June 2005 Craftsman Truck Series Archive - Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site

June 2005 Truck Series News Archive

Winners of a race in Cup, Busch and Truck Series races: see my Misc Stats page for this and many others.
New GM for Roush’s Busch and Truck programs: Max Jones has been named the general manager for Roush Racing’s Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series teams based in Mooresville, N.C. Roush fields one full-time Busch team with #60-Carl Edwards and two full-time truck teams with #99-Ricky Craven and #50-Todd Kluever out of its Mooresville operation. Jones is no stranger to Roush Racing. He was the general manager for Roush’s truck and road racing teams based in Michigan for several years before leaving to pursue other interests at the end of 2002.(Roush Racing PR)(6-30-2005)
Chaffin Ride: not much out there about this, so….This time last week Chad Chaffin was at a low point in his racing career, having just been informed that he had lost his #30 Craftsman Truck Series ride to Todd Bodine. Now he thinks “it may have been the best thing to happen to me. I ended up with a much better deal.” No sooner was Chaffin released than he was signed by Ohio-based Wyler Racing for the remainder of the season. “I was disappointed at being let go but I understood what happened,” Chaffin said. “Todd had driven for the team before and had a good relationship with a lot of people in the organization who wanted to take him back.” Chaffin finished 17th in his new ride last week at Milwaukee and believes the team will get better as the season progresses. “Any time you make a change it takes a little time for everybody to adjust,” he said. “This is a good team and I’m excited about our potential. One door closed but another opened, and I think it’s going to turn out better for me.”(Tennessean)(6-29-2005)
Fines/Penalties from Milwaukee: NASCAR announced Wednesday that penalties have been issued to a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series crew chief and crew member resulting from a rule violation during pre-qualifying inspection at The Milwaukee Mile on June 24. Wally Rogers, crew chief for the #6 Chevrolet driven by Ron Hornaday Jr., was fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 9-4-A (crew chief assumes responsibility for actions of his/her team members). Kyle Kretchman, crew member for the #6 Chevrolet, was suspended from the next NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event and all NASCAR competition until July 6 for violating Section 12-4-A, because of interference with the inspection procedure during verification of the truck’s rear camber setting.(NASCAR PR)(6-29-2005)
Andretti to run at Kansas…in Trucks UPDATE: don’t know much about it and haven’t seen an offical press release, but the NASCAR Statistical Services Truck Series entry list has John Andretti running the #15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Chevy Truck at Kansas this weenend….an there is no #14 ppc Racing Ford on the Pepsi 400 entry list and no comment from the team about future plans, but they are running a third full-time Busch team.(6-27-2005)
UPDATE: Billy Ballew Motorsports has announced John Andretti will be behind the wheel of the #15 Chevy Silverado for this weekend’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at the Kansas Speedway. Andretti becomes the sixth different driver for Billy Ballew Motorsports, which currently retains the fifth position in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series owners’ points standings. “I look forward to working with John this weekend,” said team owner Ballew. “We’ve had conversations in the past about working together and the opportunity arose for him to drive the #15. This deal just came together yesterday afternoon, and we made the decision to go forward. John has a lot of talent, is a super nice guy and I think he’ll do a great job for us at Kansas.” Andretti will be competing in his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, after years of competing in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series. Andretti is familiar with Kansas Speedway, having competed there from 2001-2003 in the Nextel Cup Series. “I’m anxious to get to Kansas Speedway,” said Andretti. “This will be my first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, and it couldn’t happen in better equipment than Billy Ballew’s. They’re proven winners, so I know the #15 Chevy Silverado will be prepared when it rolls off the trailer. I’ve raced at Kansas before in the Cup car and had pretty decent finishes so I’m hoping the experience will carry over to the truck and we’ll be contenders for the win on Saturday.” The #15 Chevy Silverado is unsponsored at this time, but like last week Ballew hopes to piece something together at the last minute. “We don’t have a sponsor for Kansas, but hopefully we’ll have that rectified by the end of the week,” Ballew stated.(Billy Ballew Motorsports)(6-29-2005)
Kansas News and Notes:
Shake-up in the points standings – again … It’s looking like another exciting year in the battle for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. Setzer led 152 of 200 laps to win the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200, his second victory in six days. Setzer trailed Bobby Hamilton (#04 Dodge) by five points entering the event and heads to Kansas with a lead of 35. Setzer’s previous lead came after last year’s 22nd race at Martinsville Speedway. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship has gone down to the final race in nine of its 10 seasons.
Points standings take two … If this year’s title war has a feeling of déjà vu, you’re right. With Setzer, Hamilton and Ted Musgrave (#1 Mopar Dodge) ranked one-two-three, it’s a rerun of 2004, when Hamilton prevailed over Setzer and Musgrave – the latter driver finishing third for the third consecutive season. Two-time series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. (#6 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) is fourth, while Sprague, in search of title #3, continues his mid-year surge to seventh.
Orleans Racing back on track … With Brendan Gaughan (#77 Jasper Engines & Transmissions Dodge) in the top five for the first time since his October 2003 win at Texas Motor Speedway, the Orleans duo of Gaughan and Steve Park (#62 Orleans Dodge) turned in the team’s best combined performance at Milwaukee – fifth and seventh. The finish was Park’s best since mid-May when he was fifth and Gaughan eighth at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “Of course we’re not happy with fifth place, but it was a good night in the points and we’re headed in the right direction with runs like these,” said Gaughan, The Milwaukee Mile’s 2003 winner.
ETC. … Setzer’s victory erased Gaughan from The Milwaukee Mile record book as he averaged 109.907 mph for the 200-mile distance. Gaughan had set the track’s speed mark at 109.689. The difference was a single lap of caution – four on June 24 vs. five in 2003. The field completed the first 143 laps of the race without a slowdown, the longest opening stretch among four series races with a single caution period. … With 14 victories, Setzer is #6 on the all-time series win list. … There have been no fewer than 10 lead changes in four series races at Kansas Speedway. The record is 14 set in 2001 and matched one year ago. … No Kansas Speedway race has been won from the Bud Pole although two of the four winners started from the outside front row. This week’s Craftsman-sponsored win from the pole bonus is worth $14,000. … Five of seven drivers who have started all four previous series races at Kansas are expected to compete this week. They are Setzer, Musgrave, Terry Cook (#10 Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford), Matt Crafton (#88 Menards Chevrolet) and Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford). … Crawford has led the most laps at Kansas Speedway – 128. Crawford’s best finish of third came in last year’s race.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Musgrave dominant but looking for some luck … The only driver to lead all four series races at Kansas Speedway, Musgrave has been without good fortune – especially in the past two seasons. He finished second in 2001 and fifth the following year but was 15th and 30th in 2003-04.
10 YEARS TOUGH
The first of nine NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races held in Kansas took place on July 29, 1995 at the 1.8-mile Heartland Park Topeka road course. Ron Hornaday Jr. edged Joe Ruttman by .780-second with Terry Labonte, Todd Bodine and Mike Skinner completing the top-five finishers. Heartland Park was on the schedule through the 1999 season. The only year that a Kansas track wasn’t a part of the schedule was 2000.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Age and experience haven’t been the deciding factors in three of the first four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at Kansas Speedway. Ricky Hendrick won the 2001 inaugural race at age 21. Jon Wood’s 2003 victory was the 22-year-old’s first of three series wins and Carl Edwards was 24 when he won last year’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 250.
