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TrackSideLive!
| Silverado 350K
Texas Motor Speedway | November 2 - 3, 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!
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Good Morning from Texas
11-02-2006 10:28 am
Good morning from Texas Motor Speedway, site of tomorrow's Silverado 350, round 23 of the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. It is a beautiful day with sun bathing down on northern Texas. Hopefully the sun will warm the air as it was in the low 40s when the sun rose above the horizon this morning. Today's high temperature is expected to reach the mid 60s, so it should be a very pleasant work day for the teams and the drivers. We will have all the news and notes from the NCTS paddock, and we'll of course have all of the action from practice leading up to this evening's Live! Bud Pole Qualifying at 8 pm ET. Stick with us, we have much more throughout the day from TMS.
TMS Track Facts
11-02-2006 10:31 am
Texas Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile quad-oval, with a double dog-leg front stretch. It is 58 feet wide, and the turns have a 750-foot radius. Each turn is banked at 24 degrees, with the straightaways banked at 5 degrees. The frontstretch is 2,250 feet long, and the backstretch is 1,330 feet in length.
There are a total of 159,585 permanent seats at TMS, with the infield capacity allowing a total of 210,000+ to squeeze in. The large grandstands fill up nicely for the Truck Series races as well, with nearly 70,000 people expected for this weekend's race.
TMS Winners
11-02-2006 10:37 am
Here are the previous NCTS winners at TMS (since 1999, there have been two races per season at TMS; the "1" and the "2" following those years denotes either the first or second race of the season):
1997 - Kenny Irwin, Jr.
1998 - Tony Raines
1999 1 - Dennis Setzer
1999 2 - Jay Sauter
2000 1 - Greg Biffle
2000 2 - Bryan Reffner
2001 1 - Jack Sprague
2001 2 - Travis Kvapil
2002 1 - Brendan Gaughan
2002 2 - Brendan Gaughan
2003 1 - Brendan Gaughan
2003 2 - Brendan Gaughan
2004 1 - Dennis Setzer
2004 2 - Todd Bodine
2005 1 - Jack Sprague
2005 2 - Todd Bodine
2006 1 - Todd Bodine
TMS Top-5s
11-02-2006 10:43 am
Here are drivers that have scored at least one top five finish at Texas Motor Speedway in Truck Series competition:
Dennis Setzer 6
Jack Sprague 6
David Starr 6
Rick Crawford 6
Brendan Gaughan 5
Travis Kvapil 5
Andy Houston 4
Greg Biffle 3
Ted Musgrave 3
Mike Wallace 3
Johnny Benson 3
Todd Bodine 3
David Reutimann 3
Mike Skinner 3
Carl Edwards 2
Bryan Reffner 2
Joe Ruttman 2
Jay Sauter2
Randy Tolsma 2
Mike Bliss 1
Chuck Bown 1
Kurt Busch 1
Kyle Busch 1
Chad Chaffin 1
Stacy Compton 1
Matt Crafton 1
Coy Gibbs 1
Bobby Hamilton 1
Kevin Harvick 1
Ricky Hendrick 1
Jimmy Hensley 1
Kenny Irwin, Jr. 1
Lance Norick 1
Tony Raines 1
Boris Said III 1
Jon Wood 1
NCTS TMS Track Records
11-02-2006 10:49 am
Qualifying: Mike Skinner, June 2005, 29.524 seconds/182.902 mph
Race (350 km): Brendan Gaughan, 1 hr. 37 mins. 54 secs/137.736 mph
Lead changes: 15, 2000 1 & 2000 2
Fewest lead changes: 1, 1997
Most leaders: 10, 1998
Fewest leaders: 2, 1997
Most cautions: 9, 1998 & 2004 2
Fewest cautions: 3, 2001 1, 2002 2, 2004 1
Most caution laps: 46, 1998
Fewest caution laps: 21, 2001 1
Most lead lap finishers: 24, 2005 2
Fewest lead lap finishers: 6, 2000 1 & 2002 1
Closest margin of victory: 0.208 seconds, 1999 1
Widest margin of victory: 11.817 seconds, 2004 1
Best start position of a winner: 1st, Jay Sauter 1999 2, Greg Biffle, 2000 1, Bryan Reffner, 2000 2
Worst start position of a winner: 22nd, Todd Bodine, 2004 2
Most laps led by a winner: 119, Greg Biffle, 2000 1
Fewest laps led by a winner: 1, Todd Bodine, 2006 1
Off to the Garage...
11-02-2006 10:59 am
We're going to take the camera and the microphone to the garage to get some TruckShots and some pre-practice audio clips. We'll be back and continue updates shortly!
Back from Garage
11-02-2006 12:13 pm
We have returned from the garage area, we have a nice first batch of pics to post shortly and three audio interviews for you to check out. We talked to Terry Cook about his solid second place finish last week and compares and contrasts Atlanta and Texas. We talked to two-time Texas winner Dennis Setzer and talked about his first win here in 1999 and how it really is like a second "home" race for his team, which used to be based in nerby Hennessy, Oklahoma. Chad Chaffin talks to us about his strong last week in Atlanta and he told us he had a unique strategy that could have resulted in a top-five finish, and while that strategy might not work here he thinks his team is knocking on the door of racing into the top five. Look to the Sights and Sounds box and click on each driver's name to listen.
A Couple New Looks...
11-02-2006 12:35 pm
There are a couple of teams sporting some new looks here this weekend:
Justin Labonte's No. 24 Bill Miller Equipment Sales Toyota.
