NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News And Notes - Texas

Repeat Winners Commonplace At Texas Motor Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 1, 2009) – Like grapes, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winners come in bunches at Texas Motor Speedway.

The track, which hosts Friday night’s Winstar World Casino 400, boasted eight consecutive different winners from its debut on the schedule in 1997 through the fall race of 2002.

When Brendan Gaughan first stepped into Victory Lane in June 2003, that changed.

Gaughan went on to record four consecutive wins through the fall of 2004.

In the 10 races since Gaughan’s last victory, two drivers — current NASCAR Camping World Truck points leader Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Longhorn Chevrolet) and 2006 series champion Todd Bodine (No. 30 Copart.com Toyota) — have accounted for six wins.

Bodine matched Gaughan’s total with victories in each season from 2004-07.

Hornaday, not to be outdone, swept both spring and fall races at Texas Motor Speedway a year ago — that after the all-time series winner had gone 0-for-10 at the 1.5-mile facility.

The 40-time series winner looks no further than his pit box to explain why.

“We had been decent there in the past but for some reason, (crew chief) Rick Ren and the guys hit something the past couple of years,” said Hornaday. “I’m not sure if it’s aero or what but the trucks we bring there drive really good.

“It is really hard to do that (sweep) with the competition in the series the way it is today. I’m really proud of that accomplishment. I hope we can go there this weekend and do it again.”

Ren, who also has Texas wins with Andy Houston and Travis Kvapil, said, “We worked really hard on getting the trucks comfortable for Ron to drive at places like Texas and Charlotte. After he was comfortable behind the wheel, then we worked on making them fast. I think that is what has made the most difference at the 1.5-mile tracks.”

Bodine, winless since the opening race at Daytona, is anxious to get back in Victory Lane and become the first to win five times at the same track.

“What having four wins at Texas means for this Copart Tundra team is that we know we can win at Texas and know we can get around there,” said Bodine. “Racing at the mile-and-a-half is about going fast and being patient.”

And Now, The Heart Of The 2009 Campaign Beckons

Now, as they say, things get interesting.

After an early season that saw six races stretched over nearly three months, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams head to Texas Motor Speedway for the second race of a five-weekend swing that takes teams from Dover, Del., to Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin and Tennessee.

The May-June schedule won’t decide the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck championship. But safe to say a championship can be lost as spring becomes summer and both heat and pressure intensify.

A year ago, neither 2008 champion Johnny Benson (No. 1 Red Horse Racing Toyota) nor runner-up Hornaday missed a beat .

Benson collected his third consecutive victory at the Milwaukee Mile, finished second at Michigan, was third in Texas and 10th at Dover.

Hornaday won twice, in Texas and at Memphis Motorsports Park, was third at Dover and seventh in Milwaukee.

Both outdistanced 2006 titleholder Todd Bodine, whose trio of top-five finishes couldn’t match his rivals’ pace. Bodine was the points leader entering Dover’s AAA Insurance 200 but emerged third, 54 points behind Hornaday, when the Memphis race had been run.

Bodine ultimately finished 104 points behind Benson and 97 arrears of Hornaday.

The post-Dover margin between first and third a year ago was a slim 24 points vs. 29 points in 2009. Veteran Rick Crawford (No. 14 Circle Bar/International Truck and Engine Ford) headed the standings.

One bad finish — 21st at Texas — may not have doomed Crawford’s championship hopes but it stalled the Alabama driver’s momentum. Crawford had slipped to fifth after the Memphis race and was seventh at season’s end.

It’s still early in the year but running both fast and mistake-free during the coming month figures to pay dividends when the season winds down in the fall.

Great Scott! Another First Time Winner As Dover’s Streak Reaches 10

Another Dover; another Scott.

Brian Scott’s (No. 16 Albertsons Toyota) victory in the May 30 AAA Insurance 200 gave Dover International Speedway back-to-back first-time winners.

Scott Speed was the surprise occupant of Victory Lane one year ago.

In fact, Dover has crowned four first-time winners in its 10 races — Scott, Speed, Chad Chaffin and Jason Leffler.

Ten Dover races; 10 different winners.

“I don’t think I breathed the last ten laps,” said Scott. “I think (crew chief) Jeff Hensley said it the best right when I got done doing the burnout and he said, ‘Somebody pinch me.’ So, I reached over to pinch myself to make sure to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, too. It’s just an awesome feeling.”

Scott is the sixth different winner in the season’s first seven races matching a record set in 1997. The six-for-seven number had been matched in five other seasons, most recently in 2008.

Scott, 21, enjoyed a huge bounce in NASCAR Camping World Truck points standings. He entered the race ranked 10th and jumped all the way to fifth, 107 points behind leader Ron Hornaday Jr.

