2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

The 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season was the ninth season of the third highest stock car racing in the United States. The season included twenty-five races, beginning with the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at Daytona International Speedway and ending with the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Steve Coulter won the Owners' Championship, while Travis Kvapil won the Drivers' Championship during the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Dodge won the Manufacturers' Championship with 179 points.

2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Previous: 2002 Next: 2004
Champions | Seasons
Travis Kvapil, shown here in 2009, the 2003 Craftsman Truck Series champion.

2003 teams and drivers

Full-time teams

Manufacturer Team No. Driver(s) Crew chief
Chevrolet Morgan-Dollar Motorsports 46 Dennis Setzer Danny Gill
SealMaster Racing 88 Matt Crafton 24 Jerry Cook
Buddy Rice 1
Spears Motorsports 75 David Starr 21 Dave McCarty
Hank Parker Jr. 4
Team Racing 23 Phil Bonifield 14 Tom Mazzuchi
Dana White 5
Jamie Aube 5
Alex Mueller 1
Troxell-MacDonald Racing 72 Randy MacDonald Cliff Button
93 Michael Dokken 4 Lonnie Troxell
Teri MacDonald 1 (R)
Trevor Boys 1
Dana White 1
Roland Isaacs 9 (R)
Jason White 1
Jonathon Price 3
Jon Lemke 1
Jason York 1
Aaron Daniel 1
Jerry Allec Jr. 1
Derrike Cope 1
Xpress Motorsports 16 Travis Kvapil Chris Showalter
Green Light Racing 08 Bobby Dotter 2 Tommy Morgan
Jody Lavender (R) 21
Shane Sieg 2
07 Rich Bickle 1 Doug Howe
Bobby Dotter 8
Stan Boyd 2
Blake Mallory 1
Johnny Chapman 6
Ryan Hanson 1
Mark McFarland 1
Shane Sieg 2
Alex Mueller 1
Dodge Jeremy Mayfield 1
Bobby Hamilton Racing 4 Bobby Hamilton Newt Moore
8 Bill Lester Danny Rollins
18 Chad Chaffin Randy Seals
HT Motorsports 59 Robert Pressley Greg Conner
Orleans Racing 62 Brendan Gaughan Shane Wilson
Ultra Motorsports 1 Ted Musgrave Gene Nead
2 Jason Leffler 16 Tim Kohuth
Jimmy Spencer 3
Andy Houston 6
Ware Racing Enterprises 5 Jerry Hill 22 Doug Taylor
Brian Sockwell 1
Stan Boyd 1
Carl Long 1
Ford Circle Bar Racing 14 Rick Crawford Ray Stonkus
K Automotive Racing 29 Terry Cook Rick Ren
Roush Racing 50 Jon Wood John Monsam
99 Carl Edwards (R) Doug Richert
Chevrolet
Ford
Team Racing 86 Lance Hooper 1 Ethan Davis
Phil Bonifield 8
T. J. Bell (R) 9
Jamie Aube 4
Brad Teague 1
Shane Wallace 1
Ford
Dodge
Fasscore Motorsports 15 Andy Houston 4 Gary Showalter
Rich Bickle 10
Mike Skinner 4
Ryan Hemphill 3
Robby Benton 3
Patrick Lawler 1

Part-time teams

Note: If under "team", the owner's name is listed and in italics, that means the name of the race team that fielded the truck is unknown.

