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From ERaceFans.com
Jack Sprague
“It is a big fast track which is usually one of my strong points but for some reason, the two Truck Races I have run here in the past weren’t that stellar. It will be a real test for our Chevy Trucks team this weekend to measure how far we have come in our larger track program. After Atlanta, we went to work hard on making huge improvements and how we have raced has shown we are definitely better. But we just keep having bad luck after bad luck. I can hardly wait until we get that part behind us and start having finishes that reflect how well we have been running.”
Steve Park
"I like Michigan. We had a really good run there last year with RCR in the NEXTEL Cup car. It is a fast racetrack. It is really wide and is good for passing. It usually produces a good three-wide race for the fans. This is one of those racetracks that I've competed on in cars but never trucks, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the Craftsman Trucks race there."
Dennis Setzer
“It’s a great track, great racing for the Craftsman Truck Series. Always seems like there is close door-to-door racing there. I don’t think we finished too well there last year, but we are bringing some good equipment, our Chevrolet Silverado. We did some testing at Chicago Speedway, similar to MIS, and we came out of the test happy with our results. We are excited about taking our best piece to Michigan.”
Bobby Hamilton
“After the wreck in Gateway my team worked for three days straight. Some of the guys in the fab shop didn’t even leave to get things finished before we tested. The team was determined that we would race this truck in Michigan and test it before that in Kentucky. I went along with that because I saw how motivated it made my team to see it through. We worked on the truck Tuesday night and left straight from the shop to drive to Kentucky at five am. Once we unloaded that truck, it took off. It was extremely fast and was even better than when we raced there. That is what makes working that hard worth it. My guys are really seeing results of determination this year and that motivates me to work harder myself. It’s paying off.”
Rick Crawford
"I've always felt comfortable at places like Michigan where the draft comes into play. You have to carry a lot of speed into the corners so you're able to get down the straights. There is a lot of strategy involved it's a place where you can easily run two or sometimes even three wide. Not only is the on-track action important but Michigan sits right in the backyard of Ford Motor Company. Ford puts a tremendous amount of support behind Circle Bar Racing and it's important that we run well. I'm looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the Circle Bar F-150 and racing my way out front."
Chad Chaffin
“I am confident in our chances this weekend at Michigan. I finished third there last year and the Dickies Dodge continues to be extremely fast off the trailer. We will just make the adjustments needed to ensure a solid run. I would love to see the Dickies Dodge come out of Michigan third in points. I feel third in points is defiantly within our reach in the next few races. This team is going to stay focused and keep doing what we are doing. Michigan is just another week in this business.”
Johnny Benson
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Michigan this weekend to race. The chance to drive for Bill Davis Racing and Toyota is a great opportunity -- and the chance to race at Michigan again makes it even better. There are a plenty of places where I love to race -- but if I had to pick just one track -- it would definitely be the one in my home state.”
Matt Crafton
“I haven’t shown that I have run to well, but Michigan is definitely one of my top-five most favorite tracks. I actually have raced really well there but just don’t have the finishes to prove it. The first year I was running on seven cylinders and finished 16th and last year we qualified badly because we were under horsepower but raced extremely well. I ran fifth and six for a good portion of the race and then the motor blew up so I am actually looking really forward to going back with the GM Goodwrench Chevy and KHI.”
David Starr
"I really like racing at Michigan Speedway. It's exciting, it's wide and it's fast. You can run high, low and in the middle and there is lots of drafting. It kind of reminds me of Daytona because of the drafting. Doing well requires the right combination of horsepower and handling. The aerodynamics are definitely important and I think we should be in good shape. We tested extensively last week with GM in Chicago and learned a lot. We tried a bunch of new stuff, plus worked on our aero package and I think when we apply it all, our No. 75 Spears Chevy will do the trick."
Shane Hmiel
"It’s one of the best tracks where you can really run four wide. It’s a fast track and I really enjoy the place. It’s great racing from start to finish and I’m looking forward to bringing home a good finish for the team and the fans.”
Tracy Hines
"I have never raced at Michigan before, but I am really looking forward to it. I will run the Truck race in July, and then come back a couple weeks later and run the Busch race too. The only real experience I have is racing at Michigan on the PlayStation. I did pretty good though. I won a Cup race and came from the back to win a Truck race."
Kelly Sutton
"This weekend will be our first time at Michigan, and the team is really looking forward to testing our aero package. Tim (Shutt, crew chief) has been to Michigan before, and said handling is key with the wide track and long corners. Trucks could get three and even four wide at times, so we want to make sure we stay with the draft, and don't get stuck outside and freight-trained by the field."
