Camping World Truck Series

This week the NASCAR World Truck Series will be racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the NC Education Lottery 200.

It's race No. 7 of 25 races. It's a track were Chevrolet has dominated winning every race since the inaugural event in 2003 and features some exciting three-wide racing action.

Here's my top-five picks, along with my Raybestos Rookie of the Race pick and my Sleeper pick.

1) Kyle Busch

In five races at the track, Busch has compiled two wins, three top-fives, four top-10 finishes, won one pole, led 259 laps, has an average start of 6.2 and an average finish of 4.6.

Busch should have a really fast Toyota, be fast and should qualify top-three.

He'll either lead a portion of the race or may dominate the race, but regardless he'll be there in the end vying for the win.

1) Ron Hornaday Jr.

In five races at the track, Horn has compiled two wins, three top-fives, three top-10 finishes, led 128 laps, has an average start of 5.2 and an average finish of 8.2.

Horn will have another stout Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet, be wicked fast and should qualify top-five or better.

He should lead some laps, spend the majority of the race in the top-five and in the closing laps will battle hard for the win.

This week, I couldn't decide which one of the two to pick for the win. They are the only multiple winners at the track in trucks and have won four of the last five races.

It'll come down to who has the best truck after the last pit stop.

3) Matt Crafton

In seven races at the track, Crafton has compiled one win, two top-fives, seven top-10 finishes, led 29 laps, has an average start of 13.6 and an average finish of 6.6.

Crafton will be another in a stout KHI Chevrolet, be fast and will need to qualify well.

He should run the majority of the race in the top-10, with a good truck in the closing laps he'll either battle for the win or a top-five finish.

4) Johnny Sauter

As a rookie he started 18th, ran a decent race and finished 13th. His two wins have come on 1.5 mile tracks and he usually runs well on tracks this size.

Sauter will have a stout KHI Chevrolet, be fast and should qualify top-five.

He should be racing in the lead pack, may even lead some laps and will battle hard for a top-five finish.

5) Mike Skinner

In six races at the track, Skinner has compiled two top-10 finishes, won three poles, led 128 laps, has an average start of 2.0 and an average finish of 19.8.

Skinner will have his oldest truck chassis at Charlotte, will be fast and should qualify on the pole.

He should lead a portion of the race, but expect him to fade in the latter stages of the race and hang on for a top-five finish.

My Raybestos Rookie of the Race Pick: Austin Dillon

I'm going again this week with Dillon, based on how well he ran three weeks ago at Kansas picking up a career best finish of sixth.

Dillon will have another wicked good KHI Chevrolet's, be fast and should qualify top-five or on the pole.

He'll be racing in the top-10 most of the race, with a good truck in the closing laps we should see him battle hard for his first top-five finish.

My Sleeper Pick: Dennis Setzer

In seven races at the track, Setzer has compiled one win, one top-five, five top-10 finishes, led 11 laps, has an average start of 18.4 and an average finish of 11.0.

Setzer has had some really good races at the track, he'll race smart and will need to qualify well.

We could see him use pit strategy with a late caution to get track position and very well may battle his way to a top-five finish or better.

Aric Almirola, Timothy Petters and Elliott Sadler just missed the cut.

Todd Bodine, Tayler Malsam, Ricky Carmichael, James Buescher, Jason White and Brad Keselowski.

It should be another classic Charlotte truck race. It'll be exciting to see the streak continue for a fourth race with the Truck drivers showing up the Cup stars on All-Star weekend.

The big questions will be.

Will Toyota finally get it's first win?

Will Chevrolet's dominance continue with another win?

Is it really Busch versus Hornaday for the win?  

Or will another driver step-up for the win?

Photo Credit: zimbio.com

This week the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series gets back to racing after a one-week layoff at Dover International Speedway for the Dover 200.

It's race No. 6 of 25. The trucks are always exciting 1 mile oval of concrete known as the Monster Mile and it makes for some exciting two-wide action.

Here are my top five picks for the race, along with my Raybestos Rookie of the Race and my Sleeper pick.

1) Ron Hornaday Jr.

