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November 16, 2007
Skinner or Hornaday - who will win it?
It all comes down to tonight, the final race of the season with Mike Skinner 29 points ahead of Ron Hornaday. Both have be very successful this season and I'm sure it'll go down to the final laps unless one of them runs into some bad luck and gets caught up in a wreck.
Skinner does have a slight advantage, he's 29 points ahead and he has the tendency to get the pole, so that could add up to more bonus points for him right away, but as we know, this is the truck series and anything can happen.
It'll also be interesting to see if teammates play any role in the title, Skinner has teammate Johnny Benson and Hornaday has teammate and owner, Kevin Harvick. Skinner actually complained about both last week, Harvick because he drove through his pit stall and "threw off" his (Skinner's) pit crew's momentum and Benson, for not "giving" him a position at the end of the race. We all know Harvick will play interference if given the opportunity, but would Benson do the same for Skinner? I guess tonight will tell.
It should be an interesting race to say the least. Who will win the Championship? That's up for grabs, I think Skinner has a slight edge with the points lead, but I'll be hoping Hornaday can pull off the upset.
Your thoughts?
November 16, 2007 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | Permalink
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Comments
on the comments about the quality of the truck drivers.
Mike skinner in the last two seasons with his own team finishe d in the top fifteen in 99 and 2000.. he didnt fare so well in 2002 with morgan mclure in the 4 car but who has?
from 2002 -2004 hornaday jr did quite well in the busch series that never turned into a nascar ride.. you cant really kock a guy for not getting an oppurtunity or unlke skinner turning down bad ones
johnny benson meanwhile had three top 15 finishes in nascar and won the busch championship in 1995
ted musgrave have 5 top season in nascar and never drove busch ful time
ken schrader has 17 seasons finishing in the top 20 or beter in nascar
Todd bodine has 17 busch wins and came close to a busch championship
travis kapil was on the caterpillar eam... when was the last time they ran well
these may not be the cllection of the greatest drivers in the world but they are quite competitive and deserve respect and most of them arent content to run around the track finishinf near the end in sub par equipment when they can sign on for a chance to compete in decent equipment in a lower series
Posted by: Kevin | Nov 17, 2007 2:02:05 AM
Oh Yeah, congrats to BDR, Toyota and Benson for the win. I'm very happy to see Benson pass Kyle to win. Benson is a Truck guy and Kyle is not.
Posted by: Deb | Nov 16, 2007 10:18:24 PM
Keith,
LOL, you beat me to it. Congrats to Ron Hornaday and Team. Can you say " You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel. My pick was wrong, Have a great weekend all.
Posted by: SteveH | Nov 16, 2007 10:17:22 PM
That Was Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Awsome. I'm so excited for Hornaday and Harvick. If it's your time then it's your time and nothing will stand in your way.
Posted by: Deb | Nov 16, 2007 10:12:24 PM
Well we won the battle...and lost the war
Congrats to Kevin, Delana, and Ron...My weekend can't ANY worse...next your gonna tell me Edwards will win the Busch title and....wait a minute?! Crap!, NOW I know Gordo's doomed!
Posted by: Fan #5 | Nov 16, 2007 10:11:16 PM
Congrats to Ron Hornaday Jr - 2007 NCTS Champ!
Posted by: Barb g | Nov 16, 2007 10:02:57 PM
SteveH,
LOL, never bet against the Sr. Chief. It was Hornaday with the flip of a coin.
Posted by: Keith | Nov 16, 2007 10:02:52 PM
Kath,
Oh yeah, this is not just Skinner and Hornaday, but this is also about Pit Crew vs Pit Crew.
Posted by: Deb | Nov 16, 2007 7:51:37 PM
Kathy,
It was a great time. Thinking about it made me forget to make my prediction for tonights race. Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Dave Blaney will be in tonights race. I think Kyle has a good shot at winning tonight, but I think Skinner will bring home the Championship. Enjoy the race!
Posted by: SteveH. | Nov 16, 2007 7:50:41 PM
Sounds like you had a great time SteveH!