FAST FACTS
Next Event: O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 (Race 12 of 25).
Where: Kansas Speedway.
When: 3:15 p.m. ET, Saturday, July 2.
Track layout: 1.5-mile paved oval.
Race length: 250.5 miles/167 Laps.
Posted awards: $578,540.
TV: SPEED Channel, 3:15 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: Carl Edwards.
2004 polesitter: Not held.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday – Practice 9:40 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. and 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. Qualifying 5:00 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(6-28-2005)
‘Gong Show’ nets 1,700 applications: Roush Racing’s “Gong Show” driver search drew approximately 1,700 applications, which have been whittled down to about 150, team president Geoff Smith said this week. Now, team owner Jack Roush, his drivers and crew chiefs will go through the entries to give their input before the list is reduced again to about 25. The finalists will then be taken to Martinsville Speedway and Darlington Raceway for their on-track auditions, with the winner or winners joining Roush’s NASCAR race team. The whole process will be shown in 13 episodes on the Discovery Channel.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(6-25-2005)
Setzer wins at Milwaukee: #46-Dennis Setzer dominated and won the Toyota Tundra 200 at the Milwaukee Mile, lapping all but three trucks and leading 152 of 200 laps and taking over the points lead. The win was Setzers 2nd of 2005, second in a row and 14th of his career, 6th all-time in the win list. Pole sitter #16-Jack Sprague led the first 43 laps and finished 2nd, followed by #1-Ted Musgrave, #6-Ron Hornaday [last truck on the lead lap] and #77-Brendan Gaughan [first top-5 five of the season]. #04-Bobby Hamilton came into the race leading the points, finished 6th and is now 35 point in back of the lead.
For race results see:
ESPN.com
Truckseries.com
Motorsports One
NASCAR.com.(6-24-2005)
Sprague wins pole at Milwaukee: #16-Jack Sprague won the pole for the Toyota Tundra 200 at the Milwaukee Mile with a lap of 121.980mph, tying the record set by #1-Ted Musgrave last year. It is Spragues 4th pole at the Milwaukee Mile and 29th of his career. #30-Todd Bodine, in his first race back in the #30 truck will start 2nd, followed by #46-Dennis Setzer, #77-Brendan Gaughan and #1-Ted Musgrave. #04-Bobby Hamilton Jr., the points leader, will start 20th. #15-Martin Truex Jr., making his first Truck Series start, will start 24th. Chad Chaffin is in the #60 Toyota fielded by Wyler Racing [have heard nothing about them]. Missing the race were: #24-Brandon Bendele, #02-Kelly Sutton and #9-Shige Hattori.
See qualifying results/starting lineup at:
Truckseries.com – Starting Lineup
Truckseries.com – Qualifying Results
NASCAR.com.(6-24-2005)
Sponsor for the #15 at Milwaukee: Milwaukee might be home to Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, but it’s Atlanta-based Earl Small’s Harley-Davidson that has agreed to come on board and sponsor the Billy Ballew Motorsports-entry for tonight’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at The Milwaukee Mile. NASCAR Busch Series Champion Martin Truex, Jr. has been tabbed to drive the #15 Chevy Silverado for this weekend’s event, after rival Kyle Busch has driven the machine to two victories, one pole and one runner-up position in the last three out of four events. Ballew was also able to gain sponsorship from another local Georgia business, Alpharetta Self Storage. Alpharetta Self Storage’s logos will adorn the TV panel of the #15 Chevy Silverado. Billy Ballew Motorsports currently sits fifth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series owners’ points standings after 10 events. Truex, Jr. becomes the fifth driver to take the reigns of the #15 Chevy [K. Earnhardt, Hmiel, Johnny Sauter, Kyle Busch, Truex].(Billy Ballew Motorsports)(6-24-2005)
Fontaine Back Behind the Wheel of the #4 BHR Dodge in Milwaukee: Chris Fontaine will make his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at Milwaukee in the #4 Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge. His first was earlier this year at Mansfield.(BHR)(6-23-2005)
Fiddleback closed? UPDATE 3+4 Bodine back in the #30: hearing the #66 Fiddleback Racing team, with driver Todd Bodine, has closed up shop and will not race at Milwaukee. Bodine could end up with another Toyota team, not sure who or what.(6-20-2005)
UPDATE: from the Fiddleback Racing site: “Due to lack of sponsorship in both 2004 & 2005, Fiddle Back Racing has closed its doors”(6-21-2005)
UPDATE 2: the Todd Bodine site says he will be back in the #30 Toyota, assuming for Milwaukee and beyond and no word what is up with Chad Chaffin, the current/former driver of the truck.(Todd Bodine site)(6-21-2005)
UPDATE 3: The Germain / Arnold Racing team announced today that driver Todd Bodine has been reunited with his winning combination from last season and will pilot the #30 Toyota Tundra for the remainder of the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. In a joint announcement, the team also announces that they have amicably parted ways with driver Chad Chaffin. Chaffin had competed in the first ten events of the season behind the wheel of the #30 Toyota with a best finish of fifth at Martinsville and he currently stands 16th in the overall driver’s standings.
“It was a tough decision for us to make but you have to consider all things as you try to improve your race team,” stated Bob Germain, co-owner of Germain / Arnold Racing. “Todd and Mike Hillman Sr. have a special chemistry together that we feel will give our team a better chance of winning races during the rest of the season. Chad has done a great job for our team this year and we have enjoyed spending time with him both on and off the track. He certainly has represented Germain / Arnold Racing and Toyota very well and we wish him the best of luck in his career.”
