Mike Skinner
No. 5 EXIDE Toyota Tundra
Talladega Superspeedway – Mountain Dew 250
October 30, 2010
Mike Skinner and the No. 5 EXIDE Toyota Tundra team came home in the 15th position after being involved in a multi-truck pileup in the closing laps at Talladega Superspeedway. Prior to the incident, the 1995 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion spent the majority of the afternoon racing inside the top-10 and was in position to score his best finish of the year.
In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series second superspeedway race of the 2010 season, Skinner showed the strength of his Toyota Tundra during the weekend’s two-hour practice when the No. 5 EXIDE machine posted a 49.557-second lap at a top speed of 193.232 mph to record the fastest lap of the morning. The time was posted while Skinner was drafting with other NCWTS competitors, proving that his truck would be competitive during the 250-mile race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Skinner dropped to the rear of the field for the start of the Mountain Dew 250 for making an adjustment after impound, but raced halfway through the field within the opening six laps. By lap 17, the No. 5 EXIDE Toyota Tundra broke into the top-10 and Skinner continued his charge to the front.
The lap 24 caution period allowed Skinner to visit pit road for four tires and fuel. A fast stop by the EXIDE crew moved the No. 5 EXIDE Toyota Tundra up four positions to restart the race in third place. Just after the restart Skinner moved into the second position, but when he pulled high on the backstretch his drafting help stayed low, moving him back several positions.
When the yellow flag was displayed just laps after making a green flag stop, Skinner and the EXIDE Toyota Tundra team opted to stay on track during the lap 61 caution. As a result, he inherited the lead to gain five bonus points. The No. 5 EXIDE Toyota Tundra visited pit lane for the final time on lap 76. At an estimated two laps short, the team decided to give Skinner’s Tundra a little extra Sunoco fuel to ensure that they would be able to make it the distance.
On lap 91, Skinner’s strategy was turned upside down as the EXIDE machine was collected in a multi-truck pile-up while running inside the top-10. After having contact from behind, the right front fender of Skinner’s Toyota Tundra was plowed by another competitor forcing him down pit road for repairs with just three laps remaining. The EXIDE team worked on the damage and serviced the car with four fresh tires before sending Skinner out to fend for himself on the final laps. After 95 laps at Alabama superspeedway, Skinner was credited with a 15th-place result.
“We had a really good Exide Toyota Tundra today,” commented Mike Skinner just minutes after the race. “We came through the field, led the race for a little bit and it looked like we were going to have a top-three finish or maybe even win the race. I think we were better all day than the truck that won the race. Unfortunately, there was big accident there at the end and we got caught up in it. I just hate it for all of our sponsors, but hopefully they got a good amount of television time today. I’d like to thank EXIDE Batteries for coming on board today, International Trucks, Monaco RVs, PC*MILER Navigator, Toyota and all of our engine people—our engine ran spectacular all day.”
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will travel to Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, November 5. The WinStar World Casino 350K will be broadcast on SPEED Channel, Sirius XM Satellite Radio and MRN Radio beginning at 8:30 p.m. EST. Qualifying and practice for the race will take place on Thursday, but will not be televised. Visit www.twitter.com/rmmracing or www.facebook.com/randymossmotorsports for news and updates throughout the weekend.