NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: Who's Where in 2012

Racin’ with Russ - After spending the past seven weeks explaining the many changes in store for the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series, I thought I’d hit some of the highlights in the same vein related to the Camping World Truck series. I’ll also throw in my predictions as to how well the various combos will fare.

Ty Dillon will fill the seat of his brothers (Austin) championship ride in the familiar black No. 3 Chevy. This talented young man comes off seven wins and an ARCA title with a few truck starts under his belt. I think between his natural talent and the Childress team resources, a few wins and a shot at a title are not out of the question.

With Monster Energy drinks moving their backing over to the Busch brothers Nationwide ride, that leaves Ricky Carmichael wondering how to pay for his No. 4 truck ride. Questions remain at this time.

Veteran truck racer and multi-time champion Jack Sprague may be back in the saddle in a Randy Moss No. 5 Toyota truck. Stay tuned. Could be a good combo.

Justin Lofton will return full-time to the Eddie Sharp No. 6 Chevy truck with mid-pack results with an occasional top 10 expected.

Ron Hornaday Jr has found a full-time ride with Joe Denette racing. The winning-est truck driver will drive the No. 9 Chevy and I’d predict more wins but no title shot.

Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton will return to their Thorsport No. 13 and No. 88 Toyota rides respectively. Sauter comes off  the 2011 runner-up spot with several wins and I see more of the same for this year and cannot rule out a big trophy at the end.

Timothy Peters has had a steady diet of good runs in the trucks as he returns to the No. 17 Toyota with TBC sponsorship in place for a full-time 2012 gig. No great shakes here.

Jason Leffler has been tabbed to drive the Kyle Busch No. 18 Toyotas for most of the season with Dollar General as sponsor. I see this as a good combo and wonder why full backing can’t be put together.

Hillman Racing No. 27 made one of the most exciting off-season news the other day with announcing father and son team of Ward and Jeb Burton running a full schedule this year starting with the senior member running the Daytona opener. Results? Wards will be more noteworthy than his sometimes hot headed son, fresh off the Late Model ranks.

Parker Kliggerman returns as Brad Keselowski’s pilot of the No. 29 Dodge with Penske power. Decent backing with continued maturity may just land this team in victory lane before seasons end.

James Beuscher return to the No. 31 Turner Chevy with full sponsorship from Wolfpack Rentals. I’d predict a long overdue first or second win and a top three in points for this talented driver.

Cale Gale will drive for Eddie Sharp Racing in the No. 33 Chevy with Rheem as backer. It would not surprise me to see this truck among the top 10 on a any given race day and in victory lane at least once.

Then, there is a long list of part-time rides and question marks still not answered with less than four weeks before the season truck opener, such as ex-champ Todd Bodine has a ride with Red Horse Racing…if they can find a sponsor.

Rick Crawford, Max Papis, Dennis Setzer, Mike Skinner, David Starr and Michelle Theriault are among those that competed last year but are without any prospects of racing this year.

Rookie of the year candidates include #98 Dakoda Armstrong, #27 Jeb Burton, #08 Ross Chastain, #3 Ty Dillon, #24 Max Gresham, Paulie Harraka and John Wes Townley. I’d have to give the early nod to Dillon in this category and put Townley at the bottom of the list or top of the crash list.

Rolex 24

AJ Allmendinger, Justin Wilson, Oswaldo Negri and  John Pew brought home the checkers for Shank Racing at this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona over the weekend. NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Allmendinger drove the final three hour stint to hold off a close second place competitor to mark Shank’s very first Rolex trophy.

From Rumorville

Veteran racer Kevin Harvick announced during last week’s media tour that his wife DeLana was 14 weeks pregnant with their first child. Kevin a daddy…..who’d a thunk it?

Bill Elliott will be back behind the wheel of a Sprint Cup car in July’s visit to Daytona with Wal-Mart as the major sponsor. You can’t keep a good man down, eh?

That’s it for this week. Next week, RWR will take a look at this year’s rules changes for NASCAR along with more racing news from around the globe.