May 2007 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.
UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing has released the following statement in regards to the indefinite suspension from NASCAR competition for Tyler Walker. “We agree with the vigilance that NASCAR is taking in this instance,” said Bill Davis. “We also have a zero tolerance substance abuse policy at Bill Davis Racing and will take the appropriate action concerning Tyler’s future status with our company.”(Bill Davis Racing PR)(5-29-2007)
UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing announced today they will continue their driver development program with rookie driver Ryan Mathews. Mathews will be behind the wheel of the #36 Toyota Tundra starting this weekend at the Mansfield Motorsports Speedway. Matthews most recently competed in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Tyler Walker will continue to be a part of the Bill Davis Racing’s driver development program. Rockford Montgomery and its 360 OTC brand will remain a valued partner of Bill Davis Racing. They will continue to have presence in both the Nextel Cup Series as well as the Craftsman Truck Series. The company will return as the sponsor of the #36 truck at the Memphis Motorsports Park in late June with an exciting new product.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(5-22-2007)
UPDATE 2: RaceTalkRadio.com has learned that the #36 Toyota will carry Buffalo Wild Wings as a one race sponsor in support of Ryan Mathews debut n the Craftsman Truck Series with Bill Davis Racing.(5-25-2007)
UPDATE: Pennington Motorsports team owner J. Pennington officially has announced the signing of Barry Dodson as crew chief of the #7 Hooters Energy Drink Chevy in the Craftsman Truck Series with driver Jason White effective with this weekend’s event from Mansfield Motorsports Park. In addition to the announcement of Dodson, Pennington also disclosed that Dwayne Gaulding, head of sales and marketing for GunBroker.com will serve as general manager of the team effective immediately. (Pennington Motorsports PR)(5-24-2007)
UPDATE: Gary Showalter comes over to Key Motorsports to succeed the recently departed Barry Dodson, and Tommy Morgan is stepping up from the Shop Foreman’s position to become the organization’s new Competition Director. Showalter is a veteran Crew Chief and top mechanic who has worked in all three levels of NASCAR. He more recently guided the efforts of Kelly Sutton and Sutton Motorsports and drivers Casey Kingsland, Brad Keselowski and Jason White at Pennington Motorsports. The 57-year-old Morgan was a consistent winner in NASCAR Busch Series competition for many years with his most notable success coming during a 5-year stint with Roush Racing in the mid to late 90’s when he served as crew chief for Jeff Burton. Clay Rogers returns for his third race of the season behind the wheel of the #40 Curtis Key Plumbing Chevy.(Key Motorsports PR)(5-23-2007)
UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing officially announced that K&N Filters has signed on to sponsor their #6 Craftsman Truck Series team and driver Travis Kvapil for the remainder of the 2007 season. K&N signed on to sponsor the #6 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16. Kvapil led the most laps en route to a third-place finish, crossing the finish line inches behind Jack Sprague and Johnny Benson. K&N continued their sponsorship for the next five races, and signed on long-term following the race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(5-22-2007)
UPDATE: Gary Showalter comes over to Key Motorsports to succeed the recently departed Barry Dodson, and Tommy Morgan is stepping up from the Shop Foreman’s position to become the organization’s new Competition Director. Showalter is a veteran Crew Chief and top mechanic who has worked in all three levels of NASCAR. He more recently guided the efforts of Kelly Sutton and Sutton Motorsports and drivers Casey Kingsland, Brad Keselowski and Jason White at Pennington Motorsports. The 57-year-old Morgan was a consistent winner in NASCAR Busch Series competition for many years with his most notable success coming during a 5-year stint with Roush Racing in the mid to late 90’s when he served as crew chief for Jeff Burton. Clay Rogers returns for his third race of the season behind the wheel of the #40 Curtis Key Plumbing Chevy.(Key Motorsports PR)(5-23-2007)
UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing officially announced that K&N Filters has signed on to sponsor their #6 Craftsman Truck Series team and driver Travis Kvapil for the remainder of the 2007 season. K&N signed on to sponsor the #6 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16. Kvapil led the most laps en route to a third-place finish, crossing the finish line inches behind Jack Sprague and Johnny Benson. K&N continued their sponsorship for the next five races, and signed on long-term following the race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(5-22-2007)
UPDATE: Sponsorship for the #3-Germain Racing Toyota is supplied by Southeast Toyota Dealers.
