Rick Crawford at Michigan. (Ronda Greer Photo)

Motown is known for the chart topping tunes of the 60's and the Circle Bar Team has been climbing the charts of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings over the last few weeks. Going into the Con-Way Freight 200 Rick Crawford and his Circle Bar Team had been hitting the high notes over the last few weeks and the sweet music they've produced put them in the top 10 last week and looking for more in Motown.

Off the hauler Chassis CB-19 showed the thorough bred status it earned in Texas placing the team in the top 10 on the speed charts. The Circle Bar Ford F-150 was quick but not up to the standards the team set for itself. Looking for more speed, the team took a step back in the second practice and qualified a disappointing 17th. While the Circle Bar team would start deeper in the field than they wanted, they knew CB-19 would come to life when the green flag flew. From the start of the race, Crawford had his F-150 moving to the front and by lap 20 he had cracked the top 10. The caution flag would fly on lap 36 for debris on the backstretch. Crew chief Kevin "Cowboy" Starland called for 4 tires, fuel and adjustments to make the Circle Bar F-150 come to life. The over the wall gang held serve on pit road keeping Crawford in the top 10. Back under green Crawford was on the move and by lap 70 he was battling 3 wide for 3rd. The field would slow again for a caution in turn 3 on lap 72 and Cowboy would call for the teams final stop of the day. The Circle Bar Ford rolled down pit road 3rd and the over the wall gang went to work, four tires fuels and adjustments, in 3rd - out 3rd. The Circle Bar machine had been good on the long runs and the team needed a green flag run to the finish to have a shot at leader Johnny Benson. The long green run was not to be as cautions flew often in the closing stages of the race leading to a green-white-checker finish. The stop and go racing would cost the team a couple of spots in the final laps and they rolled home with a 6th place finish. The Circle Bar team moved up 3 spots this week in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings to 6th and is now less than 20 points from the top 5. With solid runs over the last few weeks the team leaves Michigan singing Marvin Gaye's Motown hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".

Crew chief Kevin "Cowboy" Starland: "We really had high hopes this week bringing the same truck that ran so well in Texas. We were off a little in the first practice session and we went the wrong way in the second. By going the wrong way, we knew which way we needed to head and during the race we kept making it better. The guys had great stops all day and we've got it going our way right now."

Driver Rick Crawford: "It's fun driving a truck that can go and our truck would go today. Cowboy and the guys kept working on it all day long and in the last 100 laps she was moving. Congratulations to Johnny Benson on his first truck win. This was another solid day for our team and a great points day. A few weeks ago after St. Louis & Martinsville we were down to 14th in points and this team just dug deeper, it's paying off and we're up to 6th now and looking for the top 5 next."