NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Race #13 | Michigan 200
Michigan International Speedway Saturday July 31, 2004

Team Chick Motorsports Sponsorship Search is on For Michigan
After two solid runs at Kansas, and Kentucky, Team Chick Motorsports is looking to deliver a finish that is representative of the way they can really compete. Team Chick, along with their driver Eric Jones, were very competitive at Kansas, until the first pit stop, where a miscue in the pits put them behind. The driver, and team, worked diligently to recover and were able to fight back to a 17th place finish.

Sutton Sets Her Sights on the Land of Iron, Steel, and the Automobile


Benson Tabs Michigan for return to NASCAR Competition
NASCAR Cup Series veteran and part-time SPEED Channel announcer Johnny Benson will return to NASCAR competition on Saturday, July 31st at Michigan International Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

J.J. Yeley Set for Michigan Debut in No. 47 Morgan-Dollar Chevrolet
J.J. Yeley will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut Saturday, July 31, 2004 at Michigan International Speedway. The budding NASCAR star will pilot the No. 47 Acxiom Silverado fielded by Morgan Dollar Motorsports. Veteran Randy Goss will serve as crew chief for Yeley’s inaugural NCTS event.

Carl Edwards, No. 99 Ford Michigan Fast Facts


Houston Ready to Mix It Up in Michigan


Jon Wood, No. 50 Ford Michigan Fast Facts


Brandon Whitt Notes & Quotes: Line-X 200


Event Schedule: MICHIGAN


Rookie Preview: MICHIGAN
DID YOU KNOW?  A Raybestos® Rookie has won at least one race in each of the past four seasons, dating back to Kurt Busch in 2000.  In fact, four Raybestos® Rookies have posted multiple win seasons: Kenny Irwin (two, 1997), Busch (four, 2000), Brendan Gaughan (two, 2002), and Carl Edwards (three, 2003).

Hmiel Looks To Master Michigan


Dodge Boys Set Sights on Michigan Three-Peat
For Dodge Motorsports, Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in Michigan is as close to a “home game” as the NASCAR circuit allows. Michigan Int’l Speedway practically sits in the auto manufacturer’s backyard – less than two hours away from DaimlerChrysler Headquarters – and the two-mile oval has given Dodge Rams the allure of a home-field advantage in recent years. Dodges have scored all three NCTS pole positions in the track’s four year history (no race was scheduled in 2001, and qualifying was not held in 2002). From Stacy Compton’s top effort in 1999, to Jamie McMurray’s in 2000, to Jason Leffler’s record-breaking qualifying run last year, Dodge Rams are familiar with starting Michigan races up front. (TruckSeries.com Photo)

Dennis Setzer Fast Facts: Michigan International Raceway


Starr Looks To Score Another Victory
Not about to let any grass grow under their feet, David Starr and the Spears Motorsports crew are ready to score another victory at the upcoming Line-X Spray-On Truck Bedliners 200, Saturday, July 31 at 1:00 P.M. (ET) at Michigan International Speedway.

Chevrolet Preview: Michigan
Dennis Setzer on Michigan International Raceway: “It’s a great track, great racing for the Craftsman Truck Series. Always seems like there is close door-to-door racing there. I don’t think we finished too well there last year, but we are bringing some good equipment, our Chevrolet Silverado. We did some testing at Chicago Speedway, similar to MIS, and we came out of the test happy with our results. We are excited about taking our best piece to Michigan.”

Toyota Preview: Michigan
This will be the fifth visit to Michigan International Speedway for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCTS).  Seven Toyota Tundras are entered in the Line-X Truck Bedliners 200 at the Brooklyn, Mich. track.  In the most recent NCTS race at Gateway International Raceway (July17), four Tundra drivers had top-10 finishes: the first time that four Toyotas have finished in the top-10 this season.

Park Pre-Race Review: Michigan


Mike Skinner Michigan Preview


Kvapil Looking for Victory Lane in Michigan


Chase Montgomery No. 8 Dodge Michigan Preview


Cook Pre-Race Review: Michigan


Reutimann Banking on Topping Last Effort at Michigan


Melling Engine Parts to Sponsor La Joie, No. 59 HT Motorsports Team at Michigan
The # 59 HT Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck will be sponsored by Melling Engine Parts, a name well-recognized in NASCAR.  Melling became synonomous with winning in NASCAR while teamed with Bill Elliott. Mark Melling has been a supporter of the HT Motorsports Program in the past.

