May 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.

    • Bobcat to sponsor #13 for remainder of season: It was reported during the SPEED/TV qualifying broadcast that Bobcat has signed on to sponsor Thorsport Racing’s #13 Chevy with driver Shelby Howard for the remainder of the season.(5-30-2008)
    • Stout pulling double-duty at Dover: UPDATE Confirmed to drive #01 in Nationwide race: Hearing that JC Stout will be pulling double-duty this weekend this weekend in Dover. He’ll run the #91 in the Truck Series, but will also be making his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in the #01 car for owner Johnny Davis. Also on the horizon may be a run in the #63 truck at Texas next week.(5-29-2008)
    • UPDATE: JC Stout, who regularly competes in the Craftsman Truck Series on a part-time basis, will make his Nationwide Series debut this weekend at Dover International Speedway. Kertus Davis, who normally drives the #01 Chevy for JD Motorsports, will be Stout’s teammate on the track Saturday in JD Motorsports’ #0 race truck as Stout pilots the #01.(JC Stout PR)(5-30-2008)
    • Kittleson gets three race Nationwide deal: Mac Hill Motorsports has announced they have hired Kittleson to run at least three NASCAR Nationwide Series events for the team. Kittleson will race at Nashville Superspeedway, O’Reilly Raceway Park and The Milwaukee Mile, with the possibility of an expanded schedule if sponsorship is found.(R/T Racing/51 Sports PR)(5-29-2008)
    • Craftsman to host Urban Youth Racing School guests at Dover: Series sponsor, Craftsman, will host some 80 guests from the Urban Youth Racing School -Philadelphia Campus, for Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Dover International Speedway. 60 students and 20 chaperones will attend the Sixth Annual “Dover Day at the Races” where they will tour the Craftsman Mobile Marketing Display and enjoy lunch and pre-race festivities before taking to their seats for 250 laps of exciting Craftsman Truck Series racing at Dover’s famed “Monster Mile.” Since it’s inception in 1998, UYRS has had over 1100 children go through its 10 week Build A Dream” and Team Development Programs involving over 60 mentors who have been a part of the school for over seven years.(Urban Youth Racing School PR)(5-29-2008)
    • Key Motorsports raising awareness for Fragile X Syndrome: Fragile X is the most common, inherited cause of mental impairment and the most common known cause of autism. Key Motorsports will be partnering with FRAXA at Dover. The #40 Key Motorsports Chevy will display the Fragile X logo during the AAA Insurance 200 race weekend at Dover and team members will wear apparel to provide additional exposure about the disease and FRAXA. Also, Chesapeake Fire & Rescue, Inc., a Maryland- based distributor for Holmatro Rescue Equipment, has signed an associate sponsorship pact for the #40, with driver Chad Chaffin, for the Dover race.(Key Motorsports PR)(5-29-2008)
    • Crawford’s streak continues – logged most miles: Rick Crawford will make his 280th start in the #14 Power Stroke Diesel by Int’l Ford for Circle Bar Racing – extending a Series record – this weekend at Dover International Speedway. Crawford’s string of race starts began at the Walt Disney World Speedway on January 19, 1997. Crawford has logged over 47,000 miles in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition, the most of any driver in the series. For the third consecutive week, Crawford remains second in the driver point standings, and is only eight points out of the lead.(Circle Bar Racing PR)(5-29-2008)
    • Kyle Busch returns to the Monster Mile, triple-duty: Kyle Busch will be back behind the wheel of the #51 Miccosukee Resorts Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota at the Dover International Raceway for the running of the AAA Insurance 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race Friday, May 30, 2008. Busch will be running in all three NASCAR Premier Touring Series at Dover and is looking to match Mark Martin who is the only driver to ever score at least one win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the Monster Mile.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(5-29-2008)
