S.M.'s Camping World Update, Issue No. 27

Rumors

Wyler Racing has announced that Stacy Compton will be driving the No. 60 Toyota for the entire 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule and sponsorship will be announced in the coming weeks.

Billy Ballew Motorsports announced that driver Shane Sieg and crew chief Richie Wauters have been paired together in the No. 15 Toyota. They'll run the first four races, then with sponsorship the entire 2009 Truck schedule.

BBM also named Doug George as crew chief for Kyle Busch in the No. 51 Miccouskee Resorts Toyota.

Larry Foyt will be driving the No. 74 Blu Frog Energy Drink Dodge, for Derrike Cope Racing at Daytona in the NextEra Energy Resources 250.

Lafferty Motorsports has announced that Mike Harmon will be drive the No. 89 Lafferty Performance Products Chevrolet at both Daytona and Fontana.

The team also will be trying to run the entire 2009 Truck schedule, a first for them and will be on a strict budget. While Lafferty Performance Products will be the teams sponsor they are looking for additional sponsor help.

Key Motorsports has announced that Mike Bliss will drive the No. 40 Chevrolet Silverado, in six races this season for the team.

Bliss's schedule is as follows: Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 13th), California (Feb. 21st), Atlanta (March 7th), Martinsville (March 28th), Charlotte (May 15th) and Dover (May 29th).

Andy Lally will be driving the No. 28 FDNY Racing Chevrolet Silverado at Daytona in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 on Feb. 13th.

J.R. Fitzpatrick and TRG Motorsports announced that he'll have sponsorship from Mammoet.com, drive the No. 7 in the NextEra Energy resources on Feb. 13th at Daytona International Speedway.

Randy Moss Motorsports announced that he has acquired the No. 5 for Mike Skinner and he'll have Eric Phillips as his crew chief.

Taylor Malsam will have Doug Wolcott as his crew chief, he'll also have One Eighty Racing as sponsor for Daytona and Fontana, they'll also will be associated with the team through out the season.

The deal between Dennis Setzer and MRD Motorsports fell through due to potential sponsor deal not happening. Right now Setzer doesn't have a ride in Trucks, but does have a couple of Nationwide rides lined up with Bob Keselowski.

Red Horse Racing has announced that T.J. Bell will drive the No. 11 Home4TheHolidays.org Toyota at Daytona with sponsorship from the charity that Bell is a spokesperson for and the pairing will continue to run with sponsorship.

Rich Gay will be his crew chief and the team still doesn't have a sponsor lined up for Johnny Benson.

Gabi Dicarlo and Stringer Motorsports announced she'll make her Truck debut in March at the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway, driving the No. 90 Great Clips Toyota.

HT Motorsports announced that Cajun Industries will be the primary sponsor for driver Terry Cook on the No. 25 Toyota for the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona on Feb. 13th.

Fast Track Racing has announced that RaceTalkRadio.com will be the primary sponsor for Brandon Krupp in the No. 47 Chevrolet, for the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona on Feb. 13th.

News

Dover Speedway has agreed to sell Memphis Motorsports Park to Gulf Coast Entertainment LLC.

The sale won't effect any of the 2009 scheduled NASCAR races with the Nationwide Series or the Camping World Truck Series. Dover Motorsports will continue to operate the speedway for Gulf Coast Entertainment LLC.

Gulf Coast also is the owner of a newly proposed multi-use entertainment complex in Mobile, AL and projected to be operating in 2011.

Phoenix International Raceway and Lucas Oil announced they have extended their existing partnership, for the title sponsorship of the NCWTS race at the track in 2009 and 2010. The race will continue as the Lucas Oil 150.

NASCAR announced the television schedule for the Camping World Truck Series, for the seventh consecutive season will be on Speed TV. They'll air, 23 races out of the 25 race schedule.

The following two races will be on Fox, the first is the San Bernadino County 200 at Auto Club Speedway on Feb. 21st and then the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway on March 28th.

Check out my upcoming races section below, it list the three coming races, has the NCWTS-Setup time and race time. After last year you don't want to miss Krita Voda on the Set-up show, it's entertaining and you'll miss some classic moments.

Hornaday's Corner

The Indian Motorcycle company has announced that Ron Hornaday will be a spokesperson for the company. He'll wear a logo from the company, on his uniform for the 25 truck races and the two Nationwide races he'll run in 2009.

