NASCAR Trucks: Willie T. Ribbs ready for racing action at St. Louis
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
May 1, 2001
Looking to Bounce Back: Willy T. Ribbs and the No. 8 Dodge Motorsports team will be looking to bounce back from the most disappointing day of their rookie year together. Ribbs and the team failed to make the event at Martinsville Speedway last month, but with Gateway International Raceway just around the corner all eyes are on the future.
"We knew coming into this year we had no points to fall back on if we ever had a problem in qualifying and our biggest fears with that situation were realized last time out," said James Cox, Crew Chief on the No. 8 Dodge Truck. "It was a really tough deal to miss that race, but Willy had a problem in qualifying and with no points for a provisional starting position we went to the house. This is just a bump in road. I can tell you that we are working as hard as any team out here week in and week out to get this program running up front and we're not going to give up."
One thing for sure is that the No. 8 Bobby Hamilton Racing Team is dedicated to running up front and they are going to do what it takes to right the current situation, and get both of their teams to the forefront of the Truck Series.
During the Break: Over the three-week break, in racing action, Ribbs has been busy at home with his two children, Shasha and Theo. Ribbs is a single parent and has spent much of the break going to school functions and taking care of his children's needs.
"It's been pretty good being home for a few weeks," said Ribbs. "It has given me the chance to spend some time with the kids before we get into the meat of the racing season, then I will be gone for two months or more at a time."
Ribbs also found time to drive up to Sears Point Raceway over the break to talk with team owner Bobby Hamilton while he was at the track testing for the Winston Cup Series event next month.
Wedding Bells Where Ringing: On Saturday April 28, 2001 Truck Chief Ken Evans married his longtime girlfriend/fiancée Elizabeth in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Unfortunately the honeymoon will have to wait until the Craftsman Truck Season finishes in early November. For the time being the two are looking for a permanent home in the Nashville, Tennessee area.
Willy T. Ribbs Quotes
"This will be my first time at Gateway International Raceway. Hopefully it will be the gateway to success after our disappointment at Martinsville."
"We're off the short tracks so I'm pretty happy about that. I'm still pretty green on the half-mile tracks. The learning curve has been steep, but each race it gets a little better. It is just going to take more time than I thought."
Text provided by David Pepper
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