Chaffin, Key Motorsports Happy With Talladega Results
Chad Chaffin's (No. 40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet) eighth-place finish last Saturday at Talladega marked the team's best result at the 2.66-mile track. It was more like a marathon. Chaffin & Co., overcame engine problems in practice, a 33rd-place starting position, an overheating race engine, a balky cooling unit in the driver's helmet, a damaged right fender and a flat tire. "This is what happens when everyone sticks together and doesn't give up," said crew chief Gary Showalter. It marked the team's first-ever, back-to-back top-20 finishes (Chaffin finished 17th two weeks ago at Las Vegas).

No Slowing Down
Reigning champion Todd Bodine might be a long shot to repeat his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title, but he's hardly lifted off the gas. Bodine's dramatic victory last Saturday at Talladega was his second of 2007.

He also has five poles, 10 top fives and 15 top 10s. Fourth in the standings, Bodine trails leader Ron Hornaday by 262 points with five races remaining.

Whew, Glad That's Over
Jacques Villeneuve (No. 27 Bill Davis Racing Toyota) competed in both NASCAR-sanctioned events at Talladega last week. He finished 30th in only his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday and 21st in his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series debut on Sunday.

Mike Skinner A Driving Instructor At Phoenix
No, it's not for extra credit, but the 1995 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion will be doing many good turns on Saturday, Oct. 13 at Phoenix International Raceway. Skinner will be a guest at the Toyota Driving Expectations event at PIR, which teaches defensive driving techniques to teenagers and their parents. The clinic pits teens against current-day distractions like listening to loud music and talking on cell phones. They'll also complete braking exercises in wet and dry conditions and challenge a slalom driving course. Skinner's No. 5 Toyota will be on display during the Oct. 12-14 Toyota Driving Expectations clinic.

Battle For 10th
While much focus (rightfully so) goes to the title battle between first-place Ron Hornaday and Mike Skinner, another contest rages further down the standings. And it's no less intense. Only the top 10 drivers in the final NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series are recognized during post-season award ceremonies, and the battle for 10th rivals the current battle for first.

Jack Sprague currently holds 10th place following last Saturday's event at Talladega. He's followed by David Starr (No. 10 International MAXX FORCE Diesel Ford), who's 11th, and Dennis Setzer (No. 18 Fastenal Dodge), who's 12th. Starr - who finished 11th at Talladega - trails Sprague by seven points. Setzer, who finished fifth, trails Starr by 71 points and Sprague by 78. Even 13th-place Brendan Gaughan (No. 77 South Point Hotel Chevrolet) isn't completely removed from 10th-place possibilities.

Gaughan trails the 12th-place Setzer by 57 points and the 10th-place Sprague by 135 points. He finished 16th at Talladega. Setzer's fifth-place finish came at an opportune time. Only his second top five of 2007, it was his first since a May 26 victory at Mansfield Motorsports Park. All three, however, will be chasing Sprague next week at Martinsville, where he won from the pole last October - his first Martinsville victory in 13 series starts there.

Manufacturers' Standings: One Win 'Til '07 Toyota Title
Entering last week's event at Talladega, Toyota needed two wins to clinch the 2007 manufacturers' championship. Todd Bodine's last-lap victory cut that margin in half, which means the truck maker could clinch next week when the series resumes at Martinsville Speedway. Toyota has won 10 of the season's first 20 races and leads Ford by 24 points.

Manufacturers' Championship 2007 Point Standings
Toyota 142
Ford 118
Chevrolet 117
Dodge 63

This Week's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders
(Through 20 races of the 25-race season)
Points leader - Ron Hornaday (3,207)
Driver Rating - Mike Skinner (117.2)
Winnings - Mike Skinner ($613,800)
Laps led - Mike Skinner (970)
Victories - Ron Hornaday Jr., Travis Kvapil, Mike Skinner (4)
Bud Poles - Mike Skinner (9)
Top-five finishes - Mike Skinner (14)
Top-10 finishes - Ron Hornaday Jr. (18)
Raybestos Rookie Leader - Willie Allen (4 points over Tim Sauter)
Races led - Mike Skinner (19)
Weeks in Top 10 - Nine drivers tied with 20
Raybestos Rookie of the Year Standings

Willie Allen (No. 13 ThorSport Chevrolet) is the new Raybestos Rookie of the Year leader. He leads Tim Sauter (No. 07 Lester Buildings/ASI Limited Chevrolet) by four points - the first time Allen has led the Raybestos standings this season.

 Driver - Points
1. Willie Allen 144
2. Tim Sauter 140
3. Joey Clanton 119
4. Jason White 116
5. Blake Bjorklund 110

On Deck: Martinsville Speedway
The series returns to historic Martinsville Speedway for the Oct. 20 Kroger 200. Martinsville is the second of three tracks to host two races in 2007 and is one of just four tracks to stage races in all 13 seasons of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Jack Sprague (No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota) won last year's Kroger 200 in his "lucky" 13th trip to the .526-mile paper clip-shaped track. In March, Mike Skinner won his third consecutive race of the 2007 season and first at Martinsville since 1996. Skinner was just the second series competitor to post multiple wins at Martinsville joining Dennis Setzer, whose victories came in 2002-03. Up to a half dozen former winners are expected to compete in the Kroger 200.

Fast Facts
Next Race: Kroger 200
The Place: Martinsville Speedway
The Date: Oct. 201
The Time: 4:00 p.m. (ET)
TV: SPEED 3:30 p.m. (ET)
Track Layout: .526-mile speedway
Race Purse: $451,204
2006 Winner: Jack Sprague
2006 Pole: Jack Sprague

2007 Standings:
No. Driver Points
1. Hornaday 3,207
2. Skinner 3,193
3. Kvapil 2,973
4. Bodine 2,945
5. Benson 2,831
6. Crawford 2,794
7. Musgrave 2,474
8. Darnell 2,427
9. Crafton 2,411
10. Sprague 2,339

Schedule:
Friday: Practice 11-11:50 a.m.; Rookie practice 1:40-2:10 p.m.; Final practice 2:15-3:30 p.m.
Saturday: Qualifying 11:10 a.m.