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2008 Toyota Tundra 200 Craftsman Truck Series
Race Date August 9, 2007
TV / Radio
Weekend Schedule
Benson Wins Third Straight Truck Race
Darnell held on for the second spot. "Clean air seemed to work tonight and there wasn't much of a top groove, especially in 3 and 4," said Darnell. "I was doing my best to keep Johnny back there, but once he got a little bit of clean air when he got beside me, he was able to make his move. Not taking tires at the end and not making adjustments were the difference." -- Pole sitter Todd Bodine ran a strong race, leading the first 74 laps but finished third. Jack Sprague brought his Chevrolet Silverado home in the fourth spot and teammate Ron Hornaday was fifth. Rookie Colin Braun was sixth followed by Stacy Compton, Ted Musgrave, David Starr and Chad McCumbee to round out the top ten. Benson now leads Ron Hornaday by 45 points in the standings with ten races remaining. The Craftsman Truck Series is off next week but will return to action at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, August 20, 2008.
Bodine on Nashville PoleTodd Bodine put his Toyota Tundra on the pole for Saturday's Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway. Bodine turned a lap of 30.244 seconds around the 1.33-mile concrete track, translating to a speed of 158.669 mph. Stacy Compton joins Bodine on the front row and Mike Skinner rolls off in third place. Rookie Colin Braun nailed down the forth position and Rick Crawford took fifth. Starting in sixth spot is Jack Sprague followed by Dennis Setzer, Keven Wood and Erik Darnell to round out the top ten. The race will be carried on Speed Channel and is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM / Eastern time.
Compton Leads Final Truck PracticeBobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia continued to show strength at Nashville Superspeedway Friday, with Stacy Compton leading the second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice of the day. Teammate Dennis Setzer led the opening session earlier in the day. Compton's top lap of 159.790 mph edged Circle Bar Racing's Rick Crawford, who posted a lap of 159.678 mph, in the final session in preparation for Saturday's Toyota Tundra 200. Bill Davis Racing's Michael Annett was third fastest, followed by Premier Racing's Timothy Peters and Kevin Harvick Inc.'s Jack Sprague.
Manufacturers’ BattleAs the series makes it way to Tennessee, three manufacturers look to break a deadlock. With two wins, Ford, Dodge and Toyota are tied for the most wins at Nashville Superspeedway. Dodge’s last win came in 2004 with the late Bobby Hamilton. Toyota made its most recent trip to Victory Lane in 2006 with Johnny Benson.Ford is the defending winning manufacturer. Travis Kvapil won last year’s Toyota Tundra 200. While Kvapil won’t be in the field to defend the win, his two former Roush Fenway Racing teammates, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun, could help Ford take the lead. Darnell started from the pole in 2006 and last season brought home a ninth-place finish. Chevrolet trails the other three with just one win at the track in 2002. Luck could swing their way, however, as Ron Hornaday Jr. looks to take his success on other concrete tracks to Nashville. Hornaday finished second to Kvapil last year.
Numbers Favor Skinner To WinThis season has morphed into an odd one for both Mike Skinner and Jack Sprague. Both entered 2008 with optimism galore. Skinner just missed his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship last season and Sprague joined a new team – the one that nabbed the title last season. Though neither has suffered a poor season (Skinner’s in fifth and Sprague’s in ninth), the two former series champions have yet to visit Victory Lane.The winless drought could end this weekend, and extend the streak of different race winners at Nashville (it’s currently at seven). According to the statistics, Skinner has to be considered the favorite. Really, he’s done just about everything but win. Skinner has led the most laps in each of the past three races, but only has a best finish of third to show for it. Over that span, he has a Driver Rating of 136.1, an Average Running Position of 2.2, 82 Fastest Laps Run and has run all but six of the Laps in the Top 15 (98.7%). All those are series-best marks. So, Skinner is doubly due. He’s come achingly close at Nashville and has nine consecutive top-10 finishes this season. A win looks likely to come sooner than later. Ditto for Sprague, who has notched two runner-up finishes this year and a second-place finish at Nashville in 2006. Over the past three Nashville races, Sprague has a Driver Rating of 106.3 (fourth-best), an Average Running Position of 7.6 (fourth), 41 Fastest Laps Run (tied for second) and 389 Laps in the Top 15 (86.3%), which is second-most behind Skinner.
