|
TrackSideLive!
| John Deere 200
Atlanta Motor Speedway |
March 17, 2006
TrackSideLive! Presented by
Team ASE with TrackSide Editor Charles Krall...
Exclusive online coverage - from start to
finish - of the tough trucks and even tougher drivers of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
including Practice Times, Notes, Quotes, Photos, Audio interviews and more!
Coverage Starts Friday!
03-13-2006 3:54 pm
Keep it here for complete coverage of the
John Deere 200
from Atlanta Motor Speedway, the third race of the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. From the first practice session on Friday morning to the end of the race Friday night you can catch driver audio interviews, practice times, garage notes, TruckShots and much more!
Good Morning from Atlanta
03-17-2006 8:32 am
Good morning from Atlanta Motor Speedway! It is a gorgeous morning, a wonderful start to a long day and night that will culminate with the John Deere 200, round three of the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. It is expected to reach into the mid 60s this afternoon, and cool down into the low 40s and maybe even the upper 30s this evening. The sun will shine most of the afternoon, which will make the warm late winter afternoon seem a little warmer. We have practice ready to roll of any moment, with Live! Bud Pole Qualifying coming your way at 5:10 pm ET this afternoon. We'll have coverage of everything from Atlanta Motor Speedway here today, so stick around!
Practice 1 Underway
03-17-2006 8:37 am
The first of two full practices has just gotten underway as Mark Martin, Bobby East, Erin Crocker, David Ragan, Timothy Peters, Erik Darnell, Steve Park, Mike Bliss, and Kraig Kinser have led the NCTS teams on to the 1.54-mile quad-oval. We'll keep you abreast of all the action as it happens from here at AMS.
AMS Track Facts
03-17-2006 8:44 am
Track Length: 1.54 miles
Degree of Banking in Corners: 24 degrees
Degree of Banking on Straightaways: 5 degrees
Length of Frontstretch: 2,332 feet
Length of Backstretch: 1,800
AMSTrack Records
03-17-2006 8:47 am
Qualifying: Rick Crawford, 30.339 seconds/182.735 mph, March 17, 2005
Race: Ron Hornaday, 1 hr, 27 min, 35 sec/142.424 mph, March 18, 2005
Today's Competition Schedule
03-17-2006 8:49 am
Here is the schedule for today's NCTS track action:
8:45-9:50 am ET: NCTS Practice 1
10:15-10:45 am ET: NCTS Practice 2 (Rookies Only)
11:00 am ET - 12:05 pm ET: NCTS Practice 3 (Final Practice)
5:10 pm ET: NCTS Live! Bud Pole Qualifying (2 laps, all positions, trucks impounded afterward)
9:15 pm ET: NCTS John Deere 200 (130 laps, 200.2 miles)
Practice 1 Rundown 1
03-17-2006 9:12 am
1. East, 182.195
2. Miller, 181.420
3. Skinner, 180.728
4. Darnell, 180.651
5. Bliss, 180.222
6. Martin, 180.023
7. Bodine, 179.924
8. Krisiloff, 179.859
9. Setzer, 179.702
10. Hornaday, 179.638
11. Starr, 179.551
12. Reutimann, 179.116
13. Earnhardt, 178.781
14. Crafton, 178.292
15. Lester, 178.246
16. Peters, 178.126
17. Benson, 178.029
18. Reid, 178.000
19. Cook, 177.972
20. Musgrave, 177.966
21. Hamilton, Jr., 177.858
22. Kinser, 177.801
23. McCumbee, 177.795
24. Almirola, 177.761
25. Sprague, 177.755
26. Ragan, 177.687
27. Crocker, 177.613
28. Crawford, 177.516
29. Hamilton, 177.431
30. Chaffin, 177.238
31. Richardson, 176.302
32. Montgomery, 175.805
33. Gaughan, 175.799
34. Lagasse, 174.022
35. Sutton, 172.980
36. Long, 172.260
37. Park, 89.623
Red Out; Crocker Spins Off T4
03-17-2006 9:16 am
Erin Crocker took a slide off turn four and into the infield grass to bring out the red flag after about 20 minutes of morning practice. She didn't make contact, and drove back to the garage. The track safety crew cleaned some grass off the asphalt on the frontstretch and we're back to full-speed action.
Orleans Open House a Success
03-17-2006 9:20 am
Orleans Racing hosted an open house at its shops just outside Las Vegas Motor Speedway during last week's NASCAR activities in the desert. Upwards of 400 race fans, members of the media, and other guests were invited to the home of Brendan Gaughan's Dodges.
Prac 1 Rundown 2
03-17-2006 9:28 am
1. East, 182.195
2. Miller, 181.420
3. Wood, 181.271
4. Skinner, 180.728
5. Sprague, 180.463
6. Darnell, 180.651
7. Bliss, 180.222
8. Martin, 180.023
9. Musgrave, 179.965
10. Bodine, 179.924
11. Krisiloff, 179.859
12. Setzer, 179.702
13. Lester, 179.656
14. Hornaday, 179.638
15. Starr, 179.551
16. Reutimann, 179.116
17. Cook, 179.006
18. Crafton, 178.804
19. Earnhardt, 178.781
20. Hamilton, Jr., 178.677
21. Peters, 178.126
22. Benson, 178.029
23. Almirola, 178.023
24. Reid, 178.000
25. Kinser, 177.801
26. McCumbeem 177.795
27. Ragan, 177.687
28. Crocker, 177.613
29. Crawford, 177.516
30. Park, 177.459
31. Hamilton, 177.431
32. Chaffin, 177.238
33. Richardson, 176.302
34. Montgomery, 175.805
35. Gaughan, 175.799
36. Lagasse, 174.022
37. Sutton, 172.980
38. Long, 172.260
39. Murphy, 170.811
Richardon Spins Off T4; Red Out
03-17-2006 9:38 am
Robert Richardson slid off turn four in a carbon copy of Erin Crocker's incident earlier this morning to bring out the red flag for the second time this morning. He did not make contact with another truck or the wall, and after a quick track inspection, we've already gone back to green flag action.
