Raybestos Rookie Lia Wins First Race In Dramatic Fashion
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Donny Lia’s (No. 71 NationRides.com/AutismSpeaks.com Chevrolet) May 24 victory at Mansfield Motorsports Park was surprising to many.
And that would include Lia himself.
“I knew we could do it; I wouldn’t be driving this truck if I didn’t think we could do it,” said the 27-year-old Jericho, N.Y., native and 2007 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion. “But so soon? I can’t believe it.”
He didn’t do it the easy way either, passing veteran David Starr (No. 11 Pit-Now.com Toyota) on the final lap. Lia is just the 10th winner to lead only one lap — and the only one to do so without previously leading a series race.
Lia is the first Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate to win a race in nearly five years. Carl Edwards was the last freshman winner in August 2003 at Nashville Superspeedway.
The victory also was the first for TRG Racing and owner Kevin Buckler, previously a winner of more than 50 races in IMSA, the American Le Mans Series, the Grand American Rolex GT Series, the Grand American Koni Challenge Series and the Grand American Daytona Prototype Series.
“To get our first win in only 10 races is quite a phenomenal accomplishment,” said Buckler. “It says a lot about our team and what we’re capable of.”
Hornaday Hopes To Rebound In AAA Insurance 200
Friday’s stop at Dover International Speedway couldn’t come at a better time for Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet), the defending race winner.
Hornaday is coming off his worst finish — 35th — since joining Kevin Harvick Inc. in 2004. He dropped from first to fifth in points, as well.
At Dover, however, Hornaday has been tough, leading more laps than any other driver over the past three races — 225 of a possible 600.
Hornaday also is tops among active drivers on concrete-surfaced speedways with three wins.
“Dover can be tough on a driver. The two corners seem to be different from each other,” said Hornaday.
“Dover is a tricky place for a driver to get comfortable because there is a radical change in the race track between going off into Turn 1 and Turn 3.
“There are two lines you can run at Dover that are both really fast.”
Three Dover winners and eight drivers who have gone to Victory Lane at concrete-surfaced tracks are expected to compete in the AAA Insurance 200.
Three former Dover winners and eight drivers with concrete wins are expected to compete this week.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Wins On Concrete Surfaces (Active Drivers)
Driver Wins Tracks
1. Ron Hornaday Jr. 3 Bristol, Dover
2. Travis Kvapil 2 Bristol, Nashville
3. Johnny Benson 1 Bristol
Kyle Busch 1 Dover
Chad Chaffin 1 Dover
Ted Musgrave 1 Bristol
Mike Skinner 1 Bristol
Jack Sprague 1 Bristol
Another Twist And Turn Elevates Bodine To Points Lead
Todd Bodine (No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) met his goal and then some at Mansfield Motorsports Park.
In pre-race remarks, the 2006 series champion expressed hopes he’d leave Ohio with a top-10 finish and a reasonably intact truck.
Bodine did that, finishing third in his best short track performance since running second at Martinsville Speedway in March 2007.
And, with Hornaday finishing 35th, Bodine is the new championship leader. Not that he has any breathing room: The margin is eight over Rick Crawford (No. 14 Power Stroke Diesel By International Ford) with Matt Crafton (No. 88 Menards Chevrolet) 45 back in third.
“We had a great race. You know, to get spun out in the beginning, I think it was less than 10 laps into the race, and basically it meant we started last,” said Bodine. “We used pit strategy and a good-handling truck to come all the way back.”
Shane Sieg’s 21st-place finish left Billy Ballew Motorsports’ No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts/NOS Toyota five points ahead of Germain Racing’s No. 30 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Owner Championship standings.
Etc. and Quotable
Long Time Between Consecutive First-Time Winners: ... You have to go all the way back to July 2003 for the most recent time the series crowned back-to-back, first-time winners. Crafton punched his ticket eight days before Lia’s magic trip to Victory Lane in Mansfield, Ohio. The last two drivers to win in consecutive weeks, interestingly enough, were Roush Fenway teammates Jon Wood and Carl Edwards. Wood won at Kansas Speedway followed by Edwards at Kentucky Speedway. As for new owner winners, TRG’s Buckler is the first since 2006. Jack Sprague (No. 2 American Commercial Lines Chevrolet) won at Memphis for Jeff Wyler.
Miller Gets First Win: … Jason Miller, who previously worked for Andy Petree and Bobby Hamilton, got his first win as a crew chief in just his sixth try. Miller, 37, is an Indianapolis native.
Top 10s For Howard, Murphy: … Two young drivers to watch, Shelby Howard (No. 13 Bobcat Chevrolet) and Sean Murphy (No. 07 Akzo Nobel/Spectrum Chevrolet) scored the first top 10s of their NASCAR Craftsman Truck careers at Mansfield. Howard was sixth; Murphy ninth. Howard also led his first laps. “This was by far the best run we had all year and we had our sponsor, Bobcat, on the truck for the first time this year and you know, it’s a good momentum builder for us,” said Howard. “This is a whole different level of racing for me, and we don’t have a top factory-backed team,” said Murphy. “So, I’m really happy to come out here and have a good run. I had a good truck and I drove the wheels off it.”
Kvapil Eyes Series Concrete Sweep: … With victories at Nashville and Dover, Travis Kvapil (No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford) can accomplish an unprecedented concrete surface sweep with a victory in the AAA Insurance 200.
Jersey’s Doug Wolcott Is ‘Mr. Flexible’ At BDR
Growing up on New Jersey’s South Shore, one would think Doug Wolcott, crew chief for the No. 22 Red Bull Toyota driven by Scott Speed, would consider Dover International Speedway his home track.
Dover is in the neighborhood, so to speak, but Wolcott, who grew up in Neptune, N.J., never so much as set foot on Dover’s property prior to arriving as a competitor.
Wolcott is one of three Bill Davis Racing crew chiefs and — perhaps — the most challenged.
Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) and Jeff Hensley have been together since 2005. Johnny Benson (No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota) and Trip Bruce are solidly in their second season.
And Wolcott? Well, he’s had almost too many charges to count: Two already this season, Speed and Phillip McGilton; and three in 2007.
They’ve ranged in experience from rookie to Formula One Champion Jacques Villeneuve.
“This is not the first time I have worked with a lot of drivers,” said Wolcott, 46. “In the 80s, I had my own business in New Jersey and sometimes drove myself. So I am pretty used to helping new drivers get acquainted with the racetrack.”
Wolcott believes the challenge goes beyond driver and crew chief. “You have to keep the team focused on the goal each week,” he said — regardless of who is in the seat. “Nobody likes change so I try to keep the guys’ heads in the game a lot.
“I also like challenging myself. I like pushing these rookies to levels that they have never reached before.”
