Drivers, Malsam and Skinner Sit Inside the Top-Seven in Truck Series Championship Point Standings
STATESVILLE, N.C. (July 15, 2009) – As the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Kentucky Speedway this week to return to racing action, the 12th race of the 2009 season not only marks the halfway point of the 25 race schedule, but it also marks the one-year anniversary of NFL All-Pro Wide Receiver Randy Moss partnering with veteran owner David Dollar to form Randy Moss Motorsports. Last year’s event at the 1.5-mile oval was Moss’ first race as a NASCAR owner and one year later, the West Virginia native is proving some doubters wrong as his team is contending for wins every week and both of his drivers, Mike Skinner and Tayler Malsam sit inside the top-seven positions in the Championship Point Standings.
“I can’t believe that it has already been a year since I started this partnership with David (Dollar, co-owner),” said Moss. “It seems like time has passed very quickly. We’ve had our ups and downs but to have two talented drivers like Mike and Tayler in our trucks has been a huge plus for our race team this season. They both have made Randy Moss Motorsports a contender every race and that is truly all you can ask for. The wins will come when you run consistently up front.”
Co-owner David Dollar, who manages the day-to-day operations of the two-truck operation, agrees with Moss.
“It is definitely exciting to come to our one-year anniversary mark and head back to Kentucky, where our first race was last year,” said Dollar. “Together, Randy and I have been able to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. To get a win at Kansas this year with Mike (Skinner) was huge. It was our first win together and I think it proved that we are here to be competitive week in and week out. Mike and Tayler (Malsam) have done a great job for our program and to have them both in the top-seven in the Championship Point Standings says a lot about our organization and the people we have working at RMM.”
Skinner, driver of the No. 5 Toyota Tundra, has consistently run up front and contended for numerous wins in the first 11 races of the season. In April, Skinner and his team accomplished a major accolade as they weathered the storms and came home as the winner at Kansas Speedway in only their fourth race together. This was the first win for Moss as an owner and Skinner left with the Championship Point Lead in his hands. So far, Skinner has claimed four top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes.
Malsam, driver of the No. 81 One Eighty Toyota Tundra, has proven to his competitors that although he is a Raybestos Rookie, he can run up front and race with the veterans in this ultracompetitive series. The 20-year-old from Seattle, Washington has taken the field by storm, capturing five top-10 finishes, along with nine top-15 finishes. In addition, Malsam has claimed the Raybestos Rookie of the Race award twice this season.
“Mike’s win at Kansas was very exciting,” Moss said. “I was bummed that I couldn’t be there in person, but I talked to him after the race and I was very excited. And to have Tayler as a rookie come out of the gate and perform at such a high level is awesome. These two guys make a great pair for our organization and I couldn’t have asked for any more than the results that we are getting out of Mike and Tayler. Of course football is my number one priority, but I have enjoyed spending time at the track this season and seeing the guys in their element. It is like one big family and the teamwork is very impressive. Just like I’m in my element on the football field, they are in the zone when it comes to race time.”
Currently, Skinner sits third in the Championship Point Standings, while Malsam sits in the seventh position, the highest Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate in the Series’ standings. Also, Malsam is currently the leader of the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Point Standings, as he holds a one-point lead of Johnny Sauter.
“But as much as it’s nice to look back and see the accomplishments that we have achieved so far, we are looking forward to the future,” said Moss. “There are great opportunities for us and we are setting our goals high. Mike is in position for the championship and Tayler is in position to win the Rookie of the Year award. To be in position to win two trophies at the end of the season is something to be proud of.”
Randy Moss Motorsports will hit the track at Kentucky Speedway for their one-year anniversary this Saturday, July 18, 2009 for the running of the Built Ford Tough 225 presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers. The green flag will drop at the 1.5-mile track shortly after 7 P.M. Eastern. SPEED will have live coverage of the 150-lap race with pre-race coverage, beginning at 6:30 P.M. Eastern. Select affiliates of MRN Radio and Sirius-XM NASCAR Radio Channel 128 will also have the live radio broadcast, beginning at 6:30 P.M. Eastern.
-RMM-