Red Out for Contact as Practice Ends
03-17-2006 9:44 am
Just as the practice was about to come to an end, Kelly Sutton had a tire go down in turn three and she made heavy contact with the outer retaining wall. She has come to a stop at the entrance to turn one, and fire and safety is on the scene. We will update the situation as we receive updates.
Sutton Held for Evaluation
03-17-2006 10:02 am
Kelly Sutton is being held for further evaluation in the infield care center after her hard crash at the end of the first practice. Crew chief Gary Showalter reports that the right front tire went down in the center of turn three, sending her hard into the outside wall. The team is unloading their backup truck in hopes of getting on track in the second practice. The track safety crew has replaced some of the styrofoam in the SAFER barrier at the point of impact.
Practice 1 Results Posted
03-17-2006 10:11 am
The results for
Practice 1
are now posted to the event box on the main page. Bobby East, in his first attempt in 2006, was quickest. Rookie practice is underway now for the next 30 minutes, and we'll have the final full field practice at 11 am ET.
East Not Working on Qualifying Runs Yet
03-17-2006 10:15 am
Bobby East is one of the drivers that needs to make the field based upon his qualifying speed. He should be feeling confident after the end of the first practice since he was atop the charts. What should give him a little additional confidence is that he has not yet made a mock qualifying run.
"We're looking forward to this rookie practice," East said. "The track is going to be a lot less crowded, so we're going to do our qualifying runs then."
East is in the No. 20 Ford this weekend, rather than the No. 21 Ford as planned.
"The team owners want to make sure both the trucks are in the top-30 after Martinsville, so they have a veteran (Jon Wood) in the 21 this week to help get some more points."
Rookie Rundown 1
03-17-2006 10:19 am
1. East, 180.557
2. Miller, 180.117
3. Darnell, 179.238
4. Kinser, 179.041
5. Ragan, 178.528
6. Almirola, 177.909
7. Krisiloff, 177.567
8. Crocker, 177.181
9. McCumbee, 176.865
10. Reid, 174.236
Sutton Release from Care Center
03-17-2006 10:24 am
Kelly Sutton has been released from the infield care center following her hard crash at the end of the first practice. We'll try to catch up with Sutton after practice to get the scoop on what happened and how she's feeling.
Pictures Posted
03-17-2006 10:26 am
The first batch of pictures from the Truck Series garage area are posted, and you can check them out by clicking on the link in the Sights and Sounds box on the right side of the TrackSideLive page. We'll have more picutres throughout the day, so check back regularly!
Clean and Green So Far
03-17-2006 10:30 am
Clean and green so far through the rookie practice, with Bobby East still leading the pack at 180.557 mph. Here is the rundown:
1. East, 180.557
2. Miller, 180.123
3. Darnell, 179.394
4. Kinser, 179.041
5. McCumbee, 178.931
6. Ragan, 178.528
7. Almirola, 177.909
8. Reid, 177.618
9. Krisiloff, 177.567
10. Crocker, 177.181
11. Richardson, 176.639
12. Lagasse, 176.499
13. Murphy, No Time
Right Front Tires are a Worry
03-17-2006 10:34 am
Many of the drivers, veterans and rookies alike, are concerned about the right front tires lasting here this afternoon and evening. The track surface here at Atlanta is nearly 10 years old, and has become more and more abrasive with each passing season. Several of the spotters have encouraged their drivers to move up a groove or even two grooves through the turns to lessen the wear on the right front tires.
Final Practice Underway
03-17-2006 10:57 am
The green lights just flashed on and we're green for the final 60 minutes of practice for this evening's John Deere 200. We'll have updates throughout so stick with us.
Kinser in 29
03-17-2006 11:05 am
Kraig Kinser does not have to sweat out qualifying this week as he did last race in California. Thanks to a deal between Morgan-Dollar Motorsports and K-Automotive, Kinser's U.S. Army Chevrolet is carrying the number, and more importantly, the points from K-Auto's No. 29. Kinser missed the field at Fontana after a similar deal that would have locked him in fell through at the last minute.
