Ever seen a track crew purposely dump thousands of gallons of water on to a race track? We are about to here at IRP. They have brought in a fire truck to pump water on the backstretch where the transporters were crossing the track. They have a frontloader now scraping all of the excess mud off the aspalt and then will come in and wash it down with some water to finish up the project.

For some of the more diminutive members of the NCTS community, it is imperitive to always keep on the good side of some of the bigger guys in the garage area, especially in a wet and rainy day when they have nothing to do! Why, do you ask? Well, if you don't, this is what could happen:

Qualifying for tonight's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Power Stroke 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park has been canceled due to inclement weather and the field set by the Rule Book. Championship leader Dennis Setzer and No. 2-ranked Ted Musgrave will line up on the front row of the 36-truck field with 2004 series champion Bobby Hamilton, John Andretti and Ron Hornaday Jr. filling out the top five.

Defending race winner Chad Chaffin will start from the 32nd position. Other IRP winners in the field are Hornaday, Terry Cook, Mike Skinner and Jack Sprague.

Six trucks among an entry of 42 teams failed to make the race including the Roush Racing Ford in which USAC National Midget champion Bobby East was expected to make his series debut. East won Thursday night's Silver Crown race at IRP.

Tonight's race, being broadcast live by SPEED Channel, MRN and XM Satellite radio, is scheduled for an 8:45 p.m. (ET) start. NASCAR officials remain hopeful the .686-mile oval can be dried to give drivers a pre-race practice session.

We had a short shower about 30 minutes ago that forced the track drying equipment to come to a stop, but the shower has abated and we're inching closer to the start of practice for the Power Stroke Diesel 200.  The jets have already blown the top groove dry through turns three and four, down the frontstretch and into turns one and two.  Again, a best case scenario has us about 60-90 minutes away from a hot track.

For the first time today, the teams have started to fire the engines to start to build some temperature in the fluids, check timing, and get ready to head on to the racetrack. 

The fans are also starting to make their way into the Indianapolis Raceway Park grandstands as we are getting closer and closer to the first on track action of the day. 

The sun is starting to peek through the clouds for the first time all afternoon, which is starting to help dry the track even more.  The frontstretch appears to be mostly dry but the turns are still a touch damp.  IRP has three jet dryers out on the track, and we should have a raceable surface here in just a matter of minutes.

The NCTS starter has climbed into the flagstand, and the spotters have headed upstairs to the spotter's stand and we are just moments away from the start of the practice for the Power Stroke Diesel 200.

NASCAR officials have stopped the jet dryers and we are just a few short moments away from getting practice underway.

"We're looking good, just a few spots along the seams alongside the groove and we're good to go," was the call on the NASCAR radio.   

We are just a few moments away from the start of practice, which will run from 5-6 pm ET. 

The trucks are lined up on pit road ready to go, and we'll have all the news for you as it happens.  Keep it locked on to TruckSeries.com for all the news from IRP leading up to tonight's Power Stroke Diesel 200.

The geen flag has just waved over the Indianapolis Raceway Park for a heated hour of practice.  First onto the speedway was Timothy Peters, followed in short order by Mike Skinner, Ron Hornaday, Johnny Benson, and Todd Kluever.  Look for a busy 60 minutes as this is the only time the teams will have on the track before we go racing this evening.

Jimmy Spencer, No. 2 Dodge: "I am going to run in the brakes and take it easy."

David Starr, No. 75 Chevrolet: "We need to get it a little bit better.  I just need a little help off the center."

1. Kluever, 22.953
2. Hornaday, 23.046
3. Keselowski, 23.064
4. Skinner, 23.083
5. Hines, 23.095

6. Musgrave, 23.164
7. Sprague, 23.201
8. Setzer, 23.216
9. Hamilton, 23.238
10. Miller, 23.240

11. Crawford, 23.266
12. Montgomery, 23.289
13. Bailey, 23.291
14. Peters, 23.320
15. Chaffin, 23.326

16. Starr, 23.345
17. Almirola, 23.356
18. Benson, 23.369
19. Park, 23.384
20. Spencer, 23.385

21. Reutimann, 23.401
22. Pressley, 23.408
23. Schrader, 23.436
24. Crafton, 23.497
25. Craven, 23.501

26. Gaughan, 23.505
27. Whitt, 23.647
28. Fedewa, 23.665
29. Wallace, 23.787
30. Lester, 23.803

31. Renshaw, 23.920
32. Sutton, 24.115
33. Andretti, 24.286
34. Bodine, 24.427
35. Ferguson, 24.578 

Terry Cook just made his first hot laps of the session, but his team spent the entire time he was on the track trying to find an exact replacement for the rear end gear under his truck.  Cook, the 2002 winner here at IRP,  has felt a vibration under the rear end and rather than try to race with a questionable part, they are opting to be safe than sorry. 