In five races at the track, Horn has compiled one win, three top-fives, four top-10 finishes, won one pole, led 273 laps, has an average start of 6.6 and an average finish of 8.2.

Horn will have another stout Silverado at Dover, be wicked fast and should qualify top-three for the race.

If he already isn't dominating the race, he'll be amongst the lead pack and be in position to battle for the win in the closing laps.

2) Rowdy Busch

In five races at the track, Busch has compiled one win, one top-five, three top-10 finishes, led 41 laps, has an average start of 5.0 and an average finish of 11.8.

Busch will have a decent Tundra, be fast and should qualify in the top five. He could lead a portion of the race, be amongst the lead pack and could challenge for the win.

3) Johnny Sauter

As a rookie, he started the race in fourth, ran a really great race and finished in fifth. 

Sauter will have another wicked fast KHI Silverado chassis at Dover, be fast and should qualify top-10 or better.

Expect him to spend the majority of the race in the top-five, be amongst the lead pack and could challenge for the win in closing laps.

4) Mike Skinner

In six races at the track, Skinner has compiled one top-five, five top-10 finishes, won two poles, led 113 laps, has an average start of 6.0 and an average finish of 9.7.

Skinner will be another one with a good Tundra, be fast, and will qualify on the front-row either on the pole or in the outside pole position.

He very easily could lead the race with a good truck, but expect him to battle hard for a top-five finish in the closing laps.

5) Jason White

In five races at the track, White has compiled one top-five, one top-10 finish, has an average start of 24.6 and an average finish of 23.0.

White will bring back the same chassis that he finished fourth last year with, should have a fast truck and will need to qualify well.

He should run top-10 most of the race, may use pit strategy for the lead and win, but expect him to have another top-five finish.

My Raybestos Rookie of the Race Pick: Austin Dillon

I'm going with Dillon this week again, he has a great team, and they are coming together nicely.

He's coming off of his break out race at Kansas, were he went a lap down due to speeding and would battle back after getting the Aaron's lucky dog to a sixth place finish.

Dillon, his rookie crew chief Danny Stockman and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shop very easily could be celebrating his first win at Dover or he'll end up with a top-five.

My Sleeper Pick: David Starr

In eight races at the track, Starr has compiled three top-fives, six top-10 finishes, won one pole, led three laps, has an average start of 13.5 and an average finish of 8.5.

Starr should have one of his better trucks this weekend, be fast and will need to qualify well for the race.

He should run top-10 the majority of the race, could use pit strategy to get the lead, and he'll battle hard for a top-five finish.

Matt Crafton, Timothy Peters and Ricky Carmichael just missed the cut.

Aric Almirola, Elliott Sadler, Johnny Benson Jr., Todd Bodine, James Buescher, and Stacy Compton could all factor in as well.

It should be an classic Dover truck race. They run the perfect amount of laps on the Monster Mile at 200 and it's never boring.

The big question is.

Will the streak of the first-time winners continue?

Will the streak of no repeat winners continue?  

Will we see the first repeat winner Friday night?  

Authors Note: This article is dedicated to the late Adam Petty, a tremendously talented Kid whom we lost 10 years ago today and no doubt he'd have been a champion.

Photo Credit: zimbio.com

Ron Hornaday is known in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as the "Concrete King" for his skill at driving on concrete tracks.

He's even completed the trifecta, winning on all three of the current tracks on the schedule—Bristol Motor Speedway, then Dover International Speedway, and finally Nashville Superspeedway.

Horn had a couple of mulligans to start the season, but rebounded nicely to be sitting fourth in the points and some 97 points behind series leader Timothy Peters.

The odds are in Horn's favor that he very easily could be leading the points leaving Dover.

It's not solely because of his driving skill on concrete or that he's riding a wave of momentum with three straight top-five finishes.

But rather the fact that, according to NASCAR Loop Data Statistics, over the past four truck races, he's picked up a total of 771 points and that's the most of any driver in the series.

With the series now racing every week and only a few off-weekends mixed in for now, Horn, his crew chief Doug George, and his No. 33 Longhorn team are finally coming together, working hard, and coming on strong.

