John King? Isn't he on CNN? (photo courtesy NASCAR.com)

‘Cuz I really wanna know!

Nothing is better than the first few races of the year for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.  I have absolutely no clue who the drivers are and what trucks they are in.  I spent a great majority of the race thinking that the 5 Truck of Paulie Harraka was Todd Bodine.

In my defense, there was NOTHING in the bonehead driving style displayed by Harraka to suggest otherwise.

It only seems fitting that an unknown driver would take the checkers at a rather violent NCWTS race at Daytona.  John King (who?!?) managed to hang on through flat running over Johnny Sauter to take the lead and the third and final green/white/checker attempt to finish the race.  This was John King’s eighth NCWTS race.  EVER.  John does owe this win to his teammate Timothy Peters.  Peters came home second to King, but first in our hearts with the Top Gun “Never leave your wingman” post-race interview.

» Continue reading “Camping World Truck Series: Come On, Tell Me, Who Are You?”

That's the look of coolness and of a dude who has a killer Twitter contest going right now. (photo credit: Autoweek)

I love Brad Keselowski.  Why?  Because he’s freakin’ different and chicks dig different dudes.

What’s Brad up to in the off season?  Ummm…besides being my favorite for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup title (yes, I’m saying it now, mark the calendar) he’s lighting up Twitter with a contest.

Kes is racing in the season opening Camping World Truck series race at Daytona on February 24, 2012 and he’ll be sponsored by Reese Towpower and Cooper Standard.

5,000 winners will be chosen to have their Twitter handles printed on the decklid of the truck.

Morgann, I’m dying to make this happen!  What do I do?  Easy.

Follow Kes.  Follow Reese Towpower.  Follow Cooper Standard.  Retweet Kes’s tweet with your prediction and 5,000 fans will get their names drawn for the lucky prize to have their handle printed on the hood of the truck.

Ten grand prize winners will get their names on the side of Kes’s truck for that race as well.  How cool is that?  Yeah, way cool indeed.

He's baaaaaack and you know you're excited. Don't deny it. (photo credit: NASCAR)

Your favorite South Boston, Virginia native is back and he’s getting behind the wheel of a NASCAR Camping World series truck starting with the Daytona season opener in February as reported by the Washington Post.

His younger brother has been racing in Sprint Cup for years but everybody knows the eldest of the Burton brothers is our favorite.  Why?

Because we love to hear him talk.  Google or Youtube his name and watch some interviews.  I don’t even have to offer an explanation as to why we love him.  The videos speak (literally) for themselves.

So what’s going on?  Ward Burton is making a much-anticipated (at least for me anyways) return to NASCAR in February.  However, the story isn’t done here.  He’s bringing his son Jeb (yes, that’s his real name) with him to pilot the No. 27 Chevy in the truck series.

Ward signed with Hillman Racing and also signed an agreement to start a driver development program for Jeb as well.

Not many details were provided about the contract but Ward is definitely making his return to NASCAR in the truck series at Daytona in February and this race fan is freakin’ stoked.

I don't care what fans say, Jason Leffler has the coolest hair in the universe. The end.

It’s not quite a baker’s dozen but it’s a little bit more than that by about one race.  For once in a blue moon, I agree with something Kyle Busch has decided to partake in. 

I’ve never said he was a crappy businessman.  So I rest my case.

Jason Leffler has been named primary driver of the No. 18 truck in the Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports for fourteen races in 2012. 

Leffler has one career NCWTS win and one Nationwide series win as well and will be sponsored by Dollar General. 

Sound familiar?  It should because Dollar General had been partnered with Turner Motorsports and just last week Reed Sorenson was released from his driving duties at the organization just before DG inked a new sponsorship contract with Joe Gibbs Racing in all three major NASCAR series.

On a more consistent note, Leffler has finished in the top ten in the last five years in the Nationwide series standings.

On a less consistent note, in two seasons KBM has won sixteen races but all with Kyle Busch behind the wheel so fans are fixing to see just how great KBM can or can’t be without Rowdy behind the wheel.

Cutting races in 2012? Not cool! Almost as "not cool" as these briefs themselves, right?

Some not-so-cool news in the NASCAR world this morning as it was announced on Monday that the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series would be cut by three races to 22 from 25 in 2012.

Making an appearance and return to the schedule is famed and my beloved Rockingham Speedway which was cut from the series and hasn’t been seen since 2004 so this is most welcome news for “old school” NASCAR fans who love the historical race tracks of the South.

There is also a second race being added at Iowa Speedway as well which confuses me because Iowa isn’t anything special so I don’t understand why a second date is being added there.  Why not add someplace cool like say maybe a road course?

