Friday, July 29, 2011
Weather in the area...
The weather around the LOR area is pretty volatile right now. There are thunderstorms with a lot of lightning just south of the track, but as of now there is no rain coming down at the speedway. The teams have covered the trucks on pit road just in case some rain does fall. But as of now we're dry and still on schedule for a 7:45 PM Eastern green flag.
Consecutive starts...
Matt Crafton will be making his 259th consecutive NCWTS start tonight, the most among any driver in the field. David Starr has the second longest streak at 201 races, dating back to 2002 when he was injured in a testing crash at Milwaukee. Ron Hornaday has been in 162 straight races, with Todd Bodine the only other over 100 at 162. Jason White's 87 straight starts is good for fifth best among active drivers.
Short track attack
This is the third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race of the 2011 season on a track less than one mile in length. The ThorSport Racing team has had the best season to date on the short tracks, taking both wins at Martinsville with Johnny Sauter and at Iowa with Matt Crafton. Sauter has scored the most points on the short tracks this season with 89. Austin Dillon has 82, Crafton 81, Cole Whitt 76 and Timothy Peters 72.
LOR Quick Facts
There have been 16 previous NCWTS races at Lucas Oil Raceway.
Eleven drivers have earned a pole here: Mike Skinner (95, 96), Jimmy Hensley (97), Randy Tolsma (98), Dennis Setzer (99), Joe Ruttman (00, 01), Terry Cook (02, 03), Jack Sprague (04), David Ragan (06), Bobby East (08), Colin Braun (09), and Timothy Peters (10). David Ragan was the youngest in 2006 at 20 years, 7 months, 11 days; Joe Ruttman was the oldest at 56 years, 9 months, 6 days in 2001.
Eleven drivers have won a race here: Mike Skinner (95, 96), Ron Hornaday (97, 07, 09, 10), Jack Sprague (98, 01), Greg Biffle (99), Joe Ruttman (00), Terry Cook (02), Carl Edwards (03), Chad Chaffin (04), Dennis Setzer (05), Rick Crawford (06), and Johnny Benson, Jr. (08). The youngest winner was Carl Edwards in 2003 at 23 years, 11 months, 17 days; the oldest was Joe Ruttman at 55 years, 9 months, 6 days in 2000.
Most NCWTS starts at LOR: Dennis Setzer - 14
Most Poles: Terry Cook, Joe Ruttman, Mike Skinner - 2
Most Wins: Ron Hornaday - 4
Most top-fives: Hornaday - 8
Most top-tens: Setzer - 9
Most lead lap finishes: Setzer - 13
Most laps completed: Setzer - 2,749
Most laps led: Hornaday - 505
Best average start: Hornaday - 6.000
Best average finish: Travis Kvapil 3.400
Eleven drivers have earned a pole here: Mike Skinner (95, 96), Jimmy Hensley (97), Randy Tolsma (98), Dennis Setzer (99), Joe Ruttman (00, 01), Terry Cook (02, 03), Jack Sprague (04), David Ragan (06), Bobby East (08), Colin Braun (09), and Timothy Peters (10). David Ragan was the youngest in 2006 at 20 years, 7 months, 11 days; Joe Ruttman was the oldest at 56 years, 9 months, 6 days in 2001.
Eleven drivers have won a race here: Mike Skinner (95, 96), Ron Hornaday (97, 07, 09, 10), Jack Sprague (98, 01), Greg Biffle (99), Joe Ruttman (00), Terry Cook (02), Carl Edwards (03), Chad Chaffin (04), Dennis Setzer (05), Rick Crawford (06), and Johnny Benson, Jr. (08). The youngest winner was Carl Edwards in 2003 at 23 years, 11 months, 17 days; the oldest was Joe Ruttman at 55 years, 9 months, 6 days in 2000.
