2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
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The 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season is the seventeenth season of the third highest stock car racing in the United States. It will be contested over twenty-two races, down from twenty-five, beginning with the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway and ending with the Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. NASCAR announced some changes, including the removal of New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, and Lucas Oil Raceway from the schedule, and moving the Phoenix race back to its traditional fall date. Chevrolet entered the 2012 season as the reigning Manufacturer's Champion, while Austin Dillon is the reigning Driver's Champion.
Report
The Truck Series started its 2012 season at Daytona. The race was dominated by the Turner Motorsports trio of Miguel Paludo, Nelson Piquet, Jr. and James Buescher. However, rookie John King accidentally spun leader Johnny Sauter, and held off teammate Timothy Peters on the final restart for his first career victory. After a one month break, the Truck Series returned to Martinsville. There, Kevin Harvick dominated the field, leading a race record 248 laps en route to his first win of 2012. The following week, NASCAR made its return to Rockingham Speedway after a 8 year absence. Nelson Piquet, Jr. would dominate the early portions of the race from the pole, but fell out of contention due to a speeding penalty. Kasey Kahne, who had started in the rear, would take advantage and hold off teammate James Buescher for his first win of 2012. The next week at Kansas, Buescher dominated the race and held off points leader Timothy Peters for his first career victory.
At Charlotte, Justin Lofton saved enough fuel to hold off Brad Keselowski for his first Truck Series win. The following week at Dover, Todd Bodine was declared the race winner after rain stopped the race with 53 laps to go. At Texas, Johnny Sauter put the bad luck behind him and passed teammate Matt Crafton with 22 laps to go to grab his first win of the season and a ThorSport Racing 1-2 finish. At Kentucky, Buescher dominated the race and held off Keselowski to become the first repeat winner of 2012. The series headed to Iowa, where Buescher once again dominated, but was taken out of contention when his right front tire went flat. Veteran Ron Hornaday, Jr. took over the lead, but spun the tires on the final restart, allowing polesitter Timothy Peters to slip past with 10 to go and hold off the field for his first win of 2012.
Teams and drivers
Complete Schedule
Limited Schedule
Note: A driver designated with a (R) next to their name indicates that they are contenders for the 2012 Rookie of the Year award.
Team changes
- The Kevin Harvick Incorporated-Richard Childress Racing Merger and Related Spinoff
- Richard Childress Racing, per agreement in the Kevin Harvick Incorporated merger agreement, acquired the 2011 Owners Champion No. 2 truck as part of the Harvick-Childress merger that also included the No. 2 and No. 33 Nationwide teams. The No. 8 and No. 33 trucks were spun off in a separate deal.
- Harvick spun off the No. 8 and No. 33 Truck teams, which Eddie Sharp Racing, acquired. The teams in the spinoff join the present No. 6 truck driven by Justin Lofton to form a three-truck team, which resulted in a September 2011 decision to switch manufacturers from Toyota to Chevrolet immediately, with support from Childress. The spinoff also included an existing Rheem sponsorship and development driver Cale Gale, who will drive the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet.
- Other Changes
- ThorSport Racing will switch to Toyota Tundras for the 2012 season, with the three teams of Matt Crafton (#88), Johnny Sauter (#13), and Dakoda Armstrong (#98) running for the full season.
- Discontinued operations
- Germain Racing will shut down the No. 9 and No. 30 trucks with employees asked to look for other employment, as the team's Sprint Cup team changed to Ford from Toyota.
Driver changes
- Changed teams
- Neither of the Kevin Harvick Incorporated drivers were retained by Eddie Sharp Racing after the spinoff. Ron Hornaday, Jr. will join Joe Denette Motorsports and drive their No. 9 Chevrolet. He will be reunited with KHI crew chief Jeff Hensley. Hornaday will not be an exempt driver through the points standings during the first five races, but will have an exemption through his status as a former Series Champion. (Series champions have an exemption available in certain circumstances.)
- Nelson Piquet, Jr. moved to Turner Motorsports to contest the full Truck series season as well as a limited Nationwide schedule. Piquet, Jr. will be teammates with fellow Brazilian Miguel Paludo, who leaves Red Horse Racing.
- After enduring a disappointing season at Germain Racing, Brendan Gaughan moves to Richard Childress Racing to run 8 Truck races. Those races will be in the No. 2 truck acquired in the Childress-Harvick merger.
- After Germain Racing shut down its Truck Series operations, Todd Bodine moves to Red Horse Racing to driving the No. 11 truck that was the No. 7 that Miguel Paludo drove. However, Bodine tweeted that he needed sponsorship to run the season.
- After a disappointing 2011, David Starr took his sponsor Zachry Holdings, Inc. and the number 81 with him to the newly formed Arrington Racing formed by engine builder Joey Arrington.
- After a one year stint with Joe Denette Motorsports, Jason White and his sponsor Gunbroker.com have formed their own team for 2012 and will be fielding Fords.