Ron Hornaday's No. 33 RoadLoans.com Chevrolet.
TMS Entry List Updates
11-02-2006 12:42 am
Here are the updates to our "normal" weekly entry list:
Robert Richardson is carrying the "Vote Kinky" colors for Texas gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman on the No. 1 Chevrolet.
Wayne Edwards has been added to the field in the No. 03 U.S. Restoration Chevy.
David Ragan moves back to the No. 6 Scott's Ford this week.
Kerry Earnhardt is carrying Lowery Plumbing logos on the No. 13 ThorSport Racing Chevrolet.
Kyle Busch is back behind the wheel of the No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Chevy.
Bad Boy Mowers in backing Bill Lester's No. 22 Toyota this weekend.
Justin Labonte makes his series debut in the No. 24 Bill Miller Equipment Sales Toyota.
Ron Hornaday is carrying RoadLoans.com colors on the No. 33 KHI Chevy.
Shane Huffman returns to the No. 40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet this week after taking last week off to race the Busch race in Memphis.
Clint Bowyer is back for his third start of the season in the No. 46 Jack Daniels Chevy.
Michel Jourdain takes the reins of the No. 50 PurposeMoney.com Ford.
Chris Wimmer is behind the wheel of the locally-based No. 76 Automotive Fabrication Chevy.
Sprague and Con-way Back at Wyler in 2007
11-02-2006 12:54 pm
Jack Sprague and Con-way Freight will both return to the Wyler Racing Team in 2007. Sprague has won two races so far in 2006 for the team and looks forward to 2007 as he braces himself for a run at his fourth series championship. We will talk to Sprague about 2007 during the break between practice sessions this afternoon, so stick around and check it out.
Truck Garage a Tight Fit
11-02-2006 1:20 pm
With all three NASCAR series participating here this weekend, the NCTS garage is tightly wedged into the parking area inside turn one. The teams used the same area last fall, and found it to be a very tight fit as several drivers made contact backing out of their work areas. NASCAR reacted and re-parked the rigs, adding several feet of room for them last year, and it appears there is even more room to work this year.
Practice Up Next
11-02-2006 1:24 pm
The NCTS teams have finished their early preparations and are now ready to take to the track for the first practice session of the day. We will have all the updates for you as the action unfolds on the track, including several timing updates throughout. Stick with us, things are about to pick up here at TMS...
Earnhardt Brushes Wall; Red Out
11-02-2006 1:39 pm
Kerry Earnhardt has just brushed the outside wall, doing significant damage to the right side of the No. 13 Chevrolet. The red flag is out while track safety crews inspect the speedway. We should be back to green flag shortly.
More Bad News for ThorSport
11-02-2006 1:44 pm
The green flag just came back out, but no sooner did the red flight flicker off than it went right back on. This time, the red flag is for oil on the speedway as the engine on Matt Crafton's No. 88 Chevy has apparently expired. Both ThorSport Racing trucks have now had problems within the first 12 minutes of practice.
Practice 1 Rundown 1
11-02-2006 1:49 pm
1. Skinner 183.580
2. Musgrave 182.729
3. Bowyer 182.537
4. Hornaday 182.488
5. Lester 182.039
6. Bodine 181.984
7. Crawford 181.800
8. Gaughan 181.452
9. Busch 181.165
10. Crafton 181.123
11. Almirola 180.862
12. Benson 180.862
13. Ragan 180.808
14. Earnhardt 180.524
15. Sprague 180.349
16. Bliss 180.204
17. Setzer 180.054
18. East 179.904
19. Cook 179.820
20. Darnell 179.736
21. Labonte 179.313
22. Ambrose 179.241
23. Starr 179.235
24. Reutimann 179.027
25. Chaffin 178.808
26. Crocker 178.136
27. Miller 177.807
28. Lusk 176.925
29. McCumbee 174.407
30. Mickel 173.723
31. Jourdain 173.488
32. Hamilton, Jr. 173.416
33. Huffman 172.800
34. Richardson 164.870
Practice 1 Rundown 2
11-02-2006 2:09 pm
1. Benson 183.748
2. Skinner 183.580
3. Musgrave 183.337
4. Reutimann 183.281
5. Sprague 183.169
6. Busch 183.076
7. Bowyer 182.784
8. Hornaday 182.488
9. Lester 182.352
10. Bliss 182.199
11. Bodine 182.174
12. Almirola 181.965
13. Crawford 181.935
14. Ragan 181.586
15. Gaughan 181.452
16. Ambrose 181.251
17. East 181.214
18. Crafton 181.123
19. Starr 181.020
20. Miller 180.947
21. Setzer 180.789
22. Earnhardt 180.524
23. Darnell 180.463
24. Cook 180.084
25. Hamilton 180.000
26. Labonte 179.976
27. Crocker 179.599
28. Chaffin 178.808
29. Mickel 177.550
30. Huffman 177.322
31. McCumbee 176.974
32. Lusk 176.927
33. Richardson 174.754
34. Jourdain 174.513
35. Wimmer No Time
36. Chapman No Time
Earnhardt Update
11-02-2006 2:20 pm
Kerry Earnhardt was seen and released from the infield care center following his crash earlier. Earnhard had reported a tire went down, and as you can see below, there was a problem with the inner shoulder on the right front tire of the No. 13 Chevy:
The ThorSport Racing Team has unloaded it's backup for Earnhardt and he should be on the track soon.
