NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News & Rumors
September 2011 Archives

  • Chastain returns for three with Turn One Racing: Ross Chastain has been battling nightmares the past few weeks. Not nightmares of getting injured or killed. It’s more like the nightmare of: “How could I wreck my truck; how could I let my team down?” After debuting with a 10th-place finish in his first pro race in Indianapolis, Chastain finished 19th at Bristol on Aug. 24 with a back-up truck. On Saturday night, the 2011 Riverdale High graduate and FGCU student will be back in Camping World Truck Series action at the Kentucky 225 in Sparta, Ky [driving the #66 Chevrolet for Turn One Racing]. Despite the financial challenges, Chastain is appreciative the Watermelon Promotion Board has sponsored him for five races this season, including a race in Texas on Nov. 4 and the season finale at Homestead on Nov. 18. By taking part in these five races, Chastain will secure a NASCAR license, which will allow him to race on any track in 2012. The family is also hoping the additional exposure will lead to increased sponsorship. “That’s what we’re hoping for,” Ralph Chastain said. “We’re hoping for a full schedule next year.”(News-Press.com)(9-30-2011)

  • NASCAR indefinitely suspends #23 crew member: UPDATE statement from JDM: Michael McLaughlin, a licensed crew member for the No. 23 team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. On Sept. 27, McLaughlin was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2011 NASCAR rule book.(NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)(9-29-2011)
    UPDATE: Joe Denette Motorsports stringently adheres to a zero tolerance policy concerning substance abuse. The licensee in question has been released and replaced moving forward for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. Our company stands behind the actions taken by NASCAR in regards to this matter, and strongly supports their continued efforts to promote a safe work environment.(Joe Denette Motorsports PR)(9-29-2011)

  • Germain Racing serves official warning of potential layoffs: Due to the team’s extraordinary growth in 2011, Germain Racing finds itself in a unique situation looking toward 2012. As the 2010 season drew to a close, Germain Racing knew the team would operate the GEICO Camry and GEICO Tundra programs, and was in negotiations to sign some sponsorship for its championship #30 Tundra team as well as sign up a new number, #62, for the 2011 season. Looking ahead to 2012, the team again will field the GEICO Camry for an expanded schedule of 22 races, but is uncertain how many of the Tundra programs will be funded for the coming year. “We began this process two weeks ago, and it’s not a lot different than what we’ve been through in previous seasons heading into the off-season. We have been fortunate to sign a lot of our deals in December and some in January. Unfortunately, that saddles us with layoffs in November,” explained Mike Hillman Sr., general manager of Germain Racing. “This year, given the economy and the fact that several fellow race teams have previously announced their shut-downs, we gave our team members warning that they should be sure they are comfortable with their employment situation for the coming season. Today, we have formalized this process in compliance with North Carolina state law. Germain Racing will be in business in 2012 and beyond. Our long-time sponsor, GEICO, and partners such as Valvoline are looking ahead to being part of the Daytona 500 come February. We have enjoyed a tremendous growth year, and it has put us in the unenviable position of looking seriously at the possibility of downsizing our team. In the meantime, we will continue to work on securing sponsorship in order to pursue more NASCAR success in the future,” explained Hillman Sr. In order to give our employees an opportunity to plan for the future and also to comply with the law and initiate government assistance that may be available to our employees, Germain Racing served official warning of potential layoffs on Thursday afternoon. The team will continue to grow and develop its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team in order to compete for a full season in 2012.(Germain Racing PR)(9-29-2011)

  • Jeffrey Earnhardt returns to #1 truck at Talladega with Poynt: Poynt Corporation, a global leader in mobile local search and advertising, and Rick Ware Racing today announced the Company’s flagship application, Poynt will be the official sponsor of Jeffrey Earnhardt for the Talladega Superspeedway Camping World Truck Series entry in October. Earnhardt will be driving the Poynt branded NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chevy in the October 22, 2011 Camping World Truck Series event at the Talladega Superspeedway, AL in the Coca-Cola 250 presented by Fred’s Super Dollar. The race will be broadcast at 3:30pm ET on SPEED in the United States and on Speed Network in Canada.(Rick Ware Racing PR)(9-29-2011)

  • Valvoline returns as Bodine sponsor at Kentucky: Todd Bodine will be behind the wheel of the #5 Valvoline Toyota at Kentucky Speedway. Kentucky track stats…Bodine scored his 21st career — and most recent — Camping World Truck Series victory at Kentucky Speedway last September. In total, Bodine has one win, three top-five and four top-10 finishes in seven NCWTS starts at Kentucky Speedway, including a runner-up finish in the inaugural Truck Series event. Bodine has accrued the most points of any driver (355) in the last three NCWTS races at Kentucky Speedway. In addition to his Truck Series statistics, Bodine went to Victory Lane at Kentucky in the Nationwide Series in 2002.(RMM/Germain Racing PR)(9-29-2011)

  • Goodyear Tire Notes — Kentucky: This is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Camping World Truck teams ran at Kentucky in July . . . truck teams have also run this left-side tire code (D-4394) several times in the past — at Dover this season and at Dover, Michigan and Kentucky last season . . . Kentucky is the only track on which they will run this right-side code (D-4440) . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Kentucky . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear PR) [Complete tire specs are posted on the Kentucky Race page.](9-29-2011)

  • Ty Dillon making series debut at Kentucky; Realtree & Bad Boy Buggies to sponsor: Realtree and Bad Boy Buggies will be the primary sponsors of Richard Childress Racing’s Ty Dillon when he makes his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in the October 1 Kentucky 225 at Kentucky Speedway. Dillon, 19, of Lewsville, N.C., will drive the #21 Realtree Outfitters/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Silverado at the 1.5-mile tri-oval in Sparta, Ky. Realtree, based in Columbus, Ga., has maintained a relationship with RCR since 1997. Realtree is one of the longest running RCR partners, with 14 years of continuous presence on the team’s cars, and has been a sponsor of the Dillon brothers since early on in their racing careers. Bad Boy Buggies is a primary sponsor at Kevin Harvick Inc., in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series. The youngest grandson of team owner Richard Childress currently has a season-high seven victories and the lead in the driver point standings in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. Dillon makes his NCWTS debut while his older brother, 21-year-old Austin Dillon, currently leads the NCWTS driver point standings with six races remaining in the 2011 season. Crew chief Scott Naset and the rest of the team that supports Ty in the ARCA Racing Series will serve the same function for the NCWTS race.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(9-27-2011)
    UPDATE: Rendering of the #21-Real Tree/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet is posted on the #21 NCWTS 2011 Paint Schemes page.(9-28-2011)

  • Starr sponsored by Allegro for Kentucky race: Allegro Marinade returns to the No. 81 Toyota Tundra for Saturday’s Kentucky 225 at Kentucky Speedway. Since humble beginnings in a Paris, Tennessee restaurant, Allegro has been bottling and selling their marinade and sauces since the 1970s and are now nationally know for their delicious recipes. Starr has an impressive record at Kentucky Speedway. In ten previous NCWTS races at the mile and a half speedway, he has finished in the top-fifteen in every single race including an eighth place run in the UNOH 225 back in July. David’s average start is only 17.1 but his average finish is an impressive 9.2. He has seven top-tens and two top-fives finishes completing 1505 of the 1506 laps run over the ten races. Zachry will provide associate sponsorship this week on the #81 Toyota.(SS Green Light Racing PR)(9-28-2011)

  • TV Ratings up again at New Hampshire: According to Nielsen Media Research, SPEED coverage of last Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from New Hampshire Motor Speedway scored a .69, up five-percent from last year’s equivalent New Hampshire race (.66). Saturday’s race marked the third consecutive Truck Series race to post a year-to-year overall ratings increase. With six races remaining this season, ratings for the series are up eight-percent overall versus last year at this point and up four-percent over SPEED’s record-setting 2009 season when compared with equivalent dates. With only six races remaining in the 2011 season, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Kentucky Speedway for Saturday’s race. SPEED provides live coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET with NCWTS Setup with Krista Voda, followed by live race coverage at 8 p.m. ET.(SPEEDtv PR)(9-28-2011)

  • Ickler set to drive KBM’s #18 for next two: Beginning with Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kentucky 225 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Brian Ickler will be back in the saddle of Kyle Busch Motorsports’ #18 Toyota Tundra for the next two races,. As the 2011 Truck Series season heads down the final six-race stretch, the 26-year-old driver is faced with the task of trying to help the defending Truck Series owners’ champions erase a 33-point deficit in this year’s standings. Ickler has collected five top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 20 career Truck Series starts. Saturday will be the San Diego native’s third start for KBM in 2011. He battled his way back from an early spin to register a hard-fought fourth-place finish in the WinStar World Casino 400k at Texas Motor Speedway in June and posted a 14th-place finish in the Coca-Cola 200 at Iowa Speedway in July. This weekend will be Ickler’s fourth trip to Kentucky Speedway.(Kyle Busch Motorsports PR)(9-27-2011)