"We don't have anything to worry about Terry," said crew chief Rick Gay.  "We are as good as anyone through the corners and we're 12th on the sheet.  We'll get the gear changed quick and get you back out."

Although rain foiled Casey Kingsland's attempt to run the No. 91 Speed Zone Energy Drink Dodge Ram in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Power Stroke Diesel 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park tonight, August 5 th, 2005, TommyRaz Motorsports is pleased with the outpouring of support for Nevada Child Seekers and the interest in bringing missing child Alexander "Chino" Laurel home safely.    The two-year old boy is missing from Nevada and is believed to be heading towards Illinois.

TommyRaz Motorsports will remain at the track with an entry for the NASCAR Busch Series Kroger 200, Benefiting Riley Hospital for Children on August 6th, 2005 with Wayne Edwards from Shepherdsville, KY piloting the No. 91 Speed Zone Energy Drink Dodge Intrepid.

"We are disappointed that Casey could not show his talent here today," said  team manager Roger Kingsland. "The Speed Zone Energy Drink Dodge Ram was fast in testing. We will set our sights on Bristol."

For more information on what you can do to help increase awareness about missing children or if you have any information on Alexander "Chino" Laurel please contact Nevada Child Seekers at http://www.nevadachildseekers.org .

Here is the Year to Date points comparison:

Point spread, 1-5 - 2004, 174 points; 2005, 275 points
Point spread 1-10, 1-10 - 2004, 363; 2005, 337

Winning Manufacturers:

Chevrolet - 2004, 4; 2005, 8
Dodge - 2004, 6; 2005, 4
Ford - 2004, 3; 2005, 0
Toyota - 2004, 0; 2005, 2

Number of race winners - 2004, 9; 2005, 10

Average start of winner - 2004, 5.71, 2005, 12.0

Number of pole winners - 2004, 6; 2005, 11

Average start of winner - 2004, 5.71; 2005, 12.0

Cumulative lead changes - 2004, 142; 2005, 135

Average lead changes per race - 2004, 10.1; 2005, 9.64

Average leaders per race - 2004, 5.86; 2005, 6.93

Total laps under caution - 2004, 613; 2005, 508

Average caution flag laps per race - 2004, 7.86; 2005, 7.93

The trucks are now rolling through NASCAR tech inspection and being pushed to the grid.  Tracy Hines was the first to pass tech, with Ron Hornaday, Brad Keselowski and David Starr soon to follow.  When they are gridded backed into the front stretch wall, allowing the fans an unprecedented opportunity to get up close and personal with the trucks.

After a truly miserable morning and early afternoon, the evening is turning out to be very pleasant here at IRP.  Temperatures are in the low to mid 80s, and although the humidity is quite a bit higher than was promised by the weather people, there is a nice gentle breeze blowing from turns three and four across the track to turns one and two.  By the time the sun goes down, it should be a perfect night for short track racing.

Today would have marked the 36th birthday for the late Kenny Irwin.  Irwin was an Indianapolis native, and was the 1997 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year before moving on and earning the Rookie of the Year title in the NASCAR Winston/Nextel Cup Series.  Irwin was fatally injured in a practice accident in July 2000 at New Hampshire International Speedway.

There are a lot of smiles in the K-Automotive pits this afternoon.  Not only did Brad Keselowski have a stellar run in practice here this afternoon, ending the session in third, his older brother Brian qualified third for this evening's ARCA Re/Max Series race at Lake Erie (PA) Speedway. 

Here is the current year manufacturer performance summary:

Chevrolet - 8 wins, 4 poles, 26 top-5, 49 top-10, 1086 laps led

Dodge - 4 wins, 2 poles, 17 top-5, 32 top-10, 343 laps led

Ford - 0 wins, 1 pole, 9 top-5, 25 top-10, 216 laps led

Toyota - 2 wins, 6 poles, 18 top-5, 34 top-10, 680 laps led

Here are the pit assignments for tonight's Power Stroke Diesel 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, starting with pit stall 1 at the exit of pit road back to pit stall 36 at the entrance to pit road:

