September 2006 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.
In typical NASCAR Truck Series fashion, the championship points battle is intensifying as the series heads towards its fall finale. Todd Bodine (#30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) continues to lead, but his once-mammoth margin of 182 points, which he held after the 15th race of the season at Indianapolis, has been cut in half thanks to Johnny Benson’s performances in the last four races. Benson, driver of the #23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota, has two wins and two fourth-place finishes in his last four starts. Bodine’s 91-point advantage over Benson seems narrow compared to his previous margin, but in put into a historical perspective, it’s the fourth-largest margin in series history with six races remaining. Benson says it’s been a great season no matter what the points standings reflect. The past bodes well for the leader. In the three largest margins with six to go (Greg Biffle, 2000, 193; Ron Hornaday Jr., 1996, 152; and Jack Sprague, 1997, 95), the then-leader went on the claim the title.
“New” Las Vegas Lives Up To Expectations: Last week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, virtually the whole field (32 of 36 starters) bettered Mike Skinner’s two-year old track qualifying record (165.320 mph) on the 12-degree banking in 2004. Skinner, driver of the #5 Toyota Tundra Toyota, set a new record of 178.065 mph as he became the first driver to win three consecutive poles at two different tracks. The race itself ran at record speeds under green – over 173 mph in the early stages – before caution negated the effects of the new 20degree banking. Trucks battled side-by-side among the top 10 with six drivers exchanging the lead nine times. An estimated crowd of 65,000 turned out to see what the changes were all about. That’s the season’s third-largest attendance after Daytona and Kansas and highest for a Truck Series stand-alone event.
News & Notes Part II:
Bobby Hamilton takes cancer fight to Washington…Bobby Hamilton spent Tuesday and Wednesday last week in Washington, D.C., as an Ambassador for the State of Tennessee in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and the Celebration on the Hill, a Cancer Action Network event. Hamilton spoke at fundraising events, one to a crowd of more than 4,000 people. “Thank you for letting me be a part of your family,” Hamilton told other cancer survivors. “The support you get from cancer patients and their families is tremendous. It makes you want to fight even harder.” Talladega trip…The Truck Series Talladega 250 is NASCAR’s first race at Talladega Superspeedway since the 2.66-mile track was re-paved. It’s also the first visit for the Craftsman Truck Series, but many drivers have experienced NASCAR’s largest superspeedway in NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series competition. The top-20 drivers in the current series standings have made a combined 79 Nextel Cup Series starts at Talladega, led by reigning series champion Ted Musgrave (#9 Team ASE/Germain Motors Toyota), a veteran of 20 Nextel Cup races at the track. Several of the top-20 drivers have also raced in the Busch Series at Talladega. Points leader Todd Bodine competed in nine Busch Series events there from 1992-2003. Former Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope is also expected to compete in the Talladega 250. Cope is scheduled to drive the #40 Key Motorsports Chevy. Skinner going strong …Mike Skinner, at age 49 years, three months, is the third-oldest driver to win a series race – a month younger than Musgrave was when he won at Gateway International Raceway in April 2005. Joe Ruttman remains the oldest winning driver at age 56 years, 6 months.
Manufacturers’ Championship 2006 Point Standings:
Toyota, 135
Ford, 120
Chevy, 94
Toyota, 67
Toyota got its 10th win of the season at Las Vegas – a season-high for the third year manufacturer that won nine times in 2005. As a result, Toyota extended its lead in the Truck Series Manufacturers’ Championship standings.
This Week’s Truck Series Leaders: Through 19 races of the 25-race season:
Points leader – Todd Bodine (2,911 points)
Winnings – Todd Bodine ($522,775)
Laps led – Mark Martin (485)
Miles led – Mike Skinner (783.292)
Victories – Johnny Benson, Mark Martin (4)
Budweiser Poles -Mike Skinner (6)
Top-five finishes – Johnny Benson (11)
Top-10 finishes – Todd Bodine, Johnny Benson, David Reutimann (14)
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Erik Darnell (39 pts. over Chad McCumbee)
Races led – Mike Skinner (10)
Weeks in Top 10 – 3 drivers (19)
Etc:
Bill Davis Racing has five wins (four by Benson, one by Skinner) to become the leading owner in the series. … Skinner is the season’s 10th different winner. This marks the ninth time in 12 seasons that the series has produced 10 or more winners. The record is 14, two times (most recently 2005)…Skinner broke a 25-race winless streak that began at New Hampshire on Sept. 17, 2005. Skinner has won six times from the pole – but the last was in 1996 at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis….Skinner’s pole was his 30th extending the series record….Marcos Ambrose (#20 Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards Ford) headed a season-high three Raybestos rookies finishing among the top 10 at Las Vegas. Ambrose (seventh) was the rookie race leader for the third time. The Australian has led four races – most by a Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate…Mike Bliss (#16 Xpress Motorsports Chevy) won $22,500 for finishing third at Las Vegas and became the eighth different series driver to win a career $3 million. His total is $3,002,601.(9-25-2006)
1) #30-Todd Bodine, 2911
2) #23-Johnny Benson, 2820
3) #17-David Reutimann, 2671
4) #9-Ted Musgrave, 2625
5) #14-Rick Crawford, 2590
6) #11-David Starr, 2533
7) #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., 2531
8) #16-Mike Bliss, 2486
9) #60-Jack Sprague, 2479
10)#10-Terry Cook, 2460
For complete standings:
espn.go
motorsportsone.com
truckseries.com
nascar.com(official)(9-25-2006)
1) #5-Mike Skinner, Toyota Tundra Toyota
2) #9-Ted Musgrave, Team ASE/Germain Motors Toyota
3) #16-Mike Bliss, Xpress Motorsports Chevy
4) #23-Johnny Benson, Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota
5) #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., AES HR Soutions Chevy
6) #17-David Reutimann, Team Toyota Toyota
7) #20-Marcos Ambrose, Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards Ford
8) #85-Dennis Setzer, FlexFuel E85 Chevy
9) #46-Kraig Kinser, Ginn Clubs & Resorts Chevy
10)#75-Aric Almirola, Spears Manufacturing Chevy
First Dodge; (14th) #77-Brendan Gaughan, South Point Resort Dodge
Race Awards:
Bud Pole Award: Mike Skinner (178.065 mph)
Raybestos Rookie of the Race: Marcos Ambrose #20
Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award: Ted Musgrave
Mobil 1 Oil Command Performance Driver of the Race: Ted Musgrave
WIX Filters Lap Leader Award: Mike Skinner
Sunoco Diamond Performance Award: Mike Skinner
Checkers/Ralley’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge: Mike Skinner
For complete results:
espn.go.com
motorsportsone.com
truckseries.com
nascar.com(official)(9-25-2006)
1) #5-Mike Skinner, 178.065
2) #21-Bobby East, 177.357
3) #3-Chase Miller, 176.667
4) #9-Ted Musgrave, 176.424
5) #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., 176.413
6) #20-Marcos Ambrose, 176.051
7) #16-Mike Bliss, 175.999
8) #30-Todd Bodine, 175.936
9) #60-Jack Sprague, 175.924
10)#75-Aric Almirola, 175.850
First rookie; (2nd) #21-Bobby East, 177.237
22nd) #15-Jeremy Mayfield, 174.661
35th) #10-Terry Cook using provisional; spun off 4th turn on first lap; did not finish qualifying run
All entries qualified
For complete starting lineup:
truckseries.com
nascar.com(9-23-2006)
1) #5-Mike Skinner, 178.713
2) #30-Todd Bodine, 178.059
3) #4-Chase Miller, 177.229
4) #16-Mike Bliss, 176.945
5) #46-Kraig Kinser, 176.742
6) #20-Marcos Ambrose, 176.367
7) #60-Jack Sprague, 176.367
8) #17-David Reutimann, 176.188
9) #77-Brendan Gaughan, 176.131
10)#75-Aric Almirola, 176.062
First rookie; (5th)#46-Kraig Kinser
31st -#15-Jeremy Mayfield, 172651
For complete practice results:
nascar.com
truckseries.com(9-23-2006)
1) #5-Mike Skinner, 177.020
2) #4-Chase Miller, 175.930
3) #30-Todd Bodine, 175,730
4) #85-Dennis Setzer, 175.627
5) #60-Jack Sprague, 175.467
6) #9-Ted Musgrave, 175.444
7) #99-Erik Darnell, 175.285
8) #17-David Reutimann, 175.188
9) #21-Bobby East, 175.063
10)#16-Mike Bliss, 174.893
First Rookie; (7th) Erik Darnell, 175.285
For complete practice results:
nascar.com
truckseries.com(9-23-2006)
Entry list for the Smith’s Las Vegas 350:
truckseries.com
nascar.com
GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES
Tire: Goodyear Wrangler Speedway Radials
Number of Tires: Left-side — 325; Right-side — 325
Tire Codes: Left-side — D-4012; Right-side — D-4022
Tire Circumference: Left-side — 87.4 in.; Right-side — 88.7 in.
Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front — 30 psi; Left-Rear — 30 psi;
Right Front — 54 psi; Right Rear — 50 psi
Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front — 25 psi; Left-Rear — 25 psi;
Right Front — 50 psi; Right Rear — 46 psi
Estimated Pit Window: Every 55-60 laps, based on fuel mileage
Notes: This is the first time that Goodyear brought this combination of left- and right-side tires to the track this season…teams in all three of NASCAR top three series did run this right-side code (D-4022) with a different left-side at Charlotte in May…as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run liners in all four tire positions at Las Vegas…air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(9-21-2006)
UPDATE: “You can come home again.” Those five words ring true for Bobby Hamilton, Jr. as Team Rensi Motorsports proudly announces his return home. Hamilton will climb behind the wheel of the #35 McDonald’s Ford in 2007. Hamilton piloted the #25 Ford for Team Rensi Motorsports from 2002 until late in the 2004 season. Hamilton will replace current McDonald’s driver Regan Smith following the completion of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series season. Smith recently informed Team Rensi Motorsports of his intention to accept a new driving opportunity for the 2007 season.(teamrensimotorsports.com(9-19-2006)
UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing has signed Timothy Peters as a driver for its 2007 NASCAR Busch Series program. Peters raced the past two seasons in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Bobby Hamilton Racing. A determination is forthcoming as to which of RCR’s Busch teams he will drive for. RCR is also scheduled to field a car for Peters in the Oct. 7 ARCA race at Talladega.(RCRRacing.com)(9-19-2006)
UPDATE: Martin’s truck deal nearly complete:The deal for Mark Martin to drive a Roush Racing Ford next year in the Craftsman Truck Series is all but signed, Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said Sunday. Smith said he plans to have the paperwork done this week, and hopes that will put an end to questions about Martin’s plans for 2007. “He won’t be able to run a full-time Cup program,” Smith said prior to the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. “You can’t run them both. The schedule doesn’t work. It wouldn’t preclude him from running…a few races.” Martin insinuated Friday that Smith might have had other plans for him in addition to the truck deal, but Smith said that is not the case. “We had details with Ford Motor Company and details with our sponsor that we just had to finish out,” Smith said. “We got the handshake from the sponsors this weekend, so now I’m going to go get the paper done. “That was just a reminder that he could go do something else if I didn’t get with it.” So Martin will not drive the #6 car he has piloted for the last 19 years at Roush Racing. The decision on who will drive the car will come in the next two weeks. All four of Roush’s development drivers – Todd Kluever, Danny O’Quinn, David Ragan and Erik Darnell- are candidates for that ride, Smith said. Kluever had initially been penciled in to drive the car. “There will be a rookie driver in the #6 car, just like our plan always was,” Smith said. “Within two weeks, our choice of that will be finalized and announced. … Jack [Roush] is the lead vote. “It’s got to be over quickly because we’ve got a marketing timetable with [sponsor] AAA that requires it to be over.” The Roush Racing ride and Robert Yates Racing #88 are the only two established teams with rides currently open for next season. Robert Yates said Saturday that he still had hoped that Martin would drive the #88 car for his team next year. “Owners do that – they put out the trial balloons and hope that the drivers give them a call,” Smith said.”That’s a common technique. But that’s not [feasible]. Mark’s head is him becoming the truck championship [contender].” Smith said that Martin still might drive some Cup events in the #60 No Fear car, which has an alliance with Roush Racing. (SceneDaily.com)(9-17-2006)
UPDATE: Jeremy Mayfield will get a leg up on the competition before the 2007 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 on Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s new high banks. Mayfield, who has run every Nextel Cup race held at LVMS, will compete in the Smith’s Las Vegas 350 Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday, Sept. 23. It will be the first race held at the speedway since the banking in the turns was raised from 12 to 20 degrees and the pit road was moved 275 feet closer to the grandstands. Mayfield will drive the #15 Chevy for Billy Ballew. Ballew is no stranger to Victory Lane in the Truck Series or at LVMS. Shane Hmiel won the 2004 Smith’s Las Vegas 350 driving for Ballew and Las Vegas’ Kyle Busch has won four races in the past two years for Ballew. Tickets for the Smith’s Las Vegas 350 are on sale by calling the speedway at 1-800-644-4444 or logging on to www.lvms.com.(LVMS PR)(9-14-2006)