  • Peters featuring Big O Tires at Kentucky: This weekend Peters will carry the Big O Tires logo across the hood of the #17 Big O Tires/ Service Central Toyota Tundra. Peters and the #17 team have struggled this season with 1.5-mile speedways. The team has an average finish of 19.1 at these tracks. This weekend the team is taking a different truck with a new approach.”We have met with our Toyota teammates and we feel like we have a different approach this weekend heading into Kentucky. We have really focused our efforts on improving on these types of tracks. In order to make a statement in this championship battle, we feel like we need another win and to be able to give our team owner Tom DeLoach his first win on a 1.5-mile track would icing on the cake this weekend at Kentucky, ” said Peters. Peters is one of only five Truck Series regulars to have visited Victory Lane this season.(Red Horse Racing PR)(9-27-2011)

  • Turner Motorsports to swap road crews at Kentucky: Turner Motorsports will swap the road crews of its #4 and #32 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams for this weekend’s Kentucky 225 at Kentucky Speedway. Doug George will assume the crew chief duties for Ricky Carmichael’s #4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado while Mark Rette will call the shots for rookie Blake Feese and the #32 AccuDoc Solutions entry. “We’re trying something different with both teams this weekend,” explained Turner Motorsports owner Steve Turner. “Our teams go to the race track each weekend with the goals of consistently competing at a high level and raising the bar for our sponsors and fans. As we look ahead to next season, we’re in the process of evaluating both programs. Turner Motorsports continues to work towards having all three of our trucks run up front not only for the rest of this season but in 2012 and beyond.”(Turner Motorsports PR)(9-27-2011)

  • Rogers returns after month-long hiatus: After taking the month of September off from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the Ricky Benton Racing (RBR) Enterprises team and driver Clay Rogers are ready to tackle October head-on beginning with this weekend’s running of the Kentucky 225 at Kentucky Speedway. Despite the hiatus, the team has been busy. “We have been working really hard on the trucks at the shop,” said Rogers, “concentrating on getting the best piece to the track for Kentucky. With the extra time, we’ve done some things that we weren’t able to do when were we running more races. The #92 BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors/fleetHQ.com/QMI Chevrolet will be making its 14th start of the NCWTS season. QMI returns as the primary sponsor for the Kentucky race.(RBR Enterprises PR)(9-27-2011)

  • Armstrong returns to #98 for 1st Kentucky truck start: Just over two months ago, ThorSport Racing and its newest driver, Dakoda Armstrong, debuted the #98 Ferrellgas/Agrisure/Drive For Savings Chevy Silverado in the media center of Kentucky Speedway. On this trip to the track, Armstrong’s racing machine won’t be there just for show- but for competition instead. This will be his first series start at Kentucky Speedway. Armstrong has one previous start at Kentucky in the ARCA series [July, 2009] where he started 13th and finished 11th. During the last visit to the Bluegrass State in July, ThorSport Racing made a trip to Fort Knox to visit some recruits and families that live on base. To support those who dedicate themselves to serving our country from the Fort Knox base, each of the three ThorSport Racing teams will host honorary pit crew members this weekend at Kentucky Speedway.(ThorSport Racing PR)(9-27-2011)

  • Gale returns to KHI driving #33 at Kentucky: Cale Gale returns to the driver’s seat of the Kevin Harvick Inc. #33 Rheem Heating, Cooling & Water Heating Chevrolet Silverado as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Kentucky Speedway for the Kentucky 225 this Saturday. Gale has spent the past few months focusing on his ARCA and Late Model racing since his last appearance in the Truck Series at Nashville Superspeedway in April of this season. The 150-lap race will be the Mobile, Ala., native’s first Truck Series race at the Sparta, Ky., facility. The #33 Rheem team will unload chassis #046 this weekend as the Truck Series makes their way to Kentucky Speedway. Four-time Truck Series champion, Ron Hornaday, has earned two wins thus far this season with this chassis, at Texas Motor Speedway in June and Atlanta Motor Speedway in September. (Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(9-26-2011)

  • Hornaday switches to KHI’s #2 at Kentucky; image: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to Kentucky Speedway this weekend for the second time this season. Four-time series champion Ron Hornaday will be behind the wheel of the #2 Hollywood Casino Chevrolet Silverado looking to add to his record at the track. The Kevin Harvick Inc.driver has seven Truck Series starts, two wins, two top-five and four top-10 finishes and has led a total of 99 laps led at the 1.5-mile tri-oval. Hornaday is also chasing his record 50th win in the series. The #2 KHI Chevrolet will debut the black, white and gold Hollywood Casino paint scheme during the Kentucky 225 on Saturday afternoon. The Penn National Gaming Inc. brand has over 13 Hollywood Casinos around the country in 10 different states with their headquarters based in Reading, Pennsylvania. With only six races left in the season, the #2 KHI Truck Series team is in the running for the Owner’s Championship, leading the #18 team by 33 points heading into Kentucky. Hornaday is currently fifth in the Driver’s Point standings, 47 markers from the lead.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR) [Rendering of the #2-Hollywood Casino Chevrolet is posted on the #2 NCWTS 2011 Paint Schemes page.](9-26-2011)

  • Richards returns to #51 for 2nd trip to Kentucky: Josh Richards made his debut in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Kentucky Speedway in July. On Saturday, Richards will pilot the #51 Joy Mining Machinery Tundra in his sixth NCWTS start this season. . In his first race at the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval, Richards started 24th and finished 29th when his night came to an abrupt end after the Joy Mining Machinery Toyota Tundra was collected in a spin. Although the night didn’t end the way Richards would have wanted, the 23-year-old driver felt like he learned a lot in his first series start. Partner Joy Mining Machinery will have more than 200 guests in attendance at Saturday’s race. In addition to his debut race in the NCWTS at Kentucky, Richards also has two career starts on the speedway’s 1.5-mile oval in the ARCA Racing Series.(Josh Richards/KBM PR)(9-26-2011)

  • Monday Rundown — Racing Resources:
    *Kyle Busch won the F.W. Webb 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It was his 30th career win in his 99th Truck series start and series-best sixth victory of 2011. He has won at least six races in each of the past three seasons. He has finished first or second in eight of his 14 Truck races in 2011.
    *Busch posted his third victory at New Hampshire, tying Ron Hornaday Jr. for most wins there. He won from the pole for the second year in a row. It was his sixth top-10 finish in seven New Hampshire starts.
    *Busch led twice for all but 10 laps (165 total). He led the first 130 laps before pitting under green.
    *Kyle Busch Motorsports posted its 15th career victory and seventh win of 2011, a series high.
    *Toyota posted its ninth win of 2011 and fifth win overall at New Hampshire.
    *Austin Dillon (second) had his seventh top-5 finish this season and took the points lead by two.
    *Kevin Harvick (third) has scored top-5 finishes in all seven starts this season.
    *Hornaday (fourth) had his 13th top-10 this season.
    *Johnny Sauter (fifth) had his eighth top-5 finish this season.
    *James Buescher finished seventh and lost the points lead to Dillon.
    *Three drivers made their Truck series debuts: German Quiroga (16th), AJ Russell (26th) and Bobby Santos (34th).(ESPN.com)(9-26-2011)

  • Gale to ESR in 2012? Hearing from a couple of sources that Cale Gale will be moving to one of the open seats at Eddie Sharp Racing, and is expected to run full-time in the Camping World Truck Series in 2012.(Nancy/Jayski)(9-25-2011)

  • Sad News — Johnnie Long: Johnnie F. Long passed away with his loving family by his side on Thursday, September 22, 2011. Long was born on October 3, 1939 in Clarksville, FL. He is survived by his wife Betty. The racing community knew Johnnie best as the father of Donald and Jerry Long, grandfather of Johanna Long, Haley, Brook, Ryan and Erica Long, and Holly Williamson. Since 1979, Long owned and operated Panhandle Grading & Paving Inc. He was extremely proud and grateful for the loyalty that was shown and the relationships that he was able to build with each of his long-term employees. Visitation will be held at 2:30 pm. on Monday, September 26, 2011 at East Brent Baptist Church, 4801 N. Davis Hwy, Pensacola, FL. Funeral service will immediately follow at 3:30 pm.

