Mike Skinner Las Vegas Motor Speedway Race Recap

Mike Skinner

No. 5 International Truck/Monaco RV Toyota Tundra

Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Smith’s Food & Drug Stores 350

September 25, 2010

Mike Skinner and the No. 5 International Truck/Monaco RVs team had a competitive race on Saturday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  The team had prepared a truck that was capable of running inside the top-five and was poised to bring home their best finish of the season when contact with another truck sent Skinner sailing through the grass on the frontstretch leaving the No. 5 machine out of contention. 

The International Truck/Monaco RV team utilized their two practice sessions to dial in their Toyota Tundra and help Skinner navigate through the bumpy corners of Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  By the end of each practice, Skinner was placed solidly inside the top-15 and the three-time pole-winner was ready to qualify.  Crew chief Stacy Johnson called for a few slight adjustments before Skinner’s qualifying attempt that allowed Skinner to run wide-open around the 1.5-mile oval and post the 11^th quickest lap of the field.

As soon as the green flag fell to start the Smith’s Food & Drug Stores 350, Skinner began climbing through the field.  By lap 20 he had moved inside the top-five and was running lap times that practically mirrored the leader.  As a two-time race winner at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Skinner knew that his team had prepared a truck that was capable of finishing inside the top-three and maybe even capable of winning the race. 

By the second caution period, Skinner reported that his Toyota Tundra had become a little too snug.  Johnson [crew chief] called for a slight air pressure adjustment and a four-tire stop before sending Skinner back to the track.  Skinner was pleased with the changes but had to fight his way back inside the top-10 when several of his competitors took just two fresh tires. 

The radio remained quiet until lap 38 when the caution flag was displayed again, but this time it was for Skinner who was sent spinning through the infield grass after contact from behind with another competitor.  Skinner brought his International Truck/Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra down pit road allowing his team to assess the damage and devise a plan.  With the front nose clip nearly completely destroyed and the splitter pushed back, the team knew there was no way that Skinner’s Tundra would handle like it did earlier in the race.  The team pieced together a new nose to add strength and stability to the front end of their truck. 

Throughout the closing laps, Skinner stayed on track slowly picking up positions as other trucks fell out the 146-lap event.  By the time the checkered flag was displayed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Skinner had picked up nearly 10 positions to be credited with a 24^th-place finish. 

“We had a really great truck tonight,” commented Skinner after the race.  “The guys built a really competitive piece that was easily capable of finishing inside the top-five.  I feel like this was one of the best Toyota Tundras that we’ve had all year; so while I’m frustrated with what happened, I’m really proud of the effort that my team put into this weekend.  We’re definitely headed in the right direction; we keep getting better week after week.” 

With just five races left in the 2010 season, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to Martinsville Speedway next month.  The Kroger 200 will be broadcast live on SPEED, MRN Radio and Sirius XM Channel 128 beginning at 12:30 EST on Saturday, October 23.    

Tayler Malsam Las Vegas Motor Speedway Race Recap

Tayler Malsam

No. 25 EXIDE Batteries Toyota Tundra

Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Smith’s Food & Drug Stores 350

September 25, 2010

Tayler Malsam returned to the team where he competed throughout his rookie season this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  The second Randy Moss Motorsports entry was sporting a familiar Exide Batteries paint scheme, but utilized a new number for the team—No. 25.  The weekend gave the 21-year-old Washington native the unique chance to return to a team and compete with the same crew chief and several of the same team members that he raced with during his rookie season.  Malsam raced inside the top-10 for several laps throughout the mid-portion of the event, but struggled with the handling late in the 146-lap competition to finish 13^th. 

During the two practice sessions at the 1.5-mile Nevada oval, Malsam worked with crew chief Doug Wolcott to fine-tune the No. 25 Exide Batteries Toyota Tundra allowing it to cruise through the corners.  By the end of final practice Malsam was ranked 11^th on the leader board, and the Exide Batteries crew was able to determine what they needed for a fast qualifying lap.  A 31.337-second lap during time trials allowed Malsam to line up right behind teammate Mike Skinner for the Smith’s Food & Drug Stores 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

After the 36-truck field took the green flag, Malsam immediately began working through the field and was scored seventh within the opening 20 laps.  The team first stopped on pit road during the lap 23 caution period when crew chief Doug Wolcott called for a slight trackbar adjustment to help Malsam’s tight Toyota Tundra.  A four-tire stop left Malsam restarting deep in the field and racing his way back through the field.  The young driver proved to be up to the challenge as he raced back into the top-10. 

Malsam made two other pit stops, first taking another slight trackbar adjustment and later a wedge adjustment to help the handling of his No. 25 Exide Batteries Toyota Tundra.  By the final run of the 146-lap race, Malsam was struggling to keep speed through the corners.  His Toyota Tundra has become too tight and the young driver struggled to pass other trucks on the 1.5-mile oval.  After nearly two hours of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series action from Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Malsam crossed the finish line in the 13^th position. 

“It was really great to race with my old team tonight,” said Malsam after the race.  “The guys prepared a great truck and we came really close to finishing inside the top-10.  We just kind of picked up right where we left off.  It was cool to have Exide Batteries on our Toyota Tundra; they’re a great sponsor and I appreciate them jumping on board to sponsor our team this weekend.” 

With just five races left in the 2010 season, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to Martinsville Speedway next month.  The Kroger 200 will be broadcast live on SPEED, MRN Radio and Sirius XM Channel 128 beginning at 12:30 EST on Saturday, October 23.   

