If what Kyle Busch told Bob Pockrass is true, it sounds like the answer is yes.
In an article Thursday on SceneDaily.com Busch said if sponsorship doesn’t materialize for his Truck Series team for the 2011 season, he would have to shut it down. It’s quite a turn around from the beginning of the season when KBM was supposed to run two full time teams, and possibly a third part time, out of a new state-of-the art shop in Mooresville.
When Busch started up his team, no expense was spared in putting together a top flight organization. He hired championship winning crew chief Rick Ren away from Kevin Harvick Inc. to lead his effort as Director of Competition, and brought in veteran crew chief Eric Phillips to call the shots from the pit box. Busch also opened up his wallet to build a modern 60,000 sq ft race shop to house his new operation. And then the problems began.
When it was announced that Miccosukee would not be sponsoring Busch’s team for the 2010 season like they initially thought, the countdown started. It was only a few short months later that KBM’s second team with Tayler Malsam was shut down due to lack of funding. And without Miccosukee, KBM has been left stringing together as many one off sponsorship deals as they can find to get the #18 team through the season.
It’s interesting to note that through all of this, the team has been able to have a great deal of success. Through 18 races this season, the team has amassed four poles, four wins, and sits only 82 points out of the lead in the owners points.
Knowing the little bit that I do about the situation, I’ve got to wonder how Busch’s business people allowed this team to be mismanaged as it appears it was. With all of the resources that were available to him (like boss Joe Gibbs) one would think that some better decisions would have been made along the way. I also have to think that the issues surrounding KBM probably helped lead to the demise of Busch and agent/spotter Jeff Dickerson’s relationship.
Besides JGR, if Kyle needed a good example of how to start and run a team the right way, he needed to look no further then fellow Cup and Truck driver Kevin Harvick and his operation. Harvick started small, running partial Truck schedules in 2002 and 2003 before going full time with Matt Crafton in 2004. When he started his NNS program, Harvick again started small, running only a few races in 2004 before having a full time team in 2005. And in most cases, Harvick was only putting out cars and trucks that were sponsored. Today, KHI not only has a successful CWTS and NNS program, but they also build chassis and hang bodies for other teams, which provides much needed revenue to keep the doors open and the lights on. There is no reason why KBM, if run properly, couldn’t have turned into the Toyota version of KHI.
Hopefully the combination of Busch’s star power and the continued success of his team will lead to a full time sponsor. It would certainly be a shame to lose another team, especially one so young in it’s existence.
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Over the last several seasons, the Camping World Truck Series has been dominated by the old guard. Names like Ron Hornaday, Johnny Benson, Todd Bodine, Ted Musgrave, and Bobby Hamilton have been inscribed on the championship trophy at years end. This season however, the landscape of the Truck Series may be changing.
I want to start off by giving you an interesting stat. Through the first ten races of the 2010 season, Ron Hornaday is winless. It’s the longest opening stretch of races he’s ever gone in his CWTS career without winning a race. For Hornaday and KHI, that’s a very big deal. While Hornaday still sits third in the points standings, this winless streak appears to have taken its first victim. Jayski is reporting that crew chief Doug George has left KHI. Harvick expects the #33 Chevy to be competing for wins every week, so this move doesn’t come as a shock. No word yet on who might replace George.
The other moderate surprise this season has been the struggles of Mike Skinner. After winning three races in 2009, Skinner currently sits sixth in the standings and his best finish was fourth at Texas. On top of that, he hasn’t been a real threat to win in any race this season. I say moderate with Skinner, because on some level his performance isn’t surprising. His #5 Randy Moss Motorsports team has been in disarray since it lost crew chief Eric Phillipsto Kyle Busch Motorsports before the season started.
So who has been winning races while Hornaday and Skinner struggle? Besides at least one win by Todd Bodine, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch, the story of 2010 has been the new faces. Aric Almirola, Timothy Peters, Austin Dillon, and Johnny Sauter have all scored at least one victory, and any of these guys could legitimately challenge for the championship.
Starting last weekend at Iowa Speedway, the Truck Series now starts into a summer stretch of races that will go nine straight weeks. With only ten races currently in the books, a lot can and will change over the next nine weekends. While you can never count the veterans out, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Truck Series had a first time champion in 2010.
