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TrackSideLive!
| Smith's/Las Vegas 350
Las Vegas Motor Speedway | September
22-23, 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 Camping World Truck Series
including Practice Times, Notes, Quotes, Photos, Audio interviews and more!
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Greetings from Vegas
09-22-2006 12:38 pm
Good afternoon from Las Vegas Motor Speedway! The track surface is finished, but the hum of construction equipment still rolls through the speedway as workers are still hard at work getting the infield rebuilt for next spring's NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event. As it is, there is a little piece of business known as the Smith's Las Vegas 350 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series here this weekend. It is only expected to reach into the mid 70s here this afternoon with a sparking clear afternoon and evening, so it is a beautiful day for track action. We will be here to cover it all, so keep it locked to TrackSideLive! for continuing updates throughout the day here at LVMS.
Track Maintenance
09-22-2006 12:42 pm
LVMS and NASCAR officials are out on the speedway right now spraying some sort of chemical solution onto the banked corners. With new asphalt and the sun baking down on it, they are doing everything they can to keep the surface temperature down to prevent the asphalt from coming up once we start today's first optional test session at 3 pm ET.
To the Garage...
09-22-2006 12:49 pm
We are headed off to the other end of the infield to the NCTS garage. We will return with more updates and some images shortly...
Fuel Spill Causing Concern
09-22-2006 1:53 pm
There was a jet dryer fuel spill on the speedway earlier this morning, which has necessitated the aforementioned track maintenance. Speedway officials have been attempting to wash off the fuel with a mixture of water and detergent, then priming the surface with lyme in an attempt to prevent the asphalt from coming apart. Track officials are running safety vehicles around the speedway and dragging a tire maching to lay down as much rubber on the surface as well. We will stay on top of this developing story throughout the day and the rest of the weekend.
Skinner First in Line
09-22-2006 2:04 pm
While the track crew makes a final sweep of the track, drivers have started making their way to the new pit road here at LVMS and getting in line for their first runs around the new 1.5-mile track. Mike Skinner is first in line with Erin Crocker next up. We should see the first trucks on track shortly.
Pace Truck to Lead
09-22-2006 2:08 pm
For the first moments of track time, NASCAR has asked the teams to follow the pace truck to get some rubber down in the groove before they open the track up for green flag action.
Two Wide Behind Pace Truck
09-22-2006 2:23 pm
There are approximately 20 trucks on the track now following Randy Kiser in the pace truck. The drivers have been told to run two-wide and they are now rolling at 65 miles per hour. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series director Wayne Auton is increasing the speed in 10 mph increments as NASCAR is hoping to build some rubber in the groove before we go green for full-speed testing.
At Speed
09-22-2006 2:32 pm
The pace truck has just pulled in and we are finally at speed for the first time on the new LVMS layout. We will have have updates throughout so stick with us.
Chaffin Hits Wall
09-22-2006 2:34 pm
Just moments after we went green Chad Chaffin had a problem in turn four, sliding off the track and making contact with the pit wall. The damage is reported to be significant enough to warrant a backup truck. We will head to the garage and update this story as quickly as we can.
UPDATE: Chaffin damaged the left front nose after sliding off turn four and into the inside pit wall. The team assessed the damage and will be forced to go to a backup truck. We talked with Chad and will have that interview posted as quickly as we can.
Dodson Crashes in Four
09-22-2006 3:08 pm
Cameron Dodson had problems coming off turn four and slapped the wall exiting the corner, doing significant damage to the No. 62 Dave Porter Truck Sales Ford. The team is currently working on the truck, but no word whether they will get it fixed or go to a backup. Dodson climbed from the truck under his own power and appeared uninjured in the incident.
Orleans Racing Out to Lunch
09-22-2006 3:14 pm
The entire Orleans Racing team slipped out of the garage area following the Dodson crash, with driver Brendan Gaughan saying he was taking his crew to lunch while other drivers laid some rubber down on the track. "We'll let some of these other guys worry about getting rubber down on the track, and we'll run tonight," Gaughan said as he was climbing into the team van.
Jourdain Spins Off Turn Four
09-22-2006 3:30 pm
Michel Jourdain, who finished second in the inaugural race here at LVMS spun off turn four. Jourdain slid down to the pit road and almost nosed into the pit wall before getting it slowed down. He drove it back to the garage. We are back under the red flag while the track crew makes a quick lap around. We should be green again shortly.
Session 1 Rundown 1
09-22-2006 3:57 pm
Here is the rundown as they stand during a brief red flag for debris in turn one:
1. Skinner 31.449
2. Bodine 31.583
3. Earnhardt 31.605
4. Reutimann 31.659
5. Ambrose 31.731
6. Sprague 31.922
7. Mayfield 32.042
8. Musgrave (a) 32.088
9. McCumbee 32.129
10. Cook 32.249
11. Skinner (a) 32.250
12. Starr 32.285
13. Musgrave 32.310
14. East 32.373
15. Crafton 32.386
16. Almirola 32.526
17. Bliss 32.540
18. Setzer 32.659
19. Crocker 32.749
20. Crawford (a) 32.749
21. Lester 32.826
22. Hornaday (a) 32.944
23. Kinser 32.861
24. Darnell 32.870
25. Benson (a) 33.209
26. Shepherd 33.288
27. Kittleson 34.419
28. McCumbee (a) 34.559
29. Hamilton (a) 25.327
30. Dodson 36.271
No time available: C. Miller, Benson, Hornaday, Fedewa, Gaughan, Richardson, Reid, Chaffin, Jourdain
NOTE: If a driver is listed with an (a) after his/her name that means that team is testing two trucks.