Manufacturer Team No. Driver(s) Crew chief Rounds
Chevrolet 2nd Chance Motorsports 79 Scott Hall ??? 1
Andy Petree Racing 33 Andy Petree ??? 4
Paul Menard 5
Tony Stewart 1
Bradberry Motorsports 78 Charlie Bradberry Ted Kennedy 5
Bradford Miller 68 Brandon Miller ??? 3
Bryan Reffner 80 Bryan Reffner Walter Giles 2
Clean Line Motorsports 38 Brandon Whitt Jerry Pitts 7
Conely Racing 7 Jay Sherston John Conely 2
Danny McCall 56 Matt McCall ??? 1
Dennis Sockwell 54 Brian Sockwell Todd Hall 3
Donald Thompson 92 Jeremy Thompson ??? 2
EVI Motorsports 89 Stan Boyd Ed Huckabee 6
Hands-On Racing 94 Dennis Hannel ??? 2
Horn Auto Racing 58 Chris Horn ??? 8
Jody McCormick 77 Jody McCormick Jeremy McCormick 2
JRS Motorsports 39 Jason Small ??? 4
Keller Motorsports 77 Doug Keller (R) ??? 1
27 David Bridgeman 8
Blake Mallory 1
Ken Hunt 97 Jason York ??? 3
Ken Schrader Racing 52 Mike Wallace Donnie Richeson 2
Ken Schrader 11
James Burr 87 Conrad Burr Dan Glauz 8
Kevin Harvick, Inc. 6 Ed Berrier Wally Rogers 1
Kevin Harvick 6
Brandon Miller 1
Randy LaJoie 1
KW Racing 20 Ken Weaver Raymond Newman 5
LeRoy's Boys Racing 17 Darrell Waltrip Bobby Kennedy
Buddy Barnes
3
Mahlik Motorsports 09 Doug Mahlik ??? 2
McGlynn Racing 00 Ryan McGlynn Allen Crestinger 5
Midgley Racing 09 David Gilliland Dick Midgley 1
Morgan-Dollar Motorsports 47 Joe Varde ??? 1
MRD Motorsports 68 Jay Godley ??? 2
Ninety-Nine Racing, LLC 82 Gilbert King Dan Glauz 1
A. J. Fike 1
Richardson Motorsports 0 Patrick Lawler Larry Richardson 1
Loni Richardson 5
Ronald Jones 34 Eric Jones Eddie Pearson 1
RT Motorsports 13 Ray Polodna ??? 4
SealMaster Racing 98 Cory Kruseman ??? 1
Matt Crafton 1
Stellar Quest Racing 91 J. C. Stout Steve Mollnow 4
Sutton Motorsports 02 Kelly Sutton Richard Broome 5
Team EJP Racing 03 Eric Jones Tom Pearl 10
Team Racing 25 Jamie Aube William Kehrer 3
Wayne Edwards 2
Michael Dokken 1
Dana White 1
Team Texas Racing 49 Shawna Robinson Mike Starr 3
Troxell-MacDonald Racing 7 Stuart Kirby ??? 1
Xpress Motorsports 11 Jack Sprague ??? 2
Clay Brown 1
Rick Ware Racing 51 Chase Montgomery [N 1] Ken Glen 1
Dodge G. J. Mennen 2
Rusty Alton 1
Stan Boyd 5
Brian Sockwell 1
Carl Long 1
Randy Briggs (R) 2
Blake Mallory 1
Jerry Hill 1
Jason Hedlesky 1
Doug Keller (R) 1
81 ??? 1
Carpenter Group Racing 57 Brian Rose Patrick Wall 3
Dean Motorsports 55 Mark McFarland ??? 2
Gerald Miller 32 Jerry Miller Mike Seibert 1
MLB Motorsports 36 Michael Dokken ??? 1
66 ??? 1
Randy Renfrow 3
Stephen Rhodes 2
Donnie Neuenberger 2
Trevor Boys 3
Blake Mallory 2
Rick Ware 1
Casey Kingsland 1
Orleans Racing 61 Scott Lynch ??? 2
Rick Bogart 70 Rick Bogart ??? 3
Ron Rhodes Racing 36 Trevor Boys ??? 3
Blake Mallory 1
Pete Harding 1
Ultra Motorsports 7 Tyler Walker Matt Puccia 3
Stuart Kirby 1
Tracy Hines 3
27 ??? 1
P. J. Jones 1
Ford Alvin Thompson 36 Geoff Bodine Walter Giles 2
James Stephenson 1
Borneman Motorsports 81 Johnny Borneman III Kevin Cram 1
Capital City Motorsports 83 Willie Green ??? 1
Craig Wood 11
73
Craig Wood ??? 4
Dan Higgs 67 Gary Higgs ??? 1
Fans Motorsports 01 Lance Hooper Dan Kolanda 16
Fasscore Motorsports 9 Rich Bickle ??? 1
Andy Houston 1
Lance Hooper 1
Kenny Hendrick (R) 13
Steadman Marlin 1
Johnny Sauter 3
Four-Tech Racing 81 Danny Bagwell ??? 1
J&J Motorsports 70 Andy Ponstein ??? 2
Ken Davis 65 Nathan Wulff ??? 4
Long Brothers Racing 84 Nick Woodward Charlie Long 1
Elliott Sadler 1
MB Motorsports 63 Ronnie Hornaday Mike Mittler 2
David Stover 8
Ricky Sanders Racing 19 Ricky Sanders ??? 9
Spraker Racing Enterprises 69 Frank Kimmel ??? 1
Team Chick Motorsports 11 Aaron Daniel Bud Haefele
Steve Chick Jr.
5
Tim Woods III 54 Tim Woods III ??? 4
Upshaw Racing 94 Conrad Burr ??? 1
95 Wayne Edwards Earl Ramey 8
Victory in Jesus Racing 21 Morgan Shepherd Carl Saylor 16
Wallace Motorsports 04 Shane Wallace Darren Shaw 7
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Brevak Racing 31 Tina Gordon (R) Todd Myers
Kevin Cram
13
Tommy Pistone 1
Wayne Edwards 1
Mike Wallace 2
Pro Motion Motorsports [N 2] 35 Jason White ??? 1
L. W. Miller 1
Tim Sauter 2
Randy Briggs (R) 1
53 Calvin Humphries 16
Tim Sauter 1
T. J. Bell (R) 3
Chevrolet
Ford
FDNY Racing 28 L. W. Miller Bob Rahilly 5
Tommy Pistone Tom Pistone 1
Dodge
Ford
Bobby Sands Racing 47 Scotty Sands ??? 2
Fast Track Racing [N 3] 10 Andy Hillenburg ??? 2
Marty Houston 1