  • Eddie Sharp Racing acquires two KHI truck teams: Eddie Sharp Racing currently a one-team operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, announced today that they have acquired a controlling interest in two of Kevin Harvick Inc. Truck Series teams. With the acquisition of the #8 and #33 KHI trucks, ESR will field three full-time NCWTS teams in 2012. The NCWTS driver line up for ESR will be announced in October. The teams will operate out of Eddie Sharp Racing’s current 40,000 square-foot five-star facility in Denver, N.C. “The timing couldn’t have been any more perfect,” said team owner Eddie Sharp. “We are ready to take this opportunity head on to utilize what Kevin and DeLana have built. It was a marriage made in heaven, because we were ready to move forward at ESR, and this opportunity worked out perfectly. With KHI, you have a turnkey, successful program at the ready. Eddie Sharp Racing’s No. 6 truck is currently 19th in NCWTS owner point standings, only 57 points out of the top 12. The team was created in 2006 as Eddie Sharp envisioned his long-term goals as a team owner. The goal was to contend, not simply compete. That desire drove Sharp to obtain a five-star facility, which is what allowed the team to quickly transition from contender to champion.(Eddie Sharp Racing PR)(9-23-2011)

  • Goodyear Tire Notes – New Hampshire: Teams in both NASCAR national touring series will run the same tire codes at New Hampshire this weekend, though the Sprint Cup tires will be branded “Goodyear Eagle,” while the Camping World Truck tires will be branded “Goodyear Wrangler” . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Sprint Cup and Nationwide teams ran at New Hampshire in July . . . these teams ran this same tire set-up at Phoenix (both series) and Richmond (Sprint Cup) earlier this season . . . Camping World Truck teams also ran this left-side tire code (D-4416) with a different right-side code at Lucas Oil Raceway in July . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at New Hampshire.(Goodyear PR)[Complete tire specs are posted on the New Hampshire Race Page.](9-22-2011)

  • Kligerman making first start NHMS start; hoping to return in 2012: Eighteen races into a full 25-race schedule for the team owned by Penske Racing Sprint Cup driver Brad Keselowski, [Parker] Kligerman is eighth in the points standings on the strength of seven top 10s, including runner-up finishes at Texas and Kentucky. Fresh off a fourth-place outing last weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, the 21-year-old rolls into New Hampshire Motor Speedway for Saturday’s F.W. Webb 175 believing that his first win could be just around the corner. Kligerman is undaunted by the fact that Saturday’s race will be his first time ever on the flat 1.058-mile oval. “We show up at the race track with the intention of we are going to do the absolute best we can and hopefully that’s good enough to win,” said Kligerman, who is just seven points out of fifth. “I think right now what makes it a little more realistic is that obviously we are kind of knocking on the door, we do have a lot of speed week in and week out. The guys are building great trucks, we’re qualifying up front, we’re running up front, we’re challenging guys like Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch each week and that kind of gets me thinking, ‘Hey, wait, we’re going to break through here pretty soon.'” Kligerman hopes to soon re-sign as a Penske development driver for 2012 and run another full Truck season for Brad Keselowski Racing, in addition to a part-time schedule for Penske in the Nationwide Series.(SPEEDtv.com)(9-22-2011)

  • Peters to carry GearWrench colors at NHMS: Timothy Peters and the No. 17 team will proudly carry the black and red GearWrench colors this weekend as Peters tries to rebound from two trying weeks. The team will bring the same truck that won earlier this season at Lucas Oil Raceway. Peters and the team hope to turn their season around and climb back up the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series point standings as the series completes the 19th race of the 2011 season. Last season Peters earned his career best finish of sixth at the 1.0-mile track. Peters hopes to continue that trend and earn his first win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.(Red Horse Racing PR)(9-21-2011)

  • Coulter making first laps at NHMS: Joey Coulter, No. 22 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, has not previously raced at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and will make his first laps around the Loudon, N.H.-based track during NCWTS practice on Friday. Coulter is the leading NCWTS Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender with 185 points over Cole Whitt, who sits second in the standings with 177 points. Coulter is seventh in the NCWTS driver point standings, five markers outside of the top five and 52 markers behind point leader James Buescher.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(9-21-2011)

  • “Promoter” Crawford moving MIS forward; ARCA to debut in 2012: The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will make its inaugural appearance at Mobile International Speedway a Rick Crawford Performance Track in, 2012. The ARCA-Mobile 200 will see the national touring series bring its old school door handle to door handle style of hard nose racing for 200 laps on the half-mile, high-banked paved oval on Saturday, March 10, 2012. Since the series’ inception in 1953, the series has raced at over 200 different tracks but this will be the first at Mobile International Speedway. “The 2012 season is ARCA’s 60th, and Mobile will be the first short track on the schedule following the season opener at Daytona in February,” said ARCA President Ron Drager. “The ARCA Racing Series short track races have proven to be highly competitive and entertaining regardless of the venue. Mobile ‘s style of racing lends itself to an exciting ARCA show.” The ARCA Series is the latest in first time promotions at the Speedway since Rick Crawford took the helm at the beginning of 2011.(Mobile International Speedway PR) [Past news regarding Crawford & MIS is posted on the August News Archives page.](9-21-2011)

  • TV ratings climb 29 percent at Chicago; up for the year: According to Nielsen Media Research, SPEED coverage of Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from Chicagoland Speedway scored a .85, up 29-percent from last year’s equivalent-date New Hampshire Motor Speedway race (.66) and up 47-percent compared to last year’s Chicagoland race (.58) that aired two weeks earlier in the schedule. Last Friday’s NCWTS race at Chicagoland peaked at 1.04 and 1,031,000 total viewers. It saw a 750-percent increase among M18-34 (.34 vs. .04) over last year’s equivalent-date New Hampshire event and a 103-percent increase among M35-54 (.71 vs. .35). Ratings for the series are up eight percent overall versus last year at this point and up one percent over SPEED’s record-setting 2009 season when compared with equivalent dates.(SPEEDtv.com)(9-20-2011)

  • Quiroga to make series debut for KBM at New Hampshire: Kyle Busch Motorsports announced today that two-time defending NASCAR Mexico Series Champion German Quiroga will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in the F.W. Webb 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Saturday, Sept. 24. Quiroga has signed a one-race deal to pilot KBM’s No. 51 Toyota Tundra with sponsorship from Telcel, the leading provider of wireless communications services in Mexico. With four races remaining on the 2011 NASCAR Mexico Series schedule, Quiroga currently holds a 110-point lead in his quest for a third-consecutive championship. In 10 races this season, the 31 year old has collected one win, captured two poles and recorded five second-place finishes. In addition to his two Mexico Series championships, the Mexico City native has finished second in the points twice and his 15 career victories rank second in series history. Quiroga posted a respectable 12th-place finish in the 2011 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway in January. In his lone NASCAR Nationwide Series start, he led nine laps and finished 20th in the 2007 Telcel-Motorola Mexico 200 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico. Quiroga’s NASCAR resume also includes six NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts during the 2007 season, including the New England 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.(Kyle Busch Motorsports PR) [Image of the #51 Telcel Toyota is posted on the #51 NCWTS 2011 Paint Schemes page.](9-20-2011)

  • Native American driver AJ Russell to make NASCAR debut: On Saturday September 24th, Sacred Power Motorsports (SPM) will make its racing debut in the #73 Dodge RAM at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The owner of the team is David Melton from the Pueblo of Laguna tribe in NM. David also owns Sacred Power Corporation, the largest Native American owned solar integration company in the US. Clovis California driver A.J. Russell has an impressive racing resume with experiences in Indy Pro Lights, Supermodifieds and California Asphalt Trucks; A.J. is also a Cherokee Nation Member in Oklahoma. The team has been eagerly working toward its racing debut for over a year, with great partners in Georgia Pacific Professional, Multi-Flow Beverages, Pocket Rocket Water, Phantom EFX, Wrestling Superstars Live, Southern Pan Services, and Don Rico Beverages. The goal of the team is to get sponsors products into the 289 Indian Gaming Casinos across the country. SPM is partnering with Jennifer Jo Cobb’s team at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The goal is to run the full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2012.(Sacred Power Motorsports PR)(9-20-2011)

  • Carmichael to feature Alliance Energy at Loudon: Turner Motorsports and Monster Energy are pleased to feature Alliance Energy on the lower-rear quarter panels of the No. 4 Monster Energy Silverado Saturday at NHMS. Alliance Energy LLC is one of the largest petroleum marketing distributors in New England. Alliance has been providing quality products and services to its customers since 1985. still calls Loudon “one of my favorite tracks.” Meanwhile, Carmichael has a pair of NASCAR K&N Pro Series East division starts at the “Magic Mile.” In 2008, the father of twins finished fifth and 16th, respectively while driving for Ken Schrader Racing.(Turner Motorsports PR)9-20-2011)

