June 2002 CTS Archive

  • No Toyota soon? Despite claims to the contrary from sources inside NASCAR, and consistent claims from Dodge, Chevy and Ford truck teams, Toyota says it is not entering the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2003 and not necessarily even in 2004.(Autoweek).(6-30-2002)
  • Musgrave’s Mother Injured: Arlene Musgrave, mother of #1 Dodge driver Ted Musgrave, was struck by a pit equipment carrier after the GNC Live Well 200 and was being examined for a possible lower leg fracture.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(6-30-2002)
  • Barnes at the #15, out ill: #15-Rich Bickle was without crew chief Buddy “Red Dog” Barnes after Barnes underwent surgery Thursday for an infected tonsil, Bickle said. Barnes arrived in Milwaukee with a case of strep throat but experienced complications.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(6-30-2002)
  • Cook wins the race at Milwaukee: #29-Terry Cook won the CTS race at Milwaukee, his 2nd 2002 win and third of his career. #2-Jason Leffler was 2nd, followed by #20-Coy Gibbs, fourth was #62-Brendan Gaughan and 5th was #1-Ted Musgrave. Points leadere coming into the race, #75-David Starr finished 6th and is now 2nd in the points, 4 behind the new leader, Ted Musgrave. For results see ThatsRacin.com.(6-28-2002)
  • Cook on the pole at Milwaukee: Terry Cook won the pole for Saturday’s NASCAR truck series race at The Milwaukee Mile with a speed of 119.784 mph. The pole speed was the slowest for the series at The Milwaukee Mile since 1997 due to a harder compound tire and a smaller carburetor. #1-Ted Musgrave was 2nd at 119.558. Rounding out the top five were #20-Coy Gibbs at 119.383, #60-Travis Kvapil at 119.348 and #16-Mike Bliss at 119.296.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)
    For lineup/qualifying results, see ThatsRacin.com.(6-28-2002)
  • Team to honor Kile and Buck: The No. #63-MB Motorsports truck, driven by rookie Carl Edwards, will commemorate the recently fallen members of the St. Louis Cardinals, announcer Jack Buck and pitcher Darryl Kile at Milwaukee this weekend.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(6-27-2002)
  • CTS to Speed Channel? MotorsportTV.com is also hearing that the Craftsman Truck Series is close to signing a deal to be broadcast on Speed Channel. A deal may be done within the next month.(6-272002)
  • NASCAR fines crew chiefs: NASCAR officials announced that crew chiefs John Monsam, Danny Gill and Todd Myers have been fined for infractions during the June 22 CTS race at Memphis Motorsports Park. Monsam, crew chief for driver Mike Bliss, was issued a $750 fine for entering the #16 truck’s servicing area without wearing a complete set of safety gear as required by the NASCAR rulebook and failing to follow a directive from a NASCAR official. Gill, crew chief for driver Dennis Setzer and the #46 truck and Myers, crew chief for driver Robert Pressley and the #18 truck, each were fined $250 for having unapproved weight jacking bolts on their respective trucks.(NASCAR PR)(6-26-2002)
  • Cup drivers to run NHIS CTS race? NHIS officials recently hinted that several Winston Cup drivers would likely enter the CTS (truck) race, on July 20th, as a means to get acquainted with the track changes [changes in the corners]. Ken Schrader, who races just about anything on four wheels, is expected to jump into his [#52] truck. Kevin Harvick, who owns a truck team, is likely to do the same [highly doubtful Harvick’s Cup owner, Richard Childress will let Harvick run a CTS race after the Martinsville incident].(Boston Globe)(6-25-2002)
  • Bliss gets sponsor for Milwaukee: Hi-Performance Racing Cards, a division of Hi-Liter Graphics, Inc., will sponsor Mike Bliss and his #16 Xpress Motorsports Chevy in the GNC Live Well 200 NASCAR CTC race at ‘The Milwaukee Mile.’ Founded in 1954, Hi-Liter Graphics, Inc. is a family-owned commercial printing business providing a wide range of print manufacturing services, many of them to the automotive aftermarket and racing industries. Current motorsports related corporate clients serviced by Hi-Liter Graphics include Snap On Tools, Tenneco Automotive, Five Star Race Car Bodies, Diamond Racing Wheels, Wells Manufacturing, Alston Race Car and Bassett Racing Wheels. In 2001, Hi-Liter Graphics introduced Hi-Performance Racing Cards to the motorsports industry and proved to be an immediate success with racers and fans alike. In addition to the standard “hero card,” Hi-Performance Racing Cards produces custom printed, full-color folding schedules, posters, catalogs and other racing-related promotional materials.(Closefinishes PR)(6-24-2002)
