Johnny Benson, Bill Davis Racing, No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra (finished 4th):
"My day was horrible around lap 10. We knew at the start we were going to struggle because of the set-up we had, and there being no rubber on the track. I got bumped pretty good early and then got together with the No. 11 (David Starr). It was just a 'racing deal' and it cut my left rear tire. The caution was timely, we were able to get in and get a tire without going a lap down. I then started last and was able to come all the way through the field to finish fourth. It was a good day for us. I saw a lot of people back there that couldn't pass anyone. A good run like that is pretty cool. I believe I had a little something for the No. 11 (David Starr) and maybe the No. 60 (Jack Sprague) - but only if we had 11 laps green. Don't think I had anything for the No. 33 (Ron Hornaday)."
Joey Miller, Darrell Waltrip Motorsports, No. 12 Curb Records Tundra (finished 5th):
"I really like short tracks. We had to start at the back of the field because we didn't get a chance to qualify, and we were playing catch-up all day. We pitted for the only time on lap 29, and from then on my Tundra was really good. I was able to work my way up and at the end I was just trying to save gas. We needed a finish like this to turn our season around. It was a great finish. My guys did a great job."
David Starr, Red Horse Racing, No. 11 Red Horse Racing Tundra (finished 3rd):
"Not a bad day. We had a pretty good truck. I thought I was a little better than Jack (Sprague), but I just couldn't get by him. I could cut up underneath him, but I just couldn't get by him without putting a fender to him or bumping him. And, he's a good friend of mine and I want to pass somebody clean - I don't want to knock them out of the way. I tried like heck. I almost got him coming to the white flag, but I had to get off of it because there was a lapped truck down low. We'll take a third-place and go on to Dover. You can't win them all - so you need to get what you can get."
Jack Sprague, Wyler Racing, No. 60 Con-Way Tundra (finished 2nd):
How was your day? "It wasn't bad out there. My Tundra was really good, it was a lot better than I anticipated it would be. It got hot and slippery - and that's what I needed. Ron (Hornaday) was pretty good. I needed long runs to get him, I was really, really good on long runs. For some reason, Mike (Skinner) got up in the way there at the end. It was a good day for us. I didn't anticipate having a truck that was that good. We went 250 laps on right side tires and that was pretty good."
Could you catch Ron at the end? "It took me five or six laps to get tightened up because I was loose, and it seemed like Ron (Hornaday) would get tighter, but it didn't matter at the end because Mike (Skinner) got in the way there."
Notes:
- This is Toyota's third season, and 57th race, in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS).
- Toyota Tundras have won 16 NCTS races since the beginning of the 2004 Craftsman Truck Series season.
- Drivers who have registered wins driving Tundras include Todd Bodine (9), Mike Skinner (2), Travis Kvapil (2), David Reutimann (1), David Starr (1) and Brandon Whitt (1).
- Toyota drivers who have won races in 2006 include Todd Bodine (Atlanta and St. Louis) and David Starr (Martinsville).
- At St. Louis (April 29), Tundra drivers captured the top-five finishing positions for the first time in an NCTS race. Todd Bodine ended up first and was followed to the finish line by Tundra drivers Ted Musgrave (second), David Reutimann (third), Jack Sprague (fourth) and Johnny Benson (fifth).
- Toyota Tundras also took four of the top-five finishing positions in races at Daytona (Feb.17), California (Feb. 24) and Atlanta (March 17).
- Toyota Tundras have won 21 NCTS poles since the beginning of the 2004 Craftsman Truck Series season.
- Mike Skinner has 10 career pole positions driving a Tundra. Last year, Skinner had a series-high seven pole positions a year ago, and in 2004 he had two poles.
- Other Tundra pole winners include David Reutimann (5), Bill Lester (2), Brandon Whitt (2), Todd Bodine (1) and Travis Kvapil (1).