Most NCWTS starts at LOR: Dennis Setzer - 14
Most Poles: Terry Cook, Joe Ruttman, Mike Skinner - 2
Most Wins: Ron Hornaday - 4
Most top-fives: Hornaday - 8
Most top-tens: Setzer - 9
Most lead lap finishes: Setzer - 13
Most laps completed: Setzer - 2,749
Most laps led: Hornaday - 505
Best average start: Hornaday - 6.000
Best average finish: Travis Kvapil 3.400
AAA Insurance 200 Starting Grid
1. Dillon
2. Sadler
3. Coulter
4. Sauter
5. Hornaday
6. Kligerman
7. Buescher
8. Crafton
9. Whitt
10. Gaughan
11. Piquet, Jr,
12. Starr
13. Long
14. White
15. Chastain
16. Peters
17. Paludo
18. Bodine
19. Arpin
20. R. Sieg
21. Armstrong
22. Rogers
23. S. Sieg
24. Lofton
25. Richards
26. Smith
27. Carmichael
28. Crum
29. Papis
30. Martins
31. Garvey
32. Peck
33. Benning
34. Moxley
35. Queen
36. Cobb
DNQ: Latterty (withdrew after practice crash)
2. Sadler
3. Coulter
4. Sauter
5. Hornaday
6. Kligerman
7. Buescher
8. Crafton
9. Whitt
10. Gaughan
11. Piquet, Jr,
12. Starr
13. Long
14. White
15. Chastain
16. Peters
17. Paludo
18. Bodine
19. Arpin
20. R. Sieg
21. Armstrong
22. Rogers
23. S. Sieg
24. Lofton
25. Richards
26. Smith
27. Carmichael
28. Crum
29. Papis
30. Martins
31. Garvey
32. Peck
33. Benning
34. Moxley
35. Queen
36. Cobb
DNQ: Latterty (withdrew after practice crash)
Qualifying updates...
The trucks are set to roll for the pole. We'll go from slowest in practice to fastest, with Brad Queen set to be the first one out and Elliott Sadler set to go out last. Click refresh on this post to get the latest update.
Brad Queen out first. Lap time 25.025/99.685 pole so far.
Jennifer Jo Cobb spins out of turn two on her first lap. No contact. 26.399/93.549 second so far.
Track crew on track. All clear. Norm Benning out next.
Norm Benning times in at 23.821/103.673 to knock Queen of the pole.
Ricky Moxley goes out fourth and times in at 23.821/103.673 to knock Benning off the pole. That's three provisional pole-starters so far with only four taking time.
Mike Garvey goes to the pole with a lap of 23.717/104.128. Tommy Joe Martins is up next.
The current top-five: Garvey, Benning, Moxley, Queen, and Cobb.
Martins jumps to the top with a lap of 23.538/104.920. Garvey now second.
Second-generation driver Todd Peck out next. He is the first driver to not pick up time on his second lap, so his first lap at 23.812/103.712 will slot him third fastest so far. Martins, Garvey, Peck, Benning, and Moxley the top five.
Jake Crum jumps to the pole with a lap of 23.257/106.187, again his fastest lap coming on his first of two timed laps.
Jack Smith times in at 23.155/106.655 to move Crum to second. Max Papis up next.
Seven of the 10 drivers that have taken time have been on the provisional pole so far.
Papis times in at 23.282/106.073 to move into third on the grid so far. Smith, Crum, Papis, Martins, and Garvey are the top five.
Shane Sieg crosses the line to time in at 23.048/107.150 to move to the pole. He's the eighth driver to have the provisional pole. Steve Arpin up next.
Arpin goes to the pole with a lap at 22.956/107.580. He's the first driver to break into the 22-second bracket.
Ryan Sieg goes to second on the pylon with a lap at 22.969/107.519. Arpin, R. Sieg, S. Sieg and Smith are the top five.
Jason White jumps to the pole to become the tenth driver to have the provisional pole with a lap of 22.847/108.093. White, Arpin, R. Sieg, S Sieg and Smith the top five.
James Buescher was uncharacteristically off-pace in practice but laid down a hot lap to jump to the pole. His time was 22.622/109.168. White, Arpin, R. Sieg and S. Sieg are the top five.
Ricky Carmichael sits seventh at 23.192/106.486.
Dakoda Armstrong takes fifth on the provisional grid with a lap of 22.971/107.509. Buescher, White, Arpin, R. Sieg and Armstrong now the top five.
Ross Chastain makes his first NCWTS qualifying effort and moves to third on the provisional grid with a lap of 22.863/108.017.
Johanna Long moves to second with a lap of 22.826/108.192. Buescher, Long, White, Chastain, and Arpin now the top five.