He is the series’ youngest first-time winner since Kyle Busch (No. 51 Miccosukee Gaming and Resorts Toyota) won in 2005, 18 days past his 20th birthday.

Sauter’s Top Five Tightens Raybestos Rookie Race

Johnny Sauter (No. 13 Fun Sand/Rodney Adkins/Curb Records Chevrolet) has run well this season but hadn’t been able to finish one off — until last weekend at Dover International Speedway.

Sauter raced to a fifth-place finish notching just his second top five in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He finished second in August 2004 at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.

Both Sauter and Tayler Malsam (No. One Eighty Toyota) have scored 71 points through the season’s first seven races.

“All in all a good day for us and hopefully we take this truck to Texas and keep going,” said Sauter. He finished one position ahead of Thorsport teammate Matt Crafton.

Eyes Of Texas Upon Several

Three drivers, an owner and a crew chief would like nothing better than to win in their native Lone Star state.

David Starr (No. 24 Zachary Toyota), Houston, has 21 starts at TMS, finishing third on three occasions.

Colin Braun (No. 6 Con-way Freight Ford), Ovalo, finished fifth and 22nd at TMS in 2008.

Joey Sonntag, a Dallas area native who formerly owned a NCWTS team, returns as crew chief for J.J. Yeley (No. 73 County Building Centers/Circle M Toyota).

And James Buescher of Plano will be driving the No. 10 International MAXX Force Diesel Ford owned by Ozona, Tex.’s Tom Mitchell. His Circle Bar Racing teammate, Rick Crawford, has competed in all 22 TMS races.

Wayne’s Words: Texas

“There’s an old saying about fishing where the fish are and that’s absolutely true in Texas, where the folks like their racing and their pickup trucks.

“That’s why competitors look forward to their two visits to Texas Motor Speedway where they always get a rousing reception.

“Another thing: Texas races usually are unpredictable. We’ve had surprise winners; rookie drivers finishing 1-2-3; last lap, come-from-behind drama, and a couple of championship contenders wrecking each other with the title on the line.

“Finally, Texas can be described by a single word: Fast. We race at similar tracks where the speeds also are high but Texas Motor Speedway has its very own personality.

“It is safe to say that any driver who wins at Texas has truly arrived. Oh, and the winner gets a cool cowboy hat and fires six-guns in Victory Lane.

Texas Motor Speedway is hosting its 23rd NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday night. The 1.5-mile facility was the fastest speedway on the schedule when TMS came aboard in 1997. The track is one of two (Martinsville is the other) to host two races in 2009.

Texas Motor Speedway Is The Home Of Champions

Texas Motor Speedway has statistically become the home of champions when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series hits town.

Four past champions in particular pepper the top of the statistical leader board: Ron Hornaday Jr., Mike Skinner, Johnny Benson and Todd Bodine.

Friday night’s showdown may well be reminiscent of 2007’s year-long Hornaday vs. Skinner battle. But this weekend, the match whittles down to one race.

Skinner and Hornaday rank 1-2 in practically every key Loop Data category since 2005:

Average Running Position: Skinner leads 4.3 to Hornaday’s 6.1.

Driver Rating: Skinner leads 125.1 to Hornaday’s 119.9.

Fastest Laps Run: Skinner leads 169 to Hornaday’s 161.

Laps in the Top 15 percentage: Skinner leads 96.8% to Hornaday’s 91.2%.

Laps Led: Skinner leads 400 to Hornaday’s 352.

But Hornaday leads in one statistic – the most important one. He has two Texas wins, compared to Skinner’s zero. Skinner has won the pole in five of his 10 Texas starts, but never followed up with a victory. His best finish was second, three different times.

Also watch for champions Benson and Bodine to be a factor this weekend. Benson has a Driver Rating of 102.4 and an Average Running Position of 9.7. Bodine, winner of four Texas races, has a Driver Rating of 100.5 and an Average Running Position of 12.6.

NCWTS Etc.

Toyota posted its fifth victory of the season at Dover and has extended its Manufacturers’ Championship standings lead to nine points over Chevrolet. A Tundra has won five times at Texas Motor Speedway since joining the series in 2004. Chevrolet captured the other five races.

Dover International Speedway ranks third among tracks with first-time winners at four. Homestead-Miami Speedway and Martinsville Speedway are the leaders with five apiece. Texas Motor Speedway also has crowned four first-time winners.

Dennis Setzer’s runner-up finish at Dover is the best by the Newton, N.C., native since joining HT Motorsports. Setzer had a win and two seconds in 2008 with Bobby Hamilton Racing. Setzer has posted top-five finishes in 12 consecutive seasons and 13 of the 14 years he has competed in the NCWTS.

