The competition in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has increased year by year and now race by race, forcing manufacturers and teams to continually keep up. When you are a rookie coming into a series, the ideals are large but when the reality of competition comes through - you can see those ideals disappear. Patience and practice becomes a rookie's best friend. Robert Richardson, in his first full year in the NCTS, has learned this well.

"Some of the technology that has evolved, you just can't use with a Rookie," Kevin Caldwell, Richardson's Crew Chief said. "Not that it is right or wrong. Some of the guys out there right now are coil binding the trucks which helps settle the front end. It's not always a good thing and you can only do it with a veteran drivers behind the wheel of the trucks. Robert (Richardson) came from little experience in a car prior to joining the forces of the Craftsman Truck Series, making him a green Rookie. It isn't a bad thing for him - but the time to adapt between tracks is getting smaller and smaller - and every track is a new experience. Adaptation is the key and we've really been working with Robert on that. I know a lot of drivers talk about racing the video games, but I just don't think it is realistic enough for drivers with shorter seat time."

Richardson heads to the Kentucky Speedway with experience on his side having five previous starts at the track in the Southeast Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series. This will be Richardson's first start at the track in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck.

"I'm really looking forward to heading to a track I've had laps on before," Robert Richardson said. "It makes it easier to find the line. I know the truck handles different, but I am hoping because I know the track, the time to adapt is smaller. We plan on debuting a new truck this weekend and Hutter Engines is now supplying our powerhouse under the hood, so I know we'll have good power all weekend."

"Although I have experience in Kentucky, I am still going to make it a point to go and talk to the veterans of the series to get their take on the track. Mike Bliss, Johnny Benson, Todd Bodine and Dennis Setzer are drivers I really admire and I hope to learn more from them in the coming months. It gets discouraging not running where we want to be, but I know the more laps in the truck, the more I work with the veterans, and the longer my team and I are together, the better we will become."