Crafton Hopes Consistency Will Help Overcome His MIS-fortune
Matt Crafton's success at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) during the last two years has been dismal. With a 16th place finish and a blown engine, the No.6 GM Goodwrench driver thinks of MIS much like he did of Kansas Speedway early this year. And as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCTS) returns to action this Saturday, July 31 for the running of the Line-X Spray-on Bedliners 200, the Tulare, Calif., native expects nothing less than a top-five finish.

Hamilton Pre-Race Preview: Michigan
“After the wreck in Gateway my team worked for three days straight.  Some of the guys in the fab shop didn’t even leave to get things finished before we tested.  The team was determined that we would race this truck in Michigan and test it before that in Kentucky.  I went along with that because I saw how motivated it made my team to see it through.  We worked on the truck Tuesday night and left straight from the shop to drive to Kentucky at five am.  Once we unloaded that truck, it took off.  It was extremely fast and was even better than when we raced there.  That is what makes working that hard worth it.  My guys are really seeing results of determination this year and that motivates me to work harder myself.  It’s paying off.”

Crawford Feels the Need for Speed in Michigan
Rick Crawford grew up racing on the short tracks around his home state of Alabama.  Since the early days of his career he has vaulted to the top of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and raced on some of the highest speed ovals in the world.  Ovals he has grown to love.  Crawford's career statistics behind the wheel of the #14 Circle Bar Motel and RV Park Ford prove his love for speed.  This weekend the Michigan International Speedway will fuel Crawford's desire for speed as he prepares for the Line-X Spray-On Bedliners 200.

Chaffin Confident in Chances at Michigan
“I am confident in our chances this weekend at Michigan. I finished third there last year and the Dickies Dodge continues to be extremely fast off the trailer. We will just make the adjustments needed to ensure a solid run. I would love to see the Dickies Dodge come out of Michigan third in points. I feel third in points is defiantly within our reach in the next few races. This team is going to stay focused and keep doing what we are doing. Michigan is just another week in this business.”

Sprague Hopes Michigan Delivers Home Field Advantage
It is just over 150 miles from Michigan International Speedway to Jack Sprague’s hometown of Spring Lake, MI. The driver of the #16 Chevy Trucks Silverado is hoping having family and friends at the track will give him the home field advantage in Saturday’s LINE-X SPRAY-ON TRUCK BEDLINERS 200 mile race for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Review: MICHIGAN
Season’s second half historically determines champion … The points lead after the halfway race hasn’t been a very good predictor of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship. In fact, that leader has failed to wear the crown on six of nine occasions. The last time the mid-point advantage translated into a championship effort was in 2000 when Greg Biffle became the only series driver to clinch the title before the season’s final race. Biffle led for 14 consecutive races, a series record. Jack Sprague was both mid-year leader and champion in 1999 as was Ron Hornaday Jr. in 1996. Kvapil led entering last year’s 13th event but trailed Brendan Gaughan afterwards.

Benson To Run No. 23 Toyota At MIS
Johnny Benson, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-native, will return home this weekend to race in the Line-X Spray-On Bedliners 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCTS) race at Michigan International Speedway, this Saturday July 31.  Benson will be making his 2004 debut in the Craftsman Truck Series driving the Bill Davis Racing No. 23 Toyota Tundra.  Last week, Benson tested the No. 23 Tundra at Nashville Superspeedway.

Cook Heads To Home Track


Huffman and Parker Toyota Michigan Pre-Race Report


Setzer Anything but Comfortable at Season’s Mid-point
Despite leading the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points standings since mid-May, Dennis Setzer (No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet) isn’t completely comfortable with his performance.  Setzer believes he can, and, in fact, must do better as the 2004 season heads to this week’s halfway point at Michigan International Speedway. He’s cognizant of the fact that only three of nine leaders following the mid-season race have gone on to win the championship.