Practice 1 Nearly Over
11-02-2006 2:29 pm
Benson still leads Skinner, Musgrave, Reutimann and Sprague as the final seconds tick off the countdown to the end of the first session. We'll have a complete timing update posted to the event box on the main page shortly.
Bowyer Leads Rookie Practice
11-02-2006 3:28 pm
With a few moments left in the 30-minute session, Clint Bowyer leads the rookie session over Marcos Ambrose, Aric Almirola, Bobby East, Erik Darnell, Chase Miller, Erin Crocker, Justin Labonte, Shane Huffman, Robert Richardson, and Chad McCumbee. No incidents have occurred in this session. As soon as the 30 minutes are up, we'll move directly into the final full-field practice for the Silverado 350.
Final Practice Underway
11-02-2006 3:35 pm
The final practice session has just gotten underway. Terry Cook, David Starr, Mike Bliss, Bill Lester, and David Reutimann are the early leaders but just a handful of trucks have been out so far. We'll update all of the action as it happens, and bring you periodic timing updates throughout as well.
Welcome Back Kearns
11-02-2006 3:37 pm
Okay, so it's not a popular 70's TV show, but you can almost hear the theme song playing in the background...
After attending 288 consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races dating back to the very first one at Phoenix in 1995, NCTS manager of communications Owen Kearns sat out last week's race at Atlanta. The doctors have allowed Owen to get back on the road and he's here at Texas ready to start another streak.
"I have a feeling the next streak won't quite reach 288," Kearns joked in the media center before practice started. TruckSeries.com certainly hopes Owen is with us for many, many years to come!
Final Practice Rundown 1
11-02-2006 3:56 pm
1. Skinner 183.076
2. Bowyer 183.890
3. Gaughan 182.766
4. East 182.698
5. Reutimann 182.611
6. Setzer 182.297
7. Hornaday 182.131
8. Lester 182.088
9. Hamilton, Jr. 182.008
10. Sprague 181.900
11. Benson 181.714
12. Crawford 181.702
13. Busch 181.635
14. Bliss 181.574
15. McCumbee 181.409
16. Darnell 181.342
17. Ragan 181.087
18. Musgrave 180.929
19. Crocker 180.705
20. Miller 180.530
21. Cook 180.475
22. Chaffin 180.294
23. Crafton 180.108
24. Bodine 179.880
25. Ambrose 179.575
26. Lusk 179.366
27. Starr 179.211
28. Labonte 179.104
29. Mickel 178.980
30. Huffman 178.790
31. Jourdain 178.790
32. Wimmer 170.729
Garage Time for Two Teams
11-02-2006 4:02 pm
Two teams have spent some time in the garage area rather than out on the track. The No. 75 Chevrolet has had to have an engine change, keeping Aric Almirola off the track. John Mickel has had to spend some time in the garage as well while the Green Light Racing team changes out an alternator on the No. 07 Chevy.
Final Practice Rundown 2
11-02-2006 4:16 pm
1. Skinner 185.008
2. Reutimann 184.508
3. Crawford 183.511
4. Bowyer 183.212
5. Gaughan 182.766
6. Benson 182.741
7. East 182.698
8. Setzer 182.297
9. Hornaday 182.131
10. Lester 182.088
11. Darnell 182.033
12. Hamilton, Jr. 182.008
13. Sprague 181.800
14. Busch 181.635
15. Bliss 181.574
16. McCumbee 181.409
17. Ragan 181.281
18. Cook 181.257
19. Labonte 181.245
20. Musgrave 180.929
21. Miller 180.705
22. Crocker 180.705
23. Starr 180.668
24. Chaffin 180.294
25. Ambrose 180.204
26. Bodine 180.150
27. Crafton 180.108
28. Lusk 179.982
29. Earnhardt 179.832
30. Mickel 178.980
31. Huffman 178.790
32. Jourdain 177.989
33. Chapman 177.462
34. Richardson 176.269
35. Wimmer 170.729
36. Almirola No Time (Engine Change)
Practice Over; Heading to Garage
11-02-2006 4:40 pm
The practice sessions have all come to an end, and we're going to take the microphones back to the paddocl and get some sound with the major players. We'll be back to update TrackSideLive! shortly...
Practice Audio Posted
11-02-2006 6:15 pm
We wandered the garage and found several drivers to chat with following practice. We talked to current NCTS point leader Todd Bodine and asked him about his truck today, and how coming back to Texas bouys his confidence after a rough weekend at Atlanta. Kyle Busch talked about his chances for picking up another win, and Brendan Gaughan said he's nervously excited about his chances, and then he gives us his take on the championship contenders as the season winds down. Finally, we talked to Bobby East who was fast in practice and looks like he will again be a contender in qualifying for the second week in a row. Look to the Sights and Sounds box to the right side of the TrackSideLive! page and click on each driver's name to listen.
Trucks Headed to Pit Road
11-02-2006 6:28 pm
The teams are getting their trucks through inspection and headed for the pre-qualifying grid on pit road. Qualifying comes up at 8 pm ET, and you can follow all of the action right here on TruckSeries.com. It is a cool night here in Texas, perfect for making horsepower and downforce which leads us all to believe we will see a track record lap in qualifying. Mike Skinner cracked the 185 mph barrier in final practice, and he could go even quicker when it's time to roll for the pole. After the field is set, we will stick around for the post-qualifying press conference and we'll talk to each of them individually as well so stay with us for much more!
