S.M.'s Camping World Update, Issue No. 30

Rumors

Brent Raymer Motorsports will have VIP Realty of North Georgia on board as associate sponsor, for the No. 85 driven by Brent Raymer at Atlanta.

Max Papis will be back driving the No. 9 Geico Germain Racing Toyota at Atlanta.

Lafferty Motorsports announced they have Dillon Oliver driving the No. 89, making his Truck debut March 28th at Martinsville Speedway.

He's from the racing hot bed of Owensboro, Ky. They are still looking for a primary sponsor, but have Race Fumes, Potencia Energy Drink and Weber Associates Contracting already as associate sponsors.

The team will have Mike Harmon driving the No. 89 Blue Ox Chevrolet at Atlanta.

Dennis Setzer will be driving the No. 8 Malcolmson Construction Chevrolet, for MRD Motorsports at Atlanta.

Norm Benning will be driving his No. 57 Chevrolet, with sponsorship from Outdoors.com/Artic Cat at Atlanta and nice to see the independent driver has help with costs for the race.

Johnny Chapman will be back driving the No. 21 Gunbroker.com Dodge, for Gun Broker Racing at Atlanta.

Gabi DiCarlo will be driving the No. 90 Great Clips Toyota, for Stringer Motorsports at Atlanta.

Randy Moss Motorsports will have both the Exide Batteries on the Mike Skinner's No. 5 and One-Eighty will be back on Tayler Malsam's No. 81 at Atlanta.

News

It's exciting to see they're be 39 entries for the American Commercial Lines 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and means three drivers will be going home.

The breakdown is 22 full-time teams and 17 part-time teams. Looks like so far helping into the third race in NCWTS, that the part-time teams are helping to fill up the fields.

Kevin Harvick Inc. Update

Well first, Kevin Harvick will be driving in a third truck and be making his Truck debut at Atlanta. He'll be driving the No. 2 Chevrolet, with sponsorship from Charter Communications and will have too qualify on speed Saturday morning for the race.

Second, Ricky Carmichael indeed will be driving the No. 4 Monster Energy Drink Chevrolet at Atlanta, but it's out of the Harvick's pocket and not Monster's.

Due to his contract with Monster, the Goat can't drive the No. 4 with another sponsor on it and hopefully the company will add some races for him to race more than the schedule 14 races. (Atlanta doesn't count, since they aren't paying for it.)

So far, he's qualified sixth and third, for the first two truck races and finished eighth at Fontana.

Third, Ron Hornaday Jr. No. 33 will have the VFW on board for the American Commercial Lines 200, it's the first of a six race sponsorship deal and one of my favorite sponsors.

The followings from VFW.org, if your looking for a great organize to donate to, don't overlook this great organization.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, a non-profit organization that's dedicated to honoring the sacrifice and ensuring the rights of American's Veterans through advocacy, support and community service, while promoting patriotism.

They also offer a wide array of services to support veterans and their families throughout their military career, from active duty to honorably discharged.

Hornaday's Corner

Did you know, that statistically? At AMS over the past four seasons, Horn's lead 50 percent of the laps, that's 261 of 520 laps and leads all active drivers in laps led at the track.

He's the most successful driver in the Truck series, just think what his numbers would be statistically had he just raced in the Series. But glad, he's run in the Nationwide and Cup, just wish he had gotten a second opportunity at Cup.

Horn finished second (the Brides Maid position) in the last three Truck races at AMS.

He recorded his first win for KHI at AMS in 2005.

Horn chasing his 40th career win at Atlanta, he's got a good shot of getting the win if he can keep the Boss and the Goat in his rear view mirror.

The Rookie Chase

Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings after two races:

J.R. Fitzpatrick           -26

Ricky Carmichael        -22

James Buescher         -17

Tayler Malsam           -17

Chase Austin             -16

Johnny Sauter           -15   

The Scott Minute

B/R's Brian Scott is chomping at the bit, to get his first Truck Series win under his belt. In the last eight races of 2008, it all came together for Brian during his rookie season and he was close to winning the season finale at Homestead.

While he has had a fast truck at both races in Daytona and Fontana, 2009 hasn't been kind to him. With Atlanta being the series fastest track, sure he'll have another fast truck and with a decent qualifying effort inside the top 10.