Clay Rogers is the 20th driver to take time and moves to eighth on the provisional grid with an official lap of 23.002/107.365.
Miguel Paludo jumps to fifth on the pylon with a lap of 22.868/107.994. David Starr goes out next.
Starr moves to second with a lap of 22.776/108.430. Current top five is Buescher, Starr, Long, White, and Chastain.
"Kid Rocket" Josh Richards is out next and times in with a lap of 23.088/106.965 which is good enough for 12th so far. Twenty-three of the 37 drivers slated to make attempts have been on the track.
Justin Lofton jumps from 14th on his first lap to 12th on his second with a lap of 23.051/107.036. Buescher, Starr, Long, White, and Chastain remain the top five.
Two-time series champion Todd Bodine times in at 22.948/107.617 to sit seventh on the provisional grid.
Four-time series champion Ron Hornaday jumps to the pole with a time of 22.591/109.318. He's the eleventh driver to have the provisional pole.
Parker Kligerman becomes the highest qualified rookie with a lap at 22.617/109.192, good enough for second on the provisional grid so far. Hornaday, Kligerman, Buescher, Starr, and Long are the current top five.
Matt Crafton times in fourth fastest at 22.676/108.908. Hornaday, Kligerman, Buescher, Crafton and Starr now the top five. Long, White, Chastain, Paludo, and Bodine round out the top ten.
Cole Whitt, pole sitter at Darlington, moves to fifth on the provisional grid with a lap of 22.680/108.889. Hornaday, Kligerman, Buescher, Crafton and Whitt now the top five.
Johnny Sauter jumps to the pole with a 22.561/109.463 lap. Hornaday, Kligerman, Buescher, and Crafton now the top five.
Brendan Gaughan will make his 175th career NCWTS start after timing in seventh fastest at 22.693/108.827.
Nelson Piquet, Jr. times in at 22.767/108.473 to move to eighth on the provisional grid.
Timothy Peters, last year's pole sitter here, times in a disappointing 13th with a lap of 22.868/107.994. Sauter, Hornaday, Kligerman, Buescher, and Crafton are the top five. Whitt, Gaughan, Piquet, Starr and Long are the top ten.
Joey Coulter jumps to the pole with a lap of 22.551/109.512. Sauter, Hornaday, Kligerman, and Buescher now the top five.
Austin Dillon jumps to the pole with one driver left to run with a lap of 22.425/110.127. Only Elliott Sadler is yet to run.
Sadler was fastest in practice but can only do second best in qualifying with a lap of 22.544/109.546. Dillon, Sadler, Coulter, Sauter, Hornaday are the top five.
Brad Queen out first. Lap time 25.025/99.685 pole so far.
Jennifer Jo Cobb spins out of turn two on her first lap. No contact. 26.399/93.549 second so far.
Track crew on track. All clear. Norm Benning out next.
Norm Benning times in at 23.821/103.673 to knock Queen of the pole.
Ricky Moxley goes out fourth and times in at 23.821/103.673 to knock Benning off the pole. That's three provisional pole-starters so far with only four taking time.
Mike Garvey goes to the pole with a lap of 23.717/104.128. Tommy Joe Martins is up next.
The current top-five: Garvey, Benning, Moxley, Queen, and Cobb.
Martins jumps to the top with a lap of 23.538/104.920. Garvey now second.
Second-generation driver Todd Peck out next. He is the first driver to not pick up time on his second lap, so his first lap at 23.812/103.712 will slot him third fastest so far. Martins, Garvey, Peck, Benning, and Moxley the top five.
Jake Crum jumps to the pole with a lap of 23.257/106.187, again his fastest lap coming on his first of two timed laps.
Jack Smith times in at 23.155/106.655 to move Crum to second. Max Papis up next.
Seven of the 10 drivers that have taken time have been on the provisional pole so far.
Papis times in at 23.282/106.073 to move into third on the grid so far. Smith, Crum, Papis, Martins, and Garvey are the top five.
Shane Sieg crosses the line to time in at 23.048/107.150 to move to the pole. He's the eighth driver to have the provisional pole. Steve Arpin up next.
Arpin goes to the pole with a lap at 22.956/107.580. He's the first driver to break into the 22-second bracket.
