The NASCAR Classics library has officially added some Craftsman Truck Series races.
A total of 41 races have been added, with those events falling under four categories: Closest Finishes, Legendary Tracks, Milestone Races and Championship Battles.
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The following races are just some of what you can expect with the newest uploads:
CLOSEST FINISHES
Fas Mart Supertruck Shootout, September 7, 1995, Richmond Raceway
The 15th race in Truck Series history, and the first at Richmond Raceway, turned out to be a thrilling battle to the checkered flag between two NASCAR Cup Series stars.
Terry Labonte qualified his No. 5 truck for Hendrick Motorsports on the pole for the event, headlining a field that included multiple NASCAR Cup Series drivers.
Geoff Bodine, Ken Schrader, Derrike Cope and Darrell Waltrip all qualified for the race, which kicked off a tripleheader weekend that saw the Xfinity Series and Cup Series both in action.
It didn‘t take long for the first caution to wave, as a handful of trucks, including Labonte‘s teammates Scott Lagasse and Jack Sprague, were involved in an accident.
Labonte, Bodine and Ron Hornaday Jr. dominated the race, as they were the only three drivers to lead a lap. The three traded the lead multiple times throughout the race, as it looked like one of the three would end the race in Victory Lane.
The drivers were battling for the lead with less than 10 laps remaining, when Bodine made contact with Hornaday Jr., sending him around and into the wall.
This set up a restart with three laps remaining. When the green flag waved, Bodine attempted to chase down Labonte and caught his bumper as they were approaching the white flag.
The Cup Series stars raced the entire final lap side-by-side, with Mike Skinner right on their tail. Labonte beat Bodine to the line by inches, taking his No. 5 truck to Victory Lane for the first time.
LEGENDARY TRACKS
Stevens Beil/Genuine Car Parts 150, August 19, 1995, Flemington Speedway
The Craftsman Truck Series took their inaugural tour to Flemington, New Jersey in August of 1995 to Flemington Speedway, which was paved in late 1990. The track was originally operated as a dirt track since it opened in 1916.
One of the unique quirks of the speedway was the use of styrofoam blocks that were used in front of the walls to help drivers receive less of an impact.
The interesting shape to the track ended up creating a wild event, as the caution flag waved 11 times for 50 laps. Scott Lagasse was the first driver to hit the styrofoam, as he made contact with it less than 10 laps into the race.
The two biggest impacts of the day came when separate incidents involving John Nemechek‘s No. 87 truck and the No. 83 of Steve Portenga left styrofoam scattered all across the track. Glenn Jarrett proclaimed on the broadcast, “It‘s snowing in August in New Jersey.”
A late caution flag reset the field as Rick Carelli led the field back to the green flag with just two laps to go.
Ron Hornaday Jr. slid under Carelli as they raced to the white flag. The two raced side-by-side for the win, which was captured by Hornaday Jr., despite contact from Carelli, which sent Hornaday‘s No. 16 truck spinning after crossing the line.
MILESTONE RACES
Good Sam Roadside Assistance Carolina 200, April 15, 2012, Rockingham Speedway
When the checkered flag dropped at Rockingham in February 2004 for the final time, it marked the end of an era.
The NASCAR Cup Series debuted at the track in October 1965, racing there until Matt Kenseth held off Kasey Kahne for the win in a thrilling finish in 2004.
Fast forward to 2012 and the anticipated return of Rockingham became a reality, as the Craftsman Truck Series made their debut at the track.
Future Cup Series drivers Ross Chastain and Ty Dillon were in the field that day.
Kahne avenged his loss to Kenseth by leading the final 46 laps en route to Victory Lane. The race marked the fifth race of Kahne‘s Truck Series career and fourth victory.
Eventual Truck Series champion James Buescher finished second.
CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLES
1998 Sam‘s Town 250, November 8, 1998, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The first few seasons in Truck Series history featured dominance from Mike Skinner, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Jack Sprague.
The three drivers combined to win 41 of the first 70 races and three championships through the first three seasons.
With Skinner racing in the Cup Series, Hornaday Jr. and Sprague‘s friendly rivalry turned into an intense championship battle between the two drivers.
They entered the season finale at Las Vegas first and second in points, with just 13 points separating the two.
It was no surprise when the checkered flag waved that the two drivers finished first and second at Las Vegas, with Sprague winning the race but Hornaday Jr. winning the title by just three points.
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