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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.
  • Starr and #75 part ways UPDATE Cup races?: David Starr and his #75 Spears Chevy team will go their separate ways in 2006. David Starr, concluding his fourth season with Spears, finished 7th in the 2005 NCTS Championship points standings, has 3 wins in 140 career starts to his credit. The #75 Spears Manufacturing Chevy owned by West coast racers Wayne and Connie Spears. “I can’t thank everyone enough at Spears for giving me four awesome years in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series,” said Starr “Wayne and Connie Spears gave me my first competitive full-time ride in NASCAR. We got some wins and I am grateful for the opportunity to drive for such a dedicated race team.” Starr continued, “We had four great years; we talked and agreed to look at other options. I have several opportunities to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series next year,” commented Starr “I’m looking forward to running for the 2006 Championship.”(Truckseries.com)(11-22-2005)
    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)
  • Hillman Jr. named International Truck Crew Chief of the Year: Crew chief, Mike Hillman, Jr. and his #30 Germain Motor Co./Racer’s Edge/Toyota Tundra Team won their third consecutive win as they took home the checkered flag for the fifth time in 2005, winning the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway last Saturday. Mike Hillman, Jr. picked up the International Truck Crew Chief Award, giving him his seventh of the season, making him the 2005 International Truck Crew Chief of the year. Mike Hillman, Jr. will be presented with the ‘International Crew Chief of the Year’ award at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Award Ceremonies on Sunday, December 11th at the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando, FL.(PR)(11-25-2005)
  • News and Notes – Season Ends:
    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)
  • FINAL Points Standings After Homestead [race 25 of 25]
    #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)
  • Musgrave wins 2005 Championship: With a 20th place finish in the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, coupled with 2nd in points, #46-Dennis Setzer finishing 18th, #1-Ted Musgrave won the 2005 Craftsman Truck Series Championship, his first career NASCAR Championship and the first for Ultra Motorsports team owner Jim Smith. Setzer finishes 2nd for the third year in a row. Musgrave is the oldest Truck Series champ and the 8th ever to win the title in 11 seasons.(11-19-2005)
  • Did ya Know? No #1 champ..ever UPDATE: No driver has won a NASCAR national touring series championship [Cup, Busch, Trucks] with a car or truck carrying the number one [#1].(NASCAR Truck Series Pre-Race)(6-21-2005)
    UPDATE: streak broken, #1-Ted Musgrave won the 2005 Truck Series Championship.(11-19-2005)
  • Bodine wins 3rd in a row..this time at Homestead: #30-Todd Bodine won the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway for his 5th win of 2005 and 7th of his career. #60-Jack Sprague was 2nd followed by #23-Johnny Benson, #16-Mike Bliss and #22-Bill Lester. Points leader #1-Ted Musgrave finished 20th and clinched the 2005 Craftsman Truck Series Championship as 2nd in points, #46-Dennis Setzer finished 18th, allowing Musgrave to win by 52 points. Pole sitter, #17-David Reutimann, had engine problems and ended up 36th and last. There were 7 cautions for 24 laps and 9 lead changes among 9 drivers with winner #30-Bodine leading the most with 74 in 134 laps.
    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)
  • Kinser working on Truck Ride for 2006 UPDATE to #15: Kraig Kinser, son of perennial sprint car champion Steve Kinser, is close to signing a deal that would put him in the #47 Chevy for Morgan-Dollar Motorsports in 2006 on a full-time basis. Kinser is a developmental driver for the MB2 Motorsports Nextel Cup Series team, and the effort will be a co-op between MB2 and MDM. The deal is not done yet, but everyone has agreed to the terms. Kraig Kinser is under contract to MB2, but MDM is working on a deal with them where they contract with MDM to give him a ride next season. Team sources confirmed MB2 will bring the sponsor and they will be responsible for funding the team, MDM would be responsible for running it. TruckSeries.com expects an official announcement regarding the future of the Morgan-Dollar team’s #47 Chevy would be made in the coming weeks.(Truckseries.com)(11-19-2005)