Notes

  1. Entry was fielded in a collaboration with Ray Montgomery Racing.
  2. All of Tim Sauter's races with the team were fielded in a collaboration with Gary Keller Racing.
  3. Entry was fielded in a collaboration with Gary Keller Racing at Kentucky and with Ultra Motorsports at Homestead.

Races

Florida Dodge Dealers 250

The Florida Dodge Dealers 250 was held February 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Jason Leffler won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 14-Rick Crawford
  2. 16-Travis Kvapil
  3. 59-Robert Pressley
  4. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  5. 15-Andy Houston
  6. 52-Mike Wallace
  7. 46-Dennis Setzer
  8. 50-Jon Wood
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 62-Brendan Gaughan

Failed to qualify: Eric Jones (#34), Geoff Bodine (#36), Brian Rose (#57), Ricky Sanders (#19)

Craftsman 200

The Craftsman 200 was held March 14 at Darlington Raceway. Travis Kvapil won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  2. 1-Ted Musgrave
  3. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  4. 16-Travis Kvapil
  5. 18-Chad Chaffin
  6. 2-Jason Leffler
  7. 14-Rick Crawford
  8. 29-Terry Cook
  9. 75-David Starr
  10. 59-Robert Pressley

Failed to qualify: none

Lucas Oil 250 presented by Glidden

The Lucas Oil 250 presented by Glidden was held March 23 at Mesa Marin Raceway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 46-Dennis Setzer
  2. 50-Jon Wood
  3. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  4. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  5. 1-Ted Musgrave
  6. 14-Rick Crawford
  7. 2-Jason Leffler
  8. 6-Brandon Miller
  9. 75-David Starr
  10. 29-Terry Cook

Failed to qualify: none

Advance Auto Parts 250

The Advance Auto Parts 250 was held April 12 at Martinsville Speedway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 46-Dennis Setzer
  2. 1-Ted Musgrave
  3. 6-Kevin Harvick
  4. 99-Carl Edwards
  5. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  6. 14-Rick Crawford
  7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  8. 9-Rich Bickle
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 33-Andy Petree

Failed to qualify: Conrad Burr (#87), Tina Gordon (#31), Dana White (#23), James Stephenson (#36), Randy Briggs (#53), Doug Keller (#27), Craig Wood (13), Ron Polodna (#13), Jody McCormick (#77)

Hardee's 200

The Hardee's 200 was held May 16 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Bill Lester won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 1-Ted Musgrave
  2. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  3. 14-Rick Crawford
  4. 16-Travis Kvapil
  5. 6-Kevin Harvick
  6. 07-Jeremy Mayfield
  7. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  8. 18-Chad Chaffin
  9. 88-Matt Crafton
  10. 15-Rich Bickle