David Reutimann
"In the past two events, we've had better trucks than where we finished. I feel like we should have had Top-5 finishes in the No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota our last two times out, but we had issues at Kentucky and troubles at Gateway. Even though we had problems at Gateway, it felt really good to lead laps again. It gives us a boost of confidence heading into Michigan where I ran well at in a Busch car last season. I'm excited about going back and our chances to have a good finish."
Terry Cook
“Michigan is not only my home track, it’s my favorite track on the schedule. Since I was a little kid I’ve always enjoyed going to Michigan and watched the races. Now being a participant is a dream come true for me. Having watched drivers like David Pearson, Richard Petty and Bobby Allison, some of my all-time heroes race there is a big, big deal to me. We’ve run at Michigan four times now and I just enjoy going back to the speedway. You can run right against the fence, the Richard Petty line. You can run at the bottom or you can run in the middle. The groove is so wide you can stack ‘em eight-wide going into the corner and still have room to spare. There’s no one distinct groove; it’s very fast. You get to draft at Michigan like you’re at Daytona. I truly enjoy racing at Michigan.”
Chase Montgomery
“Like most drivers, I really like the track at Michigan. It is a fast and wide race track that allows for multiple racing grooves. There is a lot of drafting at the track and it starts to remind you a little of Daytona – which is my favorite place to run so Michigan ranks up there as well. We did some testing last week at Kentucky and I think we found some things that are going to really help us here in the second half of the season at places such as Michigan. Everyone seems to be revived a little with the week off and we are looking forward to a strong run this weekend in the Irish Hills.”
Travis Kvapil
"Michigan is a fun, two-mile race track. It’s definitely fast and is a favorite for most of the drivers on the circuit. Since it’s a larger venue, the drivers really feel the effect of the draft. Michigan always creates exciting racing action. It’s a place where you can get right to the front of the pack quickly if you have a good race truck. And it’s a place that gives a driver options. The speedway is wide and high-banked and because of that, you can circle the track in several different places either down near the yellow line or higher up at the top of the track."
Mike Skinner
"Michigan is a place where it is important to have a lot of horsepower in your engine, and the aero package has to be great. I feel like our Toyota Tundra’s aero package is getting better all of the time, and because of that, I know that we will be extremely competitive there and I am looking forward to it. I also like going to Michigan simply because it’s beautiful country at this time of year."
Jack Sprague
“It is a big fast track which is usually one of my strong points but for some reason, the two Truck Races I have run here in the past weren’t that stellar. It will be a real test for our Chevy Trucks team this weekend to measure how far we have come in our larger track program. After Atlanta, we went to work hard on making huge improvements and how we have raced has shown we are definitely better. But we just keep having bad luck after bad luck. I can hardly wait until we get that part behind us and start having finishes that reflect how well we have been running.”
Steve Park
"I like Michigan. We had a really good run there last year with RCR in the NEXTEL Cup car. It is a fast racetrack. It is really wide and is good for passing. It usually produces a good three-wide race for the fans. This is one of those racetracks that I've competed on in cars but never trucks, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the Craftsman Trucks race there."
Dennis Setzer
“It’s a great track, great racing for the Craftsman Truck Series. Always seems like there is close door-to-door racing there. I don’t think we finished too well there last year, but we are bringing some good equipment, our Chevrolet Silverado. We did some testing at Chicago Speedway, similar to MIS, and we came out of the test happy with our results. We are excited about taking our best piece to Michigan.”
Bobby Hamilton
“After the wreck in Gateway my team worked for three days straight. Some of the guys in the fab shop didn’t even leave to get things finished before we tested. The team was determined that we would race this truck in Michigan and test it before that in Kentucky. I went along with that because I saw how motivated it made my team to see it through. We worked on the truck Tuesday night and left straight from the shop to drive to Kentucky at five am. Once we unloaded that truck, it took off. It was extremely fast and was even better than when we raced there. That is what makes working that hard worth it. My guys are really seeing results of determination this year and that motivates me to work harder myself. It’s paying off.”
Rick Crawford
"I've always felt comfortable at places like Michigan where the draft comes into play. You have to carry a lot of speed into the corners so you're able to get down the straights. There is a lot of strategy involved it's a place where you can easily run two or sometimes even three wide. Not only is the on-track action important but Michigan sits right in the backyard of Ford Motor Company. Ford puts a tremendous amount of support behind Circle Bar Racing and it's important that we run well. I'm looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the Circle Bar F-150 and racing my way out front."
