its equipment from last season. Doug Howe, who has been White’s crew chief for the last two seasons, will again lead the #23 team. This year Howe will have the added guidance of Bobby Dotter, who will move from the pit box of the SS Green Light #07 team to the General Manager role joining Howe on race day. SS Green Light Racing is still planning to campaign the #07 truck in 2010 and should be announcing the driver lineup for that team shortly.(SS Green Light Racing PR)(1-14-2010)
  • Upshaw-Adams Racing signs Cambensy: Upshaw Adams Racing is pleased to announce the signing of Cody Cambensy a sprint car stand out to a multi year driving deal. UAR will once again be making a return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for an undetermined amount of races during the 2010 season. The current plan has Cody driving in as many Camping World Truck Series events NASCAR will allow him to race and the balance of the races to be piloted by other drivers that UAR has had conversations with over the past year. From there the team will evaluate whether to run for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year in 2011 or forgo the rookie title chase in favor of more seat time and the best opportunity at the overall title chase.(Upshaw-Adams Racing PR)(01-14-2010)
  • Sad News – Mike Addington: Michael “Mike” Addington, 50, of Rush, Ky., passed away Friday, Jan.8, 2010, at his residence. He was born April 17, 1959, to Larry Addington of Catlettsburg, Ky., and the late Patricia Louise Lyons Addington. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Robyn Addington. Mike was the owner of #60 truck in the NASCAR Truck Series and was a member of the Ashland Elks. Most importantly, he was a loving father, grandfather, brother, son and friend. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. In addition to his father, he is survived by a daughter, Amy Addington of Ashland; a grandson, Christian Addington; a sister, Megan Smith of Catlettsburg; and three nieces, Katy, Hannah and Kelsey. Donations may be sent to the Hannah Jo Smith Research Foundation [4403 Mesa Drive, Catlettsburg, KY 41129].(more and a guest book at the Lexington Herald Leader)(1-13-2010)
  • Image added: Image of Justin Lofton on track during the test session at New Smyrna in the #7-Red Horse Racing Toyota. Check it out on the 2010 Paint Scheme Page.(1-13-2010)
  • ThorSport crew member injured in accident: ThorSport Racing crew member Kitrick Schrader was injured in a snowmobile accident Saturday January 9. Schrader was en route to meet friends for a late night snowmobile ride when he collided with a fire hydrant hidden in drifting snow, causing serious injuries to his left leg, hip, and pelvis. Schrader is a native of Ft. Wayne, Indiana and a current resident of Sandusky, Ohio. He serves as a fabricator and general mechanic in the shop and is the rear tire carrier on Matt Crafton’s #88 pit crew at the track. After the accident, Schrader was air lifted from Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky to Cleveland Metro, a level one trauma care center. Cards and other well wishes can be sent to: Kitrick Schrader, C/O ThorSport Racing, PO Box 2218, Sandusky, Ohio 44870.(ThorSport Racing PR)(1-13-2010)
  • Trip Bruce resigns from RWR: UPDATE to Stringer Motorsports: Hearing that Trip Bruce has resigned his position as crew chief for Rusty Wallace Inc. and is now looking to pursue other opportunities in either the Camping World Truck Series or elsewhere in NASCAR.(1-9-2010)
    UPDATE: Stringer Motorsports is pleased to announce that 2008 champion crew chief, Trip Bruce, has joined the organization to lead USAC open-wheel sensation, Brad Sweet, in his entrance into the Camping World Truck Series in 2010. The current race schedule for the #90 Great Clips team is as follows: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Gateway International Raceway, O’Reilly Raceway Park, Bristol Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway, Homestead-Miami Speedway.(Stringer Motorsports PR)(1-12-2010)
  • Busch still shopping Benson: UPDATE Crew Chiefs in place at KBM: Kyle Busch said Saturday that he’s still trying to sign a sponsor so that 2008 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Johnny Benson can run full time this season in a third Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Tundra. “We’re still working on sponsorship projects for Johnny Benson in order to get him down to Daytona,” Busch said Saturday in Nashville, where he was attending the Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust fan event. “We have till the 22nd to make something happen to that. We’ll see how it works out. But I’d really like to get Johnny down to Daytona and be able to have him compete for a championship for Kyle Busch Motorsports.”(SPEEDtv.com)(1-11-2010)
    UPDATE: Rick Ren, who won series titles as crew chief for Ron Hornaday in two of the last three years, is the team’s competition director and has most of the personnel in place. Eric Phillips, who most recently was with Randy Moss Motorsports, will be crew chief for the truck shared by Busch and Brian Ickler. Dan Stillman, who spent much of last year as crew chief for Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards in the Nationwide Series, will be the crew chief for Tayler Malsam. Both have worked with Ren before; Phillips at Bang Racing and Stillman at Kevin Harvick Inc.(SceneDaily.com)(1-11-2010)
