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NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Race #14 |
O'Reilly 200
Memphis
Motorsports Park, Memphis, TN
Saturday, July 23, 2005
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For Brandon Whitt (No. 38 Cure Autism/McMillin Homes Toyota), Memphis will now mean more than Elvis and Graceland. He will remember it for the day he won his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and became the first driver to win the Elvis Presley trophy. “It’s cool to get my first win,” said Whitt. “I think I’ll hold Memphis Motorsports Park close to my heart forever. The track, the fans, everything I love about it. You can’t get a better trophy for your first win.” Earlier in the day, Whitt recorded his first career pole. He also led the first laps of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career. The win and the pole follow his previous best career performance, a sixth-place finish at Kentucky Speedway earlier this season. (Ronda Greer Photo)
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Dennis Setzer and his No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado race team extended their point lead in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to 158 points with a fourth-place finish in Saturday night’s O’Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Setzer, who took the points lead following his second win of the season at The Milwaukee Mile, has had a superb run in the mid point of the season. Dennis Setzer and the No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado race team have scored three wins, and six top-five finishes in the past ten races. Although Saturday night’s fourth-place finish was not a win, it was Setzer’s seventh straight top-five finish at Memphis Motorsports Park. (Ronda Greer Photo)
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Matt Crafton charged through a cloud of smoke on the final lap to pick off two positions and claim his second consecutive seventh-place finish in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Crafton also scored a seventh in the series’ previous race at Kentucky Speedway two weeks ago. As Crafton reached turn three to come to the checkered flag, there was a cloud of smoke remaining from a spin by another competitor the previous lap still hanging in the air. As the field scrambled to clear the smoke, many not knowing if there were stopped trucks on the other side of the smoke, Crafton swung to the high side and picked off a couple of positions as he came to the checkered. (Ronda Greer Photo)
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Tracy Hines picked up his third consecutive top-20 finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as he drove the No. 13 ThorSport Racing/David Zoriki Chevrolet to 16th in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 200 Saturday night at Memphis Motorsports Park. The Truck Series race put a cap on a successful week of racing which saw Hines pick up a United States Auto Club National Sprint Car Series win and continue to build positive momentum in the Truck Series.
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Chad Chaffin has been around the sport of racing for a long time and knows what he needs to do when behind the wheel of his race vehicle. However, he is also human and made a costly mistake behind the wheel of his No. 60 Toyota Tundra and the result was a very disappointing 28th place finish in the running of the O’Reilly 200 at the Memphis Motorsports Park on Saturday night.
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It was a historic night for Brandon Whitt and the #38 McMillin Homes/Cure Autism Now Toyota Tundra on Saturday night in Memphis. After posting the best finish of the team’s young career, a sixth at Kentucky, Whitt and company rolled into Memphis with a little momentum; something they would capitalize on, in virtually every way imaginable.
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His finishing position doesn’t reflect the success Aric Almirola enjoyed in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Memphis Motorsports Park behind the wheel of the No. 47 FedEx Express Morgan Dollar Motorsports Silverado. The Tampa Bay, FL native displayed talent and poise both on and off the track despite posting a 30th place finish in the O’Reilly 200, his first attempt at competition in one of NASCAR’s big-three series events.
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John Andretti made his second start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Billy Ballew Motorsports this past Saturday night at Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park and came home with another impressive finish. After starting in the 28th position, Andretti made his way through the field, with the help of some pit strategy as well, to finish in eighth place. After struggling to find the right setup on the No. 15 Juice Plus +/Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau Chevrolet during practice, Andretti qualified in the 28th position. Starting in the back wasn’t unfamiliar to the team, as they had to start last the previous time Andretti drove for them at Kansas. Driver, and team alike, knew they wouldn’t stay in the rear for long.
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With the temperatures near 100 degrees and the heat index at 115 degrees Chris Wimmer and his # 07 Helmic Home Closing Chevrolet Silverado team took to the track to prepare for the O’Reilly 200. After the first practice session Chris ended up 25th overall. He had a tight race truck and the crew got busy doing numerous changes for the second round of practice.