Everyone forgets the defending champions changed a lot personnel-wise on the team. Not only crew chief-wise twice but also the truck chief, and he has a few new crew guys.

He will be racing chassis No. 40 at Dover—in its last start, he finished second two weeks ago at Kansas.

Interestingly, it makes the second time this season the chassis has been totally re-built by the team.

Horn will also be looking to be the first repeat winner at Dover and end his 16-race winless drought.

He'll have a very stout Chevrolet, be fast, and should qualify top-three for the race.

Horn's always been the fastest early in a run at Dover, so it gives him an advantage to jump out into the lead quickly if he's not dominating the race.

He'll be battling for the win in the closing laps.

Photo Credit: kevinharvickinc.com

Track Stats

Name: Dover International Speedway

Race Date: May 14, 2010

Location: Dover, DE

Length: one mile

Banking in turns: 24 degrees

Banking on the straightaways: nine degrees

Grandstand Seats: 140,000

Tickets/track info: http://www.doverspeedway.com/ or (800) 441-7223

Last Year’s Top 10

1. Brian Scott

2. Dennis Setzer

3. David Starr

4. Jason White

5. Johnny Sauter

6. Matt Crafton

7. Chad McCumbee

8. Mike Skinner

9. Kyle Busch

10. Terry Cook

Interesting Stats

 

When you combine the last two races at Dover, David Starr has gained the most points (320) followed by Matt Crafton (305) and Mike Skinner (293).

However, when you go back to the last five races at Dover, Ron Hornaday has gained the most points (771), followed by Kyle Busch (696) and Terry Cook (690).

Good Picks

 

Ron Hornaday

Hornaday’s stats in looking back at the previous five races show how well he’s run at Dover and his average finish backs that up. In five races at Dover, he has one win, three top fives, four top 10s, and an average finish of 8.2.

Hornaday is looking to continue his climb through the points back to the top after his dismal start to the year. Dover looks to be a good track for that to continue as Hornaday has always been good on the concrete tracks, some people calling him the “Concrete King.”

 

David Starr

If anybody has stats to match those of Hornaday’s, then call Starr as he fits into that category. In eight races at Dover, he has three top fives, six top 10s, and an average finish of 8.5. Starr currently sits 11th in points after moving up four spots after Kansas, 173 points out of the lead, looking for his first top five of the year.

 

Mike Skinner

Another truck series veteran, Skinner is another driver that you’ve got to watch at Dover. In six races, he has one top five, five top 10s, and an average finish of 9.7. 

Skinner currently sits 10th in the points after moving up three spots after Kansas, 168 points out of the lead, also looking for his first top five of the year.

 

Stacey Compton

Veterans seems to be the trend here for drivers to watch as Compton is another veteran you should watch.

In four races at Dover, he has one top five, two top 10s, and an average finish of 11th. Compton currently sits 23rd in points after dropping five spots after Kansas, looking to rebound and move back up the standings.

 

Kyle Busch

No matter the track, no matter the series, if Kyle Busch is entered, you better watch for him. The truck series is no exception as in three starts this year he already has a win at Nashville and a second place finish at Atlanta. He has also run well at Dover in the past as in five starts he has one win, one top five, three top 10s, and an average finish of 11.8.

Busch took a big venture for the 2010 season, becoming a truck owner, and that has already paid off well. He got the first win for Kyle Busch Motorsports at Nashville and looks to take the points lead in the owner’s standings from Kevin Harvick Incorporated’s No. 2 truck as he’s only nine points back. 

Driver To Watch Despite Only One Start at Dover

 

Johnny Sauter looks to repeat last year’s finish as he finished fifth in his first truck start at Dover. Sauter is off to a good start this year as he sits fifth in points, only 117 points behind the lead.

First Time Winner Round Three?

 

It could occur if we once again see a first time winner. The last two races at Dover have produced first time truck winners in the form of Scott Speed in 2008 and Brian Scott in 2009.

Could it happen again?

Aric Almirola could be the guy to watch as he currently sits third in the standings, 30 points behind the leader, looking for the truck win of his career.