Fedewa Brushes Turn 2 Wall
09-22-2006 4:03 pm
Tim Fedewa is making his first start of the season in the No. 40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet, but he just brushed the wall in turns one and two. No word on damage, but Fedewa reported to the team he is okay and would liked to be pushed to the garage rather than towed to the garage. Crew chief Barry Dodson has already said they will do their best to fix this one rather than revert to the backup.
Session 1 Rundown 2
09-22-2006 5:01 pm
With just about an hour to go before the dinner break, here is the rundown:
1. Chase Miller 30.898 seconds
2. Marcos Ambrose 31.016
3. Mike Skinner 31.159
4. Todd Bodine 31.281
5. Bobby East 31.252
6. Kerry Earnhardt 31.388
7. Erik Darnell 31.401
8. Mike Bliss 31.445
9. David Reutimann 31.491
10. David Starr 31.540
11. Jack Sprague 31.585
12. Chad McCumbee 31.657
13. Jeremy Mayfield (a) 31.677
14. Terry Cook (a) 31.678
15. Bobby Hamilton, Jr. (a) 31.687
16. Rick Crawford (a) 31.789
17. Aric Almirola 31.800
18. Ted Musgrave 31.893
19. Matt Crafton 31.919
20. Bill Lester 31.929
21. Kraig Kinser 31.939
22. Dennis Setzer 32.020
23. Jeremy Mayfield 32.042
24. Ted Musgrave (a) 32.088
25. Brendan Gaughan 32.101
26. Terry Cook 32.249
27. Mike Skinner (a) 32.250
28. Erin Crocker 32.311
29. Peter Shepherd 32.340
30. Boston Reid 32.347
31. Ron Hornaday 32.354
32. Ron Hornaday (a) 32.354
33. Bobby Hamilton, Jr. 32.567
34. Erin Crocker (a) 32.663
35. Michel Jourdain (a) 32.721
36. Johnny Benson 32.843
37. Travis Kittleson 32.933
38. Johnny Benson (a) 33.209
39. Robert Richardson 34.364
40. Travis Kittleson (a) 34.419
41. Chad McCumbee (a) 34.559
42. Cameron Dodson 36.271
43. Tim Fedewa
44. Chad Chaffin
Dodson to Backup
09-22-2006 5:12 pm
The No. 63 MB Motorsports team has pulled out the backup truck after Cameron Dodson had trouble in the early moments of the first session this afternoon. Dodson slapped the fence coming off turn four, doing significant damage to the right side. The truck they pulled off the truck also has some body damage, having been raced last week at New Hampshire. The team is busy installing the engine and fixing the body to get it ready to go on track yet this afternoon.
Smooth Running
09-22-2006 5:26 pm
It's been fairly smooth since Tim Fedewa spun and brushed the wall in turn two. We have only been slowed once for a track inspection and many team spotters are reporting more and more rubber being laid into a black groove at the bottom of the corners.
Session 1 Rundown 3
09-22-2006 5:49 pm
1. C. Miller 30.898
2. Ambrose 31.016
3. Reutimann 31.128
4. East 31.151
5. Skinner 31.159
6. Bliss 31.180
7. Hamilton, Jr. 31.201
8. Sprague 31.209
9. Earnhardt 31.215
10. Bodine 31.218
11. Musgrave 31.318
12. Kinser 31.337
13. Crawford (a) 31.378
14. Darnell 31.401
15. Hornaday 31.426
16. Starr 31.527
17. Gaughan 31.557
18. Almirola 31.558
19. Cook (a) 31.588
20. Mayfield 31.616
21. Setzer 31.621
22. McCumbee 31.657
23. Mayfield (a) 31.667
24. Hamilton, Jr. 31.687
25. Crafton 31.704
26. Shepherd 31.757
27. Lester 31.929
28. Musgrave (a) 32.088
29. Crocker (a) 32.126
30. Cook 32.239
31. Benson 32.241
32. Skinner (a) 32.250
33. Crocker 32.311
34. Reid 32.347
35. Hornaday (a) 32.354
36. Jourdain (a) 32.409
37. Kittleson 32.477
38. Benson (a) 33.209
39. Richardson 33.296
40. Kittleson (a) 33.419
41. McCumbee (a) 33.559
42. Dodson 36.271
43. Fedewa
44. Chaffin
Session Extended
09-22-2006 6:04 pm
NASCAR has shorted the dinner break by 30 minutes to give the teams some additional time on the track. The extension makes up for the nearly 30-minute delay we had this morning as track crews cleaned up the jet dryer fuel spill around the racetrack. The session will now end at 4:30 pm local time.
Session 2 Underway
09-22-2006 7:27 pm
The second session has been underway for about 15 minutes. So far it has been clean and green as the sun starts to slowly set behind the grandstands. Expect speeds to pick up as the track cools down throughout the evening.
Session 2 Rundown 1
09-22-2006 8:00 pm
1. Skinner 30.742 seconds
2. East 30.945
3. Ambrose 30.956
4. Hamilton 30.965
5. Crawford 31.032
6. Bliss 31.067
7. Setzer 31.086
8. Musgrave 31.179
9. Hornaday 31.256
10. Bodine 31.225
11. Starr 31.231
12. Cook (a) 31.237
13. Almirola 31.243
14. Sprague 31.292
15. Crocker (a) 31.300
16. Gaughan 31.349
17. Reutimann 31.395
18. Lester 31.407
19. Mayfield 31.430
20. Darnell 31.433
21. Reid 31.450
22. Crafton 31.494
23. Jourdain 31.556
24. Benson 31.586
25. Chaffin 31.756
26. Kittleson 32.060
27. Richardson 32.399
28. Fedewa 32.476
29. Montgomery 33.582
Teams Deciding Which Truck to Run
09-22-2006 8:08 pm
After four hours in the first session, many teams have decided to tuck one truck away into their transporters and concentrate on making their chosen race truck as fast as they can. During an optional test session, teams are free to run two trucks and they can also utilize computer data acquisition systems as well. Most teams that were testing two trucks in the first session will concentrate on their primary race truck in the night session this evening. Some teams, like Roush Racing's No. 99 team, were only running a second truck to baseline it for races later in the season at Texas, Atlanta, and even Homestead.