Bodine, who has competed in the first ten races this season as driver of the #66 Toyota became available earlier this week. Bodine is reunited with his winning combination of last year when he drove the #30 Germain / Arnold Racing Toyota Tundra for a total of eight Craftsman Truck Series races and in impressive fashion went on to post two victories (California and Texas) and five top 10 finishes. “I welcome this opportunity to rejoin the Germain / Arnold organization,” said Todd. “We had great results last year in the races we won and there just seemed to be a special working partnership there with me and Mike Sr. (Hillman) that is so hard to find in this sport. We all wanted the chance to see if we can regain that momentum we had last year and produce some wins for the team and Toyota again this season. I guess the timing of everything just worked out for everyone and here we are back in familiar surroundings – I am excited and looking for some great results.”(PR)
UPDATE 4: Germain/Arnold Racing announced an association with the Allman Brothers Band. The Grammy Award winning and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Allman Brothers Band will be featured prominently on the hood of the #30 Germain/Arnold Racing Toyota Tundra at two events on the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule. The Allman Brothers will be featured on the #30 Toyota Tundra driven by Todd Bodine at the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 (June 24) and Kentucky Speedway (July 9) events. These events precede upcoming Allman Brothers Band concerts at the Milwaukee Summer Fest (July 5) and the Germain Amphitheatre in Columbus, Ohio (July 13). “Racing has always been a part of rock & roll,” said Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band. “Growing up in Daytona Beach I have NASCAR in my bones. We will be rooting for Germain/Arnold Racing’s No.30 Toyota Tundra to bring our name into racing’s winners circle.” There will be a driver autograph session with drivers of the Germain/Arnold Racing Toyota Tundra’s at the Milwaukee Summerfest Display Booth in the Midway of the Toyota Tundra 200 event at the Milwaukee Mile. The autograph session will take place from 2:45-3:45 pm on June 24 with special discount coupons being given away to the following Allman Brothers Band Concert: Coupons for $5 off each Allman Brothers Band ticket purchased may be redeemed only at the Marcus Amphitheater Box Office or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Limit 4 tickets per coupon. Summerfest admission included. Convenience fees applicable, the coupon is NOT redeemable July 5, 2005. Enter promotion code RACING when ordering via ticketmaster.com. For more details on Summerfest visit www.summerfest.com.(Integrity Sports Marketing/Germain/Arnold Racing)(6-22-2005)
Edy’s Ice Cream to sponsor Pressley: HT Motorsports has announced a three-race sponsorship with Edy’s/Dreyer’s Ice Cream. The #59 HT Motorsports Truck Series team, driven by series-veteran Robert Pressley will compete at the Milwaukee Mile as the #59 Edy’s Dodge in the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 race on June 24th. The other two events covered by the Edy’s/Dreyer’s partnership include the Kansas Speedway’s O’ Reilly Auto Parts 250 on July 2nd and Indianapolis Raceway Park’s Power Stroke Diesel 200 on August 5th, 2005.(Truck Series site)(6-21-2005)
New Crew Chief for Spencer: Jim Smith, Ultra Motorsports team owner announced today that Dan Glauz has been named as crew chief for the #2 Team ASE Dodge truck running in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Glauz replaces Buddy “Red Dog” Barnes, who stepped down on June 13th. Glauz has already begun his duties at the Ultra Motorsports race shop in Mooresville, NC, and is busy preparing the #2 Team ASE Dodge for battle in the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 at the Milwaukee Mile.(Ultra Motorsports Site)(6-21-2005)
Yellow announces assoc sponsorship on #43 Truck for 3 races: Yellow Transportation today announced its associate sponsorship of the Edge Performance Group-owned #43 Chevrolet NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry for up to three races in 2005. The truck will be driven by Johnny Sauter, who is also part owner of the team, in at least two races later this year: Milwaukee (June 24) and Indianapolis (August 5). In addition, the team has tentative plans to run at Richmond (September 8). While broadening his role in the NASCAR community to include team ownership, Sauter will continue in his primary role as the driver of the #1 Yellow Transportation Dodge in the NASCAR Busch Series.(Team Yellow Racing PR)(6-21-2005)
Chris Wimmer to attempt Milwaukee race: Wimmer Racing and Green Light Racing have reached an agreement that will place Chris Wimmer behind the wheel of the #07 Chevrolet Silverado Craftsman Truck, for the “ Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200” at The Milwaukee Mile on Friday, June 24th. This will be the first venture between Wimmer and Green Light Racing’s Bobby Dotter and Gene Christiansen who also field the # 08 Craftsman Truck on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Circuit. Wimmer ran a limited number of races in the Craftsman Truck Series last year with #63 MB Motorsports, finishing 20th in last years event at the Milwaukee Mile. Wimmer Racing is currently seeking sponsors for this race and others.(Wimmer Racing PR)(6-21-2005)
Milwaukee News and Notes:
Wild Michigan race scrambles points standings … Hamilton regained the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship lead from Musgrave with his third-place finish June 18 at Michigan International Speedway. The defending series champion is five points up on Paramount Health Insurance 200 winner Dennis Setzer (#46 Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet), who moved from fourth to second in the standings. Musgrave is third with Ricky Craven (#99 Superchips Ford) holding the fifth. The top four positions are covered by 56 points after a race in which Hamilton, Setzer, Musgrave and Craven were among 13 drivers who traded the lead 17 times. Setzer makes history in Michigan … Setzer had gone 27 races without a victory before becoming the 2005 season’s eighth different winning driver. In doing so, Setzer joined Jack Sprague (#16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet) as winners in a record eight seasons. Setzer’s last victory came in June 2004 at Texas Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Busch champ Truex to drive a truck … Billy Ballew Racing’s successful game of “musical seats” continues at The Milwaukee Mile with 2004 NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. making his NASCAR Craftsman Truck debut in the #15 Chevrolet. Truex takes over the controls of a truck that twice has gone to victory lane with Kyle Busch, counts a pair of Bud Poles and stands fifth in series owner points standings. Truex is Ballew’s fifth different driver. Busch’s bid to become the series’ fourth driver to win three consecutive starts came up a position short as he finished runner-up to Setzer in Michigan.
Six previous winners in Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 field … Six winners of seven (of 10) previous events at The Milwaukee Mile are in the field for Friday’s race – most ever for a series race. Musgrave is the track’s only two-time winner. Other Milwaukee Mile winners entered are Sprague, Terry Cook (#10 Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford), Brendan Gaughan (#77 Jasper Engines & Transmission Dodge), Ron Hornaday Jr. (#6 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) and Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota).
ETC. … Busch became the series’ youngest pole winner at age 20 years one month 16 days when he topped the qualifying chart at Michigan International Speedway. He ousted his older brother Kurt from the record books. The 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion was 21 years 10 months 27 days of age when he won the pole at The Milwaukee Mile in 2000. Kyle Busch is the youngest pole winner in two of NASCAR’s national touring series. He was the top qualifier for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Auto Club 500 in February at California Speedway. … Bill Lester (#22 Waste Management Toyota) will sign autographs during a Thursday appearance prior to the Chicago Cubs-Milwaukee Brewers baseball game. The team’s show truck also will be on site. Lester will carry the Waste Management colors at The Milwaukee Mile as part of the company’s 2005 sponsorship campaign. …Cook’s 200th series start concluded with a 13th-place finish at Michigan. Cook will be making his ninth consecutive start at The Milwaukee Mile, the site of his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck appearance in 1996. … Kelly Sutton (#02 Team Copaxone Chevrolet), a non-qualifier in Michigan, attempts to make her 33rd series start this week. Sutton and Tammy Jo Kirk share the record for most starts by a female driver in series competition. … Eric Phillips, Setzer’s Morgan-Dollar Motorsports crew chief, won for the second consecutive time at Michigan International Speedway. Phillips was crew chief for Travis Kvapil in 2004 when Toyota won its first NASCAR Craftsman Truck event.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Jack Sprague (#16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet) leads all series competitors in top five and top 10-finish categories in Milwaukee. Sprague counts five top fives and seven top 10s. Sprague, the #4 qualifier for last year’s race, saw his run of seven consecutive top 10s end when engine failure relegated him to 32nd.
10 YEARS TOUGH

The Sears Auto Center 125 at The Milwaukee Mile marked the mid-point of the 1995 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. Three drivers certain to contend for this year’s victory – Mike Skinner, Dennis Setzer and Ron Hornaday Jr. – finished one-two-three in the 125-lap race. Two additional competitors active in 2005 finished among the top 10: Johnny Benson was seventh and Jack Sprague finished ninth.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Manufacturer wins come in bunches at The Milwaukee Mile. Chevrolet won the first three races; Ford the next three. Dodge won in 2003-04 and goes for the triple in this year’s Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200. Ford is the top winner at the track with four victories.
Fast Facts
Next Event: Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 (Race 11 of 25).
Where: The Milwaukee Mile.
When: 9:15pm/et, Friday, June 24.
