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Camping World Trucks
TRUCKS: On Cusp Of 400th Race, Truck Series Opened Door For Many
Some of the top stars in the Sprint Cup Series got their big break in the Camping World Truck Series...
Carl Edwards competed in the Truck Series from 2002 through 2007. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Sixteen years, 10 different champions and 69 different winners.
NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series will hit a notable milestone this weekend when the field takes the green flag for Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway.
It will be the 400th race in series history, and that noteworthy mile-marker isn’t lost on several Sprint Cup Series drivers.
“That’s huge,” Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards said. “If it weren’t for the truck series I wouldn’t be here.”
Through the years, the series, which debuted in 1995 with a 20-race schedule, has paved the way for a number of today’s Cup drivers. For others, it has provided a landing after their Cup careers have either ended or bogged down.
Edwards, who competed in the series from 2002-07, scored six wins in 60 starts as he honed his skills on the way to Cup, where he has won 19 times and quickly become a championship contender.
“[Team owner] Mike Mittler reluctantly hired me to drive his truck in 2002,” Edwards said. “I ran seven races for Mike, so if NASCAR hadn’t come up with the Truck Series and guys like myself didn’t get those opportunities, this sport would look a lot different today.
“One of my biggest wins in my career, hands-down, was the truck win at Kansas in 2004. That was a spectacular win and it meant a lot to me.”
Likewise, Roush Fenway teammate Greg Biffle was able to use the series to help ease his way into Cup competition, driving for team owner Jack Roush for three full seasons between 1998 and 2000. Biffle finished in the top 10 in points all three years, capturing the title in 2000 after a runnerup finish the previous year.
His 16 career victories remain eighth on the series’ all-time win list.
Biffle, who has a Nationwide Series title to go along with his truck championship, is scheduled to drive the pace truck this weekend at Kansas.
“I’m more nervous about that than racing here on Sunday night for 600 miles,” Biffle said prior to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. “Hopefully, I won’t make any mistakes.
“I learned so much in the Truck Series. They gave me my start and gave me my opportunity. I really miss the truck series and all the people there, so I’m looking forward to going back and getting an opportunity to visit with the officials and spend a little time with them before bringing the field down to the green.”
Neither Edwards nor Biffle continue to race in the support division. The same can’t be said for Kevin Harvick, a nine-time series winner.
Harvick not only continues to compete when his schedule allows, but his Kevin Harvick Inc. team is a two-time championship winner with driver Ron Hornaday (2007, 2009).
“The Truck Series is the reason I am where I am today,” Harvick said. “We support our truck program mainly for Ron Hornaday to keep him busy and keep him part of the series. That’s the biggest reason we do it.
“We want to win races and we want to be competitive but Ron is the biggest reason.”
Hornaday, winless thus far in 2011, is the series leader in career victories with 47. In addition to his two titles with KHI, he also earned titles in 1996 and ’98 while driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc.
SceneDaily.com • PHOTO GALLERY: A colorful look back at this year's Coca-Cola 600 festivities
NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series will hit a notable milestone this weekend when the field takes the green flag for Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway.
It will be the 400th race in series history, and that noteworthy mile-marker isn’t lost on several Sprint Cup Series drivers.
“That’s huge,” Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards said. “If it weren’t for the truck series I wouldn’t be here.”
Through the years, the series, which debuted in 1995 with a 20-race schedule, has paved the way for a number of today’s Cup drivers. For others, it has provided a landing after their Cup careers have either ended or bogged down.
Edwards, who competed in the series from 2002-07, scored six wins in 60 starts as he honed his skills on the way to Cup, where he has won 19 times and quickly become a championship contender.
“[Team owner] Mike Mittler reluctantly hired me to drive his truck in 2002,” Edwards said. “I ran seven races for Mike, so if NASCAR hadn’t come up with the Truck Series and guys like myself didn’t get those opportunities, this sport would look a lot different today.
“One of my biggest wins in my career, hands-down, was the truck win at Kansas in 2004. That was a spectacular win and it meant a lot to me.”
Likewise, Roush Fenway teammate Greg Biffle was able to use the series to help ease his way into Cup competition, driving for team owner Jack Roush for three full seasons between 1998 and 2000. Biffle finished in the top 10 in points all three years, capturing the title in 2000 after a runnerup finish the previous year.
His 16 career victories remain eighth on the series’ all-time win list.
Biffle, who has a Nationwide Series title to go along with his truck championship, is scheduled to drive the pace truck this weekend at Kansas.
“I’m more nervous about that than racing here on Sunday night for 600 miles,” Biffle said prior to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. “Hopefully, I won’t make any mistakes.
“I learned so much in the Truck Series. They gave me my start and gave me my opportunity. I really miss the truck series and all the people there, so I’m looking forward to going back and getting an opportunity to visit with the officials and spend a little time with them before bringing the field down to the green.”
Neither Edwards nor Biffle continue to race in the support division. The same can’t be said for Kevin Harvick, a nine-time series winner.
Harvick not only continues to compete when his schedule allows, but his Kevin Harvick Inc. team is a two-time championship winner with driver Ron Hornaday (2007, 2009).
“The Truck Series is the reason I am where I am today,” Harvick said. “We support our truck program mainly for Ron Hornaday to keep him busy and keep him part of the series. That’s the biggest reason we do it.
“We want to win races and we want to be competitive but Ron is the biggest reason.”
Hornaday, winless thus far in 2011, is the series leader in career victories with 47. In addition to his two titles with KHI, he also earned titles in 1996 and ’98 while driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc.
SceneDaily.com • PHOTO GALLERY: A colorful look back at this year's Coca-Cola 600 festivities
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