Dodson Spins Again
09-22-2006 8:38 pm
Cameron Dodson has spun again off turn two, making slight contact to bring out the red flag. He drove the truck back to the garage. We are already back under green.
Session 2 Rundown 2
09-22-2006 8:44 pm
1. Skinner 30.542
2. Miller 30.570
3. Ambrose 30.739
4. Hamilton 30.780
5. McCumbee 30.841
6. Sprague 30.871
7. Crawford 30.872
8. Setzer 30.897
9. Bliss 30.906
10. East 30.945
11. Cook (a) 30.976
12. Kinser 31.006
13. Starr 31.025
14. Reutimann 31.027
15. Bodine 31.028
16. Almirola 31.043
17. Crafton 31.114
18. Musgrave 31.131
19. Lester 31.164
20. Hornaday 31.206
21. Darnell 31.221
22. Chaffin 31.243
23. Mayfield 31.260
24. Gaughan 31.275
25. Crocker (a) 31.350
26. Jourdain 31.326
27. Shepherd 31.370
28. Crocker 31.424
29. Reid 31.450
30. Kittleson 31.923
31. Fedewa 31.999
32. Richardson 32.399
33. Montgomery 32.640
Session 2 Rundown 3
09-22-2006 9:00 pm
The session just ended here at LVMS, and we will have a complete speed report as it is available. Here is the rundown as it stood with about 15 minutes left in the session:
1. Miller 30.370
2. Sprague 30.490
3. Ambrose 30.538
4. Skinner 30.542
5. Kinser 30.549
6. Hamilton 30.554
7. East 30.612
8. Bodine 30.617
9. McCumbee (a) 30.651
10. Starr 30.672
11. Bliss 30.691
12. Crawford 30.783
13. Benson 30.784
14. Setzer 30.788
15. Reutimann 30.805
16. Musgrave 30.860
17. Lester 30.861
18. Earnhardt 30.868
19. Mayfield 30.894
20. Darnell 30.943
21. Hornaday 30.955
22. Darnell (a) 30.956
23. Almirola 30.963
24. Cook (a) 30.976
25. Crafton 30.996
26. Jourdain 31.045
27. Richardson 31.064
28. Gaughan 31.095
29. Crocker 31.143
30. Shepherd 31.155
31. Chaffin 31.243
32. Crocker (a) 31.300
33. Kittleson 31.319
34. Reid 31.450
35. Fedewa 31.999
36. Montgomery 32.640
37. Dodson 32.881
Engines Being Swapped
09-22-2006 10:13 pm
While the track is cold, the garage is the hot area to be right now as every team is busy making engine changes leading up to tomorrow's official track activity. Teams were allowed engine changes today as this was not an officially sanctioned track day. Once we come in the gates tomorrow, NASCAR rules prevent any further engine changes without penalty.
That's a Friday from LVMS
09-22-2006 10:26 pm
We are going to wrap it up for Friday's optional test day here at LVMS. The action subsided from the early moments of practice when there were four quick incidents in rapid-fire succession, which allowed for a good three hours of uninterrupted testing to close the day. Speeds climbed throughout the day and we are approaching 180 miles per hour, and once we get started tomorrow we should see drivers finally eclipse that magical mark. We will resume coverage at noon ET tomorrow to kick off the official start of practice. Until then, feel free to check out the Sights and Sounds box for well over 100 TruckShots! and interviews with Chad Chaffin, Chase Miller, Bill Lester, Jeremy Mayfield, and Kerry Earnhardt. Until tomorrow morning, so long everybody!
Good Morning from LVMS
09-23-2006 11:20 am
Good morning from Las Vegas Motor Speedway! It is another sparkling day here in Glitter Gulch with temperatures expected to reach into the low 80s. It is still a touch breezy but the wind - which blew stongly all day yesterday - should not be much of a factor today. We have a busy day on tap with practice, qualifying, and the race all set for today, so stick with us as we bring you all the action from Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Entry List Updates
09-23-2006 11:24 am
There are some changes to the entry list since we left here last night. Wayne Edwards has been added in the No. 03 Green Lighth Racing Chevrolet, and Scott Lynch has replaced Cameron Dodson in the No. 63 Dave Porter Truck Sales Ford.
Peter Shepherd is in the No. 6 Scotts Ford, replacing David Ragan who is making his Cup debut at Dover this weekend. Travis Kittleson is back in the No. 07 Chevrolet with sponsorship from Fan1st.com and Bob Steele Chevrolet. Tim Fedewa replaces Ryan Moore, who left the team early this week, in the No. 40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet. Kraig Kinser is back in the No. 46 Ginn Resorts Chevrolet this week and Michel Jourdain is in the No. 50 Roush Racing Ford. Chase Montgomery is with us for the first time since Daytona in the No. 76 Them Boyz Network/EQ Chevrolet.