    • Sieg to pilot #15 at Dover: Shane Sieg will pilot the #15 Miccosukee Resorts Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota Tundra NASCAR Craftsman Truck at the Dover International Raceway Friday, May 30, 2008 for the running of the AAA Insurance 200. Sieg has made two starts in 2008 for Billy Ballew Motorsports in the #51 Craftsman Truck substituting for NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kyle ‘Rowdy’ Busch who normally drives the Toyota Tundra. This week Sieg will step in for Marc Mitchell who is slated to compete in 21 of the 25 Craftsman Truck Series races this season.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(5-28-2008)
    • Robby to run Baja & Dover, Crafton to sub: #7-Robby Gordon once again prepares for double duty action – he will race more than 850 miles this weekend while running both the Baja 500 and the Best Buy 400 at Dover. Widely regarded as one of the best off-road racers of all time, Gordon’s weekend will begin in Ensenada, Mexico for the 40th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 on Saturday while Truck Series regular Matt Crafton practices and qualifies the #7 Jim Beam Dodge in Dover. Immediately following the conclusion of the Baja 500, Gordon will make his way cross country to Dover to start the Best Buy 400 on Sunday. Thursday will mark a day in history, when Gordon is honored at the 5th annual Monster Energy Baja Legacy party and inducted into the Carreras Cantina Hall of Fame.(RGM PR)(5-28-2008)
    • Tahoe Smokeless sponsoring Setzer at Dover: The #18 BHR-VA Dodge with driver Dennis Setzer will sport the green and black colors of Tahoe Smokeless Tobacco for the AAA Insurance 200 at Dover Int’l Speedway this weekend.(BHR-VA PR)(5-28-2008)
    • Lafferty Motorsports makes season debut with Seaman: Chris Lafferty will lead his Lafferty Motorsports team to Dover, Delaware where they will roll out the #89 Lafferty Performance NASCAR Craftsman Truck for what will be their first event for 2008. They will debut a driver out of their Driver Development program, Ryan Seaman a veteran in the Camping World East series.(Lafferty Motorsports PR). [Truck image can be viewed on the 2008 Paint Scheme Gallery](5-28-2008)
    • Starr to film Toyota dealership commercial: David Starr [#11-Red Horse Racing Toyota] recently completed a personal endorsement deal with Texas Toyota in the Forth Worth area. As part of the program, the dealership produced a select quantity of “Limited Edition David Starr Toyota Tundras”. In order to promote this new program in the area, David will be shooting a commercial for the dealership next Tuesday at the dealership.(Red Horse Racing PR)(5-27-2008)
    • Raybestos Rookie News & Notes – Dover: Raybestos Rookie Donny Lia won the May 24 Ohio 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park, crossing the finish line .241 seconds ahead of second-place David Starr. Lia scored his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in his eighth start. He grabbed his second top-10 finish in six races in 2008. Lia also became the first Raybestos Rookie to lead a lap in five races at Mansfield (he led the race once for one lap).Lia is the first Raybestos to win a Craftsman Truck Series race since Carl Edwards won at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway in August 2003 (115 races). A Raybestos Rookie has scored top-10 finishes in five of the seven Craftsman Truck Series races this season. Colin Braun has an eight-point lead (72-64) over Lia in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the May 30 AAA Insurance 200 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Kurt Busch is the only Raybestos Rookie to win in eight Craftsman Truck Series races at Dover. Busch captured the 2000 race by .210 seconds over Greg Biffle. Busch is also the only freshman driver to win a pole position at Dover. He also holds the record for fewest laps led by a Craftsman Truck Series race winner at Dover (twice for nine laps).(Raybestos PR)(5-27-2008)
    • Lawler to pilot #07 at Dover: Ryan Lawler will pilot the #07 Manheim’s Dealers Auto Auctions Chevrolet for SS-Green Light Racing at Dover International Speedway on Friday night. The AAA Insurance 200 will be Lawler’s third Craftsman Truck Series race.(SS-Green Light Racing PR)(5-27-2008)
    • Keven Wood to make season debut at MMS: Keven Wood, son of co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing, Len Wood, will be making his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this weekend in the Ohio 250 at the Mansfield Motorsports Park [one prior start in 2007]. At 23, Keven is sharing the #21 Air Force Ford ride with his cousin, Jon Wood, and will be driving eight scheduled races this season,(Wood Brothers Racing PR)(5-22-2008)
