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February 2005
NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series General News
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With two weeks remaining before the start of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, ThorSport Racing driver Tracy Hines continued his busy “off-season” with three races in two days in Phoenix during the 28th Copper World Classic weekend. Hines raced the CRA Sprint car series on the quick Manzanita Speedway half-mile dirt on Saturday night, then hopped in his USAC Midget and Silver Crown cars on the ultra-fast Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday.
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In preparation for the upcoming 2005 USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series season, MB3 Motorsports and its driver Michael Faulk have been busy at work preparing their stable of cars. Faulk will pilot the #53 Pontiac in the Southern Division and compete for the Rookie of the Year honor. In what could possibly be the most competitive year in the history of the USAR, this emerging team and its rookie driver have left no stone unturned in their preparation.
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The eighth annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity raised $185,225 last weekend which put the overall, eight-year total over the $1 million mark. As an added highlight, Maine’s Gov. John E. Baldacci joined the group of over 400 riders on the 60-mile course through the Moosehead Lake region of Greenville, Maine.
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The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will race under the lights for the first time in history this spring during the March 18 World Financial Group 200. Rick Crawford, Ricky Craven, Ted Musgrave, Todd Kluever and Terry Cook got a sneak preview of the excitement that event will generate as Tuesday’s test session at Atlanta Motor Speedway carried into the early evening hours. For Crawford, who was fastest Tuesday with a lap of 30.93 seconds (174.58 mph) it was a chance to get accustomed to a new crew chief, new truck and virtually all-new crew. “I think we’re finding out what we want,” Crawford said. “We’re fast; now we need to work on being more consistent.”
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As the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles head into the Super Bowl this weekend, the Roush Racing's current, past and possibly future Truck Series drivers were asked who their picks are for the new Champions...
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NASCAR Southeast Series driver Jason Hogan is at the top of his class according to NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Mark Martin. The 22-year-old Hogan was one of 10 drivers selected to participate in the final round of Roush Racing's Race for the Ride, (also known as the Gong Show), in hopes of landing a ride with Roush Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
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Four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers participated in a Toyota test this week at Talladega Superspeedway, making final preparations for the 2005 series season opener at Daytona later this month. Germain/Arnold Racing teammates Chad Chaffin and Shigeaki Hattori with their No. 30 and No. 9 teams, Clean Line Motorsports driver Brandon Whitt and his No. 38 team and Darrell Waltrip Motorsports driver David Reutimann and his No. 17 team all awaited their time on the 2.66-mile tri-oval this morning in hopes of finding even the tiniest fractions of speed to give them an edge in the first race of the season Feb. 18. PHOTO: Driver of the No. 9 Toyota, Shigeaki Hattori During Testing At Talladega (TSS PR Photo)
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Testing in Atlanta was originally scheduled for Monday but seeping water on the race track kept the race teams off the track until Tuesday. The Atlanta test would be the first outing for the new Ford D-3 engine package and it was impressive. The Circle Bar Motel and RV Park Ford F-150 was the fastest truck off the trailer and led the blue oval contingent in the single day test. The Atlanta test would be a milestone for the Circle Bar Team, testing the first new engine package for the Ford trucks in some time.
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Take out a piece of paper and write down your predictions for the top five finishers in the 2005 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title chase. Put that paper in an envelope and I bet you will get a real kick out of your choices come Nov. 18 after the final race in Miami. Picking the winner is almost impossible. Why? The driving talent in this year’s field will provide the best competition in all motor sports. Yes, that is right, I said it will be better than the NEXTEL Cup Series and it will be better than the IRL and better than the Busch Series. If you base my statement on the number of possible different winners coming into the season opener, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series wins hands down in 2005. I have been trying to come up with some intelligent reasoning for which driver to pick as the pre-season favorite for winning the championship and I am telling you it is almost impossible. Here is a look at my scribbled notes from preparing this column. (SPEED PR Photo)
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Officials from Henrico County and the Economic Development Authority of Henrico County announced today that they have submitted a letter of intent to NASCAR for the Richmond area to be the future site of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The letter notified NASCAR that a formal proposal will be sent to meet the May 31, 2005 deadline. An organization called Virginians for the NASCAR Hall of Fame is being formed to help the County prepare the proposal.