Track layout: 1.0-Mile Paved Oval.
Race length: 200 Miles/200 Laps.
Posted awards: $498,400.
TV: SPEED Channel, 9:15pm/et.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: Ted Musgrave.
2004 polesitter: Ted Musgrave.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday – Practice 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Qualifying 5:30 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(6-21-2005)
Setzer wins at Michigan: #46-Dennis Setzeer won the Paramount Health Insurance 200 at Michigan International Speedway for his first win of the 2005 season, 13th of his career, and moved into second in points, 5 points behind new leader #04-Bobby Hamilton, who finished 3rd. Previous points leader, #1-Ted Musgrave was 2nd when on lap 98 [of 100] he lost an engine and finished 28th. Rounding out the top-5 were pole sitter #15-Kyle Busch, #04-Hamilton, #92-Kevin Harvick and #5-Mike Skinner.
For race results see:
ESPN.com
Truckseries.com
NASCAR.com(6-18-2005)
Busch wins pole at Michigan: #15-Kyle Busch won the pole for the Paramount Health Insurance 200 at Michigan International Speedway with a new track record of 181.612mph [old record was 178.037mph] for his first Truck Series pole in his 10th race. Thirty drivers broke the old track record. #1-Musgave, the points leader, will start 16th. The rest of the top-5 are: #5-Mike Skinner, #14-Rick Crawford, #23-Johnny Benson and #22-Bill Lester. Missing the race were #02-Sutton and #24-Mallory.
Busch the youngest: Kyle Busch put the #15 ditech.com Silverado on the pole for today’s Paramount Health Insurance 200 at Michigan International Speedway. This is the first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole for the Las Vegas, NV native. At just over 20 years old, he is the youngest driver to win poles in two of NASCAR’s three major divisions. Busch won his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup pole at 19 years of age.
See qualifying results/starting lineup at:
Truckseries.com – Starting Lineup
Truckseries.com – Qualifying Results
NASCAR.com.(6-18-2005)
Labonte back in the #47 at MIS: Bobby Labonte will drive the #47 Chevrolet Silverado at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in the Paramount Heath Insurance 200. The June 18, 2005, race will be the 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion’s third NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race of the season. In his two previous starts, Labonte finished second in March at Atlanta Motor Speedway and captured his first NCTS victory at Martinsville in April. With the victory in March, Labonte became the first driver in NASCAR history to win a race in each of the top-three major divisions at Martinsville [or a race won at the same track in each series]. A trip to the NCTS victory lane Saturday will give Labonte that record at MIS as well. The Corpus Christi, Texas, native has one NASCAR Busch Series (NBS) win and three NASCAR NEXTEL (NNCS) Cup Series wins at the 2-mile superspeedway located in the Irish Hills of South-Central Michigan. In 30 NBS and NNCS, Labonte’s MIS record is nothing short of amazing. He has four wins, three poles, nine top-three, 12 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes.(GM PR)(6-16-2005)
Craven to have extra help at MIS – Batman: Ricky Craven will have an extra crew member on his team for the Craftsman Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway on June 18. Although he will not be wearing a firesuit, he will be dressed for action with his own cape. Batman will be supporting Craven and the #99 Superchips team throughout the weekend at Michigan. Batman will be on hand to promote his upcoming movie “Batman Begins” which will premier next week. Craven’s truck will sport a special “Batman Begins” paint scheme and he will wear a Batman firesuit on race day. Licensed shirts and hats will also be available at select Team Caliber souvenir trailers at MIS that weekend.(Roush Racing)(6-16-2005)
#200 for ThorSport Racing: ThorSport Racing will reach an exclusive milestone in the Paramount Health Insurance 200 at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday. When the green flag drops over the team’s two trucks, the #13 ThorSport Racing Chevrolet driven by Tracy Hines and the #88 Menards Chevrolet driven by Matt Crafton, it will mark the 200th time the team has participated in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. Only five other Truck Series teams have reached that milestone: #1/#2-Ultra Motorsports, #29-K-Automotive, #75-Spears Motorsports, #14-Circle Bar Racing, and #50/#99-Roush Racing.
Starting off as a one-truck effort, team owners Duke and Rhonda Thorson selected Sandusky Speedway champion Terry Cook as the driver for a limited three-race schedule in 1996. A strong debut at The Milwaukee Mile landed Cook in 12th position at the finish, and gave everyone enthusiasm for more races in 1997. In one of the most competitive seasons in the history of the NCTS, Cook and the upstart team expanded their schedule to 15 races and earned their first series pole at Flemington Speedway. The first full season for the team came in 1998, when the team and Cook earned their first series win, again at Flemington, three top-5 finishes, and the team’s second pole position at Louisville (Ky.) Motor Speedway. When Cook moved on to another ride at the end of the 2000 season, the Thorsons selected the reigning NASCAR Southwest Series champion Matt Crafton to take over. Crafton’s first race resulted in a ninth-place finish at the two-mile California Speedway, and he continued with the strong runs throughout the 2001 season, collecting 11 top-10 finishes in his rookie season.
Crafton got the call to pilot a Truck for a new team owned by NASCAR Nextel Cup Series star Kevin Harvick in 2004, which allowed the team to hire another champion driver. This time, the team selected two-time United States Auto Club national champion Tracy Hines. Hines came in and immediately scored his first career top-5 finish in the team’s home race at Mansfield (Oh.) Motorsports Speedway.
Having expanded to a two-truck team in 2004, Crafton has returned to the team’s #88 Chevrolet, allowing Hines to move over to the #13 Chevrolet. A driver Thorson is proud to have worked with was an out of work open wheel racer that drove for the team in a one-off race at Homestead-Miami Speedway at the end of the 2003 season. That driver found work in 2004 and ended up winning the sport’s biggest race, the Indianapolis 500.director of competition.(PR)(6-16-2005)
Truex Jr. in the #15 truck at Milwaukee: Reigning NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex, Jr. will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut on June 24 at The Milwaukee Mile driving the #15 Chevrolet for Billy Ballew Motorsports. Truex gets the call for the Milwaukee weekend since the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series cars are racing at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.(Truckseries.com)(6-15-2005)
Michigan News and Notes:
Milestone race comes in Cook’s backyard … Terry Cook (#10 Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford) and his team chose the right time to hit their stride. Cook, on a three-race string of top-10 finishes and eighth in championship standings, will make his 200th NASCAR Craftsman Truck start in Saturday’s Paramount Health Insurance 200. The Sylvania, Ohio native made his competitive debut in nearby Toledo and considers Michigan his home track. Cook is just the third series driver to reach the 200-race plateau following Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford) and Jack Sprague (#16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet). Crawford has appeared in a record 207 consecutive races. Cook ran his first series race at The Milwaukee Mile on July 6, 1996.
Renshaw a top qualifier in Texas … A ninth-place effort at Texas made Deborah Renshaw (#8 EasyCare Vehicle Services Contracts Dodge) the first female driver to qualify among the top 10 since 1997. Tammy Jo Kirk’s third-place start at Portland (Ore.) Speedway, also in 1997, is the best on the series. Kelly Sutton (#02 Team Copaxone Chevrolet) hopes to break Kirk’s female driver series start record of 32 this week in Michigan. Finally, Allison Duncan of San Rafael, Calif., became the first NASCAR Drive for Diversity winner with her victory in Saturday’s Western Late Model feature at Stockton (Calif.) Speedway. Duncan drives for a team jointly owned by Bill McAnally and Richard Childress. Childress was the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck owner champion in 1995. McAnally owned the cars of current NASCAR Craftsman Truck driver Brendan Gaughan (#77 Jasper Engines & Transmissions Dodge), winner of the 2000-01 NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series championship.
