November 2005 Truck Series News Archive
- Winners of a race in Cup, Busch and Truck Series races: see my Misc Stats page for this and many others.
UPDATE: David Starr will not return next season as the driver of the #75 Spears Manufacturing Chevy in the Truck Series, but he probably will drive for another team in 2006. Starr and team owner Wayne Spears agreed to part ways after the season finale last weekend at Homestead. Two Toyota teams and one Ford team have approached Starr about driving for them next season. Starr said those talks are ongoing, and he didn’t want to name the teams. Starr also said he probably would compete in 10 to 12 Nextel Cup races in 2006 with a team that’s forming a new partnership.(Dallas Morning News)(11-26-2005)
Ted Musgrave (#1 Mopar Dodge) wasn’t leaving anything to chance. Musgrave, once bitten at Homestead-Miami Speedway, chose discretion over valor with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship on the line. His 19th-place finish in Saturday’s Ford 200 was workmanlike – and all he needed to capture the title. Musgrave entered the 2005 season’s deciding race with a 55-point lead over Dennis Setzer (#46 Chevrolet Z71 Silverado Chevrolet). He shadowed his rival throughout the race and finished one position behind Setzer, who wound up second in the championship standings for the third straight year. The final margin of victory was 55 points – 3,535 to 3,480. Musgrave becomes the series’ eighth champion and sixth consecutive different champion. “I just wanted to stay around Dennis so I’d know I had a cushion and let (the rest of) the guys do whatever they needed to do,” said Musgrave, who thus was able to avoid a final-lap accident involving several of the frontrunners. “We had a better truck but the older you get, the smarter you get.” In winning the title in his fifth full season in the series at age 49 years 11 months, Musgrave became NASCAR’s oldest national touring series champion. He finished second to Jack Sprague (#60 Jeff Wyler Toyota) in 2001 and third in each of the past three seasons. He came closest to the championship in 2003 when a late-race penalty at Homestead dropped him from a potentially title-clinching finish. Musgrave, who never had won a title in more than 30 years of competition, had resigned himself to leaving that page of his resume blank.
“Yeah, I thought I was a carbon copy of Mark Martin,” said Musgrave of his former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teammate at Roush Racing. “How many times has he finished second? The Cup one always seems to elude him. I thought for awhile I might have the same syndrome here. Every time we got up there and tried to win the championship, something would get slipped away from us.” Musgrave’s 2005 performance – a win and 11 top five and 15 top-10 finishes – gave Ultra Motorsports’ Jim Smith the owner’s championship. Smith and three other off-road owners commissioned the building of a prototype truck in 1993, brought it to a Daytona Beach trade show the following February and convinced NASCAR Vice Chairman Bill France to organize a truck racing series. Smith, a Southern California businessman, has fielded at least one truck in all 267 races of the series that began in early 1995. Ultra drivers have logged eight top-five championship finishes and won 36 races. “It’s a great day even if it was an ugly race,” said Smith. “To give Ted his first championship is big for me.” Smith’s relationship with Musgrave remains decidedly “old school” in a 21st Century racing world. The pair inked contractual details on a cocktail napkin and sealed the deal with a handshake. “I’ve got a lifetime contract with Jimmy Smith and I told him I’d drive for him until I quit,” said Musgrave. “I’ll come back next year and try to make it again. As far as I know if I can go out and win races and the championship, why quit?”
NEWS & NOTES, PART II
Disappointment but no tears for veteran Setzer … In the driver’s seat in early August with a 227-point championship lead after his fourth victory of the year at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Setzer came back to the pack with just a pair of top-10 finishes in the remaining 10 races. Setzer won on several speedway configurations and on a short track before figuratively hitting the wall. “There is no way to look back and say ‘coulda, woulda, shoulda,’” he said. “We were pretty doggone good in the middle part of the season. The speedways got us in place. Then we won on the short tracks. Somehow we just lost something after that and we just couldn’t get our program turned around and back in gear. But I appreciate all these guys and the effort they put out. We ain’t giving up. We’re going to get one of these (championships).”
