Mike Skinner - Toyota Tundra Racing

Mike Skinner headed back home to his stomping grounds at California Speedway this weekend. He was the defending race winner, and he hoped to match last year’s effort.

Skinner and his No. 5 Tundra team had a great start in practice Thursday. The team topped the speed chart in both practice sessions, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ top pole winner of 2007 hoped to win his first pole of the 2008 season. However, rain showers forced the cancellation of the Craftsman Truck Series qualifying session, and Skinner would start Saturday’s 100-lap race in the second position. The starting grid was set based on last year’s points standings.

As the green flag waved Saturday afternoon, Skinner immediately reported to his crew that something was wrong with the motor. Thinking he was either down a cylinder or missing a plug wire, Skinner came to pit road after the first caution flag waved on lap five.

Several TRD crew members came over the wall to the attention of the No. 5 truck. The crew found that a plug wire was off and fixed the problem. Though he returned to the track as soon as possible, Skinner was forced to fight his way through the field. He restarted 33rd on lap nine.

The next caution flag waved on lap 14, and Skinner pitted again, this time for four tires and fuel. His truck was finally starting to pick up the pace, and Skinner found himself back in the top-10 by lap 28.

While he fought for his position on the track, Skinner reported to crew chief Jeff Hensley that the handling of his Tundra was a bit loose, but good in turns three and four.

The caution flag waved again on lap 44, and Skinner dove down pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. After a great pit stop from the No. 5 Toyota Tundra pit crew, Skinner restarted fifth on lap 48.

Skinner tried to make his way to the front of the pack, but the handling of his Tundra tightened. The handling woes cost him a few spots on the two-mile track. Skinner’s final pit stop of the night came under green flag conditions with 15 laps to go. He pitted for four tires and fuel, then completed the final handful of laps. Skinner finished eighth.

Skinner and the rest of the Craftsman Truck Series will race again in two weeks at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Skinner is once again the defending race winner. The race will be televised live Friday, March 7 on SPEED Channel.