Brandon Whitt  Cure Autism Now/McMillin Homes Toyota
Timothy Peters Bailey's Dodge
Mike Skinner  Toyota Tundra Toyota
Ron Hornaday Jr . GM Goodwrench Chevrolet
Johnny Benson  Toyota Certified Used Cars Toyota
Mike Wallace   Toyota Tundra Toyota
Todd Kluever    Shell Rotella T Ford
Ricky Craven   Superchips Ford
David Starr  Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet
Steve Park   Orleans Racing Dodge
Jack Sprague   Chevy Trucks Chevrolet

Open stall, Start/Finish Line

David Reutimann  NTN Bearings Toyota
Robert Pressley   Edy's Ice Cream Dodge
Bill Lester  Crown Royal Toyota
Tracy Hines   ThorSport Racing/Dave Zoriki Chevrolet
Jack Bailey  Century 21 Team Ford
Brendan Gaughan  Jasper Engines & Transmissions Dodge
Terry Cook  Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l Ford

Break in pit wall

Bobby Hamilton   BHR Dodge
Brad Keselowski   Samson Stone Ford
Butch Miller  ASI Limited Chevrolet
Chase Montgomery Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge
Rob Ferguson  PMI Heating & Air Conditioning Chevrolet
Todd Bodine   Allman Brothers Band Toyota

Open stall

Ted Musgrave   Mopar Dodge
Deborah Renshaw   EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts Dodge
Ken Schrader  Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet
Aric Almirola   Home Depot Chevrolet
Jimmy Spencer  Team ASE Dodge
Matt Crafton   Menards Chevrolet
Dennis Setzer  Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet
Chad Chaffin  Jeff Wyler Toyota Toyota
Tim Fedewa   Glynn Motorsports Dodge
Kelly Sutton  Team Copaxone Chevrolet
John Andretti   Stoops Freightliner/Pedigo/ABC Chevrolet
Rick Crawford  Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford

The drivers have been introduced to the large and wildly enthusiastic crowd here at IRP and are finishing up their parade lap around the track in the back of a fleet of bright yellow Ford Power Stroke Diesel Super Duty pickups.  We have the conclusion of the opening ceremonies up next -- the invocation and the Star Spangled Banner -- and then we get the command to fire the engines and go racing for 200 of the most hard fought laps we'll see all season long. 

We recommend you head to the fridge, grab your favorite cool beverage, grab a snack and sit down in front of the computer locked on to TrackSideLive! with your TV tuned to Speed Channel and get ready!  We'll have all the action for you as it happens, and we'll bring you exclusive post-race coverage you won't find anywhere else.  Keep it locked right here!

10. Lap 25 - The famous Andretti luck in Indianapolis carries over to IRP as well as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as Andretti's right front goes down entering turn three and he makes contact with the retaining wall.  He has driven the truck back to the attention of his crew, but they have pulled it behind the wall.

9. Lap 17 - Andretti slides into the wall in turn one and damages the nose of his machine.  He has a moderate right front tire rub. NASCAR is keeping an eye on it.

8. Lap 15 - Intense racing up front as Hornaday now pressures Musgrave for second and Spencer races Andretti for fifth. Peters comes to pit road with a flat left front.  Spencer pushes Andretti up the track in turn two to take the position.

7. Lap 9 - Setzer leads Musgrave, Andretti, Hornaday, Spencer, Hamilton, Craven, Reutimann, Crafton, Cook, Skinner Sprague, Benson, Starr, Bodine, Crawford, Kluever, Gaughan, Park, Pressleu, Peters, Lester, Wallace, Hines, Miller, Fedewa, Chaffin, Renshaw, Montgomery, Sutton, Shcrader, Ferguson, Almirola, Whitt and Bailey to the green.

6. Lap 3 - Accident down the backstretch involves Jack Bailey and Brandon Whitt, who went for a long wild slide into turn three.  Tracy Hines made contact with Bailey's truck and damaged his nose, and Brad Keselowski also has some damage to the nose of his machine and has brought his truck to the pits for repairs. Keselowski is going behind the wall to repair a busted radiator.  It is a disappointing start for the driver who was third fastest in this afternoon's practice.

5. Start - Musgrave fights hard on the bottom and runs side by side, but Setzer leads at the stripe.  The field has completed the first lap cleanly.

4. Montgomery's team fixed a loose coil wire and he's rejoined the field at the tail of the pack for the start.

3. Chase Montgomery's truck is being pushed through turns one and twoo as it has not fired on the grid.  He is bringing the truck to the pits prior to the start and his crew will dive under the hood to diagnose the problem.  Two pace laps remain before we go green.

2. Trucks are rolling.  No drivers are falling to the back for the start here this evening.

1. Engines have been cranked and the trucks are idling on the front stretch before rolling out on their pace laps.  As the pole sitter, Dennis Setzer has elected to take the green flag from the outside lane here this evening.