  • JEGS joins Harvick at NHMS: Kevin Harvick returns to the driver’s seat of the No. 2 JEGS Chevrolet Silverado this weekend for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Saturday afternoon race will be Harvick’s sixth start in the series at the 1.058-mile track. In the verteran driver’s first five starts at the Loudon facility, he has earned two top-five and four top-10 finishes and has led 108 laps. The No. 2 KHI Silverado will feature the JEGS paint scheme during the F.W. Webb 175. The Truck Series event will be the high-performance parts company’s second appearance as primary sponsor of the No. 2 Chevrolet.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(9-19-2011)

  • Home turf for Hornaday sponsor: There are only two tracks on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule where four-time champion Ron Hornaday has three wins under his belt, and New Hampshire Motor Speedway is one of them (2008, 2007,1996). Hornaday will be behind the wheel of the No. 33 Cooked Perfect Meatballs Chevrolet Silverado for the F.W. Webb 175. The No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc.Chevrolet will feature Cooked Perfect Meatballs this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Home Market Foods Company will be right at home with their company headquarters located less than two hours from the track. The Home Market Food brand was on board the No. 33 Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway in April where the team brought home a third-place finish.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(9-19-2011)

  • Trucks to race twice at Iowa in 2012: The addition of a second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event highlighted the 2012 schedule unveiled Saturday night by Iowa Speedway officials. [Rusty]Wallace was at Prairie Meadows on Saturday night for a track promotional event that included the announcement of the 2012 schedule, which features five race weekends, including a pair of NASCAR Nationwide events for the second straight year. The Camping World Truck Series will double up in Newton next year, too, with races on July 14 and Sept. 15.(DesMoines Register.com)(9-18-2011)

  • Piquet hopes to remain in Truck Series: When Kevin Harvick announced he was shutting down his Camping World Truck Series team to put more focus on winning a Sprint Cup championship, four-time champion Ron Hornaday wasn’t the only driver affected. The closing of Kevin Harvick Inc. after this season also leaves Nelson Piquet Jr. looking for a ride, and the rookie would like to stay with the trucks. “I’m still searching for a Truck team,” said Piquet, who finished third in Friday’s Truck Series event at Chicagoland Speedway. “It’s not easy to find a Truck team at the level of KHI. If I knew which one it was, I’d have picked it a long time ago. So we’re trying, seeing what our options are, seeing what’s best available around.” Piquet said he wouldn’t rule out an opportunity in the Nationwide Series should one come along, but he’d prefer to continue his learning experience on the Truck tour.(nascar.com)(9-18-2011)

  • Truck race at Gresham in 2012? Hearing that Gresham Motorsports Park is under serious consideration to host a Camping World Truck Series race in 2012. Gresham Motorsports Park is located in Jefferson, Georgia.(Nancy/Jayski)(9-15-2011)

  • RHR & Peters welcome new sponsor; image added: Red Horse Racing is proud to welcome TBC Retail Group and their family of automotive retail brands to the No. 17 Toyota Tundra with driver Timothy Peters. The TBC Retail Group family of brands will serve as primary sponsor of the No. 17 Toyota Tundra for five races in 2011 including this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway to conclude the season, and 10 yet to be determined races in 2012. Red Horse Racing, TBC Retail Group, and Peters look forward to much success and a long standing relationship in the future. Throughout the 2011 season Red Horse Racing has been searching for marketing partners to join the Red Horse Racing family to continue their quest for wins and championships in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. With the addition of Service Central, Tire Kingdom, NTB-National Tire and Battery, Merchant’s Tire and Auto and Big O Tires, Red Horse Racing can now work more efficiently toward those goals throughout the remainder of 2011 and beyond. Peters currently sits third in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings only 14 points out of the lead. Peters’ has one win this season at Lucas Oil Raceway in July. Peters has been on a strong run recording five top five finishes in the last six events.(Red Horse Racing PR) [Image of the No. 17 NTB/Service Central Toyota is posted on the #17 NCWTS 2011 Paint Scheme page.](9-15-2011)

  • Good Year Tire Notes – Chicagoland: Teams in all three NASCAR series in action at Chicagoland this weekend will run the same tire codes, though the Sprint Cup and Nationwide tires will be branded “Goodyear Eagle,” while the Camping World Truck tires will be branded “Goodyear Wrangler” . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Nationwide Series teams ran at Chicagoland in June . . . this is also the same exact tire set-up that Sprint Cup and Nationwide teams ran at Texas earlier this season and at Homestead last November . . . for Camping World Truck teams, they ran this set-up at Homestead last season, but ran only this left-side tire code with a different right-side at Texas earlier this season . . . NASCAR teams have also run this left-side tire at Dover (all three series) and Nashville (Nationwide and Trucks) in 2011 . . . talking specifically about Chicagoland, teams in all three of these series ran this same left-side tire code (D-4392) last season, but with a different right-side code . . . compared to what was run at this track in 2010, this right-side (D-4410) features just a minor construction change . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Chicagoland . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear PR)[Complete tire specs are posted on the Chicagoland Race Page] (9-15-2011)

  • Lofton, ESR switch to Chevrolet: Eddie Sharp Racing announced today that they would be making the manufacturer switch from Toyota to Chevrolet this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway with driver Justin Lofton behind the wheel. ESR’s new trucks will be powered by Earnhardt Childress Racing Engines, with additional support from Chevrolet, allowing ESR to produce championship caliber entries within the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Owner Sharp says that his prior relationship with Toyota was nothing but positive and that the change to Chevrolet was an opportunity that the team could not pass up. Though this weekend’s event will mark Lofton’s first NASCAR run behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Silverado, he already has a history with the manufacturer. Lofton’s stock car career began in Late Models in a Chevrolet throughout the Southwest. The trend continued as he moved to NASCAR K&N Pro Series West competition, where he raced sporadically from 2005 to 2008, before teaming up with Sharp in ARCA. Lofton’s Class 1500 Buggy, which he continues to run in various off-road events from time to time, is also a Chevrolet. The No. 6 Chevrolet Silverado will hit the track with sponsor CollegeComplete.com.(Lofton Racing/ESR PR)(9-15-2011)

  • Chicago marks anniversary for Starr & SS Green Light: One year ago NASCAR Camping World Truck Series veteran driver David Starr was in the uncomfortable position of being without a ride for the first time in nearly thirteen years. The team Starr was racing for was suffering financial difficulties and suspended operations just days before the NCWTS race scheduled at the Chicagoland Speedway. A last minute deal was struck between Starr and SS Green Light Racing owners Ken Smith and Bobby Dotter and the long-time NCWTS team was able to ready an entry for Starr to keep his streak of starting every race since 2004 alive. Starr was paired with veteran crew chief Butch Miller for the Friday evening race at the mile and a half speedway located just south of the Windy City. David made the most of the opportunity by finishing an impressive tenth driving one of the teams back-up trucks and continued to drive for the SS Green Light Racing team for the balance of the 2011 season finishing ninth in the drivers standings. ASI Limited and the NCCER “Build your Future” campaign will provide associates sponsorship this week on the No. 81 Toyota.(SS Green Light Racing PR)(9-15-2011)

  • Gaughan to run TRAXXAS TORC off-road dirt race at Chicagoland: Brendan Gaughan will debut the new Douglas Motorsports PRO 2WD truck at the Chicagoland TRAXXAS TORC Series presented by AMSOIL race [off-road championship short course racing round at Chicagoland Speedway/Route 66 Raceway’s dirt oval]. Sponsored by South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the Ford Raptor carries the legendary Walker Evans Racing colors. Before graduating to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Gaughan honed his car control skills racing in the dirt, competing in both desert and short course. Brendan successfully campaigned a PRO2 truck driving for Walker Evans in the former SODA series and early days of the CORR series. The TRAXXAS TORC Series kicks off the Chase for the Cup NASCAR week at Chicagoland Speedway with racing scheduled for both Wednesday September 14th and Thurday September 15th. In addition to live internet video streaming on torcseries.com and coverage on Discovery HD Theater, the September 15th race will be covered live on the Speed Channel.(Race-dezert.com)(9-14-2011)

  • Smith making first Chicagoland start: Fresh off an 11th place finish at Atlanta, MB Motorsports & SealWrap look to continue their momentum in the Fast Five 225 at Chicagoland Speedway. Jack Smith will make his first series start at the track in the #63 Ford which will feature the Operation Homefront logo on its sides in their support of our military families. “Our whole SealWrap team is really pumped to head to Chicago with the Operation Homefront folks,” says Smith. We ran so well last time out and we think that the progress we’ve made will show on track this week. Besides, we’ve got a bunch of soldiers from Ft. Leonard Wood joining us this week, so with all of our effort and the good luck they’ll bring us, we should be in good shape Friday night.” Operation Homefront provides direct services to alleviate a military family’s or individual’s actual/complete emergency financial burden, as well as counseling and/or recovery support. Race fans can support MB Motorsports and SealWrap’s efforts by making an $5 donation by texting HERO to 50555 or by contacting their local Operation Homefront chapter to donate or volunteer. SealWrap will match the funds raised by the texting campaign up to $10,000.(MB Motorsports PR)(9-14-2011)