Most NASCAR drivers like to talk. If things aren’t going well few hesitate to express their issues with those in charge. If they’re mad you can be sure the person on the opposite end will be fully aware of it. And luckily for them if their intended target isn’t willing to listen, there is a media corps that is more than happy to lend an ear and write a story.
Case in point: Mike Skinner.
Skinner of course went to work for David Dollar and Randy Moss last season after Bill Davis Racing closed its doors. The move positioned Skinner well with a team that appeared to be on the rebound/upswing. With veteran crew Eric Phillips on the box, the 52-year-old Skinner and his #5 team were able to score three wins and finish third in the points on a shoe-string budget. In classic Skinner style, he made sure everyone knew their money situation too – but he was a happy guy.
What a difference a year can make. Eric Phillips left the team in the off-season to take over a crew chief position at the new Kyle Busch Motorsports, and with Gene Nead at the helm, the team just hasn’t been the same. After five races Skinner is tenth with only two top-ten finishes. He’s no longer a happy guy.
The frustrated Skinner voiced his discontent with his hand-picked crew chief this past weekend to NASCAR.com.
“I appreciate Gene going like he went and helping Robby Gordon a couple weeks. I appreciate him doing that and getting the information on the tire and so on and so forth…By the same token, we really need to keep our eye on the ball.”
Note Skinner probably doesn’t actually mean he appreciates Nead’s excursion to help Robby Gordon. As I understand it, the extracurricular activity was supposed to be on the D.L.
Skinner also pointed criticism to Randy Moss for being an absentee owner.
“Randy’s a great guy, but he’s not involved as much … I’d love to see him get involved more. Maybe if we can win us a couple of races before football season starts …”
Now I understand Skinner’s frustrations with his team, and I think they are valid criticisms, but generally all of these things are issues you would want handled internally. I know if I’m David Dollar the last thing I want or need is for my driver to be spouting off to the media about the functioning of my organization.
Don’t get me wrong though, I’m not complaining. It’s always great to see a driver speak his mind. These insightful and at times cringe-worthy moments are what journalism is all about. Remember Kasey Kahne and his ‘I have no idea who is in charge moment’ last year? Priceless.
The media, fortunately for them, and perhaps unfortunately for team owners, can be a public conduit for getting things done. If drivers feel they aren’t being listened to at home, they have a means for broadcasting their grievances to the whole neighborhood. Chances are things will be changed. You can bet the Monday after Kasey Kahne’s comments he knew who was in charge. And I would imagine by now Mike Skinner and David Dollar have had a conversation about his comments this weekend.
Thankfully for all of us, for as long as there is a NASCAR and a media covering it, you can bet frustrated drivers will be more than happy to air out their team’s dirty laundry to get what they want.
After the 2008 season, we decided to look back over the season and see how we did in terms of reporting on rumors and breaking some news. In the end, we got eight correct, had two pushes, screwed one up, and had three rumors outstanding. With 2009 behind us, I thought it would be fun to again do the same thing. I’m going to start with the three bits we had outstanding, and then we’ll move into 2009.
Fastenal to RCR: After the info we heard, we thought this one was in the books. Even Jayski reported at one point that this was going to happen, even mentioning a driver lineup. But in the end, Fastenal ended up at JR Motorsports for the ‘09 season. Scratch this one.
Rule Changes Coming to the Truck Series: NASCAR did indeed make changes to the Truck Series rules for 2009, and we were close. We first reported they were only going to allow only four crew members over the wall and that they would initiate a hard card limit. They did indeed limit both, but we missed the crew limit by one. It was five members over the wall and not four. I’m still giving us the point here. Plus one for the Insiders.
BDR Employees Laid Off: This indeed was true, and what was left of BDR was turned into Triad Racing Technologies. TRT supplies teams with Toyota engines, chassis, and some other services. Plus one for the Insiders.
First Crew Member Tests Positive: In my post following the Daytona 500, I let you know that I’d heard NASCAR had caught it’s first offender of the new substance abuse policy. We found out a short time later that it was a Mayfield Motorsports employee, and he was suspended indefinitely from NASCAR. It was strange foreshadowing for the summer to come and drug testing. Plus one for the Insiders.
