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Event: EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200
Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Qualifying: March 12th 1:30 PM EDT
Race Start: March 13th 1:00 PM EDT Live on Speed
New Venue: “My favorite type of track is one like Atlanta. I like the fast race tracks, driver’s type of tracks. Atlanta speaks for itself in that, even when we ran Cup cars here. This is just a racy race track. I hope the fans are looking forward to the trucks coming to Atlanta. It’s going to be a great change of pace. If we get the proper amount of trucks in there, with the guys that we have behind the wheels and the caliber of manufacturers, we will put on a great show.”
Mixed Up Drivers: “Truck racing is so exciting because there is a mix of drivers. You’ve got kids that come in that don’t know their tails from a hole in the ground and they have fast trucks, so they feel like they have to bounce off everything. Then you have older guys who know you don’t need to do that. Then you have the flamboyant type like Carl Edwards that does the cheerleader deal, and then you have the older guys that don’t say anything and just try to put a good show on. So it is just a big mix there. The manufacturers are big too. We now have Toyota in the sport and Dodge, who spends a ton of money on its truck program. So I think we are starting to see a big manufacturer race going on now. We are getting bigger sponsors such as Square D. I wouldn’t be surprised if in a couple more years you will see other manufacturers getting involved.”
Media’s Help Needed: “The drivers are doing what they need to do to get more fans in the stands for truck races. Now it is up to the media to promote it. The show is there. It is little things like last year when we went into Dover, inside the race track it had a sign that said, “NASCAR parking left, Truck Series parking right.” They don’t even connect it to NASCAR at most tracks. You have the Truck Series separated like a different entity and then Nextel Cup and Busch Grand National is considered to be part of NASCAR. I think the more we connect the three and market it around NASCAR it will draw people’s eyes. NASCAR has a huge following. Why don’t we take what we have and promote it? Look at Jack Sprague and Mike Skinner coming back into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and Toyota coming in, that is big, so use it. That is what we need to do to get people in the stands.”
Notes:
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The truck Bobby is racing is called Beavis. Hamilton won Darlington with this particular truck last year.
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Hamilton will be appearing at the Speedway Children’s Charity event signing autographs from 6:30-7:30 pm at the Tara building on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s race track property.
Team Information:
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