    • SS Green Light Racing test Hungarian driver Makai: SS-Green Light Racing held a test session on Tuesday at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, North Carolina USA with Hungarian Race Car Driver Gyuri (George) Makai. Makai drove over 200-laps for several hours trying different setups and track conditions since the day had ever-changing weather. His lap times were quickly up to the speed of drivers with much greater experience. SS-Green Light Racing Competition Director, Butch Miller and team General Manager/Owner, Bobby Dotter were at the test session to review Gyuri’s driving and coach him around the track. SS-Green Light Racing and Gyuri Makai are discussing future opportunities and hope to make some announcements soon upon developing a marketing program.(SS-Green Light Racing PR)(5-21-2008)
    • Red Horse Racing continues partnership: For the second week in a row, the Red Horse Racing team will fly the colors of PIT Corporate Training on their #11 Toyota Tundra for the Ohio 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park. The #11 PIT Corporate Training Toyota will once again be adorned in the new blue and black paint scheme.(Red Horse Racing PR)(5-21-2008) [Photo of the #11-Pitnow.com Toyota can be seen on the 2008 Paint Scheme Gallery.]
    • Sean Murphy returns to series at Mansfield: ASA Late Model Series Rookie of the Year, Sean Murphy, will pilot the #07 ASI LIMITED; Akzo Nobel; Spectrum Metal Finishing Chevy for the Ohio 250 Craftsman Truck Series event at Mansfield Motorsports Park. Murphy is making a return to the Truck Series after spending the past year racing in the ASA Late Model Series.(SS-Greenlight Racing PR)(5-21-2008)
    • Compton heads to Mansfield for the first time: Stacy Compton will be making his first start at Mansfield Motorsports Park this weekend, and it will also be Crew Chief Bryant Frazier’s first visit to the short track. The #4 Dodge will be sporting the Spitzer Dodge paint scheme this weekend. The Spitzer Dodge dealership was the outstanding sales performer selling more Dodge vehicles than all the surrounding dealerships thus winning the prize to sponsor Compton’s #4 Dodge Ram this weekend.(Bobby Hamilton Racing-VA)(5-20-2008)
    • Three new drivers on entry list: Three drivers hope to make their NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut this weekend at Mansfield Motorsports Park in Ohio. Roush Fenway Racing’s John Wes Townley, DGM Racing’s Scotty Crockett and Derrike Cope Inc.’s Angela Cope are among the 37 drivers competing for the 36 spots in the field. Keven Wood is slated to make his first start of the year in the Wood Brothers car, as is Sean Murphy in a SS-Green Light Racing car, and Benny Gordon in the North/South Motorsports entry.(SceneDaily.com)(5-20-2008)
    • Benson & Brangus team up for Mansfield and Texas: Johnny Benson, driver of the #23 Toyota Toyota Tundra for Bill Davis Racing has teamed up with the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) for this weekend’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ohio 250 at Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park and the Sam’s Town 400 at Texas Motor Speedway in two weeks.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(5-20-2008)
    • Mansfield familiar turf for Scott; to make first truck start: Finally Brian Scott gets to make a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at a track in which he at least has some experience. Scott has made nine previous debuts on NCTS tracks where he had never turned a lap. That all changes this weekend when Scott and his #16 Albertsons Chevy make their first NCTS start at Mansfield Motorsports Park. “I have run at Mansfield before in a Hooters Pro Cup car and had a really good experience,” Scott said.(Xpress Motorsports PR)(5-20-2008)
    • Sieg set to stand-in for Busch with Ballew at Mansfield: Shane Sieg will once again stand in for NASCAR driver Kyle Busch Saturday at the Mansfield Motorsports Park for the running of the Ohio 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race for Billy Ballew Motorsports. Sieg substituted for Busch in Kansas when conflicts in schedules of the Premier NASCAR Touring Series kept Busch from racing. Sieg will once again fill big shoes as he pilots the #51 Miccosukee Resorts Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota Tundra in the 250-lap race on the .5-mile short track in Mansfield, Ohio.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(5-20-2008)
