November 14, 2003 - Homestead-Miami
Heading into the season finale, any one of the top four drivers in the point standings – Brendan Gaughan, Ted Musgrave, Travis Kvapil and Dennis Setzer – had a shot to win the championship … Kvapil took home his first NASCAR championship after Gaughan was involved in an early race wreck and Musgrave jumped a restart.
July 17, 2004 - Gateway
David Starr scored his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win and the first of two for 2004 after four green-white-checkered attempts to finish the race … This was the final race where multiple green-white-checkered finishes were a part of competition, yielding to the current format of one attempt at a green-white-checkered finish.
February 18, 2005 - Daytona
Bobby Hamilton, the 2004 series champion, won by leading the last two feet of the race … Jimmy Spencer mistakenly thought he had won the race and came to Victory Lane, when in fact he had finished second.
February 16, 2007 - Daytona
It was a three-wide finish that kicked off the season. With a push from Johnny Benson to pass Travis Kvapil heading into the tri-oval, three-time series champion Jack Sprague brought home his first Daytona victory.
June 14, 2008 - Michigan
Only inches separated Erik Darnell and Johnny Benson as they came down the frontstretch on the final lap … Darnell held off Benson by just .005 seconds, the closest Margin of Victory in the series since the implementation of electronic scoring.
November 7, 2008 - Phoenix
Kevin Harvick held off Kyle Busch for the win as the two championship contenders – Johnny Benson and Ron Hornaday Jr. struggled to the finish after being involved in a wreck early in the race … Benson came out of the race with just a three-point lead heading into the season finale at Homestead-Miami; the smallest margin with one race left in series history.
October 31, 2009 Talladega
In a side-by-side finish, Kyle Busch narrowly beat teammate Aric Almirola by .057 seconds – the closest Margin of Victory of the season … The 1-2 finish was a first for Billy Ballew Motorsports … The win was Busch’s fourth in as many starts and he would go on to win seven races on the year.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
NASCAR NATIONWIDE BEST RACES OF THE DECADE
April 20, 2002 – Talladega
Winner Jason Keller was one of only three drivers to finish on the lead lap following a wild 27-car backstretch mishap on Lap 16. The wreck started when Shane Hmiel bumped the rear of Scott Riggs, who turned into Johnny Sauter sending Sauter’s car sideways and ahead of the pack, triggering the incident. Twenty-four cars were forced to retire before the halfway point of the race. Stacy Compton, who along with Keller and Tim Fedewa were ahead of the accident, had the lead for the bulk of the race but surrendered it to Keller on the final round of pit stops. By then, with so many cars out of the event, there was no drafting help for Compton to challenge Keller, the winner by .0163 seconds.
August 2, 2003 – ORP
Brian Vickers defeated Shane Hmiel in what some long-time series observers call the best NNS race ever. Vickers trailed Hmiel most of the race, and took his first lead on Lap 108 beating Hmiel coming out of the pits under caution. Vickers briefly lost his lead to Ron Hornaday Jr. before Hmiel recaptured it on Lap 134. Hmiel and Vickers practically ran side-by-side for most of the last 30 laps, thrilling the crowd at ORP. They narrowly avoided contact for most of the way but on Lap 181 of the 200-lap affair, Vickers finally passed Hmiel for the lead and held on for the win, the first of his career.
November 15, 2003 – Homestead-Miami
Never in series history were the top five drivers in the standings separated by fewer points – 89 – coming into the final race of the season. Brian Vickers managed an 11th-place finish and overcame a lost lap early in the event and held off David Green, the 1994 series champion, to win the title by 14 points. Green actually was down three laps himself during the race but made those up to keep the pressure on Vickers until the final lap. The margin was the second-closest in series history and made Vickers, 20, the youngest champion in any of NASCAR’s three national series. Kasey Kahne was the race winner, the first national series victory of his NASCAR racing career.
July 2, 2004 - Daytona
In a wild last lap under the lights, Mike Wallace navigated the mayhem to capture his first series win in 10 years. On the final lap, Michael Waltrip was bumped out of the lead by Jason Leffler and spun into the backstretch infield. Third-place Dale Earnhardt Jr., going high to pass Leffler, got pinned against the wall as Leffler got loose and slid up the track. Wallace, who was fifth at that stage but had been as far back as 25th nine laps before, literally came through the smoke to win a frontstretch drag race with Leffler and take the checkered flag.
