Working toward First-Time Winner Record

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Working toward First-Time Winner Record

When Ty Dillon crossed the finish line at Atlanta Motor Speedway he became the sixth different first-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner this season, edging closer to the single-season record of seven winners captured in a season in both 1997 and 1998.

The year was kicked off with a victory from John King at Daytona, followed by James Buescher who is the only first-time winner that has collected more than one win this season. Interestingly enough, all on 1.5-mile tracks. Justin Lofton collected his first truck series win for Eddie Sharp Racing at Charlotte which placed him into the championship points lead.

The 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year winner, Joey Coulter collected his first win after 36 starts with Richard Childress Racing at Pocono Raceway. Following Coulter, Nelson Piquet Jr. picked up the win at Michigan becoming the first Brazilian driver to win in the truck series and only the second race winner in the series born outside the United States.

Gap Closes in Points Battle as the Series heads to Iowa 

Timothy Peters has held onto the NCWTS points lead for the seventh week in a row. With Ty Dillon’s Atlanta victory and James Buescher looking for redemption at Iowa Speedway, the nine-point differential between the top-three contenders could be altered after 200 laps in the American Ethanol 200 presented by Hy-Vee.

The top-five are separated by a mere 31 points. Parker Kligerman who finished fourth at Atlanta and is in fourth place is only 21 points behind Peters and still looking to secure his first NCWTS win. Justin Lofton, ranked fifth in points, captured a fifth-place finish at Iowa in July and is looking to secure his second win of the season. With one of the most competitive truck series seasons on hand and eight races remaining the points battle has just begun.

New Faces Seen Among Iowa Entries

The NCWTS is a series known for young guns and drivers making their debut or getting their big break. This weekend at Iowa Speedway will be just the beginning for some up and coming talent. Brad Keselowski Racing brings David Mayhew back to the series for his 2012 debut behind the wheel of the No. 19 RAM. Mayhew has eight previous starts and won the Keystone Light Pole Award at Iowa in 2011. Mayhew drove the No. 2 MMI Services Chevrolet for Kevin Harvick Inc., where he started from the pole and finished third overall.

The series welcomes a number of new faces including August Grill who will wheel the No. 4 Chevrolet for Turner Motorsports. Driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the No. 18 Toyota will be Drew Herring who will also make his series debut. He finished 11^th in the August 2011 Iowa NASCAR Nationwide Series race driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.