Ron Hornaday Jr. will have Longhorn back on his No. 33 at Kansas for Sunday afternoon's O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 and he's looking to become the first two-time winner at the track.

Ken Shrader will help out Kevin Harvick Inc. at Kansas and will be in the No. 2 E-Z-Go Chevrolet.

Horn won his third straight pole at the track Saturday afternoon with a lap speed of 169.194 miles per hour. He also won the happy hour practice. It's the first time he's done that in his storied career.

It's his second pole of the season and 25th of his legendary career. Horn also is the only one to win at Kansas from the pole in 2008 and was where KHI picked up it's first one-two finish.

Schrader qualified 12th, but looked good in practice being ninth fastest in the first practice and eighth fastest in the final practice.

For Kevin Harvick Inc., it's golden oldies retro weekend at Kansas. As they are featuring their oldest line-up ever in the Truck Series with Ken Schrader in the No. 2 at 54 years young and Horn at 51 years young.

Just kidding, but it's awesome to see Schrader in a really good truck and hope this leads to more races for him.

Horn's No. 33 and Schrader's No. 2 will be carrying a special decal for Jaret's Angels and it's a pretty cool deal honoring a great organization.

This year marks the organization's 10th anniversary. Jaret's Angels is a family-and-friend support group for 11-year old Jaret Arneson, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (better known as juvenile diabetes) and they raised $100,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Jaret also will be planning his annual Walk to Cure Diabetes later today in Charlotte.

One of the keys to having a decent day at Kansas is surviving turn three. Which gets slippery when the sun is out and the track temperature gets hot.

Schrader will be racing chassis No. 042 and have the better Silverado. When you consider Kevin Harvick drove it to victory at Atlanta and finished second at Nashville earlier this season.

He's excited to be driving for KHI, no doubt he'll be tough in stout equipment and figure he'll battle his way to top-10 finish.

Now Horn will be racing chassis No. 040 and it's still a stout Silverado. Harvick won with this truck at Homestead last season, then Horn wrecked it at Atlanta and it's been totally rebuilt.

Horn will either dominate the race or lead part of it and he'll challenge for the win in the closing laps. If he's not already leading.

It should be a good day for both, as Horn should be top-four in driver points and Schrader will keep it close owner point wise with Peters at Kansas.

Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com

With the unveiling of Dale Earnhardt Jr. driving the No. 3 at Daytona in the Nationwide Series and Austin Dillion driving the No. 3 in the Truck Series, a lot of discussion has begun about the No. 3.

Should the No. 3 be retired? Should the No. 3 ever race again in Cup? Should Earnhardt Jr. be running it in the Nationwide race? Should Earnhardt Jr. run in the Cup Series? Should Dillion be running the No. 3 in the Truck Series?

Let’s just start this by looking at each question one at a time.

First: Should the No. 3 be retired?

Some say it should, due to the Earnhardt connection. Though others say it shouldn’t for other reasons.

"There's a guy somewhere whose daddy raced No. 3 forever on some short track, and it probably means as much to him as it does to me," Earnhardt Jr. said in a NASCAR.com article in 2004. "You've got to be fair about those type of things. I understand that, and I don't have a problem with it coming back one day."

Another reason to not retire it is the No. 3 isn’t the only number that holds a lot of history for what it stands for. If you retire the No. 3, don’t you have to retire the No. 43 due to Richard Petty? There are only so many numbers out there so if you start retiring numbers, sooner or later you’re going to run out of numbers to run.

Though looking at the number and NASCAR, Earnhardt isn’t the only driver to have driven that number. Back in 1975, John Soares Jr., Charlie Glotzbach, and Bobby Issac each ran the number. Then Childress ran the number from 1976 till 1981, when Earnhardt jumped on board.

So why is this a special case for Earnhardt? Simply—the mystic and fan base in the situation. Those two aspects are what make this as big as it is.

Second: Should the No. 3 Ever Race Again In Cup?

Both Earnhardt and Childress have been addressed this question on separate occasions and both have answered it—yes.

Earnhardt’s answer is as listed above, while Childress told Scene Daily in January of 2010 that he’d be okay with it happening if it was to be an Earnhardt to run it.

