June 2008 Truck Series News Archive

  • For winners of a race in Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series races: see the Misc Stats page for this and other statistical information.

  • Sad News: 85 year-old Bob Germain, Sr., well-known Chairman of the Board of Germain Motor Company died peacefully at home while sleeping on Friday. As recently as this week, Bob was active at his office in Germain Lincoln-Mercury of Naples, where he worked every day. For many years he has been the dealership’s on-camera spokesman, and was integrally involved in the advertising for his dealerships. In Saturday’s Truck Series race at Memphis, the Germain Racing Toyota Tundra teams honored Bob, as the #9 Crocs/Construct Corps and #30 Lumber Liquidators Tundras’ carried Bob Germain, Sr. decals and the crew members wore navy and gold ribbons, University of Michigan colors. The #7 GEICO Toyota Camry team will honor Bob at their upcoming race, Friday night at Daytona International Speedway. A viewing will be held on Monday, June 30th from 6pm-8pm at the Naples Memorial Funeral home at 525 111th Avenue North. The service will be held at the United Methodist Church on Tuesday, July 1st at 1am. For friends and family in Ohio, a reception will be held on Wednesday, July 2nd from 5-9pm at the Columbus Country Club on East Broad Street. The Germain family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Germain’s name be made to The Boys and Girls Club of Naples.(Germain Racing PR)(6-30-2008)
  • Sad news: Arrangements added: The patriarch of a very familiar family in Southwest Florida has died. Bob Germain Sr. passed away Friday night in his sleep. A friend of the family says that Germain was not in bad health and this was a very sudden, unexpected loss. Memorial plans are tentative at this point, but a wake may be Monday night with the funeral on Tuesday morning. The Germain family is still finalizing the details. Between Germain Motor Company, Germain Racing, Germain Arena, Germain Amphitheatre and Germain Properties of Naples, the Germain family employs over 1200 people nationally and over 400 people in Florida.(WBBH-NBC2 News)(6-28-2008)
    Arrangements: Visitation is scheduled for 6:00-8:00pm Monday at Naples Memorial Funeral Home, 525 111th Ave. N. in Naples, Florida. Funeral services start at 11:00am Tuesday at North Naples United Methodist Church, 6000 Goodlette Road in Naples.(news-press.com)(6-29-2008)
  • Skinner gets new crew chief UPDATE Lax on interim basis: Mike Skinner got a surprise when he reached the garage area at Memphis Motorsports Park on Friday — he had a new crew chief. Bill Davis Racing recently folded its ARCA series team when rookie Michael Annett graduated to the Truck Series. On Thursday, it was announced the Annett’s crew chief Joe Lax was taking over as crew chief for Skinner’s team. Skinner was 13th fastest in the first practice with a best lap of 114.538 mph. He improved to second on the board with a top speed of 115.656mph [no word on status of Jeff Hensley].(Memphis Commercial Appeal)(6-28-2008)
    UPDATE: On SPEED/TV’s prerace report, Krista Voda reported that Jeff Hensley is still with BDR; Joe Lax will be Skinner’s crew chief on an interim basis. Mike Skinner added that Jeff Hensley is not at the track due to an illness in the family.(6-28-2008)
  • Simmons wins Int’l LoneStar Big-Rig Challenge: Exhibiting speed and accuracy, Ricky “Speedball” Simmons captured the inaugural International LoneStar Big-Rig Challenge on Friday at Memphis Motorsports Park. Simmons, who handles hauler driving duties for Bill Davis’ #5 entry, cruised through the 200-cone obstacle course without penalty and posted a winning time of 1:11.275 seconds. For his efforts, Simmons not only captured bragging rights but also a check for $2500. Rounding out the top three finishers were: Bill “Monkey Wrench” Page (#10 Circle Bar Racing) and Kelly “K-Ball” Stewart (#9 Germain Racing).(Circle Bar PR)(6-28-2008)
  • Kyle Busch to run both Kentucky & ORP: Busch will enter Craftsman Truck Series races when those are companion events or reachable – he says he simply couldn’t make the Memphis race this weekend. “Kentucky and St. Louis are two weeks that are together for the truck and Nationwide stuff. I never really had St. Louis plans to run in the Nationwide so we’re just going to go and run Kentucky for the truck race. “Companion events ultimately, those are the easiest and we’ve still got plenty of those that are planned,” Busch said. “Sometimes there’s a couple that are still back and forth traveling-wise. Like Indy, Indy will be a big one. We’re going to run the truck race, the Nationwide race and the Cup race that weekend at Indy so that will be a big weekend. You don’t have to go that far. You just have to go over to Claremont there to the short track.(SceneDaily.com)(6-28-2008)
  • Tahoe Smokeless to sponsor Setzer remainder of ’08: Bobby Hamilton Racing-VA has announced that Tahoe Smokeless, America’s Best Tasting Snuff, will sponsor the #18 Dodge Ram driven by 18-time Craftsman Truck Series winner Dennis Setzer for the remainder of the 2008 season. Tahoe Smokeless, owned by the Bailey family, is a familiar sponsor in NASCAR racing. The company has had a long standing relationship with the racing team begun by the late Bobby Hamilton. The bright green and black Tahoe Smokeless colors seen on the #18 Dodge in Charlotte and Dover will be returning to the track this weekend at Memphis Motorsports Park.(Bobby Hamilton Racing PR)(6-27-2008)
  • Drivers visiting St. Judes Hospital: While in Memphis, several Craftsman Truck Series drivers have planned a visit to St. Judes Children’s Hospital. Brendan Gaughan will accompany fellow series drivers Rick Crawford, Colin Braun, Stacy Compton and Dennis Setzer on Friday before practice sessions begin later that evening.(Circle Bar PR)(6-27-2008)
  • Brangus Breeders again sponsoring Benson: The Brangus Breeders Association logo will again adorn the sides of the #23 truck Saturday night. It will be the third time this season that the Brangus Breeders Association has sponsored the #23 Toyota. The #23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota team’s first win of the season at The Milwaukee Mile Friday night helped pad the team’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship point lead. The team sits 50 points in front of fellow Toyota driver Todd Bodine.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(6-25-2008)