Progression of the Pole
11-02-2006 9:51 pm
Robert Richardson, out first, 30.821, starts 35th
Shane Huffman, out second, 30.394, starts 33rd
Kerry Earnhardt, out third, 29.582, starts 15th
Johnny Benson, out fourth, 29.524, starts 11th
Terry Cook, out fifth, 29.336, starts third
Clint Bowyer, out 20th, 29.274, starts first
TMS Bud Pole Fast Facts
11-02-2006 9:51 pm
Clint Bowyer earned his first career NCTS Bud Pole in qualifying; it comes in his third career series start...Bowyer is the 11th Bud Pole winner of 2006...Bowyer is one of nine drivers to eclipse the previous track record...Bowyer is the fifth driver to win his first Bud Pole in his third series start.
Good Night All!
11-02-2006 9:56 pm
That's a wrap from TMS for Thursday! We will be back tomorrow to preview the Silverado 350 starting at 1 pm ET. Until then, good night everybody!
Good Afternoon from TMS
11-03-2006 2:25 pm
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to raceday coverage for the Silverado 350 at Texas Motor Speedway. It is a great day here, with a high temp of 65 expected. It will cool off come NCTS race time, but it should be comfortable for drivers and teams on pit road. We will have all of the pre-race news and notes, cover the drivers meeting, and of course get some pre-race interviews leading you up to the green flag tonight at 9 pm ET.
TMS Best Finishes
11-03-2006 2:32 pm
Here is each driver entered and their best finish here in a Truck Series race at TMS:
Todd Bodine 1st
Brendan Gaughan 1st
Johnny Benson 2nd
Rick Crawford 2nd
Mike Skinner 2nd
Kyle Busch 3rd
Ted Musgrave 3rd
Dennis Setzer 3rd
David Starr 3rd
David Reutimann 5th
Terry Cook 6th
Ron Hornaday 7th
David Ragan 8th
Mike Bliss 9th
Chad McCumbee 9th
Bill Lester 11th
Damon Lusk 11th
Matt Crafton 12th
Chad Chaffin 15th
Bobby Hamilton, Jr. 25th
John Mickel 25th
Marcos Ambrose 27th
Chris Wimmer 27th
Bobby East 28th
Robert Richardson 28th
Erin Crocker 33rd
Aric Almirola 34th
Kerry Earnhardt 34th
Erik Darnell 35th
Here are the drivers making their first NCTS start at TMS: Chase Miller, Justin Labonte, Shane Huffman, Clint Bowyer, Michel Jourdain
TMS NCTS Races Summary
11-03-2006 2:47 pm
There have been 17 previous Truck Series races at TMS. The average starting position of the winner is 6.29. The pole winner has won three times, and the deepest starting position of a winner is 22nd position.
There are an average of 12 lead lap finishers. The most was 24 in November 2005; the fewest was 6 in June 2000.
There are an average of 10.2 lead changers per race. The most was 15, twice, in both 2000 races. The fewest was 1 in 1997.
There are an average of 6.24 lead drivers per race. The most was 10 in 1998; the fewest was 2 in 1997.
The caution flag waves an average of 5.71 times per race. The most was 9, twice, in 1998 and in October 2004; the fewest was 3, three times, in June 2001, September 2003, and June 2004.
The cumulative average speed is 128.446 miles per hour. The fastest race was 148.959 mph, the slowest was 111.018 mph.
2006 Laps Led
11-03-2006 3:01 pm
Mark Martin 522
Mike Skinner 508
Ron Hornaday 313
Jack Sprague 307
Todd Bodine 286
Johnny Benson 284
Kyle Busch 227
Ted Musgrave 155
Rick Crawford 155
David Reutimann 148
David Starr 148
Clint Bowyer 92
Mike Bliss 91
Dennis Setzer 81
David Ragan 77
Marcos Ambrose 77
Terry Cook 62
Bobby Hamilton, Jr. 36
Erik Darnell 24
Kyle Krisiloff 16
Bobby Labonte 10
A.J. Allmendinger 9
Jon Wood 6
Kerry Earnhardt 5
Mike Wallace 4
Bill Lester 3
Boston Reid 3
Chad McCumbee 3
Brad Keselowski 2
Brendan Gaughan 2
Matt Crafton 2
Kevin Hamlin 1
Chad Chaffin 1
Kelly Sutton 1
T.J. Bell 1
Travis Kittleson 1
Sean Murphy 1
2006 Key Race Statistics
11-03-2006 3:07 pm
Avg start of winner: 7.6
Highest: 22nd, Kentucky and Nashville
Lowest: 1st, Daytona, Atlanta, Memphis, Bristol, Las Vegas, Talladega, Martinsville
Rick Crawford starts 7th, Kyle Busch starts 8th. The deepest anyone has started and gone on to win in NCTS competition at TMS is 22nd. Justin Labonte starts 22nd this evening.
Avg lead changes per race: 9.5
Most: 21, Daytona and Atlanta
Fewest: 2, Mansfield, Bristol
Avg lead drivers per race: 5.5
Most: 9, Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta 2
Fewest: 2, Atlanta 1, Charlotte, Bristol, Martinsville 2
Avg caution flags per race: 8.9
Most: 18, Mansfield
Fewest: 4, Atlanta 1, Dover
Avg caution laps per race: 39.5
Most: 87, Martinsville 1
Fewest: 17, Daytona
Avg running at finish: 31.2
Most: 35, Dover, Kansas, Memphis
Fewest: 26, Talladega
Avg lead lap finishers: 21.3
Most: 30, Michigan
Fewest: 13, Texas 1
Stat Summary, YTD
11-03-2006 3:18 pm
All of 2005:
Avg start of winner - 8.9
Cumulative lead changes - 232
Avg lead changes per race - 9.3
Avg lead drivers per race - 6.3
Total caution laps - 868
Avg caution flags per race - 7.6
2005 YTD:
Avg start of winner - 9.14
Cumulative lead changes - 210
Avg lead changes per race - 9.55
Avg lead drivers per race - 6.36
Total caution laps - 790
Avg caution flags per race - 7.77
2006 YTD:
Avg start of winner - 7.59
Cumulative lead changes - 209
Avg lead changes per race - 9.5
Avg lead drivers per race - 5.55
Total caution laps - 868
Avg caution flags per race - 8.86
There has been exactly as many caution flag laps through 22 races in 2006 as there was for the entire 2005 season.