20. Lap 69 - Setzer closing in on a heavy pack of traffic, including Montgomery, Wallace, Schrader, Fedewa, Miller, and Starr.  He has already lapped last week's winner Whitt.

19. Lap 65 - Keselowski returns to the race following radiator repairs.  Sprague has moved past Spencer to take over fourth.

18. Lap 60 - Ferguson posted for not maintaining the minimum speed.  Kluever now racing Crafton hard for sixth.   

17. Lap 51 - Kluever passes Cook for ninth.  Sprague dips low off two and passes Crafton for fifth.

16. Lap 45 - Setzer leads by a half straightaway on Musgrave.  Sprague passes Hamilton to take over sixth.  Kluever cracks into the top-10.

15. Lap 40 - Hornaday again pressures Musgrave for second, but Musgrave powers down the backstretch on the outside and holds the spot.  Kluever pressures Skinner for tenth.  Spencer now knocks on Hornaday's door for third.

14. Lap 35 - Setzer leads Murgrave, Hornaday, Spencer, Crafton, Hamilton, Craven, Sprague, Cook and Skinner.  Starr tagged for speeding entering the pits and will restart from the tail.  Bailey receives the free pass.

13. Lap 33 - Hamilton overcooks it into turn three and slides into the wall making slight contact with the right rear.  Cook checks up and nearly slides into the turn three wall.  Third caution of the night waves.

12. Lap 30 - Hornaday challenges Musgrave for second.  The two run side by side for two laps.  Hamilton closes on Spencer for fourth. 

 11. Lap 27 - Setzer leads Murgave, Hornaday, Spencer, Hamilton, Crafton, Craven, Sprague, Cook and Skinner.  Whitt flagged for speeding and will restart from the tail.

30. Lap 127 - Reutimann comes to the pits for four tires and fuel.   Skinner and Musgrave also on pit road.

29. Lap 124 - Bodine comes to the pits for his green flag stop.  Sepzer has caught former second place runner Musgrave and is about to put him a lap down.

28. Lap 119 - Green flag stops have started as Pressley comes to the pits after being lapped by the leader.

27. Lap 112 - Teams are starting to talk about fuel stops as we've run since lap 37 non stop.  Whitt comes to the pits with a flat tire.

26. Lap 105 - Setzer closes on Park, Hines, and Skinner.

25. Lap 97 - Setzer leads Hornaday, Sprague, Spencer, Kluever, Crafton, Gaughan, Musgrave, Craven and Cook.

24. Lap 91 - Closing in on halfway, Setzer has lapped up to the 22nd position. 

23. Lap 86 - Musgrave is falling back through the pack, now racing Crafton for sixth.

22. Lap 81 - Schrader comes to the pits off the pace.  Setzer clears traffic while Hornaday, Spencer, Musgrave and Sprague are now working traffic.

21. Lap 77 - Montgomery and Wallace are locked in a side by side battle as leader Setzer approaches.  Setzer has been mired in heavy traffic for the past 15 laps.

40. Lap 175 - Spencer leads on the restart with 25 laps to go.  Setzer clears lapped traffic and starts to chase the leader down.

39. Lap 172 - Setzer, Hornaday, and Kluever pit, but Spencer stays out.  The top-5 coming to the green are Spencer, Setzer, Kluever, Hornaday and Crafton. 

38. Lap 167 - Caution four waves when Renshaw loops it in turn two.  Crafton picks up the free pass and rejoins the lead lap in fifth. The caution erases a 9.2 second lead over Spencer.

37. Lap 162 - Only 4 drivers remain on lead lap: Setzer, Spencer, Hornaday and Kluever.   Crafton is fifth just behind leader Setzer.

36. Lap 148 - Setzer back to the lead.  Park finally makes it to his pit stall and is back under way. 

35. Lap 145 - Chaffin scored as the leader as the field continues to cycle through green flag stops.

34. Lap 140 - Park stalled at entrance to pit road.  Wallace busted for speeding leaving the pits.

33. Lap 134 - Sprague busted again for speeding, Craven's crew over the wall too soon.  Both will serve pass throughs.  Smoke out of the pipes on Hines' truck. Setzer pits and hands lead over to Gaughan.  Benson will get a stop and go for leaving the pits with equipment.

32. Lap 133 - Craven coasts to a stop in his stall, apparently out of fuel. 

31. Lap 130 - Skinner too fast leaving, Sprague too fast entering the pits.  Both will receive pass through penalties.