Today's Schedule
09-23-2006 11:30 am
10 am ET: NCTS Garage Opens
12 n - 1 pm ET: NCTS Practice
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm ET: NCTS Final Practice
6:10 pm ET: NCTS Bud Pole Qualifying
7:30 pm ET: NCTS Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
7:45 pm ET: NCTS Trucks to Grid
9:15 pm ET: NCTS Smith's Las Vegas 350 (146 laps/219 miles)
LVMS Best Finishes
09-23-2006 11:34 am
Here is each driver entered today and their previous best finish, if any, in a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
Todd Bodine 1st
Brendan Gaughan 1st
Ted Musgrave 1st
Jack Sprague 1st
David Starr 1st
Mike Bliss 2nd
Ron Hornaday 2nd
Dennis Setzer 3rd
Johnny Benson 4th
Rick Crawford 5th
Mike Skinner 6th
Terry Cook 7th
Matt Crafton 9th
Tim Fedewa 10th
David Reutimann 12th
Scott Lynch 12th
Chad Chaffin 16th
Bill Lester 17th
Chase Montgomery 19th
Wayne Edwards 28th
Robert Richardson 29th
Drivers making their first Las Vegas start in a Truck: Chase Miller, Peter Shepherd, Travis Kittleson, Chad McCumbee, Kerry Earnhardt, Jeremy Mayfield, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Marcos Ambrose, Bobby East, Boston Reid, Kraig Kinser, Michel Jourdain, Aric Almirola, Erin Crocker, and Erik Darnell
LVMS NCTS Races Summary
09-23-2006 11:42 am
There have been nine NCTS races held at Las Vegas, one per year since 1996.
The average start of the winner is 5.89, with the pole winner going on to win the race three times. The deepest anyone has come from to win is 21st.
There are an average of 11 lead lap finishers here, with the record being 18 in the inaugural race in 1996. The fewest was 7, in 1998 and 2002.
There are an average of 10.1 lead changes per race. The lead swapped hands a record 15 times in 1999 while the fewest lead changes was 6 in 1996 and 2004.
There are an average of 5.89 lead drivers per race. The most was 8 in 1998 and 1999 while just 4 drivers led in 1996 and 1997.
The caution flag waves an average of 5.22 times per race. The most was 9 in the inaugral in 1999 while the fewest was just 2 in 2002. The pace truck leads the field for an average of 21.4 laps per race with the most being 33 in 1996 and the fewest being just 10 in 2002.
The cumulative average speed is 126.897 mph. The fastest race was 2002 at 135.394 mph while the slowest was the 1996 race at 120.782 mph.
Trucks on Track
09-23-2006 11:56 am
The first trucks have just rolled onto the track for the start of practice here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Not surprisingly, after yesterday's fuel spill prior to testing, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series director Wayne Auton did not allow the jet dryers on the speedway prior to the action this morning so some of the teams are pulling to the side of the pit road and allowing some others to go out and get the sand off the track. There is some light sand on the track as a couple of spotters have seen a light rooster tail the first couple of trips down the backstretch. We'll keep you abreast of all the action as it happens throughout this session so stick with us.
Ambrose Spins Off Four
09-23-2006 12:08 pm
Marcos Ambrose brought out the red with a quick spin off turn four. He didn't make any contact and drove it back to the garage. The green should be back out after a quick track inspection.
Practice 1 Rundown 1
09-23-2006 12:21 pm
1. Reutimann 30.858
2. Bodine 30.943
3. Skinner 30.968
4.Musgrave 30.971
5. Gaughan 31.146
6. Darnell 31.148
7. Crocker 31.222
8. Cook 31.371
9. Sprague 31.431
10. Crafton 31.474
11. Lester 31.482
12. Bliss 31.580
13. Jourdain 31.644
14. Reid 31.662
15. Almirola 31.673
16. Earnhardt 31.710
17. Hornaday 31.718
18. Setzer 31.841
19. Crawford 31.965
20. Benson 32.065
21. Shepherd 32.192
22. Fedewa 32.286
23. Starr 32.734
Fighting Tight
09-23-2006 12:24 pm
The condition many teams are facing here this afternoon/morning is an understeer or push condition. Mike Beam, crew chief on the No. 6 Scotts Ford, told his driver Peter Shepherd "it's okay to be a little tight as long as you can put some wheel to it. If you're too free you can't go anywhere, but you were too tight on that last run and you're still 16th on the board." The new pavement with the hard tire compound means the teams are searching from that elusive grip which means a push condition will be made worse.
Practice 1 Rundown 2
09-23-2006 12:39 pm
1. Skinner 30.589
2. Miller 30.694
3. Bodine 30.729
4. Reutimann 30.858
5. Musgrave 30.906
6. Almirola 30.924
7. Mayfield 30.963
8. Ambrose 30.963
9. Darnell 31.005
10. Lester 31.033
11. Setzer 31.062
12. Bliss 31.081
13. Gaughan 31.095
14. Crocker 31.140
15. Sprague 31.145
16. Benson 31.157
17. East 31.182
18. Shepherd 31.237
19. Cook 31.248
20. Reid 31.322
21. Crafton 31.372
22. Hornaday 31.400
23. Jourdain 31.434
24. Earnhardt 31.447
25. Starr 31.611
26. Fedewa 31.758
27. Crawford 31.764
28. Montgomery 32.349
29. Kinser 32.548
30. Lynch 33.359
No time: Richardson, Edwards, Kittleson, McCumbee, Hamilton, Jr., Chaffin
Crawford Crashes in Turn 2
09-23-2006 12:48 pm
Rick Crawford had trouble in turn two, making contact with the wall and doing heavy damage to the right side and rear of the No. 14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford. He did drive it back to the garage but early indications from the team are that they will be pulling out the backup. We will update this story as soon as we can get to and back from the garage.
UPDATE: Based upon the damage to the truck, it would appear that Crawdford slid sideways through turn two and backed into the wall with the right rear, causing the nose of the truck to slap the wall with the right front. Crawford climbed from the truck under his own power and retreated to the team transporter, apparently uninjured. The team is already at work prepping the backup truck in hopes of making laps during the final practice which is coming up shortly.
Session Over, Results Coming
09-23-2006 1:01 pm
The first practice just ended seconds ago following a brief return to green after the Crawford crash. We will have results posted as soon as we get them, which should be just a matter of moments.
Final Practice Underway
09-23-2006 1:39 pm
With the optional test session yesterday giving everyone plenty of track time, NASCAR has done away with the rookie practice this week. Moments ago we kicked off the final hour of practice for the Smith's Las Vegas 350, and as usual we will have complete coverage of the session right here on TrackSideLive!