Speaking of Setzer, he is a double winner at Texas Motor Speedway. Bodine and Hornaday are the only other TMS winners in the field for the Winstar World 400. Aric Almirola returns to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this week in Billy Ballew Motorsports’ No. 15 Samsung Instinct Toyota. Almirola’s last appearance came at TMS a year ago. He finished 17th.

Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender Ricky Carmichael returns to the No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet this week. The Kevin Harvick Inc. team has employed multiple drivers this year with J.R. Fitzpatrick finishing 11th at Dover International Speedway.

Todd Bodine led only the final lap in the 2006 Winstar World 400. His victim was Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota), who counts five Keystone Light Poles at TMS but still looks for his first victory. Skinner has finished second on three occasions and third twice. He is riding a streak of eight consecutive top-10 finishes. Skinner was ninth in last year’s spring race. Ballew Extends Owner Lead

Kyle Busch’s ninth-place finish at Dover increased to 99 points the lead Billy Ballew Motorsports’ No. 51 Miccosukee Gaming and Resorts Toyota holds in NCWTS owner standings.

Brian Ickler will be at the controls in Texas.

“I’ve never been to Texas but I’m very optimistic about running there,” said Ickler.

Ickler drove the No. 51 truck in his series debut at Kansas Speedway, finishing fifth.

Up Next: Michigan International Speedway

Last year’s finish at Michigan International Speedway will be difficult to duplicate but that’s not to say it’s impossible.

Erik Darnell and Johnny Benson roared out of Turn 4 side by side with Darnell prevailing at the stripe by .005 seconds — the closest finish in series history as measured by computer.

Darnell’s victory was the 49th for Roush Fenway Racing. However, the team — which counts four trips to Victory Lane at the 2-mile track west of Detroit — has been shut out in its quest for a record 50th win.

Darnell has moved on to the NASCAR Nationwide Series but Benson, who hails from nearby Grand Rapids, hopes to duplicate the 2006 win; his first in series competition.

Dennis Setzer is the only other previous winner expected to compete in the June 13 event. Setzer won in 2005. The race marks the 10th the series has competed at Michigan International Speedway.

Fast Facts

Next Race: Winstar World Casino 400

The Place: Texas Motor Speedway

The Date: Fri., June 5, 2009

The Time: 9 p.m. ET

Race Distance: 400K / 250.5 miles / 167 laps

TV: SPEED, 8:30 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SIRIUS XM, KRLD-FM 105.3

Track Layout: 1.5-mile speedway

2008 Winner: Ron Hornaday Jr.

2008 Polesitter: Justin Marks

Schedule: Thursday—Practice, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and 12:45-2 p.m.; Qualifying, 6 p.m.

For Immediate Release

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News And Notes

Now Its Ron Hornaday Jr. On Top

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 18, 2009) – Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Longhorn Chevrolet) found Victory Lane after a wild night of racing at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The win was Hornaday’s 40th, extending his ranking as the driver with the most wins in the series.

“Scoring my 40th career win at home is pretty cool. I didn’t even realize we had won that many,” said Hornaday. “I’m so glad we have a victory this year.”

Hornaday’s fortune was Mike Skinner’s loss. Skinner held the standings lead as they headed into the night, but an early hard accident sent the No. 5 Randy Moss Motorsports Toyota home and left the lead for the taking.

Hornaday will head to Dover International Speedway next weekend with an 84-point cushion over Skinner, who slipped to second. The lead position is familiar territory for the three-time champion, who held the top spot at this point last season.

The veteran’s year is beginning to look like it could mirror his 2007 season when he went six races without a win. He grabbed his first victory at LMS and went on to win the next race at Dover. Consistency, combined with additional wins at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis and New Hampshire Motor Speedway, helped him land his third series title.

This could be the beginning of a hot streak for Hornaday and his Kevin Harvick Inc. team. Of the 19 tracks on the remainder of the 25-race schedule, he has wins at all but seven—Michigan International Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, along with new additions Chicagoland Speedway and Iowa Speedway.

Rookie Tayler Malsam Making His Way

In his first start at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, rookie Tayler Malsam (No. 81 One Eighty Toyota) looked as though he was going to have a long night. About 30 laps in, the 20-year-old went spinning through the grass on the frontstretch. His Randy Moss Motorsports team worked hard to repair the damage, helping the driver to end the wild night in the eighth position, his best finish and second top-10 result of the season.

“My crew got us back out there after I got caught up in that accident, and I just drove the wheels off for those guys,” said Malsam. “I can’t thank them enough.”