    • Charlotte’s SPEED/tv ratings up double digits: The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race from Lowe’s Motor Speedway scored an average Nielsen Household Rating of 1.13 (817,000 households), a 41-percent increase over the 2007 event, which scored a .80 (563,000 households). The race peaked at 1.54 (1,112,000 households). An average of 1.1 million viewers watched the race, the most ever for the Charlotte event. Nielsen ratings for NCTS races on SPEED in 2008 are up 18 percent from 2007.(SPEED/tv)(5-20-2008)
    • Peters & Premier Racing plan 8-10 races: Premier Racing of Danville, Virginia made its first start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 16th with Timothy Peters driving the #17 Hayes Metal and Iron Recycling/Tahoe Smokeless Tobacco Dodge. This partnership encompasses three new owners: Philip Hudgins, Scot Jones, Steve Stallings and a driver (Peters) who will all have an equity position in the team. The team will compete in a limited schedule consisting of 8-10 races and looks to enter the series on a full time basis in 2009. Hudgins added “We fully intend to enter as many races as we can in 2008, but we want to assure everyone that we have all the pieces of the puzzle put together for a full time campaign in 2009.” The team will announce its extended 2008 schedule in the coming weeks and looks forward to being a mainstay in the Craftsman Truck Series for years to come(Premier Racing PR)(5-19-2008)
    • Stout makes first start in 2008 UPDATE Plan to run 4-5 more races: J.C. Stout, #91 Stellar-Quest Racing Silverado based in Western New York will make its first of five NCTS starts at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(Team Chevy PR)(5-14-2008)
      UPDATE: Hearing that Stout plans to run 4-5 more races this season including Milwaukee, Kentucky, Loudon, possible Martinsville.(5-19-2008)
    • Townley makes first series start at Mansfield: John Wes Townley will make his first start in the Craftsman Truck Series driving Roush Fenway Racing’s #09-Zaxby’s Ford. He has tested at Martinsville and Caraway in preparation for the Ohio 250. Townley will miss his high school graduation ceremony at North Oconee (Ga.) High School on Saturday to make his first truck start.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(5-19-2008)
    • Raybestos Rookie News & Notes – Ohio 250: Colin Braun was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the May 16 North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Braun scored a 15th-place finish and claimed top rookie honors for the third time this season. Braun led the race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway once for three laps. He is the only first-year driver to lead a lap in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2008. Braun enjoys an eight-point lead (64-56) over Justin Marks in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the May 24 Ohio 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park. Kevin Hamlin was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Ohio 250, scoring a 10th-place finish. The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in four Craftsman Truck Series races at Mansfield is fourth by Todd Kluever in 2005. A Raybestos Rookie has scored top-10 finishes in all four races at Mansfield.(Raybestos PR)(5-19-2008)
    • All-Star Monday brings Benson back to TV: With the All-Star race to review and the Coke 600 to preview, ESPN has once again shuffled the NASCAR Now on-air deck and brought in a new combination of “talent.” Joining Allen Bestwick this week will be fan favorite Johnny Benson, veteran reporter Mike Massaro and NASCAR Now’s Lead Reporter Marty Smith. This one hour of conversation at 5:30pm/et features Bestwick running the panel through the race highlights and then talking about the upcoming event.(Daly Planet)(5-19-2008)
    • Race Fest to kick off race weekend in downtown Mansfield: UPDATE: As has become tradition during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series annual visit to Mansfield, the Ohio 250 weekend will kick off on Thursday afternoon [May 22nd] with the annual Race Fest in the heart of downtown. The event will include many motorsports-themed attractions and activities with the popular transporter parade featuring all the big rigs that carry the participating teams equipment the center of attention. After the rigs get parked, the attention turns to the gazebo area as several Craftsman Truck Series drivers will sign autographs & participate in an Q&A session.(Mansfield Motorsports Park PR)(4-17-2008)