Wins by MFR, All Time
11-03-2006 3:23 pm
Chevy: 124
Dodge: 64
Ford: 77
Toyota: 24
Last win:
Chevy - 10/28/06 Atlanta, Mike Bliss
Dodge - 5/15/05 Mansfield, Bobby Hamilton
Ford - 10/7/06 Talladega, Mark Martin
Toyota - 10/21/06 Martinsville, Jack Sprague
Current Year MFR Performance
11-03-2006 3:26 pm
Chevrolet: 4 wins, 1 pole, 20 top-5, 57 top-10, 844 laps led
Dodge: 0 wins, 1 pole, 4 top-5, 13 top-10, 52 laps led
Ford: 7 wins, 6 poles, 24 top-5, 55 top-10, 925 laps led
Toyota: 11 wins, 12 poles, 62 top-5, 95 top-10, 1826 laps led
Off to the Garage...
11-03-2006 3:38 pm
We're going to head off to the garage for some pre-race audio, news, and notes leading up to the drivers meeting. We'll be back to update TrackSideLive! shortly...
Special Awards
11-03-2006 5:45 pm
Here are the special award winners, to be presented during driver introductions:
Bod Pole Award: Clint Bowyer
Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Award: Terry Cook
Clevite Engine Builders Award: Mark Smith, No. 16
Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award: Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
Mobil 1 Command Performance Award: Mike Bliss
Raybestos Rookie of the Race Award: Erik Darnell
Wix Filters Lap Leader Award: Mike Bliss
Pit Road Rules
11-03-2006 5:48 pm
Pit road speed: 45 mph
Pace truck speed: 55 mph
Pit road speed begins 240 feet before first pit stall
Pit road speed ends 150 feet after last pit stall
Silverado 350 Pit Assignments
11-03-2006 5:49 pm
Here are the pit stall assignments for the Silverado 350, starting with the first pit stall at the exit of pit road and ending with the last pit stall at the entrance to pit road:
Bowyer
Gaughan
Miller
Hamilton, Jr.
Earnhardt
Busch
Open stall
Cook
Crocker
Setzer
Ambrose
Skinner
Break in pit wall
East
McCumbee
Darnell
Chaffin
Bliss
Huffman
Sprague
Starr
Crawford
Open stall
Start/Finish Line
Open Stall
Reutimann
Open stall
Musgrave
Almirola
Labonte
Chapman
Bodine
Mickel
Ragan
Lester
Break in pit wall
Hornaday
Richardson
Crafton
Lusk
Jourdain
Wimmer
Benson
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Toyota
Silverado 350 Preview
11-03-2006 6:49 pm
The Busch Series cars are out for their qualifying session, and the sun has set on the Texas Motor Speedway. The skies are clear and the temperatures are slowly dipping and will eventually slide down into the mid 40s. The NCTS teams have completed their final adjustments and are awaiting the conclusion of the qualifying session to move their trucks to pit road. Most have already set up their pit stalls and are enjoying a little down time before they go to battle at 9 pm ET.
Let's preview the race tonight driver by driver:
Clint Bowyer - First pole, has been strong in both previous NCTS starts this season. Should lead laps here tonight and the MDM team has won here previously.
Mike Skinner - Beat for the pole, Skinner is blindingly fast on short runs; the more cautions we have particularly early and late will keep the No. 5 in the hunt.
Terry Cook - Cook has the mile and a half program down; was the fastest truck at the end in Atlanta and will be a threat to win tonight.
Bobby East - East has been fast in qualifying but is learning the ropes when it comes time to race; look for him to follow Cook and learn from his brother-in-law and have a solid shot at his first top-10.
David Reutimann - One top five in the past here at TMS, but he's also had the hardest crash of his career here; Reutimann wants to end his NCTS career on a high note and Toyota power may allow him to do that here tonite.
Ted Musgrave - Musgrave wants to keep his consecutive years with a win streak going, and although he's never had the best of luck here he's always been fast. Musgrave will be a factor on lap 146.
Rick Crawford - Crawford finished third in the first NCTS race here in 1997, and is hungry for a win in his owner's home state; watch for the 14 to make a run at his first Texas checkered flag.
Kyle Busch - Busch and crew chief Richie Wauters have a unique chemistry that breeds success; they won earlier in the year at Charlotte and will be in the mix all night long here as well.
Ron Hornaday - Hornaday won on the 1.5-miler at Kentucky, and the KHI truck has always been strong at Texas; new sponsor colors give Hornaday an added motivation to take it to the front tonight.
Bill Lester - Lester has had a nightmare season, but a strong qualifying run could lead to a strong race this evening; a top-5 here tonight will go a long way to ease the frustrations.
