2002 Media Release

2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Point Standings

Rookie Points Standings:
Brendan Gaughan 237
Bill Lester 160
Jason Small 155

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 - 20
Poles - 0
Wins - 0
Top fives - 0
Top tens - 0
Earnings - $ 207,335
Laps Led - 0 of 3451
Races Led - 0 of 20
DNF's - 4

Truck Series Career Statistics
Starts - 26
Poles - 0
Wins - 0
Top fives - 0
Top tens - 0
Earnings - $ 250,405

Truck Series Performance Record: Phoenix International Raceway

Craftsman Truck Series
Date Location Start Finish Laps Status Money
10-26-0 Phoenix 17 18 158 of 159 Running $ 7,915
Total 158 of 159(99.3%) $ 7,915


Family Time: Following the event at California Speedway, Bill Lester spent a few days with his family in the San Francisco area visiting his Mother and Father.
"It made no since to go back to Atlanta this week," said Lester. "I don't get to see my family very often any more so it was nice to spend a little time with them this past week."

Rookie of the Year: Lester is currently in a fight to stay in the second position in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year points battle. He has recorded 160 points, and sits five points ahead of Jason Small who has recorded 155 points through the first 20 events of the season. Both drivers have been all but eliminated from the Rookie of the Year Award, which appears to be heading to Brendan Gaughan, who has two victories on the year.

"We will have a tough time finishing any higher than second in the Rookie of the Year race, but we have had a good first year," said Lester. "Most of this year has been about learning new tracks for me. We've had some good moments and a few bumps in the road along the way. All in all I feel pretty happy about where I am as a driver and where the team is in the learning curve. I wish we would have recorded a top ten or two by this time, but it's going to come. The big thing for us is to finish strong so we have something to build on for next year."

Past History: There is a lot of history for Bobby Hamilton Racing here at Phoenix International Raceway. It is the site for many firsts for not only the truck organization, but also its owner, Bobby Hamilton. In 2000, the organization won its first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the track, and in 1990 Hamilton made his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series start of his career. Also in 1996, Hamilton won his very first race on the Winston Cup tour.

In the case of the No. 8 Team they recorded a 19th place finish in last year's event after from the 29th position with Willy T. Ribbs. Lester also competed in last year's event finishing in the 18th position after starting from the 17th position.

Championship Hunt: With two races remaining in the 2002 season, there are still seven teams that can win the Truck Series Championship. The last team that can still mathematically win the championship is the No. 18 Dickies Square D Dodge of Bobby Hamilton Racing.

This Week's Truck: Lester will race, Curley, at Phoenix International Raceway this week. It will be the fifth time this year that Curley has competed in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event. Its best finish is a 15th place finish at Pikes Peak International Raceway earlier this year. The last time out at South Boston Speedway Lester brought Curley home in the 17 position. This truck has also never finished outside of the top twenty in a race.

Performance Chart: Curley
DATE RACE START/FINISH DRIVER
5-5-02 St. Louis 12 17 Bill Lester
5-19-02 Pikes Peak 9 15 Bill Lester
6-29-02 Milwaukee 16 18 Bill Lester
9-21-02 South Boston 31 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 3 14 100 of 100 Running 12,715
Phoenix (Next Event)

Homestead (Final Event)

Totals 2989 of 3451 (86.6%) $ 207,335

Best Start: 3rd three times, most recently @ California Speedway 11-2-02
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