  • Benson plans return to series in 2012: UPDATE 2 working with Compton & Turn One Racing..more; Johnny Benson Enterprises is pleased to announce JB’s return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Competition. Johnny Benson will be competing once again, for his quest for another NASCAR Championship starting at Daytona in February 2012. Johnny’s current plans are to display the “Pure Michigan” logo on the NASCAR Truck Series Vehicle, with a Consortium of Michigan Businesses to rally around his home state of Michigan. Benson states that he is back in “top condition” and ready to take on the Truck Series, once again, where he left as the Champion in 2008. Johnny Benson has been currently racing Late Models and Super Modifieds through out the Midwest and the Northeast while on the mend from his 2009 wreck at Berlin Speedway. This year he has had very successful runs with First, Second, and Third place finishes in various races. Benson feels that the Super Modifieds have been an excellent means to getting back to top racing form. The 2012 and 2013 seasons will be dedicated to the great fans that have followed Johnny Benson for years throughout the Midwest and across the Nation. Johnny will be displaying the “Pure Michigan” logo on the hood of the Chevy truck to bring awareness, marketing support, and increase tourism to his home state of Michigan. “We will be back as a contender for a Championship Run” Johnny stated in a current interview. He invites any Michigan companies to join him and help sponsor this great cause to put Michigan Business and Tourism back on top.(PRWeb.com)(9-11-2011)
    UPDATE: Former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Johnny Benson, Jr., told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway that he will return to the series full time next season in Chevrolets fielded by Stacy Compton’s Turn One Racing. “We’re working with Stacy to try and put together a full season,” said Benson. “He’s worked awfully hard to get his team where it needs to be, and it’ll be nice to race for a guy that I used to race against!”(Sirius Speedway PR)(9-13-2011)
    UPDATE 2: Benson said he does not currently have sufficient sponsorship for the entire 2012 campaign. “We’ve got a partial season at the moment,” he said. “The goal is to find enough to run for the championship, but we’re not there yet. Once things get going, I’m confident that we’re going to be able to make it happen.” Benson said he had originally hoped to drive a Turn One Racing Chevrolet in last month’s Camping World Truck Series race at MIS, but was unable to get the deal done in time. There is still a chance that he and Compton will field a Truck in a race before the end of the 2011 season, but “the main focus is on next year, for sure.”(Sirius-Speedway PR)(9-15-2011)

  • Crafton & Sauter sign deals to return with ThorSport in 2012: ThorSport Racing announced today that Matt Crafton and Johnny Sauter will return to drive for the Sandusky, Ohio based team in 2012. Crafton and Sauter both signed deals which will keep them behind the wheel of their current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rides next season under the ThorSport Racing banner, owned by Duke and Rhonda Thorson. Recently, the organization opened its doors to the 100,000-square foot racing facility in Sandusky, Ohio. ThorSport Racing has competed in the Truck Series since 1996 and has had at least one truck starting in more races than any NCWTS team – making them the longest tenured team in the Series. The team has six wins, eleven poles and has led the series in driver points 13 of 17 weeks in 2011 between both Crafton and Sauter. Crafton, the 35-year-old driver of the No. 88 Menards Chevrolet Silverado, currently has 239 starts with ThorSport Racing and will be embarking on his 12th full-time season with the team. The Tulare, California native made his ThorSport Racing debut in the last event of the 2000 NCWTS season and currently holds the title of the longest relationship between an active driver and team in the series. He also extends the longest sponsor-team relationship in the Series as Crafton continues for an 11th year with Menards. Crafton has earned two wins and six poles in his Truck Series career and has a best year-end ranking of second in the championship standings (in 2010). Next season will be Sauter’s fourth with the team. The 33-year-old driver from Necedah, Wisconsin took NCWTS Rookie of the Year honors in 2009 behind the wheel of the #13 Chevrolet. In his 67 starts for the team over the last three years, Sauter has three wins and four poles, and has led the point standings for 10 of 17 weeks during the 2011 season by Atlanta. He has earned a best year-end ranking of third in the championship standings (in 2010). “We have three quality drivers in our stable at ThorSport Racing, and that’s great for the Series as well as our growing sponsorship and partnership programs,” said Matt LaNeve, Vice President of Motorsports Partnerships. “We’re looking forward to seeing Matt, Johnny and Dakoda continue a strong tradition of excellence in 2012.” Program details regarding sponsorship of the #88 and #13 Chevrolet Silverados are forthcoming.(ThorSport Racing PR)(9-8-2011)

  • Carmichael featuring special paint scheme: This weekend, Ricky Carmichael’s No. 4 machine will feature a special paint scheme highlighting the October 15 Monster Energy Cup at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. The Monster Energy Cup will showcase a unique hybrid track, designed by Carmichael and fellow motocross staple Jeremy McGrath, and will consist of supercross/motocross terrain and will have a tremendous motocross-style influence, making it unlike any other stadium race in the world. Fans can register for a chance to win a Monster day with the 15-time AMA National champion during the weekend of Monster Energy Cup at the NCWTS race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. [See the Jayski Contest page for complete details.] Turner Motorsports and Monster Energy are pleased to feature Thorntons on the lower-rear quarter panels of the No. 4 Monster Energy Silverado Friday night at Chicagoland. Thorntons Inc. is a leading, independent gasoline/convenience-chain retailer, marketing throughout the Midwest under the brand name Thorntons. (Turner Motorsports PR.) [Rendering & photos of the #4 Monster Energy Cup truck are posted on the #4 NCWTS Paint Schemes page.](9-13-2011)

  • Brian Johnson returns with Tagsby at Chicagoland; possibly compete for ROTY in 2012: SUPERSEAL Construction Products & Tagsby Racing are teaming up again for the “Fast Five 225 at Chicagoland Speedway. Once again Lonnie Rush will be joining the team as the Crew Chief and Engineer. Lonnie Rush brings 30 years of extensive experience in all levels of motorsports and has and a winning track record that features such top stars as Kevin Harvick. Brian Johnson Jr returns to drive the #73. This will be Brian’s first start at the Chicagoland Speedway. SUPERSEAL also confirms that Brian Johnson Jr is now the full time driver of the #73 and the team is putting all efforts to ensure that Brian Johnson Jr will be able to compete for rookie of the year in 2012.(Superseal/Tagsby PR)(9-13-2011)

  • Chicagoland Fast Facts – Kyle Busch: Kyle Busch and the The No. 18 Dollar General Racing team will be unloading chassis KBM-4, which has been to Victory Lane seven times in 11 starts since making its debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May of 2010. KBM-4 is the same Tundra that Busch drove to victory lane in last year’s Truck Series race at Chicagoland. Of note:
    *Busch won both NCWTS races at Chicagoland (8/28/09 and 8/27/10) and led 200 of the 304 total laps available
    *Busch ranks first among NCWTS drivers in Driver Rating (148.2), Average Finish (1.0), Laps Led (200), Fastest Laps (88), Laps in the Top 15 (304), Fastest Early in Run (169.521 mph), Fastest Late in Run (167.670 mph), Fastest on Restarts (158.957 mph), Green Flag Speed (168.443 mph) and Speed in Traffic (167.728 mph)
    *Captured the pole and led 165 laps en route to victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2008 LifeLock.com 400 (7/12/08)
    *Two-time winner of the Dollar General 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race (7/11/08 and 7/7/10)
    (Kyle Busch Motorsports PR)(9-13-2011)

  • Arpin returns to #32 seat for Chicagoland: Steve Arpin is set to climb back into the seat of the Mike’s Hard Lemonade Chevy for the final time this season on Friday evening at Chicagoland Speedway. In his last appearance in the No. 32, Arpin brought home a top-15 finish at Lucas Oil Raceway, continuing his solid NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in 2011. This weekend will mark the first time Arpin has competed at Chicagoland Speedway in the NCWTS, but it isn’t the first time he has logged laps at the 1.5-mile track. Arpin has a pair of ARCA Racing Series starts on the 1.5-mile track, with a runner up finish in 2010 and an average start of 5.5.(Turner Motorsports PR)(9-12-2011)