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Deborah Renshaw battled the heat on her first visit to the Memphis Motorsports Park but she kept her cool and managed to guide her No. 8 EasyCare DODGE to a 24th place finish in the running of the O’Reilly 200 on Saturday night.
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In an excruciating hot day at Memphis Motorsports Park Bailey’s Dodge driver Bobby Hamilton battled back from middle of the pack twice to finish the O’Reilly 200 in the sixth position. As a result of his eighth top 10 finish this year, Hamilton is now only five points out of second in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship standings. Hamilton qualified third earlier in the day on the .75-mile oval. By lap 22 while still running fourth Hamilton’s Dodge Ram was overheated and started to spit out water. The temperature was measured on the track and reported an extreme 150 degrees. (High Sierra Photo)
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Hot does not even begin to describe conditions at the Memphis Motorsports Park for Saturday’s running of the O’Reilly 200 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as temperatures throughout the day reached well into the hundreds with high humidity. Brad Keselowski and his K Automotive team endured the heat for much of the afternoon as Keselowski practiced his No. 29 Samson Stone Ford in the top-15 before qualifying in the 22nd position. But as the sun went down on the three-quarter mile track, the temperatures inside the race trucks only elevated. (Ronda Greer Photo)
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Memphis Motorsports Park hasn’t always ranked very high on Brendan Gaughan’s list of favorite racetracks. But after a third place finish under the lights on Saturday night it’s definitely moving on up into the ‘favored’ places to race at. The one-day show made for a taxing affair with temperatures soaring above the century mark. But the heat was no problem at all for a guy like Gaughan who grew up in Las Vegas and cut his racing teeth wheeling an off-road vehicle in the desert. (High Sierra Photo)
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Johnny Benson was at a huge disadvantage compared to most of the field entering Saturday’s event at Memphis Motorsports Park because he had never seen the track. Benson and the No. 23 team wanted to have a strong showing for all the Bill Davis Trucking employees and guests in attendance. Bill Davis Trucking is located in Batesville, Ark., only 100 miles from Memphis Motorsports Park. The Bill Davis Trucking logo was displayed prominently on the hood and decklid of the No. 23 Tundra. The last time the Bill Davis Trucking colors adorned a vehicle at Memphis Motorsports Park, Scott Wimmer took them to victory lane in 2003. (Ronda Greer Photo)
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Final lap contact with another competitor robbed Todd Bodine and his No. 30 Allman Brothers Band Toyota team of a strong finish in the O’Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park.
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After securing a solid starting spot in the O’Reilly 200 Craftsman Truck Series race at Memphis this past weekend, Alex Yontz and his team’s day ended early due to engine trouble.
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Late Race Spin Sends Spencer to 22nd at Memphis - Jimmy Spencer fought hard to race into the Top-15 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park on Saturday night, and was knocking on the door when a tap from another competitor sent Spencer into a smoky spin that relegated the NASCAR veteran to a 22nd-place finish.
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Despite having no experience in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Brad Rogers, driver of the No. 65 Glynn Motorsports DODGE, scored his first career start in Saturday night's O'Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Rogers, 20, started 30th and finished 19th. Rogers was determined to have a good showing in his first NCTS start. Rogers was very confident heading into Saturday's 200 Lap Event. 'Even though this is my first NCTS race, I feel I have a lot of experience at tracks like this." (Ronda Greer Photo)
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No race team ever likes to settle for a 12th place finish but considering the numerous issues Steve Park and the Orleans Racing team endured they were thrilled with their top-15 performance at Memphis Motorsports Park.
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No race team ever likes to settle for a 12th place finish but considering the numerous issues Steve Park and the Orleans Racing team endured they were thrilled with their top-15 performance at Memphis Motorsports Park.
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The No. 22 Husqvarna Tundra team headed to Memphis with high hopes of a strong performance. Bill Lester was less than 150 points out of the 10th spot in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points standings, and the team knew a strong performance in Memphis would help its cause. With the heat index well over 100 degrees, the team had its work cut out for it.