Ryan Sieg goes to second on the pylon with a lap at 22.969/107.519. Arpin, R. Sieg, S. Sieg and Smith are the top five.
Jason White jumps to the pole to become the tenth driver to have the provisional pole with a lap of 22.847/108.093. White, Arpin, R. Sieg, S Sieg and Smith the top five.
James Buescher was uncharacteristically off-pace in practice but laid down a hot lap to jump to the pole. His time was 22.622/109.168. White, Arpin, R. Sieg and S. Sieg are the top five.
Ricky Carmichael sits seventh at 23.192/106.486.
Dakoda Armstrong takes fifth on the provisional grid with a lap of 22.971/107.509. Buescher, White, Arpin, R. Sieg and Armstrong now the top five.
Ross Chastain makes his first NCWTS qualifying effort and moves to third on the provisional grid with a lap of 22.863/108.017.
Johanna Long moves to second with a lap of 22.826/108.192. Buescher, Long, White, Chastain, and Arpin now the top five.
Clay Rogers is the 20th driver to take time and moves to eighth on the provisional grid with an official lap of 23.002/107.365.
Miguel Paludo jumps to fifth on the pylon with a lap of 22.868/107.994. David Starr goes out next.
Starr moves to second with a lap of 22.776/108.430. Current top five is Buescher, Starr, Long, White, and Chastain.
"Kid Rocket" Josh Richards is out next and times in with a lap of 23.088/106.965 which is good enough for 12th so far. Twenty-three of the 37 drivers slated to make attempts have been on the track.
Justin Lofton jumps from 14th on his first lap to 12th on his second with a lap of 23.051/107.036. Buescher, Starr, Long, White, and Chastain remain the top five.
Two-time series champion Todd Bodine times in at 22.948/107.617 to sit seventh on the provisional grid.
Four-time series champion Ron Hornaday jumps to the pole with a time of 22.591/109.318. He's the eleventh driver to have the provisional pole.
Parker Kligerman becomes the highest qualified rookie with a lap at 22.617/109.192, good enough for second on the provisional grid so far. Hornaday, Kligerman, Buescher, Starr, and Long are the current top five.
Matt Crafton times in fourth fastest at 22.676/108.908. Hornaday, Kligerman, Buescher, Crafton and Starr now the top five. Long, White, Chastain, Paludo, and Bodine round out the top ten.
Cole Whitt, pole sitter at Darlington, moves to fifth on the provisional grid with a lap of 22.680/108.889. Hornaday, Kligerman, Buescher, Crafton and Whitt now the top five.
Johnny Sauter jumps to the pole with a 22.561/109.463 lap. Hornaday, Kligerman, Buescher, and Crafton now the top five.
Brendan Gaughan will make his 175th career NCWTS start after timing in seventh fastest at 22.693/108.827.
Nelson Piquet, Jr. times in at 22.767/108.473 to move to eighth on the provisional grid.
Timothy Peters, last year's pole sitter here, times in a disappointing 13th with a lap of 22.868/107.994. Sauter, Hornaday, Kligerman, Buescher, and Crafton are the top five. Whitt, Gaughan, Piquet, Starr and Long are the top ten.
Joey Coulter jumps to the pole with a lap of 22.551/109.512. Sauter, Hornaday, Kligerman, and Buescher now the top five.
Austin Dillon jumps to the pole with one driver left to run with a lap of 22.425/110.127. Only Elliott Sadler is yet to run.
Sadler was fastest in practice but can only do second best in qualifying with a lap of 22.544/109.546. Dillon, Sadler, Coulter, Sauter, Hornaday are the top five.
Qualifying up next!
The trucks are gridded for qualifying and we're ready to roll for the pole for tonight's AAA Insurance 200! I'll do my best to give live updates throughout but it's a learning process so please bear with me! After qualifying I'll get another round of pictures, give a historical look-back at NCWTS racing at LOR, and countdown to the green for tonight's 200-lap clash here in Indianapolis.
A little gift...
During the break after qualifying, I ventured down to the infield to give Johnny Sauter a little reward for winning last year at Kansas Speedway (I was Johnny's PR rep in 2010, and his win at Kansas was my first ever as a PR rep).
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