Date of Birth: June 28, 1957  l  Hometown: Ontario, Calif. (raised in Susanville, Calif.)
Residence: Daytona Beach, Fla.  l  Ht/Wt.: 6’0"/200 lbs.  l  Wife: Angela (married Nov. 25, 00) Children: Sons Jamie (11/22/77) and Dustin (4/20/85)  l  Hobbies: Golf, billiards

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Mike Skinner’s rise to greatness is unlike that of most past NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champions. Growing up in Susanville, Calif., he did not have the resources that most NASCAR racers had in the South. He did not get behind the wheel of a race car until 1976 at Susanville Speedway, a half-mile dirt track in California. From that moment, he knew he wanted to make racing his career.

After winning a track championship at Susanville, Skinner decided he needed to move east to race against the best of the best. He moved to North Carolina with the hope of making a name for himself. He competed with other NASCAR hopefuls in the Carolinas and Virginia, trying to get his big break. His hard work paid off, and the then 28-year-old Skinner received his first NASCAR Cup Series ride at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in 1986.

It took another nine years for Skinner to get another chance to race full-time in one of NASCAR’s top series. Skinner was named the driver of the No. 3 GM Goodwrench truck for Richard Childress Racing in 1995, the inaugural year of the Craftsman Truck Series. Skinner won the first race of the season at Phoenix International Raceway, and his fellow competitors immediately knew he would be a force to be reckoned with every weekend. Skinner went on to post eight wins, 17 top-five finishes and 18 top-10 finishes en route to his first Craftsman Truck Series Championship.

Skinner returned to the Cup Series with RCR in 1997. Skinner drove the No. 31 car to three top-10 finishes, swept the pole for both events at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and was named the series’ Rookie of the Year that same year. . Skinner drove the No. 31 car through the end of the 2001 season, compiling 38 top-10 finishes and winning back-to-back NASCAR exhibition races in Japan (1997 and 1998). Skinner also won the Gatorade 125-mile qualifying race at Daytona in 2001.

Skinner moved to the No. 4 Kodak car in 2002. He had a solid year and posted a top-10 finish at (Rockingham) North Carolina Speedway. He substituted for injured driver Jerry Nadeau the following season and scored a pole at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway in September.

Skinner returned to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2004, this time driving a Toyota Tundra for Bill Davis Racing. He knew Toyota had the best resources and losing was not an option, which was also his personal credo. It was a perfect fit. Skinner posted four top-five finishes, nine top-10 finishes and finished 11th in the year-end points standings.

The 2005 season was another strong year for Skinner and the No. 5 Toyota Tundra team. The team claimed seven pole positions and ended BDR's winless streak in the Craftsman Truck Series by winning back-to-back races at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway. The victories enabled team owners Bill and Gail Davis to become one of only six car owners to win in all three NASCAR national touring series. Skinner paced the field a series-leading 874 laps and complied nine top-five finishes and 13 top-10 finishes.

Skinner once again piloted the No. 5 Toyota Tundra to a great season in 2006. The team again captured the award for the most poles during the season (eight). After an outstanding win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, eight top-five finishes, thirteen top-10 finishes and a 10th-place finish in the final points standings, Skinner wrapped up one of the best seasons of his career.

Skinner and the No. 5 team are poised to win the 2007 Craftsman Truck Series Championship. With TRD power under the hood and a seasoned veteran driver behind the wheel, the sky is the limit.

2006 Finished 10th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship standings. For the second consecutive year, led the series in most pole positions (eight) in a season (Charlotte, Texas, Michigan, Kansas, Loudon, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Miami). Claimed both the pole and victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Earned eight top-five finishes and thirteen top-10 finishes.

2005 Finished fifth in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship standings. 

Led the series with seven pole positions (California, Charlotte, Fort Worth [2], Nashville, Las Vegas and Atlanta). 

Won back-to-back races at Bristol Motor Speedway (August) and Richmond International Raceway (September). 

Led the Series with 874 laps led.

2004 Finished 12th the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points. Earned two pole positions (Ft. Worth, Las Vegas). Had four top-five finishes and nine top-10 finishes to his credit. 

2003 Won the pole at Richmond Race Way

2001 Won the Gatorade 125 at Daytona

2000 Finished 12^th in NASCAR Winston Cup point standings

2000 Earned one pole position, one top-five and 11 top-10 finishes

2000 Collected career-best finish (second) April 16 at Talladega Superspeedway

1999 Finished 10^th in NASCAR Winston Cup point standings, his first top-10 finish

1998 Team earned Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Championship and UAW-GM Teamwork Award of Excellence

1998 Winner of NASCAR Coca-Cola 500 in Motegi, Japan

1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year

1997 Only rookie to win pole position in both NASCAR Winston Cup races at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway

1997 Winner of NASCAR Thunder Special in Suzuka, Japan

1996 Third in NASCAR Truck Series point standings; ended fulltime truck racing career with 16 wins, 15 poles and $1,019,091 in 44 races

1995 NASCAR Truck Series Champion (inaugural season)

1986 NASCAR Winston Cup debut, April 27, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (started27^th and finished 22^nd)

1983 Moved to N.C. to pursue stock car racing career, raced short tracks in the Carolinas and Virginia

1976 Began racing career at Susanville (Calif.) Speedway, where he won three track championships.

Defining Moments....

• First NASCAR Winston Cup Race: April 27, 1986, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (qualified 27^th, finished 22^nd)

• First NASCAR Winston Cup Top-Five Finish: Third, Oct. 18, 1998, Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (qualified ninth)

• First NASCAR Winston Cup Top-10 Finish: Ninth, Aug. 2, 1997, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (qualified sixth)

• First NASCAR Winston Cup Pole: Feb. 16, 1997, Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (finished 12^th)

• First NASCAR Winston Cup Outside Pole: Oct. 27, 1996, Phoenix International Raceway (finished 13^th)

• First NASCAR Winston Cup Season Top-10 Finish: 10^th, 1999

• First Bud Shootout: Feb. 8, 1998, Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (qualified third, finished 13^th)

• First Winston No Bull 5 Race: Sept. 6, 1998, Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (qualified 13^th, finished 26^th)

• First NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division Win: March 13, 1999, Atlanta Motor Speedway (qualified 17^th)

• First NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division Top-Five Finish: March 13, 1999, Atlanta Motor Speedway (finished first, qualified 17^th)

• First NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division Top-10 Finish: March 13, 1999, Atlanta Motor Speedway (finished first, qualified 17^th)

• First NASCAR Truck Series Race: Feb. 5, 1995, Phoenix International Speedway (qualified 16^th, finished first)

• First NASCAR Truck Series Win: Feb. 5, 1995, Phoenix International Speedway (qualified 16^th)

• First NASCAR Truck Series Pole: April 8, 1995, Tucson (Ariz.) Raceway Park (finished 27^th)

125 Victory Lane at Daytona!  

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Mike & Angie Skinner!

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