  • Almirola to run full time for Phoenix Racing in Cup; truck races with BBM: Aric Almirola said on Saturday at Sprint’s Sound and Speed event in Nashville, Tenn. that he will be back racing with Phoenix Racing’s #09 Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series this year. According to the driver’s latest talks with team owner James Finch yesterday, it will be for the entire schedule-no matter what. Finch has also told the driver the team doesn’t plan on being a start and park team this season. Almirola also said that the deal will allow him to continue racing with Billy Ballew Motorsports this season in the Truck Series. “Still planning to run some truck races like I did last year with Billy Ballew Motorsports,” Almirola said. “I went into Homestead having no idea what I was going to do next year. Over the winter months was pleased to find out that I’m going to run the ’09 Cup car and still be able to drive Billy’s truck. I’m looking forward to it.”(FanZoneSports.net)(1-9-2010)
  • Raymer headed to Daytona; looking to run full season: Brent Raymer is going to be running Daytona, and has intentions on running the first five races of the 2010 season. If all of that goes well, and sponsors are found, he will run the full 2010 season. The team is still looking for sponsors to put all of this together, but hopes are high for Brent Raymer and the #85 team. Team will be running Fords again in 2010 as well.(Brent Raymer PR)(1-8-2010)
  • New Cup team with Cook as driver: UPDATE Formal announcement made: not much info, but hearing that Terry Cook, who has mostly been running in the Camping World Truck Series since 1996 [314 starts and 6 wins], will be the driver for a new Sprint Cup team, Whitney Motorsports, who supposedly plan to run full-time in Sprint Cup with Cook driving the #46 Dodge. Cook would be the second rookie of the year candidate, joining Kevin Conway. No word if this has anything to do with Carl Long’s former #46 Dodge Sprint Cup team.(1-8-2010)
    UPDATE: NASCAR Truck Series Veteran Driver Terry Cook will be driving in the Sprint Cup Series this season. Terry Cook will drive the #46 Whitney Motorsports Dodge Charger for Michigan based business man, Dusty Whitney. Buddy Sisco has joined the team as crew chief. Whitney Motorsports does not have a primary sponsor heading into the season opener Daytona 500. “We would love to entertain any sponsor at any level” adds Cook, “I always tell potential sponsors that we have a program to fit any budget!”(Terrycook.com)(1-8-2010)
  • Martins first 2010 start at Atlanta; maybe Daytona? As of right now, Tommy Joe Martins plans to make his first 2010 series start driving his #44-Ford at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 6th. Daytona remains a possibility, but the team is still working on securing funding for the season opener at Daytona Int’l Speedway.(Tommy Joe Martins PR)(1-8-2010)
  • Harvick & Sadler slated to drive #2 for KHI: Kevin Harvick Inc. has announced that Kevin Harvick and Elliott Sadler will climb behind the wheel of the #2 Chevrolet Silverado for KHI in 15 of 25 Truck Series events in 2010. In 2009, the #2 competed as the #4 with Truck Series rookie Ricky Carmichael. Sadler will kick off the 2010 season for KHI and the #2 team in the series opener at Daytona International Speedway as he returns to the Truck Series for the first time since 2003. Over the past 10 years, Sadler has made three starts in the Camping World Truck Series. The remainder of the driver lineup for the #2 team will be announced at a later date.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(1-7-2010)
  • Jason Miller joins SS Green Light Racing: SS Green Light Racing is pleased to announce that Jason Miller has joined the team as the crew chief for the #07 Chevy Silverado truck for the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Season. Miller is a native of Indianapolis, IN who made the transition to NASCAR racing in 1999 working as a mechanic and tire changer for Andy Petree Racing. He joined Bobby Hamilton Racing in 2002 and was a member of Hamilton’s Championship winning team in 2004. In 2008 Miller’s hard work was rewarded with his first crew chief position at The Racers Group (TRG Racing) where he scored his first NCWTS victory at Mansfield with rookie driver Donny Lia behind the wheel. Miller then led David Starr to a ninth place finish in 2009 truck series point standings with four top- five finishes and fourteen top-ten finishes. Sponsorship and driver announcements for the SS Green Light Racing team will be released in the coming weeks before the season opener at Daytona on February 12, 2010.(SS Green Light Racing)(1-7-2010)
  • RCR going truck racing? UPDATE 4 One truck; Dillion full season in #3: During SPEEDtv’s Speed Report broadcast, Ray Dunlap reported that it appears that the #3 RCR Chevy truck, driven by Austin Dillon [grandson of Richard Childress], will be returning to the series in 2010. Dunlap reported word in the garage has it that Richard Childress Racing has ordered six brand new trucks.(9-13-2009)
    UPDATE: Hearing from more than one source and also Ray Dunlap mentioned on the Speed Report Sunday evening, that Richard Childress Racing will run two trucks in 2010. No word on who the second driver will be.(11-1-2009)
