Last weekend was a rough one for veteran race car driver and 1995 Nascar Camping World Truck Series Champion, Mike Skinner from Susanville, California. According to Eddie Sharp Racing:
“After an unfortunate turn of events at Daytona International Speedway, Mike Skinner missed the race at the famed 2.5-mile speedway. A string of problems started on the first day of Wednesday for the No. 45 Cushman / Paytas Homes Toyota Tundra when the starter shorted out and caused problems throughout the entire truck, including a minor fire. The team worked hard to restore the damage to the Tundra but struggled to find speed during the final practice. Troubles continued for the team when the No. 45 did not have a fast enough time to qualify for the event. Although Skinner is a past NCWTS champion (1995), a glitch in the paperwork disqualified the usage of the past-champion provisional, as Skinner was a last-minute addition to the team.”
Skinner hopes his luck will be better this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. If all goes well, he will be racing in the Nascar Camping World Truck Series and Sprint Cup Series races. He hopes to qualify for the truck race in his #45 Toyota Tundra sponsored by Cushman and Paytas Homes. If he is successful, it will be his 230th start in the NCWTS race. Mike Skinner has a great record in the Truck Series at the Phoenix Raceway. In 11 starts, he has 2 wins, 6 top-fives and 10 top-10s.
Mike Skinner on going to Phoenix International Raceway;
“If you look back in history, you can tell that I must like Phoenix International Raceway, or the track certainly likes me. I’ve had a ton of success there and have run well in all three divisions. I’ve had some victories in the NCWTS at PIR, and I love Phoenix and I cannot wait to get back. Last week at Daytona International Speedway was tough, but we are going to come back with the Eddie Sharp Racing team and honor our commitments to Cushman, Paytas Homes and Toyota. I think that we all learned a lot, and we are ready to go out to Arizona.”
Later, he will attempt to qualify for the Sprint Cup race driving the #32 Ford Fusion for new team FAS Lane Racing. FAS Lane is owned by veteran crew chief Frank Stoddard who won 14 races with Jeff Burton at Roush Racing. This will be the 262nd Sprint Cup Series start for Skinner. After a 15th place finish at Daytona with 2-time Series Champion Terry Labonte, the FAS Lane team was able to secure sponsorship from Gainey Suites Hotels.
The Lucas Oil 150 Truck Series qualifying can be seen live on SPEED at 2 pm and the race at 5pm on Friday, February 25, 2011. Qualifying for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sprint Cup race will be broadcast Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 12:30 pm on SPEED and the race is on FOX on Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 12:00 pm.
You can check on Mike’s progress on the track this weekend at: www.facebook.com/TeamESR or http://twitter.com/#!/TeamESR.