  • Win-Tron Racing & Buescher to run truck? Hearing that Win-Tron Racing has purchased some NCTS trucks and will be running in the Series with driver, James Buescher. [No word on which race.] Buescher has run ARCA and made three starts to date in the Nationwide Series.(6-25-2008)
  • Rookie News & Notes – Memphis: Marc Mitchell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the June 20 Camping World RV Sales 200 at The Milwaukee Mile. Mitchell scored a 12th-place finish and claimed top rookie honors for the second time in three races. He led the event once for two laps, the first time he has led in 10 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races. Colin Braun leads the Raybestos Rookie standings by 16 points (115-99) over Donny Lia entering the June 28 O’Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park. At least one Raybestos Rookie has scored top-10 finishes in seven of the 11 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races this season. Erik Darnell owns the best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in 10 Craftsman Truck Series races at Memphis. Darnell finished second in 2006, .251 seconds behind race winner Jack Sprague. Greg Biffle is the only Raybestos Rookie to win a pole at Memphis, grabbing the top starting spot in 1998.(Raybestos PR)(6-25-2008)
  • NASCAR suspends team member for Infraction at Michigan: NASCAR announced today that Amanda S. Mathis, a team member for the #22 Toyota driven by Scott Speed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has been suspended for an infraction that occurred during the June 14 event at Michigan International Speedway. Mathis has been suspended from NASCAR until July 30 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); and 12-4-F (any member who participates in fights or altercations in the pits or on the race premises) of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rule book. Mathis was involved in a June 14 pre-race altercation with track security officials.(NASCAR PR)(6-24-2008)
  • Lawsuit says Christensen’s charity spent funds on campaign, race team: The state attorney general’s office on Tuesday filed a civil suit in Austin charging a Garland anti-drug and low-income housing charity of violating nonprofit rules by squandering its money on its founder’s salary and his political career and supporting a NASCAR racing team. Gene Christensen, who this year unsuccessfully challenged Ralph Hall for his congressional seat, is set to appear at a hearing July 21 in front of an Austin probate judge, who will consider Attorney General Greg Abbott’s request for a temporary injunction and appointment of a receiver for Mr. Christensen’s charity, People Against Drugs Affordable Public Housing. In court papers released Tuesday, the A.G. charges that Mr. Christensen, along with board members John W. Brown, Martin T. Glenn and John Shute, ran their Garland apartment complex in the 1700 block of North Jupiter Road, billed as a drug-free and subsidized rent community, as a regular for-profit apartment complex, charging full rent and offering no drug programs. The A.G.’s office accuses Mr. Christensen and his charity of using the nearly $2 million in annual revenue from the complex to, among other things, finance Green Light Racing, a NASCAR Truck Series team, which is a violation of the Texas Nonprofit Corporation Act.(Dallas Morning News)(6-24-2008)
  • Allen teams up with MDM at MMP: UPDATE: Rascal Flatts as primary sponsor: 2007 Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year, Willie Allen is slated to drive the #46-Morgan-Dollar Motorsports Chevy in the O’Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park this weekend. Allen will be sponsored by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau/Lowery Plumbing [associate sponsors].(NASCAR PR)(6-23-2008)
    UPDATE: Willie Allen, will make his first truck series start of the 2008 season this Saturday at the O’Reilly 200 in Memphis. Allen will pilot the #46 Chev for Morgan-Dollar Motorsports with primary sponsorship being provided by Grammy award winning, multi-platinum recording artists Rascal Flatts. The Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau and Kerrville, Texas based Lowery Plumbing will serve as associate sponsors on the #46 entry. The event will be a reunion of sorts for Allen and Morgan-Dollar Motorsports. Allen entered his very first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event in a Morgan-Dollar Chevrolet at Martinsville in 2005 and drove his way to a 6th place finish.(Willie Allen/Modern Mgmt. PR)(6-24-2008)
  • Racing Resources says…
    *Johnny Benson won the Camping World RV Sales 200 at The Milwaukee Mile. Benson scored his 10th career victory in his 111th career start. It was his first win of the 2008 season; his last win came at Homestead in November 2007 (10 starts in between).
    *Benson became the fourth driver in NASCAR Truck Series history to win three or more consecutive races at a track. Benson joins Brendan Gaughan (four straight at Texas), Jack Sprague (three straight at Phoenix) and Ted Musgrave (three straight at California).
    *Benson won the race from the pole — the sixth time in 14 races at Milwaukee that the race winner has started on the pole. He scored his second career win from the pole. His first win from the pole came at Phoenix in November 2006.
    *Benson gave Toyota its fifth win in the 2008 season, the most of all manufacturers.
    *Bill Davis Racing scored its second win of the 2008 season.
    *Benson led three times for 130 laps; including the last 53 laps. He led the most laps in the race — the 12th time in 14 races that the driver leading the most laps has gone on to win the race.
    *Landon Cassill, who finished third, posted his career-best finish and his second top-10 finish in five NCTS races.
    *Michael Annett finished sixth in his first career NCTS race.