John Monsam Assumes Crew Chief Role for Skinner
Bang Racing announced today that John Monsam has been named crew chief of inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Mike Skinner and the No. 42 Toyota Tundra team. Former crew chief and team manager Rick Ren remains with Bang Racing.

Trucks Duck Out of Qualifying Again
For the fourth time in 2004, and the third time in four races, Bud Pole Qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has been cancelled due to rain. The lineup for the Line-X Spray-On Bedliners 200 at Michigan International Speedway will be set as outlined in the NCTS rule book, leaving Dennis Setzer starting on the pole.  One truck actually made a qualification attempt before the rains came. Shane Hmiel took the checkered flag on his run just before the rains fell, and turned in a track-record lap of 40.274 seconds, which translates to 178.775 miles per hour around the 2-mile D-shaped oval. However, due to the fact that the qualifying session was cancelled, the run is not official and the lap will not go into the book as a record.  Sezter will start on the pole with Bobby Hamilton outside row one. Carl Edwards, Matt Crafton, and Chad Chaffin round out the top-5. Ted Musgrave will line up sixth, followed by Rick Crawford, Travis Kvapil, Jack Sprague, and Jon Wood.  All 34 trucks entered will start the 100-lap event tomorrow. (High Sierra Photo)

Sutton Competes at MIS for Self and Others with Multiple Sclerosis
Kelly “Girl” Sutton travels north to the Irish Hills of Michigan in search of her best finish of the season. The rookie driver is one of only two females scheduled to race full-time this season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and is looking forward to the challenges of her first trip to the two-mile oval of Michigan International Speedway. But Sutton knows a thing or two about challenges. Diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) more than 16 years ago, Sutton is a part of racing history, as the first person with a known diagnosis of MS to race in any NASCAR series.

Kvapil Delivers Breakthrough Toyota Victory at Michigan
Travis Kvapil started at the back of the field after a post-happy hour engine change and powered to the lead with 16 laps remaining to win the Line-X Spray-On Bedliners 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway. It was the first win of 2004 for the defending series champion and the first ever big-league NASCAR win for Toyota.  The race got off to a familiar sight for Dennis Setzer and Carl Edwards as pole-sitter Setzer experience trouble on the start and slowed. Edwards, who started third, had no where to go and clipped the left rear of Setzer’s truck.  Hamilton swept into the lead while Setzer slipped back to 13th on the start. By lap 4, Matt Crafton pulled to the inside of Hamilton and nosed ahead at the line. His turn at the front was short lived however as Hamilton powered back around Crafton through turns one and two to retake the lead to complete lap 5. Unofficial Results   (High Sierra Photo)

Renshaw Accomplishes Goals at Michigan
Deborah Renshaw made her second career start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this afternoon at the Michigan International Speedway where she earned a 22nd place finish after starting in the 25th position.  Renshaw piloted the No. 29 Par-4-Plastics Ford owned by Michigan-based K Automotive Motorsports to a lead lap finish improving upon her 25th place finish from her inaugural NCTS start at Kentucky three weeks ago.  These accomplishments fulfilled the goals for this weekend for both Renshaw and the K Automotive team.

Starting Lineup: Michigan 200


Practice 1 Times: Michigan 200


Whitt, No. 38 Ford Post-Race Report: Michigan
After a promising practice session on Friday morning, the rest of the weekend proved frustrating for Brandon Whitt and the Cure Autism Now/Werner Ladder Ford team.  The team practice 12th quickest in preparation for qualifying on Friday afternoon and looked to have a possible top-10 starting position for Saturday’s race, but rained ruined any chance of that.  Qualifying for the Line-X 200 was rained out; therefore the field was set according to the current point standings, placing Whitt 21st for the start of the race.

Hamilton Finishes Fifth for Sixth Top Five This Year
On eight different occasions Square D driver Bobby Hamilton led for a total of 50 laps in the Line-X Spray-On Truck Bedliners 200 at Michigan International Speedway. Hamilton finished the race in the fifth position, after leading the most laps; and closed the gap in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series point battle to just 33 points behind Dennis Setzer.