    UPDATE 2: Hearing that Tim George Jr. may be named as driver of the second truck team for RCR. [George’s most recent experience as been in the ARCA RE/MAX Series where he drove for Eddie Sharp Racing. George finished 11th in the driver point standings.](11-2-2009)
    UPDATE 3: Richard Childress Racing has signed Tim George Jr. as a developmental driver to compete full time in the 2010 ARCA RE/MAX Series. RCR will field the #31 Chevrolet Impala for George in the 20-race ARCA RE/MAX Series season, which competes at 17 different tracks.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(12-2-2009)
    UPDATE 4: Richard Childress Racing plans to reenter the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series full time this season with driver Austin Dillon, Dillon’s father and RCR Vice President of Competition Mike Dillon said on Tuesday. “We are going to run full time with Austin in the truck, the black 3 truck, and we do have a sponsor, and we’re real excited about it,” Mike Dillon said. Meanwhile, initial plans for RCR to field a second truck team in 2010 have been scrapped. “We were going to and decided to go another route,” Mike Dillon said. “It’s all development and trying to put people in the right position to perform where they need to at their level and then advance them when they’re ready.(SPEEDtv.com)(1-6-2009)
  • Todd Bodine among Geoff Bobsled Challenge participants: With ample snow, a typical chill in the air and the 30th anniversary of the 1980 Winter Olympics just a month away, Lake Placid will present a Currier and Ives winter scene Jan. 8-10 to the drivers from NASCAR and NHRA. These competitors will converge on the two-time Winter Olympic village for the Fifth Annual Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge presented by Whelen Engineering. Todd Bodine, Joey Logano & Boris Said are listed among the many participants. For more information visit the Jayski “Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge” Charity Page)(1-6-2009)
  • Eddie Sharp, Carl Hartman form Sharp Hartman Racing: Eddie Sharp, owner of Eddie Sharp Racing in the ARCA and Carl Hartman, owner of the #41 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team have taken advantage of their 20 year friendship to form Sharp Hartman Racing (SHR). SHR will compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the #41 truck with a driver to be named. SHR will be an extension of ESR, moving from their Salisbury, North Carolina shop to the ESR facility located in Denver, NC. With Sharp’s expertise, shop and personnel and Hartman’s equipment coupled with NCWTS experience, the duo will combine resources in an effort to take the new venture to the next level of overall improved performance.(SPEEDtv.com)(1-5-2010)
  • Gene Nead to lead #5 RMM effort: Officials at Randy Moss Motorsports (RMM) announced today that Gene Nead has joined the organization and will serve as crew chief for the #5 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry driven by Mike Skinner. Nead joins Randy Moss Motorsports after spending the first half of the 2009 season at JTG Daugherty Racing acting as crew chief for the #47 Nationwide Series entry. In August, Nead was named Interim Crew Chief for the Toyota driven by Michael Waltrip in the Sprint Cup Series. The veteran racer has served in a crew chief capacity in each of NASCAR’s three major series. Prior to his stint at MWR, Nead served as lead engineer on Bill Davis Racing’s Sprint Cup Series effort. His greatest success, however, came in truck series competition. Working for Ultra Motorsports, Nead led driver Ted Musgrave to 11 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes en route to the 2005 series championship. Nead, a native of Philadelphia, Penn., was born into a family of racers and at the age of 15, began building and racing dirt modified cars. He started his own chassis company in Philadelphia before making the move to North Carolina in 1993. He was offered his first job as crew chief with NASCAR driver/owner Phil Parsons in 1996 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Nead lives in Charlotte, N.C. with his wife and two children.(Randy Moss Motorsports PR)(1-5-2010)
  • Circle Bar #10 truck team sold UPDATE 3 Jennifer Jo Cobb to drive; sponsorship clarification: Hearing that Circle Bar Racing’s #10 truck team and equipment have been sold with all the details being finalized early next week. Expect to see an announcement on this new team and driver in the near future.(Nancy/Jayski)(12-31-2009)
    UPDATE: Hearing that if everything falls into place [as expected], Jennifer Jo Cobb will be the driver for the #10 in 2010.(12-31-2009)
    UPDATE 2: Circle Bar announced plans to liquidate its #10 operation and focus solely on Rick Crawford’s #14 in 2010, and sources tell Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that Cobb has secured sufficient sponsorship to purchase those trucks and equipment. Cobb placed a deposit on the operation last week, with payment expected to be completed later today. Cobb said the decision whether to run the full season “belongs to me. It depends on how much of the money is left after we buy everything, and how much additional sponsorship we can find. I expect that we will run them all. I’m tired of going to the track hoping to make the race. I want to go to the track knowing that we have the equipment to make the race. I want my goal to be to run up front.” Veteran NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Mike Harmon confirmed today that he will step back from his driving duties to be involved in the operation, saying, “I’m going to run the team for them. They’ll announce everything officially next week, but it should be a done deal by the end of business today.(Sirius-Speedway.com)(1-4-2010)