  • Germain facing 2012 cutbacks; employees told to seek work elsewhere: UPDATE Gaughan looking? Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that Germain Racing minority owners Mike Hillman, Sr., and Mike Hillman, Jr., told their NASCAR Camping World Truck Series employees today that they are free to pursue other options for the 2012 season. Hillman revealed that financing for two of the team’s three Truck Series teams is uncertain at present. “Brendan (Gaughan) is not very happy here, and I think GEICO will be putting all their sponsorship eggs in the Sprint Cup basket next season,” he said. “Right now, with funding for the 62 and 9 trucks not in place for 2012, I thought it best to tell our employees where things stand. Hillman said there is still a chance that all three Camping World Truck Series teams could return next season. “We’re still putting all our stuff in place to see where we’re headed,” he said. “The 5 truck is good. We’re having good discussions with (current sponsors) International Truck and Georgia Boot, and hopefully, we can get everyone back on board. Hillman said he expects GEICO to shuffle the money currently earmarked for Max Papis’ Truck Series program into the #13 Sprint Cup Toyota driven by Casey Mears. “I’m 90% sure that money will go to the Cup team, to extend (GEICO’s) schedule to 24 or 25 races next season,” he said. Gaughan declined to comment on his plans for 2012, saying, “I am 100% focused on winning the races we have left this season. I don’t know much about the business side of things at Germain Racing. My only worry right now is being as good as we can be on the racetrack.(Sirius Speedway PR)(9-12-2011)
    UPDATE: Reliable sources have told us that Brendan Gaughan does want to remain in the Camping World Truck Series for the 2012 season, and is currently looking at opportunities available with other teams.(Nancy/Jayski)(9-12-2011)

  • Armstrong returns to ThorSport’s #98 for Chicagoland: Dakoda Armstrong will return behind the wheel of the No. 98 Chevy Silverado this Friday at Chicagoland Speedway. This will be the fourth of seven scheduled events for Armstrong in 2011. Though he wasn’t competing in Atlanta, Armstrong was there to observe his team in action and absorb as much information as possible from his crew chief, Dan Stillman, and the entire ThorSport Racing team. Drive For Savings, one of the No. 98 team’s primary sponsors, will have a special group of guests visiting the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Chicagoland on Friday night. Local Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Boy Scouts of America (BSA) chapters from Indiana and Illinois will have 25 representatives from their clubs in the stands to cheer on Armstrong and the ThorSport Racing team. The representatives from FFA and BSA range from nine to 18 years of age.(ThorSport Racing PR)(9-12-2011)

  • Fisher Nuts co-sponsor for Crafton at Chicagoland: Matt Crafton rolls into the Windy City in the No. 88 Menards/Fisher Nuts Chevrolet Silverado in the first of two appearances for Fisher Nuts in 2011. Fisher Nuts will also grace the hood of the No. 88 in the penultimate race of the season at Texas Motor Speedway. In his two visits to Chicagoland Speedway, Crafton has a best finish of seventh, which he earned in his last visit to the track in 2010. One of Crafton’s five career pole awards was won in Chi-Town in 2009. Crafton has led 23 laps at the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval and has an average finish of 10.5.(ThorSport Racing PR)(9-12-2011)

  • Paludo to appear in commercial aimed toward Hispanic fans; first trip to Chicagoland: Miguel Paludo will make his debut at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend. Thus far in 2011, the driver of the No. 7 Stemco/Duroline Toyota Tundra has had mixed luck at the five 1.5-mile track the series has already visited scoring his best finish on 1.5-mile venues earlier this season at Texas Motor Speedway coming home eighth. Earlier this season Paludo traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida to tape a commercial targeting Hispanic race fans. That commercial will begin airing on local Chicago affiliates beginning this weekend.(Red Horse Racing PR)(9-12-2011)

  • Harvick to make 1st truck start at Chicagoland: Kevin Harvick will climb into the driver’s seat of the No. 2 Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Silverado as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series makes their way to Chicagoland Speedway this Firday. This race will be Harvick’s first Truck Series appearance at the 1.5-mile facility, but the veteran driver is no stranger to racing in the Windy City. Harvick has made 10 starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and nine NASCAR Nationwide Series starts, collecting a total one pole, four wins, nine top-five and 11 top-10 finishes between both series. The driver has also been credited with leading a combined total of 377 laps at the D-shaped oval.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(9-12-2011)

  • Buescher to sport Exide colors again at Chicagoland: James Buescher and the No. 31 Turner Motorsports team will again sport the black and blue Exide Batteries colors this Friday night outside the “Windy City”. This will be the Atlanta, Ga.-based company’s eighth appearance as the primary partner on the No. 31 Chevrolet during the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series campaign. Buescher has been a roll since late April. In the last 13 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, Buescher has picked up 19 spots in the championship point standings and has an average finishing position of 5.85. He and the No. 31 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet team have accumulated seven top-five and 13 top-10 results in addition to a pole position during this stretch. Buescher has accumulated more top-five and top-10 results than anyone else in the NCWTS during the 2011 season. After his13th consecutive top-10 finish two weeks ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Buescher captured the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series point lead. The Texas native sits 12 markers ahead of second place Johnny Sauter with eight races remaining on the 2011 schedule.(Turner Motorsports PR)(9-12-2011)

  • Hornaday looking for win #50; Anderson’s on board: Ron Hornaday and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) team head to Chicagoland Speedway for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event Friday night. Hot off their second win of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hornaday and the Anderson’s Maple Syrup team are looking to reach his 50th career win in the series. In two starts at the Joliet, Ill. track, the veteran driver has one top-five and one top-10 finish. The No. 33 Chevrolet team welcomes back Anderson’s Maple Syrup as primary sponsor this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. This will be the Northwoods Wisconsin-based company’s third event with Hornaday and the KHI team this season. This third generation, family-owned and operated business partnered with the team at Kansas Speedway on June 4 and Iowa Speedway on July 16. Anderson’s will return as primary sponsor of the No. 33 Chevrolet later this season at Talladega Superspeedway on October 22.(Kevin Harvick Inc. PR)(9-12-2011)

  • KBM’s “Riding Shotgun” winner at Chicagoland — Claire Winiarski: Kyle Busch Motorsports is thrilled to announce that 10-year-old Claire Winiarski from Naperville, Ill., was selected the winner of the “Riding Shotgun with Kyle Busch Motorsports” essay contest for Chicagoland Speedway. Winiarski, per a request in her essay, will use the unique opportunity of having her name on Kyle Busch’s Tundra to honor her friend, Varsha Jayasundar, who recently fought off leukemia. Jayasundar’s name and a picture of the two friends together will adorn the area above the passenger side window of the No. 18 Dollar General Tundra for the Fast Five 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, Sept. 16. Both girls will have the opportunity to attend the race compliments of Chicagoland Speedway. Winiarski, a student at Spring Brook Elementary in Naperville, Ill., had her essay selected as the winner among submissions from children ages 5-12 in the Greater Chicago area. The contest called for children to write an essay of 150 words or less that described an experience and/or achievement that occurred within the past 12 months that affected their lives in a positive way. Winiarski’s essay described how, on her 10th birthday, she asked the 16 friends invited to her party to not buy anything for her, but to instead bring a gift for Jayasundar, who at the time was battling leukemia. The entire party lifted Jayasundar’s spirits when attendees made a surprise visit to her home to deliver the gifts. A few days later, Jayasundar received news that her cancer was gone.(Kyle Busch Motorsports PR)(9-10-2011)

