Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Eldorado grad to make Truck Series debut Saturday

Tuesday, July 29, 2003 | 9:27 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Casey Kingsland is hoping to add his name to the growing list of drivers from Las Vegas who are finding success on NASCAR's national stage.

Kingsland, an 18-year-old Eldorado High graduate, will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut Friday night in the Power Stroke Diesel 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Kingsland has a five-race deal to drive the No. 66 MLB Motorsports Dodge and he is attempting to parlay the audition into a full-time ride next season in the Truck Series.

"It happened kind of fast, actually," Kingsland said of the deal that was put together by his father, Roger. "My dad was talking to (MLB) on the phone and we put together a test session and then we put together the funds and the next thing we know, we're going back there to race for them.

"Next year ... we hope to do a full season in Craftsman Trucks with MLB and the 66. If everything works out funding-wise, which is looking good, and they like what they see for the five races that we do, it's home free for next year. It's going to be a blast -- hopefully everything works out."

The No. 66 truck, which has been piloted by several drivers this season, will carry sponsorship from Spring Air Mattress and AmeriMist.

Kingsland, who has competed in a variety of divisions at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the past four years, is virtually guaranteed to make Friday's 200-lap race on the .686-mile oval. The No. 66 truck is 22nd in owners' points and likely would qualify for a provisional starting spot if he doesn't make the field on time.

"I'm just kind of happy that it's going to be a short track -- that's what I've grown up doing," Kingsland said. "It's not a superspeedway so I don't have to worry about all the things that I'm not really ready for, so I can work my way up to drafting and things like that.

"It's going to be a short track so it's more of a driver's racetrack rather than who has got the most money to do what they can with their motors and stuff. It's actually getting to prove what everybody's got and hopefully we can prove something."

Kingsland started racing as a 14-year-old and won the track championship and Rookie of the Year honors in Mini Stocks at The Bullring. He tried his hand at racing Late Models as a 16-year-old, but was involved in a bad accident and elected to move to the Mechanix Wear Speed Trucks Challenge, where he finished seventh in points and second in the Rookie of the Year standings last season.

He has competed in only three Speed Trucks races this season -- all at The Bullring -- and finished third in his last start.

"We just did a select few (Speed Trucks) races this year," he said. "I haven't been in a car since last year, when we finished the Mechanix Wear Speed Trucks, so that's why we did a couple races (this year)."

As far as going head-to-head against the "big boys" of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Friday night, Kingsland said he is relishing the challenge.

"We wanted to go in some good equipment so all the pressure would be on me so I could prove what I have," he said. "It's going to be pretty much up to me to show what I've got and that's what I like. We just hope it's not too much pressure."

If he performs well at IRP and at Richmond International Raceway the first weekend of September, Kingsland said he will compete in the Las Vegas 350 NCTS race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sept. 27. His final two races this season are scheduled for Oct. 31 at Phoenix International Raceway and the season finale Nov. 14 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

As far as his long-term goals are concerned, Kingsland said he one day would like to join fellow Las Vegas native Kurt Busch in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

"If it works out with the funding, the plan is to keep me in trucks for a couple of years until I get to know my stuff and maybe win a championship or Rookie of the Year or something," he said. "If that happens, then (the NASCAR Busch Series) comes around the corner and then Winston Cup. But I'm in no rush; I'm still a kid.

"If everything works out ... I'll be happier than heck. It's already like a dream come true -- just a little early."