News & Notes Part I:
At Las Vegas Motor Speedway this week, all bets are off. Or put another way, drivers and crew chiefs can leave any preconceptions about the 1.5-mile track at home before they arrive for Saturday’s Smith’s Las Vegas 350. LVMS hasn’t changed locations. But the track itself has changed dramatically. No longer can it be called a semi-banked or “flat” oval. Banking in the turns has been increased from 12 to 20 degrees with walls raised approximately 15 feet to accommodate the changes. The backstretch, formerly banked three degrees, has been increased to nine degrees – the same as the frontstretch banking. Drivers – and race fans – won’t recognize pit road, which has been moved 275 feet closer to the grandstands. The track surface itself is complete but some of the infield infrastructure remains a work in progress and won’t be completed until the Nextel Cup Series arrives for its March 11 event. Saturday’s race, however, will be a much-awaited preview of competition to come.
What The Drivers Are Saying About Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) holds the Las Vegas Motor Speedway one-lap record at 165.230 mph. Odds are excellent the mark won’t last past Saturday’s first qualifier. Three drivers who participated in recent Goodyear Tire tests believe the track will be at least one second faster with speeds well into the 170 mph range. “The track is really good. It’s fast and smooth and the progressive banking they’ve built into the track should be great for racing,” said Todd Bodine (#30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota), the 2005 winner. Said Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford), “While there are similarities to other tracks, the new Vegas is one-of-a-kind.” Dennis Setzer (#85 FlexFuel E85 Chevrolet) believes the track could have some of the characteristics of Atlanta Motor Speedway – arguably the most competitive track on the schedule. “I think their hopes are that the racing will be better,” he said. “They want to see faster speeds and we’re definitely going to see that. “The changes have created a pretty awesome track.”
News & Notes Part II:
Gaughan gets hometown workout…Brendan Gaughan (#77 South Point Dodge)…will be both host and competitor this week when the series visits his Las Vegas hometown. He’ll host a driver-media poker tournament at the South Point Resort on Wednesday night with proceeds earmarked for Speedway Children’s Charities. On Thursday morning, he’ll become a commuter of a different sort – driving his race truck from Tropicana to the speedway with a pit stop at the Barbary Coast on the Las Vegas Strip. He’ll hold an open house for fans at his shop adjacent to Turn 1 on Thursday afternoon. Mayfield returns to series…With the team’s semi-regular driver Kyle Busch busy at Dover International Speedway, Jeremy Mayfield will step into Billy Ballew’s 2004 Smith’s Las Vegas 350 winning #15 Chevrolet. Mayfield finished sixth in his only series experience in May 2003 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Money milestones on line at LVMS…A victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – his first – will make Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 AES HR Solutions Chevy) the series’ fourth $4 million winner. Mike Bliss (#16 Xpress Motorsports Chevy), like Hornaday a former series champion, becomes the eighth driver to reach $3 million by finishing third or higher. Title chase gets a bit tighter…By historical standards, Bodine’s 124-point lead over Johnny Benson (#23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota) isn’t exactly a barn-burner. In fact, it’s the second-widest margin in series history with seven races remaining. Viewed another way, however, Benson’s fourth victory of the year on Saturday at New Hampshire International Speedway chopped a fifth – 30 points – off Bodine’s previous advantage. “It’s going to be a dogfight to the end,” said Bodine, who finished fourth in the New Hampshire 200.
Michel Jourdain Jr. took part in Sunday’s Fiestas Patrias…the largest single-day Hispanic event held in Las Vegas. Sears Craftsman and Las Vegas Motor Speedway will invite 500 VIP guests to experience this week’s Smith’s Las Vegas 350 as a means to increase awareness in the Hispanic community of Craftsman’s involvement in NASCAR. Ticket giveaways in cooperation with Univision, live music and other pre-race activities are planned. Jourdain, from Mexico City, will compete at LVMS in his #50 Roush Racing Ford.
This Week’s Truck Series Leaders … Through 18 races of the 25-race season:
Points leader – Todd Bodine (2,784)
Winnings – Todd Bodine
Laps led – Mark Martin (485)
Miles led – Mike Skinner (655.792)
Victories – Johnny Benson, Mark Martin (4)
Budweiser Poles -Mike Skinner (5)
Top-five finishes – Johnny Benson, Todd Bodine (10)
Top-10 finishes – Todd Bodine (14)
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Erik Darnell (39 over Chad McCumbee)
Races led – Todd Bodine, Mike Skinner (9)
Weeks in Top 10 – 3 drivers (18)
Etc:
By starting Saturday’s race in New Hampshire, Terry Cook (#10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel Ford) moved past Joe Ruttman into the sixth position in series winnings. Cook counts $3,142,009 in 233 career appearances… Winning crew chief Rick Ren joins Cook’s Dennis Connor as a two-time winner at NHIS. Ren previously won with Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Andy Houston in 1998…How do you say streaking? Benson counted zero wins in his first 59 series starts and has won four times in his last nine races…Champ Car World Series title contender A.J. Allmendinger (#24 Toyota) finished 13th in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck debut driving a backup truck from shotgun on the 36-truck field…Gaughan had pledged his New Hampshire winnings to Georgetown University but a mid-race accident left the alum 34th worth $7,330. To add insult, the school’s football team lost to Brown University the same afternoon…Skinner’s fifth Budweiser Pole of the season was the 1995 champion’s 29th overall breaking a deadlock with Jack Sprague (#60 Con-way Freight Toyota). The two veterans have traded the all-time qualifying record throughout the 2006 season…David Starr (#11 Red Horse Racing Toyota) has gone 42 races since his last DNF – the series’ longest current streak. Starr began the run in March 2005 in Atlanta when the Texan then drove for Spears Motorsports. Bobby Hamilton’s series record is 64 consecutive finishes…Peter Shepherd will drive Roush Racing’s #6 Scotts Ford at LVMS.