Benson Going For Three-In-A-RowIt is widely known that the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is full of tough competition. So it’s a rare accomplishment for a driver to win three races in a row. It’s only happened five times. Should Johnny Benson and his No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota find Victory Lane Saturday, it would mark Benson’s third consecutive victory. He won twice last month at Kentucky Speedway and O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.Hopefully, the third time will be a charm for Benson. Last season, the series veteran won at Bristol Motor Speedway followed by a victory at Gateway International Raceway. The next race, however, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, saw Benson end his day in eighth. In 2006, Benson brought home back-to-back wins at Michigan and Milwaukee. Going for the third win, he had to settle for a ninth-place finish at Kansas. Benson’s teammate and former series champion Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) has managed the feat twice. Skinner nabbed three in a row in 1997 and most recently in 2007. His third win came at Martinsville, a track where he won in 1996. Maybe that’s a good omen. Benson found Victory Lane at Nashville Superspeedway in 2006 and goes into this week’s race as the only previous winner in the Toyota Tundra 200 field. Three other drivers have brought home three wins in a row. Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet) made it three in 1997. Todd Bodine (No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) also accomplished this in 2005, winning the last three races of the season. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Greg Biffle won three straight in 2000, the same year he won the series championship. Benson is aware of the challenge. “Winning three races in a row would be tremendous,” Benson said. “The competition in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is so tight, and to be able to put together race wins is quite an accomplishment.” The driver also knows he has the team and support to end the race No 1. “Trip Bruce (crew chief) has done a great job all year giving me good enough trucks to win. We have had great pit stops which has really helped us get to the front,” he said.
Green Replaces ChaffinFormer NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Jeff Green will drive the No. 40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet at Nashville and Bristol. Local favorite, Chad Chhffin, who normally drives the No. 40 truck, will sit this week out.
Age Is Just A Number: Young VS Old(er)There is a strong “youth movement” in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season with more than 10 drivers under the age of 30. The rookies are definitely holding their own. Two of them, both twenty-somethings — Scott Speed (No. 22 Toyota) and Donny Lia (No. 71 Nationrides.com Chevrolet) — have even brought home their first wins in the series. However, it’s the “old guys” that continue to dominate and hold control over the top 10 in points. Matt Crafton (No. 88 Menard’s Chevrolet) is the only driver under 45 sitting in the top five in the championship points battle. Crafton, age 32, is third in points.Points leader Benson recently turned 45. Hornaday and Rick Crawford (No. 14 Circle Bar Truck Corral/Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford), who celebrated their 50th birthdays this summer, are sitting in second and fourth, respectively. Rounding out the top five, Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) is 51 years young.
Stremme In Ballew Motorsports TruckDriver David Stremme will pilot the No. 15 Hyprene-Ergon Toyota this weekend for Billy Ballew Motorsports. Stremme, who drives the No. 64 Aetreus Homes & Communities Chevrolet for Rusty Wallace Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has plenty of experience and success at Nashville. The driver won the pole in March 2007 and has two top-five and five top-10 finishes at the superspeedway. His second-place finish, his best finish at the track, came in June’s Federated Auto Parts 300. Stremme has only one start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He drove a Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge at Martinsville in 2006.The veteran looks forward to making it to Nashville in a truck. “I’m really excited about taking the wheel,” he said. “Billy Ballew Motorsports has great equipment and great people. I love racing at Nashville and have had some of my best races there, so all of the elements are there for us to have a good day.” Like all the other competitors in the field, Stremme would like to end up in Victory Lane. Not just to add a win to his record but for that special trophy. “One of the coolest things about Nashville is the trophy,” he said. “It’s one of those trophies that every driver wants to have up in their display case. I am hoping this race will give me a reason to brush up on my guitar skills.”
Autograph SessionNashville Superspeedway will play host to a free NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Autograph Session on Saturday, August 9 before the Toyota Tundra 200 race. The Autograph Session will take place at the Craftsman Display on Expo Row. The Autograph Session will take place from Noon to 1 p.m. Arrive early and enjoy the free autograph session and all the activities on Expo Row.NASCAR Craftsman Truck Drivers scheduled to appear are:
Toyota Tundra 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series tickets are available by calling toll-free 1-866-RACE-TIX or www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com.
Craftsman Truck Series Rookie NewsRookie points leader Colin Braun (No. 6 Con-Way Freight Ford) is heading to familiar territory this weekend. The young Texan competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Nashville Superspeedway in March. Braun started the race ninth and brought home a 15th- place finish. I’m looking forward to going to a track that I’ve already raced at this year,” said Braun. “It’s a great track and it’s a lot of fun for a driver.”Braun and fellow Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Justin Marks (No. 9 Crocs Toyota) stayed busy over the off- week break. The pair headed to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal with the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Braun practiced the No. 16 Citi-Financial Ford for Greg Biffle. Marks competed in the No. 10 Furniture Electronics Toyota for Braun Racing. RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS BEFORE TOYOTA TUNDRA 200 DRIVER POINTS 1. Colin Braun 143 2. Donny Lia 130 3. Justin Marks 123 4. Brian Scott 110 5. Marc Mitchell 100 6. Andy Lally 62 7. Scott Speed 61 8. Phillip McGilton 38
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