  • KHI out of truck series in 2012? UPDATE 2 Excerpts from Kevin Harvick press conference at RIR: Hearing from several sources that Kevin Harvick Inc. will either only run one truck or not participate at all in the Camping World Truck Series in 2012. Rumor has it that the #33 team will be shut down and Ron Hornaday has been told to find a new ride for next season.(8-26-2011)
    UPDATE: Earlier today a team representative responded to the report regarding KHI’s 2012 plans; “I can tell you the landscape will look different, but what that is and what our 2012 plans are is not yet confirmed.”Kevin Harvick was asked again during a media interview at Bristol Motor Speedway; his response; “I have no idea. It will not look the same. There will be some major changes, but nothing has changed since Wednesday.”(Team Chevy Racing PR)(8-26-2011)
    UPDATE 2 Harvick Q&A transcript excerpts from Richmond:
    Q: WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MERGING THE KHI NATIONWIDE PROGRAM WITH RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE TRUCK PROGRAM AND WHAT KINDS OF FACTORS ARE YOU CONSIDERING IN MAKING A DECISION?
    Harvick: “There is nothing to announce today, but, the one thing I can tell you is there will be no trucks that run out of KHI. But, as far as what happens with the truck teams, that will come in the weeks to come.”
    Q: IF AN ORGANIZATION LIKE KHI CAN’T MAKE IT IN TRUCKS, WHAT DOES THAT SAY FOR THE SERIES?
    Harvick: “I think when you look at the expectations that we put on the company to race, it obviously us, RCR, costs us more to race the vehicles than probably some of the other people with no overhead. The Truck Series is a great series. It is a lot of fun. I would love to continue driving some races in the truck series as we move forward. It’s just a point where we felt like we needed to some decisions from a business standpoint and these are the decisions that DeLana and I made and Fred (Lekse), Josh (Jones) and everybody involved has done a great job of taking the best of both worlds and making them work. There was no financial issues; we were making it all work. But, sometimes you just feel like you have got to get something out of it. We were winning races and loved to be a part of that; but, in the end it’s business.”
    Q: YOU SAY THIS IS A BUSINESS DECISION. BUT IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO IT, I’M SURE IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR YOU PERSONALLY AND EMOTIONALLY IF THE RIGHT THING OR THE WRONG THING. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THAT WEIGHED ON YOU IN THE EARLY STAGES SINCE IT WAS YOUR BABY AND PROBABLY HARD TO LET GO.
    Harvick: “Well, we still wanted to be involved and that was the hard part to figure out was how do we still be involved in it to the point of having an opinion on things. So we worked through a lot of that. There’s just a tremendous amount of moving pieces and just to get the ball rolling, that first conversation, was awkward. But you know, it really hasn’t been as taxing or as crazy mentally of a decision as you would think it would be; just for the fact that you see all these positive that have bloomed out of all the conversations and all the reactions have just been crazy as far as the way the rumors have spun out of control. DeLana and I have just kind of sat back and laughed at a lot of them. But I feel like as a couple, and as a group at KHI, we’ve made a lot of good business decisions over the course of the years. And it’s going to allow us time to explore other business opportunities as well. There were a lot of moments that you look back on, and there really weren’t any bad moments or moments that were just gut-wrenching that you had to go through, it was a relatively easy process.”
    Q: COULD YOU CLARIFY WHAT IS KHI AFTER THIS SEASON? YOU’VE GOT CHASSIS-BUILDING STUFF. WHAT’S GOING TO BE IN THAT SHOP?
    Harvick: “As we’ve gone through the months, that’s a lot of the things that you haven’t seen. The customer stuff has basically been shut off for several months as the process has kind of been starting to be put in place. The manufacturing side has been shut down for a month now; so there have been a lot of things that have started to progress and take part as we’ve led up into these moments of today. Kevin Harvick Inc. will basically become…… the No. 2 and the No. 33 cars, we’ll still have an interest in the decisions and the things that happen at RCR. It’s just going to operate under that particular roof.
    Q: YOU SAID THIS WILL ALLOW YOU TO FOCUS ON YOUR CUP RACING AND YOU ALMOST WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR. WHAT MORE CAN YOU DO, OR WHAT HAS THIS KEPT YOU FROM DOING AND HOW IS THIS GOING TO MAKE YOU BETTER GOING INTO THIS CHASE AND NEXT YEAR AND BEYOND?
    Harvick: “With the Nationwide stuff, and obviously the Truck stuff that RCR already has with Austin (Dillon) and what will be Ty (Dillon) and (Joey) Coulter, it just allows you to be at one facility. There were still 140 people that worked at the shop so you still had to worry about the sponsor issues and you still had to worry about all the things that come with the team ownership side. I think that most of that we’ll help with; but in the end, it’s going to be the responsibility of the guys at RCR to go out and get new sponsors and things. They don’t have to get many on the Nationwide side, aside from the ones we already have.”
    Q:YOU SAID 140 EMPLOYEES DO MOST OF THEM KEEP THEIR JOBS, OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? I KNOW YOU GUYS SPENT A LOT OF MONEY REFURBISHING THAT SHOP LAST FALL ARE YOU GOING TO SELL ALL THE EQUIPMENT OR WHAT HAPPENS THERE?
    Harvick: “There is really no reason for us to keep the equipment. Richard has everything that he needs and once we get to the point of him having everything that he needs to operate the way that he wants to operate next year, and then we will move on with everything and get rid of it. As we go through the process through the end of the year obviously, there will be a number of jobs that come available at RCR (Richard Childress Racing) and they will all have the opportunity to go about those jobs. Hopefully, with the situation that we have put the truck teams in going forward, it will gives a number of jobs available too. Our goal right now is to get as many people in a solid position as we can going forward. That is really why we did this so early was to make sure everyone had a great opportunity to fit in with the new situations and make sure they had time to do what they needed to do.”(Team Chevy Racing PR)(9-9-2011)

  • Papis to participate in Victory Junction Camp Challenge Ride: Victory Junction will be one of five Hole in the Wall Camps hosting a Camp Challenge Ride on September 10, 2011. The ride will begin and end at Victory Junction in Randleman, NC, and feature three route options: 62.5-mile (100k), 30-mile, and 15-mile. Max Papis, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, will be participating and raising money to support our campers. “I love riding my bike, but being able to experience Victory Junction for the first time and make a difference in the life of a child is going to make this ride even better,” Papis said. “It’s a win, and I’m not even at the track!” The event will offer cyclists, guests, and volunteers the opportunity to tour Victory Junction and experience program areas such as the Tony Stewart Maze, mini golf, movies in the Silver Theater, and NASCARnival games on Victory Circle. Team Camp Challenge NC will wrap up festivities with a post-ride meal in the Fuel Stop and live entertainment at the Dale Jr. Corral and Amphitheater.(Victory Junction PR) [For more information, see the Jayski Victory Junction News page and/or the Team Hole in the Wall website.(9-9-2011)

  • Darlington off 2012 schedule: NASCAR’s trucks won’t return to Darlington Raceway next season, but the departure apparently has nothing to do with Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina. Darlington spokesman Jake Harris said Wednesday that while the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series would run on Mother’s Day weekend next season, the Camping World Truck Series would not. Harris said the track worked with the truck series to find a useable date. Harris said Darlington would seek to bring the trucks back, if possible, in 2013.(USAToday.com)(9-8-2011)

  • Rockingham Speedway announces addition of 2012 NCWTS race; Good Sam to sponsor: UPDATE more info; “Little Rock” still testing: Rockingham Speedway is pleased to announce that Richmond County and the city of Rockingham, N.C., will once again be home to NASCAR-sanctioned racing with the addition of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 on [Sunday] April 15, 2012. Good Sam Club, the world’s largest RV owners’ organization will serve as the title sponsor of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Rockingham Speedway, while Cheerwine, legendary soft drink of the south will serve as presenting sponsor. Rockingham Speedway, affectionately known as “The Rock,” will begin safety improvements to its race track this fall. One improvement will include the installation of a Steel and Foam Energy Reduction barrier, known as the SAFER barrier system, which is a required feature for all top three tier NASCAR-sanctioned race tracks to help improve driver safety. Additional upgrades will be made to the track’s scoring system and pit road, as well as other aesthetic improvements. Founded in 1965, Rockingham Speedway is a one-mile asphalt race track located 10 miles outside of Rockingham, N.C. in Richmond County. For over 40 years the race track held NASCAR sanctioned events. In 2007, the race track was purchased by former NASCAR driver, Andy Hillenburg, and now plays host to several regional and nationally-sanctioned touring events each year. The speedway is also home to the Fast Track Driving School, a stock car racing experience.(NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)(9-7-2011)
    UPDATE: Hillenburg and track operation director Robert Ingraham admit now that they had started lobbying NASCAR for a return event nearly as soon as they reopened the track in the spring 2008. “I can verify that is very accurate,” said NASCAR Camping World Truck Series director Wayne Auton with a laugh. “Andy has been wearing me out every time he’s seen me over the last three years. And he’s been wearing my bosses out, too. Over the last four years the steadiest source of income has still come via NASCAR, though indirectly. In 2009, NASCAR implemented a “testing ban” that prevented teams from holding test session at tracks that also held sanctioned events. It proved to be a boon for Rockingham, with most of the teams located in the Charlotte area, a short drive away. Teams not only tested on the one-mile oval, but also on the half-mile Martinsville Speedway clone, “Little Rock” located behind the backstretch of the big track. Those sessions can be worth up to $5,000 for the track on days when multiple teams participate. There had been talk that the arrival of the Truck Series would put an end to such test sessions, but Auton says that the rule will apply only to the big track. And because the race is scheduled for 2012, teams can still hold previously-scheduled sessions on the speedway itself. If the numbers provided by the state are accurate, saying that the track will see a 48 percent increase in revenues and 56 percent increase in jobs, then Hillenburg’s operation should be more than OK. On Wednesday there were already whispers that a NASCAR Nationwide Series event will be in the near future, and that the track had actually turned down an offer to host both series.(ESPN.com)(9-8-2011)