  • Ambrose in a Wood Brothers #21 truck: Pirtek Racing’s Marcos Ambrose has signed a multi-year driver development agreement deal with Wood Brothers/JTG Racing in the US. The agreement calls for Ambrose to pilot a [#21] Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series next season, with an eye toward driving one of the teams Ford Fusions in the NASCAR Busch Series and Nextel Cup series in the future. “It’s an honor to be chosen from a long list of drivers who would love to be with Wood Brothers/JTG Racing,” said Ambrose, “My dealings with Ford and Ford Racing both here in Australia and the US as well as Wood Brothers/JTG have been excellent. Ford Australia President Tom Gorman has been outstanding and without his direct input this deal would never have got off the ground.” Ambrose plans a move to the US with his wife Sonja and newborn daughter Tabitha in early January.(PR)(11-18-2005)
  • Bliss still looking at options: Mike Bliss is still looking at his options for the 2006 racing season. Bliss currently splits time in the Haas CNC Racing #0 Chevy in the Nextel Cup Series and the Xpress Motorsports #16 Chevy Trucks Chevy in the Craftsman Truck Series, but as of now does not have a firm deal in place to drive anything next year. “Everyone thinks this deal is done, but it’s not,” Bliss said. “XPress Motorsports is great, but Dave (Fuge, team owner) is losing his Chevrolet deal for next year and they are working on some sponsorship stuff for next season. I would like to stick around and see what happens here. Both of us are sitting here with the same problem. A lot of people think I am locked in right here and right now I am not.” Bliss has yet to reach the point where he is going to panic about starting 2006 without a ride. We are going to wait and see,” he said. “I haven’t even really started to call anybody. I’d like to wait and see what happens here, but if nothing does come out of it, I have to be looking somewhere else. There’s not a lot of seats open anywhere and that’s a problem. I haven’t gotten to the point where I am panicking yet, but I am getting close.”(Truckseries.com)(11-18-2005)
  • Homestead Race Notes:
    • 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)
  • Reutimann wins pole at Homestead: #17-David Reutimann won the pole for the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a lap of 173.116mph to break his own track record he set last year. It is Reutimann’s 4th career pole. The top five drivers went faster then the old track record of 171.255mph. Toyota took the first 7 spots. #22-Bill Lester will start 3nd, followed by #60-Jack Sprague, #38-Brandon Whitt and #5-Mike Skinner. Points leader #1-Ted Musgrave will start 8th and 2nd in points, #46-Dennis Setzer will start 23rd. #05-Erin Crocker will start 18th. Missing the race are: #65-Tim Fedewa; #63-Justin Allgaier; #02-Kelly Sutton; #24-Wayne Edwards; #21-Bobby East.
    See qualifying results/starting lineup at:
    Truckseries.com – Starting Lineup
    Truckseries.com – Qualifying Results
    NASCAR.com.(11-18-2005)
  • Bodine teams up with Kelly on #34 and #30 truck: Todd Bodine is teaming up with NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and NASCAR Busch Series co-owner of the #34 Dollar General/Chevy Monte Carlo, Jim Kelly in Homestead this weekend. They are working to help raise awareness of Krabbe Disease through Kelly’s ‘Hunter’s Hope Foundation’ at this weekends NASCAR season final at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “We are excited about and honored by the commitment of Germain Motor Company, Todd and his championship caliber race team to help create greater awareness for the objectives of the Hunter’s Hope Foundation”, Kelly stated. “Our late son Hunter lived for nearly nine years with this debilitating illness that unfortunately was a terminal diagnosis for him because he was not diagnosed properly at birth for the disease”, Kelly explained. “One of our goals with the Foundation is to create greater awareness of not only the disease but the need for more universal newborn screening in states throughout this country that are deficient in the process. This special event at the final Craftsman Truck Series race by Todd and his team will help more and more people understand our cause”. Established in 1997 by Jim Kelly, and his wife, Jill, after their infant son, Hunter, was diagnosed with Krabbe Leukodystrophy, an inherited, fatal, nervous system disease. The Foundation is the Kelly’s life long commitment to increase public awareness of leukodystrophies as well as to increase the likelihood of early detection and treatment. Their ultimate goal is to raise money to fund research efforts to identify new treatments, therapies, and a cure for Krabbe and other leukodystrophies
    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)
  • Crocker to drive the #05 Dodge at Homestead: Erin Crocker will head to Homestead-Miami Speedway for her 1.5-mile track debut this weekend, ready for her second Truck Series start. Crocker became just the eighth female driver to start a Truck Series event when she made her Series debut, starting 22nd [finishing 36th] at Phoenix last week. In the season finale, Crocker will team up again with fulltime 2006 sponsor General Mills and its Cheerios and Betty Crocker brands on her #05 Dodge Ram when she takes the green flag on Friday. Crocker will pilot the #05 Dodge Ram chassis nicknamed “Mini Me”. This chassis has raced seven times this season and was driven by Crocker last weekend at Phoenix. The truck visited Victory Lane at Mansfield in May with NASCAR Truck Champion Bobby Hamilton at the wheel. The #05 team will be fielded by a partnership between Evernham Motorsports and Bobby Hamilton Racing. Crew chief Sammy Sanders from Bobby Hamilton Racing will make the calls this weekend, and the #05 crew from the BHR stable will pit the car.(Clear!Blue PR)(11-17-2005)
