Carmichael Loves Las Vegas; So Does Sauter
Las Vegas is a special place for Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Ricky Carmichael (No. 4 Monster Chevrolet), just not in a NASCAR Camping World Truck.
Yet.
Carmichael this week returns to the seat of the Kevin Harvick Inc. truck he shares with fellow rookie J.R. Fitzpatrick. The duo rank fourth and fifth in Raybestos points.
Las Vegas was a regular stop on the various Supercross and motocross circuits when Carmichael was No. 1 in the two-wheeled competition.
He won three U.S. Open titles at the MGM Grand and wrapped up the 2006 Supercross championship there as well.
“I’ve always liked coming to Las Vegas; I have a lot of good memories,” Carmichael said.
Carmichael, however, will be just another rookie this week. He’s never set foot on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway grounds.
The favorite would be Johnny Sauter with a combined eight NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series starts at the track.
Sauter finished third in the 2002 NASCAR Nationwide Sam’s Town 300 driving a Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.
Raybestos Rookie Of The Year Standings
Rk Driver Points 1. Johnny Sauter 197 2. Tayler Malsam 173 3. James Buescher 155 4. Ricky Carmichael 120 5. J.R. Fitzpatrick 88 6. Brian Ickler 83 7. Chris Jones 66 8. Brent Raymer 65
Manufacturers’ Standings
Roush Fenway Racing and Ford have had a quiet summer since scoring the team’s 50th victory in June at Michigan International Speedway. This could be the week, however, that its No. 6 truck again finds Victory Lane.
The team has a pair of wins at LVMS, most recently in 2007 with Travis Kvapil at the helm of the F-150.
Toyota continues its drive toward a fourth consecutive Manufacturers’ Championship. Busch’s New Hampshire victory increased the truck maker’s lead to 18 points over Chevrolet.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 2009 Manufacturers’ Championship Standings after Race 19 of 25 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:
Toyota 147
Chevrolet 129
Ford 84
Dodge 58
Up Next: Martinsville
The coming month offers NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams the opportunity to rest and reload for a final, five-race run to the 2009 championship.
Kevin Harvick drove his No. 2 Chevrolet to victory at Martinsville in March. Harvick bids to join Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota) in scoring a season sweep at the .526-mile track. Skinner won both the Kroger 250 and Kroger 200 in 2007.
The Oct. 24 Kroger 200 is the season’s final short-track race. Harvick is one of four short-track winners in the five races held this year. Ron Hornaday Jr. has two wins. Skinner and Kyle Busch also have visited Victory Lane.
Fast Facts
Next Race: Las Vegas 350
The Place: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The Date: Sat., September 26, 2009
The Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Race Distance: 219 miles / 350 kilometers / 146 laps
Track Layout: 1.5-mile oval
2008 Winner: Mike Skinner
2008 Polesitter: Ron Hornaday Jr.
Schedule: Saturday: Practice, 9 — 10:15 a.m. and Final Practice 10:45 a.m. — to 12 noon. Qualifying, 3:30 p.m.
2009 Standings
Rk Driver Points 1 Ron Hornaday Jr. 3,055 2 Matt Crafton 2,838 3 Mike Skinner 2,809 4 Brian Scott 2,608 5 Colin Braun 2,515 6 Todd Bodine 2,480 7 Johnny Sauter 2,452 8 Rick Crawford 2,441 9 David Starr 2,434 10 Stacy Compton 2,423
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