This is a discussion that also has been addressed to the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) drivers, in which Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick are in disagreement.

Harvick said that the number should be retired, while Burton said he’d be okay with it under the right situation.

“The No. 3 has a history to it and it has a heritage to it, and that history and heritage is not only linked to Dale Earnhardt but to Richard Childress Racing,” Burton told Scene Daily in January of 2010. “They collectively made the three a symbol of success and a commitment to do everything it took to win…It is such a huge part of our sport, it should only be back in the right situation.”

When asked about the right situation, Burton says he’s unsure, but it’d have to be a special situation.

“I don’t know,” Burton said. “It has to be a special situation…With Richard Childress involved, the Earnhardt legacy has to be involved, all those things have to come together. If all those things come together, it is not only a good thing to do, it is the right thing to do.”

Earnhardt Jr. did say a couple years back that if he were to run the No. 3 in the Cup Series, he’d run it the final year or two of his career.

Another opportunity is Jeffery Earnhardt, Kerry Earnhardt’s son who’s coming up through the ranks. 

Third: Should Earnhardt Jr. Run the No. 3 in the Nationwide Series?

With the situation that has come about, I’d give this a thumbs-up to go ahead and do it. Earnhardt Jr. and party said today that they were only doing it to commemorate Dale Earnhardt’s induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame and to celebrate his memory. Isn’t that a fair reason?

However, beyond that, a look at Nationwide Series history will show you why this would be alright.

Earnhardt Jr. ran his first full season of Nationwide competition in 1998, followed by another year in 1999. Both years he won the champion and oh, both years, he did run the No. 3 car. No, it wasn’t black but it was the No. 3 regardless.

Then in 2002, Dale Earnhardt Inc. and RCR teamed up to run the No. 3 in two Nationwide races: Daytona and Charlotte. The Daytona race in February turned out to be a win while the Charlotte race ended with a wreck. Everybody was okay with it then and most people liked the idea, so why the fuss this time?

Possibly it is due to how things have changed with Earnhardt Jr. leaving DEI. Possibly it is due to how this deal came together. Lastly, it could possibly be due to the paint scheme of the choice and how it is that of Earnhardt’s when he ran the Wrangler colors. You pick your reason.

Four: Should Earnhardt Jr. run in the Cup Series?

The answer to this is highly debatable and in my opinion, I’d say no. Fans already demand of him to be just like his father. If he were to run the No. 3 in the Cup Series, it’d just increase those expectations and he’d never get the chance to be his own person.

Also, add in the burden on his shoulders to perform just like this dad—I don’t think that’s something he needs after everything that he’s already dealt with.

Five: Should Dillion be running the No. 3 in the Truck Series?

Absolutely! The No. 3 was a number that Earnhardt only drove in the Cup Series, primarily. Earnhardt was never seen in a Truck race with the number.

Looking through the Truck Series history, the only time the No. 3 appeared in the Truck Series was on Mike Skinner’s truck while he was driving it for RCR. To add to that, it was black with the Goodwrench colors.

The No. 3 in the Truck Series is an RCR number so therefore it is right for RCR to be able to run it.

The situation also fits that of a “special situation” as Dillion is Childress’ grandson so therefore it has that correct Childress connection.

This is a debate that will keep NASCAR Nation in its gasp for years to come. Whether or not there is a correct answer, that has yet to be seen. Though however it works out through the years, the No. 3 will always hold that special magic with NASCAR Nation.

This week the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series gets back to racing after a month off at Kansas Speedway.

It's race No. five of 25. The trucks are always exciting on the 1.5 mile tri-oval and it makes for some exciting three-wide action.

Here are my top top five picks for the race, along with my Raybestos Rookie of the Race pick and my sleeper pick.

1) Ron Hornaday Jr.

In five races at the track, Hornaday has compiled one win, two top-fives, three top-10 finishes, won two poles, led 217 laps, has an average start of 8.4 and an average finish of 8.0.

Horn will have another stout KHI Silverado. He should win the pole or be in the outside pole position, and either dominate the race or challenge for the win in the closing laps.