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The No. 5 Toyota Tundra team knew survival was the key when entering Memphis Motorsports Park. The team was coming off a strong six-week run during which it gained 10 spots in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship standings. The team has been recognized as one of the hottest teams in the series and wanted to keep that title intact.
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The No. 59 Edy’s Ice Cream Dodge had things going their way for at least half of the O’Reilly 200 event at Memphis Motorsports Park. Driver Robert Pressley, using a long-range pit strategy, moved solidly into sixth place for a spell. In the end, a failing clutch sidelined the effort, but not before the team experienced the thrill of being a competitive force during the night.
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BHR Driver Chase Montgomery stayed cool under tremendous temperatures Saturday night at Memphis Motorsports Park bringing the No. 18 Dodge home in 25th position. It is Montgomery’s eighth top 25 finish of the season.
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After leading 58 laps, David Reutimann finished second in his No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series O’Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline at Memphis Motorsports Park Saturday night. “We had a great truck all night and we’re starting to run like we’re supposed to run,” said Reutimann, who is rapidly closing in on the top-five in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points standings. “We struggled a little bit midpoint during the race, but we were trying to figure out what we needed to do. Then, I missed a shift on a restart that cost us one position. I feel pretty bad about that because positions are so hard to come by at a track like Memphis. (Ronda Greer Photo)
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Brandon Whitt scored his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory in dramatic fashion Saturday night passing Ron Hornaday Jr.’s slowing truck on the final turn of the last lap at Memphis Motorsports Park. Whitt, the Bud Pole winner, captured the O’Reilly 200 when Hornaday braked for smoke laid down by Jimmy Spencer’s Turn 4 spin. That was all the 22-year-old Whitt needed to put his McMillin Homes/Cure Autism Now Toyota Tundra truck in victory lane as he scored a 1.442-second decision – about five truck lengths – over outside front row starter David Reutimann.
Hornaday, his GM Goodwrench Chevrolet knocked sideways after being sideswiped by Whitt, wound up 21st – taking the checkered flag in reverse. The 27-time series race winner led 79 laps – the most by any of the event’s four leaders.
Whitt, who averaged 71.182 mph, won $54,275 plus an $18,000 Craftsman Win from the Pole bonus. The finish, before an estimated crowd of 30,000, was the El Cajon, Calif. driver’s first top five on the series and followed his best previous effort – sixth at Kentucky Speedway two weeks ago. He won in his 46th series appearance. (Nate Mecha/High Sierra Photo)
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One might say Brandon Whitt beat the best in posting his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win Saturday night at Memphis Motorsports Park. His victim was Ron Hornaday Jr., whose 27 victories are the most in series history.The win came in Whitt’s 46th appearance. Only seven other winners have started more races prior to their initial win. Just getting to that point, however, was an accomplishment for the 22-year-old El Cajon, Calif. driver, the series’ fifth youngest winning competitor. To say that Whitt was physically challenged would be an understatement. “It was really hot tonight and I almost passed out before that red flag (at lap 162),” said Whitt. (Nate Mecha/High Sierra Photo)
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Brandon Whitt scored his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory in dramatic fashion Saturday night passing Ron Hornaday Jr.’s slowing truck on the final turn of the last lap at Memphis Motorsports Park. Whitt, the Bud Pole winner, captured the O’Reilly 200 when Hornaday braked for smoke laid down by Jimmy Spencer’s Turn 4 spin. That was all the 22-year-old Whitt needed to put his McMillin Homes/Cure Autism Now Toyota Tundra truck in victory lane as he scored a 1.442-second decision – about five truck lengths – over outside front row starter David Reutimann. Hornaday, his GM Goodwrench Chevrolet knocked sideways after being sideswiped by Whitt, wound up 21st – taking the checkered flag in reverse. (Nate Mecha/High Sierra Photo)
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Ricky Craven did not enjoy his first race at Memphis Motorsports Park on Saturday. Craven not only had to endure intense heat throughout the day, but also a violent accident that ended his night on lap 170 with a 27th-place finish. With the temperature over 100 degrees and a heat index of over 115 degrees, Craven and the No. 99 Superchips team were prepared for a tough night of racing. Craven qualified 25th earlier in the heat of the day and said the truck was tight during his two-lap run. “I have no idea what happened to cause that accident,” Craven said. “It was just completely out of control getting into that corner (turn one). (High Sierra Photo)
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Todd Kluever overcame every obstacle in his way Saturday night at Memphis Motorsports Park to claim his fifth top-10 finish. He battled the intense heat and fought back from being two laps down to finish 10th. It was a long day for Kluever and the No. 50 World Financial Group team as they practiced, qualified and raced at Memphis where the heat index was 115 degrees most of the day. Inside the truck the temperature reached 140 degrees at the start of qualifying in mid-afternoon. Kluever qualified 11th and was ready to race as the sun began to set. (High Sierra Photo)
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“Unintentionally I got into Todd (Bodine) there on the last lap. I was inside him four times and every time he chopped me, and Jack Roush doesn’t pay me to come here and be courteous. He pays me to come here and be competitive and go for wins.”