Time wasn’t on Bodine’s side … Todd Bodine (#30 Germain Racing Toyota) was in championship form as the season wound down. Musgrave and owner Smith probably breathed a sigh of relief that the 41-year-old New Yorker ran out of time and races. Bodine polished off a record-matching third-consecutive victory in Homestead and finished the season third in the standings – just 70 behind Musgrave after trailing then-leader Setzer by 488 on Aug. 5. Bodine wound up the season’s biggest winner with five, four of them in the final six races. “We just have it going on,” said Bodine. “I don’t know what it is but if we could bottle it up we could make millions.” Bodine has the most wins – seven – over the past two seasons.
All three “originals” make the top 10 … Appropriately, in a season during which the series’ first 10 years were celebrated, all three of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ “original” champions – Sprague, Ron Hornaday Jr. (#6 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) and Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) – finished among the top 10 in the standings. Hornaday was fourth, Skinner fifth and Sprague eighth. Sprague collected his ninth top-10 championship finish.
ETC. … Defending champion Bobby Hamilton (#04 Bailey’s Dodge) finished in sixth place. Hamilton dropped out of the Ford 200 after a late-race accident to end a series-record run of 65 races without a DNF. The streak began July 5, 2003 at Kansas Speedway. … Musgrave’s crew chief, Gene Nead, 42, a Philadelphia native, won his first NASCAR championship. Nead has backed winners of nine series races – eight of them with Musgrave. … Todd Kluever (#50 World Financial Group Ford), claimed Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors to become the fourth Roush Racing competitor to win the freshman award. Kluever moves to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2006.
… Forty different drivers led at least one time during the 2005 season, five more than the previous record of 35 set a year ago. … Forty-five different drivers posted a top-10 finish, one more than in 2004. … Bodine is Homestead-Miami Speedway’s 10th consecutive different winner to match the series record set at New Hampshire International Speedway in September. … Chevrolet had the most manufacturer wins in 2005 en route to its sixth manufacturer title. Toyota, in its second season, won nine times. … The 2005 Champion’s Awards Banquet will be held Sunday, Dec. 11 in Orlando, Fla.(NASCAR PR)(11-25-2005)
#1-Ted Musgrave, 3532
#46-Dennis Setzer, 3480, -52
#30-Todd Bodine, 3562, -70
#6-Ron Hornday, 3369, -163
#5-Mike Skinner, 3273, -259
For points standings see:
ESPN.com
Truckseries.com
Motorsports One – Drivers
Motorsports One – Owners
NASCAR.com – official [posted Mon]
NASCAR.com – unoff.(11-19-2005)
UPDATE: streak broken, #1-Ted Musgrave won the 2005 Truck Series Championship.(11-19-2005)
Speed Channel is scheduled to re-air the race Saturday night at 10:00pm/et.
For race results see:
ESPN.com
Truckseries.com
Motorsports One
NASCAR.com – official[posted Mon]
NASCAR.com – unofficial.(11-19-2005)
• Ted Musgrave won his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship and became the eighth driver to win the Series Championship. He beat second-place Dennis Setzer by 52 points in the final point standings.
• Musgrave is the sixth different NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion in the last six years.
• This is the first NASCAR national touring series championship of his career comes in his fifth full season of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition.
• Musgrave’s previous best NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season final point position (second) occurred in 2001. He finished third each of the past three seasons.
• Musgrave, from Franklin, WI, becomes the oldest NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion at 49 years, 11 months, and 0 days.
• This is Jim Smith’s first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship in his 11th season as an owner. Musgrave has driven for Smith the past five seasons.
• This is also crew chief Gene Nead’s first Series title in his third full season as a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series crew chief. Nead is 42 years old and from Philadelphia, PA.
