Motorsports FanHouse

FanHouse Warmup: Banking 500

Geoffrey Miller — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:10:00 EST

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson, Lowes Motor Speedway, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Camping World Truck Series

The Essentials

Race: NASCAR Banking 500

Where: Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.
Time: Saturday 7:30 p.m./EST
TV/Radio: ABC, PRN Radio
Twitter: Updates @ FanHouseRacing
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, 40s, 20% rain
Distance: 334 laps (500.1 miles)
Pole Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2008 Winner: Jeff Burton

The Storylines

Carl Edwards may blame last year's loss to Jimmie Johnson in the Chase for the Sprint Cup on a crash at Talladega, but a finish in last year's fall race at Lowe's Motor Speedway provided all the points Johnson needed to win his third consecutive title.

Or, rather, the necessary point.

More Coverage: Race Results | Sprint Cup Standings

Edwards suffered electrical issues early in the 2008 event at LMS that saw his No. 99 roll to a stop on the backstretch. The team got his car fixed in the garage, but he was only able to salvage a 33rd-place finish and earned 67 points in the process.

In his career, Edwards has now averaged a 10th-place finish at LMS. Pending that he would have finished at least 10th, Edwards would have earned 134 points, or 70 more than he did in this race a year ago. The final tally at the end of 2009 campaign between him and Johnson for the title?

69 points.

What, then, does this have to do with Saturday night's race? Despite the fact that -- cue former Arizona Cardinals head coach Denny Green -- the media has pretty much crowned Johnson the champ for 2009 (including yours truly) anything can happen. Silly, stupid things that are completely unexpected. Like electrical problems.

And who knows? A point Johnson misses tonight might be all another contender needs when the smoke settles in Homestead.

Jeff Burton, a.k.a the unofficial mayor of NASCAR, will reach a significant milestone in his long career in the sport when the green flag waves Saturday night.

Burton, the 43-year-old from South Boston, Va., will start his 850th race in the Sprint Cup Series during a season that has been quite a struggle for him and his Richard Childress Racing teammates. Burton is 18th in the standings with just six top-10 finishes in 2009, and tonight's race will mark the one year anniversary of his last Cup win.

As Burton reaches both anniversaries tonight, his hopes have improved after noting this week that he's seeing improvement within RCR.

"I think we've made a swing," said Burton. "I don't think we are where we need to be by any means but if you look at it individually, our teams are starting to run better."

Kurt Busch knows that his team has been decent during the Chase, and obviously he's looking to continue a pretty good run tonight at LMS.

"I feel like this is a great opportunity for us to continue our stretch where we've finished, on average the last few races, in 7.5," said Busch.

In years past, his level of "decent" would likely have been good enough to be in heavy, heavy contention for the title. But coming into tonight's race, he's trailing Jimmie Johnson by some 121 points.

"That's a good average finish, but we're getting beat by better numbers," Busch said. "In years past when Dale [Earnhardt] Sr. was winning championships, or Jeff Gordon, the magic number back then was seven as far as your average finish. With this new Chase format, seven will only get you sixth in points and 121 off the lead."

And he's right. At the moment, Jimmie Johnson is averaging a blistering 3.75 finish. That's tough to beat.

FanHouse Warmup: Banking 500 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Hornaday Faces 'Uphill Climb' for Fifth Straight Win This Weekend

Krista Voda — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:50:00 EST

Filed under: Camping World Truck Series, SPEED TV

What do Ron Hornaday Jr. and the Waukee, Iowa girls' track and field team have in common? Winning four in a row, a remarkable feat in any sport.

The track and field team was four-time consecutive regional champions while Hornaday made NASCAR Camping World Truck Series history last weekend at Indianapolis with his fourth consecutive victory. He now heads to Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday, one of only eight tracks on which he has not yet won.

Hornaday's accomplishment is just as impressive, if not more so, than similar ones in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series because the competition consistently is so tight in the Truck Series. The depth of the talent pool is second-to-none with veterans such as Hornaday, Mike Skinner, Rick Crawford and Todd Bodine, as well as young guys and rookies claiming their share of wins this year.

More Coverage: Get NASCAR on SPEED TV Schedule

Not only did Hornaday, a three-time Truck Series champion, notch four consecutive wins, he did it on a wide of variety of tracks - tight short tracks and superspeedways - showcasing the strength of his Kevin Harvick Inc. team. They have a legitimate shot at making it five in a row Saturday, but in a break from the norm for this group, it's going to be more of an uphill climb than usual. Hornaday holds two top-five finishes in four starts at the 1.33-mile concrete oval, he has yet to visit Victory Lane.

But Hornaday has hunger and desire on his side with his eye on the Gibson guitar that serves as the track trophy. He even paid a recent visit to artist Sam Bass' shop to take a look at the guitars, whetting his appetite for the coveted prize.

Nashville will be a big hurdle for this team, but if they can clear it, it's hard to deny the California native a spot among the greatest Truck Series competitors of all times. He's certainly making a case for the distinction, although it's tough to single out one because several drivers have excelled in such spectacular fashion, including Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, who all went on to have successful Cup careers.

In fact, Hornaday's victory at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indy put him in an elite class of only three drivers over the age of 50 to score five wins in a single season, grouping him with the likes of Harry Gant and Joe Ruttman. That's pretty good company.

But Hornaday, the points leader, doesn't have much company in the championship battle right now, the first time in about 10 years that the leader can enjoy some breathing room at this juncture in the 25-race season. The Truck Series prides itself on incredibly intense points battles throughout the year with drivers often separated by single digits.