Johnny Benson - Benson needs to finish a handful of positions ahead of Todd Bodine to stay in contention for the title; Benson has finished in the top five here tonight and can afford no less tonight.
Erik Darnell - A hard crash here in the spring for Darnell but he's on a wave of momentum following two consecutive third-place finishes; Darnell could be the first rookie to win in 2006 tonight.
Brendan Gaughan - A new crew chief but the same Texas performance for Gaughan; he was strong in each practice and qualified well, look for him to go to the outside and make his way into the top ten.
Dennis Setzer - Setzer is a two-time Texas winner and although he's struggled at times in 2006, the wily veteran is always a contender here at TMS.
Kerry Earnhardt - Earnhardt has had more than his share of bad luck in 2006, including here in the spring; if Lady Luck smiles on him he could pick up his first top ten of the season tonight.
Jack Sprague - The only man besides Todd Bodine to win here in the past four NCTS races, Sprague was strong last week before a brush with the wall; a renewal for him and Con-way for 2007 give him added motivation too.
Chad McCumbee - A 9th-place finish here in the spring put McCumbee on the radar; a top-5 would further enhance him as the top up-and-comer in the NCTS.
Marcos Ambrose - Two third-places this season have proven Ambrose is the real deal.
Erin Crocker - Crocker has been at her best on the mile and a half tracks this season.
Chase Miller - Miller is one of the newest previously-untapped talents to join the NCTS; he's looking for his first NCTS superspeedway top ten finish.
David Ragan - He finished eighth here this spring and has a chance to run for the win tonight in the No. 6.
Justin Labonte - He's in a BDR Toyota, but he is making his first NCTS start; will he be able to adapt to the truck after spending so much time in a Busch car?
Bobby Hamilton, Jr. - The Dodges showed a flash of competitiveness at Atlanta; will they be a factor here tonight?
Chad Chaffin - Unique strategy put him in contention for a top ten last week before a crash; Chaffin has a top five in the past here and could race into the top ten here tonight.
Mike Bliss - Last week's winner is in a truck that won here in the past; if he can run well on the long run he will have a solid shot to go back to back.
Todd Bodine - Starting 26th ordinarily means little or no chance to win; Bodine has won here in the past from 22nd and has won three of the last four races here. Bodine passed Mike Skinner on the last lap to win here in June, the only lap he led all night.
David Starr - Starr has been a contender here for the past several years but has never been able to get over the hump to victory lane; a win here where he was a driving instructor would mean much to the Texan.
Aric Almirola - Two starts here have resulted in two finishes of 34th or lower; Almirola is looking to run all the laps and see the checkered flag.
Matt Crafton - Crafton had engine problems in practice but has always been strong at TMS; look for him to race into the top ten.
Michel Jourdain - Still learning how to race trucks, Jourtdain has turned the fastest lap of anyone here in the field running a Champ car here at over 225 mph.
John Mickel - Mickel is laying the ground work for 2007 with a limited schedule to close 2006; he could find himself in the top 20 for the second week in a row here this evening.
Damon Lusk - Lusk has one previous race here and finished 11th in 2001; the Woodard team has improved since the start of the season but personnel changes have seemingly stunted their growth.
Shane Huffman - The man behind the wheel of Dale Earnhardt Jr's Busch car has shown he can run with the big dogs; Barry Dodson has taken this team and given them credibility.
Johnny Champman - Chapman ran some R&D setups for McCumbee and Mickel in practice.
Robert Richardson - With Kinky Friedman for Governor on the truck, Richardson has had a lot of attention at his home track.
Chris Wimmer - Running for a hometown team, Wimmer is looking to log laps and give an independent team a solid finish.
NCTDA Hands Out 2006 Awards
11-03-2006 7:44 pm
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Driver Association handed out its awards for the 2006 season. Jamie "Montana" Price, driver of the was named Driver of the Year, with NASCAR's Joey Hollar getting the trophy for the runner-up. NCTDA president Greg "Killer" Page was given the award for the Best in Show for the neatest and best presented rig.
Pictured from left, 2006 Craftsman Truck Driver Association Driver of The Year Runner-Up Joey Hollar, 2006 Truck Driver of the Year Jamie 'Montana' Price and 2006 Best of Show winner, Greg 'Killer' Page. (Steve Keller/TruckSeries.com Photo)
Click here to listen to the interview
Driver Intros Up Next
11-03-2006 8:27 pm
The TMS track staff is busy getting the stage ready for driver intros. The 36 drivers in tonight's race will cross the stage, and if tradition holds, they will introduce themselves to the throngs in attendance. We have some time before we get our TrackSideLive! race updates underway so take the time to browse through the TruckShots! photo gallery and listen to all of the audio we have collected throughout the weekend. We'll start our race coverage in just a few moments...
Silverado 350 Race Updates 1-10
11-03-2006 8:50 pm
10. Lap 5 - Restart. Cook looks inside Reutimann for second but now faces pressure from Skinner. Busch and Musgrave race for ninth. East looks outside Skinner for fourth.
9. Lap 3 - Bowyer leads Reutimann, Cook, Skinner, East, Crawford, Hornaday, Musgrave, Busch, Benson, Lester, Gaughan, Darnell, Setzer, Earnhardt, Ambrose, Sprague, McCumbee, Ragan, Hamilton, Bliss, Labonte, Chaffin, Miller, Jourdain, Starr, Bodine, Huffman, Wimmer, Crafton, Mickel, Almirola, Richardson, Lusk, and Chapman. Crocker is off the track and out of the race.