      UPDATE Sprague, Benson & Speed headline Race Fest: Mansfield Motorsports Park has released additional information regarding Race Fest in downtown Mansfield prior to the Ohio 250 race weekend. [List of participating drivers is posted on the Driver Appearances Page.] (Mansfield Motorsports Park PR)(5-19-2008)
    • Nationrides.com new sponsor for Lia: Donny Lia on signing NationRides.com: “We are very excited to debut a new sponsor on the #71 Chevy this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. NationRides.com will be on the hood, rear quarter panels, and TV panel for the race.(TRG Motorsports PR)(5-15-2008)
    • Cassill to drive #46 MDM entry at Lowe’s: Landon Cassill will drive the #46 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports entry in Friday’s N.C. Education Lottery 200 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The truck will be sponsored by GoDaddy.com.This will mark the second run for Cassill in the truck.(SceneDaily.com)(5-15-2008)
    • Sad News – DJ Smith: Delwin “D.J.” Smith, father of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pioneer Jimmy Smith, died May 12 in Temecula, Calif. where he resided for the past 15 years. Smith was 83. D.J. was born on January 6, 1925 in Crookston, Neb. He served in the Navy, was stationed in San Francisco and later settled in Southern California. He married and had three children: Joan, Jimmy and Wendell Smith. D.J. became involved with auto racing in the late 1950s promoting all types of racing and later became a car owner. After retiring, he began his second career with his sons at Ultra Wheel Company and devoted 100 percent of his time to Ultra Motorsports which fielded cars in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the then NASCAR Winston Cup Series. D.J. developed relationships with many of the NASCAR greats such as Tiny Lund, A.J. Foyt, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Parnelli Jones and Junior Johnson, to name a few. His son, Jimmy, was one of four off-road racing owners who came to NASCAR in 1994 with the concept of racing pickup trucks on paved ovals and road courses. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debuted the following year and currently is in its 14th season. In 2005, Smith’s team won both owner and driver championships fielding Dodges driven by Ted Musgrave. Services will be held at 11:00am. Monday, May 19 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 4471 Lincoln Ave., Cypress CA 90630. Donations can be made to Victory Junction in memory of D.J. Smith, 4500 Adams Way, Randleman, NC 27317. Please request Victory Junction to send donation cards to: The Smith Family, 75 Linda Isle, Newport Beach, CA 92660.(NASCAR PR)(5-14-2008)
    • Musgrave expresses sympathies to Smith family: Ted and Debi Musgrave wish to express their condolences to the Smith family on the passing of its patriarch, Delwin “D.J.” Smith, who died Monday morning at his home. Musgrave said D.J., father of former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship-winning team owner Jim Smith, was a friend to everyone in the garage. “Everyone knew him,” Musgrave said from his home on Monday afternoon. “Whether you were walking in the Truck garage, the Busch (now Nationwide Series) garage, or the Cup garage, you couldn’t go ten feet without someone wanting to stop and talk to him. If you didn’t have a chance to meet him and get to know him, it is really a shame because he was such a neat guy. Debi and I would like to pass along our condolences to the Smith family.”(Integrity Sports Marketing PR)(5-15-2008)
    • Schrader entered at LMS: Ken Schrader is entered in the NC Education Lottery 200 driving the #52-Federated Auto Parts Toyota. This will be Schrader’s second appearance in the series for 2008.(KenSchraderRacing.com)(5-15-2008)
    • Gaughan sponsored by Monaco Coach at Lowe’s: Monaco Coach Corporation, the nation’s leading manufacturer of recreational vehicles, will take the place of MaxxForce Diesel on the hood of the #10 Ford this weekend.(Circle Bar PR)(5-14-2008)

Tahoe Smokeless Tobacco sponsoring Setzer:

    • The #18 Dodge with driver Dennis Setzer, will sport the green and black colors of Tahoe Smokeless Tobacco this weekend. The former NCTS Lowe’s Motor Speedway winner will make his sixth Lowe’s start this Friday night. In five previous starts Setzer has scored one win (2004), one top five and three top 10 finishes.(BHR-VA PR)(5-14-2008)

 