  • News and Notes – Homestead:
    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)
  • New Truck Series Book Planned: Veteran NASCAR journalist John Close announced he has signed a contract to produce a book on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Scheduled for a Fall 2006 release, the book will be published by Motorbooks, an imprint of MBI Publishing Company. Close’s first book “Tony Stewart: From Indy Phenom To NASCAR Superstar” was released and distributed by MBI Publishing Company in 2004. Close covered his first NASCAR race as a reporter for Midwest Racing News in 1986 and has been associated with the Truck Series since 1996 when he served as team publicist for the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge factory effort. Since then, Close has also facilitated public relations initiatives for many of the top teams in the Truck Series, including Hendrick Motorsports, Ultra Motorsports, and Xpress Motorsports. A longtime contributor to several top racing publications, including Stock Car Racing and Circle Track Magazines, Close served as a featured writer for www.TruckSeries.com in 2005. Close is also a regular NASCAR event spotter competing in nearly 100 career races; 55 of them in the Craftsman Truck Series. For more information about Close and his motorsports-based media and marketing company “Close Finishes” please log on to closefinishes.com. To learn more about Motorbooks please log on to motorbooks.com.(Close Finshes PR)(11-17-2005)
  • Truck Series crew member arrested? NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series officials are investigating the arrest of a crew member from one of the race teams earlier this week for alleged possession of marijuana, sources said. Truck PR chief Owen Kearns confirmed that NASCAR is investigating the arrest, but declined to identify the crew member or team involved, pending completion of their investigation.(Speed Channel)(11-12-2005)
  • Crockers 2006 Plans: Evernham Motorsports and General Mills have announced a well-balanced 2006 schedule for up-and-coming driver Erin Crocker, including a healthy mix of NASCAR Truck Series, Busch Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series races in which she will carry the Cheerios and Betty Crocker banners. The key ingredient to the partnership includes General Mills and its Cheerios and Betty Crocker brands as the fulltime primary sponsor of Crocker in her 25-race Truck Series Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year campaign. In addition to her full diet of NASCAR Truck Series events, Crocker also will run a Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge Charger in six NASCAR Busch Series races in 2006. The 24-year-old Wilbraham, Mass.-native is scheduled to compete at Nashville, The Milwaukee Mile, Gateway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Phoenix and Homestead Speedway. Crocker also is scheduled to race in seven 2006 ARCA RE/MAX Series races. She earned two poles, three top fives and four top 10s in just five ARCA races this season for Evernham Motorsports.(Clear!Blue PR)(11-12-2005)
  • Bodine wins at Phoenix: #30-Todd Bodine won the Chevy Silverado 150 at Phoenix International Raceway, leading 57 0f the 150 laps for his 4th win of the season and 6th of his career. #6-Ron Hornaday finished 2nd, followed by #23-Johnny Benson, #14-Rick Crawford and #46-Dennis Setzer. #1-Ted Musgrave, the points leader finished 6th and goes into the final race at Homestead with a 58 point lead, needing to finish 10th or better to clinch. #4-Erin Crocker finished 36th in her first Truck Series race. There were 7 cautions for 28 laps and 5 lead changes among 4 drivers.
    For race results see:
    ESPN.com
    Truckseries.com
    Motorsports One
    NASCAR.com – official[posted Mon]
    NASCAR.com – unofficial.(11-11-2005)
  • Whitt wins pole at Phoenix with track record: #38-Brandon Whitt won the pole for the Chevy Silverado 150 at Phoenix International Raceway with a track record speed of 131.200mph, just beating Jack Sprague’s recor of last year [131.186]. It is Whitt’s 2nd pole of the season and of his career, he also wo the pole at Memphis in July and won the race. #23-Johnny Benson starts 2nd followed by #15-Kyle Busch, last years champ #04-Bobby Hamilton and this years points leader #1-Ted Musgrave. 2nd in points, #46-Dennis Setzer starts 18th. #4-Erin Crocker will start 22nd. Missing the race were: #27-Frank Wilson Jr. and #02-Kelly Sutton.