Schrader to drive Waltrip-owned truck in Michigan … Ken Schrader (#11 Toyota Tundra Toyota) will drive an R&D entry for Darrell Waltrip Motorsports in the Paramount Health Insurance 200. Kyle Busch (#15 Billy Ballew Motorsports) looks to add to back-to-back victories at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway. The last of three drivers to win three consecutive starts was Greg Biffle in 2000. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competitors Bobby Labonte (#47 Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet) and Harvick (#92 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) also are among drivers entered in the season’s 10th of 25 races.
ETC. … Bobby Hamilton (#04 Dodge) would become the 11th driver in the series to reach the $2 million mark in career winnings by starting Saturday’s Michigan event. Hamilton has won $1,999,908 in 83 series appearances. … Last year’s Michigan race saw a series track record 18 lead changes. Twenty-four finishers completed all 100 laps, also a track high. … Gaughan and Robert Pressley (#59 Melling Systems Dodge) are the only MIS winners among this year’s entered drivers. Pressley won in 2002; Gaughan in 2003. … Ricky Craven’s #99 Superchips Ford will carry a special Batman-themed paint scheme in Saturday’s race as promotion for this week’s premier of the film “Batman Begins.” … Sprague’s Chex 400K victory on June 10 was the 25th of the three-time champion’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck career – two behind all-time leader Hornaday. Sprague is the third two-time winner of the race joining Gaughan and Setzer. … The final fulltime driver to have a perfect laps-completed record in 2005 fell off the chart when Craven finished 13th at Texas, one lap behind Sprague.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Toyota nailed first NASCAR national win at Michigan … Toyota, winless since last October, returns to the scene of the manufacturer’s first NASCAR Craftsman Truck victory. Travis Kvapil, now a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Raybestos rookie of the year contender, recovered from an engine change and rear-of-the-field start. Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) and Johnny Benson (#23 Toyota Certified Used Cars Toyota) took third and fourth.
Points leaders have been consistent at Michigan … With form as a measure, the top-five championship contenders look forward to Saturday’s race. Leader Ted Musgrave (#1 Mopar Dodge) was the runnerup finisher in 2003-04. Hornaday, Hamilton and Dennis Setzer (#46 Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet) all have logged top-10 finishes. Setzer has run 10th or better in four of his five starts at MIS. Although Craven will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck debut at the track, Roush Racing’s lead driver counts three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup top fives – including a second in 2001.
10 YEARS TOUGH
Michigan drivers have finished one-two in two of 251 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events. Jack Sprague beat Johnny Benson by .406 of a second at Phoenix International Raceway on Oct. 26, 1996. The Grand Rapids area veterans were first and second in last Friday’s Chex 400K at Texas as Sprague became the first series driver to win in eight different seasons.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The fastest race in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history was run at Michigan International Speedway on July 26, 2003. Brendan Gaughan averaged 154.044 mph in an event that saw a single caution period and three laps run under the yellow flag. There has never been a caution-free race in the series’ 10-plus seasons.
Fast Facts Next Event: Paramount Health Insurance 200 (Race 10 of 25).
Where: Michigan International Speedway.
When: 3:15 p.m. ET, Saturday, June 18.
Track layout: 2.0-Mile Paved Speedway.
Race length: 200 Miles/100 Laps.
Posted awards: $571,810.
TV: SPEED Channel, 3:15 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: Travis Kvapil
2004 polesitter: None. Field set by Rule Book.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday – Practice 12 noon to 1:10 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. Saturday – Qualifying 1:00 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(6-15-2005)
KISS back on a truck: Chevrolet doesn’t call the #47 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports Silverado its all-star program for nothing. Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte have raced the truck, which will sport decals featuring the rock group KISS on the hood when Kevin Harvick takes the wheel in September at Richmond.(Sporting News)(6-11-2005)
Mansfield now NOT for sale: Mansfield Motorsports Speedway {MMS] will not be put on the market, owner Michael Dzurilla announced Thursday at the half-mile oval. Dzurilla told the News Journal on May 24 he was going to sell the track and shut down his NHRA Pro Stock drag racing team, Bullet Motorsports. Instead, it will be business as usual. “Basically, the track is not for sale,” Dzurilla said. “I’m a very passionate person, and I have a tendency to give everything I do 100%. Unfortunately, passionate people when they get upset or are suffering from lack of sleep have a tendency to speak before they think. I’m guilty of that. I was tired and very upset about certain situations. I got caught when I probably should have just said nothing,” he said of his change of heart. “I said what I was thinking at the time. I took a week off for the first time in a long time, and I started thinking with my head again instead of my heart.” Dzurilla sold Bullet Motorsports to Torco Racing Fuels and Carrier Boyz Racing this week. The team will remain intact, with driver Dave Connolly competing this weekend in Chicago. It hasn’t been decided where the team will be based. Dzurilla said he wanted to sell Bullet as quickly as possible so Connolly could continue his quest for the national championship. He ranks third in the points. With no more race team, he will focus on MMS full-time. Chris Mize will continue to run the racing shows and hold the titles of president and general manager. Lori Cates will keep running the business office. Dzurilla said he will deal with the legal and accounting ends and other behind-the-scenes issues.(Mansfield News Journal)(6-10-2005)
Sprague wins at Texas: #16-Jack Sprague won the Chex 400 at Texas Motor Speedway for his first 2005 win. #23-Johnny Benson finished 2nd and said during his interview he was ‘bummed’, it is Benson’s 4th career 2nd place finish in 35 career starts. Rounding out the top-5 were #46-Dennis Setzer, #5-Mike Skinner and #88-Matt Crafton. The win is Spragues 25th of his career and gets Sprague into the top-10 points. #65-Clay Rogers finished 8th, in only his 2nd career start. #1-Ted Musgrave, the points leader, finished 14th and maintains a scant 17 points lead over #99-Rick Craven. #18-Chase Montgomery was in a wreck on lap 93, and taken to the hospital for observation the race was red flagged for a bit as the truck was blocking the track.
For race results see:
ESPN.com
Truckseries.com
NASCAR.com.(6-10-2005)
DW to field 3rd team, Schrader at Michigan: Darrell Waltrip Motorsports and Toyota announced that Ken Schrader will pilot the #11 Federated Auto Parts Toyota Tundra in the upcoming NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway. “After a successful second half to the 2004 season, we’ve had a rather slow start this year,” said Pat Wall, NCTS Program Manager at TRD. “We’ve asked Darrell Waltrip Motorsports to help us evaluate the overall Tundra package in order to enable us to continue to be successful.” Overall, Toyota Tundras have recorded four wins, seven pole positions, 31 top-five and 68 top-10 finishes since the beginning of the 2004 season. “Toyota was very successful during their first year of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition,” said Darrell Waltrip. “We welcome the opportunity to field a third truck for Toyota. I know that Bobby Kennedy and our group will do everything possible to make this a successful endeavor. Having a third truck at Michigan will not only be valuable to TRD, but it will be beneficial to both of our teams throughout the rest of the season. We’re looking forward to Michigan.”(Darrell Waltrip Motorsports PR)(6-9-2005)
Skinner wins pole at Texas: #5-Mike Skinner won the pole for the Chex 400 at Texas Motor Speedway with a new track record of 182.902mph. Skinner won the pole for this event on 2004, led both practices. Rounding out the top five are: #14-Rick Crawford, #75-David Starr, #23-Johnny Benson, #22-Bill Lester. Points leader #1-Ted Musgrave will start 26th. No one missed the race.