2) Mike Skinner

In six races at the track, Skinner has compiled one win, five top-fives, five top-10 finishes, won two poles, led 241 laps, has an average start of 5.7 and an average finish of 5.3.

Skinner will be racing the same chassis, he won last years race with. He should qualify top-five, be fast, race among the lead pack all day, and if not already leading will challenge for the win in the closing laps.

3) Todd Bodine

In six racesat the track, Bodine has one win, one top-five, three top-10 finishes, led 94 laps, has an average start of 20.3 and an average finish of 12.3.

Bodine will be another one racing with an older chassis. He needs to qualify well, should be fast, run close to the lead pack and with a good handling truck could challenge for the win or battle for a top-five finish.

4) Johnny Benson Jr.

In five races at the track, Benson has compiled three top-fives, four top-10 finishes, has an average start of 17.4 and an average finish of 9.4.

It's so awesome to see JB back racing in a truck race.

JB will have a really fast Tundra, will need to qualify well, and expecct him to challenge for the win or battle his way to another top-five finish.

5) Johnny Sauter

As a rookie Sauter started the race 12th, then ran a really good race and finished in ninth.

Sauter will have one of those stout super fast KHI Silverado's. He should qualify top-10, be fast, and expect him to battle his way to a top-five finish.

My Raybestos Rookie of the Race Pick: Austin Dillon

Dillon will be making his debut at Kansas, but he's been on a roll winning three straight top rookie honors and it'll be no different on Sunday. As he'll continue his streak on Sunday.

He'll have another one of those KHI Silverado's. Dillon should qualify top-10 or better, run most of the race in the top-15, and could best his career best finish of 10th.

My Sleeper Pick: Brian Ickler

Ickler as a rookie started the race ninth, ran an excellent race, and finished the race in fifth.

He'll be racing with chassis set-up for Rowdy Busch. Ickler should qualify top-10 or better, be fast, and could very well challenge for his first win or have another top-five finish.

Matt Crafton, Timothy Peters, and Ricky Carmichael just missed the cut.

Jason White, James Buescher, Aric Almirola, Rick Crawford, David Starr, Brett Butler, and Ken Schrader could all factor in as well.

It'll be exciting to have the trucks back in action racing again after a month off.

I've never cared too much for the cookie cutter tracks, but have to say the Truck Series runs the perfect amount of at Kansas, 167 to be exact.

Photo Credit: zimbio.com

Track Stats:

Name: Kansas Speedway

Race Date: May 2, 2010

Location: Kansas City, KS

Length: 1.5 miles

Banking in turns: 15 degrees

Banking on the frontstretch: 10.4 degrees

Banking on the backstretch: five degrees

Grandstand Seats: 81,687

Tickets/track info: http://www.kansasspeedway.com/ or 1 (913) 328-3300

Last Year’s Top 10

1. Mike Skinner

2. Johnny Benson

3. Brian Scott

4. Ron Hornaday

5. Brian Ickler

6. Colin Braun

7. Matt Crafton

8. Chad McCumbee

9. Johnny Sauter

10. Jason White

 

Interesting Stat:

When you combine the last three races at Kansas, Ron Hornaday and Mike Skinner tie at the top for gaining the most points (510) with Johnny Benson third (495).

Good Picks:

 

Ron Hornaday— As stated by the stat above, Ron Hornaday has been good at Kansas in the past. His average finish backs that up as he has the second highest average finish when looking at drivers who have ran multiple races at Kansas. In five starts, he has one win, two top fives, three top 10's and an average finish of 8.0.

 

Mike Skinner— Like Hornaday, you could tell from the above stat that Mike Skinner was good at Kansas. However if not, his track stats will make it clear as he has the highest average finish of drivers who have ran multiple races at Kansas. In six starts, he has one win, five top fives, five top 10's and an average finish of 5.3.

 

Rick Crawford— A driver that has always been around in the Truck Series, Rick Crawford is a name that automatically comes to people’s minds when they think Trucks. Going into the weekend, Crawford at first didn’t have a ride for Kansas, though a deal with Ray Hackett Racing and the No. 76 has him back on the list. Crawford has had success in the Truck Series in the past, and some of that success has come at Kansas. He has the third highest average finish of drivers who have run multiple races at Kansas, despite no wins at Kansas. In nine races at Kansas, he has three top fives, six top 10's and an average finish of 9.2.