RMM Cuts Salaries: Early in the season, we heard that Randy Moss Motorsports had cut it’s employees salaries by as much as 35%. While no official announcement was ever put out, this was indeed true. The budget for the #5 Tundra for Mike Skinner was limited at best, which led to the cuts. Plus one for the Insiders.
Trouble At Trail: 2009 was supposed to be the first season for minority owned Trail Motorsport. But what started off with much fan fare and press, fizzled before it ever got started. We first told you in April about the problems internally at Trail. On it’s own, the team never fielded a race car at a Truck Series, Nationwide Series, or Cup Series event. Plus one for the Insiders.
Kyle Busch, Team Owner in 2010: We were the first to tell you about Kyle Busch’s plans to start his own NASCAR team for the 2010 season. In July, we reported that construction was ongoing on a new race shop for Kyle and that he, Johnny Benson, and Brian Ickler may drive for the new team. Busch will indeed have a team in 2010, with two full time trucks. One for himself and Brian Ickler, and another for Tayler Malsam. If sponsorship can be found, Benson may run a third truck. Plus one for the Insiders.
Parker Kligerman, Wyler Racing, & Michael McDowell: In September we told you that ARCA driver Parker Kligerman would run some NNS races for Penske, that Wyler Racing may be closing up shop, and that Michael McDowell would run at New Hampshire for Thorsport Racing. Kligerman ended up running at Kansas and Homestead for Penske Racing. Wyler did make it to the end of the season, but from what we know just barely. As of today, there is no word on Wyler Racing’s 2010 plans. And finally, McDowell did run at NHMS for Thorsport. He ran the #98 truck, that was painted up like a police car. We will call that plus two and minus one for the Insiders.
Your Favorite Team and a Funded Driver: While we did write a post mentioning a rumor, we wrote the post more as commentary then actually reporting the rumor. The post itself was about John Wes Townley and his impending move to Richard Childress Racing. Townley will indeed race for RCR in 2010, and will compete full time in the NNS in the #21 Zaxbys Chevrolet. Since we didn’t call the driver out, nor did we get anything wrong, I’ll give us a push.
Rick Ren Gone from KHI: We told you before Homestead that Kevin Harvick Inc. crew chief Rick Ren was leaving at the end of the season, possibly to take a managerial role at Kyle Busch’s new team. This rumor was actually denied publicly by Kevin Harvick, but in the end turned out to be true. Ren will serve as the Director of Operations for KBM this season. Plus one for the Insiders.
Eric Phillips to KBM: To add to this stout lineup for 2010, we were the first to tell you about Eric Phillips leaving Randy Moss Motorsports for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Phillips will serve as crew chief for the #18 truck piloted by Busch and Brian Ickler for this season. We were certainly all over the KBM stuff in ‘09. Plus one for the Insiders.
Biffle and Baker Curb: And last but not least, after it was reported by SceneDaily.com that Baker Curb was working on a deal with a Cup driver for the 2010 NNS season, we told you that Cup driver was Greg Biffle. Biffle will pilot the #27 Red Man Ford Fusion for Baker Curb this season in an undetermined number of races. Plus one for the Insiders.
Looking back over all the rumors, I think we had another pretty good year. We got eleven right, missed two calls, and had one push. So over the last two years, that makes us 19-3-3 on the scoreboard. We certainly don’t know it all or hear it all, and we also won’t report every rumor we hear. But I think this shows that when you hear a rumor from TNI, odds are pretty good it’s true. What do you think?
Less than two weeks after announcing their plans for 2010, we are hearing Kyle Busch Motorsports has snagged longtime Truck Series crew chief Eric Phillips. Phillips is expected to take over duties for the #18 truck driven by Kyle Busch and Brian Ickler.
Phillips joins KBM from Randy Moss Motorsports (formally Morgan-Dollar Motorsports) where he has been since 2005. Phillips was Dennis Setzer’s crew chief during the ‘05 season when Setzer won four races and finished second in the points. Prior to that, Phillips led Travis Kvapil to Toyota’s first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win with the short lived Bang! Racing.
This past season, Phillips led veteran Mike Skinner to three wins, eight top-fives, 17 top-tens and three poles. Skinner finished third in the Championship standings.
No word on a crew chief for the #56 truck driven by 20-year-old Tayler Malsam.