Unfortunately for Hornaday, I don't think he'll have this cushion down the stretch because guys like Matt Crafton, Skinner and Bodine are holding their own and will give him a heated run for his money. These teams haven't fallen on their faces - Hornaday is just winning everything lately. But there is no way he can keep up this pace amidst the fierce competition. There is a ravenous desire to win in the Truck Series because it boasts a hard-working, blue-collar and blood-thirsty atmosphere. These other guys must win to keep their jobs and pay their bills, and you can bet they will be doing just that.

They also will be secretly hoping for a little bad luck to befall the No. 33 team because some of Hornaday's success this season was bolstered by good fortune. By no means do I discount the team's fortitude and talent, but they also haven't experienced much bad luck. Hornaday's crew chief, Rick Ren, is tied as the all-time winningest crew chief in the Truck Series and will hold a class of his own with one more trip to Victory Lane. Hornaday is a three-time champion with incredible resources and support from KHI, so all the pieces are together for that team.

But that's also the case with a lot of other teams, so luck does play a factor in situations such as this. However, Hornaday has an innate ability to remain calm in tense situations; to not smell fear; and to grab the lead and maintain it for the win in the closing laps. He's got the experience but he also needed some racing luck or four in a row would have been claimed before.

Hornaday could very well stake claim to a fourth championship this season and you'd be crazy to pick against him because he is the Jimmie Johnson of the Truck Series. We all know not to bet against Johnson until he gives us a reason to. With five wins this season, four consecutively, and 11 opportunities remaining, how could you bet against "The Professor"? By the same token, I'll wager the other Iowan track and field teams aren't betting against Waukee either.

Krista Voda is the host of NCWTS Setup, the popular pre-race program for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on SPEED, as well as a NASCAR pit reporter for FOX Sports. A veteran of the NASCAR garage, Voda also hosts The SPEED Report and was the first female to host a NASCAR pre-race show. She hosted Totally NASCAR and NASCAR Nation on SPEED, in addition to serving as a reporter and pre-race show host for AMA. Voda also has extensive experience in radio and local television and works as a sideline reporter for the NFL and BCS on FOX. For more information on Voda or to access the NASCAR on SPEED programming schedule, please visit www.speedtv.com.

Ron Hornaday Faces 'Uphill Climb' for Fifth Straight Win This Weekend originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hall Call Could Lead to Confusion

Adam Alexander — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:36:00 EST

Filed under: Chase for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series, Camping World Truck Series, SPEED TV

We're still a few months away from learning who the first five inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be, giving us a little time to banter back and forth about who should be in that critical first class.

I'm curious to see how everything plays out with the criteria for induction. With three premier but separate series - the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - how do you arrive at the finalists given the dominant success several drivers have enjoyed across the three different divisions?

For example, a look at Kevin Harvick's accomplishments as a driver in the Nationwide Series shows he certainly is Hall of Fame material. A two-time champion, he is one of the series' standouts but his Cup stats aren't Hall of Fame-worthy at this stage. Would the Nationwide Series weigh in on Harvick's resume when the day comes or would he need outstanding Cup results to garner a vote?

More Coverage: Get NASCAR on SPEED TV Schedule

Ironically, Ron Hornaday, who drives for Harvick in the Truck Series, is the series all-time winningest driver and if there was a Hall of Fame strictly for the Truck Series, he would top the list. But would that be enough to merit induction up against the Cup Series giants? Then again, the Cup Series is considered the premier group of drivers, so is it just natural for all the early inductees to spring from that division?

Or should the Hall members be divided into the Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series?

I propose as much because it is so difficult to contrast the accomplishments of drivers across the three levels. Each series has drivers who have written their names in the history books and helped the sport grow to the level it currently enjoys.

This isn't a discussion so much for the first class as for those down the road, because five annual members is an excessive amount. For the Hall of Fame to attain and retain its prestige and exclusivity, I think that number needs to taper off after the first year or two so we're not placing people in there just to hit a number. They need to be true legends and icons of NASCAR. But if NASCAR plans to continue to induct five new members each year, I think the members should be categorized by Truck, Nationwide, media and "general" categories, which likely would mean a Cup driver or owner.

Seven-time Cup Series champion Richard Petty made the comment last week that the first class of inductees should include those who founded the sport and not those who helped propel it forward, thereby saying he shouldn't be included. Petty's humility is part of what makes him such an ambassador for the sport and while I would never argue with the man, I must adamantly oppose him on this one. He's had more success than anyone else and is a no-brainer for the first ballot.

As for the first ballot, I'd say Bill France, Petty and Dale Earnhardt are a shoe-in for three of the first five slots. The France family's vision and work ethic grew the sport by gargantuan proportions both on and off the track. Petty single-handedly revolutionized the popularity of driver autographs and access, while Dale Earnhardt gave NASCAR one of its first true controversial heroes. France, Petty and Earnhardt helped launch NASCAR into the behemoth it has become and without them, the sport would be a mere shadow of itself. But after these three, I am not sure who belongs in the inaugural class because so many guys come to mind who have achieved equitable success . Their impact on the sport hasn't been as meteoric as the aforementioned trio.

While it becomes more difficult to select members after the obvious first three, one factor that has no place in the Hall is popularity, but as is the case with any sport's Hall of Fame, it's almost inevitable that it will play some role. In baseball's hall of fame, Don Mattingly has a chance of inclusion by virtue of playing for the New York Yankees for so many years and his media savvy in the country's largest media market. Mattingly may never be inducted, but his popularity with the vote-wielding media in New York will increase his odds.

The same is true with the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the fan vote. Race fans are so unique and have helped build the sport, and for that reason, I support giving them a voice. But on the other hand, because they are so loyal and emotional, part of me thinks they should have no input because that raw emotion could vote in members whose accomplishments might not truly merit the recognition.

All this aside, the NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees should earn their place on the strength of their wins, championships and unmatched contributions to the sport. Who would you vote for?

Adam Alexander is a SPEED reporter in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on TNT, in addition to his duties hosting NASCAR in a Hurry and The SPEED Report.

