Drivers Remain Busy During Break
Though the next race for the Camping World Truck Series isn’t until May 9th at Kansas Speedway, many series regulars are competing on track this week.
More than a dozen teams spent Monday and Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway testing for their upcoming race on Friday, May 16th. Teams tested from 1 to 9 pm each day to prepare for the fourth race on the 2014 schedule. This session will give competitors extended track time as they prepare to compete on a 1.5-mile track for the first time this season with the new truck body designs.
Timothy Peters and Jeb Burton are also competing in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown Thursday night, April 24th at South Boston Speedway. Both Peters and Burton have won many times at the track in late-model stock cars.
Peters and Burton are joining over 40 other drivers participating in the annual fundraising event for Hamlin’s foundation. Kyle Busch, who won the season-opening truck race at Daytona, is also competing in the charity event.
Also seeing duty this week is Ryan Blaney, competing in the Nationwide Series race on Friday night at Richmond International Raceway. After he goes for his second Nationwide Series win, Blaney will then prepare for his début in the Sprint Cup Series for Team Penske at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, May 10th.
Blaney tested at Charlotte in his truck for Brad Keselowski Racing and tested for Team Penske at Nashville.
Tight Points Battle Heading into Kansas
Timothy Peters and Johnny Sauter enter the STP 250 at Kansas Speedway tied for the lead in the point standings. Both drivers are four points ahead of defending champion and the most recent race winner, Matt Crafton (82-78 points). Peters officially holds the tiebreaker for the top spot, thanks to a top finish of second at Daytona. Sauter’s best finish is third, also at Daytona.
Ben Kennedy holds the early lead in the Rookie of the Year race with a nine-point advantage over Tyler Reddick. (29-20 points).
Peters will go after his first win at Kansas Speedway on Friday, May 9th. Peters and Sauter share the longest streak among active series drivers with at least one win in five consecutive seasons. In six previous starts at Kansas, Peters has one top-five finish.
Sauter has one win at Kansas in five starts and has finished in the top-ten in four of his five starts.
Kennedy and Reddick are both making their first career start at the 1.5-mile track.
Entitlement Sponsor at Gateway Motorsports Park in June
Gateway Motorsports Park landed an entitlement sponsor for its race on June 14th. NASCAR’s return to the St. Louis area features ‘Drivin’ for Lineman 200,’ named to help raise awareness for the Linemen of America and the electrical industry.