  • Sad News — Raymon Earl Dunlap: Raymon Earl Dunlap, of Carrollton, Ohio, age 77 left the earth to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 08, 2011 after a year-long battle with lung cancer. He is survived by his wife of fifty seven years, Mary (Garner) Dunlap, daughter Terrye Copeland of Bolivar, Ohio and son Ray Dunlap [SPEED reporter] of Mooresville, North Carolina. After eighteen years working the family farm and coal mine, Raymon worked for multiple local companies. He was hired at Jones and Laughlin Steel Company in Louisville, Ohio in 1965, where he remained employed as a line operator for thirty three years. Described as an avid car-guy, he spent much of his leisure time at car shows, NASCAR races and touring the Ohio country side with wife Mary on the back of his Honda gold-wing motorcycle. Sports activities included boating, water skiing, poker, bowling league and his newest found passion, golf. A life-long Carroll County resident, he quietly supported multiple local charities. Services will be held at the Sweeny-Dodds Funeral Home, 129 N. Lisbon Street. Carrollton, Ohio. Calling hours will be from 4pm-8pm on Sunday Sept 11th, with a life celebration scheduled for 11am on Monday the 12th of September. Burial will take place at the Harlem Springs Cemetery on the side of the hill, in direct view of the Harsh Memorial Church, where he was a member. Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice, 1040 Trump Rd NW # B, Carrollton, Ohio 44615. You may share memories or send the family personal condolences by signing the online guest registry at the funeral home website: Sweeney-Dodds Funeral Home and click on Mr. Dunlap’s obit page.(9-8-2011)

  • Carmichael set to run RIR Nationwide race: Ricky Carmichael will return to the seat of the No. 30 Monster Energy Impala this weekend at Richmond International Raceway for his third NASCAR Nationwide Series start of 2011. In his two previous starts this season he brought home a career-best ninth-place finish at Road America. Carmichael is set to make his final NNS start of the season at Phoenix International Raceway in November. Though he is no stranger to racing competition, the 15-time AMA champion is a rookie at RIR having never made a start at the .75-mile D-shaped oval.(Turner Motorsports PR)(9-7-2011)

  • Rockingham getting truck race? UPDATE 2 Formal announcement made: Rockingham Motor Speedway will hold a press conference at the track on Wednesday, September 7th with track management and North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue. The details of the press conference are not known at this time; however there is rampant speculation that the track will announce the return of a NASCAR national touring race to the historic speedway, which hosted NASCAR for the better part of four decades until 2004. From Frontstretch sources; “While we are unable to completely confirm it, it is almost certainly to announce a Truck series race for 2012. The event is going to coincide with races from two other sanctioning bodies who have previously raced at Rockingham.”(Frontstretch.com)[Related prior news on this story is posted on the August News Archives page.(9-2-2011)
    UPDATE: Rockingham Speedway will host a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, tentatively scheduled for the second weekend of April 2012, sources have told ESPN The Magazine. The announcement will be made Wednesday afternoon during a news conference at the one-mile racetrack. Last month ESPN The Magazine first reported that the Rockingham Speedway was investing in SAFER “soft wall” barriers. That news, added to closing of the Nashville Superspeedway, host of two races each in NASCAR’s Camping World Trucks and Nationwide Series, immediately led to garage speculation that NASCAR might be returning. The sanctioning body will not hold a national touring series event at a racetrack that does not feature the SAFER energy-absorbing barriers. Last month track general manager Robert Ingraham said the addition of the SAFER barrier was safety driven but added: “If it looks like we are being proactive about attracting a larger event, that’s not an accident.” Hillenburg has kept the complex open with races from smaller non-NASCAR divisions, but openly admits that drawing crowds has been a struggle. When ARCA didn’t return to “The Rock” this season it was viewed by many as a potential death blow to Rockingham’s chances to lure NASCAR back. That will change in 2012.(ESPN.com)(9-2-2011)
    UPDATE 2: Official announcement has just been made. Rockingham Speedway will host the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event on Sunday, April 15, 2012.(9-7-2011)

  • NASCAR suspends driver Shane Sieg: UPDATE more on Sieg: Shane Sieg, a driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the substance abuse policy) of the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rule book. (NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)(8-22-2011)
    UPDATE:Frontstretch caught up with a couple of the members of Shane Sieg’s pit crew at the start of the Truck race Friday night. They were asked about how Shane is doing after his suspension for violating NASCAR’s substance abuse policy; all agreed he’s working hard to get his life on track, but it’s going to be months before we see him behind the wheel. “Shane is doing good,” said a crew member who preferred not to be identified. “He’s getting his stuff in order so he can start doing whatever it is that he has to do to get reinstated. We doubt he’ll get back this year, but hopefully he can get everything done that they want him to so he can be back next season.”(Frontstretch.com.(9-3-2011)

  • MB Motorsports & SealWrap to support Operation Homfront: UPDATE more info: MB Motorsports will roll into Atlanta not only carrying the colors of marketing partner SealWrap, but also those of Operation Homefront in an effort to raise awareness and money for this worthy cause. “We are so proud to be working with Operation Homefront.” says Jack Smith who will pilot the #63 SealWrap / Operation Homefront Ford in his first series start at the 1.54 mile quad-oval speedway. “We’ve got eight servicemen and women joining us at the track on Friday and our team is really pumped to have these heroes with us.” Operation Homefront provides direct services to alleviate a military family’s or individual’s actual/complete emergency financial burden, as well as counseling and/or recovery support. Other emergency funding assistance, which an applicant receives within 24 to 72 hours, includes the following financial assistance, emergency food, emergency home repairs, critical baby items: formula, food and diapers, home and appliance repair, furniture and household items, local moving assistance, community events, Wounded Warrior transitional family housing and more. Race fans can support MB Motorsports and SealWrap’s efforts by making an $5 donation by texting HERO to 50555 or by contacting their local Operation Homefront chapter to donate or volunteer.(MB Motorsports PR)(8-31-2011)
    UPDATE:MB Motorsports and its marketing partner SealWrap are supporting Operation Homefront, which supports military families in need, at the Atlanta, Chicagoland, Talladega and Texas Camping World Truck Series races. Race fans can join the #63 SealWrap / MB Motorsports team in showing their support for military families by texting HERO to 50555 to make a $5 donation. SealWrap will match the funds raised by the texting campaign up to $10,000.(MB Motorsports PR)(9-2-2011)

  • Goodyear Tire Notes — Atlanta:Teams in all three NASCAR series in action at Atlanta this week will run the same tire codes, though the Sprint Cup and Nationwide tires will be branded “Goodyear Eagle,” while the Camping World Truck tires will be branded “Goodyear Wrangler” . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Sprint Cup and Nationwide teams ran in their last races at Atlanta last September . . . at Atlanta’s spring doubleheader last year, Cup and Truck teams ran this left-side tire code (D-4384) with a different right-side code . . . since this is the Truck Series’ first race at Atlanta since that March 2010 weekend, this is the first time they have raced on this right-side tire (D-4406) . . . compared to what the trucks ran at Atlanta that weekend, this right-side features just a slight construction change . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run liners in all four tire positions at Atlanta. . . .air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear PR) [Complete tire specs are posted on the Atlanta Race page.](9-1-2011)

  • Bodine & Germain teams raise awareness for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: UPDATE images added: The No. 5 NTB/Service Central Tundra will feature a Teal Ribbon to recognize the kick off of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, which is September. Additionally, the No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Tundra and No. 9 GEICO Tundra will also feature Teal Ribbons. Track stats: Todd Bodine leads all active truck series drivers in top-fives (6) and top-10s (7) at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In 9 NNS starts, Bodine has led three races, scored three top-5 and four top-10 finishes. In 18 NSCS starts, Bodine has led 89 laps in three races, scored two top-5 and four top-10 finishes. With his third-place finish last race at Bristol, Bodine maintained his 10th-place standing in the driver points and is now just 30 points out of the top five.(RMM/Germain Racing PR)(8-31-2011)
    UPDATE: Rendering of the #5-NTB/Service Central Toyota is posted on the #5 NCWTS 2011 Paint Schemes page and #62-South Point Hotel & Casino/NTB Toyota on the #62 NCWTS 2011 Paint Schemes page. Click on the individual links to view or via the 2011 NCWTS Paint Schemes page.(9-1-2011)

  • Richards switches to #15 for Atlanta debut: Josh Richards will make his debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Friday piloting the No. 15 Joy Mining Machinery Toyota Tundra fielded by Kyle Busch Motorsports. This will be his fifth race in the series and first time to race at the 1.54 mile quad oval. Rick Ren will once again be the crew chief for this team.(KBM/Joy Racing PR)(8-31-2011)

Camping World Truck Series News & Rumors Archives
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