On The Right Track:
Five winners in the field…Five former Smith’s Las Vegas 350 winners boasting six victories are expected to compete in Saturday’s race. Sprague won the inaugural event in 1996 and repeated two years later. Hoping to join Sprague as double winners are Ted Musgrave (#9 Team ASE Toyota, 2001), Starr (2002), Gaughan (2003) and Bodine (2005). Three – Bodine, Hornaday and Sprague – already are winners this season. Not a winner at LVMS but…Hornaday counts two second and two third-place finishes and in 1998 edged Sprague by three points in the series’ closest championship finish. Roush Racing is double winner – just not lately…Roush Racing trucks went to Victory Lane at LVMS in 1997 with Ruttman and Greg Biffle in 1999. The Jack Roush-owned team is the only one to win twice at the track. Two owners got their first wins at Las Vegas – Wayne Spears with Starr in 2002 and Billy Ballew with Shane Hmiel in 2004. The latter’s victory came in the owner’s 100th series start. Skinner seeks third straight Budweiser pole…Skinner can become the first series driver to win three consecutive poles at different tracks if he is the fast qualifier for the Smith’s Las Vegas 350.
In The Loop:
You might say look for the usual suspects when picking a winner of the Smith’s Las Vegas 350 – at least by Driver Rating. Defending winner Todd Bodine came oh-so-close to perfection with a rating of 149.4 of a possible 150. Four other veterans had ratings in triple digits – runner-up and ultimate champion Musgrave (123.8), third place Starr (113.1), fourth place Sprague (112.8) and sixth place Skinner (112.9). Bodine’s ultimate ticket to Victory Lane was punched by the following. He was the fastest early in a run at 153.954 and #2 late in a run at 153.911. Where did he get it done? Not on the frontstretch where he ranked 13th. Bodine, however, ranked #1 in speed in all four turns.
Manufacturers’ Championship 2006 Point Standings:
Toyota, 126
Ford, 116
Chevrolet, 88
Toyota, 64
Manufacturer wins at LVMS:
Chevrolet, 4
Dodge, 2
Ford, 2
From The Archives:
The inaugural Smith’s Las Vegas 350 in 1996 had a couple of huge names from the world of motorsports. Indianapolis 500 champion A.J. Foyt made his last Craftsman Truck start at the age of 61 and finished 28th. Former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Bill Elliott also competed and finished second to Sprague.
Fast Facts:
The Race: Smith’s Las Vegas 350
The Place: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The Date: Sept. 23, 2006
The Time: 6:15 pm/et
Race Distance: 350 Kilometers (146 laps)
TV: SPEED, 6 pm/et
Track Layout: 1.5-mile oval
Race Purse: $510,234
2005 Winner: Todd Bodine
2005 Pole: Mike Skinner
Schedule: Friday-Optional Practice, 12- 4 p.m. and 5- 8 p.m.; Saturday-Practice, 9-10 a.m. and 10:30-11:30 a.m.; Qualifying, 3:10 p.m.(NASCAR PR)(9-18-2006)
UPDATE: Ragan attempting Cup debut at Dover: David Ragan will attempt to make his Cup debut this weekend, competing in Roush Racing’s #06 Ford Fusion previously driven by Todd Kluever in the Dover 400 at Dover International Speedway. Ragan competes in the Craftsman Truck Series and is also driving in the Dover Busch Series race this weekend. Ragan will also make his second Busch Series start of the 2006 season in the #50 Barr-Nunn Ford Fusion when he competes in the Dover 200 on Saturday. Team owner Jack Roush said he sees a lot of potential with his young drivers. “This will give us an opportunity to evaluate David Ragan and it will also give him valuable experience running in both series at Dover,” Roush said. “Dover International Speedway is a very challenging track, but I know David will perform to the best of his ability.” (scenedaily.com)(9-18-2006)
1) #30-Todd Bodine, 2784
2) #23-Johnny Benson, 2660
3) #17-David Reutimann, 2521
4) #14-Rick Crawford, 2469
5) #11-David Starr, 2450
6) #9-Ted Musgrave, 2450
7) #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., 2371
8) #60-Jack Sprague, 2355
9) #10-Terry Cook, 2345
10)#16-Mike Bliss, 2316
For complete driver standings:
espn.com
motorsportsone.com
truckseries.com
nascar.com(official)(9-18-2006)
1) #23-Johnny Benson, Toyota Certified Used Cars Toyota
2) #5-Mike Skinner, Toyota Tundra Toyota
3) #15-Kyle Busch, Freedom Grill/Team Davis Dirt Racing Chevy
4) #30-Todd Bodine, Lumber Liquidators Toyota
5) #11-David Starr, Red Horse Racing/Forklift.net Toyota
6) #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., AES HR Solutions Chevy
7) #14-Rick Crawford, Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford
8) #88-Matt Crafton, Menards/Energizer Chevy
9) #99-Erik Darnell, Woolrich Ford
10)#6-Mark Martin Scotts Ford
First Dodge; (17th) #4-Chase Miller, Dodge Motorsports Dodge
Race Awards:
Bud Pole Award; Mike Skinner (129.626 mph)
Raybestos Rookie of the Race; Erik Darnell #99, Scotts Ford
Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award; Erik Darnell, #99 (9 Places)
Mobil 1 Oil Command Performance Driver of the Race; Todd Bodine
WIX Filters Lap Leader Award; Johnny Benson, #23 (145 Laps)
Sunoco Diamond Performance Award; Johnny Benson
Checkers/Ralley’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge; Mike Skinner
For complete results:
espn.com
motorsportsone.com
truck series.com
nascar.com (official)(9-18-2006)
1) #5-Mike Skinner, 129.626
2) #23-Johnny Benson, 129.151
3) #21-Bobby East, 128.954
4) #18-Bobby Hamilton Jr., 128.941
5) #46-Clint Bowyer, 128.941
6) #9-Ted Musgrave, 128.876
7) #30-Todd Bodine, 128.819
8) #77-Brendan Gaughan, 128.802
9) #15-Kyle Busch, 128.654
10)#60-Jack Sprague, 128.524
First Rookie; (3rd)#21-Bobby East, 128.954
Going home; #89-Garrett Liberty (DNS)
For complete starting lineup:
truckseries.com(9-16-2006)
1) #60-Jack Sprague, 129.090
2) #5-Mike Skinner, 129.072
3) #9-Ted Musgrave, 128.589
4) #14-Rick Crawford, 128.186