8. Green flag is out. Bowyer jumps to the lead with Cook moving to second before they hit turn one. Skinner is back to fourth. Reutimann challenges Cook in turn three for second. Crocker erupts in smoke. The smoke is out of the pipes and she's coasting around out of power, apparently done for the night. Caution is out for the first time.
7. Rick Ren, crew chief for Johnny Benson, is at home recovering from back suergery. Owner Bill Davis is on the pit box helping direct the team and lending some morale to the crew.
6. The field is now in 18 rows of 2 behind the pace trucks, setting their pit road speed.
5. Trucks are rolling off the grid. We will have four pace laps prior to the green flag on the initial roll-off.
4. Emmett Smith has just given the command to fire engines. Four trucks drop to the back on the start: Almirola and Crafton due to engine changes yesterday and Lusk and Bodine due to unapproved impound adjustments.
3. The drivers are now strapping in and we are just a few moments away from the command to fire engines.
2. The minimum speed to stay in competition tonight is 33.57 seconds.
1. We are awaiting the invocation and national anthem. Drivers are bundled up as it is now quite cool here, but once we crank the engines they should be quite comfortable.
Silverado 350 Race Updates 11-20
11-03-2006 9:23 pm
20. Lap 36 - Skinner slips past Cook to take second. Benson is up to seventh and Bodine rides 12th.
19. Lap 33 - Bowyer puts Starr a lap down.
18. Lap 31 - East moves to fourth past Reutimann. Bowyer leads by 1.7 seconds. Huffman next to go a lap down.
17. Lap 30 - Hornaday and Bliss have had to come to pit road with problems with the right front tire.
16. Lap 25 - Bowyer leads Cook, Skinner, Reutimann, East, Crawford, Hornaday, Benson, Busch, Musgrave, Gaughan, Darnell, Sprague, Lester, McCumbee, Ambrose, Bodine, Hamilton, Earnhardt, Ragan, Labonte, Setzer, Crafton, Bliss, Chaffin, Almirola, Starr, Huffman, and Lusk. Mickel, Jourdain, Richardson, Miller, Wimmer, Chapman, and Crocker are off the lead lap and/or off the track.
15. Lap 19 - Gaughan says "I don't care if it slows me down or not, I am going to start going up top." Chapman and Wimmer are off the track, and Miller has had problems and is now down three laps to the field.
14. Lap 18 - Bodine is up to 19th. Bowyer leads by just over a half a second. Skinner is two lengths off Cook's tailgate for second.
13. Lap 14 - Benson sweeps past Musgrave for eighth and takes Busch with him. Skinner grazed the wall off turn two.
12. Lap 11 - Cook is right on Bowyer's tailgate. The field is now stringing out single file. Bliss reports his truck is very loose in the early stages.
11. Lap 7 - Bowyer still leads but Cook is now second. Skinner takes third from Reutimann. East is fifth and running a higher line. Crawford is sixth, with Hornaday, Musgrave, Busch, and Benson the rest of the top ten.
Silverado 350 Race Updates 21-30
11-03-2006 9:41 pm
30. Lap 66 - Restart. Bowyer dusts off Skinner on the outside to retake the lead, but Skinner fights back to the inside in three and four to retake the lead before the stripe.
29. Lap 64 - Lusk, Labonte, Almirola, Mickel, Huffman, Jourdain, Miller and Bliss line up on the inside lane for the restart, the only trucks not on the lead lap. Restart waved off for debris. Green flag next time around.
28. Lap 63 - None of the lead trucks come to the pits for service.
27. Lap 61 - Gaughan slides loose off turn four and spins, directly in front of Hamilton and East, both of whom do a great job of avoiding contact. Fourth caution out; Starr picks up the free pass.
26. Lap 58 - Skinner leads Bowyer by 0.2 seconds. Bliss slows off turn four with another tire problem. Bliss reports it to be the left front. Ragan and East racing for the 11th spot.
25. Lap 51 - Skinner leads Bowyer, Reutimann, Benson, Cook, Crawford, Speague, East, Bodine, Gaughan, Busch, Ragan, Darnell, Hamilton, Lester, Crafton, Ambrose, Chaffin, McCumbee, Setzer, Earnhardt, and Musgrave. Hornaday picks up the free pass to rejoin the lead lap.
24. Lap 49 - Skinner dives past Bowyer on the restart to take the lead. Earnhardt spins off the first dogleg across the start finish line and into turn one without contact to bring out the caution for the third time.
23. Lap 45 - The lead lap trucks come to pit road. McCumbee has a problem with the fuel overflow probe and spills fuel on pit road. Bowyer leads Skinner, Reutimann, Benson, Cook, Crawford, Sprague, East, Bodine, Ragan, Gaughan, Lester, Darnell, Hamilton, Busch, Crafton, Musgrave, Chaffin, Earnhardt, Ambrose, McCumbee and Setzer.
22. Lap 44 - Debris in turn four brings out the caution for the second time. Setzer will receive the free pass and rejoin the lead lap. There are 23 drivers on the lead lap with Setzer back on the lead serial.
21. Lap 42 - Benson moves to sixth in a race with East and Reutimann for fourth. Crawford moves in and makes it a four-truck race for position.
Silverado 350 Race Updates 31-40
11-03-2006 10:07 pm
40. Lap 102 - Busch goes from fifth to second as Reutimann has to check up after he gets loose and stacks up the field. Now Skinner races inside Busch for second with Benson watching on from fourth. Setzer has problems and pops the fence with the right front going into turn one. Caution is out for the sixth time, Labonte will get the free pass.