"It was a huge race for us,” he added. “It’s huge, especially going into the next race at Dover. Doug (Wolcott, crew chief) has an amazing setup there. He won there last year with Scott Speed as a rookie, and I really believe that we can go there and definitely get a top five if not have a shot at the win. I've never raced at Dover before, but with a good setup and my team behind me, I know we can perform very well."

Malsam only had two previous starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series before this season. After six races, he is sitting 12th in the standings, 17 points behind Brian Scott (No. 16 Albertson’s Toyota), who occupies the 10th spot.

His strong finish at LMS helped him extend his lead in the Rookie of the Year battle. Malsam is now five points ahead of James Buescher (No. 10 International Maxx Force Diesel Ford), who is in second.

"At the beginning of the season, one of our goals was to win rookie honors. But by no means is the season over. We have a long way to go and as long as we keep doing what we are doing right now, I think we have a great shot at winning it.

“Runs like we had at Lowe’s - never giving up until the race is over - that is what makes us such a competitor, not only in the rookie points, but in the top-10 driver championship points. We have had some really good trucks these past couple of races and haven't gotten the finishes that we think we should have, but we are going to keep working on it and hopefully before too long, we will be in Victory Lane."

Compliments To The Cook: Veteran Quietly Marches Up Standings

Quietly, Terry Cook (No. 25 Cajun Industries/HT Motorsports Toyota) is having a career year.

Almost lost among the strong seasons by past champions Ron Hornaday Jr. and Mike Skinner – not to mention the force Kyle Busch (No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts Toyota) is when he races – the veteran Cook sits sixth in the points.

In his 13 previous seasons, he has never finished higher than seventh in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points standings.

Cook already has more top-five finishes – three – than he had all of last season. Additionally, his Loop Data statistics rank among the tops in the series.

Cook has a Driver Rating of 89.4 (sixth-best), an Average Running Position of 11.0 (sixth), 14 Fastest Laps Run (ninth) and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 81.6% (fifth).

Last Friday night’s fifth-place finish at Lowe’s Motor Speedway may have been Cook’s finest performance of the season. He ran 126 of the 134 laps in the top 15 (94%) and notched a Driver Rating of 101.0, which was his second-best rating of the season. Only at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he also finished fifth, did Cook have a better Driver Rating – 101.2.

The LMS race was Cook’s third Driver Rating over 100.0 (Daytona and Atlanta were the others).

Manufacturers’ Standings: Competition Closing In

Ron Hornaday Jr. helped continue Chevrolet’s dominance at LMS with his win in Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200. His victory extends Chevy’s lead for the most wins at the track to six. The only other manufacturer to win is Dodge, which nabbed the win with Ted Musgrave in the series’ first race there in 2003.

Chevrolet also closes in on Toyota, who leads the battle for the Manufacturer Title by six points.

Toyota has visited Victory Lane four times so far with three drivers, Todd Bodine (No. 30 Copart.com Toyota), Kyle Busch and Mike Skinner.

The series prepares to head to Dover where Dodge holds the most wins with four. Those wins came all in a row from 2001–04. Jason White (No. 23 Gunbroker.com Dodge) has picked up momentum and is improving each week. He comes off a 14th-place finish at LMS, his best finish there in two starts. He notched a 10th-place result at Kansas Speedway, his best finish so far this season.

Ford is still looking for its first win this season. The last Ford driver to win was Erik Darnell at Michigan last June. Fellow Roush Fenway Racing driver Colin Braun (No. 6 Con-Way Freight Ford) would like to get Ford a checkered flag as well as his first career win. He looked as though he was on his way to doing just that at LMS until an accident took him out of the race. He led 43 laps before heading to the garage.

In addition to Braun, the Ford duo at Circle Bar Racing would like to make it Victory Lane. Veteran Rick Crawford (No. 14 Circle Bar/International Truck Engine Ford) is looking to end his 66-race winless streak and his rookie teammate, James Buescher, hopes to translate solid runs into a win and claim the top rookie honors.

Up Next

After a battle with the “Beast of the Southeast,” the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will have the Memorial Day weekend at home to prepare to face the “Monster Mile” at Dover International Speedway Fri., May 29.

Ron Hornaday Jr. (2007) and Kyle Busch (2005) are the only previous winners expected to compete. The AAA Insurance 200 next weekend will mark 10 years of truck racing at the track.

Fast Facts

Next Race: AAA Insurance 200

The Place: Dover International Speedway

The Date: Fri., May 29, 2009

The Time: 5:00 p.m. ET

Race Distance: 200 miles / 200 laps

TV: SPEED, 8:00 p.m. ET (Taped Delay)

Radio: MRN, SIRIUS XM.

