2008 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES
SPEED ACCELERATES STOCK-CAR DEVELOPMENT IN TRUCK DEBUT
Hampton, GA. (March 7, 2008) - Red Bull driver Scott Speed made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut Friday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway, earning 27th in the No. 46 Red Bull truck. The stock-truck rookie had no qualms “throwing himself off the deep end,” knocking out three firsts – his first NCTS run, first night race, and first time lapping a 1.5-mile speedway. |
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Speed on the Race:
“It took me a couple laps to get my truck sorted and race-ready, but as soon as I got going, it was a crash course in learning how the truck handles running in traffic with a pack of other Trucks."
"It was so cool to race these guys hard, but also cool to watch the more experienced drivers just pick off trucks through the field. It was such a different experience from anything I’ve ever done before, but I’m always different. Come on, I had white hair three months ago.”
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At the drop of the green, Speed moved into the 22nd position before a strong vibration in the car forced the rookie driver to make a veteran call to come into the pits for a four-tire change. The No. 46 lost two laps in the unplanned pit stop, but potentially saved them from becoming damaged goods on track. Speed spent the rest of the 200-mile race vying for a track position that would allow him to get his laps back.
Speed’s confidence grew as the race progressed, gracing the radio waves with “that Truck was slow as hell and I passed him no problem!”
The caution cycle didn’t play out for the Red Bull driver to get his laps back, but all present could attest there was no shortage of excitement in Speed’s first day of Truck school. Speed’s classroom efforts earned him a clean and competitive race run, accomplishing the agenda set out for him – seat time in one of NASCAR’s most competitive series.
Next on the Speed Report: NCTS Race on March 29 at Martinsville Speedway.
| American Commercial Lines 200 | March 7, 2008 |
| FIN |
ST |
CAR |
DRIVER |
MAKE |
SPONSOR |
LAPS |
STATUS |
| 27 |
28 |
46 |
Scott Speed |
Chevrolet |
Red Bull |
127 |
Running |
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Speed on Truckin':
"Every time I'm in the car I'm learning something. It's a lot more helpful for me to drive the races because for me to get into a truck or Cup car and go fast by myself has been really easy. It's been easier than I thought, to be honest. What's difficult and what I'm learning a lot about is how the other cars around you affect your car."
"The reason we went this route is because the truck is the most similar to the COT and it is very sensitive to the other cars around you, where they are and what they're doing to your car. This is kind of the method behind our madness here" |
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Red Bull Driver Scott Speed to Race NCTS Limited Schedule
 February 28, 2008 - Red Bull Racing Team announces Scott Speed, driver of the No. 2 Red Bull Toyota in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, to race a limited schedule in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the No. 46 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports entry.
Speed's No. 46 will carry a Red Bull paint scheme for his NCTS debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 7, followed by a second NCTS race at Martinsville Speedway on March 28. Speed will get additional seat time participating in the NCTS open test at Martinsville Speedway on March 12 - 13.
Speed's foray into NCTS racing is part of a development program aimed at getting the Red Bull driver ready for top-level competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Red Bull may consider additional opportunities for Speed as the 2008 season progresses. Scott Speed will continue his run for the championship racing full-time in the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series under the wing of Eddie Sharp Racing.
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