Mike Skinner – Toyota Tundra Racing - Post Race Report

Race: Chevy Silverado HD 250 Track: Daytona International Speedway
Date: Friday, Feb. 16, 2007  -  Started: Ninth  -  Finished: Fourth  -  Laps Completed: 100
Total Laps: 100

After a strong test at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in mid-January, the No. 5 Toyota Tundra team knew it would be a contender for the biggest race of the 2007 season.

The team quickly proved it had one of the strongest trucks in the garage. The team was third quickest in the first practice session of the weekend and continued its blistering pace throughout the remaining practice sessions. Skinner’s truck maneuvered very well through the draft during each practice.

After capturing the most poles (eight) in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2006, Skinner was an obvious favorite in Thursday night’s qualifying session. Even with the rain pouring from the sky during his qualifying laps, Skinner still managed the ninth-fastest lap.

Skinner made his way toward the front soon after the green flag waved Friday night. Before the first lap was complete, Skinner was already in the fifth position. It only took Skinner eight more laps before he made his way into the lead. Many drivers took advantage of the second caution of the night on lap 11 to have their trucks refueled.

After the lap 17 restart, Skinner fell a few positions field but remained within the top 10 for much of the night. When the caution flag waved once again on lap 24, crew chief Jeff Hensley asked Skinner to bring the truck in for four tires and fuel. Skinner restarted 11th on lap 30.

After a long green flag run, Skinner pitted again under caution on lap 51 for four tires, fuel and no adjustments. Despite a loose handling condition, Skinner kept charging forward and regained the lead by lap 60. He pitted for the final time of the night a few laps later. The four tire stop also included a track bar adjustment.

Skinner maintained his position after the lap 67 restart, sometimes bumping and banging just to gain a spot or two. Several Toyota Tundras teamed up on the last lap, resulting in a fourth-place finish for Skinner.

The team returns to action this week at California Speedway. Skinner has qualified on the front row in three of his last four visits to the track. The race can be seen live Friday, Feb. 23 at 9 p.m. (EST) on the SPEED Channel.

Mike Skinner
Bill Davis Racing Event Preview

Race/Date: Chevy Silverado HD 250 – Feb. 16, 2007
Location: Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.

NOTES:

* This week’s race truck for Daytona International Speedway is Chassis No. 5-10. The No. 5 team is taking the truck it tested at Daytona International Speedway earlier this year. The truck performed well both in and out of the draft during testing.

* Double Duty... Not only will Mike Skinner compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event Friday night, he will also attempt to qualify for Sunday’s Daytona 500 by racing in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Gatorade Duel Thursday afternoon. 

* Golf anyone? Driver Mike Skinner will compete in the 34th NASCAR-LPGA Golf Tournament Feb.9. 

* Start your ovens with Angie Skinner’s Race Day Grub cookbook. She shares race-day routines and recipes from many NASCAR drivers and families. You can purchase the book at www.amazon.com. 

* Team Skinner adopts Halifax Medical Center Foundation as its charity for Speedweeks. To make a donation visit www.halifax.org or call Halifax Medical Center Foundation at 386.254.4111.

 * Home Sweet Home… For more than six years, Mike and Angie Skinner have called Daytona Beach home. The couple is active in the local community.

 * Autographs anyone? Skinner will participate in an autograph session Thursday, Feb. 9 at Daytona Toyota in Daytona Beach. The event is slated to start at 5 p.m. 

* Is this thing on? Skinner will join his Bill Davis Racing teammates on the “PRN Fast Talk” radio show Monday, Feb. 12 at 6:15 p.m., in Volusia Mall, which is located directly across from Daytona International Speedway. Catch Skinner again with his teammates on 95.7 WHOG’s morning radio show on February 12 at 9:30 a.m. 

* Listen and watch … The Chevy Silverado HD 250 is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET Friday, Feb. 16. It will broadcast live on Speed Channel (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio (Ch. 128).

Mike Skinner Racing Quotes:
Mike Skinner on racing at Daytona International Speedway:

“Daytona is my home track, and I love it. One of the reasons I love it so much is because we all start from zero, points-wise. Each driver has the chance to be a contender for the championship at Daytona.

“Last year, we started the season with a fourth-place finish at Daytona, then mechanical problems throughout the next few races dug us into a 400-point hole. It took us almost the whole season to fight ourselves out of it. I can’t wait for Daytona and to get a fresh new season under our belts.

“With this being my third year working with Jeff [Hensley, crew chief], and with the team staying intact during the off-season, I think this No. 5 team is stronger than ever this year. I am looking forward to being in the championship hunt at the end of the year.”

Crew chief Jeff Hensley on racing at Daytona International Speedway:

“After Daytona testing, we came back and took the truck to the wind tunnel. We ended up taking a lot of drag out of it and made some balance shifts, then went to Homestead [Homestead-Miami Speedway]. It made a huge difference, and we were within the top five each day we were in Homestead. We are hoping the changes we have made balance-wise that we should be up front and pretty sporty on raceday.

“Last year at Daytona, we led the most laps and ended up fourth due to a green-white-checkered finish. This year, we hope to have a repeat, except to be in the winner’s circle when the day is done. TRD has given us more horsepower than last year, so hopefully we will be up front the whole race.”