Okay, maybe not a road course but I always HATE seeing races taken away from tracks.  It truly breaks my heart.

» Continue reading “NCWTS Briefs: 2012 Schedule Cut By Three Races”

Here they are, fans. All three of your 2011 NASCAR series champions. From L-R: NCWTS champ Austin Dillon, NNS champ Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and NSCS champ Tony Stewart.

Just in case you missed all of this weekend’s racing action, here is a quick, visual recap of who won which trophy this weekend.  Aren’t they pretty?  Yes, I knew you’d agree.

I want to take a quick moment and say “thank you” to all of our readers for tagging along with Erin and I this 2011 season as we began mid-season for all three series.  I hope everything you’ve read has been enjoyable and entertaining and you can bet your hineys that we’ll be back in 2012 with a vengeance and ready to go in February when NASCAR kicks it off again!

So I leave you and ajourn to my cave where I will weep myself to sleep for the next 97 days (and counting…) until the Daytona 500 commences.

Yes, there was a hauler fire at Talladega Sunday night. No, Regan Smith's biscuits did not burn but some stuff in the hauler did.

Well, hello race fans.  It’s Tuesday and guess what:  for the first time in about a million years I’m going to cover some pertinent racing news. 

Believe you me, there is some weird news out there this week.  We have a little bit of news about hauler fires at Talladega and even some news about which teams are expanding in the Nationwide Series too.

There’s also a certain Motocross racer that’s eyeballing NASCAR?  Yes and I will reveal his name shortly courtesy of Nate Ryan at USA Today who, by the way, is a brilliant NASCAR mind on Twitter you need to follow like right now.

Did I mention A.J. Foyt said the words “stupid” and “Jimmie Johnson” in the same sentence this week as well?  Oh yes, it totally happened and I’m going to tell you all about it with a huge grin on my face.  Why?  Because Tony Stewart loves A.J. Foyt and it’s something he’d totally say to the media.  I must share it pronto.

» Continue reading “Garage Gossip: Hauler Fires And Why Jimmie Doesn’t Know $@#& About IndyCar”

Ron Hornaday, Jr. took win number fifty-one in typical Las Vegas style today: dramatic. How else? (photo credit: Robert Laberge)

Vegas is filled with all things racing this weekend with the Camping World Truck Series and IndyCar finale.  It’d only be fitting fans would be treated to endless drama to compliment the full plate, right?

It’d only be in the style of Las Vegas to do so because whatever happens here, stays here, right?

Wrong.  What happened here today will definitely carry over into next weekend and have a huge impact on the points race and did.

Both the points leader and runner-up had issues early on in the race and opened up the points battle for pretty much anybody inside the top five and was there ever a shake up.

Oh and Ron Hornaday, Jr. won his second race in a row today two weeks after he won the most recent truck race in Kentucky as well.   Looks like fifty-one will be his lucky number on the Kino table tonight, right?

Let’s take a look at how today’s drama unfolded.  Even for a truck race, it’ll be hard for tonight’s Sprint Cup race to top what happened today in the Camping World Truck Series.

» Continue reading “NCWTS: Hornaday Rolls Into Lucky Win Number 51 At Las Vegas”

Fall is in the air. I have a sinus infection and thank God there are only two races this weekend or I think I'd croak.

With the first day of fall finally here there’s no better time to relax than this weekend.  Guess what?  Lipstick and Lugnuts is doing the same, literally chillaxing as the cool air and rainy weather take over the Midwest this weekend.

Not a busy weekend on the schedule as we only have two series in action this weekend:  the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series are both in Loudon, NH and the weather is not looking promising yet again.

So could we possibly have another Monday race on our hands?  Maybe so but we’ll be there every step of the way so let’s take a look and see what’s on the plate this weekend.

So get ready folks because the Hot Pass is coming your way and it starts right now.

» Continue reading “Weekend Hot Pass: September 24 – 25, 2011″

Yes, ladies. Tony can look hot when he wants. Hard to believe, huh? Word on the street has it he's a pretty good driver too.

The day is finally here.  I’ve been looking forward to this column since Lipstick and Lugnuts went public because I get to tell you ALL about Tony Stewart today. 

Fan or not, you’ll be absolutely amazed at his accomplishments over the years from a very young age to a current and successful driver/owner. 

We’ll take a look at Tony’s USAC, IndyCar and NASCAR accomplishments because believe me when I say there are many.

Plus I’ll include some awesome eye candy for the ladies (mainly for my enjoyment) and even take a look at Tony’s Camping World Truck career.  I bet not too many of you knew he raced in that NASCAR series, did you? 

Let’s get started because I’ve been ready for this for months.  Let’s roll.

» Continue reading “In The Spotlight Awesomeness Edition: 2-time NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart”