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December 2005
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
General News
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The sounds of pneumatic air tools, grinding wheels and impact guns have not been silenced in the sprawling 25,000 square foot shop in Martinsville, Virginia, which houses the No. 59 HT Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck team. In fact, things just might be busier in the off-season for the group as a whole. After wrapping up the season 23rd in the final point standings, team owner Jim Harris is using the lessons learned in 2005 in order to bring about a successful 2006 turnaround. (PR Photo)
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A funeral service for Kathleen Wheeler, mother of H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, and David Wheeler, the track's director of interior maintenance, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at The Basilica at Belmont Abbey in Belmont, N.C.
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Texas Motor Speedway has embarked on an innovative project designed to further attract and expand the scope of local, regional and national television and radio coverage of motorsports with the construction of an ultra-modern media broadcast center.
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Billy Ballew, owner of Billy Ballew Motorsports, announces Kyle Krisiloff will drive the No. 15 Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the 2006 season. The 19-year-old Krisiloff competed in the NASCAR Busch Series and the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) this past season as part of the Hendrick Motorsports driver development program. “We’re very pleased to bring Kyle Krisiloff on board,” said Ballew.
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ppc Racing officials announced today that they have assembled a team of veteran crew chiefs to lead ppc Racing into 2006. Randy Cox and Ricky Gay have been selected to lead the #22 AutoZone Ford and #10 FreedomRoads Ford race teams in the NASCAR Busch Series. In addition, Dennis Connor has accepted the crew chief position with the #10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
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SPEED Airs Champions Banquet over the Holidays -
SPEED's 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Nieslen ratings increased by 16% over 2004 and 32% over 2003. On average, more than half a million viewers tuned into this year's 25 live events, making the Series the third most-watched race series behind NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series. "It is great to see the dedication and hard work by those on and off the track who are involved in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series, as well as all of SPEED's production team reflected in our ratings growth," said Rick Miner, Senior VP Production / Programming and Executive Producer for SPEED. "Any type of media that covers the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series helps promote the series, but the high visibility that SPEED Channel has helped to elevate the series twice as fast as any other efforts," said Ted Musgrave, 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion and driver of the No. 1 Mopar Dodge.
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Not sure what to get the race fan-atic in your family? We've got the answer. Purchase a gift certificate to Dover International Speedway, and receive an authentic Monster Mile ornament for FREE! Your friends and family will love to find this under the tree! This porcelain ornament features Miles the Monster with falling snow and Season's Greetings message.
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The Richard Petty Terrace at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is getting colorful this holiday season. Construction crews have begun the installation of the bright red, white and blue seats in the 17,000-seat grandstand. The flip-down, chair seats include cup holders and will give race fans a spectacular view of the racing action.
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The 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season was filled with highs and lows for driver Deborah Renshaw. Piloting the No. 8 DODGE out of the BHR2 stable, the female racer finished 24th in the seasons final point's standings. Now the Bowling Green, Kentucky native waits anxiously to see what the future holds for her. "This year was a great learning period for me in this sport," stated Renshaw. (High Sierra Photo)
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More than 50,000 children in the Charlotte region will benefit from the $505,728 distributed by Speedway Children's Charities Tuesday night during the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
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Todd Kluever and Kyle Busch, along with their respective car owners Rick Hendrick and Jack Roush, were recently honored at a press luncheon sponsored by Raybestos. The following is a transcript of that press conference. “I’d like to start off by thanking Raybestos. It’s quite an honor to win this award. So many prestigious people have won it and also Jack Roush, who has a different approach to finding drivers for his organization and because of that I was given a chance that I probably would have never received.
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Todd Kluever
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The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule at Martinsville Speedway will be a mirror image of the 2005 season. "We like where our events are on the schedule," said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. "Excitement for the season will be building in early April and in October we're right in the middle of the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. It doesn't get much better than that."
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Turner Sports announced today a new long-term agreement with NASCAR to air six consecutive races per year on Turner Network Television (TNT) through the 2014 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. Turner, which has been a NASCAR broadcaster since 1984, will enjoy scheduling continuity for the first in what will be a 31-year partnership with NASCAR by contract conclusion.
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The deal keeps the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on SPEED. Where does that series stand on the network?
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series provides the highest-rated racing on SPEED. The Nielsen Household Rating of 2.1 (1.3 million households) for last year’s Daytona race remains the highest-rated event in network history. Ratings for the series have increased each of the three years it has been on SPEED and we see that trend continuing.
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NASCAR today announced the completion of comprehensive broadcast agreements that will benefit the industry and its fans for years to come. Under the new eight year agreements NASCAR races will be broadcast on a combination of networks that includes FOX, SPEED, Turner’s TNT and ABC/ESPN beginning in 2007. SPEED will be home to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with the exception of two events, which will be broadcast by FOX.
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Since their arrival on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series scene at the Milwaukee Mile this past June, Wyler Racing has demonstrated its ability to be a force in the series which has resulted in some great expectations for the 2006 season. By their 11th race in the series, the No. 60 Jeff Wyler Toyota Tundra team had three-time Series Champion Jack Sprague behind the wheel.
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Ted Musgrave and his No. 1 Mopar Dodge team have seen both extremes of motor sport en route to the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. As a young man, the son of Midwestern racing star Elmer Musgrave, he pursued the nomadic life of an aspiring competitor. Musgrave earned his spurs the hard way, chasing big money races from short track to short track, frequently sleeping in his car to save the price of a motel room. The hard work, long road trips and sleepless nights paid off. In 1994, Musgrave made the jump to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Driving for Roush Racing, Musgrave won more than $9 million. A victory on NASCAR's premier series eluded him but Musgrave finished second on four occasions. (High Sierra Photo)
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It's already the No. 1 truck in the marketplace. Now, the No. 1 truck in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a Ford F-150. Ultra Motorsports, which fields the No. 1 truck that was driven to the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship by Ted Musgrave, signed a multi-year contract with Ford Racing, starting with the 2006 season. "The addition of Ultra Motorsports shows the level of commitment Ford Racing is making to improve its truck program," said Greg Specht, Manager, North American Racing Operations, Ford Racing Technology. (High Sierra Photo)
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Radio listeners tuning in to WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM throughout the day on Friday, Dec. 16 will have the opportunity to place bids on fantastic racing related auction items and delicious baked goods throughout the day while making Christmas truly special this year for less fortunate children in the area.
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The Fabulous Fifties honored California native Les "Coach" Richter with the Lindley Bothwell Lifetime Achievement Award during their annual banquet at the Petersen Automotive Museum on Wednesday evening, December 7.
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The ripple effects from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina have been felt throughout the Gulf Coast for months. While Rick Crawford was one of the first to deliver humanitarian aid to the storm ravaged area he hasn't forgotten about his home town. The storm not only left families without homes but also without hospitals and care for children needing full time hospital care. (PR Photo)
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2004 Champion Signs Multi-Year Deal, Will Change to No. 18
2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton has joined forces with the Fastenal Company, a Minnesota based industrial and construction supply company with over 1,700 stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Singapore and the Netherlands. Hamilton will pilot the No.18 Fastenal Dodge in 2006 and 2007, switching from the No. 04 he drove in 2005. "We are thrilled to be working with a great company like Fastenal," Hamilton said. "We use their products on our race trucks and so the fit is perfect. After we met with them one time we thought they were a great match for us. They have the exact outlook with their people and their company as I do with mine. I noticed right off the bat they are laid back, but yet very driven people just like us at BHR."
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NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ted Musgrave (No. 1 Mopar Dodge) collected $364,643 in point fund awards along with special awards of $55,000 during Sunday's Champions Award ceremonies to bring his 2005 season total to $880,553. Musgrave, the series' eighth different champion in 11 seasons, was honored along with Ultra Motorsports owner Jim Smith, crew chief Gene Nead and Dodge Motorsports, the team's 2005 sponsor. Musgrave's career money total reached $3,772,884 to rank the veteran competitor third in all-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series winnings. The champion's season winnings included Smith's share of the series' owner money, and special awards from Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Dodge, Mobil1 and Sunoco. (High Sierra Photo)
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NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ted Musgrave collected $364,643 in post-season point fund awards, along with special awards of $55,000 during the Championship Awards Ceremony at the Portofino Bay Hotel on the grounds of Universal Orlando on Sunday night. With the post-season earnings, Musgrave earned a 2005 season total of $880,553. Dennis Setzer was second in the series championship standings for the third consecutive year. (High Sierra Photo)
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The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will carry a new look into its 2006 season following the successful completion of its 10 Years Tough campaign celebrating highlights of the series' first decade. The design builds on and enhances the logo carried by the series in 2004 and utilizes the same Craftsman red color that has identified the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since 1996 - the first year of Craftsman's title sponsorship of the series for American-manufactured pickup trucks.
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The lights of Las Vegas will shine on the NASCAR Busch Series in 2006. A nighttime finish for the 10th running of the Sam’s Town 300 highlights the event schedule for the 2006 NASCAR Weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
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SPEED Channel, the worldwide leader in motorsports television coverage, has increased its coverage of ARCA RE/MAX Series races in 2006 to 15 events, each scheduled for live or same-day delayed broadcast to a national television audience.
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Ted Musgrave and the No. 1 Ultra Motorsports team were honored as the 2005 series champions at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series awards banquet on Sunday at the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando, Fla. Musgrave took his place in history for his efforts en route to winning his first NASCAR Touring Series title. The 2005 season marked not only Musgrave's first NCTS title, but also marked the first time in NASCAR's history that a racing vehicle carrying the No. 1 was driven to a championship. (High Sierra Photo)
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One of the top names in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series will drive for one of the hottest teams in the sport in 2006. David Starr will drive the #38 Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing, the team announced today. "David Starr brings a new element to our race team, and we're very excited to have him with us," said Marty Gaunt, Red Horse Racing's general manager and co-owner. "Our team has grown over the past two seasons and we've made tremendous strides. A veteran driver with the proven talent of David Starr was too good an opportunity to pass up. (High Sierra Photo)
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Ted Musgrave put a period on his 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship on Sunday evening, collecting over $400,000 in point fund awards and special awards and walking away with the beautiful sterling silver championship trophy at the black-tie Awards Ceremony in the Tuscan Ballroom at the Portofino Bay Hotel on the grounds of Universal Studios Orlando. Musgrave's coronation as champion came at the end of a night that celebrated the top ten points finishers as well as the series top rookie Todd Kluever. Also awarded was the series most popular driver award, which went to two-time series champion Ron Hornaday in his first full Truck Series season since 1999. On the dais, Musgrave - in typical fashion - joked about the start of his career, his sons' budding racing careers, and asked each member of the Ultra Motorsports team in attendance to stand and receive a round of applause from those in attendance.
Photo Gallery
(High Sierra Photo)
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NASCARMedia.com, NASCAR’s web site dedicated solely to serving the needs of the media, last week reached an important milestone by hitting the 1 million page view mark for 2005. Launched in February 2004, the password-protected site serves members of the media and other industry professionals eager to catch up on the latest news, research information for stories and utilize photography, audio segments and graphics to assist in their coverage of NASCAR.
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Championship team owner Jim Smith is happy to be back home. After five fruitful seasons as a Dodge team, his Ultra Motorsports team is returning to the manufacturer they started with in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1995: Ford. Ford Racing's Greg Specht officially welcomed Ultra Motorsports back into the F-150 fold at a brunch preceding the series' awards banquet in Orlando. "I can't tell you how happy we are to have Jim Smith and Ultra Motorsports back with Ford," Specht said. "We parted on very good terms several years ago and we always maintained a very good relationship in the years since. When he called us and said he wanted to put a deal together, it took us about five seconds to come to the conclusion." (High Sierra Photo)
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When SPEED launched "NASCAR TV" during Daytona Speedweeks 2002 with a modest eight hours of coverage, the newly re-branded FOX-owned cable television network was available in 46 million homes, offering a handful of NASCAR studio shows among its other motor sports and automotive enthusiast programs. Less than four years later, however, the landscape has changed dramatically at the Charlotte-based cable network.
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California Speedway today announced the creation of more than 500 additional overnight RV camping spaces that will be christened during the Auto Club 500 weekend, February 24-26, 2006. The new camping section will go on-sale this Saturday (Dec. 17) during California Speedway's Garage Sale.
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Talladega Superspeedway officials announced today that the legendary Alabama racetrack is set to be repaved for the first time since 1979, and the project is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2006 UAW-Ford 500, race four in next year's Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. The project will include complete asphalt repaving of the 2.66-mile tri-oval track, apron and pit road.
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During the past few weeks, Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet) has been honored by many groups for winning his second career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series title. But as satisfying as those acknowledgements are, none had been written into law – yet.
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Darrell Waltrip Motorsports announced today that NTN Bearing Corporation of America will not be returning as team sponsor of the No. 17 Tundra while they compete for the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship with driver David Reutimann. "We are actively seeking sponsorship for the No. 17 Tundra," said team owner Darrell Waltrip. "We developed a strong relationship with NTN and it was a pleasure to work with them. We wish them continued success." (Ronda Greer Photo)
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The racing world has been familiar with the Ruttman name for nearly seven decades. Troy Ruttman became the youngest winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1952, and although his racing career was brief, soon his younger brother would join him on the national Motorsports stage. Joe Ruttman first became known to the racing world as a teenager, racing with the stars of the NASCAR world at Riverside International Raceway near his California home in 1962. The younger Ruttman then moved to the Midwest, competing in the ultra-competitive Ohio-Michigan-Indiana late model circuit. Ruttman became a star in the old USAC Stock Car series, and also made sporadic appearances with the American Speed Association and Automobile Racing Club of America in the 1970s. Success in the Midwest led him to full-time opportunities in NASCAR in the early 1980s. (Steve Keller/TruckSeries.com Photo)
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Burney Lamar and the No. 77 Dollar General team tested for two days at Virginia International Raceway to prepare for the upcoming 2006 NASCAR Busch Series season. “I thought the test went great,” said Lamar. “It was so helpful to have Fellows and Hornaday there to show me how to get around a place like that (VIR) in the Busch car.
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WHO:
Grand Am Champs Wayne Taylor & Max Angelelli, NASCAR’s Kenny Schrader & rock 'n roll Bad Boy Billy 'Freak' Gibbons from ZZ Top. Plus, who / what motorsports star would you award the FREAK of the year?
WHEN:
Saturday night December 17, at a NEW TIME: 8:30 p.m. Pacific / 11:30 p.m. Eastern Then Replayed now on TUESDAYS @ 7:30 a.m. ET
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Rick and Cathy Woodard, along with Eddie Sharp, today announced the formation of a new partnership, Woodard & Sharp Racing, with plans to compete full time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series next season. The partners have purchased a 25,000-square-foot shop in Denver, N.C., from which the team will field Dodge Ram trucks for Rookie of the Year candidate Boston Reid in all 25 truck series events in 2006. Patrick Donahue, a 14-year NASCAR veteran, will fill the role of crew chief.
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Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) added two more names to its growing list of talented employees who are helping build a solid foundation at KHI for 2006 and beyond. Stacy Johnson has been hired as Director of Competition and Engineering and Rick Carelli has been named General Manager of KHI’s Truck and Busch Series teams. “We believe the additions of Stacy Johnson and Rick Carelli will be great for KHI and they’ll help us improve all aspects of our race teams,” commented Kevin Harvick, owner and CEO of KHI.
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Just like the well-known saying, 'It takes an entire village to raise a child', it takes an entire team to bring home a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship. One of the most important people in the equation is the engine builder and for the past two years that builder has been Joey Arrington and his team at Arrington Engines, who provided the horsepower for both Bobby Hamilton, the 2004 Champion and Ted Musgrave who took top honors this season. A native of Virginia, Arrington has basically been around racing all his life. The son of NASCAR Cup driver Buddy Arrington, Joey grew up in the racing world and to him it is not a job, not a hobby, but a way of life and very much a passion. "I pretty much live by the NASCAR schedule," says Arrington, who not only builds engines for a number of competitors in the Craftsman Truck Series, but also works with Kenny Schrader and Bam Racing in Nextel Cup. (Steve Keller/TruckSeries.com Photo)
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On the day Wisconsin State Fair Park announced the new promoter of The Milwaukee Mile motor speedway, incoming President & CEO Andy Randall announced there will be no increase in ticket prices at the historic oval this coming season. "In an effort to make racing more affordable to all fans, there will be no ticket price increases in 2006," Randall said.
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Talladega Superspeedway officials joined the staff of local radio station WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM Friday, Dec. 16 to raised more than $12,000 during Bake A Christmas 2005, an annual fundraiser that generates money used to provide Christmas gifts to less fortunate children throughout the track’s surrounding region.
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Can’t come up with that unique gift for that special someone this holiday season or looking to truly ring in the New Year? Texas Motor Speedway may have the perfect solution. In 2006, Texas Motor Speedway will be celebrating 10 exciting seasons of racing at “The Great American Speedway,” and as a part of the “10 Years Strong” celebration the speedway commissioned Jostens-JC Motorsports, Inc. to produce exquisite men’s and women’s commemorative diamond rings.
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For the second time in his NASCAR Truck Series career, Ron Hornaday was named Most Popular Driver. The announcement was made Sunday, Dec. 11, during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Awards Banquet at the Portofino Bay Resort at Universal Orlando Resort, Fla. For the past 10 years, NASCAR has voted for the Most Popular Driver Award and concluded on different drivers each consecutive year. Hornaday has become the first two-time Truck Series winner in the history of the award. (High Sierra Photo)
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Goodyear will provide to racing teams tires that have RFID devices embedded into the sidewalls.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. roars into the 2006 racing season with an RFID-enabled tire-leasing program for NASCAR's top performers. Aiming to help manage a huge inventory of leased tires, the program gives a green light to auto racing's first deployment of radio-frequency identification semiconductor chips and antennas embedded in the rubber. Goodyear tested the program this month at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Craftsman Truck Series race, a Goodyear spokeswoman said. "We had been asked by NASCAR to assist them in trying to cut the amount of testing that teams had been doing on their own." (Charles Krall/TruckSeries.com Photo)
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Alex Yontz Racing, Inc. announced today the formation of a unique partnership between Alex Yontz Racing and the all female rock sensation “Vixen.” The partnership called “Thunder and Lightning” will create a whole new environment for motorsports and entertainment marketing.
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Ethelyn “Mom” Kouba, 75, of Rochester, MN passed away Monday, December 19, 2005 at her home after a series of recent illnesses. For over 55 years, “Mom” was a fixture at midget and sprint car races on dirt tracks across the country supporting not only Earl but her sons, Joe and Jimmy, grandchildren Joseph, Jacob and Anna as well as all of her “adopted” racers. Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 23, 2005 at 10:00 A.M. at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home, 7050 Lake Drive, Lino Lakes, MN 55014.
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Most of the racing world will not take notice of William Paul Lusk, passing away on December 16th because most of the racing world knew Lusk only as “Big Time”. Long before Rick Crawford made the big time as the Ironman of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series he was already with "Big Time". "Big Time" was a staple of Rick Crawford’s racing efforts from Mobile International Speedway, through the All Pro series, and the move to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
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PPI Motorsports (PPIM) announced today that 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Travis Kvapil will be behind the wheel of the No. 32 Tide/Downy Chevrolet for the upcoming 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup season.
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At the end of the calendar year, it's always a good thing to look back on the previous 365 days and think of the highs and the lows you have experienced along the way. So here, at the end of 2005, it's time for me to look back on the experiences that will stand out for years to come from the just completed racing season. For anyone that has had this discussion with me in person, the most outstanding memory of 2005 happened for me the first week out of the box into the new season. Now, I have been to Daytona International Speedway several times in the past, but every race I've ever witnessed in person has always been from the infield. But for this year's Florida Dodge Dealers 250, I was perched high above the start-finish line in the press box. At times, it was hard to believe I was where I was. Seeing the intensity of the action from the grandstand side instead of on television was an incredible difference, and its a memory that will live with me forever. (High Sierra Photo)
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NASCAR has announced it will restructure its regional touring series divisions beginning in 2007. Citing declining support for the Elite Division style of racing at all levels, NASCAR said it will focus its resources and efforts on those Divisions that will help build and sustain a better developmental program for the future. "Support for the Elite Divisions has been on the downswing for a number of years," said NASCAR Vice-President of Communications and Regional Touring Jim Hunter. "This change will allow NASCAR to focus more attention on the Grand National and Modified touring divisions."
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RacingHotels.com
is offering
special weekend rates for fans and sponsors for the Daytona 500. No long stay required, (2 and 3 day packages) Friday, Saturday, Sunday or just Saturday, Sunday. Rooms are available at The Hawaiian Inn perfect for fans or Team Sponsors. There is no need to pay for 5-7 nights if you don't have to! Truck Series teams are receiving special rates for the upcoming race.
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Darrell and Michael Waltrip are the only brother combination to win the Daytona 500 – NASCAR’s biggest, richest and most prestigious event. But many race fans don’t realize that another Waltrip brother – Bobby – has also captured a winner’s trophy at “The World Center of Racing.”
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Did you ever notice politicians always show up neat places like the Super Bowl? The World Series? The Kentucky Derby? The Grammys? Well, there won’t be a red carpet, but there will be plenty of high-octane excitement as one lucky race fan will receive two tickets to all Speedweeks races and be part of the Daytona 500 Victory Lane celebration, all part of just a few of the perks bestowed upon Daytona International Speedway’s “Mayor of Speedweeks.”
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In a result that should surprise no one, motorsports media from around the world have voted Tony Stewart's victory in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard as NASCAR's top story of the 2005 season, via several weeks of on-line voting on NASCARMEDIA.com, the sanctioning body's media site. Ted Musgrave, winning his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship and becoming the oldest national series champion in NASCAR history, ranked seventh in the voting. (Ronda Greer Photo)
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After a 2005 season with an anticlimactic Raybestos Rookie of the Year battle, the race for the 2006 rookie crown is shaping up to be one of the most intense in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history. Roush Racing's Todd Kluever swept to an easy win in the 2005 competition for top rookie as most of his challengers dropped out of full-time competition or planned a partial schedule. While Kluever's run to the title went virtually unchallenged, he still had a fantastic rookie campaign. He earned three runner-up finishes as a freshman, and was offered a one-year stop in the NASCAR Busch Series before taking the step into the Roush Racing No. 6 car that Mark Martin has made a constant threat for wins and championships in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in 2007. (PR Photo)
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