- Todd Kluever
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In Saturday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park, Tundra driver Brandon Whitt was running second to race leader Ron Hornaday, Jr. and heading towards his career-best finish -- when he saw there was smoke in Turn Four.
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Dennis Setzer behind the wheel of the No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado extended his lead in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings with a fourth place finish in the O'Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Setzer, starting from 13th on the grid, worked his way into the top-five and ran a smooth, consistent race. Setzer has 158-point lead over second place in the standings with 14 of 25 races complete.
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Brandon Whitt pulled the rabbit out of the hat when leader Ron Hornaday spun coming out of turn four coming to the checkered flag to win the O'Reilly Auto Parts 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park on Saturday night. Whitt started from the pole and survived a hot night that left him with a blistered backside to pick up his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win. Hornaday was the dominant driver throughout the final stages of the race, and led at will until the final corner when he slowed through a cloud of smoke caused when Jimmy Spencer got sideways and spun. As Hornaday spun, Whitt juked to avoid but made slight contact sending Hornaday sideways. Reutimann followed Whitt through for second, followed by Brendan Gaughan, point leader Dennis Setzer, and David Starr. Reutimann missed a shift on a late race restart, allowing Whitt to sneak by for position. Reutimann was understandably disappointed in a mistake that ultimately resulted in the race winning pass.
(High Sierra Photo)
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David Reutimann edged out Johnny Benson to win a 10-lap All-Star race featuring six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers and Speed Channel talent Ray Dunlap at the Memphis Motorsports Park dirt oval Friday night.
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"I'm pretty happy with our Chevy Trucks Silverado. I was going for another pole here but with the heat, we are pretty happy with what we got out of it. While it is the same for everybody out there, we want to find the key that no one else has to make it to victory lane. I know we will race strong, just have to keep good track position and be there at the end." - Jack Sprague
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Brandon Whitt picked up the first top-10 finish of his career in the last NASCAR Craftsman Trick Series race in Kentucky, and backed it up with his first career pole position in Memphis as he turned the fastest lap in qualifying for the O'Reilly Auto Parts 200. Whitt becomes the second youngest pole winner of the 2005 NCTS season, behind Kyle Busch, and with his lap gives Toyota both front row starters. Whitt's lap was 22.727 seconds/118.801 miles per hour, just six-thousandths of a second quicker than David Reutimann. Reutimann will line up outside the front row with a lap of 22.733 seconds/118.770 miles per hour. Defending race winner Bobby Hamilton qualified third, with Jack Sprague fourth and Ron Hornaday in fifth. All three drivers are previous winners at Memphis and are looking to become the first repeat winner of a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the 0.75-mile Memphis Motorsports Park.
(High Sierra Photo)
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Free Parking and Improved Guest Services Add to Festive Atmosphere
- Free parking? At a Memphis sporting event? Stranger things have happened, but free parking IS happening at Memphis Motorsports Park this Saturday when the track hosts the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series O’Reilly 200 race. The only thing better than free parking is a “preferred” parking space reserved for season ticket holders, directly behind the grandstands. The purchase of a pair of NASCAR season tickets includes a parking pass.
