2002 Media Release

2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Point Standings

Rookie Points Standings:
Brendan Gaughan 227
Bill Lester 159
Jason Small 154

Bill Lester - Personal Info:
Birthdate - February 6, 1961
Wife - Cheryl
Children - None
Residence - Atlanta, Georgia
Education - BS in E.E./C.S.
U.C. Berkeley

Bill Lester - Fast Facts….
NASCAR Career (1999-2002)
Busch Grand - one start

2002 Season
Starts - 19
Poles - 0
Wins - 0
Top fives - 0
Top tens - 0
Earnings - $ 194,620
Laps Led - 0 of 3351
Races Led - 0 of 19
DNF's - 4

Truck Series Career Statistics
Starts - 25
Poles - 0
Wins - 0
Top fives - 0
Top tens - 0
Earnings - $ 237,690

Truck Series Performance Record: California Speedway No starts at facility in any division of motorsports.

Topics of Interest

Home State Race: For Bill Lester, coming to race at California Speedway is somewhat like coming home to race. Lester, a California native, currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, but his parents still reside in Northern California.

"I guess if any track on the circuit was going to be my home track, it would be this one," said Lester. "I have never raced at California Speedway, but it is the closest track to my home in Oakland, California that the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competes at. It will be fun being out on the west coast for a few days. I'm planning on driving up to see my family following the event, so it should provide a nice break in the trip."

Lester made a visit to the shop last week to keep the team pumped up about the final few races. He took the team out to lunch, and then joined in as all three Bobby Hamilton Racing teams took a break from work and played football following lunch.

"It was a lot of fun," said Lester. "The boys have a lot of fun. They work really hard all year, and when it gets this time of year, most of them are big football fans so they take a break during lunch to play. I'm just glad I was there to have fun with them. It's probably the most important thing I could have done the last two weeks. Every driver needs to spend some time with the guys who put it on the line for them."

Career starts/BHR starts: With Lester making his 25th start for Bobby Hamilton Racing, he moves into sole possession of second place in career starts for the organization. He is 40 starts behind Joe Ruttman for most starts in team history.

"It's pretty cool to be second to Joe Ruttman in anything," said Lester. "I don't think we'll catch him next year, but depending on how many races are on the schedule, I may get him the year after that."

Earning: Lester is only $ 5,380 from the $ 200,000 mark in earnings for the season. He should surpass the mark when he takes the green flag for the American Racing Wheels 200 at California Speedway.

Past History: Last year, Willy T. Ribbs started the California event from the 19th position and finished in the 18th position. It was the first time all year that the No. 8 team was able to finish on the lead lap.

Championship Hunt: With three races remaining in the 2002 season, there are still 10 teams that can win the Truck Series Championship.

This Week's Truck: Lester will be driving his favorite truck, "Trix," again this week at California Speedway. It is the same truck that he piloted at Las Vegas Motor Speedway two weeks ago and also earlier this year at Texas Motor Speedway, when he recorded a career-best 11th place finish.

"Well hear we go again," said Lester. "Trix is my favorite truck in our stable. It is always fast when we don't have a problem, so we're expecting big things this weekend. I just hope that nothing crazy happens to us this week. We've had some really bad luck all year, so it will be nice to get it behind us on a track I know we'll be good at."

Performance Chart: Trix
DATE RACE START/FINISH DRIVER
5-7-02 Texas 7 11 Bill Lester
7-6-02 Kansas 3 29 Bill Lester
7-13-02 Kentucky 3 14 Bill Lester
7-27-02 Michigan 19 15 Bill Lester
8-10-02 Nashville 12 16 Bill Lester
9-13-02 Texas 6 28 Bill Lester
10-13-02 Las Vegas 12 17 Bill Lester

Lester's 2002 Craftsman Truck Series Event Results
Location Start Finish Laps Status Money Won
Daytona 19 18 98 of 100 Running $ 15,165
Darlington 13 28 115 of 147 Running 7,090
Martinsville 13 25 230 of 250 Accident 7,865
St. Louis 12 17 158 of 160 Running 10,790
Pikes Peak 9 15 199 of 200 Running 11,690
Dover 22 12 197 of 200 Running 13,465
Texas 7 11 166 of 167 Running 13,350
Memphis 31 17 200 of 200 Running 12,065
Milwaukee 16 18 200 of 203 Running 9,665
Kansas 3 29 87 of 167 Vibration 9,295
Kentucky 3 14 149 of 150 Running 14,740
Loudon 20 14 205 of 207 Running 9,990
Michigan 19 15 100 of 100 Running 13,215
IRP 11 28 185 of 200 Accident 7,090
Nashville 12 16 148 of 151 Running 8,640
Richmond 18 36 5 of 200 Accident 5,215
Texas 6 28 49 of 146 Running 6,935
South Boston31 17 255 of 257 Running 8,315
Las Vegas 12 17 143 of 143 Running 10,040

California (Next Event)

Totals 2889 of 3351 (86.2%) $ 194,620

Best Start: 3rd twice, most recently @ Kentucky Speedway 7-13-02
Best Finish: 11th @ Texas Motor Speedway 6-7-02
Biggest Purse: $ 15,165 @ Daytona International Speedway 2-15-02

Bill Lester's 2002 Craftsman Truck Series Event Results click here

For More Information see www.bobbyhamiltonracing.com
 

©2002 Bobby Hamilton Racing