June 17, 2006 – Kentucky
In only his seventh series start, David Gilliland, a part-time driver with a part-time team, defeated eight double-duty drivers to win at Kentucky Speedway. Despite dropping from second to 19th on Lap 50 of the 200-lap event due to a poor pit stop, he rallied to pass JJ Yeley with 10 laps to go and held on to become the first non-double-duty driver to win that season.
August 2, 2008 – Montreal
Canadian Ron Fellows won the first NASCAR national series points race run on rain tires. For the second consecutive year, Marcos Ambrose seemed destined to win, leading a race-high 27 laps. But a costly pit road speeding penalty against Ambrose opened the door for Fellows, who took advantage to win the historic rain-shortened event in front of a strong crowd of loyal fans who braved the inclement weather to watch stock car racing at the world-famous open-wheel course.
August 30, 2009 - Montreal
For the second consecutive year in Montreal, the series ran a points race in the rain. And for the third straight race there, Marcos Ambrose was dominant but left without a win. With a pass for the lead on the final corner of the final lap, Carl Edwards capitalized on the only mistake Ambrose made all day to win. Edwards hounded Ambrose for both laps of a green-white-checkered finish and made the winning pass after Ambrose’s car got airborne over the curbing, losing momentum in the final turn. Before the dramatic pass, Ambrose had been in total control. It was Edwards’ first national series road course victory.
Winner Jason Keller was one of only three drivers to finish on the lead lap following a wild 27-car backstretch mishap on Lap 16. The wreck started when Shane Hmiel bumped the rear of Scott Riggs, who turned into Johnny Sauter sending Sauter’s car sideways and ahead of the pack, triggering the incident. Twenty-four cars were forced to retire before the halfway point of the race. Stacy Compton, who along with Keller and Tim Fedewa were ahead of the accident, had the lead for the bulk of the race but surrendered it to Keller on the final round of pit stops. By then, with so many cars out of the event, there was no drafting help for Compton to challenge Keller, the winner by .0163 seconds.
August 2, 2003 – ORP
Brian Vickers defeated Shane Hmiel in what some long-time series observers call the best NNS race ever. Vickers trailed Hmiel most of the race, and took his first lead on Lap 108 beating Hmiel coming out of the pits under caution. Vickers briefly lost his lead to Ron Hornaday Jr. before Hmiel recaptured it on Lap 134. Hmiel and Vickers practically ran side-by-side for most of the last 30 laps, thrilling the crowd at ORP. They narrowly avoided contact for most of the way but on Lap 181 of the 200-lap affair, Vickers finally passed Hmiel for the lead and held on for the win, the first of his career.
November 15, 2003 – Homestead-Miami
Never in series history were the top five drivers in the standings separated by fewer points – 89 – coming into the final race of the season. Brian Vickers managed an 11th-place finish and overcame a lost lap early in the event and held off David Green, the 1994 series champion, to win the title by 14 points. Green actually was down three laps himself during the race but made those up to keep the pressure on Vickers until the final lap. The margin was the second-closest in series history and made Vickers, 20, the youngest champion in any of NASCAR’s three national series. Kasey Kahne was the race winner, the first national series victory of his NASCAR racing career.
July 2, 2004 - Daytona
In a wild last lap under the lights, Mike Wallace navigated the mayhem to capture his first series win in 10 years. On the final lap, Michael Waltrip was bumped out of the lead by Jason Leffler and spun into the backstretch infield. Third-place Dale Earnhardt Jr., going high to pass Leffler, got pinned against the wall as Leffler got loose and slid up the track. Wallace, who was fifth at that stage but had been as far back as 25th nine laps before, literally came through the smoke to win a frontstretch drag race with Leffler and take the checkered flag.
