Rose to Make Amends on Return To Richmond in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

    RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 4 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
rookie Brian Rose has raced each of his nine Truck Series races at tracks on
which he'd never driven.  That's going to change as Rose pilots the no. 51
Sunclear Energy Chevrolet Silverado in Thursday's Kroger 200 at the Richmond
International Raceway.
    Rose has made an impressive start to his young career, rising to 26th
place in driver points though only participating in one half of the races (in
a statistic tabulated by NASCAR which tracks the top drivers over the last 6
races, Rose ranks 16th).  All of this was achieved by Rose on race tracks
which were new to him, competing against veterans some of whom have amassed
thousands of laps on the tracks.
    Although Rose has never competed in a race at the Richmond track, last
fall he did have the opportunity to turn some practice laps on it.
    "I was trying to break into the Truck Series at this very race last year,"
explained the 21-year-old Rose.  "I hooked up with a team that had a good,
competitive truck but needed a driver to fill in for that race."
    "Our practice times were good and we were sure we'd be in the field," Rose
continued.  "But somehow a sparkplug was broken after the last practice before
qualifying, and the truck just didn't have any power for the qualifying run.
It was really heartbreaking not to make the race."
    Even though Rose and the team loaded up and left the track before the race
even started, some good has come out of this experience.
    "The laps I ran in practice last year are still with me," Rose said.  "In
every race this year, I've felt like I was way into the race before I was
comfortable with the track.  But even though I don't have near the experience
at this track as most of the other drivers, this is the only track where I
feel like I'm coming back to someplace I've been before."
    "It's going to be nice to finally be able to get on a track and think 'I
remember this,'" added Rose.
    "We've been working hard to make the truck perfect for Richmond,"
continued the Bowling Green, Kentucky native who last year was voted Nashville
Speedway USA's Most Popular Driver.  "In the few races we've run this year
we've already had a couple of top-15s, and I really expect this race to be the
one where we crack the top 10.  We've had it in our grasp a couple of times,
and we're due a little good racing luck this time."
    "Who knows," added Rose.  "We may even do better than that."
    Racing fans can follow Rose's career and join his fan club by visiting his
official web site at http://www.RacingRose.com.  The Kroger 200 will be broadcast
live Thursday on espn2 beginning at 8 pm ET.  Live radio coverage on MRN
network affiliates begins at 7:30 pm ET.

Click here