On the Bubble
03-17-2006 11:08 am
Here is the list of drivers that need to race their way into the starting lineup here this evening:
Chad McCumbee, No. 06 MRD Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Montgomery, No. 8 BHR2 Dodge
Ted Musgrave, No. 9 Germain Racing Toyota
Bobby East, No. 20 Wood Bros./JTG Racing Ford
Jon Wood, No. 21 Wood Bros./JTG Racing Ford
Carl Long, No. 28 FDNY Racing Chevrolet
Chad Chaffin, No. 40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet
David Ragan, No. 50 Roush Racing Ford
Jack Sprague, No. 60 Wyler Racing Toyota
Final Practice Rundown 1
03-17-2006 11:14 am
1. Martin, 180.551
2. Darnell, 180.334
3. Richardson, 179.633
4. Miller, 179.197
5. Lester, 179.162
6. Sprague, 178.925
7. Wood, 178.844
8. Skinner, 178.172
9. Reutimann, 177.972
10. McCumbee, 177.766
11. Crawford, 177.601
12. Bodine, 177.573
13. Benson, 177.431
14. East, 177.272
15. Musgrave, 177.249
16. Cook, 177.215
17. Chaffin, 177.079
18. Setzer, 177.074
19. Starr, 177.062
20. Park, 176.961
21. Bliss, 176.780
22. Crafton, 176.426
23. Hamilton, Jr., 176.358
24. Gaughan, 175.888
25. Earnhardt, 175.482
26. Hornaday, 175.088
27. Kinser, 174.532
28. Crocker, 174.362
29. Peters, 174.307
30. Ragan, 173.684
31. Montgomery, 173.055
32. Almirola, 172.753
33. Lagasse, 171.848
34. Hamilton, 170.056
35. Murphy, 169.531
36. Long, 165.177
Reid Brushes Wall, Red Out
03-17-2006 11:18 am
Boston Reid got high in turns one and two and brushed the wall with the right side of his No. 25 Woodard & Sharp Racing Dodge. He has driven it back to the garage, and the track safety crew is out making a quick track inspection before we go back green.
UPDATE:
The Woodard & Sharp team is reverting to a backup truck following the incident.
Right Rear Flat on Park's Ride
03-17-2006 11:25 am
Steve Park has reported a flat right rear tire on the No. 59 Harris Trucking
Ford
. Could be the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick's Day that he discovered the problem before it manifested itself in a big way at speed on the track.
Final Practice Rundown 2
03-17-2006 11:44 am
1. Martin, 180.551
2. Darnell, 180.522
3. Richardson, 179.633
4. Miller, 179.197
5. Lester, 179.162
6. Sprague, 178.925
7. Wood, 178.844
8. Cook, 178.195
9. Skinner, 178.172
10. Park, 178.046
11. Reutimann, 177.972
12. McCumbee, 177.760
13. Starr, 177.687
14. Crawford, 177.601
15. Bodine, 177.593
16. Benson, 177.431
17. East, 177.272
18. Musgrave, 177.249
19. Earnhardt, 177.187
20. Chaffin, 177.079
21. Setzer, 177.074
22. Kinser, 177.062
23. Bliss, 176.989
24. Gaughan, 176.656
25. Hamilton, Jr., 176.504
26. Crafton, 176.426
27. Hornaday, 175.410
28. Ragan, 174.418
29. Crocker, 174.362
30. Peters, 174.307
31. Murphy, 174.225
32. Montgomery, 173.055
33. Almirola, 172.753
34. Reid, 172.587
35. Sutton, 172.308
36. Lagasse, 171.848
37. Krisiloff, 170.328
38. Hamilton, 170.056
39. Long, 165.364
Final Practice Nearly Done
03-17-2006 11:57 am
Just a few moments remain in the final practice session for the John Deere 200 here at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mike Skinner has jumped to the top of the charts with a lap of 180.910 miles per hour, while Mark Martin and Erik Darnell are now second and third after leading the session for most of the hour. Jon Wood is fourth, with Jack Sprague fifth and Chad McCumbee has jumped up to sixth. Robert Richardson, Dennis Setzer, Steve Park, and Joey Miller round out the top 10 as we should get very jumbled over the next few minutes as teams complete their mock qualifying runs.
Audio on its Way
03-17-2006 1:30 pm
We're working on posting the first batch of interviews as we speak. We ran into eight drivers in the garage area and got their thoughts on practice, the possibility of a tire problem, and even touched on Speed Channel anchor Rick Allen's budding political career.
We caught up with Boston Reid and Kelly Sutton and discussed their incidents in practice, while Joey Miller and Ted Musgrave talked about how strong their rides are and the possibility of a tire issue here this evening. Chad McCumbee talks about the stresses of being outside of the top-30 and racing against the mega-bucks teams, while David Ragan talks about pressure to perform in front of the home crowd with a team that has won the opening two races of the season. Finally, Rick Crawford talks about working with the Urban Youth Racing School, and also talks about his involvement in the campaign to elect Rick Allen as vice president.
Look to the Sights and Sounds box to the right side of the page and click on each drivers' name to listen.
BHR Press Conference Up Next
03-17-2006 2:03 pm
Bobby Hamilton Racing is next into the media center for an announcement at 3 pm ET. Our microphones will be present, and we'll have all the news for you as soon as it wraps up.
Breaking Down Practice
03-17-2006 2:10 pm
A quick look at practice times show the Ford teams are all very strong here this afternoon. Roush Racing has two of its three trucks with Mark Martin and Erik Darnell in the top three, and Wood/JTG Racing and Circle Bar Racing also have one truck each in the top six as Ford has four runners up at the front. The fastest in practice, Mike Skinner, is in a Toyota, while Jack Sprague sits fifth on the sheet in final practice. Chad McCumbee was the fastest Chevrolet driver, while Robert Richardson was the fastest in a Dodge.