  • Kvapil wins at Memphis: #60-Travis Kvapil won the O’Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park. 2nd was #29-Terry Cook, followed by #1-Ted Musgrave, pole sitter #2-Jason Leffler and #46-Dennis Setzer. For results, see NASCAR.com.(6-22-2002)
  • Leffler wins pole at Memphis: #2-Jason Leffler won the po;e at Memphis, his 4th pole of 2002, with a speed of 117.971mph. #46-Dennis Setzer was 2nd at 117.066, followed by #60-Travis Kvapil, #14-Rick Crawford and #16-Mike Bliss. Also qualifying were Randy and Teri MacDonald, the first brother and sister to start a NASCAR national championship event since July 10, 1949. Randy MacDonald was 12th fastest while Teri – the third female driver to qualify for a series event – will start 34th in the race on the three-quarter-mile oval.
    For lineup/results see ThatsRacin.com, and a story at ThatsRacin.com: Jason Leffler? He’s a pole man.(6-21-2002)
  • New #63 driver: MB Motorsports has named Carl Edwards to drive the #63 Ford truck at Memphis Motorsports Park. Through the past nine years, the 22-year-old has earned two rookie-of-the-year titles, two NASCAR sanctioned track championships and 56 feature wins while racing on dirt and paved racetracks across the country. He has competed in several types of cars, including mini-sprints, dirt and asphalt IMCA Modifieds, Late Model Stock Cars, Baby Grand cars and USAC Silver Crown cars.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(6-21-2002)
  • Caudill in the #84: Jamie Caudill, currently a late model stock driver from Southern National Speedway in Kenly,NC ( currently leading the Nascar Weekly Racing series Southeastern Coastal Region points) will be driving the #84 Long Brothers Racing CTS truck this weekend at Memphis. Caudill will have sponsorship from his late model stock sponsors ( Southern Piping Corporation and I Dig Pigs ).(see more at his site: www.mindspring.com/~caudill.50/.(6-21-2002)
  • Hemphill to drive some races for Ware? UPDATE: hearing that Ryan Hemphill announced that he has signed a two race deal to drive for Rick Ware Racing in the CTS at Nashville and Milwaukee.(6-7-2002)
    UPDATE: Ryan Hemphill has signed a two-race deal to drive the Rick Ware Racing OOIDA #51 Dodge beginning at Memphis on June 22, 2002. Hemphill will then go on to complete the second of his two races the following week at the GNC Live Well 200 at the famed Milwaukee Mile. Hemphill, a 20-year-old native of Pittsburgh, PA is a young but accomplished driver, who has already netted a win in the NASCAR Re/Max Challenge series this year and win (Nashville) this season and a podium finish in the Hills Bros. All Pro Series at Memphis Motorsports Park last season looks forward to his opportunity to get behind the #51 truck this upcoming weekend.(Ware Racing site)(6-21-2002)
  • Truck shop broke in to: Rowan County [NC] Sheriff’s officials say over $130,000 of racing equipment was reported stolen from the #15 Countryman-Ballew Racing facility last weekend. The equipment included transmissions, shock absorbers, brake assemblies and an engine, taken from the Craftsman Truck Series shop. Rick Bickle is the teams current driver and the team plans to race at Memphis this weekend.(NASCAR.com)(6-20-2002)
  • New website: Bill Lester, driver of Bobby Hamilton Racing’s #8 Dodge in the CTS, is scheduled to launch his Web site, www.billlester.com, at 9:00pm/et today [June 18th]. “One would think that a former HP (Hewlett-Packard) employee would have had a Web site right from the start, but the truth is, it has taken some time to get everything together,” said Lester.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(6-18-2002)