See qualifying results/starting lineup at:
ESPN.com
Truckseries.com – Starting Lineup
Truckseries.com – Qualifying Results
NASCAR.com.(6-9-2005)
Kite to run in CTS and IRL races at Texas: Jimmy Kite hopes to make history at TMS this weekend. Kite plans to become the first driver to compete in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and an IRL event at the same track on the same weekend. Kite will drive the #06 Royal Purple Chevrolet in the Chex 400 truck race Friday night, if he qualifies. The entry list has 37 drivers vying for 36 spots. Kite also is driving the #91 Ethanol Dallara/Toyota in the Bombardier Learjet 500 IRL race Saturday night. Kite is subbing for injured Paul Dana in the IRL car owned by Ron Hemelgarn. Kite is running a limited schedule in the truck series. “It’s pretty cool trying to do something no one ever has done before,” Kite said. “It’ll be an lot of work, but it should be a lot of fun, too. The schedule is pretty tight. I’m going to be busy in practice going between the garages.”(Dallas Morning News)(6-9-2005)
Sauter in the #15 at Texas: Johnny Sauter will drive for Ballew at Texas.(NASCAR PR), Buddy Lazier, former IRL regular and Indy 500 champion, supposedly will drive the #15 at the 2nd Texas race in Nov.(6-7-2005)
UPDATE: The hottest team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will really enjoy Chex cereals and the Chex 400 this weekend – the race sponsor will also sponsor the Truck in Friday night’s Chex 400. Johnny Sauter will drive Billy Ballew’s #15 Chex Chevrolet in Friday night’s Chex 400 at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway. The truck is coming off consecutive race wins at Dover, Del., and Concord, N.C., [with Kyle Busch driving] and had a third-place finish in the race prior to that. Ballew has utilized a number of different drivers this season. “The sponsorship is nice but, once they threw in all the Chex cereal we could eat, it was a great deal,” laughed Sauter.(Williams Company)(6-9-2005)
Double duty for Hamilton: Bobby Hamilton, reigning NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion, will be racking up some frequent flyer miles this weekend! Not only will the Nashville, TN. native be racing in the Truck Series at the lightning-fast Texas Motor Speedway, he’ll be piloting a NASCAR Busch Series car for Sadler Racing on Nashville Superspeedway’s unique 1.33 mile concrete oval. Hamilton will attempt to make the flights back and forth between Texas and Tennessee in order to practice, qualify and race in the Federated Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Busch Series event on Saturday, June 11, under the Nashville lights. On Friday night you can catch a glimpse of Hamilton as he attempts to retake the championship points lead in the Truck Series in Texas and then again on Saturday as he hopes to win a second Gibson guitar trophy at the Nashville Superspeedway.(Nashville Superspeedway PR)(6-9-2005)
Rogers to drive the #65 at Texas: Clay Rogers will drive the #65 Glynn Motorsports Dodge this Friday night in the Chex 400K NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. Rogers, who finished 14th in the NCTS race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, will be making his first start for the Glynn Motorsports team. Regan Smith, who drove the #65 NCTS Dodge in the last three races, will pilot the #58 Glynn Motorsports Busch Series Dodge at Nashville Superspeedway in the Federated Auto Parts 300 on Saturday night.(Glynn Motorsports PR)(6-9-2005)
Sutton to tie record: #02-Kelly Sutton is expected to make her 32nd career start and tie Tammy Jo Kirk (1997-98) for the most starts by a woman in series history.(Dallas Morning News)(6-9-2005)
Red Horse Racing Buys Clean Line Motorsports [#38] Jeff Hammond, national television analyst and former Cup crew chief, and Thomas C. DeLoach, Jr., a successful corporate executive who is now heavily involved in motorsports, will partner with Marty Gaunt as co-owners of Red Horse Racing LLC. The new organization has purchased Clean Line Motorsports, which fields the #38 McMillin Homes/Cure Autism Now Toyota Tundra, from Dan and Karen Whitt. “We are very pleased to have Tom DeLoach and Jeff Hammond joining the team,” said Gaunt, who has been part Owner and General Manager of the team since its inception. “Dan and Karen (Whitt) worked very hard and did a great job in helping start this race team but they realized we needed to do more to move it ahead,” Gaunt said. “Tom DeLoach’s business and marketing savvy, and Jeff Hammond’s motorsports knowledge will complement our team perfectly, and will give us what we need to take our next step.” Brandon Whitt will continue as driver and team personnel are anticipated to remain the same, Gaunt said. The #38 Truck has been one of the better qualifiers throughout this season and has run exceptionally strong at nearly every speedway. This is its second full year of operation. “This is a great time for Tom DeLoach and myself,” said Hammond. “We are very excited about being part of an up-and-coming team like this, especially one that has enjoyed such strong support from Toyota. That support has already shown itself on the track this year, and we’re excited about the future.” Gaunt and DeLoach worked together at Penske Racing’s winning Cup organization, where Gaunt was General Manager and DeLoach part Owner. DeLoach and Hammond own and operate PIT Instruction and Training LLC, the number one pit crew training center in the world. Hammond has been in motorsports his entire adult life. Starting as a tire changer for an independent team in 1974, Hammond became crew chief for Junior Johnson racing in 1982 and won two NASCAR Nextel Cup championships with Darrell Waltrip and 43 Cup races, and has participated in six Cup championship teams. He is currently a lead television analyst for FOX Sports, FX and SPEED channel.(Williams Company)(6-7-2005)
Hornaday’s crew chief back home UPDATE: #6-Ron Hornaday’s crew cheif, Wally Rogers, flew home to NC to be with his wife who is having twins today…..congrats and good luck.(Speed Channel rain delay coverage)(6-3-2005)
UPDATE: Kevin Harvick Racing crew chief Wally Rogers will be back on the pit box this week. His wife, Renee, gave birth to twins Cali Jean and Emma Renee on June 3.(NASCAR PR)(6-7-2005)
Texas News and Notes:
Renshaw in bounce-back at Dover … Even champions occasionally feel the sting of failing to qualify for a race but that fact doesn’t completely erase the disappointment. When Deborah Renshaw (#8 EasyCare Vehicle Service Dodge) missed last month’s race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the 27-year-old competitor figured she would make a far different statement at Dover International Speedway – and that’s exactly what she did. Renshaw went from DNQ to a 12th-place finish, one position shy of Tammy Jo Kirk’s record for a female driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The Bowling Green, Ky., resident also logged her second lead lap finish of 2005.
“After the unfortunate circumstance of missing the race at Lowe’s two weeks ago, this is an incredible confidence boost for me,” said Renshaw, who was competing in her 21st series race. Her best previous finish was 15th at Martinsville Speedway in April. “I still have a tremendous amount to learn in this series and today was probably the best learning experience of my career. I ran side-by-side with the best drivers in this series and held my own all day. It was awesome to have them come up to me after the race and congratulate me on a strong run.”
