NASCAR NCTS (DAYTONA) - Several Prominent Series Competitors To Race This Weekend

A collection of familiar faces will join six series champions in Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway.

Perhaps the most notable driver returning to action is Joe Ruttman (No. 18 Fastenal Dodge). Ruttman has competed in six full seasons in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and has finished no worse than sixth in the standings. He finished second in 1995, the series’ inaugural season. Ruttman, 62, already is in the record books as the oldest driver to win a race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He has 13 career wins, the last coming in at Pikes Peak in May 2001 when he was 56 years and 6 months old.

Another notable name making her season debut is Kelly Sutton (No. 51 Team Copaxone Chevrolet). Sutton has been a series regular since making her debut in 2003. Sutton holds the record for most starts (51) and most winnings ($442,882) by a female competitor. Her start will mark the sixth consecutive year that a female driver has competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

The two series veterans will be joining arguably the deepest field in series history. Six former champions are among the many teams in the running to win the 2007 championship. Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota), the series’ first champion, is the current standings leader over defending champion Todd Bodine (No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota). Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 AES Chevrolet), champion in 1996 and 1998, is fourth in the standings. Ted Musgrave (No. 9 Team ASE Toyota), the 2005 champion, is fifth, one point behind Hornaday. Jack Sprague (No. 60 Con-Way Freight Toyota), the series’ only three-time champion, is sixth, and 2003 champion Travis Kvapil (No. 6 K&N Filters Ford) is ninth.

Bodine (2005) is the only champion to win at Kansas Speedway. There have been no repeat winners in six races at the track.

South Point Racing Crew Member Keeps Eye On NFL Draft

Chris Justice is one of a growing number of ex-football players who are joining NASCAR as over-the-wall crew members. Justice, the tire specialist and catch can man for the No. 77 South Point Racing Chevrolet of Brendan Gaughan, was a starting defensive back for Wake Forest University from 1997-2001.

“Football is always going to be a part of my life,” Justice said. “I keep an eye on the draft and where the college players are going – especially the Wake players and the other ACC guys. Overall, I think an ACC guy – Calvin Johnson, a WR from Georgia Tech, will be taken first by Oakland. Johnson was the ACC player of the year and is an impact player; he’ll be a good pick.”

In The Loop: Skinner, Bodine Top Kansas Charts

Kansas Speedway might be the site where the 1-2 battle between Mike Skinner and reigning NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Todd Bodine comes to a head.

Skinner leads Bodine by 94 points and is coming off a completely dominating performance at the last NASCAR Craftsman Truck race at Martinsville Speedway on March 31.

But the stage is set this weekend for a duel that could foreshadow the rest of the season.

Bodine won at Kansas two years ago and earned a near-perfect Driver Rating of 145.6 in the process (a perfect rating is 150.0). His average Kansas Driver Rating is best of any driver running in Saturday’s race – 125.6. Bodine’s Average Running Position at Kansas – 5.700 – is also tops of any driver this weekend.

Bodine also leads the field in Fastest Laps Run (61), Green Flag Speed, Laps in the Top 15 (304) and Speed in Traffic.

But Skinner’s not far behind.

Skinner has the second-best Average Running Position (6.036), Driver Rating (122.5), Green Flag Speed and Speed in Traffic, all marks just behind Bodine. He is third in Fastest Laps Run with 34 and is tied with Bodine for the most Laps in the Top 15 with 304.

Raybestos Rookie Of The Year Standings

Driver Points 1. Aaron Fike 45 2. Joey Clanton 35 3. Aaron Fike 32 4. Willy Allen 32 5. Kelly Bires 31 6. Blake Bjorklund 31 7. Tim Sauter 28 8. Casey Kingsland 5 9. Josh White 4 10. Brian Sockwell 1

This Week’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders (Through 4 races of the 25-race season)

* Points leader – Mike Skinner (745) * Driver Rating – Mike Skinner (134.4) * Winnings – Mike Skinner ($209,850) * Laps led – Mike Skinner (365) * Victories – Mike Skinner (3) * Budweiser Poles – Mike Skinner (2) * Top-five finishes – Mike Skinner (4) * Top-10 finishes – 4 drivers with 4 * Raybestos Rookie Leader – Aaron Fike (10 over Joey Clanton) * Races led – Mike Skinner (4) * Weeks in Top 10 – 9 drivers tied with 4

NCTS Happenings

Crawford Honored ... Rick Crawford (No. 14 Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford) was inducted into the Mobile, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday joining the likes of Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey and Kenny Stabler. Crawford was the 75th athlete elected to the HOF, and the first from the motorsports world.

Skinner Hosts News Crew ... Standings leader Mike Skinner and his wife Angie hosted a crew from CBS News Sunday Morning last week. National Ccorrespondent Tracy Smith visited Daytona International Speedway and was given a ride around the track by Skinner in a Richard Petty Driving Experience race car. The segment, which will air on May 13, focuses on why NASCAR is appealing to women.

White Lands Full-time Ride ... Jason White has signed a deal with Pennington Motorsports to drive the No. 7 Hooter’s Energy Drink Chevrolet for the remainder of the 2007 season. White finished 35th in the Daytona 500 driving for MB Motorsports. White finished 13th at Martinsville in 2001, his highest career finish in 12 series starts.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Manufacturers' Championship

Toyota 36 Chevrolet 20 Ford 20 Dodge 12

FAST FACTS

Next Race: O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 The Place: Kansas Speedway The Date: April 28 The Time: 6 p.m. (ET) TV: SPEED, 5:30 p.m. (ET) Track Layout: 1.5-mile paved oval Race Purse: $624,951 2006 Winner: Terry Cook 2006 Pole: Mike Skinner

No. Driver Pts 1 Skinner 745 2 Bodine 651 3 Crawford 602 4 Hornaday 601 5 Musgrave 600 6 Sprague 564 7 Crafton 549 8 Benson 543 9 Kvapil 529 10 Fike 497

Schedule: Friday — Practice 11 a.m. – Noon; 12:05 p.m. – 12:35 p.m. (rookies) and 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Saturday – Qualifying 1:30 p.m.