CAMPING WORLD TRUCK NEWS AND NOTES DOVER

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

Five Races, Five Different Winners In 2012 
Five races into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season and the competition is as tight as ever with no repeat race winners or pole winners to date.

Justin Lofton became the fifth and latest race winner capturing the checkered flag at Charlotte – earning the first series victory for Eddie Sharp Racing. 

The season’s winners include three first time winners: Lofton, John King (Daytona) and James Buescher (Kansas). 

The last season that there were five winners in the first five races was 2005.

Ty Dillon won the pole at Charlotte joining Tim George Jr., Kevin Harvick, Nelson Piquet Jr. and Miguel Paludo as pole winners in 2012. 

Dillon Could Break Rookie Record At Dover
In 2001, the late Ricky Hendrick became the first Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender to earn top-10 finishes in his first five starts of the season.  

Now – more than a decade later – Ty Dillon has matched Hendrick’s feat with his 10th place finish at Charlotte last weekend. 

Dillon’s streak is something that some very successful NCWTS graduates have not accomplished. The list includes 2000 champion and current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Greg Biffle, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch, 2003 NCWTS top rookie Carl Edwards and Travis Kvapil.

He goes for his sixth consecutive top 10 at Dover International Speedway.  

Dover Breeds First Time Winners
The "Monster Mile" has boasted 11 different winners in the last 12 races held at the speedway, including five first time winners:

Jason Leffler (2003)
Chad Chaffin (2004)
Scott Speed (2008)
Brian Scott (2009)
Aric Almirola (2010) 

Kyle Busch became the first repeat winner last season.  Former race winner Brian Scott is slated to drive the No. 18 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Lucas Oil 200.   

NCWTS ETC: After being televised on a same-day, tape-delayed basis in recent years, the Lucas Oil 200 at Dover returns to live television on Friday, June 1 on SPEED at 4:50 p.m. ET.  

Variety Rules The Roost In 2012’s First Five Races

Variety Rules The Roost In 2012’s First Five Races

What a season. And it’s only just begun.
Five races into the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series campaign there have been five different winners, five different pole winners and three first-time winners.
Justin Lofton’s May 18 victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the Californian’s first in the series, joining John King, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne and James Buescher. The last time a season began with five different winners in the first five races was 2005.
King and Buescher, winners at Daytona and Kansas, respectively, also grabbed their first victories.
Ty Dillon, 20, became the year’s youngest pole winner following the Brazilian pair of Nelson Piquet Jr. and Miguel Paludo, Harvick and Tim George Jr. His older brother, 2011 champion Austin Dillon, won seven poles in his rookie season.
Will the streak continue June 1 at Dover International Speedway? Possibly. Two former Dover winners are expected to be in the field: Jason Leffler (2003) and four-time champion Ron Hornaday Jr. (2007). Hornaday’s fifth-place finish at Charlotte – his first top five since joining Joe Denette Motorsports – boosted him to sixth in the standings, a point behind Parker Kligerman.

Lofton, Sharp Making Magic Second Time Around

For Justin Lofton, it’s been an elevator ride from the basement to the penthouse. The off-road veteran and ARCA champion couldn’t buy a top-five finish in his sophomore season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and – voila – he’s now a race winner and the points leader.
Granted, his advantage over previous leader Timothy Peters – a single point – is tenuous at best. It’s the closest since Austin Dillon held a similar lead over Johnny Sauter on Aug. 6, 2011, following the event at Pocono Raceway.
Lofton is the season’s third different leader joining Peters and King. He’s one of three drivers to have finished among the top 10 in all five races.
His short NASCAR national series career has come full-circle after reuniting with ARCA owner Eddie Sharp midway through 2011. Sharp took a big step over the offseason, purchasing most of the assets of Kevin Harvick Inc. and adding Cale Gale to the team. Lofton’s Charlotte victory also was the first for Eddie Sharp Racing as well as crew chief Daniel Bormann.
"This is amazing. This day has been coming for so long," said Lofton, speaking both of the victory and his ascent to a No. 1 ranking. "These guys right here work their butts off week in and week out. I want to thank them."

For Dillon, A Milestone Fifth Consecutive Top-10 Finish

Only once, in 2001, had a Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender posted top-10 finishes in his first five starts of the season. The late Ricky Hendrick, who lost a tight freshman battle to Travis Kvapil, was the runner-up finisher to Joe Ruttman at Daytona and carried the streak through races at Homestead, Mesa Marin, Martinsville and Gateway before rear-end failure resulted in a DNF at Darlington.
More than a decade later, Ty Dillon has matched Hendrick’s feat. His 10th-place performance at Charlotte added to top 10s at Daytona, Martinsville – where he was second – Rockingham and Kansas.
It’s difficult to say whether consistency leads to future success although it certainly can’t hurt.
For the moment, however, Dillon can boast that he’s done something that some very successful NCWTS graduates did not accomplish. The list includes 2000 champion and current NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader Greg Biffle, 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch, 2003 NCWTS top rookie Carl Edwards and Kvapil. Dillon goes for his sixth consecutive top 10 on June 1 at Dover International Speedway. 

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Etc.

In recent seasons, SPEED has broadcast Dover’s Lucas Oil 200 on a same-day, delayed basis. On June 1, the event returns to live television beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET. … Dover’s "Monster Mile" hosted 11 consecutive different winners before Kyle Busch became its first repeat winner a year ago. … First and second and fifth and six places aren’t the only positions separated by small margins. The difference between Dillon and fourth-place Buescher is two points. Joey Coulter replaced Matt Crafton in 10th, but his edge is a single digit. … Buescher and Coulter have entered Saturday’s NNS History 300. Coulter would make his series debut in Richard Childress Racing’s No. 21 Chevrolet.