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As NASCAR Accelerates into the 2005 season, Southern California race fans will benefit in several ways during Fontana Race Week. The atmospheric event is centered around the Auto Club 500 weekend at California Speedway and will feature Fontana RaceFest, Monte Carlo Night and Hot Rod Cruise, and will give fans a taste of NASCAR.
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SPEED Channel taped the Michael Waltrip Celebrity Poker Tournament at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas this week for a special to be broadcast at a date to be determined. Furthur information will be available as dates and times are set. Players in the popular Texas Hold'em tournament included NASCAR's Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Benny Parsons, Casey Mears, Brian Vickers, Ryan Newman, Kyle Petty, Elliott & Hermie Sadler.
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The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced a month-long series of events to celebrate Black History Month. “The events surrounding Black History Month are a part of our ongoing attempt to raise awareness in all communities about NASCAR’s on-track and off-track opportunities throughout the sport,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “We are committed to making our sport – on and off the race track – look more like America.” The month kicks off with a Drive for Diversity forum to include students in the North Carolina A&T State University Motorsports program.
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Speed Channel showcases the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in a one-hour retrospective look at the moments that helped shape the Series' ten years. The fast-paced, high-energy anniversary special, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - Ten Years Tough, will air Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m. ET. SPEED Channel's Rick Allen narrates while all seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series past champions, 2005's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion Kurt Busch, other top NASCAR drivers and people close to the sport's history share their memories of the Series evolution. "What better way to start the 2005 season than a look back at 10 years of great racing," commented Rick Miner, SPEED Channel's Sr. VP of Programming/Production and Executive Producer. "Tough is an understatement when it comes to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. If 'rubbing is racing' there is no better racing than trucks."
(SPEED PR Photo)
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Jim France, vice chairman/executive vice president of NASCAR and CEO of International Speedway Corp., has been presented with the Road Racing Drivers Club’s annual Phil Hill Award. France received the award, given “for outstanding service to road racing,” from RRDC President Bobby Rahal, the 1981 co-winner of this weekend’s Rolex 24 At Daytona.
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Kevin Druckenbrod, a 10-year veteran of the radio promotions industry, has joined Lowe's Motor Speedway's marketing and public relations department as a communications specialist. In his new position, Druckenbrod, 29, will spearhead the speedway's electronic marketing; execute on- and off-site promotions with advertising partners; and manage the speedway's web site.
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Channel, the worldwide leader in motorsports television coverage, will air 14 ARCA RE/MAX Series races in 2005, each scheduled for live broadcast to a national television audience. The 14 live events marks the first time in series history that the entire broadcast schedule will air live.
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Martinsville Speedway will open three new parking areas for this spring's Advance Auto Parts 500 weekend, adding about 20 acres of free parking within easy walking distance of the track. "We are constantly looking to expand our free parking areas and were fortunate enough to get these three areas," said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. "We've always prided ourselves on having plenty of free parking and we're striving to continue that."
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At the beginning of the 2004 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season virtually no one picked Bobby Hamilton to win the series title. Hamilton then proceeded to win four races, more than any driver in the series, and raised some eyebrows along the way. With all eyes focused on the Nashville, Tennessee native, Hamilton took the reigns of his own destiny but refused to openly discuss his championship chances. Other truck series competitors began to take heed, and when Bobby Hamilton did exactly what it took to clinch the title in Homestead last year, he became the seventh-different champion to garner the trophy.
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The first events of the season for NASCAR's top three series as well as the ARCA RE/MAX Series are less than two weeks away, and teams representing all four of the series were on hand Saturday and Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway making final preparations.
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RepairOne(R) announced today that it has teamed up with Brevak Racing as an associate sponsor for the No. 31 Dodge truck in the opening race of the 2005 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series(R). Series rookie Jason Rudd, nephew of NASCAR Nextel Cup star Ricky Rudd, will drive the No. 31 RepairOne(R) Dodge on February 18 at Daytona International Speedway in The Florida Dodge Dealers 250.
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Gateway International Raceway announced today that Jason Dukes, former Account Executive of Series Operations for NASCAR, has joined their staff as the Business Development Manager. Specifically, Dukes will be responsible for selling sponsorships, group tickets, hospitality tents, suites, and directing the track's industry leading diversity initiatives.
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The unequaled legacy of the original Chevy small-block engine has left an indelible mark on the global auto industry and American automotive culture the past 50 years. Its impact on racing, from grass roots to the world stage, also has immensely touched those so passionate to their sport. In 2005, GM celebrates this important industry milestone with the market launch of Gen IV small block V-8, available on four different GM models. The 50th anniversary year may provide many story opportunities that illustrate how the small block engine has touched, inspired and powered those who love their cars.
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Every little boy has a dream. Some dream of being a professional baseball player, a fireman or a doctor. Chase Montgomery’s childhood vision was to be a professional race car driver and once that was set in his mind, he never looked back. “I am so lucky to be living out my dream racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and to be driving for Bobby Hamilton Racing,” said Montgomery. “Not many kids my age have the opportunity to do what they love and get paid for it. I never want to forget that. Last year was my rookie year in the series and I learned a lot from the other competitors. I am ready to prove that in 2005.”
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The newest book joining the ever-expanding NASCAR Library Collection was compiled from a career’s worth of front-line race-day experiences. FOX Sports and SPEED Channel NASCAR expert analyst Jeff Hammond is also one of the most successful crew chiefs in NASCAR history, with 43 wins and three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championships. Now, he’s also an author.
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With nearly 24 hours of on-track activity scheduled for the March 18-20 Golden Corral 500 weekend, fans can see an entire weekend of thrilling racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway for a little over $2 an hour. It’s one of the best deals in all of racing…a three-day ticket package that starts at just $65, less than fans would pay for a Sunday-only ticket at most tracks.
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Timothy Peters has combined hard work and determination at a young age to accomplish an impressive list of achievements. He is a ten-time World Karting Association National Title winner, three-time late model driver points champion, winner of over twenty seven late model races and twenty eight Legend Car races. Sounds like a long list of accomplishments for someone who is only 24, but Peters started early on his stellar career. He received his first go-kart when he was only seven years old and has been racing ever since. Then with a little influence from his father, he began racing in the World Karting Association. During those early years, he left a lasting impact by racking up 10 WKA National Titles.
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K Automotive Motorsports announced a partnership today with SUBcrews.com for the 2005 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. The No. 29 SUBcrews.com Ford F-150 will take to the track for the February 18 running of the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at the Daytona International Speedway. “Our entire team is so excited about this partnership with SUBcrews.com,” said Kay Keselowski, team owner of K Automotive Motorsports. “The concept and management team behind SUBcrews.com is outstanding and we are truly honored to represent them in their NASCAR Camping World Truck Series endeavor for the 2005 season and beyond.” (PR Photo)
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Mike Zizzo, one of motor racing’s top media relations professionals, has been named Director of Public Relations for Texas Motor Speedway. Zizzo is leaving the position of Senior Manager of Communications for NASCAR for the Texas post.
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Cementing a relationship formed in 2004, Jasper Engines and Transmissions and Orleans Racing are pleased to announce a sponsor partnership for the 2005 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series campaign. The new partnership puts Jasper Engines and Transmissions on the #77 Orleans Racing Dodge, which will be piloted by Brendan Gaughan. The partnership is not limited to vehicle sponsorship as a technology alliance between the Indiana based engine and transmission remanufacturer and the Las Vegas based race team has been formed.
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From the first time a pickup truck took to the race track when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series was born in 1995, TOUGH has been the dominant theme. Close action, fender-to-fender racing and hard-nosed championship battles have earned the Series its “Tough Trucks, Tough Drivers, Tough Tools” image. It’s an image that the Series lives up to each year. Just take a look at some stats: the Series championship has been decided in the final race nine out of 10 seasons and it has been won by fewer than 100 points in seven out of 10 seasons.
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The Western New York auto racing community slowed to a crawl this week as word spread of the death of Ken Bainbridge. The "Old Man" - who died in his recliner in his Amherst home Wednesday after a long bout with cancer - was as well known for his competitiveness and generosity as he was for his engineering and mechanical skills.
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The Crown Royal International Race of Champions began on-track activities at Daytona International Speedway Wednesday in preparation for the season opener on Friday, February 18, which will be broadcast live on SPEED Channel at 6:00 p.m. ET. Series newcomers, 2004 Champ Car World Series champion Sebastien Bourdais and 2004 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton took their first laps in the Crown Royal IROC cars along with three-time series participant Danny Lasoski representing the World of Outlaws.