    *Marc Mitchell, who finished 15th, was the highest finishing of five rookie contenders.
    *The top-10 consisted of five Toyotas, three Chevrolets and two Fords. Dennis Setzer, who finished 11th, was the highest Dodge.(ESPN.com)(6-24-2008)
  • Sieg returns to #51 at Memphis: The Truck Series heads next to the Memphis Motorsports Park for the running of the O’Reilly 200 Saturday night, June 28, 2008. Shane Sieg will pilot the #51 Tundra for the Billy Ballew Motorsports team.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(6-23-2008)
  • Speed full-time with BDR in ’09? On ESPN’s NASCAR Now program, Angelique Chengelis reported that Scott Speed is expected to run a full schedule in the Truck Series with Bill Davis Racing. (6-22-2008)
  • Two races added to Colin Braun’s schedule: Craftsman Truck Series regular Colin Braun was supposed to drive in only two Nationwide Series races this year, but he had three events added to his schedule. In addition to the Camping World RV Rental 250 Saturday night at The Milwaukee Mile, Braun said he was going to drive Roush Fenway Racing’s #16 Ford at Daytona and at O’Reilly Raceway Park.(SceneDaily.com)(6-22-2008)
  • Chaffin sits out trucks; attempting to qualify for NNS event: Tonight at the Milwaukee Mile, after qualifying for and driving a few laps in the Camping World RV Sales 200, Chaffin will crawl out of his [#40] Key Motorsports truck and turn the driving duties over to British driver Paul Poulter. Tonight’s driver change will be one of three times this season that Chaffin will step aside in favor of Poulter, who has brought financial support to the team. Chaffin will get some track time this weekend. He will attempt to qualify a second car for Saturday’s Nationwide race at Milwaukee for Jimmy Means Racing. Chaffin said he is qualifying the car as a favor to Means, who is a former track champion at the Music City Motorplex. Means was a crew chief for Chaffin early in his career.(The Tennessean)(6-20-2008)
  • Tracy testing with Germain at Chicagoland UPDATE 2: One-race deal for Vegas; maybe full-time in ’09: Open-wheeler Paul Tracy, who made his NASCAR debut in NASCAR’s #2 series in 2006, will return to the oval-track for a one-day test at Chicagoland Speedway on Wednesday, May 28th. While this will be Tracy’s first experience in a truck, he is known as one of the most cerebral wheelmen in the business and he will adapt quickly. Versatility is a trademark of the 2003 Champ Car World Series Champion, as Tracy has raced open-wheel cars, Grand-Am cars, NASCAR, and off-road trucks, all in the last two years. (Player Mgmt. PR)(5-26-2008)
    UPDATE: Possibility for 09? It was just an engine test with a driver currently out of work, as the 40-year-old Canadian has been unsuccessful in attempts to land a ride in the new unified IndyCar Series. Then again, it’s perhaps the most interesting pairing of a former open-wheel driver with a truck team. “We haven’t talked about specifics — it’s been more about maybe trying to think about that next year,” team owner Bob Germain said. “Though if we saw something come together, you’re so much further ahead if you can run some races this year to get everybody familiar with each other. But realistically, we’ve got a lot on our plate right now. We won’t rule out the possibility we’d do that, but this process just started.” This week, Tracy’s goals were modest: namely, to get acclimated to a race truck and to provide some feedback for the #30 team. Bodine tested all day Tuesday and Wednesday morning, then got to pass the wheel and rest for Friday’s race at Dover.(ESPN.com)(5-30-2008)
    UPDATE 2: A few weeks ago, Paul Tracy tested Todd Bodine’s truck at Chicagoland Speedway and impressed Bob Germain enough to get a one-off deal. Tracy will drive the Germain Racing Toyota on September 20 at Las Vegas. “Paul did a nice job so we got a little bit if support and decided it would be fun to run him in his hometown,” said Germain, who along with his two brothers owns 19 car dealerships in Ohio and Florida. “We’re going to run Chrissie full-time in the trucks next year and we’ve got another year for sure with Mike (sponsored by Geico),” said Germain. “I know Todd would like to run the Nationwide series and we’ve got about a dozen different possibilities we’ll be looking at. “And running Paul full-time in the trucks is one of those.”(Robin Miller- SPEED/TV)(6-19-2008)
  • Annett makes 1st start; Pilot Travel Center to sponsor: Michael Annett will make his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start Friday night [Milwaukee Mile]. The 21-year-old driver practiced and qualified the #22 Bill Davis Racing Toyota two weeks ago at Texas Motor Speedway, but he has yet to see racing action behind the wheel of a Toyota Tundra. The #22 Toyota will fly the Pilot Travel Center colors Friday night in Milwaukee.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(6-19-2008)
  • Poulter to make series debut at TMM: This weekend’s #40 Key Motorsports Chevy will be piloted by British Paul Poulter. [Milwaukee will be Poulter’s NCTS debut] Current Key Motorsports driver Chad Chaffin will serve in the role of mentor to Poulter this weekend.(Key Motorsports PR)(6-18-2008)
  • Keven Wood returns to driver’s seat at TMM: Keven Wood has had a few weeks off from racing and is looking forward to getting back in the seat and behind the wheel of the Wood Brothers Racing #21 U.S. Air Force Ford for the Camping World RV Sales 200 this weekend at The Milwaukee Mile. Keven has not been stranger to the race track, as he’s been spotting during practice for his cousin Jon Wood and also assisted with spotting during practice of the #21 Wood Brothers Sprint Cup car.(Wood Bros Racing PR)(6-18-2008)
  • Bodine to throw first pitch at Brewers game: Before the racing business at The Milwaukee Mile, Todd Bodine will throw out the first pitch at the Brewers game on Thursday afternoon, June 19th. [For details visit the Appearance Page])(Germain Racing PR)(6-18-2008)
