NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: News And Notes - Talladega Superspeedway
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Sep 30, 2008
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This Year’s Mountain Dew 250 Will Be Crawford’s ‘Do Over’
Rick Crawford’s (No. 14 Power Stroke Diesel/Circle Bar Ford) not one to dwell on the past but if he could have a “mulligan” on last year’s Mountain Dew 250, the outcome might have been different.
Crawford’s last-lap challenge to Talladega winner Todd Bodine (No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) came up .014 seconds — a fender length — short.
But yesterday has come and gone and Crawford, who won a similarly close decision at Daytona International Speedway in 2003, is looking forward.
“I’ll do something different this year,” he said. “I’ve re-run that last lap a thousand times. I (now) know what to do if that situation comes about again to win the race.”
Crawford is a five-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series winner — but not since August 2006. So Talladega in his native state would be a fine place to end a 54-race winless streak.
“Let’s talk about winning but you may not be able to fulfill that opportunity so let’s not be dejected about it (if it doesn’t happen),” said Crawford.
“Just being able to participate at a race track of (Talladega’s) size and magnitude with that history means enough to me.”
Crawford, ranked sixth, still has a shot at the championship but counting points isn’t something he’ll be doing on Saturday.
“The points will take care of themselves,” he said. “I’m going to Talladega to win.”
Age Is More Than A Number On NASCAR’s ‘Super’ Tracks
Consider this as more proof why Carl Edwards stands among the top echelon of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers and well could win this year’s championship.
Edwards, 24 when he won Daytona International Speedway’s 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series opener, is the only driver under the age of 40 to win a series race at Daytona or Talladega Superspeedway.
The next youngest winner is Mike Wallace (No. 9 Germain Racing Toyota), a 40-year-old in 2000 when the series made its debut at Daytona. Wallace will compete this week as teammate to Bodine.
Mark Martin won Talladega’s inaugural Mountain Dew 250 in 2006 at the age of 47 following up his February victory in Daytona.
Daytona’s winners also include Joe Ruttman, 56 and the late Bobby Hamilton, 47.
Last year’s Mountain Dew 250 winner, Bodine, was relatively young by that standard at age 43. He opened 2008 with a Daytona victory.
Jack Sprague (No. 2 American Commercial Lines Chevrolet) has competed in trucks and cars at Daytona and Talladega for nearly a decade. He finally won Daytona’s race in 2007 as a 42-year-old.
“I think the key to winning at places like Talladega and Daytona is a combination of experience, discipline and good equipment,” said Sprague. “The veteran drivers in this series have had that and I think as a result, they have been the ones in Victory Lane at the end of the day.”
Well-Seasoned But Hardly Slowing Down
Daytona and Talladega’s five oldest winners.
Driver Age Track/Year
Joe Ruttman 56 y 3 m 19 d Daytona 2001
Mark Martin 47 y 8 m 28 d Talladega 2006
Bobby Hamilton 47 y 8 m 20 d Daytona 2005
Mark Martin 47 y 1 m 8 d Daytona 2006
Rick Crawford 44 y 6 m 19 d Daytona 2003
Director’s Take: Wayne’s Words
“Talladega and Daytona are similar tracks in some ways but in others are quite different.
“Both feature high-speed competition with big packs of trucks and the likelihood of a photo finish with two, three or even four trucks side-by-side.
“Talladega is unlike Daytona in that it’s very wide and much smoother. The start/finish stripe also is beyond the dogleg and makes the strategy for a last-lap draft very different. You may see a couple of lead changes between Turn 4 and the checkered flag.
“Horsepower is the key at Talladega; along with a very aerodynamic body. Crews will look for any advantage they can find since 1/16th of an inch in the right place can mean 2/10ths of a second on the clock. They definitely push the envelope.
“That’s why the inspection process is so important to keep all the teams on a level playing field. NASCAR hands out the rear spring and shocks and also limits horsepower to a greater degree than at the other tracks on the schedule.
“The tapered spacer used at Talladega and Daytona is 1/16th of an inch less than approved elsewhere.
“Past experience has shown that the package works. Last year’s Mountain Dew 250 ended with three trucks taking the checkered flag separated by less than a 10th of a second. It doesn’t get much better than that!” — Wayne Auton, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Director
This Week’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders
(Through 19 races of the 25-race season)
Points leader – Johnny Benson (2,858)
Driver Rating – Ron Hornaday Jr. (116.2)
Laps led – Ron Hornaday Jr. (980)
Victories – Ron Hornaday, Jr. (5)
Keystone Light Poles – Three drivers with three
Top-five finishes – Johnny Benson (12)
Top-10 finishes – Mike Skinner (15)
Raybestos Rookie Leader – Colin Braun
Races led – Ron Hornaday Jr. (16)
Weeks in Top 10 – Three drivers with 19
Talladega Superspeedway joined the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2006. The event was held from 1995-2005 at Richmond International Raceway. Mark Martin was the inaugural winner during a season in which the Arkansas veteran won a series-leading six races.
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