Stenhouse On Path To Repeat His Championship Ways

Stenhouse On Path To Repeat His Championship Ways

Exclusive company is where current standings leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will be if he stays the course and repeats as the NASCAR Nationwide Series champion. Stenhouse would become the sixth driver to win consecutive series championships, joining Sam Ard (1983-84), Larry Pearson (1986-87), Randy LaJoie (1996-97), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1998-99) and Martin Truex Jr. (2004-05).  
Stenhouse, the unofficial ‘Comeback Kid’ of the series, is doing it again. Following his win at Iowa Speedway last weekend, Stenhouse bolstered his points lead to 34 over second-place Elliott Sadler and in the process posted the series’ first Perfect Driver Rating performance of this season (150.0). Since a 19th-place result to start the year at Daytona, Stenhouse has ripped off nine straight finishes of sixth or better, including three wins (Las Vegas, Texas, Iowa).
Compared to last season, the stats are pointing to Stenhouse to pull it off. He has accumulated 90 more points in the series standings, including 13 more bonus points, than he did after the first 10 races in 2011. He also has bettered his season-to-date Driver Rating (117.9) by 13 points (’11 Driver Rating - 104.9), and his Average Running Position (6.1) by two positions (’11 Avg. Running Position - 8.2) over last season after 10 races. 
Stenhouse returns to Charlotte after winning the pole for this race last year and finishing fourth, just missing the opportunity to give Roush Fenway Racing a top-three sweep – Matt Kenseth won, followed by Carl Edwards.  Stenhouse has made five series starts at Charlotte, posting one top five and two top 10s.

Bliss-ful Return To Charlotte Motor Speedway

Mike Bliss, 47, is one of the most versatile – and perhaps unheralded – drivers in NASCAR. Running for TriStar Motorsports, an independent series team, Bliss currently is ranked eighth in the standings, the seventh straight week he’s been listed in the top 10 after starting off the year in 27th due to an accident at Daytona. Although he’s yet to post a top-10 finish this season, the 2002 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and only driver to accumulate 200 starts in both NNS and NCWTS has had his best success at Charlotte. Both of his NASCAR Nationwide Series victories have come at Charlotte. He won this race in 2009 and captured his first series win in the 2004 fall event. He finished 18th in this race last year. With 135 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, Bliss will pull double duty this weekend, also running in the Coca-Cola 600. Other full-time NNS regulars entered in the season’s longest NSCS race are T.J. Bell, Danica Patrick, 1992 series champion Joe Nemechek and Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Cole Whitt.

Coulter Next In Line As RCR Continues To Groom Young Talent

Hard work, experience and success are all keys to making it in NASCAR, and car owner Richard Childress is notorious for having one of the best eyes for talented drivers. The NASCAR ladder system has been quite beneficial to Childress. He has used it to hone the talents of Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and his grandson, Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Dillon, currently third in the series standings. This weekend, Childress has tapped up-and-coming driver Joey Coulter for the History 300 at CMS.
Coulter, 21, is currently in his second full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Coulter earned five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in his rookie season. He currently is 10th in the 2012 NCWTS driver standings with two top-10 finishes in the first five events.
"I'm really excited to be given the opportunity to run in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with RCR this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway," Coulter said. "I can't thank RCR and everyone that has helped me grow as a driver over the past two years enough."

NASCAR Nationwide Series, Etc.

Kyle Busch, the 2009 series champion, has the opportunity to build on his all-time win record at CMS. He’ll be back driving his own No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota this weekend. He last won this race in 2010 and he’s one of five former winners who are entered this weekend. … Two-time series champion and team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Danica Patrick, driver of the JR Motorsports No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, will take part in a live online chat on Friday, May 25, at 4:15 p.m. EDT on NASCARNationwideseries.com. … The No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota remains in second place in the owner standings behind the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford for the second consecutive week. The No. 18 supplanted the No. 2 RCR Chevrolet following Darlington. … Justin Allgaier’s sixth-place finish at Iowa was his best result thus far in 2012 and also best since a sixth last fall at Atlanta. … Austin Dillon has put up consecutive top-five finishes since a season-worst 17th place at Talladega. He continues to lead the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings. … Angela Cope, niece of 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope and whose twin sister Amber also races, will make her first start of the season at Charlotte. Her most recent series start was in the fall race at CMS last year. … After a six-year hiatus, Biagi-DenBeste Racing returns to the NNS at Charlotte. Reed Sorenson will drive the No. 98 Mustang honoring the late motorsports legend Carroll Shelby. Sorenson’s ride will mirror the new "Super Snake" from Shelby American in celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

 
Lofton, Dillon Make It A Quintuple

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season is just five races old but the excitement level is high with no repeat race or pole winners to date. Justin Lofton became the fifth and latest race winner capturing the May 18 North Carolina Education Lottery 200. The most recent season in which there were five winners in the first five races was 2005.

The season’s winners include three drivers who have tasted victory for the first time: Lofton, John King (Daytona) and James Buescher (Kansas). Lofton’s victory was the first for Eddie Sharp Racing, which purchased many of the assets of Kevin Harvick Inc. at the conclusion of 2011.

Sunoco Rookie of the Year leader Ty Dillon won the 21 Means 21 Pole at Charlotte. The season’s previous four pole winners were Tim George Jr., Kevin Harvick, Nelson Piquet Jr. and Miguel Paludo.

What A Difference A Year Makes

A year ago, Justin Lofton couldn’t find a top-five finish and wound up 14^th in his sophomore NASCAR Camping World Truck campaign. Now he’s the standings leader by a slim, single-point margin over previous No. 1 Timothy Peters. The last time first and second was separated by one point was on Aug. 6, 2011 following the event at Pocono Raceway (Austin Dillon/Johnny Sauter). There have been three different points leaders in 2012: Lofton, Peters and John King.

Up Next: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action on Friday, June 1 at Dover International Speedway. Previous Dover winners currently active are Jason Leffler (2003) and Ron Hornaday Jr. (2007). Last year’s winner Kyle Busch ended the track’s streak of 11 consecutive different winners.

Sadler: Team puts Darlington behind it with Iowa Coors Light Pole

Sadler: Team puts Darlington behind it with Iowa Coors Light Pole

By K.J. Pilcher, Special for NASCAR Wire Service

May 19, 2012

NEWTON, Iowa - Elliott Sadler has made the transition from forgettable finish to 
memorable start in one week.

The NASCAR veteran suffered disappointment when a late wreck damaged his car and 
the chance for a third win last Friday at Darlington Raceway. He didn't wait 
long to put himself in position for another victory.

Sadler claimed his second Coors Light Pole of the season, dashing to the fastest 
qualifying time Saturday for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Pioneer Hi-Bred 250 at 
Iowa Speedway. It is also his second pole in three career races at the 
0.875-mile track.

Sadler went from being one top drivers in practice to being the best when it 
counted. He recorded a fastest lap of 133.911 miles per hour, .6 seconds ahead 
of Sam Hornish Jr. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top three.

"I'm really proud of my guys to come here," Sadler said. "We sat on the pole 
last fall and ran pretty well. It's a good starting spot."

Pole position has to soothe the sting from last week's race when Joey Logano 
bumped Sadler during a restart with five laps left, sending Sadler into the 
outer wall and out of the race. He had to settle for 24th his worst finish of 
the season in front his mom, wife and other family members.

