Friday, July 11, 2003 | 9:33 a.m.
Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at [email protected] or (702) 259-4089.
When Toyota announced it would enter the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series next season, observers expected the automaker to be aggressive in its pursuit of teams to drive its Tundra trucks.
Apparently, Toyota hasn't had to go out of its way to make contact with NCTS teams.
According to Truck Series driver Brendan Gaughan of Las Vegas, the teams themselves are generating the calls of interest in driving under the Toyota banner in 2004.
"We got a call from Toyota and they said -- and this is a quote -- 'Every other team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has called; why haven't you?' " Gaughan said.
As it turns out, Gaughan said his Las Vegas-based Orleans Racing team is quite pleased with the Dodge trucks that carried him to two wins and Rookie of the Year honors last season and two more victories this season. Gaughan is second in NCTS points going into Saturday's race at Kentucky Speedway.
"We're very happy with Dodge," Gaughan said. "As far as (other teams contacting) Toyota goes, it seems like everybody wants something (but) I've already got what I want. Orleans Racing will be with Dodge next year."
Whether the teams that have contacted Toyota are genuinely interested in switching to the Tundra next season or are simply attempting to find out what the automaker is offering in order to get a better deal from their current manufacturer remains to be seen. Toyota officials have said they would like to field trucks for up to six Truck Series teams next season.
Bob Bexon, president and CEO of Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited, which markets the Player's brand, cited the Canadian government's impending ban on sponsorships by tobacco companies as the reason for his company's exit from the sport. Federal government legislation, introduced in 1997, set down a series of restrictions pertaining to the tobacco industry, including the banning of sponsorship activities as of Oct. 1, 2003.
"The Tobacco Act is currently under appeal by the three major Canadian tobacco manufacturers," Bexon said. "However, due to the legislation that will be in force as of Oct. 1, we have no other choice but to withdraw from motor sports sponsorship."
Paul Tracy and Patrick Carpentier of Las Vegas drive for Team Player's this season and another Las Vegas resident, Alex Tagliani, drove for Team Player's from 2000-2002.
"I think back to my karting days and my early years in racing and I realize that my career path would very likely have run into a big detour if not for the Player's racing program," said Carpentier, who in his sixth season with Team Player's.
"For me, the program came along at just the right time, And I was lucky enough that the people running the program saw the potential in me as a racecar driver to invest the time and money so that I could refine my skills."
Tracy, in his first season driving for Team Player's, has won three races this season and is the Champ Car World Series points leader.
"A couple of years ago, I'd probably have been in Victory Lane choking him -- but not this year," Harvick said of the incident. "I was mad and didn't agree with it. I still don't agree with it (and) I think a lot of people feel the same. But Richard (Childress) told me I was on the verge of having my best year in Winston Cup and not to let one situation change the way things are going right now.
"Sure, unfortunately, you have to have your guard up a little bit and treat (Gordon) a little bit differently, but the big picture is still what we're looking at right now."
Skinner will help team owner Billy Ballew evaluate the team during the next two Truck Series races as the replacement driver for Rich Bickle, who is 15th in the NCTS drivers standings.
"We plan to take a look at all the aspects of his operation and help the organization move forward," Skinner said. "We will evaluate everything from the chassis to the engines to the team and even the driver. I am willing to do anything within my power to help Billy and crew chief Gary Showalter achieve their goals."
Skinner won the NCTS championship in 1995 while driving for Richard Childress Racing. In three seasons in the Truck Series, Skinner compiled 16 victories, 15 poles and 41 top-10 finishes in 50 starts.
"I love the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series," Skinner said. "I still have a lot of friends in that garage area and I look forward to seeing them this weekend. Right now our plans are to run the next two races for Billy Ballew Motorsports in the VOKAL Clothing truck and if we get a chance to run a few more, then that would be great too."
Giaffone suffered a fractured leg and pelvis in an accident during the July 6 IRL race at Kansas Speedway. Giaffone was 11th in IROC points after two races. Sharp will start on the outside pole for Saturday's IROC race at Chicagoland Speedway.
Field, of Pocatello, Idaho, was running his jet car at nearly 260 mph when the parachute failed to deploy. He tried to apply the brakes and the car turned at a 90-degree angle and flipped.
"Jett had performed with us on several occasions during the last two years, with his most recent appearance taking place at The Strip on Saturday, June 14," Chris Blair, LVMS' director of drag racing operations, said. "We were joking at the last event that he had made so many runs at The Strip in the last two years that we should make him the official jet dragster of LVMS.
"He always went out of his way to make the show better. His last pass at LVMS was the last-minute match race we put together between his jet dragster and an alcohol funny car that brought the crowd to its feet. He was a good friend and a great racer. He will be missed."
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