Rick Crawford Michigan Preview
Milwaukee 200 Milwaukee Mile West Allis, WI June 23-24, 2005 Rick Crawford's Milwaukee Mile Results Date Start Finish Laps Status 6/25/04 6 9 205/205 Running 6/28/03 6 3 200/200 Running 6/29/02 6 14 201/203 Running 6/30/01 13 25 172/200 Running 7/01/00 8 14 198/200 Mechanical 7/03/99 8 3 200/200 Running 7/04/98 31 26 197/200 Running 7/05/97 8 34 33/200 Clutch Starts Wins Poles Top 5 Top 10 Laps 8 0 0 2 3 1406/1608 (87.4%) Notes/Quotes • Growing up three blocks from the Milwaukee Mile, Milt Bishop dreamed of one day being part of the action. From his home, he could hear the rumble of race cars, but was never able to get a close look. When he was 12 years old, he decided it was time to take action. "While riding my bike, I discovered a large storm drain," said Bishop. "It was large enough for me to ride my bike into, so in I went. I quickly realized that it went under the track and I knew it was my chance to get a closer look." Much to the surprise of the fans in the infield, he emerged from a storm drain. "The people in the infield were stunned when a 12-year-old boy came out of the storm drain," said Bishop. "At first nobody said a word. Then they started clapping. From that day on, I knew that I was destined to be a part of racing." As time went on, Bishop developed relationships with the teams which raced on the historic one-mile oval. He frequently volunteered his time and would perform whatever duties they asked. On several occasions he helped Alan Kulwicki who, at the time, he was competing in ASA. He even tried his hand at driving, racing a Late Model at Hales Corner (WI) Speedway. Today, Bishop is the transport driver and spotter for the Circle Bar Truck Corral Racing team which fields the No. 14 Ford F-150 for driver Rick Crawford in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. He returns to his hometown this weekend to compete in Saturday's Milwaukee 200. "I always look forward to coming back to Milwaukee," said Bishop. "It gives me the chance to visit family and friends, stop by Yester Years Pub & Grill and enjoy some great Brauts and roasted corn." --------------------------------------------------------------------- • With 15 races remaining in the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, Rick Crawford remains a contender for the year-end championship. The driver of the No. 14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford F-150 sits in 15th position, only 288 points behind championship leader Bobby Hamilton. "We've had some great performances in qualifying but have had a lot of bad luck during the race," said Crawford. "We had a strong sixth place finish in Michigan and are looking to continue on that path. Everyone - the Circle Bar Racing team, Ford Motor Company, Roush/Yates Engines - is still focused on winning the championship. It remains our goal, one which we can achieve." --------------------------------------------------------------------- • The No. 14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford F-150 which Rick Crawford will pilot in the Milwaukee 200 at the Milwaukee Mile is chassis CB-9. Earlier this season, Crawford drove CB-9 at Martinsville, Mansfield and Dover. 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 Adam Crawford Mobile, AL 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 6/18 Michigan International Speedway 3 6 100/100 Running Starts Wins Poles Top 5 Top 10 Points Laps 10 0 1 1 3 1141 (15th) 1484/1602 (92.6%) Rick Crawford's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Career Totals Starts Wins Poles Top 5 Top 10 208 3 3 47 98