- Rookie entries
- Fresh off of winning the 2011 ARCA Racing Series championship, Ty Dillon will run for Rookie of the Year honors with Richard Childress Racing alongside ARCA crew chief Scott Naset. He will inherit his brother Austin's No. 3 Truck that won the 2011 Championship
- 2011 K&N Pro Series East champion Max Gresham will run for Rookie of the Year with Joe Denette Motorsports in the No. 24 Chevrolet. Gresham will also attempt qualifying for the ARCA Racing Series Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 in order to be approved by NASCAR for Daytona.
- Dakoda Armstrong will run for Rookie of the Year honors with ThorSport Racing, driving the No. 98 Tundra.
- Ross Chastain will run for ROTY honors with SS-Green Light Racing, driving the No. 08 Tundra.
- Duke University student Paulie Harraka, a former K&N Pro Series East standout who took most of 2011 off from racing, will drive for former crew chief Richie Wauters.
- John Wes Townley was originally signed to drive for RAB Racing in the Truck Series for ROTY. However, a arrest for DUI on February 10 resulted in his temporary suspension by the team.
- John King will run full-time for Red Horse Racing and compete for ROTY honors.
- Returned to the series
- Johnny Benson announced in 2011 plans to return to the Truck Series in 2012 with backing from Pure Michigan. However, team owner Stacy Compton announced in January 2012 that the deal had fallen through.
- Tim George, Jr. will return to the Truck Series for the first time since 2009. He will run 12 races driving Richard Childress Racing's No. 2 truck inherited from Kevin Harvick Incorporated.
- David Reutimann returns to the series for 15 races with RBR Enterprises.
- Ward Burton will return to NASCAR for the first time after a five year absence, driving the season-opening Daytona race for Hillman Racing. He will split the ride with son Jeb.
- Exited the series
- Truck Series champion Austin Dillon will move up to the NASCAR Nationwide Series full-time with crew chief Danny Stockman.
- Johanna Long moves to the Nationwide Series for a limited schedule with ML Motorsports.
- Cole Whitt will move up to the NASCAR Nationwide series full-time in the 88 Chevrolet with JR Motorsports.
2012 calendar
Calendar changes
The Las Vegas race, as a result of issues resulting from the 2011 race weekend, will be moved back to late September as a stand-alone race. Originally, the Las Vegas race was set for October 13 at 12 noon PDT as part of the IndyCar weekend, but Indy Racing League LLC faces issues from the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship which the 2011 Truck race was the Saturday feature of the race meet, but that meet was removed as a result of legal issues following the death of Dan Wheldon on Lap 11 of the IZOD IndyCar Series feature.
Speedway Motorsports also removed races from New Hampshire Motor Speedway, while keeping the second Kentucky truck date and having the NASCAR Nationwide Series replace INDYCAR on the fall weekend.
Results and standings
Races
Drivers
(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings. * – Most laps led.
| Pos | Driver | DAY | MAR | ROC | KAN | CHA | DOV | TXS | KTY | IOW | CHI | POC | MIC | BRI | ATL | IO2 | KT2 | LSV | TAL | MA2 | TX2 | PHO | HOM | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timothy Peters | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 353 | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Justin Lofton | 3 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 1* | 10 | 9* | 14 | 5 | 341 | |||||||||||||
| 3 | Ty Dillon (R) | 9 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 339 | |||||||||||||
| 4 | James Buescher | 17 | 3 | 2 | 1* | 22 | 7 | 15 | 1* | 30* | 313 | |||||||||||||
| 5 | Parker Kligerman | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 10 | 306 | |||||||||||||
| 6 | Matt Crafton | 23 | 24 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 305 | |||||||||||||
| 7 | Ron Hornaday, Jr. | 14 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 27 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 296 | |||||||||||||
| 8 | Joey Coulter | 18 | 30 | 6 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 292 | |||||||||||||
| 9 | Nelson Piquet, Jr. | 22 | 6 | 7* | 4 | 29 | 4 | 5 | 29 | 9 | 284 | |||||||||||||
| 10 | Miguel Paludo | 30* | 17 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 262 | |||||||||||||
| 11 | Todd Bodine | 6 | 25 | 31 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 28 | 12 | 260 | |||||||||||||
| 12 | Johnny Sauter | 24 | 29 | 4 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 260 | |||||||||||||
| 13 | Jason White | 5 | 10 | 24 | 19 | 6 | 33 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 260 | |||||||||||||
| 14 | Cale Gale (R) | 32 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 19 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 26 | 238 | |||||||||||||
| 15 | Jason Leffler | 36 | 8 | 34 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 233 | ||||||||||||||
| 16 | David Starr | 21 | 14 | 13 | 31 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 231 | |||||||||||||
| 17 | Dakoda Armstrong (R) | 35 | 21 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 20 | 18 | 13 | 27 | 221 | |||||||||||||
| 18 | Ryan Sieg | 15 | 32 | 22 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 190 | |||||||||||||
| 19 | Ross Chastain (R) | 28 | 7 | 25 | 34 | 35 | 15 | 16 | 33 | 16 | 188 | |||||||||||||
| 20 | John Wes Townley (R) | 23 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 27 | 32 | 20 | 182 | ||||||||||||||
| 21 | Paulie Harraka (R) | 19 | 22 | 26 | 27 | 30 | 17 | 28 | 17 | 33 | 177 | |||||||||||||
