Bill Davis, president of Bill Davis Racing, confirmed Monday the driver and crew chief combinations of his three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entries for the 2006 season.
"I am really excited about 2006," Davis commented. "The No. 5 team showed they were a contender each and every week. They really did not lose anyone during the off-season, which really helps the team as a whole. Now that the group has a year together under its belt, I think it will challenge for wins week in and week out. Bill Lester really did a great job last year. He picked up his first top-five finish and ran up front on a regular basis. I am confident he and his No. 22 team will be strong in 2006. Johnny Benson had such an up and down season in 2005. The team started the year with high hopes, but a string of bad luck put them deep in the point standings. The team battled back and with their strong runs, at the end of the season they got back into the top-10 in points. I am confident 2006 will be the year Benson wheels his Tundra into victory lane."
Mike Skinner will return as driver of the No. 5 Toyota Tundra with veteran Crew Chief Jeff Hensley calling the shots. Not only did the duo lead the series with seven pole positions and 874 laps led in 2005, but the No. 5 team compiled two wins, nine top-five finishes, and 13 top-10 finishes before rounding out the year in fifth in the season-ending point standings.
Bill Lester will return for his third season as driver of the No. 22 Toyota Tundra, and Doug Wolcott will return for his sophomore season as the crew chief. In their first season together, the pair complied four top-10 finishes, and Lester scored his first top-five finish at Kansas. The team also picked up back-to-back poles at Kansas Speedway and Kentucky Speedway.
In 2005, Lester amassed $1,000,000 in career earnings and reached the century mark in career starts. The team is looking forward to the 2006 season and earning its first win.
Johnny Benson will again pilot the No. 23 Toyota Tundra in 2006 with veteran crew chief Rick Ren returning atop the pit box. Ren joined Bill Davis Racing in August 2005 and helped the No. 23 team pick up three top-three finishes in the last four races. The No. 23 Toyota Tundra team gained more than 100 points on the leaders in the last six races and finished 10th in the 2005 championship point standings. The team is hoping to carry the same momentum into 2006.