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“I am excited about going to Memphis for two reasons. One is that I get to race the Bill Davis Trucking Toyota Tundra, but I also get to race a dirt car on Friday night. I love racing on dirt. It is such a different type of racing. There are no points at stake, so I will just kick back and go for the win. “It is an honor to carry the Bill Davis Trucking banner on board with me on the No. 23 this weekend. Bill Davis Trucking is the foundation of the entire racing organization, and I think that is only appropriate that we recognize their 30 years in business. (High Sierra Photo)
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Ready to rock and roll their way to victory David Starr and the Spears Motorsports crew head for the Memphis, the city famous for both blues and rock and roll, and Round 14 of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, July 23 at Memphis Motorsports Park.
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“Memphis Motorsports Park is a difficult track to get around. From an aerial view, it looks similar to Richmond but it doesn’t drive anything like it. You carry a lot more corner speed at Richmond than you do at Memphis. You have to really slow the truck down in the corners and finesse your feet with the brakes. The truck has to have good traction up off the corners too.” -Terry Cook
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Hollywood has Oscar. Broadway has Tony. The NHRA has Wally. And now Memphis Motorsports Park has Elvis. In another display of the unique partnership between Elvis Presley Enterprises and Memphis Motorsports Park, officials from both organizations joined Memphis and NASCAR champions Bobby Hamilton and Bobby Hamilton, Jr., at the gates of Graceland today to unveil a one-of-a-kind trophy that will be awarded to the winner of the NASCAR races in Memphis. (John Tucker / Memphis Motorsports Park Photo)
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Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) will partner with Morgan Dollar Motorsports and enter driver Aric Almirola in the #47 Morgan Dollar NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCTS) MDM Silverado in the O’Reilly 200 at Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park. FedEx Express, which is headquartered in Memphis, will serve as the primary sponsor of the #47 machine while The Home Depot and Joe Gibbs Performance Motor Oil will serve as associate partners on the truck. (MDM Photo)
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This will be Chad Chaffin’s eighth career start at the Memphis Motorsports Park. In addition to four previous starts at the track in the Craftsman Truck Series he also has three starts in the Busch Series to his credit.
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Sprague has five previous starts Memphis Motorsports Park scoring two poles, one win and four top-10 finishes. His victory came in 2000 with the poles being won in 2001 and 2004. “We have always run well at Memphis. I really like the track. I have gotten a couple of pole there and gotten a win, so I feel like I have a good feel for how to drive the track."
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Chris Wimmer and Green Light Racing have again joined forces for a second Craftsman truck series race at Memphis Motorsports Park. It will be the second race for Wimmer with Green Light Racing’s Bobby Dotter and Gene Christensen. His first race was at the Milwaukee Mile where he qualified the # 07 Midwest Energy Solutions Chevrolet Silverado in the 17th starting position and finished in the 22nd spot.
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This is Jimmy Spencer’s first visit in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to Memphis Motorsports Park; his 20th career NCTS start.
Spencer on going into a race track he's never seen competitively:
“There are a lot of them, Kentucky being one of them, and I’ve raced Kansas before in a Nextel Cup car, but never in a truck. It’s different. I’m not a rookie by any means but yet it’s a different format than I’m used to. I’m still trying to figure the balance of these trucks. It’s coming around, so I can’t complain. Memphis is like a big Richmond and I like Richmond, I’ve raced a truck at Richmond in the past so I think I’ll be alright.”(Ronda Greer Photo)
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Brad Keselowski is looking to continue his climb in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points this weekend as the series heads to the short track of Memphis Motorsports Park. The 21-year old Keselowski has been working hard to claw his way back into the top-20 in series points since dropping from 20th back to 24th following an engine failure at the Michigan event a month ago.
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For the eighth time this season already, Deborah will be making her career debut at a track on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series circuit – this week at the Memphis Motorsports Park.