June 17, 2006 – Kentucky
In only his seventh series start, David Gilliland, a part-time driver with a part-time team, defeated eight double-duty drivers to win at Kentucky Speedway. Despite dropping from second to 19th on Lap 50 of the 200-lap event due to a poor pit stop, he rallied to pass JJ Yeley with 10 laps to go and held on to become the first non-double-duty driver to win that season.
August 2, 2008 – Montreal
Canadian Ron Fellows won the first NASCAR national series points race run on rain tires. For the second consecutive year, Marcos Ambrose seemed destined to win, leading a race-high 27 laps. But a costly pit road speeding penalty against Ambrose opened the door for Fellows, who took advantage to win the historic rain-shortened event in front of a strong crowd of loyal fans who braved the inclement weather to watch stock car racing at the world-famous open-wheel course.
August 30, 2009 - Montreal
For the second consecutive year in Montreal, the series ran a points race in the rain. And for the third straight race there, Marcos Ambrose was dominant but left without a win. With a pass for the lead on the final corner of the final lap, Carl Edwards capitalized on the only mistake Ambrose made all day to win. Edwards hounded Ambrose for both laps of a green-white-checkered finish and made the winning pass after Ambrose’s car got airborne over the curbing, losing momentum in the final turn. Before the dramatic pass, Ambrose had been in total control. It was Edwards’ first national series road course victory.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
CAMPINGWORLD TRUCK SERIES BEST DRIVERS OF THE DECADE
Johnny Benson
Captured his first series championship in 2008, winning the title by seven points over Ron Hornaday Jr., in the second-closest finish in series history … Benson became the second driver to win titles in two national series (also won NNS in 1995) … His 14 wins in the decade are behind only Hornaday, Bodine, Musgrave and Kyle Busch.
Todd Bodine
Won the 2006 series championships … His 17 wins are the second most of the decade … He has won races for six straight seasons – longest active winning streak in the series … He has finished in the top four in the point standings all five of the years he has competed fulltime (2005-09).
Ron Hornaday Jr.
Is the series first four-time champion … Won the series title twice this decade – in 2007 and 2009 … He set the modern-era record for consecutive wins (5) and has the most wins in this decade (20).
Ted Musgrave
Is the 2005 series champion … He finished in the top three in the point standings five years in a row (2001-05) and in the top seven from 2001-07 … He’s tied for the second most wins with 17 in this decade.
Mike Skinner
The series’ first champion (1995) has finished in the top 11 in the point standings the final six years of the decade … Has posted at least one win in the final five years of the decade … Holds the series record for most career poles (50).
Captured his first series championship in 2008, winning the title by seven points over Ron Hornaday Jr., in the second-closest finish in series history … Benson became the second driver to win titles in two national series (also won NNS in 1995) … His 14 wins in the decade are behind only Hornaday, Bodine, Musgrave and Kyle Busch.
Todd Bodine
Won the 2006 series championships … His 17 wins are the second most of the decade … He has won races for six straight seasons – longest active winning streak in the series … He has finished in the top four in the point standings all five of the years he has competed fulltime (2005-09).
Ron Hornaday Jr.
Is the series first four-time champion … Won the series title twice this decade – in 2007 and 2009 … He set the modern-era record for consecutive wins (5) and has the most wins in this decade (20).
Ted Musgrave
Is the 2005 series champion … He finished in the top three in the point standings five years in a row (2001-05) and in the top seven from 2001-07 … He’s tied for the second most wins with 17 in this decade.
Mike Skinner
The series’ first champion (1995) has finished in the top 11 in the point standings the final six years of the decade … Has posted at least one win in the final five years of the decade … Holds the series record for most career poles (50).
NATIONWIDE BEST DRIVERS OF THE DECADE
Greg Biffle
2002 series champion. … This decade: fourth in wins (20), second in top fives (90) and top 10s (142), also 14 poles (tied for fourth) in 232 races … In his only two NNS-only seasons (2001-02), won nine times with 26 top fives, 27 top 10s despite nine DNFs; also had seven poles. … Began double-duty driving in 2003.
Kyle Busch
2009 NNS champion. … This decade: his 30 (fourth all-time) wins have come since 2004 – 19 in the last two seasons. … Since setting or tying most of the series rookie records in 2004 en route to ROY honors, has continued his record-breaking performance in the series with key marks over the last two seasons. Among them: most wins (10-2008), most first or second-place finishes (20-2009), most perfect driver ratings (8-2008-09). … 81 top fives (fifth), 107 top 10s (sixth) in 173 races. … Began double-duty driving in 2005.
Carl Edwards
2007 NNS driver champion. … This decade: has always been a full-time driver in NNS. … Third-most wins (25), tied with Kyle Busch with second-most poles (18). … Has never finished outside the top three in the final standings and has finished runner-up in the championship three times. … 2005 ROY. … 87 top fives (third), 119 top 10s (fourth) in 176 races. … Began double-duty driving in 2005.
Kevin Harvick
Decade’s first two-time series champion (2001, ’06), first true double-duty driver (beginning in 2001) and in his first full-time season in NSCS in 2001. … This decade: 32 of his 34 wins (second all-time) came with RCR, his last two have come with his own KHI team. … Leads all series drivers in wins, top fives (120), top 10s (168) and poles (19) in 235 starts. … 2000 ROY.
Jason Keller
Two championship runner-up finishes (2000, ’02). … This decade: registered seven of his 10 career wins. … Six top-10 finishes in the final standings from 2000-05 and again in 2009. … Became series’ all-time starts leader and money winner during driving for teams that did not have NSCS affiliations. … Highest-ranking series-only regular in top fives (63-6th) and top 10s (115-T4th with Matt Kenseth) … 303 starts. … Two NSCS career starts.
Martin Truex Jr.
This decade: won consecutive titles in 2004-05, the most recent championships for a series-only regular. … His 12 wins (out of 13 total) are the most for a series-only regular and are seventh among all drivers. … 37 top fives rank 10th; his 10 poles are ninth. … 97 starts. … Began double-duty driving in 2006
2002 series champion. … This decade: fourth in wins (20), second in top fives (90) and top 10s (142), also 14 poles (tied for fourth) in 232 races … In his only two NNS-only seasons (2001-02), won nine times with 26 top fives, 27 top 10s despite nine DNFs; also had seven poles. … Began double-duty driving in 2003.
Kyle Busch
2009 NNS champion. … This decade: his 30 (fourth all-time) wins have come since 2004 – 19 in the last two seasons. … Since setting or tying most of the series rookie records in 2004 en route to ROY honors, has continued his record-breaking performance in the series with key marks over the last two seasons. Among them: most wins (10-2008), most first or second-place finishes (20-2009), most perfect driver ratings (8-2008-09). … 81 top fives (fifth), 107 top 10s (sixth) in 173 races. … Began double-duty driving in 2005.
Carl Edwards
2007 NNS driver champion. … This decade: has always been a full-time driver in NNS. … Third-most wins (25), tied with Kyle Busch with second-most poles (18). … Has never finished outside the top three in the final standings and has finished runner-up in the championship three times. … 2005 ROY. … 87 top fives (third), 119 top 10s (fourth) in 176 races. … Began double-duty driving in 2005.
Kevin Harvick
Decade’s first two-time series champion (2001, ’06), first true double-duty driver (beginning in 2001) and in his first full-time season in NSCS in 2001. … This decade: 32 of his 34 wins (second all-time) came with RCR, his last two have come with his own KHI team. … Leads all series drivers in wins, top fives (120), top 10s (168) and poles (19) in 235 starts. … 2000 ROY.
Jason Keller
Two championship runner-up finishes (2000, ’02). … This decade: registered seven of his 10 career wins. … Six top-10 finishes in the final standings from 2000-05 and again in 2009. … Became series’ all-time starts leader and money winner during driving for teams that did not have NSCS affiliations. … Highest-ranking series-only regular in top fives (63-6th) and top 10s (115-T4th with Matt Kenseth) … 303 starts. … Two NSCS career starts.
Martin Truex Jr.
This decade: won consecutive titles in 2004-05, the most recent championships for a series-only regular. … His 12 wins (out of 13 total) are the most for a series-only regular and are seventh among all drivers. … 37 top fives rank 10th; his 10 poles are ninth. … 97 starts. … Began double-duty driving in 2006
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