Tuesday, April 5, 2005 | 9:13 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.
Casey Kingsland is hoping the third time is a charm.
Kingsland, a 20-year-old Las Vegas native, will take his third shot at making his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut Saturday night at Martinsville Speedway.
Each of the past two seasons, Kingsland attempted the Truck Series race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. In 2003, he just missed making the field despite receiving only limited practice time. Last year, Kingsland was unable to make a qualifying run because of mechanical problems.
This time, Kingsland virtually is guaranteed to make the starting field for the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway because the truck he will be driving is 30th in owner points and is guaranteed a spot in the 36-truck field.
"We've been in that situation a couple of times but this time they say (we're guaranteed to start the race)," Kingsland said Monday. "We haven't done too much preparation -- we haven't practiced any."
Kingsland will drive the No. 24 Speed Zone Energy Drink Dodge Ram, which is being fielded by TommyRaz Motorsports in partnership with Mighty Motorsports. Wayne Edwards piloted the truck in the first three races of the season and finished ninth in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
"I went to the Atlanta race and I watched them race and I watched how they worked together, so I've kind of got a head start there," Kingsland said. "I won't be meeting them for the first time when I get to Martinsville.
"I've been real worried about having no practice ... but they told me if I pass one guy, they'll be happy so I can't ask too much more than that. They just told me to go out there and get some exposure and some seat time."
Tom Ramirez, who formed TommyRaz Motorsports with Kingsland's father, Roger, said he would give Kingsland time in the truck to develop as a driver.
"I believe Casey has the talent to make it to the top," Ramirez said. "I am excited to be able to provide the opportunity for him to showcase that talent."
Roger Kingsland said the plan is for Casey to compete in the truck races at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis on April 30 and Mansfield Motorsports Speedway in Ohio on May 15 following this weekend's race.
Kingsland also will attempt to make his NASCAR Busch Series debut April 22 at Phoenix International Raceway.
BRIEFLY: After opening the season with three consecutive top-three finishes, defending NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch has been involved in wrecks in each of the past two races and has slipped from first to seventh in points. ... Dale Earnhardt Jr. jumped from 26th to 17th in points with his fourth-place finish Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway. ... Nextel Cup Series points leader Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to score a top-10 finish in every race this season. ... Kevin Harvick, who broke a 55-race winless streak Sunday at Bristol, has climbed from 26th to sixth in points since the season-opening Daytona 500. Harvick, who also won Monday's rain-delayed Busch Series race at Bristol, is fourth in that series' points standings despite competing in only four five of the seven races.
AT THE BULLRING: The 2005 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series opens Saturday night at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with racing in eight divisions.
Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Chargers, Legends Masters, Legends Pro, Legends Semi-Pro, Speed Trucks and Bullring Bombers will take to 3/8-mile paved oval Saturday night. Spectator gates open at 6 p.m., qualifying begins at 6:20 and racing starts at 7:20.
Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, military personnel and college students and $5 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and younger are admitted free.
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