In the early session, rookies showed the way as Bobby East and Joey Miller were both stout and at the front of the field. The veterans redeemed themselves in the second session, but there were several rookies near the front in final practice as well. Darnell was third quick, while McCumbee, Richardson, Miller, and Aric Almirola were also among the top-12.
With tire wear an issue here on an abrasive surface, very few drivers put on a lot of laps in the final session. Mark Martin ran 27 laps and Jack Sprague ran 26 laps to lead in the number of laps completed, as only 12 drivers ran more than 20 laps. Bobby Hamilton, in typical fashion, ran the fewest number of laps, turning just 5 circuits in the final session. Boston Reid had an incident early in the session and turned just 7 laps, and Kyle Krisiloff turned just 9 laps.
Fourteen drivers broke into the 30-second bracket, but unless they pick up some speed in qualifying, it appears as though Rick Crawford's one-year-old track record (30.339 seconds) will not be broken.
Who's In; Who's Out
03-17-2006 2:30 pm
Here is who would be in and who would be out, based on best practice time from this morning:
Bobby East, 30.429 (1)
Jon Wood, 30.584 (1)
Jack Sprague, 30.687 (1)
Ted Musgrave, 30.806 (1)
Chad McCumbee, 30.852 (2)
David Ragan, 31.053 (2)
Chad Chaffin, 31.280 (1)
Chase Montgomery, 31.535 (1)
Carl Long, 32.184 (1)
Green means the driver would make the field based on qualifying times, red means the driver would miss the field. The (1) or the (2) indicates which session, the first practice or final practice, the driver turned his fastest lap.
Hamilton Steps Out of No. 18 for Health Reasons; Hamilton Jr. to Step In
03-17-2006 3:17 pm
Bobby Hamilton, the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, has announced this afternoon that effective after the John Deere 200, he will step out of the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge to make way for his son Bobby Hamilton, Jr. The elder Hamilton has been diagnosed with cancer in his neck, and will immediately start taking treatment.
"Please don't list me as a victim," Hamilton said. "I appreciate everything everyone has done for my career. There is nothing more than I care for than my racing team. And I will be back."
Hamilton's treatment will start on Monday.
"It will start as radiation, and then after a couple of weeks I will start chemotherapy. The doctors are saying my body is so healthy that it is killing it off 70 percent of it."
Hamilton initially believed he had an infected wisdom tooth, but it turned out the swelling was due to a tumor in his neck. "The wisdom tooth problem saved my life," he said. "I had it removed and the swelling didn't go down. They noticed the tumor and had it taken out and I had to wait on the results. That was around time for Daytona. They say the treatment is a fast moving treatment, and I am planning on getting better and come back in time for Homestead."
Hamilton, Jr. will take over his father's ride starting in Martinsville.
"I am excited to come back home and race, but quite frankly the circumstances around it suck," Hamilton, Jr. said. "I want to go do a good job for Fastenal, Dodge, and my dad and I can't wait to get out of the truck for him at Homestead."
Hamilton has no reservations about stepping out for his son.
"Most of the time I am a lot better owner than a driver anyhow, so I really think I can help him," he said. "It's his inheretance, he owns it, and what he wants to do we'll let him do."
The other two trucks in the BHR stable will remain as they are. Timothy Peters will remain in the No. 4 Dodge Motorsports Dodge, and Scott Lagasse will remain in the No. 04 Dodge Hemi Dodge.
Happy Birthday Erin
03-17-2006 3:21 pm
On a brighter note, Erin Crocker will celebrate her 25th birthday next week.
"I've already been celebrating," she said. "Doesn't everyone celebrate their birthday month?"
The media center was treated to Betty Crocker cupcakes emblazoned with her truck number as a treat.
AMS Best Finishes
03-17-2006 3:36 pm
Bobby Hamilton, 1st
Ron Hornaday, 1st
Todd Bodine, 2nd
Mike Skinner, 2nd
Johnny Benson, 3rd
David Reutimann, 3rd
Dennis Setzer, 4th
Jack Sprague, 4th
Matt Crafton, 5th
David Starr, 5th
Ted Musgrave, 6th
Chad Chaffin, 7th
Terry Cook, 9th
Joey Miller, 10th
Steve Park, 12th
Sean Murphy, 13th
Brendan Gaughan, 15th
Bill Lester, 15th
Timothy Peters, 18th
Chase Montgomery, 23rd
Jon Wood, 27th
Rick Crawford, 29th
Kelly Sutton, 31st
Mike Bliss, 36th
Drivers attempting their first start at AMS: Robert Richardson, Scott Lagasse, Mark Martin, Chad McCumbee, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Kerry Earnhardt, Kyle Krisiloff, Bobby East, Boston Reid, Carl Long, Kraig Kinser, David Ragan, Aric Almirola, Erin Crocker, Erik Darnell
AMS Top-10 Finishers
03-17-2006 3:50 pm
