Mike Skinner
No. 5 International Truck/Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra
Homestead-Miami Speedway – Ford 200
November 19, 2010
The checkered flag at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday night marked not only the end of a night of racing, but also the conclusion of the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Mike Skinner brought home his No. 5 International Truck/Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra in the eighth position in arguably one of the most challenging seasons of his 24-year NASCAR career. The result marked Skinner’s 13th top-10 finish of the season and 144th top-10 result in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career.
Skinner ran 11th during the opening practice session at the mile-and-a-half track in Southern Florida. When rain postponed the final practice session the 53-year-old from Susanville, Calif., was back in his truck early the next day for the final practice session. A 32.689-second lap was again good enough for the 11th position, and left Skinner to line up 24th of the 38 trucks in the qualifying line. With a few minor adjustments to the International Truck/Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra, Skinner was able to run a 32.124-second lap to pick up a half-second and roll off 10th for the 200-mile race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Skinner struggled with the International Truck/Monaco RVs machine from the green flag to get the tight-handling machine to run the top of the racetrack. Despite his difficultly, the NCWTS veteran was able to pick up a couple positions before the caution flag was displayed to the field on lap 31. As the field was slowed, Skinner brought the No. 5 machine to the attention of his crew. A precise four-tire pit stop got Skinner off pit road in the fourth position with a trackbar adjustment to help the handling on his Toyota Tundra.
By lap 74 Skinner was back on pit road as his right front tire delaminated on the race track. Luckily, Skinner immediately felt the change and brought the No. 5 machine down pit road under green for four fresh tires and fuel. As the caution flag was displayed just two laps later, Skinner stayed out to benefit from the “wave around” rule as the rest of the lead-lap competitors came down pit road. He restarted the race in the 23rd position with 54 laps remaining.
Skinner used the remaining laps to improve the handling of the International Truck/Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra and to race through the field. Despite restarting the race in the 17th place on lap 114, he moved into the top-10 within just five laps. Skinner picked up another two positions en route to an eighth-place finish after 134 laps at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“There has been many times throughout the year that we finished eighth and I’ve just had a long face and been really upset about it,” commented Mike Skinner following the race. “But tonight, our pit crew did a phenomenal job once again; our truck ran phenomenal; I think we were a contender tonight. I think we were definitely a top-five truck. I’m really proud of my guys. I’m thankful for International Trucks, Monaco RVs, Exide, PC*MILER Navigator, Toyota—everybody that has helped us all year. I just can’t say enough for these guys. If we start out that competitive next year, we won’t be eighth in points at this time; we’re going to have a few victories and will hopefully contend for the championship.”
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to Daytona International Speedway to kick off the 2011 season on February 18th, 2011.