Track Layout: 1-mile concrete oval

2008 Winner: Scott Speed

2008 Polesitter: Mike Skinner

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For Immediate Release

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News And Notes - Martinsville

HT Motorsports Going For First Win

Racing at Martinsville Speedway means racing at home for members of HT Motorsports. Competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series since 2001, the team is still searching for that first win and would love nothing more than for it to come in front of family and friends.

With a veteran driver lineup, chances are good it could come this weekend. New to the HT team this season, David Starr in the No. 24 Zachry Toyota is no stranger to Martinsville’s Victory Lane. Starr led 121 laps in the Kroger 250 before he grabbed the checkered flag in 2006. Winless since that race, the driver is ready to get back to Victory Lane.

“Even just saying getting back to Victory Lane sounds so good,” said Starr. “All of us drivers go to the track each week trying to get the win, so Martinsville wouldn’t be any different in that category. Knowing that you have led laps there and been to Victory Lane there makes you have a different, more confident outlook.”

Starr’s teammate Terry Cook (No. 25 Harris Trucking Toyota), also winless since 2006, is ready to find his way back to Victory Lane as well. Sitting seventh in points, the Ohio native thinks his team has the determination and momentum it needs.

“I feel like things are finally falling into place for us,” he said. “Every team out there works hard and I cannot say enough about this HT Motorsports crew and how much time and effort they put in each week. We are hungry for a win, and won’t back down until we get there.”

Team owner Jim Harris, who hails from Lynchburg, Va., echoes his drivers’ sentiments. “I think winning at home would be great for this team, just as it was for Bobby Hamilton Racing last year. Winning at what is declared your home track is always where you want to win first.”

Harris has a little history with the track. He started coming to races back as a young teen. “I would come and sit on the concrete seats in Turn 4 and get covered up with black rubber and inhale the fumes. I was hooked,” he said.

While he enjoys reminiscing of his younger days, Harris does say the best seat in the house is the seat he has these days with his teams.

And Starr would like a win as a gift to wife Kim and new son David Jr., born March 12. It would be a great way for me to celebrate being a dad, but every day is a celebration in that department,” he said.

Premier Racing Takes Momentum Home

Like HT Motorsports, Premier Racing will be staying close to home this weekend. The Danville-based team is riding a wave of success in the first three races of the season. Driver and team co-owner Timothy Peters has his No. 17 Hayes Iron & Metal/Strutmasters.com Toyota sitting ninth in points. The top-10 ranking is a first for both the driver and team.

“We have built momentum in the first three races,” said Peters. “Our success early in the year should translate to a good finish at Martinsville, a place I’ve had a lot of success in previous races.”

While the driver believes racing at home doesn’t give him an edge necessarily over the other teams, it’s the strong support of your hometown fans that makes a difference.

A win is the team’s ultimate goal and would be even sweeter coming at the their home track. “A win in my backyard, in front of my family, friends, and sponsors would mean more than any other win on the circuit.”

Not only will the team be competing in front of friends and family, but sponsors too. Philip Hudgins, CEO of Premier Racing, said, “Most of our sponsors come from Virginia, and it would be a great way to reward them for their generous support.”

Votes Are In: Media Predict Hornaday And Carmichael To Win

Media voted in the first-ever poll to predict who they thought would be the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and Raybestos Rookie of the Year. The results are in claiming Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 VFW/Longhorn Chevrolet) will be the champion come Homestead. Hornaday edged Todd Bodine (No. 30 Germain Toyota) in the poll.

Johnny Benson (No. 1 Red Horse Racing Toyota) isn’t predicted to grab a historic back-to-back championship as they have him slated to finish third. Mike Skinner (No. 5 Bad Boy Mowers Toyota), Matt Crafton (No. 88 Menards Chevrolet), Kyle Busch (No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts/NOS Energy Drink Toyota), Rick Crawford (No. 14 Circle Bar Truck Corral/International Engine Ford), Colin Braun (No. 6 Con-Way Freight Ford), Terry Cook (No. 25 Harris Trucking Toyota), and Chad McCumbee (No. 07 SS Green Light Racing Chevrolet) round out the top 10.

In the rookie corner, media claim Rick Carmichael (No. 4 Oakley/Moster Energy Drink Chevrolet) as the series’ Raybestos Rookie of the Year.

Rookie Standings

This week the 2009 rookie class prepares for their first short track of the season.

Current standings leader J.R. Fitzpatrick (No. 7 Mammoet Chevrolet), who competed in last October’s Kroger 200, only has three points separating himself from Ricky Carmichael. Not originally on his schedule, his strong showing out of the box has Carmichael and his No. 4 Oakley Chevrolet headed to Martinsville.