Bobby Hamilton, 3
Bobby Labonte, 2
Ted Musgrave, 2
Jack Sprague, 2
Chad Chaffin, 2
Mike Skinner
Brandon Whitt
Terry Cook
David Starr
Dennis Setzer
David Reutimann
Todd Bodine
Johnny Benson
Matt Crafton
Ron Hornaday
Ricky Craven
Shane Hmiel
Robert Huffman
Todd Kluever
Kyle Busch
Travis Kvapil
Carl Edwards
Joey Miller
Ken Schrader
AMS Top-5 Finishers
03-17-2006 3:50 pm
Bibby Hamilton, 2
Bobby Labonte, 2
Dennis Setzer
Mike Skinner
Matt Crafton
David Starr
Jack Sprague
David Reutimann
Todd Bodine
Johnny Benson
Ron Hornaday
Kyle Busch
Travis Kvapil
AMS Lap Leaders
03-17-2006 3:52 pm
Mike Skinner, 117
Bobby Hamilton, 62
Rick Crawford, 52
Jack Sprague, 45
Kyle Busch, 45
Ron Hornaday, 19
Chad Chaffin, 11
Shane Hmiel, 8
David Reutimann, 8
Jimmy Spencer, 8
Bobby Labonte, 6
Johnny Benson, 1
Ricky Craven, 1
Deborah Renshaw, 1
Travis Kvapil, 1
Sean Murphy, 1
AMS NCTS Races Summary
03-17-2006 3:54 pm
There has been three previous NCTS races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The average start of the winner is 11.7, with the highest start of a winner being 18 and the lowest start of a winner being 5. There are an average of 18 lead lap finishers, with a high of 23 in the spring of 2005 and a low of 13 in the spring of 2004. There are an average of 14 lead changes, with a high of 18 in the fall of 2005 and a low of 11 in the spring of 2004. There are an average of seven leaders, with a high of 9 in the spring of 2005 and a low of 4 in the spring of 2004. The caution flag waves an average of 4.33 times per race, with a high of 5 last fall and 4 each in the two previous spring races. The pace truck leads the field for an average 21 laps, with a high of 26 in the inaugural race here in 2004 and the low of 18 caution laps here last fall. The cumulative average speed is 133.032 miles per hour.
Interesting nugget...
03-17-2006 3:58 pm
Five drivers have two top 10 finishes so far in 2006 by finishing in the exact same position in both Daytona and Fontana. Mark Martin has won both events, while Todd Bodine was second in each and Ted Musgrave was third in each. Jack Sprague has finished fifth in both events so far, and Rick Crawford has racked up two consecutive eighth place finishes.
Key Race Stats
03-17-2006 4:01 pm
The 2006 key race stats:
Average start of winner: 4.0
Lead changes per race: 15.5
Lead drivers per race: 8.5
Caution flags per race: 6.5
Caution laps per race: 23.5
Drivers running at finish per race: 29.5
Drivers not running at finish per race: 6.5
Number in lead lap per race: 23.0
2005 vs 2006
03-17-2006 4:12 pm
Avg start of winner: 2005, 30.5; 2006, 4
Cumulative lead changes: 2005, 33; 2006, 31
Average lead changes per race: 2005, 16.5; 2006, 15.5
Average leaders per race: 2005, 11; 2006, 8.5
Total laps under caution: 2005, 51; 2006, 47
Avg cautions per race: 2005, 6.5; 2006, 6.5
Wins by Manufacturer
03-17-2006 4:18 pm
Chevy - 120
Dodge - 64
Ford - 72
Toyota - 13
Last win:
Chevy: Kyle Busch, Atlanta, 11/05
Dodge: Bobby Hamilton, Mansfield, 5/05
Ford: Mark Martin, California, 2/06
Toyota: Todd Bodine, Homestead, 11/05
Current Year Mfr. Performance
03-17-2006 4:20 pm
Chevy: 0 wins, 0 poles, 0 top-5, 2 top-10, 6 laps led
Dodge: 0 wins, 0 poles, 0 top-5, 1 top-10, 2 laps led
Ford: 2 wins, 1 pole, 2 top-5, 7 top-10, 121 laps led
Toyota: 0 wins, 1 pole, 8 top-5, 10 top-10, 79 laps led
Montgomery Partners with Julius Curry
03-17-2006 4:44 pm
Motgomery Motorsports has partnered with Curry Racing, Inc. to form the first African-American owned team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Chase Montgomery will be the driver of the No. 8 EQ Dodge. Julius Curry, former NFL player, plans on a limited schedule in 2006 in preparation for a full season in 2007.
"We are laying the groundwork for a full season in 2007," Curry said. "Our being here is a testament to NASCAR's commitment to diversity through minority team ownership."
Pit Road Assignments
03-17-2006 7:18 pm
Here are the pit road assignments for the John Deere 200, starting at pit exit in turn one and ending at pit in at turn four:
Bodine
Crocker
Benson
Krisiloff
Almirola
Hamilton, Jr.
Crawford
Bliss
Park
Sprague
Skinner
Break in pit wall
Darnell
Lester
McCumbee
Peters
Murphy
Crafton
Earnhardt
Wood
Break in pit wall
Setzer
Starr
Start/Finish Line
Miller
East
Empty stall
Empty stall
Reutimann
Richardson
Reid
Hamilton
Hornaday
Lagasse
Kinser
Break in pit wall
Cook
Sutton
Gaughan
Musgrave
Ragan
Martin
Chaffin in for Sutton
03-17-2006 7:24 pm
Chad Chaffin missed the field in qualifying in the No. 40 Chevrolet, but he will see action here this evening. Chaffin will take over the reigns of the No. 02 Chevrolet for Kelly Sutton at the first pit stop. Sutton has been limping throughout the afternoon following her hard crash in practice, in which she suffered a puncture wound on her left knee.