"It says a lot about our race team," Sadler said. "There's a lot of things that 
made last week a bad week. I felt we had a really good chance to win the race. 
We go from having a good chance to win the race and being close in the points 
battle with Ricky to now 23 points behind. That was tough."

Sadler has a brief but successful history at Iowa Speedway, placing in the top 
five of both 2011 Nationwide races, including the pole and a third-place finish 
last August for the U.S. Cellular 250. He was able to handle the track and the 
windy conditions that came into play on Turn 3.

"It just pushed us into Turn 3 a little harder," Sadler said. "I had to make 
some adjustments on my second lap because of that."

Hornish caught the wall on that turn. He wasn't blaming the conditions, but 
realized the hiccup may have cost him a spot.

"I drug the rear on the wall and unsettled the car," said Hornish, who was 
bothered by the mishap and drove the second lap too hard. "I had to check up 
just a second and when you're looking at a tenth of a second between first and 
second that's all it took."

Hornish secured his fifth top-10 of the season and second in two appearances at 
Iowa Speedway. Filling in for Brad Keselowski in August, Hornish led 50 laps in 
Newton.

Things have worked out well for Stenhouse at Iowa Speedway, and that didn't 
change Saturday. Stenhouse posted a fast lap of 133.114. He liked his opening 
lap, slowing down after pressing too much on a slower second. The team made 
adjustments, but there is still work.

"I was really tight in practice," said Stenhouse, praising his team for 
repairing the car after making slight contact with the wall during practice. "We 
got some of the tightness out of it. Just not all of it."

It is his 10th start in the top-10 this season and gives him a shot at a third 
straight victory at Iowa Speedway, sweeping the Nationwide events here last 
year. He expects a fast and challenging field.

"We should have a good car," Stenhouse said. "There's a lot of good race cars 
this weekend."

Ty Dillon won the Pole North Carolina Education Lottery 200

Qualifying Fast Facts Charlotte Motor Speedway 10th Annual North Carolina Education Lottery 200 Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, May 18, 2012 @ 05:05 PM Eastern Keystone Light Pole Winner: Ty Dillon Age: 20 Team : No. 3 - Bass Pro Shops / Allstate Chevrolet Owner: Richard Childress Crew Chief: Scott Naset Ty Dillon won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the
10th Annual North Carolina Education Lottery 200
with a lap of 29.733 seconds, 181.616 mph. This is his first pole in eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races. This is his fourth top-10 start in 2012. Justin Lofton (second) posted his third top-10 start of 2012 and his first
in three races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Joey Coulter (third) posted his first top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
It is his third in five races this season.

NOTE BOOK :NATIONWIDE SERIES

5/16/2012 NATIONWIDE SERIES

 

Time to Climb: Wallace Jr. Debuts at Iowa, Season’s First Stand-Alone Event

Since winning his first NASCAR race in 2010 at a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East record age of 16 years, five months, 19 days, the countdown was on for Darrell Wallace Jr. – AKA “Bubba” – to start taking his steps on “The Ladder” toward his ultimate national series goal.

 

His ascension officially begins Sunday at Iowa Speedway where he’ll make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut for Joe Gibbs Racing. This is the first of four stand-alone events for the series this season and the first of two visits to the .875-mile track designed by NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Rusty Wallace.

 

His initial victory – also the first for an African-American in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East history – was the first of six for Darrell Wallace in that series to date, including a win this year at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. In 25 K&N East races since 2012, Wallace also has 11 top fives, 19 top 10s and three poles to complement his trips to Victory Lane.

 

This racing dream began at age nine for the kid who grew up in NASCAR’s Charlotte-area hub first racing go-karts, then Bandoleros and late-model stock cars before landing a spot in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program and currently as a developmental driver with Joe Gibbs Racing.

 

Wallace Jr. also will compete in Saturday’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series race at Iowa, along with a litany of other eager NASCAR ladder climbers. Follow him on Twitter this week -- @BubbaWallace – as he prepares for his debut.

 

Who Can Unseat Stenhouse at Iowa?

It started with his first career pole as a virtual unknown in the inaugural race in 2009. Three years later, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has put his stamp on Iowa Speedway. Right now, it’s pretty much his house.

 

Stenhouse, the reigning series champion, swept both Iowa races last year, defeating his Roush Fenway Racing teammate – and 2007 series champion – Carl Edwards each time. The second of those victories was perhaps the most dramatic moment of 2011: Stenhouse sliding across the finish line just ahead of Edwards, who had slammed into the rear of Stenhouse’s No. 6 Mustang thanks to a thick smoke shield from its expiring engine.

 

Now Stenhouse (@StenhouseJr) returns to his turf brimming with confidence. Not only because of those wins but as the series’ points leader. He’s 23 up on his rival, Elliott Sadler, who’s in second.

 

Annett Quietly Building Best Season

It’s no secret that winning at Iowa would be the ultimate career achievement for Michael Annett, a Des Moines native. He’s got a 10.8 average finish there with a best result of seventh in 2010. But a win has eluded him.

 

He’s been solid in his previous three full seasons in the series with two top-10 finishes in the final standings including a career-best ninth last year. But he’s also been waiting for his defining moment.

 

He opened this season with a new team, Richard Petty Motorsports, and carries a new number – the iconic No. 43 – on his Ford Mustang. He’s being led by a veteran crew chief in Phillipe Lopez. Currently sixth in the standings, he’s 11 points behind Sunoco Rookie Cole Whitt in fifth. On the heels of two consecutive top-10 finishes, Annett ranked a career-best fifth prior to Talladega but was caught in a late accident that brought a probable top-10 or better finish to an abrupt halt.

 

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

 

NCWTS Back in Action at Charlotte

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the N.C. Education Lottery 200 on Friday, May 18 after three open weekends on the schedule.

 

Timothy Peters leads the championship standings by four points over James Buescher. Justin Lofton, Ty Dillon and Nelson Piquet Jr. round out the top five.

 

Peters has held the top spot since the third race of the season following a fifth place finish at Rockingham.

 

The North Carolina native is the defending trucks series pole winner at Charlotte.

 

Turnaround for ThorSport Could Come Friday Night

With four victories on 1.5-mile ovals to their name, no team is more excited to see Charlotte next on the truck series schedule than ThorSport Racing. 

 

This season is off to a less-than stellar start for pre-season championship favorites Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton.

 

Separate crashes at Daytona and part failures in Martinsville resulted in back-to-back finishes outside the top-20 to kick off the season.