  • Brother and Sister to attempt CTS race at Memphis: Teri and Randy MacDonald will be attempting to become the first brother and sister to start in a NASCAR race, (in a major series) since Ethyl Flock Mobley and Tim Flock in 1949. Tim and sister Ethel Flock Mobley competed against each other once on July 10, 1949 – on the old beach road course at Daytona. He finished second; she finished 11th, driving a Cadillac, and won $50. Red Byron was the winner of the race. Randy is a regular in the CTS competing for several years. Memphis will mark the first start for Teri in the CTS. Randy will be driving the Troxell Motorsports #93 Truck and Teri will drive the MacDonald Racing #72. Teri is not a rookie in the strictest sense of the word, She has been a regular in many other racing series including ASA, IMSA, CASCAS Racing Series. Teri tested at Daytona earlier this year to get clearance with NASCAR for future events. She plans on running a few more races this year and hopes to compete on a regular basis in the 2003 season. When asked about Memphis she said,“ I want to get some seat time and earn the respect of NASCAR and the other competitors. First priority is to qualify for the race. Once in, I want to get a good solid run, and finish the race. I will be selective about where we race next so we can be approved for all tracks next season and have a chance to compete for Rookie of the Year in 2003.”(Voight Motorsports Management PR)(6-18-2002)
  • Owens/#15 part ways? UPDATE: hearing that the #15 Billy Ballew Motorports team and rookie driver Trent Owens have parted ways. Supposedly Rich Bickle will be in the truck for the next race, at Memphis.(6-13-2002)
    UPDATE: Rich Bickle will return to the CTS behind the wheel of the #15 Dickies Ford in the O’Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park, Saturday, June 22. The 1997 NCTS championship runner-up will replace Trent Owens in the Countryman-Ballew entry. “Rich is an excellent driver and someone who has competed and won in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the past,” said Billy Ballew, one of the team’s co-owners. “It’s no secret we’ve been struggling. Trent is a young driver with a lot of potential and he did an excellent job for us. At this point, we just felt we needed to bring a veteran driver in like Rich would help our young race team. We’re thrilled Rich has agreed to come in and try to help us.” The first-year Countryman-Ballew team has struggled this season failing to qualify for the first race of the season at Daytona. Since then, Owens has posted a 17th-place finishing average in six events with his season-best a 14th in the Rocky Mountain 200 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. “It would be very unfair to place the blame on Trent,” said Preston Countryman of his team’s early season performance. “We’ve had a lot of bad luck this season and even the most experienced driver can’t overcome that. Hopefully, those kind of things are behind us.”(Closefinishes PR)(6-14-2002)
  • Gaughan wins at Texas: #62-Brendan Gaughan became the second straight rookie to win at Texas in the CTS with his win in the O’Reilly 400, Gaughan is the first rookie to win a CTS race in 2002. 2nd was #60-Travis Kvapil (who was the rookie to win at Texas in 2001) followed by #75-David Starr (who still leads the points). See ThatsRacin.com for Friday night’s race results and a column by the AP: Gaughan gets first Truck series win .(6-7-2002)

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  • Racing to Read: Today [Friday] a group of fourth grade students from San Antonio, Texas were treated to a field trip to Texas Motor Speedway. Teacher, Kathy Hennessey, developed the “Racing to Read” program for her students three years ago to get kids excited about reading through racing. There is an 8-foot track in the classroom where each student has a car that they can gain laps for by reading. This field trip to TMS and the O’Reilly 400 was incentive and the reward for all of the students’ hard work throughout the school year. NCTS drivers Carlos Contreras, Coy Gibbs, Bill Lester, Rick Crawford, Lance Norick, and Trent Owens visited with the students. Other notable visitors included Dr. Jerry Punch (NASCAR Commentator), Wayne Auton (NCTS Series Director), and Sparky (“The Fastest Mascot in the West”).(TMS Site)(6-7-2002)