  • Dover and AAA Mid-Atlantic extend partnership: Dover International Speedway and AAA Mid-Atlantic have announced a seven-year partnership extension that includes sponsorship of Dover’s new focal point, the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza, presented by AAA. The seven-year agreement also includes the entitlement of Dover’s annual NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, the “AAA Insurance 200,” and solidifies AAA as the Official Auto Club and Home, Life, and Automobile Insurance of Dover International Speedway. AAA Insurance has been the title sponsor of Dover’s annual NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race since 2006.(Dover Int’l Speedway PR)(5-14-2008)
  • Compton makes first truck start at LMS: Virginia native, Stacy Compton will be making his 16th start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this weekend, but his first in trucks. He has five Sprint Cup Series and 10 Nationwide starts. The #4 Dodge will be sporting the Crown Dodge of Fayetteville paint scheme this weekend. The Crown Dodge of Fayetteville dealership was the outstanding sales performer selling more Dodge vehicles than all the surrounding dealerships winning the prize to sponsor Compton’s #4 Dodge Ram.(BHR-VA PR)(5-14-2008)
  • McCumbee entered with BAM in Sprint Showdown UPDATE: Running in conjunction with Petty Enterprises: Sprint Cup preliminary entry list shows Chad McCumbee in the driver’s seat of the #49-Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Toyota with BAM Racing for the Sprint Showdown at Lowes Motor Speedway.(5-12-2008)
    UPDATE: The #49 entry in the Sprint All-Star Showdown will have a Petty Enterprises crew and Billy Wilburn will serve as crew chief.(Petty Enterprises PR)(5-13-2008)
  • McCumbee slated to run Dover & Chicagoland for Petty: Petty Enterprises announces its driver lineup for the #45 Marathon/Wells Fargo/PVA Dodge for the races beginning with the June 1 event at the Dover Int’l Speedway through the July 12 event at the Chicagoland Speedway. Chad McCumbee will bookend Petty’s hiatus by getting behind the wheel of the #45 Dodge at Dover and Chicagoland. He previously filled in for Petty at Pocono and the Michigan International Speedway in 2007 and at the Texas Motor Speedway last month.(Petty Racing PR)(5-13-2008)
  • Kyle Busch returns to series: Kyle Busch returns to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Friday night for the running of the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 (134 laps, 201 miles) race at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Busch was last in the #51 Miccosukee Resorts Toyota Tundra at the Martinsville Speedway where a last lap spin sent the team home without their first top-five finish in 2008 [finished 26th]. Busch will also be launching his much anticipated Rowdy Busch line of truck and super late model apparel on May 19th. The line will be sold on rowdybusch.com.(Billy Ballew Motorsports PR)(5-13-2008)
  • Mitchell makes first start at LMS: Marc Mitchell has never raced at Lowe’s Motor Speedway prior to the N.C. Education Lottery 200. Mitchell’s last run on an intermediate track was Kansas Speedway, where he started in fifth place and finished 31st following an accident. The #15 Ergon Hyprene Chevy will compete in 21 races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2008. Mitchell is competing for Rookie of The Year Honors.(BBM/Breaking Limits PR)(5-13-2008)
  • Exide sponsoring Benson at LMS: Exide will serve as the primary sponsor of Benson’s #23 Toyota for the first time this year. Many Exide employees will tour Bill Davis Racing Headquarters in High Point , NC, and participate in a go-kart outing with Benson before attending the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race this weekend.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(5-12-2008)
  • Raybestos Rookie News & Notes – Lowe’s: Colin Braun was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the April 26 O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway. Braun claimed a third-place finish, the best of his six-race Craftsman Truck Series career and claimed top rookie honors for the second time this season. Braun enjoys a five-point lead (53-48) over Justin Marks in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the May 16 North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
    The best finish by a Raybestos Rookie in five Craftsman Truck Series races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway is ninth by Aric Almirola in 2006.