Posted by: Kathy | Nov 16, 2007 7:31:38 PM
If you ever get a chance to go to a truck race go! Went to Vegas on Sept. 22nd of 2007 and had a great time. When we arrived at the track we asked the usher where our seats were located, there was no section, row, or seat number on the tickets. He looked at us and said " You can sit anywhere you want". Well, shouldn't have to tell you where we sat, about 20 rows up, just past the start/finish line. Before the race they had all the drivers come down through the stands and be introduced to the fans. High fives flying everywhere, it was a blast and we have some awesome pictures to remember that day. The racing was side by side coming out of turn 4, what a great night. There was probably 60,000 race fans there just for a general note.
Posted by: SteveH | Nov 16, 2007 7:20:03 PM
Deb,
No I didn't hear them ask Benson that, but happy to hear that answer. Helping a teammate because you want to is one thing, the owner or whoever telling you to do this for a teammate is quite another thing.
Posted by: Kathy | Nov 16, 2007 7:07:26 PM
Kath,
Did you hear them ask Benson about team orders and he said No. That's the way it should be.
Posted by: Deb | Nov 16, 2007 6:49:14 PM
I saw that Deb, at least Skinner didn't get the pole this time. Congrats to Jon Wood for the great qualifying run.
Posted by: Kathy | Nov 16, 2007 6:33:16 PM
Kath,
Well, Quals are over and Skinner is ahead of Hornaday and BDR has 4 Trucks up front. I think Skinner will have some help. Harvick is right there by Hornaday. This is going to be one hell of a race.
Posted by: Deb | Nov 16, 2007 6:25:56 PM
letting someone go by is not slowing down to let a teammate by for position.. depending on the track sometimes it can take 5 to 10 laps to get past a slower car .
johnny benson was faster and in that race skinner should of been the one letting bensongo sense they were teammates.
letting a slower car pass you just for point is really unethical and smacks at the integrity of the race.
it absolutel common sense if your teammate has a faster car...let him go if he then form a line and see who else can be passed for position using whatever draft is available at a track
Posted by: Kevin | Nov 16, 2007 5:52:01 PM
Deb,
I agree. The thing is with the Trucks is they always put on a good race and I love those close finishes too.
Posted by: Kathy | Nov 16, 2007 5:39:42 PM
DJ,
It just so happens that Robby Gordon and Mike Skinner are 2 of my favorite drivers along with Stewart and Harvick. That's why I mentioned to you that your description described Harvick. Sorry I didn't mean for you to take offense. I also like some of the really nice guys like Yeley and Stremme. I hope you have a great weekend also.
Posted by: Diane | Nov 16, 2007 5:20:52 PM
Kath,
It's going to be real interesting. Harvick is going to help Hornaday all he can. Benson may help Skinner only if he has a problem and can't run up front. We all know that if Benson can go for the gold than he will put Skinner out to dry and that's the way it should be. Benson has to go for everything he can get. I think Skinner is going to have to race his own race, while Hornaday has alittle help with Harvick. It's going to be a real good race. Quals are going on now. I'm pulling for Hornaday.
We'll see where he Quals.
J2
You should watch more Truck races. These guys can drive. Very exciting racing and I'm being nice to you. I'll let Gretchen chew on you.
Posted by: Deb | Nov 16, 2007 5:16:50 PM
Jon2,
When all is said and done, all sports fall under one word...Entertainment.
Think of your first Cup experience. Before you even had a driver. Since you are posting on here, I guess one of them entertained you and made you a racing fan. What if that first race had been a truck race? You might be a truck fan scoffing at the CON. NASCAR's point in creating the truck series wasn't to give "has been" drivers a place to go. It was to generate interest in racing from another demographic, truck people.
Me, I'm not a truck person. But, I can certainly appreciate the courage and skill involved in driving a fast ca..truck around a race track. I did my Kathy coin flip, so now I have a horse in the race. Under the old gods of racing, I'm almost obligated to watch, and I will. I'll be watching for that one word all sports promise to deliver...Entertainment!
Posted by: Keith | Nov 16, 2007 4:44:47 PM
Couldn't go to the coast yet.
Diane,
Thanks for your interest.You are just like the spelling police.I could be more definative on what a #%&^%! he is.True,if you go by my brief description they could be the same.Just have a feeling if push came to shove Harvick would be a bad ass for about 5 seconds.You pull for who you like and I will do the same.Thanks again and you have a great weekend!