Kite can make history in Texas … Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender Jimmy Kite (#06 MRD Chevrolet) bids to become the first driver to compete in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Indy Racing League events on the same weekend. Kite finished 32nd in May’s Indianapolis 500. The Stockbridge, Ga. competitor ranks sixth in current Raybestos points standings.
ETC. … Kelly Sutton (#02 Team Copaxone Chevrolet) has become the all-time money winner by a female driver on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. She has won $259,452, eclipsing Kirk’s old record of $257,545. Sutton hopes to start her 32nd race in Texas to match Kirk’s mark of most starts on the series by a female driver. … Matt Crafton (#88 Menards Chevrolet), seventh in NASCAR Craftsman Truck points, goes for his 50th career top-10 finish this week. … James Harris’ #59 Dodge driven by Robert Pressley will carry sponsorship of Con-Way Transportation this week. South Padre Island, a Texas tourism destination, joins Orleans Racing’s Gaughan and Steve Park (#62 Orleans Dodge) for both Texas events. … Clay Rogers, who made his series debut with a 14th-place finish at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, this week subs for Regan Smith in the #65 Glynn Motorsports Dodge. Smith will be competing in the NASCAR Busch Series Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. … Last year’s Chex 400K had the fewest laps of caution – 12 – of any series race at Texas. The three caution periods matched the low recorded in the 2001 race. … The Chex 400K is the third of nine races on 1.5-mile tracks this season. Hornaday (Atlanta) and Kyle Busch (Lowe’s) won the first two. … Busch, winner at Dover International Speedway in the Billy Ballew-owned #15 Chevrolet, is the first to capture back-to-back races since Kasey Kahne won at Darlington Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway to conclude the 2004 season. Johnny Sauter will drive for Ballew at Texas. … Kevin Harvick Racing crew chief Wally Rogers will be back on the pit box this week. His wife, Renee, gave birth to twins Cali Jean and Emma Renee on June 3.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Four previous Texas winners in the field … Defending Chex 400K winner Dennis Setzer (#46 Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet) looks for his third win at Texas. Other winners of the event entered are Gaughan (2002-03) and Jack Sprague (#16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet, 2001). Last year’s fall winner Todd Bodine also will compete.

Crawford, Musgrave led but haven’t won … Two of three drivers who have led the most races – six – at Texas Motor Speedway have yet to win at the track. Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford) and Ted Musgrave (#1 Mopar Dodge) each have runnerup finishes, Crawford in 2001 (fall) and Musgrave in last year’s Chex 400K.
10 YEARS TOUGH
One-mile tracks – The Milwaukee Mile and Phoenix International Raceway – were the largest tracks in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ inaugural campaign. The tracks hosted three of the 1995 schedule’s 20 races and Mike Skinner won them all. Qualifying speeds this week at Texas Motor Speedway are expected to top 180 m.p.h.. Ron Hornaday Jr. won the Bud Pole for Phoenix’s series opener at 123.665.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Until Todd Bodine won last fall’s Silverado 350K from the #22 starting position, no winner at Texas Motor Speedway had started deeper in the field than 12th. In fact, nine of the track’s winners have started fifth or better – three from the Bud Pole. The last pole starter to win, however, was Bryan Reffner in October 2000. Craftsman’s win from the pole bonus increases to $8,000 this week.
Fast Facts
Next Event: Chex 400K (Race 9 of 25).
Where: Texas Motor Speedway.
When: 9:15 p.m. ET, Friday, June 10.
Track layout: 1.5-Mile Paved Speedway.
Race length: 400 kilometers/250.5 Miles/167 Laps.
Posted awards: $642,450.
TV: SPEED Channel, 9:15 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: Dennis Setzer.
2004 polesitter: Ted Musgrave.
Pre-race schedule (all times eastern): Thursday – Practice 12:15 pm – 1:15 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Qualifying 7:00 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(6-7-2005)
RAIN at Dover: rain has postponed the MBNA RacePoints 200 at Dover International Speedway a 2nd time [1st from Friday, June 3rd, to Saturday, June 4th at 9:00am/et], the race is now scheduled to run after the Busch Series race [approx. 4:00pm/et] and will be televised on Speed Channel at 7:30pm/et….as long as it doesn’t rain Saturday. No lights at Dover, so that is not an option.
To keep an eye on the Dover weather, see Raceweather.net or www.weather.com.(6-4-2005)
Busch wins again: #15-Kyle Busch won the MBNA RacePoints 200 at Dover International Speedway for his 2nd career win, of the season and in a row, leading the final 19 laps of the race. Rounding out the top-5 were: #47-Tony Stewart, #10-Terry Cook, #6-Ron Hornaday and #17-David Reutimann. Points leader, #1-Ted Musgrave finished 17th and now only holds a 20 point margin over #99-Ricky Craven, who finished 7th. 2004 Champ, #04-Bobby Hamilton finished 21st and pole sitter, #75-David Starr ended up 8th. #8-Deborah Renshaw finished 12th for her best career finish [was 15th in 2005]. #4-Timothy Peters was the highest finishing rookie at 6th, his first career top-10. #6-Ron Hornaday dominated the race, leading 134 laps, until he had to make an unscheduled pit top around lap 150 for a loose wheel, but he recovered to finish 4th. There were 11 cautions for 49 laps and 6 lead changes among 5 drivers with #6-Hornaday leading 134.
