The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be taking its high energy tail gate party to Tennessee’s Thunder Valley for a special Wednesday night event at the always exciting, but treacherous, Bristol Motor Speedway. NASCAR’s national truck series was simply born to excite fans on a short track. Wednesday night’s race is expected to present just about any racing scenario you can name before the checkers falls on the O’Reilly 200. After all, it’s Bristol baby !
THE STORY BREAKDOWN
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[/media-credit]The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be bringing a skin tight points battle to Bristol Wednesday night. At this point in time there is only a 12 point separation between the top four drivers. Thorsport Racing’s Johnny Sauter sits on top of the standings at 519 points but it’s only a five point cushion over Turner Motorsports’ driver James Buescher. Third in the standings, and only eight points back, is Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon while Red Horse Racing driver Timothy Peters is 12 points from the top in fourth. Any combination of Bristol motorized mayhem could easily alter the course of this championship profile.
But the tightest points battle of all, in NASCAR’s truck series, is the owner’s points battle. Kyle Busch Motorsports and Kevin Harvick Inc are tied at 583 points each. It appears that this may be their latest run off between two Sprint Cup drivers,and truck series owners, who have a long history of running against each other. The tie in the owner’s standings is largely based on the red hot Kevin Harvick who has won the last two Camping World Truck Series races in a row. Harvick will be returning to his #2 Hunt Brothers Pizza/KHI Chevrolet for Wednesday’s race at Bristol. He will be part of a three truck team that also includes KHI team mates Ron Hornaday Jr and Nelson Piquet Jr.
Kyle Busch Motorsports will be strongly represented as well with Busch himself returning to his #18 Dollar General/Combos/KBM Toyota. Busch is defending race champion from 2010. He will be joined by KBM development driver Josh Richards who will be behind the wheel of the #51 Joy Mining Machinery Toyota.
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On a very sad note you will be hearing about NASCAR Camping World Series driver Shane Sieg who, last Monday, was placed on indefinite suspension by NASCAR officials for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. Known for having the most rigid substance abuse policy in all of professional sports, NASCAR has made it clear they have a zero tolerance policy for violators. It’s bad enough when a mechanic from a race team fails a random drug test, But when a driver fails a test it’s really serious not to mention extremely dangerous. NASCAR should be applauded for taking this strong stand. But there is a benevolent clause in the policy, known as “The Road To Recovery.” If this young driver can successfully complete an approved rehabilitation program he will be eligible for consideration for reinstatement. Here’s hoping Sieg does the right thing and takes advantage of that opportunity.
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On a much happier note congratulations and God bless goes to series regular Miguel Paludo and his wife Patricia who, on Monday, welcomed the arrival of their son. Oliver Paludo arrived weighing in at eight pounds three ounces. Mom and the baby are reported to be doing just fine.
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Fans of driver Jason White will notice a striking difference in the appearance of his #23 Gunbrokers.Com/Joe Denette Motorsports Chevrolet Truck. It will be sporting a striking new paint job created by Sam Bass, the official artist of NASCAR.
Jason White was rather busy on Tuesday where he spent the day in Bristol, Virginia participating in a special photo shoot with famed hair stylist Sherri Jesse. The photos will be featured in an upcoming addition of “Style Source” Magazine.
White will also have a special guest team mate to work with during Wednesday night’s Bristol race. NASCAR Nationwide Series regular Elliot Sadler will be behind the wheel of the #24 Joe Denette Motorsports Chevrolet with sponsorship provided by AM FM Energy along with Pellet and Wood Stoves.
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THE RACE BREAKDOWN
Wednesday night’s O’Reilly 200 is 200 laps/106.6 miles around the Bristol Motor Speedway’s tightly wound .533 mile concrete covered oval.
The race has 39 entries vying for the 36 starting berths. Yes, you read that right: 36 full sized racing trucks on a half mile oval. 14 of those entries are on the go or go home list meaning they will have to earn a starting berth based on qualifying speed because they are currently outside of the series’ top 25 in owner’s points.
Don’t be misled by the fact this race is 200 laps long. The laps fly by very quickly and, for the drivers and crew chiefs, it will be “GO” time the moment the initial green flag is dropped.
All aspects of the O’Reilly 200 will be carried live by the SPEED Channel beginning with qualifying scheduled for 5 pm eastern time. The pre-race set up show will begin at 730 pm eastern.