Posted by: DJ | Nov 16, 2007 3:39:15 PM
Such a hater of great racing with the banging,passing,fussing and actual close finishes are you Jon 2.Most of those drivers you named were either in bad equipment(Compton,Hornaday)AJ Foyt's attempt,2nd hand stuff from Roush(Benson,Musgrave),Hell Schrader is old and had a good career in Cup.Skinner and Bodine were not that bad either.They can drive,all of them.Just put them in some of that stout HMS stuff and all of them would do well.Do you think JJ talent outways the cars that he drives?Most of these guys were a victim of the prettyboy,marketable,corporate crap.
You just stick to your Cup ways as the seats empty and the TV ratings fall.You better open up,broaden your race buds and you might actually understand the roots of racing.Been fun boys and girls.
Posted by: DJ | Nov 16, 2007 3:24:45 PM
Exile,
Thanks for the pscyhoanalysis.
Dead weight, that'd be me. I've said this before Exile, I'd be a good waterboy in the CUP series, but that's it. I absolutely have no mechanical talents like Kurt2. Airguns, air hoses, gas cans, air pressures, windshield tearoffs, unmarked black helicopters, all stuff that's too technical for me to grasp.
Posted by: Jon2 | Nov 16, 2007 3:12:39 PM
DJ wrote:
"Either way,Should be a good show as always.I'll be pulling for Skinner.Have been since he one a pole in the Busch race in Charlotte back in 1912.I pull for Robby Gordon as well so go figure.Hard racers,tell it like it is and create choas and mayhiem.Gotta like that........"
Sounds to me like your last sentence described Kevin Harvick perfectly. Can't understand why you don't like him.
Posted by: Diane | Nov 16, 2007 3:07:53 PM
LOL
dj
that's NOT how it's gonna go tonight.
Posted by: exile | Nov 16, 2007 3:03:10 PM
Now on to trucks.
I see such former CUP drivers like:
blah
blah
blah
who just couldn't cut it.
Posted by: Jon2
well,
there seems to be one name missing... jon2.
oh, you never raced a cup car, a busch car, a truck, or a even tricycle?
so, you're just dead weight around a race track.
Posted by: exile | Nov 16, 2007 3:00:37 PM
I hope he tries to block also.Then Skinner puts his ass into the back of Hornaday and they both crash into any other cup drivers that like to drop down into other series.Now that would be cool.........
Posted by: DJ | Nov 16, 2007 2:56:42 PM
ahhh yes!
jon, that would make a memorable race.
god i hope kevin has the balls to spin skinner.
maybe the team owner will tell him..."kevin if you want to sleep on my end of the motor home for the rest of the weekend, you had better take that whinney little bastard out by lap 10."
it'll be like a local saturday night race!!
Posted by: exile | Nov 16, 2007 2:52:35 PM
Thank you Gretchen for your acknowledgement of that premier org especially now that your boy recognized the wonderful opportunities to be gained by hanging his shingle there.
I'll be certain to move my head a tad over so that there'll be extra room for you up Rick's hiney (see Jon's flattering comment above) when Junior, orchestrated by the efforts of Rick H., wins his first championship, courtesy of the HMS group.
By the end of the first quarter of 2008, you'll be my best friend. All of you Junior fans will be. By then you'll have experience the Hendrick Magic, then you'll appreciate why I'm so enthusiastic when it comes to singing the praises of HMS. It's all about victory and lesser souls cannot relate to it until they have experienced it.
Now on to trucks.
I see such former CUP drivers like:
Mike Skinner
Travis Kvapil
Todd Bodine
Johnny Benson
Ted Musgrave (?)
MIke Bliss
Ken Schrader
Stacy Compton (?)
who were CUP racers at one time, and some for a very long time, who just couldn't cut it.
I guess that's why the winner only gets around 25grand a win.
Posted by: Jon2 | Nov 16, 2007 2:52:34 PM
I hope Harvick blocks Skinner for Hornaday if necessary and if it comes down to it he takes out Skinner to preserve the championship for Ron Hornaday and for Kevin Harvick Racing.
Posted by: Jon | Nov 16, 2007 2:43:40 PM
jon2
i like the cup races. but then, since i'm a real race fan i like the trucks too.
not too many years ago the media covered 1 race a year. it was broadcast at closed circuit movie theaters or on the radio.
do you think in the old days fans whinned like little children when the king won by 7 laps?
here's what i think...
some kids wander around the house on a sunny day and complain how "bored" they are. that is you. bored kids grow up to become bored adults. that is you jon2.
if you have half a brain you woulda noticed that recently...
jack has expanded to 7 teams.
dei has expanded to four teams.
ray has a girlfriend.
penske expanded to 3 teams.
when joey gets some more experience jgr will go to 4 teams, kinda 4.5 if you count hof.
chip can't hit his ass with both hands so he has fallen back to his old standby... hire a foreign driver. then nobody realizes you run a cheap ass 3rd tier team.
mikey's teams will have the same success he has had in nascar. like bush, mikey right now is all hat, no cattle.
