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TRUCKS: Carmichael Leaving KHI At End Of 2009
Written by: Jared Turner
SceneDaily.com   http://www.scenedaily.com
11/06/2009
Fort Worth, TX
 
Ricky Carmichael will leave Kevin Harvick Incorporated at the end of 2009 and race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Turner Motorsports next season. (Photo: LAT Photographic) ยป More Photos

Ricky Carmichael will have a new home next season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

The 15-time American Motorcyclist Association champion, who made his first foray into NASCAR this year driving for Kevin Harvick Inc., said Thursday he is leaving KHI for the new Turner Motorsports organization, where he’ll compete as a teammate alongside incoming driver James Buescher.

Buescher, who currently competes for Circle Bar Racing in the Truck series, plans to make at least 19 Truck starts for Turner Motorsports – which is debuting at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend - in addition to a full Nationwide Series campaign with Phoenix Racing.

Carmichael isn’t severing all ties with KHI co-owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick; he’ll be receiving equipment and technical support from KHI in his new endeavor with a fellow Chevrolet team.

Carmichael called his impending move “a great opportunity” and said he remains on good terms with the Harvick’s, who will once again field the No. 33 Truck of point leader Ron Hornaday in 2010.

“I think there would always be room there but we couldn’t give them the yes or no on our sponsor for next year when we needed it and I think Kevin wants to focus on the 33 and his Nationwide stuff as well,” Carmichael said after practice at Texas Motor Speedway. “We’re great friends. There’s no problems there. He needed to make a business decision and I understand that.”

The sponsor in question - Monster Energy drink – has had a lengthy relationship with Carmichael that began in his motorcycling days. Carmichael is still hopeful that he can carry the sponsor to his new ride.

“I’ve been with Monster for a long time, just about longer than any other athlete they have,” said Carmichael, noting that he could possibly make a few Nationwide and ARCA series starts next season in addition to his Truck plans. “It’s hard to get them over here on
this side. They’re a huge motorcycle sponsor and any kind of dirt racing. They’ve been very good to me and I hope that they’ll be along for the ride.”

Carmichael wants to run a full Truck schedule in 2010, sponsorship permitting. He’s competed on a part-time basis this year, sharing time in KHI’s No. 4 truck with Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and J.R. Fitzpatrick.

Carmichael has just two top-10s in 15 starts.

So what’s the 29-year-old’s assessment of his performance?

“I think you’ve got to be realistic,” he said. “I think I’ve done good at times and haven’t done good at times. You’d have to ask someone like Kevin that question. I’m not good about talking about myself. I always want to do better but at the same time you’ve got to be realistic.”

Carmichael admits that his transition from racing motorcycles on dirt to trucks on asphalt hasn’t exactly been a cakewalk.

“The biggest thing with the trucks is learning the air,” he said. “You’re wide open all the time so you’re depending on your aerodynamics and setup. It’s not like a short track where you can beat the guy getting on the throttle and braking; these mile-and-a-halves you’re wide open all the time.

“So it’s been a challenge, but I didn’t expect it to be easy.”




SceneDaily.com•Mike Skinner set for return to Randy Moss Motorsports in 2010
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