07-26-2005 | TruckSeries.com Report
"The fans are really going to enjoy a truck race at Talladega. I expect it will be an incredible race based on what we've seen at Daytona the last few years. I think instead of the two-wide racing we had at Daytona, it will probably be three-wide racing for most of the race at Talladega. I think the old saying, 'fans will pay for the whole seat, but they'll only use the edge of it' will be appropriate for this race." "Sweet Home Alabama! I am looking forward to being able to race in a major league event at my home track, Talladega Superspeedway. I have tested there, but haven't been able to run in a major race there. It is going to be a special time for Rick Crawford to come back home and race a truck at Talladega. I remember going to Talladega Superspeedway in 1969 to watch the first race, and I am really looking forward to being part of another historic moment in my home state." "It was just a special race, winning here at Talladega. I always feel it. It's probably the only race track I go to where I walk in, look around for a minute and feel it. I will always remember it." "I know that some of the first races that I had here in Talladega I ended the races with my hands and eyeballs hurting from concentrating so much and gripping so tight on the wheel for so long. The competition and the concentration just never let up at Talladega. The fans come and buy seats but they don't use them much because they stand the whole time." "I'd love to race here. Obviously moving up to NEXTEL Cup is my main goal, but it would be neat if they had a truck race here. It would be one heck of a race if they did that. Every track has its own story to tell as far as its history goes, but the races that go on here and the history that has been made here are so impressive." "I've tested here several times, and I had a chance to draft with five trucks. For the first time ever I was leading the draft, with Bobby Hamilton right behind me, pushing me. We went to about 196 mph and let me tell you, 51 flat around this place is hauling the mail and whenever I got out of the truck they literally had to make me stop smiling because I was so happy. It was the most fun I have ever had in a race vehicle." "It's an awesome race track. I have been watching the NEXTEL Cup races here since I was a kid and it's just got so much history. Even when I am here testing I just get excited because all the stuff that's happened over the years here and all the big names in our sport that have won here. Running a truck at this track is really cool." "The history at this track is impressive, obviously with Earnhardt and all the things he's done here and all the guys that have run here. I am a huge Davey Allison fan. He was the reason why I wanted to race. From that aspect, it's pretty special to be out here since he had so much success and got his first win here. That definitely is kind of cool." "Comparing it to Daytona, I like racing here probably more because it's smoother. Both places are wide open, but we've had some good races here and had a hard time finishing at Daytona." "I love the speedways. I've only tested here and never raced here, but I love to test here because it is a great facility, a great track and there are a lot of nice people around here." "Talladega is a real neat track, and I really like it. The racing here is so wide that it's really just how imaginative the competitors are. You can go three-wide, four-wide; you use this whole place in a race. You use every inch of real estate. When we are out here by ourselves, it is so big and wide we don't really use the whole facility. But if you like speed and you like drafting, this is the place. It is the cream of the crop when it comes to that." Of the 66 drivers who have made starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this year, more than half of them (38) have competed at Talladega Superspeedway in other series. 8 drivers who have competed this year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series have won a race at Talladega Superspeedway in other series. They include: 5 drivers who have competed this year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series have won a pole starting position at Talladega Superspeedway in other series. They include:
- Ricky Craven, Driver for the No. 99 Roush Racing NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team
- Rick Crawford, Driver for the No. 14 Circle Bar Racing NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team And Resident of Mobile, Ala.
- Bobby Hamilton, Driver for the No. 04 Bobby Hamilton Racing NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team
- Steve Park, Driver for the No. 62 Orleans Racing NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team
- Brandon Whitt, Driver for the No. 28 Red Horse Racing NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team
- Deborah Renshaw, Driver for the No. 8 BHR2 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team
- David Starr, Driver for the No. 75 Spears Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team
- Regan Smith, Driver for the No. 65 Glynn Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team
- Jack Sprague, Driver for the No. 16 Xpress Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team
- Kelly Sutton, Driver for the No. 02 Sutton Racing NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team
- Chad Chaffin, Driver of the No. 60 Jeff Wyler Racing NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team
These drivers include: Dennis Setzer, Ted Musgrave, Bobby Hamilton, Ron Hornaday, Ricky Craven, Jimmy Spencer, Mike Skinner, David Starr, Todd Bodine, Jack Sprague, Johnny Benson, Steve Park, Robert Pressley, Chad Chaffin, Brendan Gaughan, Robert Huffman, Tracy Hines, Chase Montgomery, Deborah Renshaw, Kyle Busch, Shane Hmiel, Bobby Labonte, Rich Bickle, Ken Schrader, Ken Weaver, Casey Atwood, Mike Harmon, Butch Miller, Tony Stewart, Kerry Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick, John Andretti, Johnny Sauter, Blake Feese, T.J. Bell, Martin Truex, Jr., Kevin Lepage and Boris Said.