5) #4-Chase Miller, 128.135
6) #23-Johnny Benson, 127.997
7) #6-Mark Martin, 127.898
8) #24-A.J. Allmendinger, 127.709
9) #17-David Reutimann, 127.662
10)#85-Dennis Setzer, 127.589
First Rookie; (15th) #20-Marcos Ambrose, 127.257
For complete practice results:
nascar.com
truckseries.com(9-15-2006)
1) #15-Kyle Busch, 128.650
2) #88-Matt Crafton, 127.928
3) #6-Mark Martin, 127.773
4) #5-Mike Skinner, 127.688
5) #10-Terry Cook, 127.658
6) #9-Ted Musgrave, 127.602
7) #60-Jack Sprague,127.555
8) #17-David Reutimann, 127.500
9) #23-Johnny Benson, 127.419
10)#18-Bobby Hamilton Jr., 126.968
First Rookie; (18th) #20-Marcos Ambrose, 126.563
For complete practice results:
nascar.com
truckseries.com(9-15-2006)
Entry list for the New Hampshire 200: truckseries.com(9-15-2006)
UPDATE: The #15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Chevy will be sponsored by Bowen Family Homes/Manheim Auto Auctions.(GM Racing PR)(9-12-2006)
UPDATE 2:New Primary Sponsor: Billy Ballew Motorsports is pleased to announce the addition of Freedom Grill, “The Official Grill of Tailgating,” on board the #15 Billy Ballew Motorsports entry in the Truck Series this weekend. Piloted by four-time series winner, Kyle Busch, the #155 will carry Freedom Grill as the primary sponsor for Saturday’s running of the New Hampshire 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway. This weekend will mark Freedom Grill’s first endeavor in motorsports.(billyballewmotorsports)(9-14-2006)
UPDATE: 100 percent of the race purse Gaughan earns will be donated to Georgetown related efforts, with a percentage going to the Woodstock Theological Center and the balance going directly to Georgetown University Alumni House.(Orleans Racing PR)((9-14-2006)
UPDATE: Grubb was punished for refusing to take a drug test after an accident ended his run in the Emerson Radio 250 on Friday night at Richmond International Raceway. Grubb was suspended indefinitely in March 2004 for violating NASCAR’s substance-abuse policy. He was reinstated June 7 with the understanding he would submit to periodic drug testing. Jim Hunter, NASCAR’s vice president of corporate communications, said several attempts were made to persuade Grubb to submit to a test Friday night. “He was on a program where he agreed to be tested at any time,” Hunter said. “He, for whatever reason, refused to be tested.” Hunter said doctors and “medical liaisons” were involved. Grubb said the force of the accident, which came on Lap 2 in the Busch Series race, made things “foggy” shortly thereafter. He was treated and released from the infield care center after the crash. “I don’t remember most of being at the track,” Grubb said. “I had people pulling me in 20 different directions. I ended up leaving, from what I understand.” Grubb said he woke up Sunday morning, still feeling “terrible” and unable to remember what day it was. He went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion. “I’m guessing that explains me acting crazy at the track,” Grubb said. “I didn’t know what was going on.” Grubb said he called NASCAR officials Monday morning when he heard of the suspension. He was directed to talk to Dr. David L. Black, who is in charge of NASCAR’s substance-abuse program. He set up the program for reinstatement that Grubb was on, and will be the person to set up a program if he were to try to be reinstated again. “Kevin was reinstated based on the recommendation of Dr. Black,” Hunter said. “The reason he needs to talk to Dr. Black is that if he hopes to be reinstated again, then he needs to talk to him.” Grubb said he has called Black several times but has yet to receive a return call. A call to Dr. Black’s office late yesterday afternoon was not returned by press time. Grubb said he still is feeling the aftereffects, sleeping a lot and feeling “pretty foggy.” He says he’s confident he and NASCAR will come to an agreement, and reiterates he didn’t suffer a relapse. He says he’s fine with officials observing him or testing him as often as necessary. “I’ve been clean the whole time,” Grubb said. “The next day, once I found out all the things that happened, I offered to take it. I’m ready to put the ball in action. I’m sure we’ll get something situated out of that. I worked very hard to get my life back to where it was. I don’t see it being thrown away in one night.”(Richmond Times Dispatch)(9-13-2006)
Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 AES HR Solutions Chevy) laid the foundation for New Hampshire International Speedway’s reputation as a track with a flair for the dramatic. Hornaday, winner of the first New Hampshire 200 in 1996, passed a number of trucks on a late restart and was in position to take advantage of a final-lap accident that took out the leaders. “At one point, Ernie Irvan got into me and put me in the wall so my truck was pretty roughed up,” said the two-time Truck Series champion. “I still have the sheet metal hanging in my garage.” Hornaday – and four others – on Saturday will try again to unlock another of the 1.058-mile, flat oval’s secrets. There have been no repeat winners at NHIS; the same is true in the Busch Series.
Why? Who knows for sure but Dennis Connor, then-crew chief for Jack Sprague (#60 Con-way Freight Toyota) when the three-time champion visited Victory Lane in 2001, has an idea. “It’s just different conditions there than about anywhere else we go so you have to be on your toes to adjust,” said Connor, who now calls the shots for Terry Cook (#10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford), the race’s 2002 winner. “Most recently every time we go back, it’s been changed…whether it’s a different paving job or to put asphalt sealer on it.” Sprague has come closest to repeating – posting a trio of second-place finishes in addition to his victory.
