Toyota Tundra Race Notes: Atlanta

03-18-2006 | TruckSeries.com Report

This is Toyota's third season, and 53rdnd race, - in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCTS). Toyota Tundras have now won 14 NCTS races since the beginning of the 2004 Craftsman Truck Series. Drivers who have registered wins driving Tundras include Todd Bodine (8 wins), Mike Skinner (2 wins), Travis Kvapil (2 wins), David Reutimann (1 win) and Brandon Whitt (1 win).

Along with his Atlanta win this evening, Todd Bodine had five wins last season and two wins in 2004.

Toyota Tundras have won 19 NCTS poles since the 2004 Craftsman Truck Series. Mike Skinner had a series-high seven pole positions a year ago, and two poles in 2004. Other Tundra pole winners include David Reutimann (4 poles), Bill Lester (2 poles), Brandon Whitt (2 poles), Todd Bodine (1 pole) and Travis Kvapil (1 pole).

Tundra drivers finished second, third, fourth and fifth in the first two NCTS races of the season. At Daytona, Toyota drivers Todd Bodine (second), Ted Musgrave (third), Mike Skinner (fourth) and Jack Sprague (fifth) finished among the top-five. At California, Toyota drivers Todd Bodine (second), Ted Musgrave (third), David Reutimann (fourth) and Jack Sprague (fifth) finished among the top-five.

In 2004 at Atlanta, a Toyota Tundra captured a NCTS pole position for the very first time. Rookie David Reutimann recorded a speed of 179.452 MPH (30.894 seconds) around the 1.5-mile Atlanta oval to earn his first career NCTS pole position.

Todd Bodine, Germain Racing, No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Tundra:
"Our Tundra was just a little too loose all night. Mark (Martin) was a little bit better. At the end, he just got caught up in all the lapped traffic. About four laps earlier I had hit the wall and knocked the right front fender in, and it tightened our truck up. I went after Mark and we got caught up in that bunch. If I let him beside me it was all over. He went to the inside on the start I said: 'Have at it and I'll race you side-by-side.' Mark being the awesome driver that he is, he raced me clean. I held him down, and I beat him."

"That pass was a little tight to say the least. The lapped trucks had Mark boxed in, and I didn't stop and went right by him. Mark went underneath me and I think I got together with Boston Reid. I slid up into the No. 4 truck and think that caused the wreck. Then we had the green, white, checker finish."

"It's do to this crew behind me. They do an awesome job every week and they allow me to do what I love to do and that's drive. To come out of here with a win - not being the best - that's how you do it. To race Mark and finally beat him is great."

"We have a good race team. The Germain brothers give us all we need to win. Toyota gives us all the data we need, and Mike Hillman has put together a great race team. I'm just the fortunate guy that gets to drive."

Johnny Benson, Bill Davis Racing, No. 23 Exide Tundra:
"It was good all night. It was just a little loose. I hated to do anything with it because it did feel really good, it was just loose on the long run. I thought we were decent on the long run. I really didn't want to see that green, white, checker at the end, but I guess it ended up OK."