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John Andretti will return to Billy Ballew Motorsports to drive the No. 15 Chevrolet Silverado this Saturday at Memphis Motorsports Park in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event. Andretti made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Kansas Speedway a few weeks ago in the Billy Ballew Motorsports-entry and made a considerable impression on team owner Billy Ballew, as well as fans alike, by finishing in the ninth position after starting last. “We’re really excited to have John back with us,” said team owner Billy Ballew. (Ronda Greer Photo)
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Crawford, who had posted a series-best 210 consecutive starts prior to a qualifying incident at Kentucky, will return to the cockpit of his Circle Bar Truck Corral F-150 for the O'Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park on Saturday night. "Under the lights on a short track reminds me of the days of where we all started when we ran on Friday and Saturday nights under the lights. That's pretty neat as far as going back to the real roots of racing, and a lot of us - Bobby Hamilton, Jack Sprague, Dennis Setzer - I can name 80 percent of the truck series drivers that came from short track racing on the weekends." -Rick Crawford (Ronda Greer Photo)
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Truck Series Stars Come Out to Meet and Greet Before Going “Under the Lights”
- Some say the drivers are what drive the sport. Others say it’s the cars and their corporate sponsors. Believe what you want. But in the end, it all boils down to one thing. “NASCAR is about the fans. And no track in the country understands that better than Memphis Motorsports Park,” said MMP Vice President and General Manager Jason Rittenberry. “In an attempt to show our appreciation to all the thousands of NASCAR fans in town for the O’Reilly 200 this week, we’ve lined up several special opportunities.”
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Brad Rogers, younger brother to Clay Rogers, begins his NASCAR career this week at Memphis Motorsports Park. In life, we often see little brother follow in big brother’s footsteps. This Saturday night Brad Rogers, younger brother to Clay Rogers, will slide into big brother’s seat and drive the Glynn Motorsports No. 65 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Dodge in the O’Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Rogers, the younger, will be making his first start in one of NASCAR’s premier series. “To say I’m excited about the opportunity is an understatement,” said the 20 year old Brad Rogers.
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“Memphis is a pretty tough track but it’s wide and has room to race. The track has some bumps but both corners really make it difficult. Turns one and two are really fast like Richmond and turns three and four are slower much sharper. It’s difficult to get the truck to handle the same at both ends of the racetrack. Memphis creates a pretty good challenge for the crew chief and then it’s up to the driver to try to make up the difference and drive the truck differently so it will handle well at both ends."
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Sometimes a driver’s feelings about a venue don’t match reality. Memphis Motorsports Park is one of those places for driver Brendan Gaughan. Ask Gaughan about Memphis and he doesn’t have fond recollections of the place, or at least the race track because he loves the tourist amenities of the area. But when talking about the track he’s never optimistic. You've had a 13th and an 8th in your two starts here: “Really? A top 10? That surprises me. I’ve always done horrible there. For some reason I’ve felt that that track has never been that good to me. I’ve spun out and I’ve hit things." (High Sierra Photo)
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Alex Yontz will head to Memphis Motorsports Park this weekend, ready for battle in the O’Reilly 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. He will pilot the No. 61 Chevy Silverado entry. Alex and the Yontz Racing Team tested there last weekend in preparation for this weekend’s race.
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Bill Lester on racing at Memphis Motorsports Park: “I think we are going to have a great weekend in Memphis. My team has really been on their game the last four or five weeks. We have two consecutive poles to our credit, which really gives me confidence as a driver. Kentucky was somewhat of a struggle during the race, but we learned some things that I think will really help us in the future.
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Mike Skinner on racing at Memphis Motorsports Park: “I am really excited about going back to Memphis. My guys have been working overtime trying to get our short track program where it needs to be. I think we have really learned some things in the past five or six weeks with our bodies, which are going to help us at places like Memphis.
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With this being only Park’s second shot at the Memphis Motorsports Park it’s a little early to say whether it is one of his favorite tracks just yet. That’s not to say it might not be as in 2004, in his first outing, Park scored an 11th place finish in the Orleans Racing Dodge.
