Toyota NH Notes & Quotes
TOYOTA Notes & QuotesNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
New Hampshire International Speedway - September 16, 2006
THIS RACE: The New Hampshire 200 will be the 11th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race at New Hampshire International Speedway. There will be 11 Toyota Tundras in the field at the New England track -- the 18th NCTS race of the 2006 season.
LAST RACE: In the most recent race of the 2006 Craftsman Truck Series season at Bristol Motor Speedway (Aug. 23), Tundra drivers captured four of the top-five finishing positions. Tundra racers crossing the finish line behind race-winner Mark Martin were Todd Bodine (second), Ted Musgrave (third), Johnny Benson (fourth) and David Starr (fifth). Tundra driver Mike Skinner, who ended up seventh, was the only driver besides Martin to lead the field at Bristol. Skinner led 36 laps at the Tennessee short-track.
TODD TOUGH IN TENNESSEE: Todd Bodine, driver of the No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Tundra, came up short in his efforts to catch race-winner Mark Martin at Bristol following a late race caution. "We didn't have anything for Mark (Martin)," said Bodine, after the race. "Mark was just playing with us and anytime we even got close to him -- he was able to easily pull away. However, it was another good run for us and another good points night."
TED TOUGH TOO: Ted Musgrave, Todd Bodine's Germain Racing teammate, also had a good evening at Bristol in the No. 9 Team ASE Tundra. It was Musgrave's first race with new crew chief Rick Gay. "Tonight, we ran like we ran at the beginning of the year," said Musgrave, after the race. "It was a good feeling to see Todd (Bodine) and me running up front, along with Mark (Martin) -- just like we did in the races at the beginning of the season."
POINTS PACE: After the first 17 races of the 2006 season, Toyota drivers hold down the top-four positions in the NCTS championship point standings. Todd Bodine continues to sit atop the championship standings with 2,624 points. Trailing Bodine in the standings are second-place Johnny Benson (2,470 points), third-place David Reutimann (2,394 points) and fourth-place Ted Musgrave (2,380 points). In addition, Tundra driver David Starr (2,295 points) holds down the sixth spot in the standings.
TODD STILL TOPS POINTS: The second-place finish at Bristol enabled Todd Bodine to maintain his lead in the Craftsman Truck Series championship point standings. "Overall, Bristol was a good night as far as the points race," said Bodine. "I know we picked up some points on Johnny (Benson). From that standpoint, it was a pretty good night -- we came out of Bristol second and that's really what we had to do for the points."
ENGINE CHASE: Toyota holds onto the top spot in the NCTS manufacturer's championship through the first 17 races of the 2006 season. Toyota has 117 points in the standings, five more points than second-place Ford and 35 points ahead of third-place Chevrolet.
TWO YEARS BACK: In 2004, Toyota driver Travis Kvapil captured the checkered flag at New Hampshire International Speedway. The win by Kvapil was the second victory for a Tundra in the Craftsman Truck Series. Kvapil qualified third, ran among the leaders throughout the race and took the lead with 12 laps remaining en route to the checkered flag. Tundra drivers Johnny Benson (third), David Reutimann (fifth), Hank Parker Jr. (ninth) and Mike Skinner (10th) also finished among the top-10 at the New England track in 2004.
LAST YEAR HERE: In the most recent NCTS race at New Hampshire one year ago, Toyota driver Chad Chaffin recorded the best finish among Tundra drivers when he crossed the finish line ninth. Two other Toyota racers had strong performances at New Hampshire -- Mike Skinner started seventh and led 47 laps early before handling problems hindered his efforts, and Todd Bodine was heading for a fifth-place finish when he was tapped from behind and spun on the last lap.
SKINNERS RAISE MONEY: The inaugural 'Toyota Tundra Skinner Round-Up' charity golf and poker tournament, held Sept. 5 at Spruce Creek Country Club in Daytona Beach, raised more than $104,000 for several Daytona-area charities. Hosted by Mike and Angie Skinner, event participants included NCTS drivers Rick Crawford, Steve Park and Ron Hornaday, Nextel Cup veteran Mark Martin and singer Edwin McCain. The Daytona Beach-area organizations that benefited from the charity event were the Second Chance Animal Rescue, the Greyhound Pets of America, and the Volusia County Council on Aging Meals on Wheels program.
SPRAGUE STRONG: Jack Sprague, driver of the No. 60 Con-way Freight Tundra, has one win and three pole positions at New Hampshire. Sprague, who recorded his first victory in a Tundra earlier this season at Memphis (July 15), captured the checkered flag at New Hampshire in 2001 and started from the pole position in 1997, 2001 and 2004.
A.J. DEBUT: Open-wheel ace A.J. Allmendinger will be making his NASCAR debut at New Hampshire driving the No. 24 Bill Davis Racing Tundra. "I had the opportunity a few months ago to explore my career options and I really wanted to try my hand at something in the stock car arena," said Allmendinger. "We began making phone calls and this opportunity with Bill Davis Racing really came about from that. I'm grateful to Bill Davis and the entire BDR team for giving me the chance to take on a new challenge." Allmendinger, 24, will also drive the No. 24 Tundra at Talladega Superspeedway (Oct. 7).
RETURN OF CHAD: Chad Chaffin, who drove 20 races in a Tundra last season, will again drive a Toyota at New Hampshire. Chaffin will pilot a Toyota for the No. 59 HT Motorsports team for the remainder of the 2006 Craftsman Truck Series season. "The people at TRD have allowed me the opportunity to get this joint venture started and have been extremely receptive," said Chaffin. "I'm excited about reuniting with Toyota and bringing them on board with HT Motorsports. I can't speak highly enough about Toyota's equipment and organization."
TOYOTA HAS 21: Johnny Benson's victory earlier this year in the Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway (Aug. 12) was Toyota's 21st NCTS win since the Tundra began competing in the Craftsman Truck Series at the beginning of the 2004 season. Along with eight wins this year -- three by Benson (Nashville, Milwaukee and Michigan), three by Todd Bodine (Texas, St. Louis and Atlanta), one by Jack Sprague (Memphis) and one by David Star (Martinsville) -- Toyota had four wins in 2004 and nine wins in 2005.
TOYOTA HAS 26: Toyota has 26 NCTS pole positions since the Tundra began competing in the Craftsman Truck Series at the beginning of the 2004 season. Tundra drivers who have recorded poles include Mike Skinner (13), David Reutimann (six), Bill Lester (two), Brandon Whitt (two), Todd Bodine (one), Travis Kvapil (one) and Jack Sprague (one).