Final Practice Rundown 1
09-23-2006 1:46 pm
1. Miller 30.587
2. Skinner 30.646
3. Bodine 30.720
4. Reutimann 30.721
5. Darnell 30.754
6. Sprague 30.808
7. Gaughan 30.889
8. Almirola 30.892
9. Bliss 30.903
10. Ambrose 30.926
11. Reid 30.968
12. East 30.982
13. Musgrave 30.988
14. Hamilton 31.039
15. Benson 31.093
16. Setzer 31.102
17. Starr 31.102
18. Crocker 31.220
19. Richardson 31.229
20. Jourdain 31.233
21. Shepherd 31.257
22. Cook 31.263
23. Earnhardt 31.305
24. Lester 31.327
25. Chaffin 31.337
26. Crafton 31.396
27. Kittleson 31.650
28. Fedewa 31.832
29. Mayfield 31.950
30. Hornaday 32.248
Final Practice Rundown 2
09-23-2006 2:14 pm
1. Skinner 30.557
2. Miller 30.587
3. Bodine 30.630
4. Reutimann 30.649
5. Gaughan 30.659
6. Hamilton 30.676
7. Darnell 30.690
8. Sprague 30.706
9. Setzer 30.764
10. Bliss 30.806
11. Kinser 30.808
12. Lester 30.808
13. Musgrave 30.822
14. Starr 30.845
15. Ambrose 30.862
16. Shepherd 30.891
17. Almirola 30.892
18. Reid 30.968
19. East 30.982
20. Chaffin 31.037
21. Benson 31.051
22. McCumbee 31.065
23. Crocker 31.072
24. Hornaday 31.073
25. Crawford 31.113
26. Earnhardt 31..126
27. Richardson 31.129
28. Crafton 31.153
29. Jourdain 31.233
30. Cook 31.263
31. Mayfield 31.349
32. Fedewa 31.457
33. Kittleson 31.466
34. Montgomery 32.089
35. Lynch 32.591
36. Edwards 34.421
Off to the Garage
09-23-2006 2:39 pm
We're going to head to the garage for some pics and audio. We will return with more TrackSideLive! updates shortly...
Audio
09-23-2006 5:12 pm
We have collected some great interviews over the past couple of days. Check the Sights and Sounds Box to the right side of the TrackSideLive! page and click on each driver's name to listen. Today we caught up with David Reutimann, Erik Darnell, Kerry Earnhardt, and Brendan Gaughan. We've talked to everyone about this new racetrack, the hard compound tires, and what type of race they expect here tonight. While you're listening to each interview, don't forget to check out the TruckShots! photo gallery which is bursting at the seams with pics from LVMS.
Live! Bud Pole Qualifying Next!
09-23-2006 6:06 pm
Don't forget to log on to our
Live! Bud Pole Qualifying
coverage from LVMS coming up NEXT at 6:10 pm ET! We'll rejoin you here on TrackSideLive! following qualifying and count you down to the green flag of the Smith's Las Vegas 350.
2006 Key Race Stats
09-23-2006 8:49 pm
Avg start of winner: 8.2
Avg lead changes: 9.2
Avg lead drivers: 5.3
Avg caution flags: 9.0
Avg caution laps: 39.8
Avg running at finish: 31.8
Avg did not finish: 4.2
Avg lead lap finishers: 20.9
Stat Summary YTD
09-23-2006 8:59 pm
Avg start of winner: 2005, 9.94; 2006, 8.22
Cumulative lead changes: 2005, 160; 2006, 165
Avg lead changes per race: 2005, 8.89; 2006, 9.17
Avg leaders per race: 2005, 6.28; 2006, 5.33
Total caution laps: 2005, 669; 2006, 717
Avg caution laps per race: 2005, 7.94; 2006, 9.00
MFR YTD
09-23-2006 9:00 pm
Chevrolet: 3 wins, 1 pole, 15 top-5, 47 top-10, 789 laps led
Dodge: 0 wins, 1 pole, 4 top-5, 11 top-10, 44 laps led
Ford: 6 wins, 5 poles, 18 top-5, 45 top-10, 862 laps led
Toyota: 9 wins, 9 poles, 51 top-5, 77 top-10, 1382 laps led
Smith's Las Vegas 350 Pit Assignments
09-23-2006 9:03 pm
Starting in turn one and ending in turn four:
Skinner
Cook
Benson
Edwards
Richardson
Lynch
Crawford
Montgomery
Earnhardt
Kinser
Crocker
Almirola
Fedewa
Hornaday
Break in pit wall
East
Sprague
Kittleson
Crafton
Starr
Chaffin
Reid
Bliss
Scoring Camera/Start-Finish Line
Miller
Hamilton
Setzer
Jourdain
Darnell
Shepherd
Lester
Bodine
Break in pit wall
Musgrave
Gaughan
Reutimann
McCumbee
Mayfield
Ambrose
Great Crowd on Hand
09-23-2006 9:06 pm
As always the Las Vegas Motor Speedways is quickly filling up for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event. Organizers expect over 60,000 people in the stands and based on the parking lots and the line to get in we could easily break that total this evening.
Smith's Las Vegas 350 Race Updates 1-10
09-23-2006 9:08 pm
10. Lap 18 - Musgrave takes second pushing Miller back to third. Hornaday is now back up to 12th after falling to 14th after his slide for life in turn four. Bodine moves to the outside and passes Bliss for fifth.
9. Lap 15 - Bliss is putting serious heat on East for fourth. Musgrave has now caught Miller for second.
8. Lap 11 - Edwards has retired and Lynch coasts to the pits. Skinner is on Montgomery's tail to put him a lap down. The field is now single file. Reutimann dips inside Sprague to take ninth. Musgrave is closing the gap on Miller while Skinner stretches the lead on the field.