 

However, with top-five finishes at Rockingham and solid performances at Kansas it seems ThorSport could be getting their mojo back.

 

Crafton – who won at Charlotte in 2008 – sits 10th in the series standings followed by Sauter in 16th.

 

Keselowski Poised to Become 24th Driver to Win in All Three National Series

Brad Keselowski will return to the series for the third time this season to pilot his BKR No. 19 entry at Charlotte.

 

The former trucks series competitor could become the 24th different driver to win in all three national series with a victory in the N.C. Education Lottery 200.

 

In addition, he would join his father, Bob Keselowski, as a winner in the series – becoming the first father/son duo to visit victory lane.  

Close ButNorebook : Not Quite For Bodine At Charlotte Motor Speedway

Close But Not Quite For Bodine At Charlotte Motor Speedway

Nine seasons of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competition have sent only two champions to Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Victory Lane. Ted Musgrave won the track’s inaugural race in 2003. Four-time champion Ron Hornaday Jr. collected the hardware twice, in 2007 and 2009.
Todd Bodine, a two-time titleholder, bids to add his name to that short list in Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200. A victory would erase a major gap in Bodine’s resume. Despite winning 21 times in trucks and another 15 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Bodine has yet to capture a points-paying race in Charlotte.
Bodine has done just about everything but win at CMS. He finished second to Kyle Busch in 2010, the best of a trio of NCWTS top fives. His Nationwide record shows five top fives in 21 starts. Friday’s race will be Bodine’s 49th at Charlotte in NASCAR’s three national series.
He has won what’s now called the Sprint Showdown, Saturday’s last-chance entry into the Sprint All-Star Race. "I have always run well here but never got to victory lane in the points race," Bodine said.
Red Horse Racing will roll out the same No. 11 Toyota in which Bodine finished fifth last month at Kansas Speedway.
"Charlotte is definitely its own animal. The corners have a sharper radius than most of the other 1.5-mile tracks. The majority of them have long sweeping corners, where Charlotte does not," Bodine said. "You're challenged with the handling of the track because of the tighter turns, which makes Charlotte a lot more difficult than the others."

Hornaday Ready To Resume Winning Ways

Ron Hornaday Jr., a month shy of his 54th birthday, can set one record and extend another at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Hornaday has won at least one race in seven consecutive seasons – including four a year ago – a NASCAR Camping World Truck mark he shares with Kyle Busch. He’s also working on a streak of seven consecutive pole-winning campaigns and 11 overall.
Charlotte has been one of Hornaday’s best tracks, on which he ranks first in Driver Rating (115.1), Average Running Position (6.088), Fastest Laps Run (100), Laps in the Top 15 (855) and Laps Led (169). He’s the only currently active series driver with multiple victories but continues to look for his first Keystone Light Pole at the 1.5-mile track.
Hornaday got off to a slow start in 2012 as he moved from Kevin Harvick Inc. to Joe Denette Motorsports. A sixth-place finish at Kansas Speedway, however, boosted the four-time champion to seventh in the standings, 11 points out of the top five.
"We have done some testing, found a few things and the boys have been working hard making updates on our intermediate trucks, getting the drag out and getting good down force," said Hornaday, whose last victory came at Las Vegas last October. "We weren't far off, but I feel like these changes will put us back in the hunt."

Consistency Crafton’s Hallmark In Charlotte

Four years have elapsed since Matt Crafton scored his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2008. Another "W" could put Crafton, 10th in the standings, back in the championship picture.
Crafton finished on the lead lap in his first eight starts at CMS, a streak that came to an end with a 26th-place finish a year ago. Both he and ThorSport Racing teammate Johnny Sauter, 16th in points, could use a little intermediate track tonic. Both of Sauter’s series victories came on 1.5-mile tracks (Kansas and Las Vegas).
Crafton, driver of the No. 88 Toyota, needs one top-five finish to become the 13th driver to reach 50 career top fives.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Etc.

Timothy Peters has run well at Charlotte, winning the pole in 2010, but has only a single top 10 to show for his six starts. The NCWTS points leader finished second in his most recent start at Kansas Speedway. … Two full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will compete in Friday’s race: Brad Keselowski and David Reutimann. Brendan Gaughan, splitting his time between all three national series this season, returns to the seat of DeLana Harvick’s No. 2 Chevrolet, which ranks eighth in Owner Championship points. … Friday’s race is the first of the year to use 2012 Owner Championship points to determine locked-in starting positions.

NATIONWIDE SERIES TO IOWA

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

 

Time to Climb: Wallace Jr. Debuts at Iowa, Season’s First Stand-Alone Event

Since winning his first NASCAR race in 2010 at a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East record age of 16 years, five months, 19 days, the countdown was on for Darrell Wallace Jr. – AKA “Bubba” – to start taking his steps on “The Ladder” toward his ultimate national series goal.

 

His ascension officially begins Sunday at Iowa Speedway where he’ll make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut for Joe Gibbs Racing. This is the first of four stand-alone events for the series this season and the first of two visits to the .875-mile track designed by NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Rusty Wallace.

 

His initial victory – also the first for an African-American in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East history – was the first of six for Darrell Wallace in that series to date, including a win this year at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. In 25 K&N East races since 2012, Wallace also has 11 top fives, 19 top 10s and three poles to complement his trips to Victory Lane.

 

This racing dream began at age nine for the kid who grew up in NASCAR’s Charlotte-area hub first racing go-karts, then Bandoleros and late-model stock cars before landing a spot in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program and currently as a developmental driver with Joe Gibbs Racing.

 

Wallace Jr. also will compete in Saturday’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series race at Iowa, along with a litany of other eager NASCAR ladder climbers. Follow him on Twitter this week -- @BubbaWallace – as he prepares for his debut.

 

Who Can Unseat Stenhouse at Iowa?

It started with his first career pole as a virtual unknown in the inaugural race in 2009. Three years later, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has put his stamp on Iowa Speedway. Right now, it’s pretty much his house.

 

Stenhouse, the reigning series champion, swept both Iowa races last year, defeating his Roush Fenway Racing teammate – and 2007 series champion – Carl Edwards each time. The second of those victories was perhaps the most dramatic moment of 2011: Stenhouse sliding across the finish line just ahead of Edwards, who had slammed into the rear of Stenhouse’s No. 6 Mustang thanks to a thick smoke shield from its expiring engine.