Michigan Deals Sieg 26th Place Finish
Shane Sieg drove the No. 07 Auto Air Colors/Lucas Oil Products Chevrolet to a 26th-place finish in the Line-X Spray-On Bed Liners 200 at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday. Sieg and the Green Light Racing Team dealt with a myriad of problems throughout the practice sessions and the race, including power steering and handling difficulties.

ThorSport Duo Hines and Hooper Land Top-20 Finishes
Tracy Hines took an ill-handling truck and carried it to a 16th-place finish in the Line-X Spray-On Bedliners 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday. Hines started the No. 88 Menards Chevrolet 19th and dropped to the tail of the lead lap before the ThorSport Racing crew made significant chassis adjustments to improve the truck’s handling.

Houston Hobbles Home 23rd after Late Race Michigan Crash
Andy Houston was doing all he could to gain positions at the end of the Linex 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, but instead he ended up with the last thing he wanted - a crash. For the second straight event, Houston's Team ASE/CARQUEST Dodge was involved in a fracas as the field headed toward the white flag. This week Houston was swept up in an incident on the front stretch involving David Reutimann. The contact with Reutimann's Toyota caused extensive front end damage that dropped Houston to the end of the lead lap and relegated him to a disappointing 23rd place finish.

Toyota Grabs First Truck Win in Rivals' Backyard
Thirteen turned out to be Toyota’s lucky number as Travis Kvapil raced his Line-X Tundra to the truck maker’s first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. Toyota, a newcomer on the series in 2004, finished second in its first two appearances at Daytona and Atlanta but, in recent months, had lagged behind rivals Dodge, Chevrolet and Ford. Kvapil, who had to out-race Bang Racing teammate Mike Skinner, changed all that in the Tundra’s 13th outing – ironically in the Big Three manufacturers’ own backyard. (High Sierra Photo)

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Notes: Michigan
When you add it up, Toyota’s first win in just the truck maker’s 13th start compares quite favorably with its rival manufacturers on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.  Sure, Chevrolet won the first race it entered – the series inaugural on Feb. 5, 1995.  Ford’s first victory didn’t come until the ninth race of the series’ first campaign. And Dodge – which may have been competing with 1970s technology but in comparable NASCAR equipment nonetheless – went 51 appearances, nearly 2-1/2 seasons, before finally striking gold.

Montgomery Motors To 15th at MIS


Musgrave Second at MIS, Jumps up Two in Point Chase
Ted Musgrave continued his hot streak, muscling the No. 1 Mopar Dodge Ram to a second-place finish and picking up two places in the point standings at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday. Musgrave led the race twice and ran in the top-five all day before the exciting conclusion of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event.

Engine Woes Hamper Crawford in Michigan
Rick Crawford started Saturday’s Line-X Spray-On Bedliners 200 at the Michigan International Speedway with hopes of taking his #14 Circle Bar Motel & RV Park Ford F-150 to the front of the pack.  Those hopes were quickly dashed when engine problems put an early end to the team’s afternoon.

Reutimann, Disappointed With 24th at Michigan


Chad Chaffin Racing Recap: Michigan


Short Day For David Ragan At MIS


Hmiel Rockets Through The Pack in The Line-X 200


Skinner Sizzles at Michigan International Speedway


Huffman Scores Second Top-10 Finish at Michigan


Motor Problems End Strong Run For Parker Jr


Diary of a Champion: Victory Lane
From the beginning, Michigan was a race that I was really optimistic going in to. A couple of weeks ago, our team went to Nashville, and we left the test pretty excited about everything that we had learned. But even with that, we decided to take on a totally different truck and set-up to Michigan than what we had planned on prior to the test. Everything that we learned from the test, we applied it for the race in Michigan.  I flew into Michigan early for a media luncheon at the Victory Lane Speedway to race go-karts with some of the IRL drivers and local media. During the luncheon, I had a chance to talk to the media and many of the IRL drivers which was a lot of fun. After the media luncheon, Alex Meshkin, Mike Skinner and I flew to Grand Rapids and did an appearance at a local Toyota dealership. There were a lot of people there to see us and all of the people did a great job promoting the event. There were a number of people there to get autographs, and everyone enjoyed the trip a lot. (David Vaughn Photo)

Official Results: Michigan 200


Entry List: Michigan 200


Final Practice: Michigan 200