NASCAR Trucks: Ribbs looks for good things at Dover after best career finish at PPIR
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
May 29, 2001
Best Career Finish: Willy T. Ribbs and the No. 8 Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge Motorsports Team recorded their best finish, 13th position, of the 2001 season last week in the Jelly Belly 200, at Pikes Peak International Raceway.
It was the team's first top 15 finish of the year and helped move them into 20th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings. The next goal for the team is to get into the top 15 in the points standings by mid-season.
"We've had a tough start to the season, but this is a young team and we're getting better and better every week," said James Cox, Crew Chief of the No. 8 Bobby Hamilton Racing Team. "It will take us a few races to get out of this hole we dug in the points after Martinsville, but we're not going to give up. If we have a solid performance every week, like Pikes Peak, we'll get back in the points race."
Ribbs also moved up to seventh in the Rookie of the Year points race. Dover will mark the end of the first segment in the Rookie Points race. After the race, rookie drivers will be awarded points according to their position in the overall driver points standings for the Truck Series.
Hamilton in Dover to Lend a Hand: Due to the fact that the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is racing with the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in Dover, Delaware, owner, Bobby Hamilton, will be on hand to help his teams during the weekend's events.
Hamilton is planning to fly in on Wednesday to be at the Truck Series first practice on Thursday morning.
"It's always good to have the boss here," said Ribbs. "I always learn something when he is with us. He gets in my truck, gets it right, and then I can get in it and try any of his suggestions."
Text provided by David Pepper
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