Posted by: exile | Nov 16, 2007 2:40:56 PM
The best strategy for dethroning HMS is for Kyle Busch to take his revenge, and wreck JJ and JG on lap 1 Sunday, thus rendering JG the 2007 champ, but at least someone else wins the race, and I don't have to vomit Sunday afternoon.
Back on topic----I am going to watch this race tonight. And next year, i'll follow it more closely. Gonna pull for Ron. But I hope it's a good race. not one of those that's decided 50 laps into it.
Posted by: Gretchen | Nov 16, 2007 2:35:06 PM
Great post Gretchen. :)
Posted by: Kathy | Nov 16, 2007 2:31:07 PM
Kathy,I understand that it was not a rule breaker.Just an owner,that happens to be a driver,that got into a race just to be a pinhead.Like I said,we all might have done it.Like the late Bobby Hamilton stated @ I believe it was Martinsville or Richmond when fivehead wrecked Bobby after he took over for Sr....."He ain't even a pimple on Sr's butt".That was funny,no matter who you pull for!All the opinions and favorite drivers vs. hated ones make for good banter on your topics.Enjoy the weekend of racing!
Posted by: DJ | Nov 16, 2007 2:30:58 PM
NASCAR hasn't marketed the Truck series correctly, so a lot of people don't know about it and the good racing there. No racing fan I know of that has watched the Trucks has categorized them in the same league as IRL or Champ series.
Posted by: Kathy | Nov 16, 2007 2:30:01 PM
I don't know, never really been interested in the Junior Varsity stuff. I'm certain some people enjoy that thing, but not me.
I do recall that I believe it was Mark Martin who raced a few times in that series either in 2005 or 2006 and won almost every time. Indicated to me ain't much talent down there in that series when an outsider can come in very part time and blow the field out.
I think a good point to discuss instead of a group of drivers who're has-beens (Cup rejects), Skinner, Benson, etc., would be on the topic of who of the other teams has the best strategy to dethrone HMS in 2008.
Most of the race blogs I peruse categorize the CTS series right along with the IRL, and Champ series as being non-news/topic worthy.
Posted by: Jon2 | Nov 16, 2007 2:19:33 PM
THAT RIGHT THERE IS WHAT IS MY ISSUE WITH HMS fans. It's ALL about winning, wins, titles, bs team orders, sponsorship, cookie cutter answers, marketabilty, eye-brow waxing, model marrying, playboy model screwing around on your wife, hosting Regis and Kelly, bulldust, POPPYCOCK......
I love racing. As in I will watch cans go down a stream ( after i emptied them-lol). I have done a little boat racing on the river....I LOVE RACING!!
The truck series is full of guys that love to race. It sure ain't about the money in there. It's about the racing. So I guess I missed out this year. I truly hate that. Next year, will be different. I will watch the trucks. Prolly not the Insurance cars, because of the Cup overload. But I was just searching around the web about the Trucks, and boy i have missed out on some good racing. That sux.
Kathy, all he's capable of doing is praising HMS- you could write a g*****n blog about World Cup Soccer and he'd talk about how great Diaper Dad, and Puff Boy are AT PLAYING SOCCER, and that HMS could sponsor a soccer team next season with all the money they've acquired in wins from year to year. You know Kath, they ARE the premier organization in Nascar......
Posted by: Gretchen | Nov 16, 2007 2:17:22 PM
I'm a chevy man, but in the truck series I gotta take SKINNER and that TOYOTA...I'm not that big on the truck series,but damn they have been exciting this year...hey kurt2, " De plane! De plane! "
Posted by: earnhardt nation | Nov 16, 2007 2:11:59 PM
Jon2,
This post has to do with the battle for the championship in the Truck series, not Cup, not HMS.
There is nothing wrong with the Truck series, it has great racing and great championship battles year after year and these guys enjoy it too.