For race results see:
ESPN.com
Truckseries.com
NASCAR.com.(6-4-2005)
Con-Way to Sponsor Pressley at Texas: HT Motorsports has announced a one-race sponsorship with Con-Way Transportation Services, Inc. The #59 HT Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team, driven by Robert Pressley will compete at the Texas Motor Speedway as the #59 Con-Way Dodge in the CHEX 400 race on June 9-10. The #59 Con-Way Dodge will be decked out in Con-Way’s familiar blue corporate color. The team’s uniforms will also be Con-Way branded. The sponsorship came together in early May and both HT Motorsports and Con-Way have been in the planning stages for customer entertainment, garage tours and race day viewing from the Con-Way suite at the speedway. Con-Way Transportation Services Inc. is a $2.6 billion transportation and services company that provides time-definite and day-definite freight delivery services and logistics for commercial and industrial businesses. Further information about Con-Way at www.con-way,com.(6-3-2005)
Peters back in the #4: #4-Timothy Peters will make his fourth career Truck Series start in the MBNA Racepoints 200 at Dover International Speedway. Peters is currently 5th in the NCTS Raybestos Rookie of the Year chase, 52 points behind #50-Todd Kluever.(BHR PR)(6-2-2005)
Norris to run limited schedule in the #07: 2002 NASCAR Grand National West Series Champion Eric Norris and Dallas, TX based Pavestone Company announce their sponsorship agreement to race a limited Nascar Craftsman Truck Series schedule in 2005. Pavestone will be serving as the Primary Sponsor for several races beginning in June. Norris will kick off the four-race schedule starting at the Chex 400 on Friday June 10th at Texas Motor Speedway. Norris will be behind the wheel of the #07 Pavestone Chevrolet Silverado, fielded by Bobby Dotter and Gene Christensen’s Green Light Racing. Pavestone and Eric Norris will also race together at Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway [team not mentioned]. Pavestone Company is the nation’s largest producer of interlocking concrete paving stones and segmental retaining walls. 2005 marks their 25th year in business. More info on Pavestone at www.pavestone.com. Norris is one of Hollywood’s most sought after stuntmen; Norris has dozens of appearances in feature films. In addition, Norris has also worked behind the camera directing films and television programs. Eric Norris has been racing since 1982, when his father, internationally acclaimed actor and martial arts legend Chuck Norris, first introduced him to the sport. Earlier this season Norris raced at Las Vegas and California in the NASCAR BUSCH Series [#72 Team].(RPG Event Services)(6-2-2005)
Lester gets sponsor for Dover, to speak at Black Wheels event in DC: Levi Strauss has come on board as primary sponsor of the #22 Toyota Tundra that Bill Lester drives for Bill Davis Racing at Dover International Speedway. Levi Strauss has been the leader of denim apparel for over 50 years. Lester is coming off the best finish of his four-year Craftsman Truck Series career with a sixth-place finish at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Panel Discussion…Lester will take part in the Black Wheels event in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, June 1. Lester will be part of a panel discussion on behalf of Waste Management. This event will premiere the new “Black Wheels” documentary and recognize African-Americans who have had an impact on NASCAR.(Bill Davis Racing)(6-2-2005)
Faulk Prepares for Truck Series debut: Michael Faulk visited the USA International Speedway in Lakeland, FL last week to begin testing on the new MB3 Motorsports Lift-Off Energy Drink Dodge Ram. The team plans to make their NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Debut at Indianapolis Raceway Park on August 5th for the Power Stoke Diesel 200. “We’ve purchased two trucks from Jim Smith and the Ultra Motorsports team and plan on racing 4 to 5 races this year” said MB3 Motorsports owner Michael Burton. “If things work out, we plan on running the entire 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule.” The team will make a trip to Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 13th and 14th to test alongside Ted Musgrave and Jimmy Spencer and the rest of the Ultra Motorsports team. “It’s a great opportunity to see where we are compared to current top NASCAR teams,” said Faulk. “It’s also a chance to learn from some of the best drivers in the series.” Faulk is currently participating as a rookie in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series. The team is 14th in overall points, and 2nd in the rookie championship race heading into the 2nd half of the series.(MB3 Motorsports PR)(6-2-2005)
Starr wins pole at Dover, new track record: #75-David Starr won the pole for the MBNA RacePoints 200 at Dover International Speedway with a new track record of 157.577mph, the old record was 152.892mph, set last year by Carl Edwards. 29 drivers ran faster the the old record. #10-Terry Cook starts on the outside pole, followed by #6-Ron Hornaday, #4-Timothy Peters and #15-Kyle Busch. Points leader, #1-Ted Musgrave will start 16th and 2004 Champ, #04-Bobby Hamilton will start 20th. #99-Ricky Craven starts 35th as he made no qualifying attempt after his Ford was damaged in a wreck during practice. 36 drivers were on the entry list and made runs and all 36 will run the race.
See qualifying results/starting lineup at:
Truckseries.com – Starting Lineup
Truckseries.com – Qualifying Results
NASCAR.com.(6-2-2005)
Dover News and Notes:
Series hits milestone 250th race this week … The MBNA RacePoints 200 marks the 250th series race. Many of the drivers competing in Dover’s event are winners of previous milestone events. They are Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota), first and 25th races; Rich Bickle (#07 Chevrolet), 50th; Jack Sprague (#16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet), 75th; Ron Hornaday Jr. (#6 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet), 100th; Ted Musgrave (#1 Mopar Dodge), 200th and Bobby Hamilton (#04 Tech-Net Dodge), 225th.
Craftsman re-ups for five more years … NASCAR and Sears, Roebuck and Co. last week announced the renewal of series sponsorship by Sears’ Craftsman tool brand. The renewal is for five years – 2006 through 2010. Craftsman was a presenting sponsor of the 1995 inaugural season and full entitlement sponsor of the series beginning in 1996.
Etc. … Musgrave and Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford) have led 36.7 percent of the 1,003 laps run at Dover International Speedway. Musgrave, the 2002 winner, has headed 187 laps while Crawford has paced the field for 182. … Crawford, Terry Cook (#10 Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford), Ken Schrader (#52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet) and Dennis Setzer (#46 Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet) are the only entered drivers to have competed in all five series events at Dover. …A front-row starter has won Dover’s race on three occasions – although Kurt Busch came from the rear in a back-up truck to win in 2000. … Chaffin and Musgrave are the only Dover winners expected to compete in this year’s race. Three other drivers in the field have scored series victories on concrete-surfaced speedways: Hornaday and Sprague at Bristol Motor Speedway and Hamilton at Nashville Superspeedway. …Dover’s event marks the beginning of seven consecutive weekends of racing for series competitors. … Tony Liberati, who guided Brendan Gaughan’s #77 Jasper Engines & Transmissions Dodge on an interim bases, will be the team’s permanent crew chief. … The June 24 event at The Milwaukee Mile has been renamed the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Schrader can complete national series sweep at Dover … With a victory this week, Schrader can join Bobby Labonte as winner in all three of NASCAR’s national series at the same track. Labonte completed the sweep at Martinsville in April. Schrader’s two Dover victories came in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition in 1991 and in the NASCAR Busch Series in 1989. Schrader was fifth in last year’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck race duplicating his finish of 2000. Entered drivers with national series wins at Dover are Tony Stewart (#47 Chevrolet) in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Bodine, Johnny Benson (#23 Toyota Certified Used Cars Toyota) and Robert Pressley (#59 Harris Trucking Co. Dodge) in the NASCAR Busch Series. Bodine swept both races in 1993. Crawford a front-runner at Monster Mile … With three top-three finishes – including a second place in 2004 – Crawford ranks as a solid favorite to win this week’s race. He was the Bud Pole winner in 2002.
10 YEARS TOUGH
The last time the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series had a road-course event was June 24, 2000 at Watkins Glen International. Roush Racing teammates Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch finished one-two in the 151.9-mile race. There have been 17 road races in the series, with 11 different winners. Ron Hornaday Jr. and Joe Ruttman top the list with three victories apiece.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
There are “horses for courses” and Dover International Speedway – which circles a horse race track – would seem to favor Dodge as a manufacturer. Chad Chaffin’s 2004 victory was the fourth in a row for the brand. Scott Riggs’ Dover win in 2001 was Dodge’s eighth consecutive victory to share the all-time series record with Chevrolet.
Fast Facts
Next Event: MBNA RacePoints 200 (Race 8 of 25).
Where: Dover International Speedway.
When: Friday, 4:45pm/et.
Track layout: 1-mile concrete banked oval.
Race length: 200 Miles/200 Laps.
Posted awards: $618,610.
TV: SPEED Channel, 4:45pm/et.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: Chad Chaffin.
2004 polesitter: Carl Edwards.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Thursday – Practice 11:30 a.m. – 12:40 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Qualifying 5:10 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(6-1-2005)

2005

2004

December
November
October
Jayski Truck Series Silly Season Main Page
Jayski’s Silly Season Cup News Page
Jayski’s Silly Season Main Page

Born On Date: March 22, 2005