Drivers Meeting Notes
03-17-2006 7:26 pm
The pace truck will run 60 miles per hour tonight, while pit road speed will be 45 miles per hour. Pit road speed begins 230 feet before the first pit box and ends 150 feet after the last pit box. The restart point is the double red line on the outside wall coming out of turn four. Minimum speed is 34.48 seconds. Drivers have been instructed to stay under the white line while leaving pit road until they exit turn two.
Park Racing for a Reason
03-17-2006 7:59 pm
Steve Park is making his first start of the season here in Atlanta, but he is also racing for a reason here this weekend. Park and the HT Motorsports team are carrying a special message for Jordan Johnson, a local teenager who has recently received a kidney transplant from her father. She has been hospitalized for nearly a month while doctors continue to evaluate her progress and recovery.
Lester Makes Cup Field
03-17-2006 8:34 pm
Bill Lester has earned his way into the starting field for this weekend's Cup Series race at Atlanta, making him the first African-American driver to make the starting field for a Cup race since 1986. Willy T. Ribbs started 3 races that season with a best finish of 29th. Lester is an Atlanta resident.
"I am hoping this is just the beginning and we're opening a lot of eyes," he said. "I am relieved, I just can't believe how it's gone. I just can't wait until Sunday."
Hurry-Up Mode
03-17-2006 8:52 pm
NASCAR has moved into hurry-up mode after Cup Series qualifying ran long. Driver introductions have been scrubbed, and we're going to move into race mode as quickly as possible to get as close to an on-time start as we can.
John Deere 200 Preview
03-17-2006 8:58 pm
We are closing in on the start of the John Deere 200, so let's handicap the field a little as the trucks move to the grid.
Todd Bodine looks like a sure-fire pick to carry his hot streak over here in Atlanta. He has five straight top-2 finishes, and starts from the pole tonight. Look for him to be a factor all night long.
Mike Skinner starts outside the front row and should be a front runner all night as well. Skinner was fast in this race last year, but tire problems but him in the fence and out of contention. If he can keep his truck underneath him all night, he could dethrone Bodine and go to victory lane.
Erik Darnell may be a rookie, but he has shown a lot of streght early in the season and with a third place start here tonight he could continue Roush Racing's amazing streak with a third consecutive win tonight. He'll need to earn the respect of the veterans up front, but a fast truck that can run away from the field will make that job a little easier.
Dennis Setzer has a strong record at Atlanta's sister track in Texas, and he has an up front start position here tonight. Setzer has not been able to recapture the magic that propelled him to a record point lead last summer, but could be in position to go to victory lane. Chevrolet won this race last fall, and he has a truck capable here this evening.
Bobby East goes from fifth in his first start with Wood/JTG Racing. East went to the school of hard knocks last season in his partial NASCAR season, but has proven to be an adaptable driver to a wide range of surfaces, venues, and even chassis in his USAC career. East could be a major factor if Lady Luck is on his side. The Wood/JTG team has had fast trucks all season, but has seen bad luck jump up and bite at almost every possible opportunity. East's teammate Jon Wood starts alongside, and Wood could be a factor too.
David Reutimann is a former pole winner at Atlanta, and he and teammate Joey Miller have both run well here in the past. Toyota is always strong on the mile and a half speedways, and both drivers could factor in.
Kraig Kinser makes a nice recovery after missing the field last race in California by starting ninth. Kinser should be steady and consistent throughout the night, and a top-15 finish for them will be a great night. Mark Martin rounds out the top ten starters, and while he's not as close to the front as he was in his first two races this season, as someone going for his third consecutive win, he has to be seen as the driver to beat this evening.
Some others starting deeper in the field...
Jack Sprague was a quarter of a lap from victory here in the fall, and his Wyler Racing team has only gotten stronger since the end of 2005. Sprague should quickly move to the front and be a challenger this evening.
Johnny Benson was also in the mix coming to the checkered last fall, and he's been knocking on the door for a victory since joining the BDR team in 2004.
Rick Crawford has always been fast at Atlanta, but has nothing but wrecked trucks and horrible memories to show for it. A top-10 finish would be nice, but look for Crawford to make some headway and fight for a top-5 is Lady Luck isn't frowning on him.
Finally, Bobby Hamilton announced a leave of absence from the series starting after Atlanta due to health issues, but that doesn't mean he should be counted out. The Dodges are not as strong as they were just a couple of years ago, but Hamilton knows how to take care of his equipment and that savvy should make him a factor at the end. He won this race with a last lap pass of Mike Skinner in 2004, so he knows the way to victory lane.
Toyota should be strong, Ford should give them a run for the money. Chevrolet has the power to upset them both, and Dodge has the savvy veterans that know how to make it work regardless of those external forces. It should be fun to watch it all come together. The drivers are finished with introductions, and we should be green shortly.
John Deere 200 Race Updates 1-10
03-17-2006 9:29 pm
10. Lap 26 - Crafton has moved up to 12th. Benson is up to 6th, while Darnell has dropped to ninth.
9. Lap 20 - Martin starts to lap the backmarkers. Kinser has fallen from the tenth spot at the start to 32nd and is in danger of being lapped.