• Musgrave led the standings following nine races in 2005. He started the season in fifth position following the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at the Daytona International Speedway. Musgrave took the lead for the final time following Martinsville in October and led for the final four races.
• Musgrave ranked in the top-five in points the entire season.
• Musgrave scored only one victory in the 2005 season (St. Louis).
• Musgrave becomes the second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver to win a championship though winning only one race, joining Travis Kvapil (2003)
• Musgrave has 16 victories in 124 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races.
• Musgrave is the second Dodge driver to win a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship. Three manufacturers have recorded championships in the Series: Chevrolet (eight), Dodge (two) and Ford (one).
• Musgrave had one Bud Pole, one victory, 11 top five finishes, 15 top ten finishes in the 25 races this season.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(11-19-205)
See qualifying results/starting lineup at:
Truckseries.com – Starting Lineup
Truckseries.com – Qualifying Results
NASCAR.com.(11-18-2005)
Bodine will be driving in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and Busch Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. The Hunter’s Hope Foundation logo will be prominently displayed on his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series #30 Germain Motor Co. /Racers Edge Toyota Tundra and Busch Series #34 Dollar General/Chevy Monte Carlo for this weekends NASCAR season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, FL. Both the #30 Germain Motor Co./Racers Edge/Toyota Tundra Racing crew and #34 Dollar General crew members will be wearing Hunters Hope Foundation T-shirts and wristbands this weekend. Fans can purchase T-shirts and/or wristbands by going to huntershope.org. All proceeds go to the Hunter’s Hope Foundation.(PR)(11-18-2005)
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship goes down to the wire for the 10th time in 11 seasons this Friday and the only thing certain is that the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway will produce a first-time champion. Ted Musgrave (#1 Mopar Dodge), who’s never finished worse than third in the points in four fulltime seasons, carries a 58-point lead into the 25th race of the 2005 season. Rival Dennis Setzer (#46 Chevrolet Z71 Silverado Chevrolet) also has been here before – and likewise has come up empty. Setzer finished second to Travis Kvapil in 2005 and a year ago to Bobby Hamilton (#04 Bailey’s Dodge). For Musgrave, the math is simple: finish 10th or better and win the championship.
Martin returns to series after nine-year absence … Mark Martin (#33 Roush Racing Ford) hasn’t turned a wheel in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since winning the Sept. 28, 1996 event at the old North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. He makes his return this week with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series crew chief Pat Tryson calling the shots. “This is really where my heart’s been throughout the summer. Through the musical chairs of the Cup Series, it sort of put me in the position of postponing a fulltime schedule until ’07 but I’m still committed to running Homestead and six or seven races next year to get this team refined for ’07,” said Martin. ETC. … All three of NASCAR’s national touring series will decide championships at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a first since the advent of the track’s tripleheader weekend. … Musgrave has been named to the All-America Racing Team (Touring Series) second team of drivers as voted by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association. Setzer received honorable mention in the same category. NASCAR Busch Series points leader Martin Truex Jr. received the first team nod. … Musgrave has led the most laps of any race winner at Homestead – 86 of 167. His 10.588-second margin of victory over Kvapil is the fourth-widest in series history. … The most lead changes at Homestead, 17, came in 1999. … A Dodge has won three of the last four races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Ford won consecutive events between 1996 and 1999 while Chevrolet counts two victories. … Kluever will wrap up Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors at Homestead and become the fourth Roush Racing competitor to capture the freshman award. Clevite Engine Builder of the Year, Featherlite “Most Improved Driver” and Mobil1 “Command Performance” awards will be determined by the Ford 200. Mike Hillman Jr., Bodine’s crew chief, clinched the International Truck Crew Chief award at Phoenix. Skinner is the season’s Wix Filters “Lap Leader” Award winner.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Sprague hasn’t won at Homestead but is due … Sprague has the most top five (six) and top 10 (seven) finishes in South Florida. He’s also run the most laps/miles (1,251/1,876.5), led the most laps/miles (241/361.5) and led the most races (six). His best finish is second in 1996 and 1998.