Failed to qualify: Michael Dokken (#93), Phil Bonifield (#23)

MBNA Armed Forces Family 200

The MBNA Armed Forces Family 200 was held May 30 at Dover International Speedway. Bobby Hamilton won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 2-Jason Leffler
  2. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  3. 75-David Starr
  4. 50-Jon Wood
  5. 16-Travis Kvapil
  6. 52-Ken Schrader
  7. 18-Chad Chaffin
  8. 14-Rick Crawford
  9. 46-Dennis Setzer
  10. 59-Robert Pressley

Failed to qualify: none

This was Jason Leffler's only Truck series victory.

O'Reilly 400K

The O'Reilly 400K was held June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. Bobby Hamilton won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  2. 99-Carl Edwards
  3. 50-Jon Wood
  4. 16-Travis Kvapil
  5. 46-Dennis Setzer
  6. 75-David Starr
  7. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  8. 18-Chad Chaffin
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 88-Matt Crafton

Failed to qualify: none

O'Reilly 200

The O'Reilly 200, the 200th race run in the truck series was held June 21 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Jon Wood won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 1-Ted Musgrave
  2. 16-Travis Kvapil
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 50-Jon Wood
  5. 99-Carl Edwards
  6. 2-Jason Leffler
  7. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  8. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 88-Matt Crafton

Failed to qualify: none

GNC 200

The GNC 200 was held June 28 at The Milwaukee Mile. Terry Cook won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  2. 2-Jason Leffler
  3. 14-Rick Crawford
  4. 1-Ted Musgrave
  5. 46-Dennis Setzer
  6. 16-Travis Kvapil
  7. 29-Terry Cook
  8. 75-Hank Parker Jr.
  9. 88-Matt Crafton
  10. 50-Jon Wood

Failed to qualify: Trevor Boys (#36), Nathal Wulff (#65), Conrad Burr (#87)

O'Reilly Auto Parts 250

The O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 was held July 5 at Kansas Speedway. Chad Chaffin won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 50-Jon Wood
  2. 99-Carl Edwards
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 16-Travis Kvapil
  5. 59-Robert Pressley
  6. 03-Eric Jones
  7. 2-Jason Leffler
  8. 33-Paul Menard
  9. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  10. 8-Bill Lester

Failed to qualify: Doug Keller (#27), Aaron Daniel (#11), Wayne Edwards (#25), Bobby Dotter (#07)

Built Ford Tough 225

The Built Ford Tough 225 was held July 12 at Kentucky Speedway. Jon Wood won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 99-Carl Edwards
  2. 1-Ted Musgrave
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 50-Jon Wood
  5. 2-Jason Leffler
  6. 16-Travis Kvapil
  7. 88-Matt Crafton
  8. 59-Robert Pressley
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 75-Hank Parker Jr.

Failed to qualify: none

This was Carl Edwards first Truck Series victory but he suffered a 100-point penalty after the race due to cylinder head infractions.

Missouri-Illinois Dealers Ram Tough 200

The Missouri-Illinois Dealers Ram Tough 200 was held July 19 at Gateway International Raceway. Travis Kvapil won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  2. 2-Jason Leffler
  3. 16-Travis Kvapil
  4. 99-Carl Edwards
  5. 14-Rick Crawford
  6. 75-David Starr
  7. 1-Ted Musgrave
  8. 46-Dennis Setzer
  9. 88-Matt Crafton

Failed to qualify: none

Sears 200

The Sears 200 was held July 26 at Michigan International Speedway. Jason Leffler won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  2. 1-Ted Musgrave
  3. 18-Chad Chaffin
  4. 2-Jason Leffler
  5. 99-Carl Edwards
  6. 50-Jon Wood
  7. 16-Travis Kvapil
  8. 46-Dennis Setzer
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 4-Bobby Hamilton

Failed to qualify: none

Power Stroke Diesel 200

The Power Stroke Diesel 200 was held August 1 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Terry Cook won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 99-Carl Edwards
  2. 16-Travis Kvapil
  3. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  4. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  5. 50-Jon Wood
  6. 1-Ted Musgrave
  7. 52-Ken Schrader
  8. 46-Dennis Setzer
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 88-Matt Crafton

