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NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series
VODA: My Heart Is Truckin’
Not only does the Truck Series put on the best show in NASCAR – it does so within the coolest atmosphere in all of racing...
Krista Voda  |  Posted April 23, 2009   Charlotte, NC
Krista Voda is the host of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Setup. (Image: SPEED)

While I’m covering the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend at Talladega, a big part of me will be in Kansas with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Fortunately, this is the only Truck Series race I will miss all year and as much as I love the Cup Series, my heart is with the Trucks. Not only does the Truck Series put on the best show in NASCAR – in all of motorsports actually – it does so within the coolest atmosphere in all of racing.

The fact that the Truck Series championship goes down to the wire in the season finale at Homestead year after year is not by coincidence. It’s the same reason the fans never sit down, the outcome of the race usually is decided coming off Turn Four and the tow truck driver is the busiest guy on track property. The Truck Series is the best racing around, bar none, for several reasons.

We’ve got a diverse pool of drivers whose age, experience and talent range from one end of the spectrum to the other. Veterans and former champions, rookies and everyone in between mix it up without abandon. The veterans are unselfishly giving of their time and advice to the younger guys, something you won’t always find in the higher-profile, more stressful and “cutthroat” Cup garage. Personalities play a large role in the chemistry and popularity of a sport and the Truck Series covers all the bases.

Secondly, the Trucks put on the best show because our races are shorter than the Cup events. Drivers can’t simply ride around and bide their time the first two-thirds or so of the race. They are “pedal down” from the minute the green flag waves because it’s always time to go.

Finally, the number of tires available to Truck teams is limited, which forces crew chiefs to maximize their pit strategy throughout the race, as opposed to the Cup Series where drivers come down pit road each time the yellow waves. The crew chiefs must really plot out their game plan and make the tough calls that oftentimes can win or lose the race for their team.

But win or lose, the folks in the Truck Series are there because they love hard racing and being part of this family. These guys truly are close – they hang out in the motor home lot after the race concludes, drinking beer and grilling out. Many have been a part of the Truck Series for a majority of their careers and know nothing else. They’ve never really competed for monetary motivation, which is obvious because they’re fighting just to show up each weekend. Despite the economic downturn and the resulting fact many teams are unable to secure sponsorship, several Truck teams are still soldiering through on their own dime because their lives are so engrained in the series and they have such passion for it.

The struggles in the Truck Series are a great representation of what’s going on in the country right now, but what jumps out at me are passion and hope. We went into the season wondering if we’d have tiny fields and that hasn’t happened so far, despite limited funds. That dedication and passion for Truck racing gives me hope and shows us that the series still works despite all the obstacles it faces. There remains is a reason to keep fighting and trucking along despite the difficulties, and it will take a lot more than an anemic stock market to keep these guys away.

It’s that group of dedicated and passionate racers that makes me truly appreciate the opportunity I have to cover the Truck Series. I can’t express how grateful I am for our access to these drivers. No slam against the Cup garage, but I do not have to schedule ahead of time to get to a Truck driver because it’s more laidback and casual in the Truck garage. And rarely do we find a driver on the Truck side who hides from or doesn’t want to talk to us. There is less pressure so they’re willing to cut up with us and have some fun on our broadcasts, which is evident to the fans sitting at home.

But then again, something tells me the fans at home aren’t sitting...

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or Speed Channel

Krista Voda is the host of NCTS Setup, the popular pre-race program for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on SPEED. She also hosts The Speed Report and special events such as the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, in addition to serving as a pit road reporter for FOX Sports. Voda also covers the NFL and BCS for FOX and has reported on sporting events ranging from The Kentucky Derby to the NCAA Final Four. Visit Krista's official website at KristaVoda.net

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Krista Voda

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