Could They Do It Again?

Brian Ickler and Johnny Sauter each made their first start at Kansas in 2009 and both finished in the top 10.

Ickler looks to repeat or better the fifth place finish that he got last year driving for James “Billy” Ballew. This year, Ickler is driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, which has impressed so far in their series debut. Kyle Busch got the team their first win as a team at Nashville and Ickler looks to repeat his boss’ success.

Sauter is back with the same team as last year, looking to improve or better his ninth place finish from last year. So far this year, he sits 14th in points, due to some bad luck along the way, and is looking to better his position in the standings.

 

Stories to Watch:

 

The No. 2 Kevin Harvick Incorporated truck has been strong this year with car owner Kevin Harvick driving. With Harvick’s two wins and second place finish, the team now sits in the points lead, 22 points ahead of the No. 22 Tom DeLoach truck (driven by Timothy Peters). This week, Harvick hands over the driving reigns to NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader. In 91 truck races, Schrader has one win, nine top fives and 30 top 10's.

Timothy Peters goes into Kansas Speedway as the points leader as he has surprised a lot of people with his performance. In two races at Kansas, his highest finish is 19th so he looks to go get his first top 10.

This is the first race of the season that the Camping World Truck Series is all on their own without either the Sprint Cup Series or Nationwide Series.

Every aspect of society has a cycle of life, in which various individuals fill certain roles with degrees of expectations. Some are expected to immediately find success at a young age while others persevere through difficult times, either excelling years down the road or struggling in their efforts.

NASCAR's no different in that it has its share of superstars, decent fillers, and underdog occupants who captivate the few or experience the wrath of others.

Since 1948, the highest form of stock car racing is susceptible to cycles in its sport, with talents changing in as little as a few races to years down the road.

One look at the roster of full-time, championship gunning teams tells the tale of how the series has finally reached the point in which most of its stars are aging.

They're not terribly old but circumstances, such as family life, the dangers on the track, to declining skills, are critical and at the very least, something to think about.

While retirement is not something in the vocabulary of Jeff Gordon or Mark Martin, it's not foolish to think that both successful racers are thinking about their long-term future and their roles in the sport.

Do they keep on pressing for full-season campaigns until they reach the point of obscurity or hang up the helmet with their tremendous abilities behind the wheel that's sufficient for wins and titles?

Before the "New Wave" of NASCAR, which I coin as the period since Gordon entered the Cup series in 1992, the sport wasn't exactly a young lion's wilderness or Madison Avenue on four wheels and 750 horsepower.

Rather, it was a hotly contested game of wild-eyed Southern "boys," if you will, with drivers ranging from anywhere in their late 20s to early 60s going at it, beating the hell out of each other if it meant going for victories.

Guys like Bill Elliott, Harry Gant, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Ricky Rudd, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, and Geoff Bodine were your typical contenders, sprinkled in with hot shoes like Davey Allison, Kyle Petty, Mark Martin, and Ernie Irvan.

Each of those racers weren't exactly screaming the looks and youthfulness of Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, or Denny Hamlin, but they were certainly the prominent figures of the time.

Everyone who was a part of the circuit during that era knew all too well that a new revolution of racers were going to make their way into the sport, in which NASCAR would also change too in terms of its complexity, dynamics, and persona with the fans and media.

Today, it's a mini-concert, a circus, soap opera, game show, and billboard contest of four hours with some of the young guns of the 1990s now serving as the ambassadors into a sport that's changed tremendously.

No longer is Jeff Gordon considered "The Kid," now fathering daughter Ella Sofia and a son whom wife Ingrid is expecting this August.

For some new-school fans, Jeff Burton's the politician, if you will, of the sport, who doesn't mind venting or speaking his concerns about the latest changes to the sport.

While he errs on the side of non-confrontation, the passionate South Boston, Va., native isn't one to easily fall into the category of an oldie, as he's one of the most aggressive and tenacious drivers on the circuit.