    UPDATE 3 Clarification: It was recently reported that Jennifer Jo Cobb has secured sponsorship with a major Midwest construction company, however that is currently not the case. Although Cobb has been talking with a Kansas City-based construction company about sponsorship, nothing has moved forward or been solidified with that particular sponsor to-date. Also, Mike Harmon is overseeing Cobb’s program, however, he is still planning to race in various series this season himself. “The whole idea is for us to combine our efforts as two small independent teams and grow stronger by pooling our resources. Mike has been a great friend and like a brother to me for many years. He cares about my racing program and has always expressed an interest in seeing me succeed. He has said that he would step back if needed to focus on my efforts, but we all agree that in order for our combined strategy to work, he will definitely race this year,” said Cobb.(Cobb Racing Team PR)(1-5-2010)
  • Phillips to Kyle Busch Motorsports: Nead to replace at RMM: Less than two weeks after announcing their plans for 2010, we are hearing Kyle Busch Motorsports has snagged longtime Truck Series crew chief Eric Phillips. Phillips is expected to take over duties for the #18 truck driven by Kyle Busch and Brian Ickler. Phillips joins KBM from Randy Moss Motorsports where he has been since 2005. Phillips was Dennis Setzer’s crew chief during the ’05 season when Setzer won four races and finished second in the points. Prior to that, Phillips led Travis Kvapil to Toyota’s first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win with the short lived Bang! Racing.(TheNASCARInsiders.com) [Recent past news regarding RMM is posted on the November Archives Page.](12-23-2009)
    UPDATE: From a Randy Moss Motorsports twitter: Gene Nead has joined RMM and will serve as Skinner’s crew chief. Gene won the 2005 truck series championship with Ted Musgrave.(RMMRacing Twitter)(1-5-2010)
  • Congrats to Todd & Janet: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Todd Bodine married Janet Paczkowski in a New Year’s Eve ceremony in Florida. Bodine, a 23-year veteran of NASCAR racing who now competes for Germain Racing in the Truck series, was wed on Marco Island, Fla., in a sunset ceremony on the beach at the Marriott Resort and Spa.(SceneDaily.com)(1-4-2010)
  • Billy Ballew moves on; one team, possibly two UPDATE: Waltrip/Wallace to run for Ballew? Life will go on at Billy Ballew Motorsports after Kyle Busch. That was the message team owner Billy Ballew delivered on Monday, three days after his flagship driver announced plans to field a pair of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams under the Kyle Busch Motorsports banner in 2010. Ballew said he plans to run a full season in 2010 with Aric Almirola, one of several drivers to share time with Busch last season in the #51 Toyota. Ballew expects to name a sponsor for Almirola by the end of the week but isn’t sure which of the two trucks Almirola will drive. Ballew hopes to name a sponsor and driver for his other team by Jan 1, early enough to participate in a Toyota test at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida on Jan. 12 and 13. Richie Wauters, crew chief on the #51 Truck, will return to his post, but the team is waiting on sponsorship before filling the vacancy left by #15 crew chief Doug George, who is leaving for Kevin Harvick Inc. Ballew also said that Steve Wallace, who is expected to run a full season in the Nationwide Series for Rusty Wallace Racing, could also run a part-time Truck schedule for the organization.(SceneDaily.com) [Previous note on Musgrave’s possible series return is posted on the December Archive Page.](12-14-2009)
    UPDATE: Waltrip/Wallace could run some truck races for Ballew: [Michael] Waltrip, who is scheduled to run only select Cup events in 2010 with the Michael Waltrip Racing team he co-owns with Rob Kauffman, has been in discussions with team owner Billy Ballew about a full-time ride in the Camping World Truck Series, Ballew said in a phone interview with www.SceneDaily.com on Monday morning. Waltrip, however, sounded less intent on a full Truck season when asked about his plans Monday afternoon. “He’s working on sponsorship, and if it comes through, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll run a couple races for him,” the two-time Daytona 500 champion said of Ballew. Ballew expects an announcement about Waltrip’s future with BMM by Jan. 15 and is still in the process of securing funding for Waltrip and a second driver, Aric Almirola. Ballew said that Steve Wallace, who is slated to return to Rusty Wallace Racing in the Nationwide Series, is also “still in the mix” for a part-time Truck ride for BMM.(SceneDaily.com)(1-4-2010)
Camping World Truck Series News & Rumors Archive Pages
[Listed by Month]
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009

Jayski’s Camping World Truck Series Page
Jayski’s Silly Season Site Main [Cup] Page
Jayski’s Cup News Page
Jayski’s Nationwide Series Page

 

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