The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the sleeping giant in Motorsports today, is quietly making strides in viewers, fans, and competition. Starting out on the dusty regional tracks; this series (once known as the SuperTruck series) remains true to the early roots of racing with its true grit competitors still proving to provide some of the best racing available at any level.  The NASCAR Craftsman Truck series was initially kept to shorter lengths to cut costs and accommodate smaller venues that had less adequate space for pit stops. The Truck Series has kept the scheduled shorter lengths making every lap count for viewers looking for hard core racing action. “The shorter duration of the events in comparison to other NASCAR national series means that every driver is flat out all the time.  That provides for spectacular competition and a significant number of races that are decided on the final lap,” Series Senior Communications Director Owen Kearns offered when asked to comment on the increase in popularity.

 

What makes the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series a fan favorite?

 

“The series began with the premise that trucks were tough and it took tough drivers to make them go fast.  That hasn’t changed. Some of the most close-up competition in Motorsports can be found in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series due to its mix of veteran drivers-Todd Bodine, Ted Musgrave, Jack Sprague, Mike Skinner, Rick Crawford, and Ron Hornaday among others- and up and coming young competitors,” said Kearns.  “We’re extremely proud of being the crucible that produced such NEXTEL Cup Series stars as Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch, Jamie McMurray, and Carl Edwards to name a few. You just cannot put a price on the education these drivers have received at the figurative knee of a Bodine or a Musgrave,” commented Kearns. 

 

Competition at its best -- that is what can best be said about the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. “With 10 years of the 12 years of the series having 10 or more winners in a season is evidence that the rules in place to keep the trucks competitive on the track,” commented Wayne Auton, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Director.

 

When asked about the popularity of stand alone (events not partnered with a NEXTEL or Busch series event being held the same weekend) events and how they are performing Kearns was quick to point out “Two examples of stand-alone events that perform on-par with companion events take place at Kansas Speedway where more than 80,000 have watched our events and Texas Motor Speedway, where the June event which commonly draws up to 60,000.” So this leaves the impression that the breathtaking competition is garnering attention from somewhere.

 

Craftsman offers Series the same loyalty it seeks from fans

 

Craftsman has been the only Series sponsor for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in its thirteen years of competition offering a loyalty to the series and its fans from the very beginning.  “Craftsman has sponsored the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since it began in 1995.  Each year we have stepped up our activation and promotion around our series” offered Scott Howard, Manager of Sponsorship Sears Holdings.  NASCAR echoed similar sentiments stating, “We continue to work closely with all of our partners- tracks, Craftsman, SPEED, MRN, Sirius- towards the common goal of growing the series and gaining greater exposure for our teams and drivers.”  Promotion of the series and series sponsor, Craftsman, is done through promotions both on and off the track. 

 

Television

 

With the addition of a high energy pre-race show this season the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is seeing the addition of a younger audience watching on SPEED TV.   When I spoke with SPEED TV representatives they offered several explanations for the growth in viewers.  Representatives offered that they have a little more fun with their coverage of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  “Nobody is wearing a suit and tie, all of our at-track shows are open to the fans and fan participation” stating they hold the belief that a fan who enjoys participation in an at-track broadcast is more likely to tune in to other programming or racing broadcast on SPEED.  “We have an experienced, well-informed on-air team covering the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and we continue to elevate our network efforts to support its growing popularity,” said Hunter Nickell, SPEED TV Executive VP & General Manager. “We’ve established a high energy pre-race show, NCTS Set-Up, hosted by Krista Voda, and two of the races will be aired on FOX this year (this coming race at Martinsville and Mansfield), giving the series unprecedented exposure.”  Another possibility that may have contributed to drawing younger viewers to the series and the network can also be attributed to supporters of other programs such as “Unique Whips” and “Pinks” staying with the network and discovering for the first time what the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is all about…Tough Trucks and Tough Competitors.  

 

Continued Growth

 

NASCAR seems to have ways to increase support and assistance to teams on all levels of competition including financially.  While working with the materials for this article I was curious about how competitors within this series were compensated and how this was growing with the sport.  When questioned about the process Kearns offered insight about the issue “NASCAR negotiates with each track to determine what the latter's share of the event's posted awards will be. The total posted awards for an event include track operator's purse, point fund contribution, TV awards and two plans for eligible truck owners. The final figure includes manufacturer awards (decals, special awards such as Budweiser Pole, Raybestos Rookie of the Year etc.) posted through NASCAR for competitors.”  This may all seem like Greek but in plain English NASCAR works diligently to offer competitors’ special rewards to increase the prize money offered should they choose to utilize these incentives for performance or participate in a product placement program.  The series has increased the awards for these programs as per NASCAR the available prize money has more than tripled over the 12-plus seasons of the series. It was $4 million in 1995 and is expected to exceed $12 million this season.

 

Craftsman as the series sponsor has worked just as tirelessly to create programs available in stores and at tracks for promotion of their namesake series.  Programs offered include gift cards for fans in attendance at events and coupons good for store purchase of the tools known to the fans as “the official tool of NASCAR”.

 

This weekend the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series takes its Tough Trucks to the paperclip shaped track of Martinsville Speedway in the heart of Virginia.  Another milestone being achieved this weekend will occur as the hard driving all-out racing of the NCTS makes its debut on the FOX network.  A Departure from SPEED TV’s cable network for the first of the two network glimpses this season. This will mark the series’ first network broadcast since 2000.  Don’t miss a minute of the action…I will see you at the races.

 

RACE DETAILS

Saturday, March 31, 2007 Broadcast on your local FOX affiliate at 3:00pm ET