S.M.'s Craftsman Truck Series Update, Issue No. 8

Rumors

Donny Lia has been released as driver of the No. 71 TRG Motorsports truck. It appears Andy Lally will be driving a few races for the team.

Lafferty Motorsports have announced that MRD Motorsports are helping them get a truck ready to race at Talladega. I will keep you posted with further updates as the Oct. 4th race approaches. Nice to see the teams helping each other out.

Xpress Motorsports was rumored to have shutdown but they have a working agreement with Bill Davis Racing for the remainder of the 2008 CTS schedule. They will switch to Toyota Tundra's and receive support from BDR.

The Las Vegas race will be the first one where the teams run as technical partners. I will keep you posted if Xpress Motorsports is done after the 2008 season or will continue in the series.

Billy Ballew Motorsports Rumors

Shane Sieg will be driving the No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts Toyota Tundra for Billy Ballew Motorsports at Gateway International Raceway.

Marc Mitchell, will be back in the N0. 15 Ergon Hyprene Toyota Tundra for Billy Ballew Motorsports at Gateway International Raceway.

To update Ted Christopher driving for BBM, looks like that will not be happening. Jason White will be driving for the team in the No. 15 truck at Loudon.

Bobby Dotter, will be driving the No. 08 Gunbroker.com Dodge truck for SS Green Light Racing at Loudon. This is Jason White's usual ride in NCTS.

Truck Race Sponsor News

Camping World has announced that they, along with Winnebago, will be sponsoring the Sept. 13th truck race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The race will now be called, the Camping World RV Rental 200 Driven by Winnebago Industries.

While there is nothing new to report on a title sponsor, I would really love to see Camping World take over for Craftsman Tools. They are a really awesome company to step up and put their name on all these races.

I hope all you fans remember them for all their RV, camping and Outdoor needs.

2009 Team News

Bill Davis racing has signed Brian Scott to drive for them in 2009. When more information becomes available on the sponsor or truck number I will let you know.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a even bigger announcement coming from BDR in regards to one of his current drivers moving back up to Sprint Cup as a Teammate to Dave Blaney.

But that's just my thinking, nothing official and didn't mention him by name.

CTS Driver Profile

This week I'm going to dedicate this space to the four development drivers that are running at Gateway International Raceway on Saturday afternoon.

1. Michael Annett will be driving the No. 22 Pilot Toyota Tundra for Bill Davis Racing. He has run some great races this season. He raced to a second place finish at Kentucky, ran a really great race and it was only his third start.

I'm impressed with this kid's talent, he's the real deal according to Speed's Phil Parsons so remember his name because you will be hearing it a lot in the next few years. Here's his stats, five starts, one-Top Five and two-Top Tens.

2. Chrissy Wallace will be back driving the No. 03 Germain Racing Toyota Tundra. I really like her, think she has talent, needs to run every week in CTS and will only get better with time.

With her dad, Mike Wallace and Tony Stewart as mentors. You can see why she's on everyone's radar to be successful in NASCAR. She has three prior races in the CTS, has run well in them. Her last race was wrecked out, but had a really good truck.

Don't be shocked down the road if Chrissy isn't in a third or fourth car for Stewart-Haas.

3. Bobby East will be driving the No. 09 Zaxby Ford truck for Roush-Fenway Racing. The kid does have talent but needs more seat time to continue to develop.

Also, should either of his teammates, Colin Braun or Erik Darnell, move up to Nationwide or on to another team, I think Bobby would be a good choice to replace either of them.

He does have 28 starts in CTS, five from this year with two-Top Ten's.

4. Marc Davis will be making his debut in the CTS driving for Randy Moss Motorsports No. 81 Chevrolet truck. He's a NASCAR diversity program pick.

I really like this kid, he's eighteen years old has shown talent while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Camping World East Series. He's one of their development drivers.

Davis is in his second season in the CWES and he has their approval on this deal. He's compiled the following stats, 23 starts, 7-Top Five's, 12-Top Ten's and 4-DNF's.

Davis brought the sponsor to the deal with RMM and made it happen. It's for six races, with WHUR on board. They are a Howard University affiliated radio station.

I really think this kid can develop into a really good driver and rumored to be in a second truck in 2009 for the team. RMM could develop with Davis into running in the Nationwide and even Sprint Cup. Because Moss, while in no hurry, would love to do that eventually.

Shrub Sighting

The Shrub will be running both night races at Richmond International Raceway.

He's driving for Braun Racing in the No. 32 General Dollar Stores Toyota Camry car and of course he'll be in his JGR No. 18 M&M's Toyota Camry for Saturday night's Sprint Cup race.

Hope you all love that picture of him after winning the last truck race at Bristol!

Speed Trap

On to Scott Speed! I previously wrote a article on here about his dirt track adventure in the ARCA Re/Max series. Congrats to him, as he got another eighth place finish at the Labor day race at the DuQuion State Fairgrounds in Illinois.

It's now back to the asphalt for the ARCA Re/Max series and Speed's still has a 75 point lead over Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in second.

Upcoming Races

Sept. 6th- Camping World 200, presented by Honda Power Equipment at Gateway International Raceway, on Speed at 2PM (Saturday)

Sept. 13th- The Camping World RV Rental 200 Driven by Winnabego Industries at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, on Speed at 2:30PM (Saturday)

Sept. 20th- Quickliner Las Vegas 350, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, on Speed at 9:30PM (Saturday)

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Point Standings

1. Johnny Benson                    2426
2. Ron Hornaday                      -119
3. Matt Crafton                        -156
4. Todd Bodine                        -239
5. Mike Skinner                       -254
6. Rick Crawford                      -261
7. Erik Darnell                         -287
8. Jack Sprague                       -353
9. Terry Cook                          -380
10. Dennis Setzer                    -436