UPDATE: During qualifying at Lowes, SPEED/TV reported that Kevin Hamlin is scheduled to be back in the #4Open Joist Dodge at Mansfield Motorsports Park on May 26th.(5-18-2007)
UPDATE: Bill Davis Racing has released the following statement in regards to the penalties for their #23 Craftsman Truck Series team driven by Johnny Benson. “We agree with the penalties NASCAR has issued to the 23 team and we will deal with them accordingly,” said Bill Davis. “NASCAR has rules and policies in place to keep the drivers and crew members safe and we appreciate their vigilance in this instance.” In Trip Bruce’s absence, truck chief Billy Hagerthey will assume the role of crew chief.(BDR PR)(5-15-2007)
UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing driver, Erik Darnell led 80 of 100 laps en route to guiding his #99 Ford to his first Kentucky Speedway and ARCA RE/MAX Series win by 3.206 seconds over Evernham Motorsports driver Erin Crocker [#98]in front of 16,221 fans at Kentucky Speedway Saturday night.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(5-13-2007)
UPDATE: The odds were stacked against Johnny Benson & Wyler Racing but they managed to out-qualify some of the heavily funded teams that do this week in and week out, run a clean race, and get a respectable finish [31st]. The Wyler’s may give Cup racing another try, but for now; “Our main focus is to win Jack Sprague his fourth championship in the Craftsman Truck Series,” explained Wyler. “We are going to do everything in our power to do that this year. What we are going to do on the Cup side is take it week by week, race by race, and if we feel we can go and contend and run competitively in the Cup car, we’ll do it. But, we are not going to do it at the expense of the #60 Con-way Freight Toyota.”(Wyler Racing PR)(5-7-2007)
UPDATE: folks from Kyle Busch Motorsports have informed me that neither Kyle Busch nor KBM has purchased any part of Ballew’s team, shop, trucks or equipment. However, he will be driving a handful of truck races for Ballew this season.(5-4-2007)
Erik Darnell proves ‘Can’t Miss’ pronouncements accurate: Three-time Craftsman Truck Series champion Jack Sprague (#60 Con-way Freight Toyota) predicted we’d hear a lot from 2006 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Erik Darnell (#99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford). Sprague’s pronouncement proved accurate April 28 as Darnell raced to his first Craftsman Truck Series victory in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway. Indeed, Sprague was not only correct, but he proved to be Darnell’s final obstacle as the winner led three times for a race-high 92 laps. Darnell won in his 31st series start and became the fourth driver under the age of 25 to win a series race at Kansas Speedway. The Illinois native is 24 – the same age as Roush-Fenway stable mate Carl Edwards when Edwards won the race in 2004. Ricky Hendrick and Jon Wood were 21 when they captured the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250. Darnell is the 57th driver to win a series race.
Skinner’s win streak finished: Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) won for the third-consecutive time in June 1996 at Heartland Park Topeka. Kansas, however, wasn’t good for the 1995 Craftsman Truck Series champion on April 28. Despite winning his 35th Budweiser Pole and leading 58 laps, Skinner finished fifth ending his quest for a record, fourth-consecutive victory. Skinner, however, added 12 points to his standings lead of 108. “We came here to run in the top 10 and we got a top five,” he said.
Erik Darnell became the earliest non-winning Raybestos Rookie of the Year to break into the victory column. His Kansas win ousted Roush Fenway Racing’s Greg Biffle from the record book. Nine of 11 top rookies have Craftsman Truck wins. The remaining non-winners are Mike Stefanik (1999) and Todd Kluever (2005).
News & Notes – Part II:
Season’s Final Test Takes Place Next Week…May heralds the beginning of the heart of the 2007 Craftsman Truck season, and with it, a significant number of races on mile-and-a-half racetracks. That’s why the May 10-11 test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway may be critical in the battle for the championship. The track will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. both days with Saturday, May 12 reserved in case of inclement weather. Dover International Speedway Hosts Series’ 300th Race…The June 1 AAA Insurance 200 will mark the 300th time the field has taken the green flag. Winners of the 100th race – Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 AES HR Solutions Chevy) – and 200th (Ted Musgrave, #9 Team ASE/Germain Toyota) will be in the field. Race #100 took place at Evergreen (Wash.) Speedway on April 3, 1999. Race #200 was held at Memphis Motorsports Park on June 21, 2003. The top two from 1999 – Hornaday and Jack Sprague – will compete in the 300th race as will 2003’s top three: Musgrave, Travis Kvapil (#6 K&N Filters Ford) and Dennis Setzer (#75 Spears Manufacturing Co. Chevy). American Commercial Lines Backs Wyler Racing…The sponsor of March’s series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway will appear as an associate backer on Jack Sprague’s #60 Con-way Freight Toyota beginning with the June 8 Sam’s Town 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. American Commercial Lines is one of the largest and most diversified marine transportation and manufacturing companies in the United States. Crawford Cracks $4 Million…Rick Crawford (#14 Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford) has become the fifth $4 million career winner. His total winnings following the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 are $4,022,282.