| 22 | Bryan Silas (R) | 29 | 26 | 32 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 175 | |||||||||||||
| 23 | Max Gresham (R) | 26 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 30 | 21 | 30 | 162 | ||||||||||||||
| 24 | Chris Fontaine | 7 | DNQ | DNQ | 20 | 32 | 23 | 20 | 25 | 137 | ||||||||||||||
| 25 | John King (R) | 1 | 9 | 33 | 13 | 33 | 135 | |||||||||||||||||
| 26 | Jeb Burton (R) | 13 | 11 | 36 | 8 | 19 | 133 | |||||||||||||||||
| 27 | Caleb Holman (R) | DNQ | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 121 | ||||||||||||||||
| 28 | Tim George, Jr. | 16 | 17 | 24 | 15 | 104 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | Brennan Newberry | 28 | 23 | 32 | 27 | 22 | 36 | 96 | ||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Jennifer Jo Cobb | DNQ | 34 | DNQ | 25 | 26 | 26 | 32 | DNQ | 29 | 92 | |||||||||||||
| 31 | Norm Benning | DNQ | DNQ | 30 | 28 | DNQ | 25 | 22 | DNQ | 24 | 91 | |||||||||||||
| 32 | Jeff Agnew | 35 | 27 | DNQ | 21 | 27 | 21 | 89 | ||||||||||||||||
| 33 | Clay Greenfield | 10 | 31 | DNQ | 36 | 18 | 81 | |||||||||||||||||
| 34 | Chris Cockrum | 16 | 27 | 29 | 26 | 78 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 35 | Jake Crum | DNQ | 18 | 23 | 31 | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 36 | Dennis Setzer | DNQ | 34 | 351 | 35 | 19 | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
| 37 | J. R. Fitzpatrick | 34 | 12 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 38 | Dusty Davis (R) | 13 | 33 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 39 | Rick Crawford | 25 | 36 | 29 | 42 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 40 | Scott Stenzel | 23 | 24 | 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 41 | Grant Enfinger | 12 | 36 | 40 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 42 | Tyler Young | 28 | 23 | 37 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 43 | Ward Burton | 8 | 36 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 44 | Kyle Larson | 10 | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 45 | Johnny Chapman | 35 | DNQ | 32 | 31 | DNQ | 34 | |||||||||||||||||
| 46 | Jeff Choquette | 11 | 33 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 47 | Chris Jones | 35 | 31 | 35 | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 48 | Chad McCumbee | 30 | 31 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 49 | B. J. McLeod | DNQ | DNQ | 23 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 50 | Justin Jennings | 23 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 51 | Brent Raymer | 26 | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 52 | Wes Burton | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 28 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 53 | T. J. Duke (R) | 31 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 54 | Travis Miller | 31 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 55 | Todd Shafer | 32 | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 56 | Mike Skinner | 33 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 57 | Russ Dugger | 33 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 58 | Chris Lafferty | DNQ | 341 | DNQ | 34 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 59 | C. E. Falk | 34 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 60 | Brandon Knupp | 35 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Brandon Miller | 201 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Natalie Sather | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derek White | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Caleb Roark | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wheeler Boys | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tyler Tanner | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brian Weber | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benjamin Reynolds | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Todd Peck | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ineligible for Camping World Truck championship points | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pos | Driver | DAY | MAR | ROC | KAN | CHA | DOV | TXS | KTY | IOW | CHI | POC | MIC | BRI | ATL | IO2 | KT2 | LSV | TAL | MA2 | TX2 | PHO | HOM | Points |
| Kevin Harvick | 1* | 3* | – | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Kasey Kahne | 1 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brad Keselowski | 27 | 3 | 2 | 2 | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| Brendan Gaughan | 20 | 12 | 4 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Travis Kvapil | 4 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brian Scott | 13 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Reutimann | DNQ | 20 | 19 | 18 | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Harmon | 34 | 33 | – | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott Riggs | DNQ | 36 | – | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pos | Driver | DAY | MAR | ROC | KAN | CHA | DOV | TXS | KTY | IOW | CHI | POC | MIC | BRI | ATL | IO2 | KT2 | LSV | TAL | MA2 | TX2 | PHO | HOM | Points |
- 1 – Post entry, driver and owner did not score points.
Manufacturer
| Pos | Manufacturer | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet | 5 | 67 |
| 2 | Toyota | 4 | 62 |
| 3 | Dodge | 0 | 40 |
| 4 | Ford | 0 | 29 |
See also
References
- ^ "2012 Team Chart". Jayski. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Truck Schedule highlighted by Rickingham race". NASCAR. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ "2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule". Jayski.com. Retrieved 21 November 2011.