    Only one other Raybestos Rookie has scored a top-10 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway: Erik Darnell, who placed 10th in 2006.
    Only one Raybestos Rookie has led a lap in five Craftsman Truck Series races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway: Tim Sauter. Sauter led the 2007 event once for one lap.(Raybestos PR)(5-12-2008)
  • Rick Ren leads active Crew Chiefs with 16 wins: Rick Ren has achieved much success in his career as a NASCAR crew chief [#33-Ron Hornaday Jr.]. He’s been to Victory Lane with numerous drivers, led two drivers to Rookie of the Year awards and was the 2007 NASCAR Truck Series championship crew chief. Ren recently added another achievement to his résumé: the winningest active Truck Series crew chief. He has 16 victories in the Truck Series and is currently tied for third with Rich Burgess on the all-time crew chief career wins list, behind Dennis Connor (26 victories) and Randy Goss (20).(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(5-12-2008)
  • England’s Mickel enters Charlotte race: UPDATE Sponsor announced: John Mickel will step away from his Sky Sports job as a NASCAR Commentator and return to the driver’s seat. Mickel will pilot the #07 Torquespeed / SS Green Light Racing Chevy for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Lowes Motor Speedway on May 16th. Mickel has six-starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and experience in the former American Speed Association (ASA). He is also a color commentator for Sky Sports, the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland, which broadcast live NASCAR Sprint Cup Races.(SS Green Light Racing PR)(5-6-2008)
    UPDATE: Mickel will pilot the #07 Torque Speed, Dudman Group, Contac Chevy on Friday night. It will be his 7th start in the series.(SS Green Light Racing PR)(5-12-2008)
  • Starr and Red Horse Racing announce partnership for LMS: Red Horse Racing will fly the colors of PIT Corporate Training on the #11 Toyota Tundra this week at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. As part of the corporate partnership with the team, the #11 PIT Corporate Training Toyota Tundra will be adorned in a special blue and black paint scheme for the Friday night event. Performance Instruction & Training (PIT) corporate training programs provide motorsports experiential team building and Continuous Improvement curriculums. David Starr will be making his sixth career start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. (Red Horse Racing PR)(5-12-2008)
    Image: Paint scheme rendering is posted on the 2008 Paint Scheme Gallery page.(5-12-2008)
  • Bodine to run Nationwide race at Darlington UPDATE 2 Brings home 4th place finish: Todd Bodine and Germain Racing will next take to the track on May 9th at Darlington Raceway with the #03 Germain Motor Company Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, followed by more Truck Series action in the Lumber Liquidators Tundra on Friday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 16th.(Germain Racing PR)(4-28-2008)
    UPDATE: Mike Hillman Jr. will serve as crew chief for the #03 Germain Motor Company Toyota. This is his first race back atop the pit box since he began serving a suspension issued by NASCAR following an infraction found before qualifying in the Truck Series race at Daytona. Bodine has one win, seven top five and 14 top-ten finishes at Darlington in 20 starts in the Nationwide Series.(Germain Racing PR)(5-9-2008)
    UPDATE 2: After starting from the 15th position, Todd Bodine brought the #03 Germain Racing Toyota home with a respectable 4th place finish. Todd’s comments: “We actually had a car to win and I goofed up and got up in the wall on three and four when I was behind Matt (Kenseth) and that really messed it up. It took the right front fender and pushed it in and then I pushed after that. We had a great night, great pit stops — the guys doing a hell of a job and just proud to be here racing. It’s great to be able to finish a Nationwide race in the top-five with all of these Cup guys. It just shows this old truck team is pretty tough.”(Toyota Motorsports PR)(5-10-2008)
  • NASCAR schedules award shows: NASCAR announced today the lineup for its three top series’ 2008 postseason awards shows, including the NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony’s return to the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. The Dec. 5 Waldorf event will continue a tradition begun in 1981 for NASCAR’s premier series. The event will be held in the Waldorf’s Grand Ballroom. Television broadcast information will be announced at a later date. This lineup is a change from recent seasons, when the NASCAR Nationwide Series was the finale. This year, that event will preface the New York show. The rundown follows:
  • Nov. 17: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series; Seminole Hard Rock; Hollywood, Florida
  • Nov. 22: NASCAR Nationwide Series; Portofino Bay Hotel; Orlando, Florida
  • Dec. 5: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series; Waldorf Astoria; New York.(NASCAR PR)(5-9-2008)
  • Benson returns to Berlin Raceway: Grand Rapids native Johnny Benson returns to his home track, Berlin Raceway, to compete in the Late Model division [during off-week for Truck Series]. Benson had planned on competing in last week’s Berlin Raceway program, only to be stopped when rain washed out the week’s action. Benson will be back at Berlin on Aug. 2 and Sept. 27 for two additional appearances.(Grand Rapids Press)(5-9-2008) [For ticket information visit the Appearances Page.]