7. Lap 6 - Hornaday slides way out of the groove in turn four but does a masterful job of not making contact. He falls to 12th. Sprague nearly spins off turn four but saves it. Skinner and Miller are the lenght of the backstretch ahead of third place Musgave. East, Bliss, and Bodine are there with a 20 length gap on Darnell in seventh with Ambrose, Sprague and Reutimann the top-10.
6. Lap 3 - East moves under Hornaday but Hornaday is hanging tough in the outside. Musgrave now moves under East in three in a race for fifth. Early on the outside groove looks workable, but is not the preferred groove.
5. Green flag. Skinner peeks out front while Miller hangs East out in the outside groove. Hornaday moves to third as East falls to fourth. Skinner leads lap one.
4. Pace truck's lights are out. Next time by we will see green. The entire track is now out of the sun.
3. Trucks are rolling. Everyone has cleared the pit road. The field of 36 is broken into two groups to set pit road speed.
2. Engines have been started. There will be three pace laps on the initial roll-off. The sun is setting behind the main grandstand casting shadows over the frontstretch and turns one and two. Based on last night, we should be in full darkness by 9:30 pm ET.
1. The drivers have been introduced and are bucked in. Pit road speed is 45 mph, pace truck speed is 55 mph. No one is reported to be dropping to the back on the start.
Smith's Las Vegas 350 Race Updates 11-20
09-23-2006 9:40 pm
20. Lap 53 - Bliss comes to pit road with two thirds of the field. Skinner stays out with Musgrave, Miller, Darnell, East, Kinser, Benson, Reid, and Earnhardt. Sprague leads off pit road followed by Shepherd, Setzer, Lester, Gaughan, Bliss, Almirola, Hornaday, Crocker, Bodine, Ambrose, Crawford, Fedewa, Jourdain, Richardson, Kittleson, Starr, Cook, Crafton, Reutimann and Chaffin.
19. Lap 50 - Musgrave moves under Miller to take third. Darnell up to fifth. Hamilton Jr. pops the fence in turn three to bring out the third yellow of the day. He has a flat right front and damage to the right front fender.
18. Lap 45 - Skinner leads Musgrave, Bliss, Miller, Musgrave, Gaughan, Darnell, Sezter, Musgrave, Crawford, East, Reutimann, Kinser, Jourdain, Crocker, Hamilton, Benson, Reid, Cook, Sprague, Starr, Shepherd, Ambrose, Bodine, Lester, Almirola, Kittleson, Fedewa, Mayfield, Earnhardt, Crafton, Chaffin and Richardson on the lead lap.
17. Lap 40 - Reutimann pushed up and takes East up the track with him. Reutimann is back to 11th as East moves past to 10th.
16. Lap 37 - Hard racing on the restart. Gaughan up to third as Reutimann, Miller and Musgrave hammer on each other for fourth. Skinner leads.
15. Lap 34 - Bodine runs 31st after the penalty. Benson, fighting transmission problems, is 20th. No pit stops by anyone near the front. Skinner continues to lead.
14. Lap 32 - Skinner retakes the lead as McCumbee goes up in smoke down the frontstretch. Benson is reporting a transmission problem.
13. Lap 29 - Bliss leads on the restart but Skinner is all over him as they pull out to 30 lengths on the battle for third. Skinner looks inside but Bliss powers off the outside and holds the lead.
12. Lap 26 - Caution on the track due to fluid on the speedway. Fedewa receives the free pass. Kittleson stays out to lead lap 27. Bliss leads off pit road followed by Skinner, Setzer, Musgrave, Ambrose, Bodine, Crocker, Gaughan, Reutimann, McCumbee, Darnell, Miller, Hornaday, Kinser, East, Jourdain, Starr, Crawford, Almirola, Reid, Shepherd, Mayfield, Benson, Lester, Cook, Hamilton, Earnhardt, Chaffin, Sprague, Crafton, and Fedewa. Ambrose and Bodine raced off pit road side by side and got nailed for speeding, both will go to the end of the longest line for the restart.
11. Lap 23 - Bodine and Bliss both go to the outside in turns one and two and pass East. Bodine is now outside Miller in a race for third.
Smith's Las Vegas 350 Race Updates 21-30
09-23-2006 10:08 pm
30. Lap 92 - Hornaday leads on the restart as the race for third boils behind him. Reutimann takes third with Musgrave moving to fourth. Almirola moves to seventh ahead of Crafton. Musgrave now looks outside of Reutimann to take the spot with Benson following him through.
29. Lap 89 - Hornaday, Skinner, Crawford, Reutimann, Musgrave, Crafton, Benson, Earnhardt, and Almirola stay out. Setzer leads off pit road followed by Sprague, East, Ambrose, Cook, Kinser, Starr, Miller, Lester, Richardson, Bliss, Darnell, Crocker, Gaughan, Kittleson, Shpeherd, Fedewa, Bodine, and Mayfield. The top nine are banking on a quick caution to make their last stop while everyone else is set to go to the end.
28. Lap 87 - Shepherd spins in heavy traffic off turn four, but amazingly makes no contact and no one hits him. Caution is out.
27. Lap 83 - Ambrose leads by a second on Hornaday. Setzer closed up to make it a race for second. Bliss and Skinner round out the top five with Crawford in sixth, Reutimann, Musgrave, Darnell, Gaughan and Sprague to follow.
26. Lap 80 - Hornaday takes second on the restart. Gaughan goes three wide to the outside around Skinner and Kittleson.
25. Lap 75 - Ambrose stays out to lead while the rest of the field pits. Kittleson is second with Hornaday, Setzer, Gaughan, Bliss, Crawford, Reutimann, Skinner, Musgrave, Darnell, Earnhardt, Cook, Sprague, Shepherd, Crocker, East, Kinser,Miller, Benson, Almirola, Crafton, Starr, Mayfield, Fedewa, Bodine, and Richardson.
