Rick Crawford Michigan Preview
Paramount Health Insurance 200 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan June 17-18, 2005 Rick Crawford's Michigan International Speedway Results Date Start Finish Laps Status 7/31/04 7 32 27/100 Engine 7/26/03 14 12 100/100 Running 7/27/02 4 9 100/100 Running 7/22/00 9 7 100/100 Running 7/24/99 23 29 12/100 Mechanical Starts Wins Poles Top 5 Top 10 Laps 5 0 0 0 2 339/500 (67.8%) Notes/Quotes • There's no place like home and no one knows that better than Circle Bar Truck Corral Racing team members Kevin ‘Cowboy' Starland and Bobby Clark. Starland and Clark, both natives of Michigan, return this weekend to the Great Lake State to compete in the Paramount Health Insurance 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Starland, crew chief on the No. 14 Ford for driver Rick Crawford, is a native of Chesaning (pop. 2548), a small community located 88 miles northwest of Detroit. Growing up on the family farm, Starland earned the nickname ‘Cowboy' and developed a love for all things mechanical. Following high school, Starland entered the military and served three years as a mechanic. Upon his discharge, he knew it was time to turn his hobby of working on cars into a career in motorsports. After working for Late Model teams at Auto City Speedway in Flint and Owosso Speedway in Sheridan, Starland joined the NASCAR ranks with the Michigan-based K-Automotive team. He joined Roush Racing a few years later and enjoyed much success at the two-mile Michigan International Speedway before joining the Circle Bar Racing team in 2005. "Lately, Michigan hasn't been a very kind race track to me," said Starland. "The first two times I raced there, I tasted victory. After that, it's been a struggle. Hopefully, I can get back to winning form there this weekend with Rick and the Circle Bar team." Clark, the front tire changer on the Circle Bar team, is originally from Wyandotte (pop 28,006), a suburb of Detroit. The 24-year-old spent much of his time drag racing at various drag strips around the state before joining NASCAR competition in 2000. "It's cool racing in Michigan in front of family and friends," said Clark. "Whenever we race there, lots of people come out to see me. With as much as we travel, it's pretty much the only time all year, besides holidays, that I get to see them." • Rick Crawford has never enjoyed the level of success at Michigan International Speedway that he has hoped for but with crew chief Kevin ‘Cowboy' Starland on board for 2005, he is looking to change that. "The track suits me fine and I enjoy running on the two-mile oval," said Crawford. "We just haven't found the combination necessary to reach the level of success we want. With Cowboy's experience, we know that will change. With this race being in the backyard of Ford Motor Company, we really want to shine for them." • On June 19, Shawn Pincola will celebrate his 38th birthday. Pincola is the paint and body specialist for the Circle Bar Truck Corral team with driver Rick Crawford in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. On race day, he serves as the front tire carrier. • The Official Rick Crawford Fan Club is still accepting new members for the 2005 season. Members of the Fan Club receive a Rick Crawford T-shirt, autographed hero card, fan club decal, quarterly newsletter, discounts on merchandise and much more. For details, visit http://www.rickcrawford.com/eagle/fans/fanclub.pdf or write to Rick Crawford Fan Club, PO Box 1055, Harrisburg, NC 28075 • The No. 14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford F-150 which Rick Crawford will pilot in the Paramount Health Insurance 200 at Michigan International Speedway is chassis CB 15. • The Paramount Health Insurance 200 at Michigan International Speedway marks Rick Crawford's 208th consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start. Crawford's string of starts, a series record, earned him the nickname ‘Ironman'. Circle Bar Truck Corral Racing Pit Crew Position Team Member Hometown Crew Chief Kevin ‘Cowboy' Starland Chesaning, MI Truck Chief/Rear Tire Carrier Ronnie White Polkville, NC Rear Tire Changer Tim Sanders Newberry, SC Front Tire Carrier Shawn Pincola Cadiz, OH Front Tire Changer Bobby Clark Wyandotte, MI Jackman Gene ‘Gator' Morris Adrian, GA Gas Man Dan Heiser Princeville, IL Catch Can Eric Gifford Mayfield, NY Spotter Milt Bishop Milwaukee, WI Pit Support Brandon Abernathy Cleveland, GA Rick Crawford's 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results Date Track StartFinish Laps Status 2/18 Daytona Int'l Speedway 19 36 10/100 Accident 2/25 California Speedway 14 14 100/100 Running 3/18 Atlanta Motor Speedway 1 29 128/135 Accident 4/9 Martinsville Speedway 14 21 249/250 Running 4/30 Gateway International Raceway 19 5 160/160 Running 5/15 Mansfield Motorsports Speedway 4 6 254/254 Running 5/20 Lowe's Motor Speedway 2 25 119/136 Running 6/4 Dover International Speedway 21 11 200/200 Running 6/10 Texas Motor Speedway 2 19 164/167 Running Starts Wins Poles Top 5 Top 10 Points Laps 9 0 1 1 2 991 (15th) 1384/1502 (92.1%) Rick Crawford's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Career Totals Starts Wins Poles Top 5 Top 10 207 3 3 47 97