After a wild and crazy finish to the NextERA Energy Resources 125 at Daytona, the ASRS Camping World Trucks packed up and headed west to the Auto Club Speedway. While the 2009 season is one of change for the Truck racers, a new title sponsor, two new venues on the schedule, and a brand new Virtual Money System have all marked differences from last season. Perhaps the biggest change is the diversity among manufacturers, there are now nearlyas many Toyota teams as there are Chevrolet teams in a series that was prodominately Chevrolet since its inception in 2005. New faces mark the landscape of the Truck Series, drivers like Justin McLeod, Jeff Lyden, Timmy Johnston, Mike McClure and Bud Watson are among drivers with plans to run the full schedule of 25 races.
With all the change surrounding the Trucks, one thing has remained consistent. The two drivers who over the offseason were thought to be favorites to win the title are at the top of the standings after Auto Club. Both Jim Foose, the 2006, 2007, and 2008 Camping World Truck Champion and Jake Morris have scored wins in 2009. Foose at Daytona, Morris at Auto Club. Morris leads Foose by 15 points following his win at Auto Club.
With the addition of the Virtual Money System in 2009, several changes have occured and those changes have been good for the overall health of the series. First, it has ensured commitment to the Truck Series by the team owners through the registration process. While the registration can be tedious, it ensures everyone is fully committed to the series. Second, the Virtual Money System has made the racing more exciting, since the payoff falls off after the top 10. Driver finishing 12th and beyond at Auto Club actually lost money in their team accounts. This works to ensure no drivers are entering races with the intention of parking shortly after the green flag and pocketing a large sum of virtual money. Instead, drivers must race for every position and every dollar they can earn at each race. It also promotes patience, as a bad finish can result in a loss of position and money paid for that position. Lastly, the Virtual Money System adds Owner Standings and Manufacturer Championship Standings to the fold, giving drivers more to aim for than just a driving championship. All of this has closed the gap in the field and brought tougher competition to the racetrack each time the trucks hit the track.
Next the Truck Series heads to Atlanta for the first of two Tuesday night specials in 2009. Altanta is a track known for exciting racing and close finishes as the trucks jockey for position around the 1.54 mile quad oval.The American Sim Racing Series has seen continued growth since its birth in 2002. Since 2005, some of the biggest names in short track sim racing have raced in the American Sim Racing Series, making it America’s #1 Online Short Track League. For more information on the ASRS visit www.americansimracing.com.