  • Chrissy Wallace makes 2nd NCTS start: After a strong NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway, 20 year-old Chrissy Wallace will be back in the #03 Toyota for Germain Racing for more Truck Series action on Friday night in The Milwaukee Mile’s Camping World RV Sales 200. Wallace, who’s never seen the track other than in video games, will rely heavily on her father’s advice and her Tundra crew to help her adapt to the one-mile circuit. Wallace, who made her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway with Germain Racing this past March, is scheduled to run several more races with Germain this season. The team would like to see her race for rookie of the year in 2009.(Germain Racing PR)(6-17-2008)
  • Double-duty for Cassill: #5-Landon Cassill will make his fifth start in the Craftsman Truck Series on Friday when he suits up for the 200-mile event at Milwaukee. He will pilot the #46 Chevy for Morgan-Dollar Motorsports. Cassill has one top-10 finish in the Truck Series, which he recorded in May at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. On Saturday, Cassill will drive the #5-National Guard Chevy for JR Motosports in the Nationwide Series race.(JR Motorsports PR)(6-17-2008)
  • NCTS ratings continue to climb: The dramatic photo-finish NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race from Michigan scored an average Nielsen Household Rating of 1.00 (725,000 households), up 39 percent from last year’s .72 (512,000 households). The race peaked at a 1.12 (808,000 households), up 27 percent from last year’s peak of .88 (628,000 households). The Michigan race marks the sixth consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race with a year-to-year ratings increase on SPEED. Overall, ratings for the NCTS are up 23 percent year-to-year (1.02 vs. .83). Again, much of the growth was driven by younger audiences, as ratings in the Men 18-49 demographic were up 139 percent (.62 vs. .26) from a year ago.(SPEED/TV PR)(6-17-2008)
  • Townley makes second series start at Milwaukee: John Wes Townley will make is second start in the Craftsman Truck Series driving the #09-Zaxby’s Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. Townley has never raced at Milwaukee, but he tested a Hooters Pro Cup car at the one-mile oval earlier this year. Townley is running the full ARCA schedule and is currently fifth in the championship point standings.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(6-17-2008)
  • Scott makes first start at Milwaukee: Brian Scott, he 20-year-old Idaho native makes his first Milwaukee Mile start in his #16 Albertsons Chevy at this weekend’s Camping World RV Sales 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series contest. Scott says that the challenge of competing on a variety of venues of varying lengths is part of what makes his first year in the NCTS so much fun.(Xpress Motorsports PR)(6-17-2008)
  • SPEED’s Dunlap wins Figure 8 Race at Flat Rock: They won’t be making career changes anytime soon, but SPEED broadcasters Ray Dunlap and Rick Allen proved that they have what it takes to be successful racecar drivers this past Saturday at Flat Rock Speedway. Both SPEED reporters-turned racecar drivers found victory lane in their respective divisions, with Dunlap earning the win in the Marco’s Pizza School Bus Figure 8 Feature and Allen finding victory lane in an ARCA Factory Stock heat race. They were joined at the quarter-mile, ARCA-owned short track by fellow SPEED reporters Phil Parsons, Adam Alexander and Krista Voda, who made an appearance at the track to cheer on their coworkers and greet race fans.[Read more on arcaracing.com.](6-17-2008)
  • Raybestos Rookie News & Notes – Milwaukee: Scott Speed was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the June 14 Cool City Customs 200 at Michigan Int’l Speedway, scoring a third-place finish. Speed claimed his second top-five finish in three races and fourth top-10 in eight starts this season. He also led the race twice for 17 laps. Colin Braun scored a sixth-place finish at Michigan, his fourth top-10 in 10 starts this season. Braun leads the Raybestos Rookie standings by 18 points (107-89) over Justin Marks and Donny Lia entering the June 20 Camping World RV Sales 200 at The Milwaukee Mile. At least one Raybestos Rookie has scored top-10 finishes in seven of the 10 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races this season. Tim Sauter was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Toyota Tundra 200 at The Milwaukee Mile, logging a 16th-place finish. Kurt Busch turned in the most dominating performance by a Raybestos Rookie in 13 Craftsman Truck Series races at Milwaukee. Busch won the 2000 race from the pole and led the most laps (four times for 155 of the 200 laps).(Raybestos PR)(6-16-2008)
  • Bliss to drive #51 for BBM at The Mile: Mike Bliss will be back in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this weekend behind the wheel of the #51 Miccosukee Resorts Toyota for the running of the Milwaukee 200 at the famed Milwaukee Mile. Bliss, who is the 2002 Craftsman Truck Series Champion, has eight starts at the Milwaukee Mile with one win, four top-five and six top-10 finishes. Bliss currently drives for James Finch in the #1 Miccosukee Resorts and Gaming NASCAR Nationwide Series car.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(6-16-2008)
  • Murphy returns to #07 at Milwaukee: 2007 ASA Late Model Rookie of the Year, Sean Murphy, will return to the NASCAR Truck Series this Friday night to pilot the #07 ASILIMITED Chevy at the Milwaukee Mile for the Camping World RV Sales 200. It will be Murphy’s second race of 2008; Murphy finished in the top ten at Mansfield Motorsports Park earlier this year.(SS-Green Light Racing PR)(6-16-2008)
  • Double-duty for Braun at Milwaukee: Colin Braun has never raced at Milwaukee, but did get some laps in a Sprint Cup car last week at a test. Braun will run the Truck Series event in the #6-Con-way Freight Ford and will also pilot the #16 CitiFinancial Ford Saturday night in the Nationwide event. Braun currently holds a 18 point lead over Justin Marks in the Raybestos Rookie standings.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(6-16-2008)