We could see our Brian achieve his first win in trucks, give his season a huge boost and he's still on my shortlist for being the championship winner.

Heading into the Atlanta race, the most amazing thing I've read about from the teams I cheer and root for in Trucks. Is the history behind Brian's truck chassis for the Atlanta race.

It's Chassis No. 127, it's from Triad Racing Technologies, originally built for Dodge by his current crew chief Jeff Hensley.

While he worked at BHR-VA in 2008, been raced twice last season by Dennis Setzer and he recorded two top-five finishes in it.

Over the off season, Xpress Motorsports purchased the chassis and converted to a Toyota Tundra. What a story that would make, should Brian win with it.

Upcoming Races

Mar. 7 - American Commercial Lines 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Speed at 1:30PM the Set-Up Show and 2:00PM Race Time. (Saturday)

Mar. 28 - Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway on Fox at N/A Pre-Race and 2:00PM Race Time. (Saturday)

Apr. 25 - O' Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway on Speed at 5:30 PM the Set-Up Show and 6:00PM Race Time. (Saturday)

Top Five Picks for the American Commercial Lines 200

1.) Ron Hornaday Jr. in eight races at the track, he's compiled one win, four top fives, four top 10s, two poles and led 261 laps.

He'll be tough too beat out for the pole, should run up front all day and won't be surprised if he dominates the race all day.

Most definitely he'll be up front most of the day, if not leading, he'll will be by the closing laps and wants to get his crew chief's Rick Ren's first win at AMS.

2.) Kyle Rowdy Busch in four races at the track, he's compiled three wins, three top fives, four top 10s and led 158 laps.

Rowdy in trucks, runs this track like Bobby Labonte did in Cup. Sure he'll qualify up front, but don't think he'll be able to pull away like he did at Fontana and will be their in the end vying for the win.

3.) Todd Bodine in eight races at the track, he's compiled one win, four top fives, five top tens, one pole and led 89 laps.

He runs well at the track, with the team still needing a sponsor to continue running, they'll be on their game trying to get the win and using the winnings to get too Martinsville.

But I can't see them beating either Horn or Rowdy, if he has to chase them for the win.

4.) Mike Skinner in nine races at the track, he's compiled one win, four top fives, five top tens, three poles and led 197 laps.

He's probably the only driver who can beat out Horn for the pole, hungry for his first win at RMM, he'll be up front vying for the win in the closing laps.

But should he be leading with Brian Scott running in second, don't be surprised if we don't see a bump and run finish and see Brian claim his first win at Skinner's expense.

5.) Johnny Benson Jr. in eight races at the track, he's compiled three top fives, four top tens and led 30 laps.

JB needs a good run, too help land a sponsor, but also qualify well and start the race in side the top ten. Sure JB will be one of the drivers vying for the win Saturday, but think for him qualifying well is the key of the race for him.

My sleeper picks this week are, Horns two teammates Happy in the 2 and the Goat in the four, both are making their truck debuts at AMS. The Goat will qualify well, wants to improve on the eighth place finish, Happy is always fun too watch when he races in the trucks and should qualify well for the race.

I'm thinking Happy will be able too catch Rowdy, should we see a repeat of Fontana were he left the field behind.

Track Facts

This week it's the Atlanta Motor Speedway, where the trucks have raced since 2004. In 2009, the trucks will only race at the track in Spring and won't be racing this fall at the track. NASCAR moved the race to Chicagoland.

Track Info

Track Length: 1.54 miles

Race Length: 130 Laps/200.2 miles

Banking: 24* (Corners), 5* (Front Stretch and Back Stretch)

Lengths: 2,322 feet (Front Stretch) & 1,800 feet (Back Stretch)

Seating: 124,000

Race Winners: Kyle Busch - three wins and six drivers tied with one win.

2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Point Standings

1.) Kyle Busch                       370

2.) Todd Bodine                       -5

3.) Matt Crafton                     -77

4.) Timothy Peters                  -82

5.) Ron Hornaday Jr.                -85

6.) T.J. Bell                            -85

7.) Mike Skinner                      -89

8.) Chad McCumbee                -94

9.) David Starr                       -98

10.) J.R. Fitzpatrick                -108