Hall Call Could Lead to Confusion originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Milwaukee Mile May Be on Last Legs

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:50:00 EST

Filed under: Nationwide Series, Other Racing Series, Camping World Truck Series, IRL

Wisconsin is not regarded by many people as a mecca for auto racing. However, it does have a fair history in the sport. Tracks like Road America (Elkhart Lake) and Madison International Speedway have been around for over 40 years, while the Milwaukee Mile has been around for over 100 years.

The historic racetrack on the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in West Allis is in trouble. After its most recent run of major events, the Milwaukee Mile may be about to shut its doors for good.

The NASCAR Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series races run at Milwaukee two weeks ago are the biggest events the sanctioning body brings to Wisconsin on an annual basis. The IndyCar series has typically run at the Mile the weekend after the Indianapolis 500.

All of these races are in serious jeopardy, thanks to the inability of Mile promoter Claude Napier to pay the bills from those events.

Napier's organization owes NASCAR nearly $1.9 million for staging two races in June and owes the Indy Racing League an undisclosed amount for its weekend in May. The organizer of a spectator event in August - the track's final opportunity for a significant payday this season - said this week that he is ready to walk away from his commitment.

This isn't child's play. The Milwaukee Mile, at 107 years of age, is the oldest racing facility anywhere in the United States. It hosted its first racing event way back in 1903, even before there was an Indianapolis 500. In a state that features legendary venues such as Lambeau Field and Camp Randall Stadium, the Milwaukee Mile is Wisconsin's most historic sports facility.

Former promoters Dominic and Frank Giuffre tell the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that they think it's "too late" to save the Mile, though they say they'd like a crack at it.

Current NASCAR drivers like Matt Kenseth, Paul Menard, Kelly Bires, Johnny Sauter, Travis Kvapil, and Scott Wimmer all hail from the Badger State. Matt's father, Roy, has organized a stock car event at the Mile in August, but he may be on the verge of pulling that event from the track.

Wisconsin race fans will still have opportunities to see some great racing at Road America and at MIS if the Mile closes. The problem is it can be argued Road America is the only other track in the state configured to host a NASCAR or IRL event. The IRL probably has enough road-course races as is, and NASCAR appears to be allergic to the concept.

Meanwhile, the Giuffres, according to the Journal Sentinel, are doing what they can to make it clear to State Fair Park management that they want a shot at resurrecting the speedway.

The Giuffres made their most recent contact with fair management this week, sending a letter to Chairman Susan Crane and members of the board. In it, they estimated the value of the track at $150 million, called the Mile "one of Wisconsin's crown jewels, and yet it is tarnishing the reputation of the state," and said its demise would be an "incalculable" loss to the state.

Racing will continue in Wisconsin. Just this week, Kenseth and Sprint Cup points leader Tony Stewart drove in a race at Madison, near Kenseth's hometown of Cambridge. That said, the loss of either the IRL or NASCAR events at Milwaukee would be a blow to Wisconsin's visibility on the racing map.

It would leave either Iowa Speedway and Chicagoland as the closest tracks for Wisconsin fans to catch NASCAR or Indy racing.

Milwaukee Mile May Be on Last Legs originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Johnny Benson Crash Video: Truck Series Champion Survives Close Call

Tom Herrera — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:35:00 EST

Filed under: NASCAR Crashes, NASCAR Videos, Camping World Truck Series

Johnny Benson has been upgraded to fair condition following a fiery crash during a SuperModified race. The wreck looked very scary on video, but the reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion is reportedly awake and alert, according to a hospital spokesperson.

The 45-year-old driver crashed on the opening lap of Saturday night's 50-lap event at Berlin Raceway in Michigan. He reportedly suffered minor burns and at least one broken rib. Track personnel quickly extinguished the blaze and pulled Benson from the vehicle.

"The safety crew just did an excellent job. They worked with Johnny, Johnny worked with them, he talked with them, so I was very proud," said raceway representative Michael Blackmer.

It's been an awful couple of weeks for Benson, whose No. 1 car for Red Horse Racing was suspended on June 8 due to lack of sponsorship. The team had been unsuccessful since December in its attempts to secure funding.

Information from the Associated Press and WOOD TV 8 was used in this report.

Johnny Benson Crash Video: Truck Series Champion Survives Close Call originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roush's 50th Is Braun's First

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:25:00 EST

Filed under: Kyle Busch, Roush Fenway Racing, Camping World Truck Series

For Jack Roush, it was a milestone win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. For different reasons, it was a milestone for Colin Braun.

Roush has been here before. Saturday's Michigan 200 at Michigan International Speedway marked the 50th time Roush has been to victory lane as a truck owner. Braun has never been there, and it was a sweet first win for the youngster.

Making the win doubly sweet for Roush was the fact this race was held in Michigan, the home state of Ford. Braun drove his Ford to the front of the field on Lap 76, passing race leader Kyle Busch when the latter had trouble getting around the lapped truck of Norm Benning. Benning appeared to head toward the bottom of the racetrack after initially giving Busch a lane on the bottom. Busch checked up, and Braun went to the high side to pass both trucks.

Braun took advantage of the clean air after making the pass, and he opened up a two-second lead over Busch by the end of the race.

Brian Ickler drove his Toyota to a third-place finish, but was nearly seven seconds behind Busch, who had to hustle after the race to travel to Kentucky Speedway for Saturday night's Nationwide Series race. Before he left, Busch lamented his continued string of generally bad luck to SPEED TV's Ray Dunlap. In a post-race interview, Busch said he would "head off to Kentucky to finish second".

Busch also took the blame for misreading Benning and losing the lead to Braun. For his part, Braun said he felt like he had a good enough truck to win, but he "wasn't sure" if he could have passed Busch without Benning getting in the way.