24. Lap 73 - Halfway. Skinner leads as Jourdain spins in turn two, nearly hitting the outside wall before sliding down and popping the inside wall. Caution is out for the fourth time.
23. Lap 65 - Concerns about the outside groove seem unfounded as Bodine has been upstairs for the last 10 laps racing Ambrose and Crawford. Skinner continues to lead Musgrave, Darnell, Miller and East.
22. Lap 58 - Veterans up front but rookies run third through sixth as Skinner leads Musgrave, Darnell, Miller, East and Kinser. Benson is seventh with Reid, Sprague and Shepherd the top ten.
21. Lap 56 - Green flag. Darnell takes third. Musgrave is on Skinner's tail. East moves to the oiutside of Kinser to take fifth.
Smith's Las Vegas 350 Race Updates 31 -
09-23-2006 10:40 pm
43. Lap 143 - Benson takes third around the outside of Hornaday in turn three.
42. Lap 138 - Bodine races Crawford side by side for twelfth. Skinner leads by five lengths with six laps to go.
41. Lap 132 - Fedewa is off the pace and coasting through turns three and four. Bliss looks to the outside of Hornaday for third. Bodine takes advantage as Crawford carries Gaughan to the wall in turn two.
40. Lap 129 - Benson passes Reutimann for fifth. Earnhardt is challenging Kinser for tenth.
39. Lap 125 - Restart. Skinner goes to the inside into three to take the lead. Hornaday tries but Musgrave closes the door. Ambrose passes Setzer for sixth.
38. Lap 128 - Sprague goes to the apron to pass Setzer for position but loses traction and spins into turn one. He makes no contact although the sheet metal on the bed is peeled up. He has to pit for repairs. Musgrave leads Skinner, Hornaday, Reutimann, Benson, Bliss, Setzer, Ambrose, Almirola, Earnhardt, Kinser, East, Crafton, Gaughan, Cook, Crawford,Darnell, Shepherd, Lester, Mayfield, Bodine, Fedewa, Crocker, Starr, Chaffin, and Sprague.
37. Lap 117 - Musgrave takes the lead with Skinner moving past Hornaday to second. Reutimann and Benson close in and make it a race for third.
36. Lap 114 - Hornaday takes the lead around the outside with Musgrave to second.
35. Lap 113 - The one to go signal is being given after an extended cleanup.
34. Lap 108 - Skinner, Hornaday, Musgrave, Benson, Reutimann, Almirola, Setzer, Crafton, Sprague, Ambrose, Bliss, East, Kinser, Earnhardt, Cook, Darnell, Gaughan , Shepherd, Lester, Chaffin, Mayfield, Kittleson, Crocker, Crawford, Bodine, Fedewa, Starr and Richardson are the lead lap trucks. Crawford gave up fourth to pit, but he now knows for sure he can go to the end.
33. Lap 107 - Pit road is closed due to the fluid on the speedway.
32. Lap 103 - Crafton gets boxed behind Jourdain and loses four spots. Skinner leads Hornaday, Murgave, Crawford, Benson, Reutimann, Almirola, Earnhardt, Sprague, Ambrose, Bliss, East, Kinser and Crafton. Miller's engine gives up on the frontstretch to bring out the caution.
31. Lap 99 - Ambrose and East race side by side for 12th. East is hanging tough on the outside. Miller nearly brushes the wall on the exit of four.
Smith's Las Vegas 350 Unofficial Results
09-23-2006 11:23 pm
1. Skinner
2. Musgrave
3. Bliss
4. Benson
5. Hornaday
6. Reutimann
7. Ambrose
8. Setzer
9. Kinser
10. Almirola
11. Earnhardt
12. Bodine
13. Sprague
14. Crawford
15. Gaughan
16. Cook
17. Darnell
18. Shepherd
19. Lester
20. Starr
21. Crafton
22. East
23. Mayfield
24. Crocker
25. Chaffin
26. Hamilton
27. Richardson
28. Montgomery
29. Fedewa
30. Jourdain
31. Kittleson
32. Miller
33. Reid
34. McCumbee
35. Lynch
36. Edwards
Pit Notes
09-24-2006 12:03 am
- This is Mike Skinner’s 19th career victory and first since Sept. 8, 2005. His last win came at Richmond International Raceway. This was Skinner’s 27th start since winning at Richmond
- Skinner is the series’ 10th different winner in 2006.
- This is Bill Davis Racing’s fifth victory of the season. Skinner’s teammate, Johnny Benson, has won four times.
- This is Toyota’s 10th victory of the 2006 season. That is the most by the manufacturer that won nine times a year ago.
- Runnerup finisher Ted Musgrave matches his best finish of the season. He was second at Martinsville Speedway in April. Musgrave has finished in the top five in four of his last five races.
- Mike Bliss, in third, posts his second best finish of the season. He was second at The Milwaukee Mile in late June.
- Johnny Benson finishes fourth to unofficially cut Todd Bodine’s championship lead to 91 points with six races remaining. Benson has picked up 63 points over the past two races.
- Marcos Ambrose is the highest finishing Raybestos Rookie of the race in seventh place. Raybestos Rookie candidates scored three top-10 finishes.
Penalty Report
09-24-2006 12:06 am
PENALTY REPORT
Smith’s Las Vegas 350 - Las Vegas Motor Speedway
September 23, 2006
Truck Penalty Reason Issued
20 TE Too fast exiting Lap 26
30 TE Too fast exiting Lap 26
08 TE Pitting before pit road open Lap 33
18 TE Pitting before pit road open Lap 52
50 TE Pitting before pit road open Lap 75
50 TE Rolling tire Lap 77
50 Pit Check hood pins Lap 121
PT – Pass through TE – Tail end of the longest line
SG – Stop and Go OL – One lap
ND – NASCAR discretion MCI – Must come into pits
Audio!
