09-10-2007 | TruckSeries.com Report
David Green (No. 1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota) has a unique opportunity Saturday at New Hampshire. The former NASCAR Busch Series champion has one New Hampshire victory in that series (2003) and is expected to be the only entrant in Saturday's event with such a distinction, which means Green could become the first driver to win both a NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at New Hampshire. Kurt Busch is the only competitor who has won NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events at New Hampshire. Whelen Modified Tour standings leader Donny Lia will attempt to qualify a fourth truck for Bill Davis Racing this weekend at New Hampshire. Manufacturers' Standings: Chevrolet Has The Statistical Edge Anyone looking for clues for the winning manufacturer this weekend should glance at Chevrolet, which won the series' first three races there in 1996, '97 and '98 - and is the top winning manufacturer with four New Hampshire victories. Chevrolet's last win there came in 2001, with Jack Sprague. Meanwhile, Toyota has won two of the past three races at New Hampshire. Travis Kvapil's 2004 win was the manufacturer's second and final victory of its inaugural season. Toyota also is the defending champion of Saturday's event, thanks to Johnny Benson's triumph last September. Raybestos Rookie of the Year Standings This Week's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders Next stop for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: The annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the Smith's Las Vegas 350 on Sept. 22. Mike Skinner beat Ted Musgrave by 0.309 seconds to secure his first victory of 2006 and the 19th of his NASAR Craftsman Truck Series career. It was the first NASCAR event held on Las Vegas' newly-recontructed track - a 1.5-mile venue that also received a complete infield reconstruction with new garage, fan and media facilities. Todd Bodine, then en route to his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title, finished 12th at Las Vegas and remained the standings leader, by 91 points over Johnny Benson. Mike Skinner To Host Second Annual Charity Event - "Rounding Up" For A Good Cause For more information visit www.mikeskinner.com. Key Motorsports team owner Curtis W. Key Sr. announced Monday that Chad Chaffin will replace rookie Brandon Miller in the No. 40 Chevrolet for the final eight races on the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule. Chaffin drove the first six races of the 2006 season for Key Motorsports, in the team's first attempt to run the full 25-race schedule. He remained in contact with Key and returns for a second tenure. "This team has come a long way since I last drove for it," said Chaffin, 39, a two-tiime series winner. "And has now qualified for and competed in the last 35 races run over the last two seasons, so I know that I am coming back to a much different situation." Key said Miller has the opportunity to remain with the team. "Brandon can learn a lot by watching and listening to a veteran like Chad," Key said, "and if he believes that this can help his own driving career, then he will be with us at the next few races." Fast Facts 2007 Standings Schedule:
Manufacturers' Championship
2007 Point Standings
Toyota - 123
Chevrolet - 102
Ford - 97
Dodge - 52
Driver - Points
1. Tim Sauter - 129
2. Willie Allen - 127
3. Blake Bjorklund - 110
4. Joey Clanton - 109
5. Jason White - 95
(Through 17 races of the 25-race season)
Points leader - Ron Hornaday Jr. (2,769)
Driver Rating - Mike Skinner (122.2)
Winnings - Mike Skinner ($552,700)
Laps led - Mike Skinner (9943)
Victories - Mike Skinner (4)
Bud Poles - Mike Skinner (9)
Top-five finishes - Mike Skinner (12)
Top-10 finishes - Ron Hornaday Jr. (15)
Raybestos Rookie Leader - Tim Sauter (2 points over Willie Allen)
Races led - Mike Skinner (16)
Weeks in Top 10 - Nine drivers tied with 17
On Deck: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Mike Skinner and his wife Angie are set for the second annual "Toyota Tundra Skinner Round Up" on Sept. 27-28 in Daytona Beach, Fla. It's a charity fundraiser the Skinners co-host with Toyota, and newly expanded to two days this year, thanks to the success of last year's inaugural event. The schedule begins Thursday, Sept. 27 with the "Hoe Down Bash" at Daytona International Speedway's Boardwalk Pavilion, which includes displays, live and silent autions and live music. On Friday, Sept. 28, expect star-studded golf and poker tournaments hosted by Spruce Creek Country Club. Participants include recording artists Edwin McCain, Stacy Mitchart, Eddie Money and Bo Bice; drivers Ron Hornaday Jr., Rick Crawford and Steve Park; NHRA drivers Matt Smith and Scott Kelley; NASCAR Assistant Secretary & International Community Relations Director Betty Jane France and World Series of Poker champion Brian Wilson. Last year's Round Up raised more than $104,000 for myriad Daytona Beach-area charities; this year's goal is $125,000.
Next Race: New Hampshire 200
The Place: New Hampshire International Speedway
The Date: Sept. 151
The Time: 3:00 p.m. (ET)
TV: SPEED 2:30 p.m. (ET)
Track Layout: 1.058-mile oval
Race Purse: $558,210
2006 Winner: Johnny Benson
2006 Pole: Mike Skinner
No. Driver - Points
1. Hornaday Jr. - 2,769
2. Skinner - 2,765
3. Kvapil - 2,575
4. Bodine - 2,506
5. Benson - 2,349
6. Crawford - 2,326
7. Musgrave - 2,122
8. Sprague - 2,094
9. Crafton - 2,087
10. Darnell - 2,021
Friday - Practice 9:40-10:50 a.m.; Rookie practice 11:20-11:50; Final practice 1:45 p.m.-3 p.m.
Saturday - Qualifying 10:05 a.m.