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The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a big challenge for any racer but when series competitor, Phil Bonifield answered his phone a couple of weeks ago he got a whole new appreciation for the words BIG CHALLENGE.
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Jim Rosenblum's NASCAR "FDNY Racing Team" is revving up for Daytona, where it will run to honor the memory of three fallen firefighters. When the team's race truck competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 18, its hood will sport a decal with the words "Always remember . . . never forget," and the names of the three firefighters who died in two separate blazes on Jan. 23. "We're running to honor them for their ultimate sacrifice in protecting us," said team owner Rosenblum.
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For years, the Craftsman Truck Series was plagued by a lack of identifiable names. The racing was good, sure, but there was no Dale Earnhardt on the bill, no personality dynamic enough to turn librarians into screaming loons.
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Before Ricky Craven could leave for Daytona there was just one more thing he had to do at home – be there for the birth of his third child. Ricky and his wife, Cathleen, welcomed Lydia Cathleen Craven into the world at 8:47 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, February 10. Lydia weighed in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces and was just under 20 inches long.
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NASCAR has established a new method for determining the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series championship, and has reallocated its annual point fund to provide more awards for more drivers in the series. For the first time in 15 years, a traditional NASCAR championship points system will replace the Competition Performance Index (CPI), which ranked the drivers by a statistical index and was used to determine the series champion each year from 1990-2004.
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Race fans wanting to take advantage of the special $99 Las Vegas Triple Play tickets have until the start of Sunday’s Daytona 500 to purchase the tickets at that price. Once the green flag falls at Daytona, the ticket price will be $119. The Triple Play tickets provide race fans a bleacher seat for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup event on March 13, a reserved grandstand seat for the Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series event on March 12 and a general admission ticket for the Las Vegas Double Down on Sept. 24 featuring the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Champ Car World Series.
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Ted Musgrave and the Ultra Motorsports No. 1 Mopar Dodge Ram team are geared up and ready to begin the 2005 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Yes, you read that correctly, Musgrave is back in the No. 1 truck. Ultra Motorsports temporarily shook the NCTS up a bit during the off season, announcing that Musgrave would pilot the No. 2 Team ASE Dodge, but all bets are off this weekend as Musgrave has moved back to the No. 1 Mopar sponsored machine.
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Few in the racing community knew what to expect when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series kicked off a decade ago at Phoenix International Raceway. But one thing was certain: Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) had his share of critics before the first green flag waved and through no fault of his own. “I was running a black No. 3 truck with sponsorship from GM Goodwrench and the one thing that I do remember is that many people were upset that my truck looked just like Dale Earnhardt’s car – and that was sacred ground,” Skinner said. “But it was Richard’s (Childress) number and sponsor and I had nothing to do with that. “After (winning) the race in Phoenix and a few more races we established our own identity and that turned things around.” (High Sierra Photo)
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The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has seen many changes since its inception in 1995. It has evolved from a short-track series to one that races on intermediate tracks and super-speedways. It has evolved from a series made up of short track teams into a series that includes nearly 40 full-time, professional race teams. And recently, it has started to offer former NASCAR Nextel Cup Series drivers a low-pressure, out of the spotlight home.
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When the green flag falls on the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 on Friday night, every driver in the field will be feeling the adrenaline rush that the season’s first race brings. In addition to winning the biggest race of the season, each driver will also have in mind “the big picture,” with staying out of trouble and picking up as many championship points as possible a priority. One driver should have added pressure on his shoulders, but surprisingly, he doesn’t. Bobby Hamilton earned his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship in 2004, and with that normally comes added intensity to successfully defend. If Hamilton is feeling the weight of the world bearing down on him, he certainly isn’t letting the rest of the racing community know it. (BHR Photo)
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In 2005, the rough and tumble NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is celebrating “10 Years Tough,” in honor of its 10th anniversary of tough-truck-on-track action. Fender-to-fender, side-by-side, non-stop racing action from the drop of the green flag to the checkered flag has created the “Tough Trucks, Tough Drivers” image that has defined the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series over the past 10 seasons. For two-time champion Ron Hornaday and three-time champion Jack Sprague – both of whom were original racers in the Series and have now returned – the growth in competition level and the growth of the Series itself is nothing short of incredible.