 

Now Stenhouse (@StenhouseJr) returns to his turf brimming with confidence. Not only because of those wins but as the series’ points leader. He’s 23 up on his rival, Elliott Sadler, who’s in second.

 

Annett Quietly Building Best Season

It’s no secret that winning at Iowa would be the ultimate career achievement for Michael Annett, a Des Moines native. He’s got a 10.8 average finish there with a best result of seventh in 2010. But a win has eluded him.

 

He’s been solid in his previous three full seasons in the series with two top-10 finishes in the final standings including a career-best ninth last year. But he’s also been waiting for his defining moment.

 

He opened this season with a new team, Richard Petty Motorsports, and carries a new number – the iconic No. 43 – on his Ford Mustang. He’s being led by a veteran crew chief in Phillipe Lopez. Currently sixth in the standings, he’s 11 points behind Sunoco Rookie Cole Whitt in fifth. On the heels of two consecutive top-10 finishes, Annett ranked a career-best fifth prior to Talladega but was caught in a late accident that brought a probable top-10 or better finish to an abrupt halt.

 

CAMPING WORLD TRUCK TO CHARLOTTE

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

 

NCWTS Back in Action at Charlotte

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the N.C. Education Lottery 200 on Friday, May 18 after three open weekends on the schedule.

 

Timothy Peters leads the championship standings by four points over James Buescher. Justin Lofton, Ty Dillon and Nelson Piquet Jr. round out the top five.

 

Peters has held the top spot since the third race of the season following a fifth place finish at Rockingham.

 

The North Carolina native is the defending trucks series pole winner at Charlotte.

 

Turnaround for ThorSport Could Come Friday Night

With four victories on 1.5-mile ovals to their name, no team is more excited to see Charlotte next on the truck series schedule than ThorSport Racing. 

 

This season is off to a less-than stellar start for pre-season championship favorites Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton.

 

Separate crashes at Daytona and part failures in Martinsville resulted in back-to-back finishes outside the top-20 to kick off the season.

 

However, with top-five finishes at Rockingham and solid performances at Kansas it seems ThorSport could be getting their mojo back.

 

Crafton – who won at Charlotte in 2008 – sits 10th in the series standings followed by Sauter in 16th.

 

Keselowski Poised to Become 24th Driver to Win in All Three National Series

Brad Keselowski will return to the series for the third time this season to pilot his BKR No. 19 entry at Charlotte.

 

The former trucks series competitor could become the 24th different driver to win in all three national series with a victory in the N.C. Education Lottery 200.

 

In addition, he would join his father, Bob Keselowski, as a winner in the series – becoming the first father/son duo to visit victory lane.  

VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 Pole Winner: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Qualifying Fast Facts
Darlington Raceway
30th Annual VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, May 11, 2012  
Coors Light Pole Winner: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Age: 24
Team : No. 6 - Cargill Beef Ford
Owner: Jack Roush
Crew Chief: Mike Kelley
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the Coors Light Pole Award 

for the 30th Annual VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 with a 

lap of 28.336 seconds, 173.546 mph.
This is his fifth pole in 82 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his first pole and ninth top-10 start in 2012.
This is his first pole in three races at Darlington Raceway

. His best previous start was eighth, last year.
Denny Hamlin (second) posted his fourth top-10 start of

 2012 and his fourth in seven races at Darlington Raceway.
Austin Dillon (third) posted his first top-10 start 

at Darlington Raceway.  It is his ninth in nine races this season.
Austin Dillon (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie. 

Keselowski Pursues Pair Of NASCAR Truck Goals

Keselowski Pursues Pair Of NASCAR Truck Goals

Job 1 for Brad Keselowski Racing is backing Parker Kligerman to the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship. So far, so good as Kligerman – coming off an eighth-place finish last month at Kansas Speedway – ranks sixth in the standings.
"We’re solidly knocking off finishes, picking up valuable points and bringing home clean trucks," said Kligerman, who’s competing in his second full season in the series. "We’ve got good speed in our Ram [truck]. We’ve got what it takes. We just have to execute better."
The team owner, however, has some unfinished business. Brad Keselowski competed in only one full season before climbing the ladder to Penske Racing, a NASCAR Nationwide Series championship and six NASCAR Sprint Cup victories. He still lacks a truck win.
"I’m just motivated; I want to make that happen," said Keselowski after finishing third in Kansas. A victory in the May 18 Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway would make him the 24th different driver to win in all three national series. He also would join his father, Bob Keselowski, as a NCWTS winner – an unprecedented achievement.
The elder Keselowski, whose family team was a charter member of the series in 1995, won at Richmond in 1997. Brad’s NASCAR career, as crew member, team engineer and later driver, grew with the Michigan operated organization.
"I know we’ve had some seconds and thirds in this deal. It’s a lot harder when you do it with your own team versus a Cup-affiliated team, that’s for sure. It makes it that much more worthwhile," he said.

Charlotte Meister Wauters Hopes To Work Magic With Rookie

Richie Wauters’ debut as a NCWTS owner has been bumpy, to say the least. Unaccustomed, as a crew chief, to seeing his driver outside Victory Lane, the top five and top 10, Wauters No. 5 Ford driven by Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Paulie Harraka has yet to experience success.
Charlotte, where Wauters is a magician, could be a great reset for the first-year team and driver, who stands 20th in points after four races.
In seven starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway with three different drivers – Kyle Busch, Aric Almirola and Shane Hmiel – Wauters counts two wins, three top fives and six top 10s.
"We’ve been fortunate to have some awesome drivers that have helped with that success," said Wauters, who wears both owner and crew chief hats in 2012. "Coming into Charlotte with a rookie driver is a bit more challenging, but with seat time and laps logged, Paulie will adapt quickly," he said. "Charlotte is the fastest track we’ve run other than Daytona."
Sunday will be a big day for Harraka, who will receive his bachelor’s degree in Markets and Managements at Duke University’s Wallace Wade Stadium. "Graduating from Duke is an amazing milestone in my life. It's taken a lot of hard work, but I'd do it all again if I had the chance," Harraka said.

Ty Dillon Holds Solid Rookie Lead – For Now

Ty Dillon’s got a great jump on a NCWTS first: joining his older brother and 2011 champion Austin Dillon as the Sunoco Rookie of the Year.
With four of 22 races down, Dillon is the top-ranked of 13 freshman candidates. He leads Daytona winner John King by 16 points with Cale Gale third. Dillon has been the top-finishing rookie contender in three consecutive races.
History suggests the double-digit lead will shrink. Although Dillon continues to rank fourth in overall series standings, the rookie award – which Austin Dillon won in 2010 – is based upon a candidate’s 17 best finishes.
 Rookies placed two finishers among the top 10 in last year’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200: Cole Whitt (third) and Parker Kligerman (eighth).

