San Bernardino County 200 Explained

Race Title:San Bernardino County 200
Series Long:NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Series Short:Camping World Truck Series
Venue:Auto Club Speedway
Location:Fontana, California, United States
Sponsor:San Bernardino County
First Race:1997
Last Race:2009
Distance:200miles
Laps:100
Previous Names:The No Fear Challenge (1997–1998)
NAPA Auto Parts 200 (1999)
Motorola 200 (2000)
Auto Club 200 (2001)
American Racing Wheels 200 (2002–2005)
racetickets.com 200 (2006)
San Bernardino County 200 (2007–2009)
Most Wins Driver:Ted Musgrave (3)
Most Wins Team:Ultra Motorsports (4)
Most Wins Manufacturer:Dodge and Toyota (4)
Surface:Asphalt
Length Mi:2.0
Turns:4

The San Bernardino County 200 is a discontinued NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race held at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. It was first held in 1997, the year Auto Club Speedway opened, and last held in 2009. The race had been held as the second race of the Truck Series season since 2005, but was removed from the schedule after 2009 in order to save teams money in travel costs, no longer forcing them to travel from east coast to west coast for a race.

Race history

2001

The 2001 event, won by Ted Musgrave (with Jack Sprague clinching that year's Truck Series title), featured a last-minute driver change after the practice sessions. Because it was held as part of CART Marlboro 500 weekend, Phillip Morris (manufacturer of Marlboro) officials ejected the then-16 year old Kyle Busch, driving for Roush Racing after the practice session for the Truck Series event, citing an interpretation of the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement that prohibited any person under 18 years of age (the federal smoking age at the time) from participating in events sponsored by tobacco companies; Busch was replaced by Tim Woods III for the rest of the race. For the 2002 season, NASCAR set a minimum age limit of 18 across all top three national series, partially because Winston was the series sponsor of its premier NASCAR Cup Series at the time.[1] [2] NASCAR has since allowed 16 and 17-year old drivers to compete in the Truck Series on short ovals (under 1.25miles long) and road courses after Winston left the sport.[3]

2008

No qualifying segment took place. The field was set by owners points; Ron Hornaday Jr. started in first place. The race was dominated by Toyota; Daytona truck race runner-up Kyle Busch won the race in the No. 51 Toyota followed by Todd Bodine, Johnny Benson Jr., and Terry Cook in second, third, and fourth respectively in their Toyotas. Between Busch, Bodine, and Benson, Toyota led 79 out of 100 laps in the race; eight out of nine Toyotas in the field finished in the top 13. Ron Hornaday, Jr. led 15 laps and finished in fifth place; the highest-finishing place for Chevrolet in the race. Travis Kvapil led one lap and finished 7th in his No. 09 Ford. Dennis Setzer, in his No. 18 Dodge, led 3 laps and finished 16th.

2009

Kyle Busch, last year's winner, won the pole. With Johnny Benson starting second, two Toyota Tundras started at the front row followed by two Chevrolet Silverados driven by rookie Ricky Carmichael and Ron Hornaday in the second row. Mike Harmon fails to qualify. Busch led the opening laps. First caution: Mike Skinner taps into Brian Scott, sending Scott to the outside wall before the start/finish line. Lap 35, Norm Benning (No. 57) ran out of fuel, stopping his racing truck away from the backstretch to prevent a caution. Lap 45, second caution came out due to engine problems of the No. 25 of Terry Cook. Lap 50, halfway, Busch continued to lead laps and pull away from the field. Lap 86, green flag pit stops ensue; Mike Bliss (No. 40) ran out of fuel, but was able to make to pit road. Lap 90, Busch pits and took fuel only; David Starr took fuel only in his pitstop, also, moved up in positions as a result. Lap 96, Tayler Malsam (No. 81) ran out of fuel; no caution. Kyle Busch, with a ten-second lead, won race for the second time in a row; his tenth career truck win. Busch led 95 of 100 laps. Daytona truck race winner Todd Bodine finishes in second place, also, for the second time in a row. David Starr finished 4th. Rookie Ricky Carmichael finishes in 8th place.

Past winners

YearDateDriverTeamManufacturerRace DistanceRace TimeAverage Speed
(mph)
Ref
LapsMiles (km)
1997October 18Mike BlissUltra MotorsportsFord100200 (321.868)1:37:28137.195[4]
1998July 18Jack SpragueHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet100200 (321.868)1:24:36141.844[5]
1999October 30Jack SpragueHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet100200 (321.868)1:33:41128.091[6]
2000October 28Kurt BuschRoush RacingFord100200 (321.868)1:23:11144.26[7]
2001November 3Ted MusgraveUltra MotorsportsDodge100200 (321.868)1:45:55113.297[8]
2002November 2Ted MusgraveUltra MotorsportsDodge100200 (321.868)1:25:32140.296[9]
2003September 20Ted MusgraveUltra MotorsportsDodge100200 (321.868)1:22:14145.926[10]
2004October 2Todd BodineGermain RacingToyota100200 (321.868)1:34:23127.141[11]
2005February 25Steve ParkOrleans RacingDodge100200 (321.868)1:33:45128[12]
2006February 24Mark MartinRoush RacingFord106*212 (341.18)1:44:40121.529[13]
2007February 23Mike SkinnerBill Davis RacingToyota100200 (321.868)1:31:39130.933[14]
2008February 23*Kyle BuschBilly Ballew MotorsportsToyota100200 (321.868)1:22:00146.341[15]
2009February 21Kyle BuschBilly Ballew MotorsportsToyota100200 (321.868)1:22:17145.838[16]

Multiple winners (drivers)

  1. Wins
DriverYears Won
3Ted Musgrave2001, 2002, 2003
2Jack Sprague1998, 1999
Kyle Busch2008, 2009

Multiple winners (teams)

  1. Wins
TeamYears Won
4Ultra Motorsports1997, 2001, 2002, 2003
2Hendrick Motorsports1998, 1999
Roush Racing2000, 2006
Billy Ballew Motorsports2008, 2009

Manufacturer wins

  1. Wins
MakeYears Won
4 Dodge2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
Toyota2004, 2007, 2008, 2009
3 Ford1997, 2000, 2006
2 Chevrolet1998, 1999

References

  1. News: Younger Busch ready for return. Fryer. Jenna. May 1, 2003. The Free Lance–Star. B8. September 4, 2013. Fredericksburg, VA.
  2. News: As NASCAR goes national, its southern feel is fading. Long. Dustin. April 14, 2002. The Virginian-Pilot. C1. September 4, 2013. Norfolk, VA.
  3. Web site: NASCAR announces 2013 Truck sked. Fox Sports. November 28, 2012. January 9, 2014.
  4. Web site: 1997 The No Fear Challenge. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.
  5. Web site: 1998 The No Fear Challenge. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.
  6. Web site: 1999 NAPA Auto Parts 200. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.
  7. Web site: 2000 Motorola 200. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.
  8. Web site: 2001 Auto Club 200. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.
  9. Web site: 2002 American Racing Wheels 200. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.
  10. Web site: 2003 American Racing Wheels 200. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.
  11. Web site: 2004 American Racing Wheels 200. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.
  12. Web site: 2005 American Racing Wheels 200. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.
  13. Web site: 2006 RaceTickets.com 200. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.
  14. Web site: 2007 San Bernardino County 200. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.
  15. Web site: 2008 San Bernardino County 200. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.
  16. Web site: 2009 San Bernardino County 200. Racing-Reference. November 15, 2021.