Matt Crafton's fourth-place finish vaulted him into the points lead, 30 ahead of defending points champion Ron Hornaday.

Roush's 50th Is Braun's First originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM Pulls Support from NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series Teams

Holly Cain — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:14:00 EST

Filed under: Matt Kenseth, Chevrolet, Nationwide Series, Sprint Cup, Camping World Truck Series

Everyone had a feeling something had to give. And it has.

A week removed from Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, General Motors has pulled its factory support for teams in NASCAR's Nationwide and Camping World Truck series. And as the company evaluates its financial commitment to motorsports, there is concern that further cost-cutting may involve the Sprint Cup Series too. Several teams fielding Chevrolets in the Nationwide Series confirmed the news on Friday in statements.

"Obviously the automotive industry is dealing with unprecedented business challenges and we understand the need for restructuring to accommodate the need to reduce costs and maximize returns,'' said Kelley Earnhardt, general manager of JR Motorsports, a Nationwide team owned by her brother Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"The manufacturer support GM provides in the NASCAR Sprint Cup level is more critical in nature than in the Nationwide Series and I hope Chevy is able to continue supporting that level as the promotion of NASCAR works well for its demographics.''

Win on Sunday, sell on Monday is one of NASCAR's oldest refrains. Now it's a lifeline.

With the country's auto makers suffering major financial setbacks -- GM and Chrysler have already accepted government bailouts -- it's only natural to question whether the companies regard racing, and NASCAR specifically, as an essential expense.

Ironically, or maybe not, the marquee Sprint Cup Series is racing just outside Detroit this weekend as this major bit of news comes down. There will be a lot of focus, and serious talk, about the factory involvement as the companies are in the middle of shutting down plants, laying off thousands of workers and cinching their purse strings.

"Chevrolet's involvement in racing is a sound business decision that translates directly into the sale of cars and trucks,'' GM said in a statement to the Sports Business Journal.

"It is essential, however, that we continue to look at every penny we spend as General Motors takes the necessary steps to become a leaner company with a significantly stronger balance sheet.

"While Chevy Racing is talking to its business partners about ways to reduce cost and maximize the return on investment, it is our policy to not talk about the details of business relationships with our partners.''

Perhaps, but everyone else is talking. And worrying.

"Although this will require some internal restructuring, our commitment to our sponsors to provide the best possible product on the race track will not change,'' said Kevin Harvick, a Cup Series driver that fields and has won a championship with Chevy-backed teams in both the Nationwide and Truck series.

A large, high profile team such as Harvick's and JR Motorsports typically would receive manufacturer support in terms of engineering and engine development in addition to cash payments. It's unclear the immediate impact GM's cutbacks will have for these established teams.

Already in the Sprint Cup Series, there are rumors that teams are exploring other options. Richard Petty Motorsports is rumored to be interested in switching from Dodge to Toyota, for example.

"Chevrolet is going through some very challenging times,'' Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Friday at Michigan International Speedway. "I had a true understanding that this would be coming down the pipe and they would have to make some adjustments.

"Every company not only in this sport but particularly having a company of my own I've had to make adjustments due to how the economy has turned so it wouldn't be any different for anybody else. I've been a loyal supporter of Chevrolet for a very long time and will continue to be.''

Ford Motor Company has proven itself on more solid ground than its GM and Chrysler counterparts. It hasn't had to take government money and to date hasn't made any major changes in its financial dealings with its race teams.

Matt Kenseth, a Ford driver and the Cup Series' 2003 champion, joined several drivers at Ford's headquarters this week before on-track activity started at MIS. And while he said the tone of the meeting wasn't as upbeat as years past, he remains optimistic about Ford's involvement in NASCAR.

"It's always been strong and they've always said that the very last thing they would ever cut is the NASCAR funding because they realize how important it is to their brand and to their success in selling vehicles,'' Kenseth said Friday.

"I think they're seeing some signs of recovery, but certainly I don't think they're comfortable where they are because they're not at levels where they were a few years ago. Auto sales aren't at that level overall.

"Obviously it's a struggle for everybody, I don't know what's gonna happen with basically the government running two auto companies and another one running itself, so I don't know what that's gonna work out.

"But certainly, I'm proud to drive a Ford and I'm glad they haven't had to go down the avenue the other two have.''

GM Pulls Support from NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series Teams originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tired Act by Goodyear

Ray Dunlap — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:18:00 EST

Filed under: Chase for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series, Camping World Truck Series, SPEED TV

NASCAR's primary goal each week is putting on a spectacular show for the fans, but Goodyear's practice of utilizing the same tire for its top three series is hurting the show.

The tire problems that surfaced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race last weekend at Dover may have been avoided if Goodyear had in place a specific tire for the Truck Series instead of a general design that services Trucks, NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series cars.

Goodyear often runs the exact same tire compound in each of NASCAR's top three divisions, as was the case at Dover. However, the vehicles in these three series are polar opposites these days and, therefore, should have equally diversified tire designs.

I think that competition is sacrificed across the board because tires are not created explicitly for each series, but none suffers more than the third-tier Truck Series. If Goodyear would develop a Truck Series-specific tire, they could zero in much more effectively on the Nationwide and Cup Series and, in turn, improve the product there, as well.

More Coverage: Get NASCAR on SPEED TV Schedule

Dover was evidence that the tire cannot hold up and perform well for all three types of vehicles at the same time. Since the Truck Series and Nationwide Series teams are restricted in the number of tires they can purchase every weekend, teams were forced to try to squeeze 55 laps out of a set of tires instead of the 35 laps the Cup guys ran, giving the Trucks too long a run on a tire that was more suited for their Cup counterparts and their infinite opportunities for fresh rubber.