8. Lap 15 - Martin has taken over the lead and Skinner moves into second. Bodine follows in third.
7. Lap 12 - Martin has chased down Skinner and is currently the fastest driver on the track.
6. Lap 6 - Bodine leads Skinner, Miller, Martin, Darnell, East, Wood, Reutimann, Setzer, and Benson. All three grooves are in heavy use in the early stages as several drivers have stepped all the way to the top.
5. Hamilton bounced off the wall at the completion of the first lap. He continues on. Bodine continues to lead as Martin has worked his way to fifth.
4. Bodine leads the first lap over Skinner Darnell, Setzer, East, Wood, Reutimann, Miller, Kinser, and Martin.
3. Chad Chaffin will start the No. 02 Chevrolet, relieving Kelly Sutton who was injured in a crash this morning. Chaffin will start 35th.
2. Engines have been started. The field will be held for a few moments while temperatures come up as it is very cool as we prepare to go racing.
1. The drivers are buckled in and we're awaiting the command to start engines. No reports of any drivers going to the back at the start. We will update if that changes.
John Deere 200 Race Updates 11-20
03-17-2006 9:57 pm
20. Mike Skinner has been evaluated and released from the infield care center.
19. Lap 64 - Martin leads Reutimann, Benson, Musgrave, Cook, Bliss, Bodine, East, Darnell, Wood, Setzer, Park, Sprague, Starr, Crafton, Krisiloff, crawford, Almirola, Hornaday, Gaughan, Hamilton, Jr., Reid, Hamilton, and Peters. Chaffin is the final driver on the lead lap.
18. Lap 62 - Chaffin receives the free pass and rejoins the lead lap.
17. Lap 60 - The pits are still closed as the field runs behind the pace truck for the second time tonight.
16. Lap 56 - Martin and Bodine are locked in a side by side battle for the lead. Martin finally prevails as the leaders catch lapped traffic. Joey Miller spins and crashes in turn four and Skinner slams into the truck in front of him in the ensuing melee. Skinner's truck catches fire before he pulls into the grass and it extingishes itself.
15. Lap 43 - Chaffin has some damage to the nose of the No. 02 after getting down into the frontstretch grass. Kinser is off the pace and headed to pit road.
14. Lap 39 - Martin retakes the lead, Bodine slides into second. Lester is on pit road with a vibration in the right front.
13. Lap 33 - Bodine, Martin, Skinner, Reutimann, Benson, Miller, Crafton, East, Setzer, Cook, Starr, Hornaday, Ragan, Darnell, Lester, Bliss, Musgrave, Park, Sprague, Hamilton, Krisiloff, Almirola, Peters, Crawford, Hamilton, Jr., Gaughan, Kinser, Chaffin, Reid and Wood are the lead lap trucks. Green is out.
12. Lap 32 - Bodine wins the race off pit road to retake the lead. Skinner had a close call on pit road as he slid the right front tire to avoid a slowing Kyle Krisiloff who was entering his pits as Skinner was leaving.
11. Lap 31 - Lagasse has a tire go down in front of the leader and slides into the fence in turn three, flat siding the No. 04 Dodge. Boston Reid will get the free pass. The caution is out for the first time tonight, and the field comes to pit road. Tire wear has been an issue all day, and the caution couldn't come out at a better time for everyone.
John Deere 200 Race Updates 21-30
03-17-2006 10:30 pm
31. Bodine wins!
30. Lap 126 - Bodine takes the lead in an awesome four wide move through lapped traffic. Bodine got 25 degrees sideways during the pass, kept his foot in it and kept on motoring. Peters got tapped by Bodine in the process of the pass, and it cut his left rear, which sent him into a spin off turn four bringing out the fourth caution of the night.
29. Lap 119 - Martin extends his lead to 1.3 seconds over Bodine. Wood maintains third, with Benson fourth. Reutimann sits fifth, with Musgrave, Darnell, Almirola, Bliss, and Setzer the top-10.
28. Lap 105 - Bodine now moves in to race Martin for the lead.
27. Lap 101 - Wood closes in on leader Martin. Benson, Bodine, Reutimann, Musgrave, Darnell, Setzer, Bliss, and Almirola are the top-10. Wood battles Martin for the lead.
26. Lap 97 - Restart. Martin leads Reutimannm Wood, Benson, and Darnell. Bodine sits sixth.
25. Lap 91 - Wood moves up to fifth, with Darnell back up to sixth. The third yellow of the night flies as Robert Richardson spins off turn two into the inside wall.
24. Lap 86 - Bodine retakes the lead from Martin, but Benson is stalkng them both in third. Bodine gets loose with Martin on the outside and loses the lead to Martin on lap 87.
23. Lap 80 - 50 to go. Martin leads as Bodine closes. Gaughan moves up to 13th, the highest he's been tonight. Hornaday sits 16th, and Hamilton 18th. There are 25 drivers on the lead lap. Only Mike Skinner and Joey Miller are n the garage, both due to the lap 56 accident.
22. Lap 74 - Terry Cook was strong on the 1.5-mile tracks in 2005, and he is showing that strength here tonight. Cook has moved into the seventh position, racing side by side with Bliss.
21. Lap 70 - Johnny Benson moves into second ahead of David Reutimann. Martin still leads. Musgrave now in the top-five with his teammate Bodine back in the mix.