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“Memphis is a great city and I really enjoy racing there. I ran well there a year ago. We were not as competitive as I had hoped, but we learned a lot and had a solid finish. I ran well there in a Busch car two years ago. We really had something figured out and were headed to the front when the engine let go. Having two solid runs there giv! es me confidence heading into this weekend. At Memphis it is really important to hit on your chassis set-up. It has two distinct corners. Turns one and two are really fast and turns three and four are a lot slower, but sharper. That is why you have to get your truck dialed in because it is important to be able to turn through the both corners well. It is important to conserve your brakes during the race. Memphis is a track you use the brake a lot in turns three and four so it is something I have to remind myself about during the race. It is a challenging race track. I am excited about our chances of getting our first top 10 of the season."
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Dennis Setzer has a big smile on his face and for good reason. The driver of the No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado fielded by Morgan-Dollar Motorsports has won three of the last four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races-Michigan, Milwaukee and Kentucky-and sits on top of the series point standings. "This is obviously a great position for our team to be in right now," said Setzer. "But we need to keep our eye on the ball and focus on the race that is in front of us. That is the plan that is going to allow us to maximize the momentum we have going to Memphis. (Ronda Greer Photo)
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The O’Reilly 200 will be the eighth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCTS) race at Memphis Motorsports Park. There will be eight Toyota Tundras in the field at the 3/4-mile Memphis oval -- the 14th NCTS race of the 2005 season. In the most recent NCTS race at Kentucky Speedway, three Toyota Tundras finished among the top-five. Todd Bodine guided the No. 30 Allman Brothers Band Tundra to a second-place finish and David Reutimann ended up third in the No. 17 NTN Bearings Tundra. Mike Skinner, driver of the No. 5 Bill Davis Racing Tundra, crossed the finish line fourth. (Ronda Greer Photo)
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After back-to-back third-place finishes at Kansas and Kentucky Speedway, David Reutimann is ninth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points standings heading into Memphis Motorsports Park. “We’ve reached one of our goals and that was to position ourselves in the top-10 in points,” said Reutimann. “Next we’re going after the top-five in points. We’re getting to where we are very competitive each week. If we can keep doing that, the points deal will take care of itself. (High Sierra Photo)
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"I'm looking forward to getting to Memphis this weekend. It's a good track and a lot of fun to drive. I'm kind of anxious to see how the aero changes we made to the body will react on the racetrack. I think they found a few of the problems we've been having and fixed them." -Robert Pressley
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NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points leader Dennis Setzer (No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet), looking for his fourth victory in five starts, isn’t the only competitor on a roll heading into Saturday’s O’Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline at Memphis Motorsports Park. Setzer, the race’s 2001 winner, is hot. But so is sophomore competitor David Reutimann (No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota), who hopes to become the .75-mile paved oval’s eighth consecutive different winner. Reutimann hasn’t gone to Victory Lane – yet. But his performance over the past two months has been a summer sizzler. He’s led five races and finished among the top 10 five times, including back-to-back third-place efforts at Kansas and Kentucky speedways. (Ronda Greer Photo)
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“I am looking forward to returning to a short track, back to my roots a little bit. I haven’t had the chance to run on a short track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series since my first race at Martinsville. I think when we go back to short track we can apply some of the things we learned at the test and be really good. I just hope we can match our Dover finish. If we can do that I will be happy. Any type of racing, whether it is a short track or an intermediate track, is just a matter of not being at the wrong place at the most inopportune time. It is important to figure out the aerodynamic package and the draft at the bigger tracks. That is not as important on the short tracks. A driver really has to take care of his equipment on the short tracks. It is really important to not burn up your tires or your brakes. I have learned two very important things this year. One is how important the draft is on these mile and a half racetracks, and two is that even though I am used to short track racing, I have to realize that I have a heavier vehicle with more horsepower and a different kind of tire. So in a way I am starting from square one but one thing is for sure, I haven’t forgotten how to drive these things. I hope that I am giving the team good feedback and I know they are working their tails off for me. It is a bit of a different mindset racing on short tracks. You know there is going to be some beating and banging and some rooting folks out of the way.”