  • Leffler wins pole at Texas: #2-Jason Leffler won his third CTS pole of the season with a qualifying lap of 180.519mph at Texas Motor Speedway on Thursday. #75-David Starr, the series points leader, was 2nd at 179.503 and third was #18-Robert Pressley at 179.116. See ThatsRacin.com for Friday night’s O’Reilly 400 lineup.(6-6-2002)
  • Shepherd to help out: Veteran NASCAR Driver Morgan Shepherd will run the colors of the official website of the Pit Pass Publications Breast Cancer Awareness Program, Beat Breast Cancer.org, on the quarter panel of his #21 CTS Ford in the O’Reilly 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, June 7, 2002. The Pit Pass Publications Breast Cancer Awareness Program is thankful to Morgan for his support. More info on my Racing Charity Page.(6-6-2002)
  • CAT Rental leaves at end of 2002: Mike Addington, owner of Addington Racing has formally announced that CAT Rental Stores will not be returning as sponsor of the #60 CTS team next season. The sponsorship contract expires on November 16, 2002 and after a mid-April review of Caterpillar’s NASCAR racing programs, it was decided that they would not continue beyond the current agreement. While Caterpillar is not contractually obligated to inform the team of their decision until July 15th, in keeping with the outstanding relations between the two, they have chosen to make an early announcement in order for the Addington Racing Team to begin its search for a replacement sponsor. CAT Rental Stores has been with the Addington Racing Team since the beginning of the 1999 Craftsman Truck Series Season and during that time, has collected three wins, 30 top-five finishes and 53 top-10 finishes. Last year in his rookie season, driver Travis Kvapil contributed one win, 11 top-five finishes and 18 top-10 finishes en route to a fourth place finish in the series point standings. In addition, Kvapil also laid claim to the coveted Raybestos Rookie of the Year Title. The team is actively seeking sponsorship and feel qualified to successfully compete and represent a primary sponsor in any of the three major NASCAR divisions. While Caterpillar will no longer financially support the Addington Racing Team, they have offered their support as a reference to potential new sponsors.(Camp and Assoc PR)(6-6-2002)
  • Martin in the CTS in 2003…for a few races: Mark Martin will return to the CTS in 2003 and drive the #99 Roush Racing Ford until Las Vegas’ Kyle Busch turns 18 years old. Busch drove the #99 truck in six races last season until he was forced out of the series when NASCAR mandated that drivers in all of its touring series be at least 18. Busch, who turned 17 on May 2, has been driving in the ASA series this season. Martin agreed to drive the truck, which team owner Jack Roush has fielded in only one race this year, to help the team gain owners points until Busch becomes eligible to take over. Martin has not competed in the Truck Series since 1996, when he drove in two races. He posted a victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway and a third-place finish at Richmond International Raceway. If the 2003 NCTS schedule remains the same as this year, Busch would miss only three races before he is able to return to the truck and compete for Rookie of the Year honors.(Las Vegas Sun)(6-5-2002)
  • Gills leaves the #18: Bobby Hamilton Racing says crew chief Danny Gill has left its No. 18 team of Robert Pressley in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Team owner Hamilton says Todd Myers, who has been with TKO Motorsports, will fill in as crew chief, starting this weekend with the O’Reilly 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Pressley is seventh in the championship after the first six races of the season.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(6-5-2002)

Born On Date: June 18, 2002

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