Third Times A Charm - Bodine Wins From the Pole in Atlanta
03-18-2006 12:33 am
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race Number 3
Box Score for the John Deere 200 - Saturday, March 18, 2006
Atlanta Motor Speedway - Hampton, Ga. - 1.54 Mile Banked Paved
Total Race Length - 135 Laps - 207.900 Miles
Winner Todd Bodine
Truck 30 - Lumber Liquidators Toyota
Winner’s Purse $59,425
Average speed 133.459 mph
Margin of Victory 0.354 Seconds
Starting Position 1
Laps Led by Winner 38
Most Laps Led Mark Martin - 97 Laps
Lead changes 12 among 2 drivers
Caution flags 4 for 23 laps
Provided by NASCAR Statistical Services - Saturday, March 18, 2006 @ 12:26 AM Eastern
Carnage the Order of the Night in Post-race Garage
03-18-2006 12:42 am
Good Night Everybody
03-18-2006 12:54 am
It was a wild night in Atlanta! You never know what to expect here, and it seems a four-wide pass for the lead in lapped traffic with both leaders sideways and bouncing off the lapped trucks is not outside the realm of possibility. Another wild last lap saw a wild wreck and scramble for position to the start finish line, and put a hold on unofficial results for nearly a full hour.
One thing we can expect is a rush to get out of Dodge after the race to avoid the wrath of the media center staff, so we need to button it up and hit the road to ensure our hide is in tact come Martinsville. Check out the Sights and Sounds box for some great post-race audio, and come back later in the weekend to see an updated TruckShots! gallery (operator error has some great shots from the pre-race staging area and pit road trapped on a new, and apparently difficult to operate camera).
Until Martinsville in a couple of weeks, good night everybody!
REVISED - Unofficial Results
03-18-2006 2:24 am
REVISED Changed Positions 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18. REVISED
Provided by NASCAR Statistical Services - Friday, March 17, 2006 @ 01:21 AM Eastern
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race - John Deere 200
Atlanta Motor Speedway - Hampton, Ga. - Friday, March 17, 2006
1. (1) Todd Bodine, Toyota, 135, $59,425.
2. (10) Mark Martin, Ford, 135, $30,600.
3. (17) Johnny Benson, Toyota, 135, $24,000.
4. (36) Ted Musgrave, Toyota, 135, $14,200.
5. (7) David Reutimann, Toyota, 135, $17,225.
6. (6) Jon Wood, Ford, 135, $10,025.
7. (23) Mike Bliss, Chevrolet, 135, $9,925.
8. (3) Erik Darnell #, Ford, 135, $12,675.
9. (26) Matt Crafton, Chevrolet, 135, $13,250.
10. (20) Rick Crawford, Ford, 135, $12,800.
11. (4) Dennis Setzer, Chevrolet, 135, $11,025.
12. (11) Terry Cook, Ford, 135, $10,815.
13. (32) Brendan Gaughan, Dodge, 135, $10,715.
14. (33) Bobby Hamilton, Dodge, 135, $10,615.
15. (13) David Starr, Toyota, 135, $8,765.
16. (28) Kyle Krisiloff #, Chevrolet, 135, $10,415.
17. (12) Jack Sprague, Toyota, 135, $10,365.
18. (21) Aric Almirola #, Chevrolet, 135, $10,240.
19. (29) Bobby Hamilton Jr., Dodge, 135, $10,190.
20. (25) Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet, 134, $10,540.
21. (35) Chad Chaffin, Chevrolet, 134, $7,840.
22. (16) David Ragan, Ford, 134, $7,790.
23. (5) Bobby East # , Ford, 134, $7,740.
24. (31) Boston Reid #, Dodge, 134, $9,965.
25. (19) Steve Park, Ford, 134, $9,940.
26. (30) Erin Crocker #, Dodge, 133, $9,890.
27. (15) Chad McCumbee #, Chevrolet, 133, $7,615.
28. (9) Kraig Kinser #, Chevrolet, 132, $8,590.
29. (18) Bill Lester, Toyota, 132, $8,565.
30. (27) Robert Richardson #, Dodge, 132, $7,540.
31. (34) Scott Lagasse Jr. #, Dodge, 129, $7,515.
32. (24) Sean Murphy #, Chevrolet, 126, $7,490.
33. (22) Timothy Peters, Dodge, 124, $7,465.
34. (14) Kerry Earnhardt #, Chevrolet, 115, $7,440.
35. (2) Mike Skinner, Toyota, 60, $7,410.
36. (8) Joey Miller #, Toyota, 58, $7,380.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 133.388 mph.
Time of Race: 1 hour, 33 minutes, 31 seconds.
Margin of Victory: 0.000 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 0 for 0 laps.
Lead Changes: 12 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders:
T. Bodine 1-14; M. Martin 15-31; T. Bodine 32-38; M. Martin 39-52; T. Bodine 53-56; M. Martin 57-61; T. Bodine 62; M. Martin 63-86; T. Bodine 87; M. Martin 88-93; T. Bodine 94; M. Martin 95-125; T. Bodine 126-135.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):
Mark Martin 6 times for 97 laps; Todd Bodine 7 times for 38 laps.
Top 10 in Points:
M. Martin - 560; T. Bodine - 535; T. Musgrave - 495; D. Reutimann - 458; J. Benson - 433; J. Sprague - 432; R. Crawford - 423; E. Darnell# - 422; J. Wood - 408; M. Bliss - 389.
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