I watch all three series regularly and the trucks have usually got the best racing, you should give these guys who you say were "kicked out" a chance and watch a race or two before you try to knock it down and say it's not worth your time.
Posted by: Kathy | Nov 16, 2007 1:54:29 PM
Jon2,
What the hell has you comment to do with the topic at hand? You have your head stuck so far up Rick Hendrick's ass you can't see straight. We are all getting pretty tired of you bring up HMS, Rick Hendrick or your beloved Jeffy "Boy Wonder" Gordon into every post Kathy writes, get a clue.
Posted by: Jon | Nov 16, 2007 1:47:38 PM
Keith,
You really should give the Trucks a shot, good racing there. Start of the season is slow, because they race less than the other series with just about a month inbetween the first few races, then weeks and then it picks up.
Posted by: Kathy | Nov 16, 2007 1:41:32 PM
here's how i hope they finish tonight...
benson wins
delana's teams 2nd and 3rd
skinner 29th
I could definitely go with that Exile. :)
Posted by: Kathy | Nov 16, 2007 1:36:46 PM
So this is what it's come down to.
Boring CUP series has made all of us discuss the series where most of the drivers who got kicked out of the CUP series and those who'll never see the inside of a CUP car now requires our attention.
Is anybody aware of any of the teams planning to do things differently next year in order to overtake the HMS leviathan? That'd be a great topic. How do you stop these guys? Surely someone out there has heard something about a team(s) strategy to seriously take these guys on. And with Junior coming on board, ya can kiss goodbye many of the other teams chances in the near future to win at the restictor tracks as well as many of the short track.
What should these teams do, change, etc., to do battle with these guys? This org has won over 50% of the 2007 races. Who has the best arsenal to really and effectively combat these guys next year and why?
Posted by: Jon2 | Nov 16, 2007 1:35:57 PM
You're missing the boat Gretchen. The truck races are ten times better than the Cup races. IMHO of course. ;-)
No offense to those who disagree.
Posted by: Barb g | Nov 16, 2007 1:32:14 PM
Kathy,
Perhaps I will spend more time with it, in what, 10 weeks? The start of the new season. I have blogged that the Busch races might be the best bang for the racing buck. But, maybe, I'll give the trucks a go. The Cup races have just gotten out of hand, pricewise, for this old retired salt.
Posted by: Keith | Nov 16, 2007 1:30:55 PM
I'm ashamed to admit that I don't follow the truck series too closely. But I'll be watching this one. Maybe I should have watched this series all year.
I like Hornaday though. Both were $hitty cup drivers, but hell, to hear SOME UPSCALE PEOPLE, there are only 2 good cup drivers in existence. Anyway, I guess I'll say Hornaday. Besides, he drives for Happy, and I am partial to RCR/DEI so.......
I can't recall who said it to me but in response..."yes" that Black 07 car looks better and better to me each day........
Posted by: Gretchen | Nov 16, 2007 1:24:41 PM
Hey Kurt2 & Fan#5,
I'm still working on it, just have to
dig deeper into the internet. Got there
a few weeks ago, found a lot on Kurt2
but I'm having problems finding my way
back there, but will eventually. Fan#5
those clues aren't easy. ha
By the way, I have to pull for Hornaday
tonight and hope Kevin is on stand-by in
case he needs help.
Posted by: Race Fan | Nov 16, 2007 1:24:34 PM
kevin kinda reminds me of that skinny kid in school who f'ed with others right up to the point of getting his ass kicked.
now he has delana to cover his backside he doesn't have to be so sneaky.
hey
J/K
kinda
i think it's "teammate"
i spell it "team mate" it looks better but isn't correct.
Posted by: exile | Nov 16, 2007 1:23:04 PM
It's tough to call. I'm a long time Hornaday fan since the #16 NAPA Chevy days so I'll be cheering for Ron.
Posted by: Barb g | Nov 16, 2007 1:20:01 PM
yeah kathy
the announcers called benson's move absurd.
lol
absurd to be a hard core racer?
maybe benson should retire and head to the booth where the absurd upscale media biotchs hang out.
Dave Rodman: That was payback, I guess for Mike kinda doing the same thing to Johnny last year.
back in the old days, i don't think skinner woulda let Sr go by for any reason.
here's how i hope they finish tonight...
benson wins
delana's teams 2nd and 3rd
skinner 29th
Posted by: exile | Nov 16, 2007 1:09:45 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
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