09-24-2006 1:33 am
We know it's late, but while you are dozing off feel free to listen to any of our several post race interviews. We have Mike Skinner, Ted Musgave, Mike Bliss, Johnny Benson, Marcos Ambrose, Kraig Kinser, Aric Almirola, Kerry Earnhardt, and Todd Bodine. There are well over a hundred images in our TruckShots! gallery so check those out too!
Skinner Settles Vegas Score
09-24-2006 1:37 am
Skinner Dominates Vegas; Scores Smith’s 350 Victory
Mike Skinner had earned three consecutive poles in the desert, but going into tonight’s Smith’s Las Vegas 350 the victory trophy managed to elude him. After dominating the race – leading for 114 of the race’s 146 laps – Skinner not only takes home the trophy but made the statement that he and the No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the remainder of the 2006 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season.
Skinner defeated defending series champion Ted Musgrave in a surprisingly clean and competitive race on the newly reconfigured 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway tri-oval. Musgrave made a strong move on a late-race restart, going past Skinner on the outside to take the lead. But not to be denied, Skinner repaid the favor on the final restart of the night to reclaim the lead and motor on to his 19th career series victory.
“The move Ted (Musgrave) made on me there was pretty awesome,” Skinner said. “I was still trying to catch my breath after (Ron) Hornaday had my rear tires lifted off the ground down the backstretch. “The results tonight were pretty awesome. We had a really good truck. We quit practice early yesterday, and then we quit practice early again today because I wanted to save laps for the race. I knew if the race stayed green we had a truck that was going to be hard to beat. I think our truck turned just a little better than Ted’s in the corner.”
For Skinner, the win vindicates his Jeff Hensley-led crew after a year's worth of frustration.
“It’s about time," Skinner said. "This team has been strong enough to win races all year. It’s either been the driver messing up, or a mechanical problem, or a pit stop going wrong, or that caution flag. And, I was praying that a caution wouldn’t come out those last five laps. We’ve dominated so many races this season and come up short. This easily could have been our fifth win this year. We’ve doiminated four or five of these races and just come up short for one reason or another.”
Musgrave's strong run and second-place finish was a nice rebound after a tough result in New Hampshire last week. He led laps for the first time since May in Mansfield, and kept the No. 9 Team ASE Toyota in contention before eventually finishing 0.309 seconds off Skinner for the win.
"That does put some wind back in the sails after last week," Musgrave said. "We came out and had a strong run and that's what these guys need. I've never finished out of the top three in the points, and last week certainly didn't help that effort, but we are in the strongest part of our season. I traditionally make a pretty good charge late in the season, and we are definitely going down swinging."
Mike Bliss finished third in the No. 16 XPress Motorsports Chevrolet. Bliss expressed his surprise that the racing was as good as it was on the new surface.
"I was definitely surprised with how well the race went," Bliss said. "I didn't expect the high side to be as good as it was. We went up there a couple of times and were able to make some moves. I wasn't to thrilled about it but it worked out."
Johnny Benson finished fourth in the No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota, a strong finish despite the fact he fought transmission problems following his first pit stop of the evening.
"These guys never gave up," Benson said. "We don't have any races circled on the calendar or any crossed off. What we do have circled is that date in Orlando. We're doing everything we can do to make sure we get there first. If not we may come home in second or we may not. But that's the ultimate goal. We struggled a little bit with the transmission for the second week in a row. Last week it wasn't a big deal, except it didn't let me do a burnout. This week it was a little more of a problem."
Ron Hornaday rounded out the top five, with David Reutimann sixth, Marcos Ambrose seventh, Dennis Setzer eighth, Kraig Kinser ninth, and Aric Almirola rounded out the top ten.
The pre-race concerns of problems with the surface and numerous incidents proved unfounded. A jet dryer fuel spill on the track prior to yesterday's open test raised concerns, but in the end the track held up with no deterioration and offered two- and even three-wide racing at times. Four on-track incidents drew the caution flag - there were seven total for 31 laps - but none were for major incidents. Bobby Hamilton, Jr. had a tire go down entering turn three on lap 53 forcing him into the turn three wall. Michel Jourdain spun in turn two and impacted the inside wall, while his Roush Racing teammate Peter Shepherd spun off turn four without making contact despite being in a pack of traffic. Finally, Jack Sprague did a Joie Chitwood imitation with a smokey spin in front of the packed frontstretch grandstands while racing with Setzer to bring out the final caution of the day on lap 122. The numerous cautions held the race to a 117.812 mile per average speed, the slowest of the 11 NCTS races run at LVMS.
Bodine continues to lead the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship standings, but took a 33-point hit in the standings. Benson has now cut the lead unofficially to just 91 points with six races left in the 2006 season. David Reutimann is third, with Musgrave back up to fourth and Rick Crawford in fifth. David Starr is sixth, Hornaday seventh, Bliss eighth, Sprague ninth and Terry Cook rounds out the top ten.
Next up for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is the Talladega 250, the inaugural series race at Talladega Superspeedway. TruckSeries.com will have complete event coverage starting on Thursday October 5th with TrackSideLive! coverage of practice, followed by Live! Bud Pole Qualifying on Friday October 6. Round 20 of the 2006 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is scheduled for Saturday October 7.
That's All from Vegas
09-24-2006 1:39 am
Since we have this deal with the airlines that says if for whatever reason we are not on the plane when it's time to go that they can leave without us, we need to call it a night from LVMS. There is plenty to listen to in the Sights and Sounds Box, and of course keep checking back throughout the next two weeks leading up to the Talladega race for all the news and notes from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. We gotta run! Until then, so long every body!
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