Years down the road, when the calendar displays years like 2012 and beyond, this sport will undoubtedly have a far different feel and aura.

Will it continue to be the expensive yet maddeningly popular sport that still rebuilds and rebrands itself during its struggles or will it return to its prominence of the 1990s?

Certainly, the Cup series will be stacked with talent, as Nationwide regulars and hot shoes like Justin Allgaier, Colin Braun, Landon Cassill, Parker Kligerman, Brian Scott, Jason White, Timothy Peters, and James Buescher looking to take aim at the upper echelon of closed-wheel motorsports.

Whether all of these names comprise the circuit in the long-term scheme of NASCAR remains to be seen, but just imagine any of these prospects racing in established rides?

Allgaier and Kligerman are currently under the tutelage of Roger Penske, who certainly knows a thing or two about winning in all kinds of racing series, be it the IZOD IndyCar ranks or sports car divisions across the globe.

There's no doubt that either of these two talents will see action in the Sprint Cup Series at some point in the decade.

Braun's had somewhat of a learning experience in the Nationwide division for Roush-Fenway Racing's No. 16 Con-Way Freight Ford Fusion entry, seeing his highlight reels more for wrecks than great performances.

Still, the road racing sensation and stock car apprentice has the potential to become quite the star when one of those seats with the perennial organization opens up sometime down the road.

Cassill has been somewhat bounced around as a Chevy Racing talent, never seemingly able to find a true home in the "AAA" of NASCAR. Perhaps with some races under the JR Motorsports banner, the 20-year-old racer may impress his current employer or another team on the circuit that he'll carry them to Victory Lane.

NASCAR's certainly in good hands when it comes to churning up fresh, young talents who may certainly become superstars in their own right.

If the sport truly lives up to its reputation as progressing in all aspects, that may open the doors for a racer like Sergio Pena, Darrell Wallace Jr., Caitlin Shaw, Tiff Daniels, or Shannon McIntosh to see the asphalt arenas of America.

Progress isn't certainly a bad thing, despite the sentimental values each cycle carries with its legions of audiences, essayists and participants.

While we tend to look back and appreciate the "good old days," the future, despite a somewhat stormy present, looks about as bright as the sunrise hovering over the aging asphalt on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway.

It may be "Surf's Up" (a nod to a Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks song for the Beach Boys) for Gordon, Martin, Burton, and others down the line, but it'll be "Surfin' USA" (for all you Mike Love fans) for the unknown rookies, winners, and champions just waiting for their moment to arrive.

Aric Almirola made a decision on Monday that I figured would happen at some point before the next NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on May 2 at Kansas Speedway.

He mutually agreed to part ways with James Finch's Phoenix Racing and its No. 09 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

In fairness, you can't criticize Finch for running as a start and parker due to losing sponsor Miccosukee Resort and Gaming just prior to the start of the 2010 season, and I won't.

Almirola has made four of seven races attempted by the team and never runs past 60 laps.

Not only do I have new-found respect for Finch for making this move, but I also respect Almirola even more for his decision to concentrate on trucks and it's a move that will help his racing career.

His sole focus will be on driving the No. 51 Graceway Pharmaceutical team for Billy Ballew Motorsports and to contend for the driver's title.  

Almirola sits second in the driver points, which is 82 points behind leader Timothy Peters, picking up one top-five and three top-10 finishes this season.

You knew when Almirola was named the driver of the No. 51, replacing Kyle Busch, that not only would he run well, but that he would inherit the third best team in the series and challenge for the title.

Almirola also has one of the best veteran crew chiefs in Richie Wauters. He's getting the education of his racing life and it's a pairing that will make him a better racer.

Sure, it's tough. It's every young driver's dream to race in the Sprint Cup and he's had more than his fair share of adversity trying to land on his feet in the series.

I'm bummed that the deal with Finch didn't workout for him. I figured he would have been top-25, or maybe better, and have something to build on career-wise.

But when you look at the big picture, Almirola will be racing in some very competitive equipment for BBM, and he has a legitimate chance to win the championship this year.

It's also a move that will open better doors of opportunity for him.