From the Archives:
Crawford’s New Hampshire 200 victory snapped lengthy Ford drought. The 2005 season hadn’t been a good one for Ford – a non-winner on the Truck Series in more than a year – until Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford) came out on top of a tense, three-way battle to claim victory in the New England 200. There have been a lot of closely-contested races at NHIS but this arguably was the best given the principals involved. Crawford, 2005 champion Ted Musgrave (#9 Team ASE Toyota) and perennial title runner-up Dennis Setzer (#85 Chevrolet Silverado Chevy) circled the track nose-to-tailgate and side-by-side as the laps wore down. Crawford edged Setzer by .221 seconds.
News & Notes Part II:
No wins in New Hampshire – yet … Mark Martin (#6 Scotts Ford) will make his first Truck Series start at NHIS on Saturday. The season’s four-time winner has yet to win at the 1.058-mile track. O brother where art thou? … Kyle Busch (#15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Chevy) hopes to follow older brother Kurt into the track’s Craftsman Truck Series Victory Lane. No brother combination ever has won a series race at the same track. Kurt Busch won the New Hampshire 200 as a Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate in 2000. Home isn’t a bad place to be … It’s homecoming week for Scarborough, Maine competitor Ryan Moore (#40 Key Motorsports Chevy), a former NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series driver. Will familiarity help guide Moore and his Barry Dodson-led team to its first top-10 finish? “Sure, it helps to know the racetrack and everything but it’s not going to help if we don’t have the truck driving the way it needs to drive,” said Moore. Bowyer tosses his hat in the ring … Nextel Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Clint Bowyer nearly joined a very short list of drivers winning in their first series start when he led 84 laps of April’s Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Bowyer gets another chance this week as he drives Morgan-Dollar Motorsports’ #46 Chevy. All in the family … Tony Hirschmann III, spotter for Terry Cook (#10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford) is the son of four-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Tony Hirschmann and a seven-time winner at NHIS.
This Week’s Truck Series Leaders: (Through 17 races of the 25-race season)
Points leader – Todd Bodine (2,624)
Winnings – Todd Bodine ($492,260)
Laps led – Mark Martin (485)
Miles led – Mike Skinner (655.792
Victories -Mark Martin (4)
Budweiser Poles -Mike Skinner (4)
Top-five finishes – Todd Bodine, David Reutimann (9)
Top-10 finishes – Todd Bodine, David Reutimann (13)
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Erik Darnell (32 over Chad McCumbee)
Races led – Todd Bodine, Mike Skinner (9)
Weeks in Top 10 – 3 drivers (17)
Etc:
Crawford and Setzer are the only drivers to have competed in nine series races at NHIS. No driver has 10 starts. Setzer’s 7.3 average finish is second-best among drivers with multiple starts at NHIS. Musgrave is the leader with a 6.0 average…159 different drivers have chased $3.6 million in New Hampshire posted awards…NHIS has yet to see a margin of victory of a second or more in 10 editions of the New Hampshire 200. The total margin of victory – nine races; one finished under caution – is 3.942 seconds. The closest finish came in 2002 when Cook edged Setzer by .189 second…Michel Jourdain Jr. (#50 Roush Racing Ford) will participate in Sunday’s Fiestas Patrias, the largest one-day Hispanic event in Las Vegas. The event celebrates Mexico’s independence. Craftsman, Univision and Las Vegas Motor Speedway will provide hospitality for 500 VIPs and present other activities prior to the Sept. 23 Smith’s Las Vegas 350…Bobby Hamilton Racing announced Monday that 19-year-old Chase Miller will replace Timothy Peters in the #4 Dodge Motorsports Dodge at NHIS and Las Vegas. The Georgia driver won an ARCA RE/MAX event at Pocono Raceway this summer in only his second series start.
On the Right Track:
NHIS appeals to this quintet…Five winners of the New England 200 will belt in for Saturday’s race and that definitely counts for something – if only the odds of a good finish. The five who will attempt to end the series’ longest streak of different winners (shared with Homestead-Miami Speedway) are Ron Hornaday Jr. (1996), Dennis Setzer (1999), Jack Sprague (2001), Terry Cook (2002) and Rick Crawford (2005). Setzer, Sprague consistent as well …Setzer leads all series drivers with five top-five finishes at NHIS and shares the top-10 finish record of six with Sprague. Sprague, meanwhile, has won three Budweiser Poles and is one of two to win from the #1 position. Jimmy Spencer is the other. Maybe a rookie winner? … Two Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidates count victories at NHIS – Andy Houston in 1998 and Kurt Busch in 2000. Only one freshman competed in last year’s race, matching the series record. Rookie of the Year Todd Kluever finished 28th.
In the Loop:
In 2005, nearly half of the green flag passes – 43.56 percent – occurred on New Hampshire International Speedway’s front or backstretches. There’s a reason for that: the length of those straights give a driver an excellent opportunity to pull alongside exiting a turn and powering past before the two competitors reach the next corner. How did this factor into Rick Crawford’s victory? Crawford fashioned 67 percent of his green flag passes – 21 of 31 – on straightaways. Turns 2 and 4 are virtually equal in passing potential. Turn 2 produced 17.44 of the race’s passes with 17.27 taking place in Turn 4.Crawford ranked near the top of two key categories (see below). He was #1 in average running position (3.85) and #2 in Speed in Traffic (123.906). Ironically, second-place finisher Dennis Setzer was first in the latter category. Crawford topped the field with a Driver Rating of 132.1.