Veteran Truck Series driver Mike Skinner may have put it best when he said, "If anybody thinks they can build a tire that will fit all three of these divisions at the same race track, they're crazy. The trucks have a great tire one weekend, the COT has another great tire another weekend, but there's no way that you can do both at the same time for the two vastly different divisions."

Make no mistake - Goodyear faces one of the toughest challenges imaginable and does a superior job of putting a competitive and safe product on the track every week. If their lone charge was overseeing tire development for the Cup Series, Goodyear's plate would be full with the responsibility of designing the right tire for assorted tracks amidst intelligent and crafty crew chiefs and engineers who are constantly massaging their cars and creating additional challenges.

Please don't underestimate the disparities between the Trucks and the Cup cars. Goodyear's job is all the more intensified because constructing one tire to accommodate all three series, each with its own needs, is a monumental task. The scientific data of down-force, drag, side-force and corner speeds are incredibly divergent across the trio of divisions and those discrepancies are magnified by them sharing the same tire. For example, the Trucks were probably running 20 mph faster in the center of the corner at Dover than the Cup cars. That alone indicates the need for a separate tire.

Goodyear's policy worked well a couple of years ago when the Trucks looked and drove totally differently and before the COT came into the picture in the Sprint Cup Series.
Throw in the fact that the Cup guys are now running a completely different race car (which single-handedly has outdated the practice of all Cup teams running the Nationwide races as a prep course for Sunday), and the policy of running the same tire for all three series is absolutely antiquated.

Even with a Truck Series tire, Goodyear still must overcome the different needs of the various drivers and the manner in which they prefer their vehicles to drive and feel. At Dover, Kyle Busch's truck probably was an '8' on a scale of 1-10 in "looseness," while Mike Skinner's was a '3.' That's a broad spectrum for one tire in one series alone.

Crew chiefs and engineers are constantly clamoring for data and tires are no exception. With the testing ban, teams can no longer gather tire data at the track prior to an event, with the exception of a few Goodyear tire tests, so they obtain their information through their manufacturer in the form of 20-page reports from a company called Cal-Span. These reports contain an obscene amount of data for each individual tire. This data comes as fixed numbers but all three divisions interpret and use the data in their own unique way pertinent to their highly differing vehicles. So, to give all three series an equitable shot at having a terrific race, Goodyear must give them a tire specific to their needs.

Unfortunately for the tire manufacturer, they make headlines only when a problem arises or when a driver goes on a crusade to smear their name in the media. The blood, sweat and tears they put into NASCAR goes virtually unnoticed until something goes awry. I am a big fan of Goodyear and purchase their product for my personal vehicles.

No one puts more effort into NASCAR than Goodyear but I believe they're operating under the wrong policy. A Truck Series-specific tire would go a long way toward improving the competition in all three of NASCAR's premier divisions.

Ray Dunlap is a veteran pit road reporter for SPEED in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and also reports for The SPEED Report, NASCAR Live and other programs on SPEED. Dunlap has covered the Truck Series since 1997 and has served as a play-by-play announcer and pit road reporter for several series, including the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, IPower Dash Series and ARCA Series. He was honored in 1997 as the Electronic Motorsports Media Personality of the Year and enjoys scuba diving and woodworking in his spare time.

Tired Act by Goodyear originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR Suspends Another Crew Member for Violating Drug Policy

Holly Cain — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR announced Wednesday it has indefinitely suspended Andrew Crnkovic, a crew member on the No. 07 team, in the Camping World Truck Series, for violating its substance abuse policy.

Crnkovic, who crews the truck driven by Chad McCumbee, failed a random drug test on May 21 and is the sixth crew member suspended under NASCAR's new drug testing policy, which has also netted Jeremy Mayfield, an owner-driver in the Sprint Cup Series.

In other penalties announced Wednesday, Sprint Cup Series driver-owner Robby Gordon was penalized 50 points in both the owner and driver championship standings and his crew chief Kirk Almquist has been fined $50,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 after officials found an illegal rear axle housing on his No. 7 car during post-race inspection at Lowe's Motor Speedway Monday.

NASCAR Suspends Another Crew Member for Violating Drug Policy originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 27 May 2009 16:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mike Skinner OK After Scary Crash

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:01:00 EST

Filed under: Lowes Motor Speedway, Camping World Truck Series

The combination of NASCAR's safety developments over the past decade likely saved another driver from serious injury or worse Friday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

On lap 34, Mike Skinner dove to the low side of Johnny Sauter, caught the infield grass and spun a complete 360 before plowing head first into the third dogleg of the LMS frontstretch during a Camping World Truck Series event. Another truck collided simulaneously with Skinner, flipping the black No. 5 truck on its side.

The truck showered sparks for hundreds of feet before landing right side up, and Skinner incredibly got out completely uninjured.

The race, eventually won by Ron Hornaday Jr. after yet another post-race rant from second-place Kyle Busch (more on that later), was red-flagged for a period after Skinner's hard impact damaged the SAFER barrier.

After emerging from his crashed vehicle and taking the obligatory ride to the infield care center for a quick check-up, Skinner wasn't pleased with the events that led up to his hard crash.

"I went to pass an idiot, and he ran me down into the grass," said Skinner. "It was a really, really stupid rookie move by a veteran. [...] I probably should have let off the gas, waited another lap."

That 'idiot' Skinner was referring to was Johnny Sauter, who pinched Skinner into the grass. Moreso, Skinner was incredibly thankful for all of the safety devices that allowed him to walk away.

"That kind of impact a few years ago would have sent you off there in a helicopter with your head taped to a board," said Skinner, referring to being placed on a medical helicopter.