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“I was invited back this week to Memphis to do a surprise unveiling for the race track. It’s a great tie in for the Memphis area by doing a unique trophy with Memphis Motorsports Park and Graceland. They are breaking the mold after using this trophy for five years. You can bet all of us Elvis fans will all be trying to be the first to win it. It’s just such a collector’s item that will draw a lot of attention to a great partnership in the Memphis, Tennessee area.” -Bobby Hamilton (High Sierra Photo)
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The official entry list for the O'Reilly 200, the 14th race of the 2005 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
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"Memphis is a tough place to get the chassis just right. I love to race at Memphis – its an awesome track and just the right size for the Craftsman Truck Series. The track has a similar layout to Richmond, but not as much grip. You also set your truck up differently than you would at Richmond, to be better in different places. The race will be held at night time this year as opposed the daytime like we have run it in each year that we have been there before now. That should give the track more grip and make it faster as well.” -Dennis Setzer (Ronda Greer Photo)
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Rick Crawford and the Circle Bar Truck Corral Racing team would like to thank all the fans, track personnel and the entire NASCAR community for the support and well wishes received following his accident while qualifying the No. 14 Ford F-150 at Kentucky Speedway two weeks ago. The O'Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park marks a return to the short tracks for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Mobile, Ala. native Rick Crawford couldn't be happier. "Short track racing is where most of the NASCAR drivers started their careers," said Crawford. (High Sierra Photo)
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Track officials announced today that Tennessee’s Commissioner of Tourist Development, Susan Whitaker, will serve as Grand Marshal of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series O’Reilly 200 next Saturday, July 23, at Memphis Motorsports Park. Whitaker, a descendent of Tennessee’s first Governor, John Sevier, is a Chicago native with a Southerner’s passion for NASCAR. "I fell in love with the sport right here in Tennessee and enjoy every moment of the race experience, from the incredible speed to the popular race car personalities,” she said.
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"I anticipate that Memphis will be a turning point for the Superchips team. We've hit a bit of a headwind the last month, but I really feel that we are due for a good run at Memphis this weekend. I've never raced there before, but I have done some testing there. I actually spent two days testing with the Ford R&D team in April and learned a lot about the track."
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"I really feel like this team has come together in the past month. I am really enjoying working with Mike Beam and this team has really rebounded. We have become much more consistent and we're working our way up in the point standings. I really feel like we can be in the top 10 in the points by the end of the season and that is our goal, besides winning races. I think we're getting very close to our first win and Memphis would be a great place to do it this weekend."
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AUDIO -
Brandon Whitt and the #38 McMillin Homes/Cure Autism Now Toyota Tundra team head to the .750-mile Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park, for Saturday’s O’Reilly 200; the 14th race in the 2005 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. “Two places last season that come to mind where we felt robbed of a top-10 finish: one being Mansfield, which still owes us one, and the other was Memphis. There must be something about those short tracks. Last season, we came to Memphis feeling pretty good about our chances and worked our way up through the field. We’re running in the top 10 late in the race then someone ran into us. (High Sierra Photo)
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NASCAR champion Bobby Hamilton and his team are on the track today at Memphis Motorsports Park, testing on the paved oval that will host the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series O’Reilly 200 on Saturday, July 23. When he returns next week for the race, Hamilton and several of the Truck Series competitors will see action a day before the rest of the field in a return to their “roots” to kick up some dirt and kick off race weekend on Friday, July 22, with a special feature race on Memphis Motorsports Park’s ¼-mile dirt oval, as part of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series support event. (Ronda Greer Photo)
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O'Reilly 200 - Memphis Motorsports Park
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Event Schedule
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NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers and Ultra Motorsports teammates Ted Musgrave and Jimmy Spencer will make a joint appearance at the Memphis Motorsports Club on race day, July 23, immediately after qualifying for the O’Reilly 200. Musgrave and Spencer are both veterans of the Cup circuit who are now finding tremendous success in the Trucks. Musgrave and Spencer will visit and participate in a question-and-answer session with fans at the Memphis Motorsports Club at 5:00 p.m., before having to return to the infield for the drivers meeting at 5:45 p.m. (Track PR Photo)
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The 2005 racing season is underway, as is the race for seats at Memphis Motorsports Park. Individual and season tickets are on sale now to each of the track’s four major events.
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