Chad Chaffin
“I am confident in our chances this weekend at Michigan. I finished third there last year and the Dickies Dodge continues to be extremely fast off the trailer. We will just make the adjustments needed to ensure a solid run. I would love to see the Dickies Dodge come out of Michigan third in points. I feel third in points is defiantly within our reach in the next few races. This team is going to stay focused and keep doing what we are doing. Michigan is just another week in this business.”
Johnny Benson
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Michigan this weekend to race. The chance to drive for Bill Davis Racing and Toyota is a great opportunity -- and the chance to race at Michigan again makes it even better. There are a plenty of places where I love to race -- but if I had to pick just one track -- it would definitely be the one in my home state.”
Matt Crafton
“I haven’t shown that I have run to well, but Michigan is definitely one of my top-five most favorite tracks. I actually have raced really well there but just don’t have the finishes to prove it. The first year I was running on seven cylinders and finished 16th and last year we qualified badly because we were under horsepower but raced extremely well. I ran fifth and six for a good portion of the race and then the motor blew up so I am actually looking really forward to going back with the GM Goodwrench Chevy and KHI.”
David Starr
"I really like racing at Michigan Speedway. It's exciting, it's wide and it's fast. You can run high, low and in the middle and there is lots of drafting. It kind of reminds me of Daytona because of the drafting. Doing well requires the right combination of horsepower and handling. The aerodynamics are definitely important and I think we should be in good shape. We tested extensively last week with GM in Chicago and learned a lot. We tried a bunch of new stuff, plus worked on our aero package and I think when we apply it all, our No. 75 Spears Chevy will do the trick."
Shane Hmiel
"It’s one of the best tracks where you can really run four wide. It’s a fast track and I really enjoy the place. It’s great racing from start to finish and I’m looking forward to bringing home a good finish for the team and the fans.”
Tracy Hines
"I have never raced at Michigan before, but I am really looking forward to it. I will run the Truck race in July, and then come back a couple weeks later and run the Busch race too. The only real experience I have is racing at Michigan on the PlayStation. I did pretty good though. I won a Cup race and came from the back to win a Truck race."
Kelly Sutton
"This weekend will be our first time at Michigan, and the team is really looking forward to testing our aero package. Tim (Shutt, crew chief) has been to Michigan before, and said handling is key with the wide track and long corners. Trucks could get three and even four wide at times, so we want to make sure we stay with the draft, and don't get stuck outside and freight-trained by the field."
David Reutimann
"In the past two events, we've had better trucks than where we finished. I feel like we should have had Top-5 finishes in the No. 17 NTN Bearings Toyota our last two times out, but we had issues at Kentucky and troubles at Gateway. Even though we had problems at Gateway, it felt really good to lead laps again. It gives us a boost of confidence heading into Michigan where I ran well at in a Busch car last season. I'm excited about going back and our chances to have a good finish."
Terry Cook
“Michigan is not only my home track, it’s my favorite track on the schedule. Since I was a little kid I’ve always enjoyed going to Michigan and watched the races. Now being a participant is a dream come true for me. Having watched drivers like David Pearson, Richard Petty and Bobby Allison, some of my all-time heroes race there is a big, big deal to me. We’ve run at Michigan four times now and I just enjoy going back to the speedway. You can run right against the fence, the Richard Petty line. You can run at the bottom or you can run in the middle. The groove is so wide you can stack ‘em eight-wide going into the corner and still have room to spare. There’s no one distinct groove; it’s very fast. You get to draft at Michigan like you’re at Daytona. I truly enjoy racing at Michigan.”
Chase Montgomery
“Like most drivers, I really like the track at Michigan. It is a fast and wide race track that allows for multiple racing grooves. There is a lot of drafting at the track and it starts to remind you a little of Daytona – which is my favorite place to run so Michigan ranks up there as well. We did some testing last week at Kentucky and I think we found some things that are going to really help us here in the second half of the season at places such as Michigan. Everyone seems to be revived a little with the week off and we are looking forward to a strong run this weekend in the Irish Hills.”
Travis Kvapil
"Michigan is a fun, two-mile race track. It’s definitely fast and is a favorite for most of the drivers on the circuit. Since it’s a larger venue, the drivers really feel the effect of the draft. Michigan always creates exciting racing action. It’s a place where you can get right to the front of the pack quickly if you have a good race truck. And it’s a place that gives a driver options. The speedway is wide and high-banked and because of that, you can circle the track in several different places either down near the yellow line or higher up at the top of the track."
Mike Skinner
"Michigan is a place where it is important to have a lot of horsepower in your engine, and the aero package has to be great. I feel like our Toyota Tundra’s aero package is getting better all of the time, and because of that, I know that we will be extremely competitive there and I am looking forward to it. I also like going to Michigan simply because it’s beautiful country at this time of year."