DYST V3 test

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches as Mo Williams #2 takes a shoe to the face by Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a steal in the closing seconds of the first half at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 8, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images)

David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images

Brazil's Diogo (L) vies for the ball with Paraguay's Hernan Perez during their U-20 South American Championship football match in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela on February 8, 2009.(Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images )

Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images

A Dalmatian looks at its handler as a judge goes to touch the dog during the first day of the 2009 Westminster Dog Show in New York February 9, 2009.(Lucas Jackson, Reuters)

Lucas Jackson, Reuters

Denver Nuggets forward Chris Anderson touches his head during a time out in the first half of their NBA basketball game with the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, New Jersey February 7, 2009. (Ray Stubblebine, Reuters)

Ray Stubblebine, Reuters

Margarita Marbler, of Austria, skis to a bronze medal finish the ladies moguls freestyle FIS World Cupskiing qualification at Cypress mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP)

Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP

West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant (25) is fouled by Providence guard Jeff Xavier (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. West Virginia won 86-59. (Don Wright, AP)

Don Wright, AP

Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, top, celebrates the Tigers' 62-60 win over Kansas in Columbia, Missouri, Monday, February 9, 2009. (Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT)

Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT

David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils fights Erik Reitz #4 of the New York Rangers during their game on February 9, 2009 at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (Al Bello, Getty Images)

Al Bello, Getty Images

Driver Patrick Sheltra (60) begins to spin coming out of the fourth turn during the ARCA 200 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.

Darryl Graham, AP

Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives serves the ball, in this multiple exposure, to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their Fed Cup tennis match in Brno February 7, 2009.

Petr Josek, Reuters

Mike Skinner OK After Scary Crash originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 15 May 2009 22:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ballew's Atlanta DUI Charges Dropped

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:51:00 EST

Filed under: Kyle Busch, NASCAR Police Blotter, Camping World Truck Series

It's not exactly a major story, but we wouldn't be doing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner Billy Ballew justice without at least giving mention to the fact that a DUI charged against him has been dropped.

As you'll probably remember, Ballew was nabbed inside Atlanta Motor Speedway's infield -- come to think of it, it wasn't a good weekend in that infield -- after an 'irate' off-duty police officer working track security stopped his vehicle after seeing a cocktail.

This week, the Henry County Sheriff's Office gave notice that the charge was 'dismissed administratively'.

Such a result wasn't too surprising after reading some of the facts presented in the original article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ballew refused a breathalyzer test on the scene, and the article never said if he had ever actually had a blood-alcohol content above the legal limt.

And if Ballew's word is the truth, the situation really only involved a open container infraction because the team owner said he "wasn't drunk" and had just "one drink" before driving his sponsor client from an outside-the-track condominium to a motor home in the infield of the track outside of Hampton, Ga.

Ballew's CWTS team often has Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch behind the wheel, and on that Atlanta week in question, Busch took Ballew's No. 51 Toyota to victory lane on the Saturday following the Wednesday night incident.

Ballew's Atlanta DUI Charges Dropped originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Harvick Wins Truck Race; Busch Fumes

Geoffrey Miller — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:03:00 EST

Filed under: Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Camping World Truck Series

For for the first time in 2009, Kyle Busch left a race weekend without a race-winning trophy in hand and didn't appear a bit pleased with the way that happened.

Kevin Harvick nudged Busch's No. 51 in turn four at Martinsville Speedway and passed him for the lead with 10 laps to go in the rain-postponed Camping World Truck Series Kroger 250 to win the event, but not before Busch fell deep in the field.

While trying to straighten out a fender by brushing the infield wall under caution, Busch crossed the pit road commitment line and earned a penalty for not pitting. Busch was relegated to a 17th-place finish in the Kroger 250, and afterwards, dashed directly towards the track's exit to the motor home lot.

Harvick's pass -- the finish nearly was a reversal of Busch and Harvick's 1-2 finish at Atlanta in the series' last outing -- probably wasn't the reason Busch wasn't in the mood to talk as it was a typical short track move. Instead, he probably wasn't happy about NASCAR's commitment line penalty, though his move was a direct violation of the rule.

Following Harvick to the line on a day that saw 14 cautions was his teammate Ron Hornaday with Mike Skinner third, Johnny Benson fourth and pole-winner Rick Crawford in fifth. The race was postponed from Saturday thanks to rain showers.

In case you missed today's action because of commitments like, say, work, here's the final 20 laps thanks to the wonders of Youtube -- complete with Kyle Busch's penalty.

Harvick Wins Truck Race; Busch Fumes originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rain Postpones Truck Series to Monday

Geoffrey Miller — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:34:00 EST

Filed under: Sprint Cup, Camping World Truck Series

Don't say we didn't warn you.

Monday afternoon will be the right time for race time after rain halted plans to run Saturday's Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway.

The rain set in over the speedway just as CWTS qualifying was ending, but the session was completed with Rick Crawford earning the pole. Instead of taking his truck to the green flag for the Kroger 250 later in the day, he'll instead get that opportunity Monday at 12 p.m./EDT.

Crawford's lap of 94.737 mph topped second-place Shane Sieg by four-tenths of an average mile per hour. Last year's truck series champion Johnny Benson qualified third, Ron Hornaday Jr. fourth and Colin Braun fifth.

Monday's race will be broadcast live on SPEED if you're looking for an excuse to take an extended lunch break.

The timing of the rain wasn't as nice to the Sprint Cup drivers as both of their scheduled practice sessions for Sunday's race were cancelled by a lasting mist that just wouldn't let up. Jeff Gordon, by virtue of owner points, starts on Sunday's pole.

Sunday's forecast, however, looks much better for the scheduled 500-lap affair. Clouds are expected in the morning, but they should move away as the afternoon progresses leaving behind sunny skies and a very comfortable high of 67 degrees. Monday's forecast for the truck series race looks much the same.