Johnny Sauter (No. 13 Fun Sand/Rodney Atkins/Curb Records Chevrolet) has two previous starts in the series where he notched a 22nd and 23rd-place finish. The Wisconsin native also has one start in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and four in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. O

nly nine points behind Fitzpatrick in fifth, perhaps his experience will give the 2002 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year runner-up an edge over the rest of the class.

After three races of the 2009 season:

1. J.R. Fitzpatrick - 33

2. Ricky Carmichael - 30

3. Tayler Malsam - 28

4. James Buescher - 27

5. Johnny Sauter - 24

6. Chase Austin - 16

7. Brent Raymer - 6

8. Chris Jones - 5

Manufacturer Battle

Chevrolet holds on to the most wins with six at Martinsville Speedway. But it’s been a little dry spell for the manufacturer. Their last win was in April 2005 with driver Bobby Labonte. Dodge and Toyota are pushing Chevy’s record. Both are tied with five wins.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 2009 Manufacturers' Standings following Race 3 of 25 at Atlanta Motor Speedway:

Toyota 27

Chevrolet - 18

Ford - 12

Dodge - 9

In The Loop

Johnny Benson, the defending NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, sits 29 points out of the top 10 – a position he didn’t figure to be in at the close of 2008.

Now, after three races, Benson will likely take a “one race at time” mantra. The next race in his battle to regain standings prominence is Martinsville – and the last time the series visited the short track, Benson won.

So optimism is high. Benson has been solid at Martinsville since the inception of Loop Data in 2005. In his last eight races there, Benson has a Driver Rating of 90.5, an Average Running Position of 12.8, 59 Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 66.8%.

But there’s one problem. The man Benson’s chasing is even better. David Starr, who is 10th in points, ranks above Benson in almost every key statistical category. Starr, who won at this race in 2006, has a Martinsville Driver Rating of 92.6, an Average Running Position of 12.6, 60 Fastest Laps Run, a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 65.7% and has been passed only 74 times in the last eight races, the fewest of any driver during that span.

Starr struggled during the last Martinsville race, finishing 33rd, but has finished in the top 10 in four of the last six Martinsville races.

Up Next

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series takes a break before heading to Kansas Speedway for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 on Saturday, April 25.

Defending race winner Ron Hornaday Jr. led 136 of 167 laps on his way to Victory Lane. He was also the first to win from the pole.

Fast Facts

The Race: Kroger 250

The Place: Martinsville Speedway

The Date: Sat., March 28, 2009

The Time: 2 p.m. ET

Race Distance: 250 laps / 131.5 miles

TV: FOX, 2:00 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SIRIUS XM. Listen locally on WZBB-FM 99.9.

Track Layout: .526-mile oval

2008 Winner: Dennis Setzer

2008 Pole: Jack Sprague

Schedule: Friday—Practice, 11-11:50 a.m.; 1:45 - 3:30 p.m. Saturday—Qualifying, 9:10 a.m.

2009 Driver Standings

1 Kyle Busch - 560

2 Todd Bodine - 535

3 Mike Skinner - 441

4 Ron Hornaday Jr. - 436

5 Chad McCumbee - 426

6 Matt Crafton - 423

7 Terry Cook - 413

8 TJ Bell - 412

9 Timothy Peters - 406

10 David Starr - 384

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For Immediate Release

NCWTS Recap: Busch Smokes Field In Fontana

Recap Courtesy of:

By Reid Spencer

Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

FONTANA, Calif. (February 21, 2009) -- It wasn't even close.

With a No. 51 Toyota truck that absolutely dominated the competition Saturday at Auto Club Speedway, polesitter Kyle Busch streaked to a 9.023-second victory over Todd Bodine, last week's winner at Daytona, in the San Bernardino County 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

In claiming his 10th win in the series and his second in two starts at the 2-mile California track, Busch led three times for 95 of the 100 laps and led all but two of the 92 green-flag circuits.

After a gas-and-go under green on Lap 91 -- thanks to new pit rules that prohibit truck series teams from taking both fuel and tires on the same stop -- Busch quickly overtook Colin Braun, who tried to stretch his fuel mileage but ran out of gas and rolled onto pit road with three laps remaining. Braun finished 20th.

Chad McCumbee came home third, followed by David Starr and T.J. Bell. Ron Hornaday Jr., Matt Crafton, Ricky Carmichael, Timothy Peters and Max Papis completed the top 10 in the series' second event of the season.