  • Hornaday celebrates 50th at Milwaukee: Not only will Ron Hornaday be making his 211th career NASCAR Truck Series start on Friday night at The Milwaukee Mile, but he will also be celebrating his 50th birthday. He celebrated his 40th birthday in Victory Lane at Bristol Motor Speedway in 1998. Hornaday kept his streak of leading at least one lap going in Saturday’s race at Michigan International Speedway by leading eight laps in the Cool City Customs 200. He has now led at least one lap in all 10 NASCAR Truck Series races in the 2008 season earning valuable bonus points as he tries to win his fourth Series championship.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(6-16-2008)
  • Raymer makes second start at Milwaukee: Brent Raymer will be making his second series start in the #85 Ford at The Milwaukee Mile. Sponsor for the Camping World RV Sales 200 will be Miller Welders.(Brent Raymer PR)(6-16-2008)
    Image of the #85 Ford is posted on the 2008 Paint Scheme Gallery page.(6-16-2008)
  • AAA Hoosier Insurance named as presenting sponsor at ORP: O’Reilly Raceway Park and AAA Hoosier Insurance officials announced today that AAA Hoosier Insurance has been named as the presenting sponsor of the NASACR Craftsman Truck Series Race at ORP. The race will now be called the Power Stroke Diesel 200, presented by AAA Hoosier Insurance. The event will be held on July 25th and is one of four races taking place during the 2008 Kroger SpeedFest.(O’Reilly Raceway Park PR)(6-13-2008)
  • Smith in the #46 at MIS: Regan Smith is the driver of the #46 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports Chevy for the Cool City Customs 200 at Michigan. He was 24th fastest in the first practice session.(6-13-2008)
  • SS Green Light Racing adds Jones & Stout at MIS: Chris Jones will be at Michigan in the #0-ASI Limited Chevy truck for Green Light Racing. It is the third truck for the team, joining the 07 and 08. Also, entry list shows J.C. Stout in the ’07 ASI Limited Chevy.(6-13-2008)
  • Crawford interested in buying Montgomery Speedway: NASCAR trucks series driver Rick Crawford says he is interested in buying the dormant Montgomery Motor Speedway. Crawford, who is from Mobile, said he considered submitting a bid during an auction of the track property last month but decided against it. The half-mile asphalt track didn’t sell during the auction and Crawford said Tuesday that he is still interested. “I looked into it but I didn’t pursue it,” Crawford said of the auction, which failed to produce a bid that met the minimum price. “My ultimate goal when I retire is to own a race track,” he said, adding he would prefer to own Mobile Speedway. He said he made an offer on the Mobile track but the owner was not interested in selling at the time. “The wheels are turning but I’m not as interested in Montgomery Speedway as I would be if Mobile Speedway was available,” he said. (Everything Alabama.com)(6-12-2008)
  • Westerman Companies to sponsor #40 at MIS: The Westerman Companies prepares for its second partnership of the season with the #40 Key Motorsports Chevy with driver Chad Chaffin in this weekend’s Cool City Customs 200 at Michigan International Speedway. The Westerman Companies has signed on to partner with Key Motorsports for a minimum of six events within the 2008 Craftsman Truck Series season.(Key Motorsports PR)(6-12-2008)
  • Roush to perform flyover for Cool City Customs 200: Anyone who knows longtime team owner and Livonia, Mich., resident Jack Roush will tell you that he has two loves, NASCAR racing and aviation. Roush will get the best of both worlds on Saturday during pre-race activities for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Cool City Customs 200 at Michigan International Speedway. Roush, who is an avid pilot, will perform the flyover in his P-51 plane for the Cool City Customs 200. He will be accompanied by some of his friends piloting T-6 aircrafts. It is the first time Roush has performed a flyover for a NASCAR race. After the flyover, Roush will helicopter back from Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Mich., and be back at the Irish Hills track for the race, which will feature three of his drivers, Erik Darnell, Colin Braun and Bobby East.(Michigan Int’l Speedway PR)(6-11-2008)
  • Frazier fined, penalized for infraction at Texas: NASCAR announced today that Bryant Frazier, crew chief for the #4 Dodge driven by Stacy Compton in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has been fined and placed on probation for an infraction occurring during the June 6 event at Texas Motor Speedway. Frazier was fined $2,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (determination that truck, truck parts, components and/or equipment used in the event do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20B-12A (rear axle housing offset from vehicle centerline) of the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rule Book. The infraction was discovered June 5 during pre-race inspection.(NASCAR PR)(6-10-2008)
  • YOUCRATE.com to sponsor truck team? UPDATE To KHI with Jack Sprague: Hearing YOUCARTE.com will announce that they will sponsor a Truck Series team sometime this week. No idea which team. YOUCRATE.comis an R&L Carrier company. R&L Carriers is sponsoring Roush Fenway Racing’s #17 Sprint Cup team for four races in 2008.(5-20-2008)
    UPDATE: It appears that YOUCRATE.com will be aligned with the #2 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevy with driver, Jack Sprague. See image on the 2008 Paint Scheme Gallery page.(6-10-2008)
  • Con-way Freight celebrating at MIS: This weekend Con-way Freight will run a special 25th anniversary logo on the #6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford with driver Colin Braun since their headquarters are located in nearby Ann Arbor. About 400 Con-way Freight guests will be at MIS this weekend celebrating. Con-way currently employs over 20,000 people in North America.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(6-10-2008)