39. Lap 98 - East is on pit road for some repairs to the nose. That damage was incurred when he and Hamilton tried to avoid Gaughan earlier in the event.
38. Lap 95 - Bowyer leads Reutimann, Skinner, Sprague, Benson, Busch, Bodine, McCumbee, Cook, Hornaday, Ragan, Darnell, Hamilton, Crafton, Earnhardt, Setzer, Ambrose, Lester, Musgrave and Starr. The trucks not on the lead lap are Chaffin, Almirola, Lusk, Gaughan, East, Jourdain, Mickel, Huffman, Crawford, Bliss, Richardson, Miller, Wimmer, Chapman and Crocker. The caution will be extended to repair the SAFER barrier in turn one after Crawford's impact.
37. Lap 93 - Lead lap trucks pit. Starr receives the free pass again. B owyer leads the race off pit road. Skinner's crew has a tire get loose and he loses several spots on pit road.
36. Lap 91 - Skinner leads by 2.4 seconds just as Crawford pops the fence with the right front. Severe damage to the truck. Crawford reports a blown right front tire.
35. Lap 85 - Skinner leads Bowyer, Reutimann, Cook, Benson, Crawford, Sprague, Busch, Bodine, Ragan, Hornaday, Hamilton, Darnell, Crafton, Musgrave, Ambrose, McCumbee, Earnhardt, Setzer, Lester, Starr, Chaffin, East.
34. Lap 79 - Damage to the rear of Hamilton's truck. The bumper cover is loose and may cause a black flag. Skinner now leads by 1.3 seconds. Gaughan drops off the lead lap before pitting for tires.
33. Lap 77 - Wimmer returns to the race 58 laps down. Skinner leads by 0.8 seconds.
32. Lap 75 - Halfway. Crafton looks to the outside to pass Hamilton for the 11th spot.
31. Lap 69 - Gaughan reports a tire going down. Bodine is up to ninth. Benson runs fourth. The unofficial point lead as they run now is 64 points.
Silverado 350 Race Updates 41-55
11-03-2006 10:33 pm
55. Bowyer holds on for final lap to take the checkered flag
54. Lap 146 - Restart. Bowyer gets away but Busch is right on the back deck.
53. Lap 143 - Bodine says he feet are "burning up". The team has diagnosed a broken header.
52. Lap 141 - Earnhardt has another right front tire go down and he uses up his second truck of the weekend in turn one. Caution is out for the seventh time of the night. Bowyer leads Busch, Sprague, Skinner, Hornaday, Ragan, Reutimann, Cook, Darnell, McCumbee, Musgrave, Hamilton, Ambrose, Bodine, and Crafton on the lead lap.
52. Lap 137 - Bowyer leads Busch, Sprague, Skinner, Hornaday, Ragan, Reutimann, Cook, Darnell, McCumbee, Musgrave, Hamilton, Ambrose, Bodine, and Crafton. Benson pulls to pit road.
51. Lap 134 - Bodine drops a couple of spots as Hamilton and Musgrave go past. The point lead is now unofficially 101 points.
50. Lap 131 - McCumbee slips to tenth as Darnell and Cook go past.
49. Lap 128 - Ragan slides past McCumbee for eighth with Darnell moving in to fight for the spot. Bodine's team now reports there may be a problem under the hood as well.
48. Lap 125 - Smoke out of the pipes when he's off the gas tell the tale of a broken valve spring for Benson.
47. Lap 122 - Bowyer leads by 0.7 seconds.
46. Lap 120 - Benson drops to 18th.
45. Lap 115 - Skinner is pressing Bowyer for the lead. Problems for Benson as he slows down the backstretch. Busch takes second as Skinner and Sprague make it a three-way race for the spot.
44. Lap 111 - Skinner slips back inside Busch and they fight for second.
43. Lap 108 - Bowyer leads on the restart. Busch goes outside Skinner for second.
42. Lap 107 - As the air cools so does the track temperature. It is now 56 degrees with 40 laps remaining.
41. Lap 105 - Setzer climbs from the truck under his own power and hops into the ambulance. Crawford was checked and released from the care center following his crash. Bowyer leads Skinner, Busch, Sprague, Benson, Reutimann, Bodine, McCumbee, Hornaday, Ragan, Cook, Darnell, Hamilton, Crafton, Musgrave, Lester, Ambrose, Starr, Earnhardt, and Labonte.
Silverado 350 Unofficial Results
11-03-2006 11:05 pm
1. Bowyer
2. Busch
3. Skinner
4. Sprague
5. Hornaday
6. Ragan
7. Reutimann
8. Cook
9. Darnell
10. Ambrose
11. Musgrave
12. Hamilton
13. McCumbee
14. Bodine
15. Crafton
16. Starr
17. Gaughan
18. Lusk
19. Chaffin
20. Almirola
21. Lester
22. East
23. Labonte
24. Jourdain
25. Mickel
26. Huffman
27. Bliss
28. Richardson
29. Earnhardt
30. Miller
31. Benson
32. Setzer
33. Crawford
34. Wimmer
35. Chapman
36. Crocker
Post-race Audio Posted
11-04-2006 12:36 am
All the post-race audio - including clips with Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Mike Skinner, Terry Cook, and Johnny Benson - have been posted. Click on each driver's name to listen.
With the track preparing to host the Cup Series practice and the Busch series race tomorrow they are ushering us out of here, so we need to head for the door. We will see you all next Thursday from Phoenix, good night everybody!
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