"This thing was just flawless," Busch said of his No. 51 Toyota, which was serviced through a cooperative effort with James Finch's Nationwide Series crew. "The guys did flawless. They worked so well and made this truck drive so well. . .

"It's really a lot fun to come out here and win two years in a row, and hopefully we can do some more."

Busch is the only driver doing triple duty at Auto Club Speedway. He also was scheduled to compete in Saturday evening's NASCAR Nationwide Series race, as well as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday.

Though still unsponsored, Bodine had an excellent truck, too, but his No. 30 Toyota was no match for Busch's ride.

"It's a little disappointing to have a Tundra that's that good and finish second," Bodine said. "That tells you how good Kyle was. Once the tires got heated up -- got a little slick -- we were just a little tight through the center of the corner. I couldn't quite hold it wide open."

Notes: Busch's win was also Doug George's first as a crew chief… Gabi Dicarlo finished 19th in her truck series debut... Busch leads Bodine by five points in the series standings after two races. Crafton is third, 77 points behind Busch.

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For Immediate Release

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News and Notes – Daytona

Ten Years Of Trucks At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2009) – The 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season will officially kick off this week as teams head south to Daytona International Speedway. Friday night’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 marks 10 years of racing for the trucks on the high banks of the famed 2.5-mile superspeedway. If the previous nine races are any indicator, the 10th is sure to be quite a show.

“Its hard to believe this is our 10th year at Daytona,” said Rick Crawford, the 2003 winner and driver of the No. 14 International Truck and Engine Ford. “For every racer this is sacred ground and when you win at Daytona, you’ve accomplished a dream that many racers have chased and few have achieved.”

In addition to his 2003 win, Crawford has collected three top-five and six top-10 finishes. “Daytona has been good to our race team,” he added. “The only thing better than being a winner at Daytona is being at two-time winner at Daytona.”

The track, rich with history, is about more than just racing for some. “I love the build-up to Daytona,” said three-time series champion Ron Hornaday, Jr. (No. 33 Longhorn Chevrolet). “I think the anticipation of getting ready all off-season, putting the sponsors in place, building the trucks and rolling into a track with so much history is the best part,” he said. “Being at a place where my dad always wanted me to race, just the feeling is the best part about being at Daytona.”

New Look, Same Tough Trucks

Camping World prepares for its inaugural season as title sponsor for the series. While the new sponsor brings a new look for the trucks, the tough competition the trucks are known for will undoubtedly remain the same.

The NextEra Energy Resources 250 has nine different winners in as many races. The largest margin of victory, in 2001, is .318 seconds. In fact, Daytona’s total margin of victory (seven races) is .944 seconds. Two races have finished under caution.

Johnny Benson (No. 1 K&N Filters Toyota) came out on the short end of the two most recent “photo finishes” at Daytona: second to Jack Sprague in 2007 and third a year ago. Benson obviously would like to become the track’s 10th different winner.

He’d also like to become the series’ first back-to-back champion — a feat he denied Hornaday a season ago. “As things get rolling, we’re excited to start the season. Its tough to win the championship, its tough to win races (and) tough to win a championship,” said Benson, who’ll suit up for Red Horse Racing in 2009 after three seasons with Bill Davis Racing. “History shows you can’t win back-to-back. It’ll be difficult to win another championship. “

Todd Bodine: Can He Make Four In A Row?

Todd Bodine (No. 30 Toyota) wouldn’t mind starting this season right where he left off last November: in Victory Lane. The odds are good for the 2006 series champion to do just that. He happens to be the defending winner at Daytona.

Bodine not only won at Daytona last year, he grabbed his second win at Talladega, becoming the first driver in the series to sweep the superspeedways in a season. Should he win this week’s season opener, it would mark four superspeedway wins in a row. The feat would seem daunting but Bodine and his team feel confident if everything goes just right.

“As a team, we do all the technical things right, but we still have to have luck,” said Bodine. “If we do it right like we’ve been doing, and we’re lucky enough, then we can continue to win at tracks like Daytona and Talladega,” he added. “In order to be in a position to win, we have to have a good truck and we are confident that we have a great No. 30 Toyota prepared for Daytona.”

Like the other competitors, Bodine realizes the significance of Daytona. “It’s the first race of the season, it’s the Super Bowl and all that goes with it,” he said. “It would mean just as much to win again, to get to win two in a row at Daytona or anywhere is quite a feat, but to get two in a row at Daytona, it’s like two Super Bowls in a row. It would be very special.”

Top Of The Box With Mike Beam

Veteran crew chief Mike Beam will be calling the shots once again this season for Roush Fenway Racing driver Colin Braun and the No. 6 Con-way Freight Ford team.