Manufacturers’ Championship 2006 Point Standings:
Toyota, 117
Ford, 112
Chevrolet, 82
Dodge, 61
Fast Facts:
What: New Hampshire 200 (Race 18 of 25)
Where: New Hampshire International Speedway
When: 2:15 p.m. ET, Sept. 16
Track layout: 1.058-mile flat paved oval
Race length: 211.6 miles/200 laps
Posted awards: $537,434
TV: SPEED Channel, 1:30 pm/et
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite
2005 winner: Rick Crawford
2005 polesitter: Matt Crafton
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday -Practice 10:15 a.m. a. m. – 11:25 a.m. Rookie Practice 1:20 p.m. 1:50 p.m. Final Practice 2 p.m. -3 p.m. Saturday – Qualifying 9:30 a.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(9-11-2006)
UPDATE: Boston Reid is hoping new crew chief; Tim Weiss can bring some life to his Woodard Racing team this weekend in New Hampshire. Weiss, who has spent the last four year’s working as a part-time consultant to race teams, has agreed to help the team until a full-time crew chief is brought on board. A native of Baltimore, MD, the 20-year veteran is looking forward to spending the weekend working with the Reid and the Woodard crew. Also hearing there’s a new spotter on board for this weekend’s event.(woodardracing.com)(9-13-2006)
Ambrose launches new-look website: Australian motorsport ace Marcos Ambrose has re-launched his website www.marcosambrose.com which will serve as an information hub for his fans around the globe. The site will have all the information and latest news that an Ambrose fan is after as he tackles the North American NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in his Team Australia Ford F-150. Among the features on offer will be a monthly podcast, auctions of unique memorabilia and a comprehensive collection of news and information. The ‘Tailgating the Tasmanian’ podcast will be produced on a monthly basis. Ambrose will be sharing his personal insights into the world of NASCAR and discussing his progress in the category. The Episode 1 of Tailgating the Tasmanian is already uploaded and you can listen to it by visiting the website. (www.marcosambrose.com)(9-8-2006)
UPDATE: Reutimann, Kvapil finalists for MWR #00: David Reutimann and Travis Kvapil are the finalists to drive Michael Waltrip Racing’s #00 Toyota in 2007, but a decision may be several weeks away. Waltrip wouldn’t name the second finalist, but a source familiar with the process said that Kvapil, who currently drives for PPI Motorsports, is the other driver under consideration by sponsors Burger King and Domino’s Pizza. Waltrip hoped the choice would be made by now, but things haven’t gone as quickly as planned when it comes to coordinating meetings with the team’s co-sponsors. “It’s more of a deal now where we just need to all reconvene,” Waltrip said Friday. “We presented all the options to ’em and I told Ty [Norris, the team’s vice president and general manager] we would be proud to have either one of [our choices] and we’ll see what happens.” Reutimann met with executives from Domino’s Pizza on Aug. 29, but a meeting with Burger King executives in Florida didn’t materialize as a tropical storm was bearing down on the state. Reutimann returned to North Carolina unsure of where things stand, though he felt the meeting went well. And he’s taking a realistic approach to the process. “Nobody made any promises,” Reutimann said. “It’s just something that we were going to go try. I didn’t really expect to have any decisions when we left there.” (SceneDaily.com)(9-2-2006)
UPDATE 2: Reutimann to Meet with Burger King; Announcement Next Week? David Reutimann will meet in Miami with officials from Burger King on Tuesday in what he hopes is the final step for moving into the Nextel Cup Series for Michael Waltrip Racing next season. Reutimann already has met with officials from Domino’s Pizza, which will split sponsorship on Waltrip’s new Toyota team in 2007. An announcement could come by the end of next week. Reutimann said the tentative plan is for him to drive a full Busch and Cup Series schedule.(NASCAR.com)(9-9-2006)
UPDATE: A.J. Allmendinger, presently the only American competing in the Champ Car World Series, had a Craftsman Truck Series test with Bill Davis Racing at Richmond this week, it was confirmed Friday. He reportedly did quite well. Allmendinger has won four Champ Car races for Forsythe Racing this season, but his options are apparently open for next year. When Allmendinger was let go by RuSport Racing in June prior to the Portland race, he put out feelers in several directions, then Forsythe hired him and he won three straight races, beginning with Portland. The opportunity to test with Bill Davis Racing was one of those options and it is possible Allmendinger might do some Truck or Busch races next season, in addition to continuing in Champ Car, a spokesperson for Allmendinger said Friday.(Ford Racing)(9-2-2006)
UPDATE 2: Bill Davis Racing (BDR) announced that A.J. Allmendinger will be joining the team´s Craftsman Truck Series line-up for two races. Allmendinger, who is currently fighting for the championship on the Champ Car World Series circuit, will drive the #24 Toyota Tundra for BDR at New Hampshire International Speedway (Sept. 16) and Talladega Superspeedway (Oct. 7). “When I had the opportunity a few months ago to explore my career options, I really wanted to try my hand at something in the stock car arena,” said the 24 year-old Allmendinger. “We began making phone calls and this opportunity with Bill Davis Racing really came about from that. I´m grateful to Bill Davis and the entire BDR team for giving me the chance to take on a new challenge. I also want to thank my Champ Car team owner Gerry Forsythe and the Forsythe/Indeck team for supporting me as I try something new.”
“A.J. Allmendinger was interested in exploring his options and abilities in NASCAR and Bill Davis Racing has always had an interest in looking at new talent. We look forward to working with A.J. for a couple of races and I´m confident his open-wheel success will carry over into his NASCAR endeavors,” added team owner Bill Davis. In preparation for his upcoming races, Allmendinger completed a brief testing session with the BDR NASCAR Craftsman Truck crew on Aug. 29 at Richmond International Raceway.(Bill Davis Racing PR)(9-5-2006)
It’s been a year since Erik Darnell became Roush Racing’s “Driver X,” the ultimate winner in an on-track competition that drew resumes from several hundred of the nation’s top, young competitors. The prize was a full season in the Craftsman Truck Series and the hope of following Roush truck graduates Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch into the Nextel Cup Series. When Darnell, the current Raybestos Rookie of the Year leader, won the Budweiser Pole at Nashville Superspeedway, he became the third Roush Racing driver to post a fast qualifying time in 2006. He joined Mark Martin (#6 Scotts Ford) and fellow Driver X graduate David Ragan as pole winners. When the season resumes Sept. 16 at New Hampshire International Speedway, Darnell hopes to join Busch as a rookie winner at the 1.058-mile track.
