If circumstances from a busy schedule only allows you to watch just one NASCAR Camping World Series Truck Series during the remainder of this year, then pick Friday night’s race at the O’Reilly Raceway Park. It’s going to be 36 full sized racing trucks on a tightly wound bullring of a racing oval. This is the racing environment that helped make this series famous back in 1995. This event is going to be 200 laps of action that will totally redefine the term tailgate party.
THE STORY BREAKDOWN
The real story lines behind the AAA Insurance 200, presented by J D Byrider, are associated with the numbers that determine the various championship categories within the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The first, and most important, set of numbers are of course the series championship where Todd Bodine holds a 101 point advantage over Aric Almirola. That lead may appear to be extremely comfortable but it’s not insurmountable and the tail gate atmosphere associated with a race at the ORP could alter the points deficit very quickly and easily.
Bodine is expected to be in top form for Friday night despite having to deal with treatments for second degree burns on his lower back and buttock areas. That injury came from an extremely warm racing seat, on a very hot day, last Saturday during the series race at the Gateway International Raceway where he finished fourth. Bodine did a live television after the race wile sitting on the floor of the speedway medical center because the cold floor tiles felt good. He didn’t appear to be the least bit concerned over the burn in his backside. He was too happy with his fourth place finish and how his pit crew got him there. With a great deal of enthusiasm, he said “I have the best crew on pit road for sure.”
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However, one aspect to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship profile that everyone is watching is Ron Hornaday Jr. The four time series champion has yet to score his first win of the season which is totally out of character for this Kevin Harvick Inc operation. Hornaday goes into Friday night’s ORP race sixth in the championship standings 261 markers from the top.
This team has been hampered with some harsh racing luck such as last Saturday at Gateway when a broken sway bar left them with a 26th place finish ten laps down. Mathematically speaking, Hornaday’s drive for five title run isn’t officially over yet. The series will be hitting the approximate halfway point of the year this Friday night. However, the championship drive is skating on thin ice at the moment and a major resurgence is needed. His average finish ratio this year is 13.3 compared to 7.2 this time last year.
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The series is also in the midst of a terrific fight for the 2010 Owner’s Championship. Todd Bodine and Germain Brothers Racing also controls the top of those standings as well but it’s an extremely thin margin.
DeLana Harvick, owner of the #2 Kevin Harvick Inc Chevrolet, is right behind the leaders only ten points away. That of course is due to her husband, Kevin, who has made four double duty starts in the #2 truck and won three of them. By the way, Shelby Howard will be making his official series’ debut in the KHI #2 Saturday night at ORP.
Third in the owner’s standing, and only 32 points back, is the #18 Toyota from Kyle Busch Motorsports. Busch has been sharing this ride with driver Brian Ickler this season. However, the boss will be back behind the wheel for the first time in three races. ORP has a special place in Kyle Busch’s memory. He scored his first ever truck win there back in 2001.
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THE RACE BREAKDOWN
The AAA Insurance, presented by J D Byrider, is 200 laps around the O’Reilly Raceway Park’s .686 mile oval and the element of racing is rubbing is expected to be prevalent Friday night.
The race has 37 entries vying for the 36 truck field meaning someone is going to have to go home disappointed. 11 of those entries are on the go or go home list meaning they are not guaranteed a starting berth in the race because they are outside of the top 25 in the owner’s points standings. These teams will have to rely on qualifying speeds to make the race.
Qualifying is vital at the ORP. In the past 15 events there five race winners started on the pole. With 36 trucks on a short track, the element of track position is going to be a key factor in this race.
The defending race winner is Ron Hornaday Jr.
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