Mike Skinner New Hampshire Motor Speedway Recap

Mike Skinner

No. 5 International Truck/EXIDE Batteries Toyota Tundra

New Hampshire Motor Speedway – TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175

September 18, 2010

Mike Skinner and the No. 5 Randy Moss Motorsports Toyota Tundra featured a special paint scheme at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; the team debuted a blue, orange and black truck with logos for International Truck and Exide Batteries in a joint paint scheme. 

On Friday, competitors in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series were on track for two practice sessions at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  The No. 5 International Truck/Exide Batteries Toyota Tundra team had a promising opening practice session where Skinner was fourth on the leader board at the conclusion of the 80-minute session with a 29.761-second lap.  With races at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway, the International Truck/Exide Batteries Toyota Tundra team spent time during final practice testing different shock and spring packages to measure their reaction at the “Magic Mile.”  The team returned to their package for Saturday’s race during the final portion of the session and recorded a 29.924-second lap. 

Saturday morning kicked off with qualifying before several appearances leading up to TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175 at the 1.058-mile track.  Skinner posted the 16^th quickest qualifying run to roll off mid-pack for the 175-lap race.  Once the main event kicked off, the field had a quick caution on lap two before returning to green flag conditions for the next 60 laps. 

By lap 60, caution flags became more commonplace as the competition heated up in TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175.  Luckily for the No. 5 International Truck/Exide Batteries crew it meant more chances to work on the handling of their Toyota Tundra.  Skinner’s machine was loose in the middle and tight off the corner, but a slight adjustment to the right front shock fixed the problem and enabled Skinner to move inside the top-10. 

As the race progressed the track changed a bit and the No. 5 International Truck/Exide Batteries Toyota Tundra began to struggle through the corners again at “The Magic Mile.”  After 175 laps at the grueling New England track, Skinner was scored in the 13^th position. 

“It was great to have a cosponsored truck with Exide Batteries, International Truck, Monaco RVs, PC*MILER Navigator—all of our sponsors were working together on our Toyota Tundra today which was pretty awesome,” said Mike Skinner following TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175.  “I hate that we didn’t run better.  We just missed the setup; we adjusted on the truck all afternoon and the guys had great pit stops, but we couldn’t get it where we needed it.  At one time we got a little bit better; we got our lap back and picked up a few positions.  It was just a tough day for our International Truck/Exide Batteries Toyota Tundra team.”

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will travel to Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 25.  The Smith’s Food & Drug Stores 350 will be broadcast on SPEED Channel, Sirius XM Satellite Radio and MRN Radio beginning at 9:00 p.m. EST.  Two practice sessions and qualifying will take place throughout the day on Saturday, but will not be televised.  Fans can visit www.twitter.com/rmmracing or www.facebook.com/randymossmotorsports for news and updates throughout the weekend. 

Mike Skinner Kentucky Speedway Recap

Mike Skinner

No. 5 International Truck/Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra
Kentucky Speedway – Built Ford Tough 225
September 3, 2010

Mike Skinner drove the No. 5 International Truck/Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra to a 13th-place finish after pit strategy and a long-green flag run left the team trying to make up track position late in the 225-mile event at Kentucky Speedway.

The International Truck/Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra team appeared poised to achieve their best finish of the 2010 season on Friday night at Kentucky Speedway. The team recorded speeds inside the top-five during both practice sessions and was racing a Tundra that proved to be extremely comfortable at Chicagoland Speedway. The driver of the No. 5 machine recorded his best qualifying effort of the season when he posted a 30.839-second lap allowing him to roll off third on Friday night.

The 2007 Kentucky Speedway race winner held his position inside the top-10 throughout the opening laps at the 1.5-mile track. The No. 5 machine was a little tight, but dialed in the handling as the tire pressures came up. The team made a trackbar adjustment during their opening pit stop to get Skinner’s Toyota Tundra to where he needed it. By lap 77, the caution flag was out for the third time of the evening and Skinner was struggling both on entry and exit of the turns. That yellow flag kicked off a series of mid-race cautions causing the teams to carefully plan their strategies for the closing laps.

The International Truck/Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra team opted to visit pit road during the lap 77 caution period and to stay on track throughout the remaining two caution periods. Several competitors visited pit road during the lap 92 caution, but only 13 laps short of fuel the No. 5 team decided to gamble for a late race caution where they could take four fresh tires to gain grip and pick up positions.

After a caution-filled middle-portion the 225-mile event, the race at Kentucky Speedway surprisingly went green all the way to the checkered flag. While racing in the third-position Skinner was forced to visit pit road on lap 138 for fuel and two right-side tires. With only 10 laps to regain track position the International Truck/Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra team was credited with a 13th-place finish.

“Our International Truck/Monaco RVs Toyota Tundra team really made a lot of gains this week,” said Mike Skinner following the race at Kentucky Speedway. “We ran in the top-five for most of the night and our truck drove really well this weekend. We should have easily finished inside the top-five tonight but our pit strategy didn’t coincide with the long green run we had at the end of the race. We’re definitely getting closer to running the way we’re accustomed to, but we aren’t quite there yet. I want to thank our sponsors so much for their support throughout the season; without their support none of this would be possible.”

This week the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will enjoy their first weekend away from the race-track after nine weeks of back-to-back competition. The series will return on Saturday, Sept. 18, with TheRaceDayRaffleSeries.com 175 live from New Hampshire Motor Speedway. SPEED Channel, MRN Radio and SIRIUS XM Radio will all carry a live broadcast of the event beginning at 2:30 p.m. EST. Final practice will be televised on SPEED Channel, Friday, Sept. 17, at 1:00 p.m. EST. SPEED will also feature qualifying coverage at 10:00 a.m. EST on Saturday, Sept. 18.