Under Beam’s leadership the 20-year-old notched three top-five and eight top-10 finishes and grabbed the Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. With that freshman season out of the way, the crew chief looks ahead to see how he can build on what was started and how he can get his driver in Victory Lane.

Raybestos Rookie Of The Year Lineup Looks Strong

As teams gear up to start the season, a new class of rookies is preparing to duke it out for the top honors.

Johnny Sauter (No. 13 Chevrolet) enters into his first full season competing in the series with ThorSport Racing. Sauter already has a couple rookie titles to his credit. He was the 2001 ASA Rookie of the Year and the runner-up in 2002 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series battle. The driver, who comes from a racing family, has 11 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with one top-five and two top-10 finishes.

James Buescher would like to join fellow Texas native Colin Braun in the record books as Raybestos Rookie of the Year. The 18-year-old will pilot the No. 10 International MAXX Force Diesel Ford for Circle Bar Racing. Buescher is off to a pretty decent start. He won Saturday’s ARCA RE/MAX Series race.

Ricky Carmichael, a household name for motocross fans, moves up to the series this year and eyes adding another title to his resume. The 29-year-old won an unprecedented 15 American Motorcycle Association (AMA) championships and a record five AMA “Rider of the Year” awards. He will be behind the wheel of the No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet for Kevin Harvick Inc.

Tayler Malsam will look to give the others a run for their money as he joins Randy Moss Motorsports this season in the No. 81 Toyota. Malsam finished ninth in points in the ARCA RE/MAX Series last season.

In The Loop

No Camping World Truck Series driver has entered Daytona’s Victory Lane more than once.

The statistics suggest that’ll change this year.

Count on Todd Bodine making a major bid for back-to-back wins in the series’ 10th trip to historic Daytona International Speedway.

Bodine is strong on the 2.5-mile high-banked superspeedway. Over the last four Daytona races, Bodine has a Driver Rating of 132.2, the highest of any driver with more than one race there. Since the inception of Loop Data in 2005, Bodine has an Average Running Position of 4.7, a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 94.8 (a series-high total of 381 laps), 300 Green Flag Passes, 10 Fastest Laps Run and a series-high 79 laps led.

Bodine’s top competition likely will come in the form of last year’s runner-up at Daytona, Kyle Busch.

In his lone Daytona start, Busch had a Driver Rating of 99.7, an Average Running Position of 7.1, 60 Green Flag Passes, five Fastest Laps Run and spent 99 of the 100 laps in the top 15.

Also watch for Mike Skinner, who needed 19 races to pick up his first win last season. Skinner, with new team Randy Moss Motorsports, has a strong record at Daytona – despite going winless in five starts. Since 2005, he has a Driver Rating of 95.6, an Average Running Position of 13.3, 310 Green Flag Passes and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 65.9%.

Director’s Take: Wayne’s Words

“Get ready race fans, because here we come. We’ve got a new look for the series this season but you can guarantee we’ll bring you the same great competition you watched in 2008.

Last year we had a championship battle that went down to the very last lap. Johnny Benson beat Ron Hornaday Jr. by only seven points. Both are eyeing making series history—a back-to-back-championship for Benson and a fourth championship for Hornaday.

It will all kick off this Friday night under the lights. The trucks are known to put on quite a show on the high banks of Daytona. You’ll see multiple lead changes, and a three-wide finish is almost standard for this race.

The new rules adjusting over-the-wall crew members and pit stops will force crew chiefs to come up with some different strategies, which should add to the excitement of the season.” - Wayne Auton, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Director

Daytona International Speedway hosts the series opener on Friday, Feb. 13. The 2.5-mile tri-oval produces multiple lead changes and typically three-wide racing. The high banking and long straightaways provide plenty of room for drivers to maneuver.

Up Next

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rolls out west to California next week for the San Bernardino County 200 at Auto Club Speedway. The series is home to several California natives including previous race winner Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota), Ron Hornaday Jr. and Matt Crafton (No. 88 Menards Chevrolet). Hornaday and Skinner still are chasing their first victory at the two-mile track.

Kyle Busch (No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts/NOS Energy Drink Toyota) grabbed the checkered flag in 2008.

Fast Facts

The Race: NextEra Energy Resources 250

The Place: Daytona International Speedway

The Date: Fri., Feb. 13, 2009

The Time: 8 p.m. ET

Race Distance: 250 miles/100 laps

TV: SPEED, 7:30 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SIRIUS XM. Listen locally on WNDB-AM 1150 and WKRO-FM 93.1

Track Layout: 2.5-mile tri-oval

2008 Winner: Todd Bodine

2008 Pole: Erik Darnell

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