No. 5 International Truck/Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra News and Notes
This Week’s Tundra… This weekend the No. 5 International Truck/EXIDE Batteries Toyota Tundra team will utilize chassis RMM-106 at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday night. The chassis was last raced at New Hampshire Motor Speedway where Skinner turned quick laps during the weekend’s two practice sessions before going on to finish in the 13th position.
Past Success at Phoenix International Raceway… Mike Skinner is not only one of the more seasoned NCWTS veterans at Phoenix International Raceway; he is also one of the most successful. The 53-year-old California native has recorded two victories and a record-tying two poles at the one-mile Arizona oval. With 206 laps led around the circuit, he is ranked second on the all-time lap leaders list in NCWTS competition, and his average finish of 5.6 is the highest of all drivers with 10 or more starts around the southwest track.
Most Popular Driver… Be sure to cast your vote for Mike Skinner as the NCWTS’ Most Popular Driver! Voting ends this Friday, Nov. 12, and the winner will be announced at the NCWTS Banquet on Nov. 22. Cast your vote here: http://www.nascar.com/news/features/2010.truck.mpd/index.html.
Watch and Listen… The Lucas Oil 150 from Phoenix International Raceway will be featured live on SPEED Channel on Friday, November 12. Coverage of the 150-mile race will be aired on SPEED, MRN Radio and Sirius XM Radio, Channel 128, at 7:30 p.m. EST. Qualifying will take place just hours before the green flag is scheduled to drop at the Arizona track on Friday afternoon and will be broadcast on SPEED Channel at 4:30 p.m. EST.
Mike Skinner on racing at Phoenix International Raceway
“What’s great about Phoenix [International Raceway] is that it is a great track for trucks—it’s a place like Richmond, Darlington and Loudon—there are just so many cool things and characteristics that the track has that you won’t find at any other track on our circuit. The big mile-and-a-half cookie-cutter tracks are good, but Phoenix [International Raceway] is just a big short track with its own personality.”
Crew Chief Stacy Johnson on competing at Phoenix International Raceway
“Phoenix [International Raceway] is always an exciting place to race. It has just the right mix of short track and intermediate characteristics. You have to have every piece of the puzzle, brakes, downforce and handling to be successful there.”