Failed to qualify: none

Federated Auto Parts 200

The Federated Auto Parts 200 was held August 8 at Nashville Superspeedway. Chad Chaffin won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 99-Carl Edwards
  2. 1-Ted Musgrave
  3. 14-Rick Crawford
  4. 75-David Starr
  5. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  6. 18-Chad Chaffin
  7. 50-Jon Wood
  8. 46-Dennis Setzer
  9. 16-Travis Kvapil
  10. 88-Matt Crafton

Failed to qualify: none

O'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline Maxlife

The O'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline Maxlife was held August 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 16-Travis Kvapil
  2. 59-Robert Pressley
  3. 14-Rick Crawford
  4. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  5. 46-Dennis Setzer
  6. 88-Matt Crafton
  7. 18-Chad Chaffin
  8. 50-Jon Wood
  9. 2-Jason Leffler
  10. 6-Kevin Harvick

Failed to qualify: none

Virginia Is For Lovers 200

The Virginia Is For Lovers 200 was held September 4 at Richmond International Raceway. Travis Kvapil won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 33-Tony Stewart
  2. 59-Robert Pressley
  3. 1-Ted Musgrave
  4. 50-Jon Wood
  5. 46-Dennis Setzer
  6. 14-Rick Crawford
  7. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  8. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  9. 16-Travis Kvapil
  10. 9-Johnny Sauter

Failed to qualify: Brian Sockwell (#51)

New Hampshire 200

The New Hampshire 200 was held September 13 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Jimmy Spencer won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 2-Jimmy Spencer
  2. 99-Carl Edwards
  3. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  4. 46-Dennis Setzer
  5. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  6. 18-Chad Chaffin
  7. 16-Travis Kvapil
  8. 75-David Starr
  9. 50-Jon Wood
  10. 88-Matt Crafton

Failed to qualify: none

This was Jimmy Spencer's only Truck Series victory.

American Racing Wheels 200

The American Racing Wheels 200 was held September 20 at California Speedway. Brendan Gaughan won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 1-Ted Musgrave
  2. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 14-Rick Crawford
  5. 75-David Starr
  6. 2-Andy Houston
  7. 99-Carl Edwards
  8. 16-Travis Kvapil
  9. 50-Jon Wood
  10. 39-Jason Small

Failed to qualify: Doug Keller (#77), Blake Mallory (#27), Ricky Sanders (#19), Aaron Daniel (#93)

Las Vegas 350

The Las Vegas 350 was held September 27 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Brendan Gaughan won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  2. 75-David Starr
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 16-Travis Kvapil
  5. 11-Jack Sprague
  6. 2-Andy Houston
  7. 29-Terry Cook
  8. 1-Ted Musgrave
  9. 88-Matt Crafton
  10. 4-Bobby Hamilton

Failed to qualify: J. C. Stout (#91), Jason Small (#39), Trevor Boys (#36), Chris Horn (#58), Kelly Sutton (#02), Conrad Burr (#94), David Gilliland (#09), Rick Bogart (#70), Loni Richardson (#0), Tina Gordon (#31), Jason York (#97), David Stover (#63), Ricky Sanders (#19), Kenny Hendrick (#9), Tim Woods (#54)

John Boy & Billy 250

The John Boy & Billy 250 was held October 4 at South Boston Speedway. Brendan Gaughan won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 46-Dennis Setzer
  2. 16-Travis Kvapil
  3. 1-Ted Musgrave
  4. 50-Jon Wood
  5. 14-Rick Crawford
  6. 2-Andy Houston
  7. 99-Carl Edwards
  8. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  9. 75-David Starr
  10. 59-Robert Pressley

Failed to qualify: none

Silverado 350

The Silverado 350 was held October 11 at Texas Motor Speedway. Andy Houston won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  2. 16-Travis Kvapil
  3. 1-Ted Musgrave
  4. 99-Carl Edwards
  5. 50-Jon Wood
  6. 29-Terry Cook
  7. 46-Dennis Setzer
  8. 14-Rick Crawford
  9. 4-Bobby Hamilton

Failed to qualify: Shane Wallace (#04), Loni Richardson (#0)

