Nascar and Racing Camping World Truck Series

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

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.

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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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.