  • Seaman lands deal with Lafferty Motorsports: Even at 25 years of age, Ryan Seaman figured he was running out of racing opportunities … and the much needed money to fuel his thirst to race. Surprisingly, he came across a “want ad” for a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, someone who had his experience, his energy and his desire to win races. “It was a driver development deal in a truck series,” Seaman said. Seaman and his father, Everett, flew to Concord, N.C., on Easter Sunday evening to meet with truck owner Chris Lafferty the next morning at Hickory Motor Speedway. On the second day [testing] at Hickory Motor Speedway, the evaluation gave Seaman a complete understanding of exactly what Lafferty Motorsports had been looking for and what they saw in his performance. Everyone sat down later in the day and talked about goals and tasks to build a long-lasting relationship within Lafferty Motorsports. Seaman will make his debut May 30 in the AAA Insurance 200 at Dover International Speedway.(Ashbury Park Press)(5-9-2008)
  • Key Motorsports sign England’s Poulter: Key Motorsports is going across the Atlantic Ocean to find new talent for its Craftsman Truck Series program, and English-born Pickup Truck Racing standout Paul Poulter has signed a development agreement with team owner Curtis W. Key, Sr. for the 2008 season. The 6′ 2″, 225-pound Poulter, who hails from Fetcham Surrey outside of London, tested with Key Motorsports last year and performed well. He will test several times before initiating a three to 7-race program in the #40 Key Motorsports Chevy later this season beginning with the scheduled race at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, WI in June. Follow-up starts at Memphis and Nashville, TN; Las Vegas, Atlanta, Texas and either Phoenix or Homestead, FL have also been penciled onto the schedule.(Key Motorsports PR)(5-8-2008)
  • Kvapil returns to series at Lowes: Although Travis Kvapil is scheduled to run the full 2008 Sprint Cup Series for Yates Racing, he is also driving the #09 Zaxby’s Ford for Roush Fenway Racing in 11 Craftsman Truck Series races this season. In only three starts in the truck series so far, Kvapil has two top-10 finishes. Next Friday he will compete in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(5-7-2008)
  • Cook entered in Nationwide race at Darlington: Terry Cook is listed on the entry list for this weekend’s Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Speedway. Cook is scheduled to drive the #91 Ford for Randy Humphrey Racing. Sponsor TBA.(5-6-2008)
  • Wood ready for more races with family-owned Cup team: A rejuvenated Jon Wood says he’s thrilled to be taking a larger role on the Wood Brothers Racing team’s NASCAR Sprint Cup driving schedule. The 26-year-old Wood says he is scheduled to drive the car in the upcoming races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway and Pocono Raceway. Bill Elliott will drive for the team this weekend at Darlington Raceway, but Wood has been at Lowe’s this week participating in the NASCAR test session.(SceneDaily.com)(5-6-2008)
  • Braun goes COT testing at VIR: In an effort to help Roush Fenway Racing prepare for the upcoming road course race at Infineon Raceway, Colin Braun joins Boris Said for a COT test session this week at Virginia International Raceway. Said will be on track Tuesday; Braun on Wednesday.(Con-wayRacing.com)(5-5-2008)