Battle for top-30 ranking continues:
With a “home” race on the horizon for most Craftsman Truck teams looming, a ranking among the top 30 in owner points appears doubly important. Lowe’s Motor Speedway, host to the May 18 Quaker Steak and Lube presented by Circle K, can be a challenge to the best of teams. Thus, having a guaranteed starting position certainly is pressure relief. At Kansas Speedway, veteran owner David Dollar and sophomore driver Kraig Kinser (#47 VFW/Ginn Resorts Chevy) moved from 32nd to 30th. The previously 30th-ranked #7 Hooters Energy Drink Chevy of J.L. Pennington, now 31st, will have to qualify on speed at Lowe’s.
Raybestos Rookie of the Year Standings:
Aaron Fike (#1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota) finished eighth at Kansas Speedway to become the first Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate to post back-to-back top 10s in 2007. Rookie point standings: Aaron Fike, 59; Willie Allen, 42; Tyler Walker, 41; Kelly Bires, 37; Blake Bjorklund, 36; Joey Clanton, 35; Tim Sauter, 35; Jason White, 12; Casey Kingsland, 5; Brian Sockwell, 1.
This Week’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders: (through 5 races of the 25-race season)
Points leader – Mike Skinner (905)
Driver Rating – Mike Skinner (132.3)
Winnings – Mike Skinner ($228,925)
Laps led – Mike Skinner (423)
Victories – Mike Skinner (3)
Budweiser Poles – Mike Skinner (3)
Top-five finishes – Mike Skinner (5)
Top-10 finishes – 3 drivers with 5
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Aaron Fike (12 over Willie Allen)
Races led – Mike Skinner (5)
Weeks in Top 10 – 9 drivers tied with 5
Etc.
Roush Fenway Racing Rules at Kansas Speedway; adds to Series Win Record: no doubt about it, Jack Roush knows how to pick them. And if there are so-called “horses for courses,” Roush Fenway drivers definitely have Kansas Speedway’s number. Erik Darnell is the third from the team to win the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250. No other team has won more than once. Roush has spread around the wealth during his 13 seasons as a Craftsman Truck owner. Darnell is his ninth different winner as the team’s victory total rises to 44. Among active teams, Bobby Hamilton Racing is Roush Fenway’s closest rival. BHR has won 19 times, but not since 2005. Crew chief John Quinn counts victories with drivers from both ends of the learning curve: Darnell at Kansas and veteran Ricky Craven in 2005.
First-Time Winner shines with high driver rating: Erik Darnell, zero wins on his resume, was dominating like a seasoned veteran. Darnell turned Kansas Speedway into his personal playground last Saturday night and registered the fifth-widest margin of victory in Craftsman Truck Series history – 10.440 seconds. Surpassing the statistics he amassed was likewise unheard of for a first-time winner. Darnell earned a race-best Driver Rating of 135.6 (150.0 is the maximum rating) and his Average Running Position of 6.677 was third-best. He turned the fastest laps 50 times, was easily the most and 29 more than second place Mike Skinner. Darnell also had the fastest Green Flag Speed. Darnell’s 140 Laps in the Top 15 is one stat that is particularly impressive considering that he had to start at the back of the field because of unapproved adjustments to his #99 Northern Tool+ Equipment Ford.
In the loop:
As far as the season-to-date Loop Data goes, standings leader Skinner is the class of the field. He has a Driver Rating of 132.3, by far the best in the series (Jack Sprague is second with 107.5), and an Average Running position of 3.443. Skinner’s 156 Fastest Laps Run are nearly three times more than the second-place driver in that category (Darnell is in second with 53 Fastest Laps Run).
Manufacturers:
Ford scores first One-Two Finish since Kansas ’06: when Erik Darnell and Rick Crawford crossed the line at Kansas Speedway it marked Ford’s first one-two finish since July 1, 2006 – at Kansas Speedway. Darnell’s victory snapped Toyota’s four-race winning streak leaving the latter truck maker with a 42 to 29 point Manufacturers’ Championship lead over Ford. Chevy and Dodge remain winless entering the next event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Craftsman Truck Series Manufacturers’ Championship
Toyota, 42
Ford, 29
Chevy, 24
Dodge, 15
(NASCAR Media)(5-1-2007)
2007
April
March
February
Jayski Truck Series Silly Season Main Page
Jayski’s Silly Season Cup News Page
Jayski’s Silly Season Main Page
Born On Date: May 1, 2007
This page designed by Jayski LLC, 1996-2016©.. All Rights Reserved.
Jayski’s® is a registered trademark of Jayski LLC.
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form without permission or credit.