Rain Postpones Truck Series to Monday originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rain Could Stop More Martinsville Action

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:23:00 EST

Filed under: Jeff Gordon, Sprint Cup, Camping World Truck Series

Friday afternoon, the skies over Martinsville, Va., didn't cooperate with NASCAR officials.

In town for the sixth race of the still young 2009 season, both the Sprint Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series got in some needed practice time before rain showers halted activities at the 0.526-mile short track later in the afternoon -- scrubbing both Sprint Cup qualifying and a full CWTS final practice.

Thanks to the rain, point leader Jeff Gordon will start on Sunday's pole but Saturday activities might also be slowed by more precipitation.

The forecast for the area on Saturday looks less than promising with morning fog, a 70 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms all day and expected rainfall amounts of up to three-quarters of an inch all being projected for a day scheduled to have Sprint Cup final practice, CWTS qualifying and finally the CWTS 200-lap race.

Here's to hoping you weren't planning a one-day trip on Saturday to NASCAR's shortest track.

Gordon, meanwhile, earned the pole for Sunday's Goody's Cool Orange 500 thanks to the NASCAR rulebook that sets the field by virtue of the current owner points. Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards rounded out that group's Top-5.

Denny Hamlin, the second-place finisher a week ago, lines up 8th after topping the practice charts in Friday's session -- one that was heavily dominated by several race runs because of teams being concerned about Saturday's forecast.

Sterling Marlin, Tony Raines, Dennis Setzer and Derrike Cope all had to pack up and go home after the system to fill the field left them out of the limit of 43 starters. Marlin, however, seemed in position to make the race after running the 13th-quickest lap time in Friday's practice.

After taking the pole, Gordon talked about how he and his crew chief Steve Letarte both had a selfish agenda on their minds for Friday's proceedings.

"I will tell you that my hopes for the day and I think Steve Letarte and the rest of the team will go along with this is that we got practice in today and could run some race runs and try some things out and get some laps and that qualifying would rain out so we could sit on the pole and get the number one pit stall," said Gordon. "Our day has been about as perfect as we could ask for it today. That's just us kind of being selfish and knowing that where we're at in the points and looking all week of the forecast of the weather."

That number one pit stall -- at the very end of pit road with no obstacles for a driver when he leaves the stall -- can be a big advantage, especially at Martinsville.

"There's no doubt that if anybody gets that number one pit stall it gives them the upper hand," said Gordon. "Of course the location of it, the ease of getting off pit road. The pit stalls are so tight here that there's really only one good one and that's it."

Rain Could Stop More Martinsville Action originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Team Owner Ballew Nabbed for DUI

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Kyle Busch, NASCAR Police Blotter, Camping World Truck Series

Billy Ballew -- the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team owner who Sprint Cup star Kyle Busch often drives for -- was arrested Wednesday evening at Hampton, Ga.'s, Atlanta Motor Speedway on a charge of driving under the influence.

The story, first picked up by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said Ballew was arrested by a sargeant in the Henry County Sherriff's office after Ballew was flagged down while transporting a sponsor from his at-track condominium to a motorhome in the infield.

Ballew confirmed the story to the paper, but claimed that he was simply carrying a mixed drink and "was not drunk" at the time of arrest.
From the story:

Ballew said he was driving a sponsor from his condominium to the passenger's motor home when "an irate cop" wearing a cap marked "security" stopped him. The condo and the mobile home, said Ballew, are both on racetrack property.

Ballew said he refused to take a breathalyzer test, but acknowledged that he was carrying a mixed drink in the car when he was pulled over.

"It was only one drink. I was not drunk," Ballew said. "I was on Atlanta Motor Speedway property. I was not on the highway."

Unfortunately for Ballew, simply being on private property doesn't usually affect a DUI charge. However, one thing that should be be pointed out is that there is no specific mention of whether or not Ballew actually ever tested above Georgia's legal blood-alcohol level limit.

It'll be interesting to see how this all turns out, though I have a suspicion that he'll probably be charged with a lesser offense after the prosecutor's office takes a look at the case.

Last season, the transporter hauling Ballew's trucks and team equipment to Texas Motor Speedway burned along the highway en route to TMS, and a quick-thinking hauler driver pulled out the truck that Kyle Busch was supposed to race that weekend. The truck suffered cosmetic burns but was later used in the weekend by Busch.

Ballew's No. 51 Toyota team is scheduled to compete with Kyle Busch in Saturday's Camping World Truck Series race at the 1.5-mile track.

Team Owner Ballew Nabbed for DUI originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Todd Bodine Wins Daytona Truck Race; Canadian Fitzpatrick Leads, Takes 4th

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:44:00 EST

Filed under: Kyle Busch, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Camping World Truck Series

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Todd Bodine became the first driver to win multiple NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events at Daytona International Speedway Friday night, but a 20-year-old Canadian driver nearly stole the show.

J.R. Fitzpatrick -- a contender for 2009 Rookie of the Year in the Truck Series -- led 17 laps late in the event before finishing fourth in his first ever NASCAR restrictor plate race after making just three starts in 2008.

He might have even led the most important one had the race been scheduled for a few more miles.

Fitzpatrick took the lead on lap 71 of the 100 lap event while the race was under caution, and when the green flag came back out, he led a single-file pack of trucks with Kyle Busch's Toyota drafting closely off his bumper.

After the race, Fitzpatrick talked about the novelty of seeing Busch -- a racer he's watched on television -- in his rear-view mirror.

"I was going down the straightaway saying 'This is sooo cool," said Fitzpatrick with a laugh. "I watch Kyle Busch, you know, all these guys, every weekend."

That, Fitzpatrick said, led to a heavy dose of nerves.

"I was really nervous on the first restart," said the native of Ontario. "But then I said if I'm going to keep being nervous, then I'm probably going to end up screwing up. I calmed myself down, focused on keeping it at the bottom."