Driving a Roush Racing truck is one of the greatest opportunities for a young driver hoping to make it to the top in NASCAR competition. David Ragan, who is splitting seat time in the Roush #6 Scotts Ford with five-time Craftsman Truck Series winner Mark Martin, knows that his enviable situation carries an upside and a downside. “The pressure of being a Roush driver is just as high as it was during the ‘Gong Show,'” said the 20-year-old Georgia native, who put his Ford F-150 on the pole last month at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. Ragan, who started the season slowly, has recovered to post top-10 finishes in four of his most recent six appearances.
Key Motorsports Marks Pit With American Flag Flown In Iraq: A 3′ X 5’ American Flag, that was flown from a United States Air Force gun ship during the first combat mission from Balad Air Base, Iraq, has been presented to Key Motorsports and in honor of the #40 Chevrolet driven by Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Ryan Moore. Staff Sergeant David W. Goodfriend, the Senior Controller for the 816 Expeditionary Special Operations Group of USAF Maintenance Operations Center, made the presentation. Goodfriend was the bunkmate of current, part-time Key Motorsports tire carrier Colin McGuffin in the Air Force for five years. McGuffin, who left the service in 2004, hails from California while Goodfriend, who has now served four tours of duty in the Middle East, hails from Fort Walton Beach, Fla. The American Flag became the Key Motorsports pit identification marker at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 23 and for the remaining races on the 2006 Craftsman Truck Series season schedule, was flown on the AC130V “Spooky Gunship”, tail #90-0166 on March 2, 2006.
David Reutimann (#17 Team Tundra Toyota) will be doing double duty through most of the remainder of the 2006 season. Reutimann, currently ranked third in series point standings, will attempt to win his first Craftsman Truck Series title. He’ll also be at the wheel of Michael Waltrip’s #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Chevrolet at tracks on which the trucks and NASCAR Busch Series compete on the same weekend. Reutimann’s goal is two-fold. He wants to win the Craftsman Truck title for owner Darrell Waltrip and at the same time put the car into the top 10 in Busch Series points. The latter team ranked 17th going into last weekend’s event at California Speedway, 123 points out of 10th.
This Week’s Craftsman Truck Series Leaders…Through 17 races of the 25-race season:
Points leader – Todd Bodine (2,624)
Winnings – Todd Bodine ($492,260)
Laps led – Mark Martin (485)
Miles led – Mike Skinner (655.792)
Victories -Mark Martin (4)
Budweiser Poles -Mike Skinner (4)
Top-five finishes – Todd Bodine, David Reutimann (9)
Top-10 finishes – Todd Bodine, David Reutimann (13)
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Erik Darnell (32 over Chad McCumbee)
Races led – Todd Bodine, Mike Skinner (9)
Weeks in Top 10 – 3 drivers (17)
News & Notes Part II:
Totals Are In: Craftsman for a Cure Raises $66,711.83 For ACS, Victory Junction: When ‘Craftsman for a Cure’ was announced earlier this spring, event organizers from Craftsman Motorsports and Bobby Hamilton Racing had no idea what to expect from the first year event. Now, after months of tallying donations and ticket and auction sales, the organizers of ‘Craftsman for a Cure’ announce that $66,711.83 was raised for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The ‘Craftsman for a Cure’ charity event was spearheaded after former Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton announced that he would get out of his truck during the 2006 season to battle head and neck cancer. Hamilton hopes to be back behind the wheel at the Series’ season finale in Homestead. The charity event gave race fans the opportunity to race go-karts against numerous NASCAR drivers, to dine with drivers and even to get autographs. The support for Hamilton and the ‘Craftsman for a Cure’ began pouring in as soon as the event was announced. In all, 32 drivers from all three NASCAR series volunteered to participate in the fan-driven charity event. Sponsors like Toyota, Chevrolet, Con-way Freight, ASE and Fastenal donated money to the event. Other sponsors, drivers and tracks donated items for a silent auction. “I’m so thankful for the outpouring of support and generosity of each person who has given their free time and money to help such a great cause on our behalf,” Hamilton said. “It means more than most of you will ever know, to know that my extended family will help me fight as well. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping this event become of the largest ones out there to help such a tremendous cause.”
Another Crawford
The co-career leader in Craftsman Truck Series starts, Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford), is grooming a future racing star – his son Adam. Adam celebrated his 17th birthday Saturday night concurrent with the final race of the Super Late Model season at Mobile (Ala.) International Speedway where he’s the rookie of the year leader in the division. The younger Crawford jumped right into the deep end of the pool, so to speak. Among division regulars is former Cup Series driver Stanley Smith. Father has turned over son to the tutelage of long-time crew chief and confidant Ray Stonkus, a Craftsman Truck Series winner. “While I’m worried about Adam doing well, I don’t have to worry about him with Ray as his crew chief,” he said. “As a dad, I’ll always be proud of Adam for what he accomplishes on the racetrack or off. As a racer, I’ve been impressed with his performance on the track.”
ETC:
Todd Bodine (#30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) assisted team owner Stephen Germain’s son, Zach, who competed in a Legends car race during the past weekend at Kentucky Speedway. The younger Germain is a 21-year senior at Miami (Ohio) University. … Bodine, Johnny Benson (#23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota), Reutimann, Mike Skinner (#5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) and Jack Sprague (#60 Con-way Freight Toyota) attended last week’s national Toyota Dealers Association meeting in San Antonio, Texas. … According to Nielsen Media Research, the Aug. 23 O’Reilly 200 was SPEED’s most watched Craftsman Truck Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway with ratings up 60 percent from the same race a year ago. … Bill Davis Racing has announced that A.J. Allmendinger will be joining the team’s Craftsman Truck Series line-up for two races. Allmendinger, who is currently fighting for the championship on the Champ Car World Series circuit, will drive the #24 Toyota Tundra for BDR at New Hampshire International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway (Oct. 7).(9-5-2006)
UPDATE: HT Motorsports will convert from Ford to Toyota effective the next Craftsman Truck Series race, Sept. 16 at New Hampshire, driver Chad Chaffin confirmed Friday. Chaffin said the team – which recently added crew chief Danny Rollins, whom Chaffin worked with at Bobby Hamilton Racing in 2003 and 2004 – is busy converting the #59 trucks to Toyota to be ready for Loudon. (SceneDaily.com)(9-2-2006)
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