Horn just received in time for the for the Daytona Speedweeks, his 2009 Vintage Chief Indian and if we're lucky, we just might see him on this classic bike roaring around the Speedway.

The Rookie Chase

I'll be featuring James Buescher, Taylor Malsam, Chase Austin and Ricky Carmichael as they battle it out for the Raybestos Rookie of The Year. While I did have other plans for this section, I've scrape those and kept the title.

The Scott Minute

If you don't know it yet or took the off-season off. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series community here on B/R, had some exciting news happen over the off-season. One of the drivers in Trucks, Brian Scott joined us here, commented on several of my articles for the page, everyone in the NASCAR community been excited to have him and hoping he'll write some about his racing career.

But I'm adding this section to comment on timely updates about his racing and other interesting stuff about his racing.

Upcoming Races

Feb. 13th - NextEra Energy resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Speed at 7:30PM the Set-Up show and 8:00PM Race time. (Friday)

Feb. 21st - San bernadino County 200 at Auto Club Speedway on Fox at N/A Pre-race and 3PM Race time.   (Saturday)

March 7th - American Commercial Lines 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway  on Speed at 1:30PM the Set-Up show and 2:00PM Race time.   (Saturday)

Top Five Picks For The NextEra Energy Resources 250

1. Ron Hornaday, Jr.

One of the few tracks, Horn hasn't won at and hungry for a win at the track. In five races at the track has just 1-top ten finishes, with changes to pit stops it brings his crew chief Rick Ren into play. Ren's one of the best on pit road, when he's on his game your not going to beat him.

2. Rick Crawford

He's hungry to end his winless streak, one of the best drivers at Daytona compiled in 9 races, 1-win, 3-top fives and 6-top ten finishes. Crawford wants to start the season out right with a win, since he and "Cowboy" his long-time crew chief feel this is their year.

3. Todd Bodine

Onion always runs well at Daytona, won it last year coming out of the pits, and will be using the first couple of races to hopefully land a sponsor for the 2009 season. In four races, has 1-win, 4-top five and 4-top ten finishes.

4. Johnny Benson, Jr.

JB wants to defend his title, with a win at Daytona keep the momentum from 2008 going even if it's with a new team. Like Horn, he'll benefit with the new pits rules have Trip "the Gambling Man" Bruce on pit road calling the shots from his pit box. In four races, Jb has 2-top five and 3-top ten finishes.

5. Brian Scott

Brian's hungry for that first win, he has momentum coming into the 2009 season, from how he finished the last 7 races of 2008 and almost winning at Homestead and wants to get that first win at Daytona. Brian will benefit from crew chief Jeff Hensley and in 2008 he finished 10th.

My "sleeper pick" is James Buescher who is 18, a rookie and with the no testing rule in effect, he got valuable seat time in the ARCA Re/Max race and my long shot winner in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona.

Congrats by the way to James who won the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, on Saturday at Daytona.

Track Facts

This week they'll start the 2009 Camping World Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway, where the trucks have raced since 2000.

Track Info.

Track Lengths: 2.5 miles

Race Lengths: 250 miles/100 Laps

Banking: 31* (Corners), 3* (Straight aways) & 18* (Tr-Oval) (* for degrees)

Lengths: 3,800 feet Front Stretch and 3,000 feet Back Stretch

Seating: 168,000

(Info: from racingone.com)

Race Winners: Eight different drivers have won this race and no repeat winners yet.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Point Standing (My Projected Top 10)

1.) Ron Hornaday, Jr.     

2.) Todd Bodine

3.) Matt Crafton

4.) Mike Skinner

5.) Rick Crawford    

6.) Ricky Carmichael

7.) Terry Cook 

8.) T.J. Bell

9.) Colin Braun

10.) Kyle Busch

Notes: JB, Chad McCumbee and David Starr are with new teams, both Erik Darnell and Brendan Gaughan are now in the NNS, Dennis Setzer and Jack Sprague don't have a ride. Both T.J. bell and Ricky Carmichael are running on 2008 owner points.

My Top Five Picks, Top Rookie, and Champion Picks for 2009

Top Five (In no order):

1. Ron Hornaday, Jr.

2. Rick Crawford

3. Todd Bodine

4. Mike Skinner

5. Brian Scott

Champion Pick: Ron Hornaday, Jr., Rick Crawford or Brian Scott. 

Top Rookie: James Buescher