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The second annual NASCAR Day will aim to assist the local community with the addition of Speediatrics, a NASCAR-themed pediatric unit located at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach and Homestead Hospital in Miami, as a beneficiary. NASCAR Day, NASCAR’s largest annual charity, will be held on Friday, May 20, the weekend of the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge. In exchange for a $5 donation to the 2005 NASCAR Day Designated Charities, fans, businesses and schools will be able to wear their favorite NASCAR gear to work that Friday. In addition, participants will receive a commemorative NASCAR Day 2005 lapel pin. (High Sierra Photo)
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Ted Musgrave and the No. 1 Ultra Motorsports Mopar Dodge Ram team have been oh-so-close to winning their first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship for several years. The team is looking to write a new chapter in 2005, starting with this Friday's event at the Daytona International Speedway. "Three different years the title has come down to the final race," Musgrave said. "I really hope this can be our year. We've stepped up our program in order to compete with everyone this season. The competition level is really high in the truck series, and we're relying on our tried and true method of consistency to make this season end with a championship."
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General Motors has named Mark Kent its new director of racing. Kent will oversee engineering and marketing activities for all of GM's motorsports programs, including NASCAR, NHRA, SCCA, Grand American, American Le Mans and IRL. Kent, 44, replaces Doug Duchardt, who held the position for the last two years.
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SPEED Scores Highest Rating in History -
SPEED Channel's live coverage of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday night from Daytona International Speedway scored a Nielsen Rating of 2.1 (1,330,000 households), the highest rating for any program in network history. "We're obviously very excited to start our 2005 NASCAR season like this," said SPEED Channel President Jim Liberatore. "SPEED enjoyed a strong offseason in the ratings and a lot of us had an expectation that this could be a breakout year for the network.
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Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI) (NYSE:TRK) today reported record fourth quarter and full year results for 2004. This represents the fifth consecutive year that the Company has reported record results.
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NASCAR fans will once again get an all access pass to the latest strategy and technology inside the NASCAR garage when NASCAR Performance returns to SPEED Channel Feb. 26. This weekly program, which will broadcast trackside Saturdays, 6:30 – 7 p.m. EST, provides a sophisticated crew chiefs’ perspective on the hottest NASCAR topics live from the SPEED stage each week.
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One of the things that made this race interesting is that we started in the back. That's not a big deal here. All my guys were going to go back there and ride around. We had teamed up with Jack Sprague, and Setzer a little bit and David Starr wanted to go back there so there were seven or eight of us. I don't know if anybody realized the speeds we were running a couple of times but we ran some 46 flats and I think that's pretty close to 200 mph a couple of times back there in that pack. So, that was pretty cool to sit back there and run those lap times.
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Martinsville Speedway has been a fan-favorite for just about every minute of its almost 60-year existence. And some things never change. In NASCAR.COM's Third Annual 2004 Fan's Voice Awards, Martinsville Speedway was honored as the "Location You'd Hate to See Lose A Race."
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Everything is bigger and better in Texas, including the view for fans at Texas Motor Speedway’s races in 2005. Fans watching this season’s two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races from the grandstands will catch all of the racing action live on four big screens.
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NASCAR Vice Chairman Bill France issued the following statement regarding the passing of Paul Sawyer, Chairman of the Board at Richmond International Raceway. Sawyer passed away Saturday night (Feb. 26).
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Former Richmond International Raceway owner Paul C. Sawyer, whose vision for a unique motorsports facility helped make the track into one of the most popular stops on the NASCAR circuit, passed away late yesterday. He was 88.
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SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced an agreement to give SIRIUS North American satellite radio rights to broadcast NASCAR racing and events that will bring unprecedented programming and marketing opportunities to NASCAR fans.
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Gateway International Raceway announced today the 2005 T.R. Hughes Homebuilders concert series will feature country music artists John Michael Montgomery and Chris Cagle in post-race concerts following the NASCAR Truck and Busch Series races. The announcement was made live on the air this morning, by the presenting sponsor 93.7 The Bull. The 2005 season gets under way with the Dodge Ram Tough 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Saturday, April 30.
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Gateway International Raceway and 93.7 The Bull have partnered up to involve past and current military in a "Letters From Home" promotion that ties in with the Dodge Ram Tough 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on April 30 and the post-race John Michael Montgomery concert. The announcement was made live this morning on The Bull.
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