    See qualifying results/starting lineup at:
    Truckseries.com – Starting Lineup
    Truckseries.com – Qualifying Results
    NASCAR.com.(11-11-2005)
  • Crocker to make Truck debut at Phoenix: Erin Crocker will head to Phoenix International Raceway this weekend ready for her Craftsman Truck Series debut at the 1.0-mile racetrack on the Craftsman Truck Series circuit. For the first time as her primary sponsor on a Dodge Ram, Crocker will team up with fulltime 2006 sponsor General Mills and its Cheerios and Betty Crocker brands. The #4 Dodge Ram will take the green flag on Saturday Crocker will pilot her #4 Dodge Ram nicknamed “Mini Me”. This chassis has raced six previous times this season, including a win at Mansfield in May piloted by NASCAR Craftsman Truck Champion Bobby Hamilton. The #4 team will be fielded by a partnership between Evernham Motorsports and Bobby Hamilton Racing. Crew chief Randy Seals from Bobby Hamilton Racing will make the calls this weekend, and the #4 crew from the BHR stable pitting the car.(Bobby Hamilton Racing)(11-10-2005)
  • Allen to run #08 at PIR: Willie Allen will be back in the Truck Series this weekend in the #08 Chevrolet Silverado with the Green Light Racing team. Allen could run the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend for an team not yet mentioned.(Catchfence)(11-10-2005)
  • Steve Wallace to make Truck Series debut UPDATE #15 in 2006? Stephen Wallace, who’s 18 and the son of Rusty, is expected to make his Truck Series debut later this year at Phoenix in a Dodge prepared by Ultra Motorsports.(Sporting News)(9-29-2005)
    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)
  • Evernham buying #62 team..for Crocker? hearing that Cup/Busch team owner could be buying, in whole or part, the #62 Orleans Racing team for Erin Crocker to drive in 2006. The team would have owners points to fall back on and since Dodge pulled support, it looks like Brendan Gaughan will run the #77 Jasper Engines truck full-time in 2006.(11-10-2005)
  • Fans can join in with Bodine’s team: #30-Todd Bodine and his truck series sponsor – sports drink maker Racers Edge – have combined to form the fan-based sponsorship program. Proceeds will go to funding some of his truck series program with Germain Racing. If enough people participate, the program could help Bodine compete in one of NASCAR’s top two divisions. It’s a more ambitious fan-based program than brother Brett achieved with his Nextel Cup team for the Brickyard 400 in 2003. Fans will pay a $240 annual fee to participate in Racers Edge Motorsports, the marketing company that will help sponsor Bodine. In return, fan sponsors will receive a package of goodies, including a T-shirt, decal, lanyard, autographed photo and more. They’ll also receive savings on dining, travel, entertainment and merchandise items. In addition, weekly and monthly drawings will be held for things ranging from pit and hospitality race passes to big-ticket items like large-screen televisions. A super sweepstakes offer for an expenses paid Race Fantasy Vacation to events at either Las Vegas or Daytona will be held.(Elmira Star Gazette), more info at Todd-bodine.com or racersedgeteam.com.(11-10-2005)
  • News and Notes – Phoenix:
    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)
  • TV Crew Changes? hearing Speed Channel pit reporter Wendy Venturini will move from the Truck Series coverage to Speeds ARCA coverage in 2006 with Krista Voda doing pit reporting for Speed in the Truck Series.(11-8-2005)
  • Almirola full-time Trucks in 2006: Joe Gibbs Racing’s Aric Almirola, a Hispanic native of Tampa, Fla., will move into the Craftsman Truck Series after a successful stint in Late Models through the team diversity driver development program. The 21-year-old has two top-10s in three truck starts this year. “He’s done a great job,” J.D. Gibbs said. “You saw the same kind of spark in him you saw in Denny running Late Models, winning stuff everywhere.”(Richmond Times Dispatch)(11-7-2005)
  • Bodine wins at Texas: #30-Todd Bodine won the Silverado 350 at Texas Motor Speedway for his 3rd win of 2005, 5th o his career and moving into 3rd place in the points standings. Bodine won the event last season. Pole sitter, #5-Mike Skinner finished 2nd, followed by #15-Kyle Busch, #75-David Starr and #17- David Reutimann. Points leader, #1-Ted Musgrave finished 14th but still increased his points lead to 63 over #46-Dennis Satzet, who finished 18th. Five drivers traded the lead five times. The race’s six cautions were flaggrf for 26 laps.
    For race results see:
    ESPN.com
    Truckseries.com
    Motorsports One
    NASCAR.com – official[posted Mon]
    NASCAR.com – unofficial.(11-4-2005)
  • Skinner wins pole at Texas: #5-Mile Skinner won the pole for the Silverado 350 at Texas Motor Speedway with a speed of 182.593mph for his 7th pole off the season and 24th in his Truck Series career. #22-Bill Lester is on the outside pole [2nd] followed by #10-Terry Cook, #15-Kyle Busch and #50-Todd Kluever. Points leader, #1-Ted Musgrave qualified 11th with 2nd in points #46-Deniis Setzer starting 19th. Missing the race were: #-02-Sutton, #65-Fedewa, #9-Justin Hobgood; #76-Mallory and #24-Wayne Edwards.
    See qualifying results/starting lineup at:
    Truckseries.com – Starting Lineup
    Truckseries.com – Qualifying Results
    NASCAR.com.(11-3-2005)
  • Airplus Insoles Returns to ppc Racing: ppc Racing officials announced Implus Footcare, makers of Airplus Insoles, will return as an associate sponsor on its #10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race team. Implus Footcare has been a part of ppc Racing’s Family of Sponsors since 2002 and has made select appearances in the NASCAR Busch Series as a primary sponsor. For more information, please visit www.implusfootcare.com.(ppc Racing)(11-2-2005)
  • News and Notes – Texas:
    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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