10 YEARS TOUGH
Homestead-Miami Speedway was the first track of over one mile in length to host a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. The inaugural event was held on March 17, 1996 and saw Dave Rezendes beat Jack Sprague by .022-second as Sprague slid backwards across the stripe.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
There have been no repeat winners in nine NASCAR Craftsman Truck races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. A 10th different winner will match the series record established in September at New Hampshire International Speedway. Bobby Hamilton is the only driver to win both a Bud Pole and a race at Homestead. He won from the #1 starting spot in 2003.
FAST FACTS
Next Event: Ford 200. (Race #25 of 25).
Where: Homestead-Miami Speedway (Homestead, Fla.).
When: 8:15 p.m. ET Friday, Nov. 18.
Track layout: 1.5 -mile paved oval.
Race length: 201miles/134 laps.
Posted awards: $607,190.
TV: SPEED Channel, 8 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: Kasey Kahne.
2004 polesitter: David Reutimann.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday – Practice 9:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. Qualifying 5:10 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(11-17-2005)
For race results see:
ESPN.com
Truckseries.com
Motorsports One
NASCAR.com – official[posted Mon]
NASCAR.com – unofficial.(11-11-2005)
See qualifying results/starting lineup at:
Truckseries.com – Starting Lineup
Truckseries.com – Qualifying Results
NASCAR.com.(11-11-2005)
UPDATE: Wallace is not on the entry list for the race and have heard no updates, but hearing Wallace could end up in the #15 Billy Ballew Motorsports ride in 2006, not sure if part-time or a full-time gig.(11-10-2005)
This year’s championship battle essentially has evolved into a two-driver race with Ted Musgrave (#1 Mopar Dodge) leading Dennis Setzer (#46 Silverado Z71 Chevrolet) by 63 points. Musgrave could close out the race at Phoenix although odds are that it will go down to the Nov. 18 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the 10th time in 11 seasons.
Four drivers – Musgrave, Setzer, Todd Bodine (#30 Germain Motor Company Toyota) and Ron Hornaday Jr. (#6 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) – mathematically remain in the title hunt. Musgrave clinches by winning the Silverado 150 and leading the most laps if Setzer finishes 34th or worse. If Setzer finishes 36th – and last – Musgrave only needs to win the race.
Given both drivers’ records at the one-mile oval, Musgrave and Setzer have to be considered for contending roles in the Silverado 150. Until last year’s 19th-place finish, Musgrave had run among the top five on four occasions and never worse than sixth. Setzer has six top-10 finishes in eight starts, the best a third in 2003, and has finished off the lead lap just twice, both times due to accidents.
NEWS & NOTES, PART II
Erin Crocker makes Craftsman Truck debut in Phoenix … Evernham Motorsports’ Erin Crocker will make her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut this week behind the wheel of Bobby Hamilton Racing’s #4 Betty Crocker/Cheerios/ Dodge Ram Dodge. Crocker will compete fulltime for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in 2006. Said Hamilton, “We tested Erin the other day at Nashville and she just told them what she wanted to do with the truck. She is a sharp cookie and knows exactly what she’s doing and I think Ray (Evernham) wants to give her some more seat time to teach her how to race a little better. She’s going to be pretty good.” Three female competitors have entered the Silverado 150 – Crocker, Deborah Renshaw (#8 Heritage Dodge) and Kelly Sutton (#02 Team Copaxone Chevrolet). The NASCAR record for female drivers in the same race, three, was set May 16, 2004 at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway.