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Etc.

 Cale Gale returns to his home state Saturday to compete in late model racing at Montgomery (Ala.) Motor Speedway. … James Buescher goes to Darlington Raceway on Friday for NNS action, having finished seventh at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5. … Jason Leffler, with a car recently purchased from Rockingham winner Kasey Kahne, will drive in sprint car events at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind., Saturday and Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway Sunday. … Justin Lofton and his father, Bob Lofton, finished seventh in 1500 P class and 13th overall in last weekend’s off-road racing Best in the Desert Silver State 300 near Las Vegas.

Can’t Keep Reigning Champ Stenhouse Down For Long

Can’t Keep Reigning Champ Stenhouse Down For Long

After a tumultuous beginning to his 2012 season, the reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has fought back from ninth in the standings following Daytona to retake the No. 1 position five points ahead of second-place Elliott Sadler. 
Consistency has been the key to success for Stenhouse. While Sadler and Stenhouse both have two wins, Stenhouse has the upper hand with his series-leading six top-five finishes compared to Sadler’s four.
The tide may turn back in Sadler’s favor after Darlington. While both Sadler (third) and Stenhouse (10th) posted their best series career finishes at Darlington last season, Sadler’s experience might give him the edge. Sadler has made eight starts at Darlington, posting one pole, two top fives, three top 10s and an average finish of 18.7, compared to Stenhouse’s two starts, posting one top 10 and an average finish of 23.5. Several key pre-race Loop Data categories give Sadler the edge heading into Darlington: Driver Rating - Sadler (120.8), Stenhouse (85.5); and Average Running Position - Sadler (4.2), Stenhouse (16.3).

Blaney Showed Veteran Experience In Debut; Can He Back It Up At Darlington?

Among the glitz and glamour that followed the big-name drivers of the series around two weeks ago at Richmond, one driver, Ryan Blaney, let his driving speak for itself.
Blaney, 18, the son of NASCAR veteran Dave Blaney, made his series debut at Richmond, starting eighth and finishing seventh. But Blaney’s race was no cakewalk. After experiencing a penalty on pit road that dropped him outside of the top 10, Blaney kept his resolve and fought his way back to seventh place. In the process, he made 40 Quality Passes (passes made during green flag conditions while running in the Top 15), the most of any driver in the event.  
"Anything that Ryan does is not a surprise," said two-time NNS champion Kevin Harvick. "He is a tremendous talent." (Click for Harvick’s audio)
In just four starts in the K&N Pro Series East and West, Blaney has a win – last November at Phoenix – a second and two other top-10 results. Blaney is running for Tommy Baldwin Racing, a team with a limited schedule that also includes drivers Ryan Truex and Bobby Santos.

Star-Studded Field Provides Plenty For The Fans To See

The storied history of Darlington Raceway has caused many of NASCAR’s top drivers to sign up for this Friday’s VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 under the lights. Not only will the field have the likes of NSCS drivers Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin, but also NNS standouts Travis Pastrana and Danica Patrick. Patrick will be pulling double duty, driving the No. 10 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet in the NSCS race Saturday night. The weekend will be Patrick’s and Pastrana’s NASCAR national series track debut at Darlington Raceway.  
"I know it is going to be hard, and I know there will be some frustrating moments, and that I am probably going to feel a little embarrassed. But I am there to get my Darlington stripes and move along," Patrick said. 
Pastrana took advantage of the opportunity to meet with NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee David Pearson on March 31. Pearson holds the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins at Darlington (10) and most poles (12).
 "I’m still learning the sport of NASCAR, so to get some great advice from a legend like Mr. Pearson will be extremely beneficial for me when I get to Darlington," Pastrana said.

NASCAR Nationwide Series, Etc.

Kyle Busch, the 2009 series champion, is the defending winner at Darlington. He will play the role of team owner this weekend, overseeing brother Kurt Busch in the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota. Kurt delivered Kyle’s first NNS win as an owner two weeks ago at Richmond. ... It’s homecoming week for Jeremy Clements (Spartanburg), Danny Efland (Irmo) and the JD Motorsports team (Gaffney). Clements is currently 14th in the driver standings. He was as high as 11th three times earlier this season. Efland, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, will make his third start of the season at his home track. It will be a welcome week at home for JDM after scrambling to get to Talladega following a hauler fire at their shop on April 29. The team’s driver, Mike Wallace, will attempt to make his 425th series start (third on all-time NNS starts list). … Plenty of young talent has forced its way into the top 10 in the current series standings, but veterans Mike Bliss and Joe Nemechek are ninth and 10th, respectively. Bliss finished 12th in the final rankings last year for his TriStar Motorsports team. Nemechek, the 1992 series champion, also was ranked 10th following Phoenix in March. ... Due to a late-race incident that cost him an almost certain top10, Michael Annett‘s string of six consecutive top-15 finishes was snapped at Talladega. Despite the 23rd place, Annett is sixth in the standings. … Brian Scott will be among the current and former NASCAR drivers participating in the skid plate race Thursday night at Myrtle Beach Speedway’s "NASCAR Celebrity Night." Proceeds benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES NOTES

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

 

Harraka Captures Duke Diploma

While most of his classmates will look for work following their graduation from Duke University, Paulie Harraka will continue his full-time job in NASCAR, one that he started even before his enrollment. Harraka – who pilots the No. 5 Wauters Motorsports Ford in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - will graduate with a degree in Markets and Managements on Sunday, May 13 at Wallace Wade Stadium.

"Graduating from Duke is an amazing milestone in my life. It's taken a lot of hard work, but I'd do it all again if I had the chance," said Harraka.

The New Jersey native will return to the track on Friday, May18 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the N.C. Education Lottery 200. He sits 20th in the series championship standings.

 

Up Next: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action on Friday, May18 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the N.C. Education Lottery 200 after three open weekends on the schedule.

Timothy Peters leads the championship standings by four points over James Buescher. Justin Lofton, Ty Dillon and Nelson Piquet Jr. round out the top five.

Tight Championship Battle Hits The High Banks At Talladega

Tight Championship Battle Hits The High Banks At Talladega

Unpredictable, close-quarters, high-speed, side-by-side racing is the recipe for the wildcard atmosphere Talladega Superspeedway provides as the next stop for the NASCAR Nationwide Series.  Seven races into the schedule, just two points separate standings leader Elliott Sadler from second-place and reigning series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Stenhouse has been on a charge since Bristol, closing a 25-point deficit to Sadler; including his series leading fifth top-five finish last weekend at Richmond International Raceway.