  • TV Ratings continue upward spiral: The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on SPEED continued its significant upward ratings trend, scoring a Nielsen Household Rating of .94 (677,000 households) at Texas , peaking at a 1.14 (826,000 households). The average household rating is a 40 percent increase from last year’s .67 (477,000 households) and marks the fifth consecutive NCTS race on SPEED that has received a ratings increase this season. The increase was driven, in part, by double-digit growth in the younger audiences. Nielsen ratings for Men 18-34 were up 41 percent (0.48 vs. 0.34) against last year’s race, while Men 18-49 was up 35 percent (0.70 vs. 0.52)(SPEED/TV PR)(6-10-2008)
  • Bell returns to the #7 at MIS: TJ Bell will have his second chance to help raise awareness for the “Home 4 the Holidays” campaign when he returns to the wheel of the #7 Home4theHolidays.org Chevy for TRG Motorsports this Saturday, June 14th at Michigan International Speedway for the Cool City Customs 200.(TRG Motorsports PR)(6-10-2008)
  • Scott pulling double duty at Michigan: Brian Scott has competed on 13 different tracks in his 16 race NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career. This weekend Scott adds another venue to his list, Michigan International Speedway, a unique high-speed, two-mile oval with quirks all its own. In order to speed up his learning curve Scott has added the ARCA event, the Racing for Wildlife 200, to his weekend schedule, driving the #15 Venturini Motorsports prepared Chevy. He hopes that pulling “Double Duty” will help provide him some insight for driving the #16 Albertsons Chevy truck in this weekend’s NCTS event – The Cool City Customs 200.(Xpress Motorsports PR)(6-10-2008)
  • Raybestos Rookie News & Notes – Michigan: Marc Mitchell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the June 7 Sam’s Town 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mitchell claimed a 12th-place finish in the race and scored his best finish in eight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts. He grabbed top rookie honors for the first time in seven starts this season. Justin Marks won his first Craftsman Truck Series pole at Texas, his first in 13 Truck Series starts. Marks’ best previous start was a seventh-place effort in the May 30 AAA Insurance 200 at Dover Int’l Speedway. He is the first Raybestos Rookie to win a pole since Erik Darnell grabbed the top starting spot at the 2006 Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway, a span of 41 races. A Raybestos Rookie has scored top-10 finishes in six of the nine Craftsman Truck Series races this season. Colin Braun leads Marks by 11 points (92-81) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the June 14 Cool City Customs 200 at Michigan International Speedway. Kurt Busch owns the best finish by a Raybestos Rookie at Michigan, a second place effort in 2000. Only two Raybestos Rookies have scored top-five finishes in eight races at Michigan: Busch and Carl Edwards (fifth in 2003).(Raybestos PR)(6-9-2008)
  • Camping World to sponsor Milwaukee Mile event: Camping World and the Milwaukee Mile have entered into a deal for title sponsorship of the Mile’s NASCAR weekend from 2008 through 2010, the track announced Monday. The June 20 Craftsman Truck Series race will be called the “Camping World RV Sales 200” and the June 21 Nationwide Series race the “Camping World RV Rental 250Camping World/FreedomRoads, the country’s largest RV and outdoor retailer, is headquartered in Lincolnshire, Ill. The company already is extensively involved in NASCAR through team sponsorship (Kevin Harvick Inc. and Richard Childress Racing), in race sponsorships (Daytona, California and New Hampshire) and as title sponsor of the East and West development divisions.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(6-9-2008)
  • KHI tire changer’s injury minor: Gary Labretone, front tire changer on the #33 Camping World Chevrolet Silverado team, sustained an ankle sprain last Friday night during the team’s final pit stop in the Sam’s Town 400K at Texas Motor Speedway. Labretone jumped in excitement after the team’s stop put Ron Hornaday in the lead exiting pit road and landed awkwardly as he came down. He was taken to the infield care center and returned to the pit stall in time to celebrate the win with the team. Labretone’s status for this week is unknown, but alternate changer Tim Sanders will be suited up and ready if needed.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(6-9-2008)
  • Mitchell makes first start at MIS: Marc Mitchell has never raced at Michigan International Speedway prior to the Cool City Customs 200. Mitchell recorded his best finish of the season (12th-place) last week at Texas Motor Speedway in the #15 Hyprene Ergon Toyota for Billy Ballew Motorsports.(BBM/BL Marketing PR)(6-9-2008)
  • NASCAR impounds unapproved part from #4 BHR-VA Dodge UPDATE: Ray Dunlap reported during the SPEED Report that the rear end of the #4-Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge driven by Stacy Compton was impounded by NASCAR following the Texas race and that there will likely be a penalty that comes down for BHR-VA as a result.(6-8-2008)
    UPDATE: NASCAR has confirmed that the inspectors confiscated an unapproved rear end. Any penalties will be announced on Tuesday.(NASCAR PR)(6-9-2008)
  • JTG Racing shuts down #20 team: JTG Racing’s Craftsman Truck Series team has shut down, team owner Tad Geschickter confirmed Friday night. Driver Scott Lagasse was 28th in the series points standings, with a best finish of 19th at Auto Club Speedway. JTG had fielded trucks for the previous two seasons under the Wood Brothers/JTG Racing banner, but JTG and the Woods split this season. “The Lagasse’s have been friends of mine for a long time,” Geschickter said. “They brought a sponsor to the table. We had our struggles, that’s for sure. We were gaining on it, and Scott’s a good driver. “In the end, we just all decided we weren’t making progress as fast as they wanted. They didn’t feel like the team was. So we decided just to cease operations.” Lagasse and JTG did not enter Friday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway. The sponsor, Nicholson Group Real Estate, is in the housing market.(SceneDaily.com)(6-8-2008)