ETC. … Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) goes for a record fourth consecutive superspeedway pole this week, having picked up #3 last week at Texas Motor Speedway. Skinner has one career pole at Phoenix International Raceway in 1996. Craftsman’s Win from the Pole Bonus has reached $20,000. … Bodine became the first driver to defend a 2004 victory as he won the Nov. 4 Silverado 350 at Texas Motor Speedway. Bodine bypassed Hornaday to reach third place in the season point standings. … Defending Silverado 150 winner David Starr (#75 Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet) was fourth in Texas with the team’s second-best finish of the season. Starr also becomes the 12th different driver to win more than $2 million in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition with a career total of $2,007,326. … Five former Phoenix winners – Hornaday, Skinner, Sprague, Starr and Mike Bliss (#16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet) – are among entries for the Silverado 150.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Sprague is Valley of the Sun master … No NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor has a better record at Phoenix International Raceway than Sprague, who’s finished outside the top five just once since 1995. Sprague’s nine top five finishes include eight of either first or second. He has completed every lap of all 11 races he’s started – 1,857 of 1,857.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Nine of 14 races run at Phoenix International Raceway have been won by NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champions. Jack Sprague won three straight in 1995-96. Skinner and Ron Hornaday Jr. each won twice. Other champions with Phoenix victories are Mike Bliss and Greg Biffle.
Next Event: Silverado 150. (Race #24 of 25).
Where: Phoenix International Raceway (Phoenix, Ariz.).
When: 8:15 p.m. ET Friday, Nov. 11.
Track layout: 1.0 -mile paved oval.
Race length: 150 miles/150 laps.
Posted awards: $479,060.
TV: SPEED Channel, 8 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: David Starr.
2004 polesitter: Jack Sprague.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Thursday – Practice 12:00 noon –1:20 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Friday – Qualifying 10:00 a.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(11-8-2005)
For race results see:
ESPN.com
Truckseries.com
Motorsports One
NASCAR.com – official[posted Mon]
NASCAR.com – unofficial.(11-4-2005)
See qualifying results/starting lineup at:
Truckseries.com – Starting Lineup
Truckseries.com – Qualifying Results
NASCAR.com.(11-3-2005)
ETC. … Busch’s third win of the season clinched Chevrolet’s sixth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series manufacturer title and first since 2002. The trophy gives GM a sweep of NASCAR’s three national touring series. The 20-year-old Busch has three starts left in which to match or better the victory mark of his older brother Kurt, who won four times en route to Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in 2000. … Busch is the only fulltime NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competitor entered in this week’s Silverado 350. … Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) can match two series records for consecutive poles by defending his record, 182.902 mph mark set in June. In sight are consecutive superspeedway poles (three, last accomplished in 2002 by Jason Leffler) and same track poles (three by Ron Fellows at Watkins Glen International, 1997-99). Skinner’s Atlanta pole, his sixth of the year, clinched the season’s $10,000 Bud Pole Award. … The Silverado 350 is the 15th race to be run at TMS, – most of any track – although Phoenix International Raceway will match that number on Nov. 11. Terry Cook (#10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford) and Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford) have competed in all 14 previous events. … Jack Sprague (#60 Jeff Wyler Toyota) is the only series champion to win at Texas in his title year. Sprague won the spring race in 2001. Three champions – Sprague, Greg Biffle and Travis Kvapil – count TMS victories on their resumes. Sprague and Setzer are the track’s only double winners. … DW’s Boogity Grill will sponsor the #38 Red Horse Racing Toyota of Memphis winner Brandon Whitt in the season’s remaining three races. … Minnesota native Joey Miller will finish out the season in the Darrell Waltrip Motorsports #12 Toyota. Miller was 10th at Atlanta in the 20-year-old driver’s second start with the team.
Fast Facts:
Next Event: Silverado 350. (Race #23 of 25).
Where: Texas Motor Speedway (Fort Worth, Texas).
When: 9:15 p.m. ET Friday, Nov. 4.
Track layout: 1.5-mile banked paved oval.
Race length: 220.5 miles/147 laps.
Posted awards: $543,771.
TV: SPEED Channel, 9 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: Todd Bodine.
2004 polesitter: Mike Skinner.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Thursday – Practice 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Saturday – Qualifying 7:00 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(11-1-2005)
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