Advance Auto Parts 200

The Advance Auto Parts 200 was held October 18 at Martinsville Speedway. Carl Edwards won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 50-Jon Wood
  2. 99-Carl Edwards
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 14-Rick Crawford
  5. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  6. 2-Jimmy Spencer
  7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  8. 52-Ken Schrader
  9. 75-David Starr
  10. 1-Ted Musgrave

Failed to qualify: Jerry Hill (#51), Ron Polodna (#13), Wayne Edwards (#95), Jeremy Thompson (#92), Craig Wood (#13), Scotty Sands (#47)

Chevy Silverado 150

The Chevy Silverado 150 was held October 31 at Phoenix International Raceway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 6-Kevin Harvick
  2. 1-Ted Musgrave
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 99-Carl Edwards
  5. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  6. 75-David Starr
  7. 50-Jon Wood
  8. 59-Robert Pressley
  9. 16-Travis Kvapil
  10. 2-Andy Houston

Failed to qualify: Nathan Wulff (#65), Tim Woods (#54), Pete Harding (#36), Tommy Pistone (#28), Stan Boyd (#5), Cory Kruseman (#98)

Ford 200

The Ford 200 was held November 14 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bobby Hamilton won the pole.

This race saw the possibility of any one of the series' four top drivers in the points standings coming away with the championship. Going into the race Brendan Gaughan, driving the #62 Dodge Ram for Orleans Racing, was leading the standings. Ted Musgrave, driving the #1 Dodge Ram for Ultra Motorsports, was sitting second. Third place was Dennis Setzer, in the #46 Chevrolet Silverado for Morgan-Dollar Motorsports, and fourth was held by Travis Kvapil, driving the #16 Chevrolet Silverado that Mike Bliss had won the series championship driving one year earlier for Xpress Motorsports.

Controversy was caused, however, by potential roadblocks caused by drivers' teammates. Setzer's team did not enter a second truck in the race. Kvapil's team was fielding the #11 truck for Jack Sprague, who had joined the team after being fired by Haas CNC Racing in the Winston Cup Series. Gaughan's team was fielding the #61. truck driven by Scott Lynch, the team's developmental driver.

Ultra, meanwhile, entered five trucks in the event including Musgrave's #1. The first two trucks were the #2 truck, Ultra's other full-time truck piloted by Andy Houston, and the #7 Dodge Motorsports truck, their part-time truck driven by developmental driver Tyler Walker. In a move that was seen as setting up roadblocks for Musgrave, Ultra prepared two additional Dodge Rams numbered 10 and 27. The #10 truck was driven by Andy Houston's brother Marty, a member of Musgrave's pit crew who had not raced in two years. The #27 was driven by P.J. Jones, who had not run a Truck Series event in eight years and was largely employed as a road course ringer. The extra entries earned a huge amount of criticism from points leader Gaughan as well as fans and other drivers.

As the race went on, Gaughan's complaints proved to be valid. With thirty-four laps to go in the race Gaughan and Marty Houston got into an accident with the #80 of Bryan Reffner. None of the three trucks were able to continue and the accident cost an angry Gaughan, who railed against Ultra's tactics after the accident, the points lead. He went on to finish in twenty-ninth place, ahead of both Houston and Reffner who finished in the next two positions.

The next contender to run into trouble was Musgrave. With two laps to go in the race, the race restarted and Musgrave attempted to make a pass on Kvapil's inside before the cars reached the start/finish line. Musgrave completed the pass and then passed Setzer, but NASCAR threw the black flag as Musgrave was judged to have been in violation of race rules. Musgrave never answered the black flag, and when the checkered flag fell on the next lap he crossed it in sixth place behind Sprague and in front of Kvapil, who passed Setzer for seventh. With the penalty, however, Musgrave was listed as the last car on the lead lap in thirteenth place.

For several minutes, NASCAR held off on making the results official as they reviewed Musgrave's penalty. After a 23-minute delay, the black flag was upheld, and Kvapil was declared the series champion. The final margin was nine points, while Musgrave finished eighteen points behind and Gaughan forty (without the black flag, Musgrave would have been the champion over Kvapil by 12 points, with Setzer 21 behind, and Gaughan 52 back).