  • Skinner’s Texas front row start – 8 in a row: Mike Skinner [#5 BDR Toyota] will start on the front row for the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series race at Texas for the eighth straight time after qualifying second Thursday night. Skinner, still looking for his first victory in Texas, has had five poles at the track, and started second two other times. He has five consecutive top-three finishes on the 11/2-mile, high-banked track.(Sports Illustrated)(6-6-2008)
  • Wood visits Naval Air Station: Jon Wood paid a visit to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, TX on Wednesday, June 4th. The Wood Brothers Racing U.S. Air Force F-150 race truck was on display at the Army, Air Force Exchange building where Jon signed autographs and had the opportunity to fly an F-18 flight simulator. He took his shot at landing the air craft on an Air Craft Carrier. Jon Wood and the Wood Brothers #21 Air Force Ford F-150 will start Friday night’s race at Texas Motor Speedway in 4th position after completing his qualifying lap in 30.696 seconds at a speed of 175.919mph.(Wood Bros. Racing PR)(6-6-2008)
  • Bell with sponsor, Heathcliff to run Texas with TRG: TRG Motorsports is excited to announce that Heathcliff Cat Litter and driver T.J. Bell have scratched out a deal that will allow the 27-year-old to return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as driver of the #7 Chevrolet in Friday night’s Sam’s Town 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. In addition, Heathcliff’s cat litter is proud to be associated with “Home 4 the Holidays”, the world’s largest orphaned pet adoption drive. During their 2007 campaign “Home 4 the Holidays” successfully placed nearly half-a-million orphaned pets into loving forever homes with new families. The goal for the number of orphaned pet lives saved during the 2008 campaign is one million. Heathcliff’s cat litter will share advertising on the #7 truck with “Home 4 the Holidays” to create awareness of this worthy cause. For more information about this program go to Home4theHolidays.org.” [As defending winner, Andy Lally will be running the Six Hours of Watkins Glen in the Rolex Series for TRG this weekend.(TRG Motorsports PR)(6-5-2008)
  • MIS & SPEED giving away 500 garage passes: To celebrate Michigan International Speedway’s 40th anniversary, SPEED channel and MIS are allowing race fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into a working NASCAR garage. The first 500 race fans to stop by the MIS ticket booth adjacent to the SPEED stage on Friday, June 13 will receive a free NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series garage pass. Passes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The ticket booth will open at 9am; the garage gate will open at 3:15pm local time. No purchase is necessary for a garage pass; however, participants must have a valid grandstand ticket for that day and must be wearing appropriate attire. No open-toe shoes, sleeveless shirts or shorts will be allowed in the garage. Grandstand ticket or infield wristband must accompany this pass. Children 12 and under do not require a grandstand ticket or wristband for entry however, they must be accompanied by an adult.(Michigan Int’l Speedway)(6-4-2008)
  • Speed has double-duty weekend on tap: Scott Speed has a double-duty weekend on his hands, one that spans some 1,500 miles. He will practice and qualify Eddie Sharp Racing’s #2 Red Bull Toyota on Friday at Pocono [ARCA], then fly to Texas Motor Speedway for the truck race driving the #22-Red Bull Toyota for Bill Davis Racing. Michael Annett will shake down and qualify Scott’s truck for the Sam’s Town 400. Scott will then jet set back to Pocono for Saturday’s ARCA Pocono 200.(Red Bull/BDR PR)(6-4-2008)
  • TRG Motorsports signs George to development deal: TRG Motorsports announced today the signing of Tim George, Jr. to a multi-year driver developmental program focused on building George’s stock car racing skills. George is scheduled to participate in several ARCA Re/Max Series test sessions and late model races in 2008, with the goal of running full-time in the ARCA Re/Max series in 2009 with an eye on NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition in 2010. George, 27, currently drives for Buckler under The Racer’s Group banner and is leading the points standings in the MESCO Rookie of the Year competition in the Grand American Rolex, presented by Crown Royal Cask 16.(TRG Motorsports PR)(6-4-2008)
  • Lawler doubles up this weekend: Ryan Lawler left his current residence of Mooresville, North Carolina and will return to his home state of Texas, where he’ll race on Friday night in his 4th ever Craftsman Truck Series Race [#07 SS-Greenlight Racing Chevy]. Lawler will drive 250 miles around Texas Motor Speedway on Friday night then jump on a plane headed back to North Carolina for a PASS Series 150-lap Late Model race at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC on Saturday night.(SS-Green Light Racing PR)(6-4-2008)
  • Benson sponsored by Brangus at Texas: Johnny Benson’s #23 Toyota will carry a new paint scheme again this weekend. The colors of the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) will adorn the sides of Benson’s Tundra in Texas. The #23 team sits in the fifth position in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point standings. Benson is only 54 points out of the lead.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(6-4-2008)
  • RoadLoans.com to sponsor Sprague at Texas: UPDATE Image added; RoadLoans.com will be the primary sponsor for the #2 KHI Chevy with driver, Jack Sprague for the Sam’s Town 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. RoadLoans.com is based in North Richland Hills, Texas. Sprague currently holds the qualifying record at Texas with a speed of 144.844mph.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(6-2-2008)