Fitzpatrick got shuffled back somewhat after getting passed by Busch and Colin Braun, but was able to make up ground after his team was one of a few that opted for fresh tires during a debris caution that left six laps to go. From there, Fitzpatrick drafted back to his fourth-place finish.

As for Bodine, though, his second-straight win in the Truck Series season-opener got off to an ominous start.

First, Bodine was black-flagged by NASCAR for driving below the yellow line -- something NASCAR enforced very strictly -- for a pass-through penalty during green flag conditions. Later, he tapped the rear-end of James Buescher coming out of the tri-oval, setting off the race's biggest crash of 9 trucks.

However, Bodine battled back in his unsponsored Toyota to finish off the night by leading the final 11 laps and holding off a charge by Kyle Busch heading into Turn 3. Busch got a run on Bodine down the backstetch and slammed his rear bumper, barely loosening up Bodine's truck but killing the momentum of Busch's No. 51.

After the race, he called the move a mistake.

"I guess the last lap I screwed up once again this year," Busch said. "Last year, I did the same thing - can't time it right, can't get the timing going. I keep planning the last five laps in a row to try to get it. Thought I had an idea about it."

"Again, screwed up this year."

Fortunately, Busch has two more races this weekend at Daytona to make up for his mistake.

Todd Bodine Wins Daytona Truck Race; Canadian Fitzpatrick Leads, Takes 4th originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No More Pit Stops? NASCAR Truck Series Still Looking to Cut Costs

Geoffrey Miller — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:55:00 EST

Filed under: Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Rumors, NASCAR Testing, Camping World Truck Series

In what has to be one of the more unusual -- or, at least, unexpected -- way to save costs for NASCAR's third-tier Camping World Truck Series, one driver acknowledged competitive pit stops might be gone for 2009.

According to an article over at SceneDaily, NASCAR is expected to announce a few more initiatives this week in a bid to help Truck teams stay solvent among one of the toughest sponsorship climates the sport has ever seen.

Pit stops, three-time Truck Series champ Ron Hornaday Jr., says, might be one of the key elements on NASCAR's cost containment chopping block, though the sanctioning body has yet to acknowledge such a possibility.

For Hornaday -- one of the Truck Series' original drivers from its inaugural 1995 season -- axing pit stops not only could save teams a chunk of money, but it's a move that should have been done long ago.

"They should have done it a long time ago," Hornaday said. "You could have the best truck out there, and if you didn't pay that guy a little bit more money or get the best guy or steal him from somebody else, you're going to come out of the pits sixth or seventh and have a chance of not winning the race."

Hornaday's point is that as the NASCAR world has flourished in the past two decades, superior pit crew members have become essential to competetive teams thanks to the incredible difference that a tenth of a second -- much less two or three seconds -- can make in the outcome of a race. And thanks to NASCAR operating as a sport with independent contractors, a crew member has no obligation to remain at one team and instead can head to where the pay is the highest.

Obviously, it stops couldn't be deleted entirely from any race program due to race lengths, but I'd imagine such a process would include yellow flag stops that allow a driver to return to the race in the same spot granted they are under some sort of time limit. Green flag pit stops, though, seem a little tougher to negotiate.

Going without pit stops or some other modification to the basic NASCAR race dynamic isn't completely new for the Truck Series. From the Series' start in 1995 until 1998, the series had an intermission or half time break in its races and prohibited tire changes except when tire wear was a factor.

Of course, the trucks primarily raced on short tracks during that time and have since grown to include Daytona and a plethora of other 1.5-mile and 2-mile speedways.

Taking away pit stops would be quite a drastic change for the series and I'm not completely sure the idea -- while a good one for personnel cost-savings -- would be good for the overall entertainment. Additionally, such a move would lead to a lot of Truck Series crew members either with lower wages or without a job due to their lack of requirements for a team to win.

Perhaps, NASCAR should look into a more devoted short track schedule for the Truck Series because in doing so, teams would have less money dedicated to expensive aerodynamic and downforce work that the bigger tracks necessitate for a high level of competition.

It should, without a doubt, be interesting what NASCAR comes up with for the Trucks in the coming days.

No More Pit Stops? NASCAR Truck Series Still Looking to Cut Costs originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mansfield Track Cancels Truck Race, Closes

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Camping World Truck Series

One of these days we'll have a story about something growing or getting better in the NASCAR world, but that's not happening today.

Earlier in the week, Mansfield Motorsports Park in middle Ohio canceled its Camping World Truck Series race scheduled for May at short track, and in its place, NASCAR shifted the schedule of the third-tier series to include a race at the nearly-brand-spankin'-new Iowa Speedway in September.

(I suppose if you're an Iowan, your NASCAR life just improved two-fold with the deal thanks to the track landing a Nationwide Series race date over the summer when the 2009 schedules were announced, so that's something positive, I guess?)

Unfortunately for Mansfield, the news got worse on Friday as track owner Mike Dzurilla announced he was closing the speedway for the 2009 season. The half-mile track was the shortest distance on the truck schedule and had become somewhat of a Memorial Day tradition for the truck series to race on Sunday afternoon ahead of the Sprint Cup's Coca-Cola 600.

It wasn't the most well-known track on the schedule nor the largest, but as with any good short tracks, it produced its share of controversy among the always-rowdy truck series drivers. (Want proof? stay tuned for the video.)

Earlier this season, Donny Lia got his first truck series win in quite the fashion.

With the white flag waving, Lia drove his truck deep in the first turn under leader David Starr and made heavy contact. Todd Bodine in third slid underneath the two of them to make it a three-wide battle for the lead in the final corner before Lia nudged ahead and took his first win.

Now watch for yourself:

Happy trails, Mansfield Motorsports Park, it feels like we didn't even know ya.

Mansfield Track Cancels Truck Race, Closes originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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