Both Sadler and Stenhouse have been on point this season with two wins and six top-10 finishes apiece.  

But this weekend could be Sadler’s chance to slow Stenhouse’s roll. Stenhouse finished 38th at Talladega last year as a result of a Lap 67 accident; one of only two DNFs on the season for Stenhouse, while Sadler finished in the top five. 

Sadler has the upper hand over Stenhouse in three key pre-race Loop Data categories heading to Talladega, including his series-leading Driver Rating (112.6), Average Running Position (6.5) and Average Quality Passes (158); as compared to Stenhouse with a Driver Rating of 72.2, Average Running Position of 19.7 and Average Quality Passes of 112.

Female Drivers Long, Patrick To Make Talladega Debuts

Talladega Superspeedway might be one of the most daunting for a series track debut. But to be considered elite in the series, drivers must be able to conquer any track surface the NNS throws at them. And for Johanna Long and Danica Patrick, those debuts come this weekend in the Aaron’s 312.  

Long, at age 19 the youngest female to compete in the NNS and a current Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, is from Pensacola, Fla., and cut her racing teeth racing in Legends, Pro Late Models and Super Late Models in Alabama at tracks in Mobile and Opp. 

Having made five of the seven series starts this season, Long is currently 19th in the driver standings with an average finish of 21st.   

She more than held her own in her national series debut at Talladega last October, starting eighth and finishing 16th in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Long drives for ML Motorsports in the Nationwide Series and the team collected its only top-five result to date at ’Dega in 2008.

Unlike Long, who has logged laps at Talladega, Patrick will be making her NASCAR debut at the speedway. Much of Patrick’s NASCAR success has come at Daytona International Speedway, Talladega’s sister track. In four starts at Daytona, Patrick has one pole, three top-10 starts, and one top-10 finish. 

KBM Puts The Big Multi-Car Teams On Notice 

Could the tide be receding of large, multi-car teams enjoying the greatest success in the NASCAR Nationwide Series? Possibly. Case in point, the turnaround of the single-car Kyle Busch Motorsports team and the most successful NASCAR Nationwide Series driver, Kyle Busch. 

After an inauspicious – and somewhat unlucky – start to the organization’s inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series season, the team won its first race in exhilarating fashion last Friday night in Richmond. Kurt Busch delivered the historic victory for his little bro, banging side-by-side with hometown favorite Denny Hamlin to the tune of a .062-second margin of victory – the closest margin of victory in series history at Richmond.

Kyle Busch, the 2009 series champion, is the defending winner of the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega and coming off this past weekend at Richmond has a huge wave of momentum to carry his team to even greater success. Busch has made eight series starts at Talladega, posting one win, three top fives and four top 10s. He’ll be competing against Kurt, who also will run in the Aaron’s 312 this weekend for Phoenix Racing.

NASCAR Nationwide Series, Etc.

 Tayler Malsam will travel to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., May 7-8 for an official press event promoting “Global Youth Traffic Safety Month” and the “Million Messages in May” program as a part of RAAD (Recording Artists, Actors and Athletes Against Drunk Driving) and the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS). … Sam Hornish Jr. isn’t flying under the radar anymore. A three-time IndyCar Series champion and 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner, he’s found his second NASCAR wind. In his first full-time season in the NNS, Hornish is fourth in the points and comes off a season-best, fifth-place result last week at Richmond. … With the NCWTS in an open week, James Buescher, the NNS winner at Daytona, is entered at Talladega. … 1992 series champion Joe Nemechek – the all-time series pole winner (five) and two-time race winner at Talladega – nearly made it three wins with help from Mike Wallace last year. With Wallace as the pusher, Nemechek finished third. He may return the favor this year as Wallace’s hauler, primary car and majority of equipment was lost in a hauler fire at the JD Motorsports’ Gaffney, S.C., shop on Sunday. Wallace’s back-up car was spared and will be ready for ’Dega. RAB Racing has offered its NCWTS hauler for use by the JDM team at Talladega. … The No. 3 Chevrolet will make its first series run at Talladega since 2000 this weekend with driver Austin Dillon.

Crafton Gives ‘Thumbs Up’ To Pocono Raceway Repaving

Crafton Gives ‘Thumbs Up’ To Pocono Raceway Repaving 

There’s something to be said for being late to the party – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers staged their first race at Pocono Raceway in 2010. You don’t have much to unlearn.

With the track’s first repaving since 1995, the 2.5-mile triangular layout will be a fresh canvas when the series returns to eastern Pennsylvania on Aug. 4. It’s doubtful the bumps and gouges navigated over the past two seasons will be missed.

Matt Crafton, part of a group of seven who participated in last week’s Goodyear tire test, pronounced the new surface interesting, fun and fast.

“They outdid themselves on the pavement. It’s definitely one groove right now, but I’m sure, as you get more race cars on the track, they’ll be running side-by-side, and it’ll be interesting to see,” said Crafton, who finished third and eighth in his two trips to the “Tricky Triangle.”

Like the majority of his rivals, Crafton had no preconceived notions of Pocono, only what he’d seen on television.

“Everybody always talks about the tunnel turn, and you have no idea how tight that tunnel is. TV doesn’t do it justice at all,” said Crafton. “I took my crew chief (Carl Joiner Jr.) around it in my truck, and I said, ‘Yeah, I think we’ll be wide open through here.’ He goes, ‘You’re an idiot. There’s no way.’ I said, ‘I guarantee it.’”

By his third lap of testing, Crafton was up to 90 percent throttle.

“I love coming to the place. It’s like they always say, it’s like a road course but kind of going in a circle, but it’s a blast,” he said.

Off-Roader Lofton Bringing Series Full Circle

Figuratively speaking, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series was born in the desert. Its original owners were off-road racers who had a desire to race trucks on oval trucks.

When the dust settled, one – Jimmy Smith – had won a NCWTS title but long after the likes of off-road legend Walker Evans had returned to their racing roots. That could change in 2012, as Justin Lofton, a former Best in the Desert off road class championship, could become the first desert racer to win a trucks title.

Lofton currently ranks third in NCWTS standings 11 points behind leader Timothy Peters.

The Westmoreland, Calif., driver will be back in the Class 1500 unlimited buggy on Saturday competing in the Canidae Tap It Silver State 300 north of Las Vegas.