    UPDATE: Image of the #2 RoadLoans.com Chevy has been added to the 2008 Paint Scheme Gallery.(6-3-2008)
  • Almirola in #46 for MDM at Texas: “I am ready to back to truck racing, actually to racing period. I haven’t gotten to race for a few weeks so I am looking forward to racing a Silverado in the Truck Series at Texas. I was excited to get call from Morgan-Dollar Motorsports,” said Almirola. [Aric Almirola is set to drive the #46-Morgan Dollar Motorsports Chevy in the Sam’s Town 400 at Texas Motor Speedway; sponsor TBA.](Team Chevy PR)(6-3-2008)
  • Annett to run seven races for BDR: UPDATE First up The Milwaukee Mile: Ray Dunlap reported during the SPEED/TV qualifing broadcast that Bill Davis Racing development driver, Michael Annett will be sharing the #22 ride with Scott Speed and will be running seven truck race events in 2008. Speed will miss some races as he is focused on attempting to win the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship.(5-30-2008)
    UPDATE: Driver Michael Annett will celebrate his 22nd birthday two days early when he joins Bill Davis Racing’s #22 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team in June at The Milwaukee Mile. Annett is part of Bill Davis Racing’s driver developmental program, and he will shift his focus from the ARCA RE/MAX Series ranks to one of NASCAR’s premiere divisions. Annett will share the seat of the #22 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra with Red Bull Racing’s Scott Speed for the remainder of the 2008 season.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(6-3-2008)
  • Braun makes first start at TMS: Ovalo, Texas native, Colin Braun will make his first start at Texas Motor Speedway Friday night in the Sam’s Town 400 in the #6 Con-way Freight Ford F-150. Braun currently leads the Raybestos Rookie standings by 13 points.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(6-3-2008)
  • TV Ratings up for fourth consecutive race: The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race from Dover scored an average Nielsen Household Rating of .82 (597,000 households) on SPEED, up 14 percent from last year’s .72 (513,000 households). This year’s race at the Monster Mile peaked at a .99 (719,000 households), up 16 percent from last year’s peak of .85 (600,000 households). The Trucks, with Nielsen Ratings up for the last four consecutive races and nearly 20 percent year-to-year from 2007, are back on track this weekend, with live coverage from Texas Motor Speedway beginning Friday at 8:30pm/et on SPEED/TV.(SPEED/TV PR)(6-2-2008)
  • East in the #09 at Texas: Roush Fenway has named Bobby East as driver of the #09 Zaxby’s Ford at Texas Motor Speedway. East will also be running the #09 at Michigan and Memphis later this month.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(6-2-2008)
  • Mitchell returns to #15 at Texas: Marc Mitchell will return to the #15 Ergon Toyota in Texas for the running of the Sam’s Town 400. Marc Mitchell has never raced at Texas Motor Speedway prior to the Sam’s Town 400K.(Billy Ballew Motorsports/Breaking Limits PR)(6-2-2008)
  • Raybestos Rookie News & Notes – Texas: Raybestos Rookie Scott Speed won the May 30 AAA Insurance 200 at Dover Int’l Speedway, crossing the finish line 3.379 seconds ahead of second-place Jack Sprague. Speed scored his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in his sixth career start. He claimed his first top-five and third top-10 in six starts this season. Speed’s victory at Dover gives the Raybestos Rookie class two consecutive Craftsman Truck Series wins. Donny Lia captured the May 24 Ohio 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park. A Raybestos Rookie has scored top-10 finishes in six of the eight Craftsman Truck Series races this season. Colin Braun scored an eighth-place finish at Dover, his third top-10 in nine career Craftsman Truck Series starts. Braun holds a 13-point lead (85-72) over Donny Lia and Justin Marks in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the June 6 Sam’s Town 400K at Texas Motor Speedway. Kenny Irwin won the inaugural Sam’s Town 400K at Texas in 1997, edging out Boris Said and Rick Crawford. Irwin captured Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors that same season. A Raybestos Rookie has won four of the 20 Craftsman Truck Series races at Texas: Irwin, Travis Kvapil (2001) and Brendan Gaughan, who swept both races in 2002. Kvapil and Gaughan gave the Raybestos Rookie class three consecutive wins from 2001-2002. No Raybestos Rookie has won a pole at Texas since the series started competing at the 1.5-mile speedway in 1997 (20 races).(Raybestos PR)(6-2-2008)
  • Benson joins NASCAR Now on Monday: The Monday, June 2, edition of NASCAR Now will expand to an hour and will include host Allen Bestwick leading a roundtable discussion with ESPN analysts and reporters of the weekend’s NASCAR action Dover Int’l Speedway as well as other NASCAR news. The program airs at a special time of 6:30pm/et, following ESPN2’s live coverage of the French Open. NASCAR driver Johnny Benson will join ESPN analyst Brad Daugherty and pit reporter Mike Massaro for a one-hour roundtable discussion on the Monday, June 2.(6-2-2008)
  • Triple-duty for Kyle Busch; three locations: The three top NASCAR premiere touring series are in three locations next weekend and Busch will be the first driver to attempt to race in them all. Busch will race Friday night in the Craftsman Truck Series race at the Texas Motor Speedway, Saturday at the Nashville Speedway in the Nationwide Series and Sunday at the Pocono Raceway in the Sprint Cup Series event. Billy Ballew Motorsports developmental driver JR Norris who had a 20th place finish at the Texas Motor Speedway for the team in 2007 is slated to practice and qualify the #51 for Busch while he is at the Pocono Raceway for Sprint Cup Series practice.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(6-1-2008)

2008

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