In a post-race interview, an obviously angry Musgrave, while acknowledging his infraction, blamed it on Kvapil stabbing the brakes on him and responded with, "That figures. Screw them. All I can say is that next year you're going to see a whole new Ted Musgrave. He's going to be the dirtiest son of a gun going out there on the racetrack and you might as well throw that rulebook away. I ain't going by it no more."

Xpress Motorsports won its second consecutive Truck Series Championship as a team, as Mike Bliss had won the 2002 series championship driving the same truck Kvapil took to the championship.

Polesitter Bobby Hamilton won the race. Of the additional drivers that the Xpress, Ultra, and Orleans teams entered, Jack Sprague and P.J. Jones finished in the top ten, with Sprague fifth and Jones ninth. Scott Lynch finished twelfth, Tyler Walker twenty-third, and Marty Houston thirtieth.

IndyCar Series driver and future Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice made his NASCAR debut in this race driving SealMaster Racing's #88 Chevrolet Silverado normally driven by Matt Crafton. Crafton drove the team's #98 entry for this race. Rice would finish 20th.

Top ten results (on the track)

  1. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  2. 14-Rick Crawford
  3. 75-David Starr
  4. 2-Andy Houston
  5. 11-Jack Sprague
  6. 1-Ted Musgrave
  7. 16-Travis Kvapil
  8. 46-Dennis Setzer
  9. 50-Jon Wood
  10. 27-P. J. Jones

Top ten results (official result)

  1. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  2. 14-Rick Crawford
  3. 75-David Starr
  4. 2-Andy Houston
  5. 11-Jack Sprague
  6. 16-Travis Kvapil
  7. 46-Dennis Setzer
  8. 50-Jon Wood
  9. 27-P. J. Jones
  10. 18-Chad Chaffin

Failed to qualify: Derrike Cope (#93), Jason Hedlesky (#51), Wayne Edwards (#95), Lance Hooper (#01), Dana White (#25), Jamie Aube (#23), Danny Bagwell (#81), Carl Long (#5)

Final points standings

  1. Travis Kvapil – 3837
  2. Dennis Setzer – 3828
  3. Ted Musgrave – 3819
  4. Brendan Gaughan – 3797
  5. Jon Wood – 3659
  6. Bobby Hamilton – 3627
  7. Rick Crawford – 3578
  8. Carl Edwards – 3416
  9. Terry Cook – 3212
  10. Chad Chaffin – 3143
  11. Matt Crafton – 3074
  12. Robert Pressley – 2773
  13. David Starr – 2768
  14. Bill Lester – 2712
  15. Randy MacDonald – 2458
  16. Jason Leffler – 2209
  17. Jody Lavender – 2168
  18. Jerry Hill – 1882
  19. Randy Briggs – 1618
  20. Phil Bonifield – 1524
  21. Andy Houston – 1487
  22. Rich Bickle – 1288
  23. Ken Schrader – 1286
  24. Lance Hooper – 1191
  25. Tina Gordon – 1112
  26. T. J. Bell – 1059
  27. Eric Jones – 1058
  28. Morgan Shepherd – 991
  29. Bobby Dotter – 939
  30. Kevin Harvick – 807
  31. Jamie Aube – 800
  32. Stan Boyd – 799
  33. Shane Wallace – 685
  34. Doug Keller – 674
  35. Kenny Hendrick – 656
  36. Chris Horn – 625
  37. David Stover – 607
  38. Roland Isaacs – 600
  39. Wayne Edwards – 595
  40. Brandon Whitt – 592
  41. Ricky Sanders – 573
  42. Paul Menard – 572
  43. L. W. Miller – 558
  44. Hank Parker Jr. – 524
  45. Johnny Chapman – 513
  46. Mike Wallace – 500
  47. Ken Weaver – 482
  48. Mike Skinner – 471
  49. Trevor Boys – 471
  50. Andy Petree – 467

Rookie of the Year

Gong Show winner Carl Edwards was named Rookie of the Year, winning three races and finishing eighth in points for Roush Racing. The first runner-up was Jody Lavender, who competed in 21 of 25 races for Green Light Racing. Tina Gordon, T. J. Bell and Doug Keller made limited attempts at the award, while Teri MacDonald drove part-time for her brother Randy MacDonald in the Truck Series.

See also

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