"When the truck schedule was released, we saw we had a few less races than last year, so we decided to run more off-road races this year,” said Lofton, who finished seventh at Kansas Speedway on April 21 – one of four top-10 finishes of the campaign. “We're going to be picking up a stretch of races during the summer in the trucks, so my dad will take over some races on the off-road schedule. It's a lot of fun, and it's neat doing that with my family."

Odds Favor Another First-Time Series Champion

Out with the old, in with the new. That’s the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title picture four races into the 2012 season.

The first six – and nine of the top 10 – in current points have not won a series title. Ron Hornaday Jr. is a formidable adversary, a four-time champion, but the 53-year-old Californian (seventh) is taking a back seat to his youthful rivals.

Of the top six, only leader Timothy Peters (31) is over the age of 30. Ty Dillon (20), fourth, hopes to unseat his older brother Austin (21) as the series’ youngest champion in 2011.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Etc.

 Jason White finished ninth in last week’s Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown won by Tony Stewart. … Ward Burton and the Ward Burton Wildlife foundation will host a Friday event at his “Cove” focusing on employment challenges facing returned veterans of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Among the 50 expected attendees are 10 who have lost limbs in combat. … Max Gresham is participating in this week’s 67th Annual National Hardware Show in Las Vegas. His sponsor, Made In USA Brands, is a supporting partner of the event. 

Camping World Truck News

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Impressive Start To The Season For Lofton

The award for the most impressive turnaround since last season goes to third place contender, Justin Lofton.

The 2011 season left Lofton with only three finishes inside the top-10, a feat he has already surpassed this season with four straight top-10 finishes.

The California native sits third in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship standings only 11 points out of the lead.

Following a two-day test in Nashville, Lofton will fly to Las Vegas to compete in the Canidae Tap Silver State 300 off-road event in the Best in the Dessert Racing Association.

Changing of the Guard Continues in the NCWTS

Just four races into the 2012 season, the young guns continue to outshine the veterans in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship standings.

The top-six have never won a series championship.

Timothy Peters currently leads the standings by four points over Kansas winner James Buescher.

Justin Lofton – 11 points back in third - continues his impressive start to the season with four straight top-10 finishes. 

Rookie standout Ty Dillon – who finished second at Martinsville last month – and Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. complete the top five followed by Parker Kligerman in sixth.Crafton Excited About Repaving Of Pocono Raceway

Matt Crafton was one of seven NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World drivers to participate in last week’s Goodyear Tire test at Pocono Raceway. The track was repaved following last August’s Sprint Cup/truck weekend. “They outdid themselves on the pavement. It’s definitely one groove right now, but I’m sure, as you get more race cars on the track, they’ll be running side-by-side, and it’ll be interesting to see,” said Crafton, who finished third and eighth in his two trips to the “Tricky Triangle.”

Up Next: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action on Friday, May18 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the N.C. Education Lottery 200.

GRAND-AM Racing To Benefit Susan G. Komen Foundation

GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series will be racing to assist breast cancer research in Round 4 of the 2012 season, the Global Barter 250 presented by Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The Central and South Jersey Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will have family activities at the circuit throughout the Mother’s Day weekend. Breast cancer survivors are invited to participate in the “Start your engines” command on Saturday and Sunday. The Central and South Jersey Affiliate is also sponsoring an on-line charity auction for opportunities to wave the green flag or to participate in VIP experiences with several of the leading Rolex Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge teams.

Philadelphia Native Segal Helps New Ferrari 458 To First Victory

Jeff Segal returns to his home track on a winning roll. The Philadelphia native joined co-driver Emil Assentato in winning the recent Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway, giving the Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am its first victory.

Segal and Assentato also finished second in the recent Porsche 250 at Barber Motorsports Park in the No. 69 AIM Autosport Team FXDD Ferrari, and hold a three-point lead in the Rolex Series GT point standings over Rolex 24 winners Andy Lally and John Potter.

Segal and Assentato scored their best New Jersey finish during their 2010 GT championship season when they finished third in a SpeedSource Mazda RX-8.

Defending NJMP Winners Pruett, Rojas Take Championship Lead

Three-time Daytona Prototype champions Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas got off to a slow start to the current season with a sixth-place finish in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. A runner-up finish in the recent Grand Prix of Miami elevated the drivers of the No. 01 TELMEX BMW/Riley to familiar territory atop the point standings.

The TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates drivers scored their first victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2011 – their fifth triumph of the season. Pruett and Rojas enter the Global Barter 250 presented by Susan G. Komen for the Cure with a two-point lead in the DP standings over Starworks Motorsport driver pairings Ryan Dalziel/Enzo Potolicchio and Alex Popow/Lucas Luhr.

New Jersey’s Donohue Has Momentum On His Side In Action Corvette DP

David Donohue has plenty of momentum on his side when he returns to New Jersey Motorsports Park in the No. 5 Action Express Racing Corvette DP. The Malvern, N.J. driver joined Darren Law in finishing third in the recent Grand Prix of Miami, and are looking to bring the new Corvette DP its third consecutive victory in the Global Barter 250 presented by Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Richard Westbrook and Antonio Garcia gave the Corvette DP its first victory at Barber Motorsports Park in March, while Ricky Taylor and Max Angelelli won the recent race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The son of Mark Donohue – racing legend and 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner – Donohue moved up to sixth in the DP championship standings with his strong showing in the rain-soaked race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Rum Bum Racing On Winning Roll

The No. 13 Rum Bum Racing Porsche Carrera is undefeated in Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge competition. Matt Plumb – a native of Chesapeake City, Del., and Nick Longhi won at both Barber Motorsports Park and Homestead-Miami Speedway, and look to make it three in a row at the B+ Heroes 200 presented by BCKSTGR at New Jersey Motorsports Park on Saturday, May 12.

Plumb and Longhi won six races for Rum Bum Racing in a BMW M3, finishing second at NJMP in 2010. They switched to Porsche after finishing fifth in their BMW in the 2012 season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway.

Roush, Johnson Look For New Jersey Hat Trick

Jack Roush Jr. and Billy Johnson will be looking for their third consecutive victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park when they pilot the No. 61 Roush Performance Ford Mustang Boss 302R in the B+ Heroes 200 presented by BCKSTGR. The pair opened 2012 with a victory at Daytona, and are currently fifth in the Grand Sports standings.

Roush Performance will field a second Mustang at NJMP, the No. 51 for Daytona pole winner Shelby Blackstock and Jade Buford. Blackstock is the son of popular singer/actress Reba McEntire.