Erin Crocker has four top-10 finishes in five ARCA starts this season. Credit: Autostock

Crocker ready to make Busch debut at RIR
By Ryan Smithson, NASCAR.COM
September 9, 2005
12:10 PM EDT (16:10 GMT)

She's got her own professionally designed website. She's media-savvy. She even has her own merchandise.

And she's never even made a NASCAR start.

Until now.

Erin Crocker, the open-wheel racer from New England, has been raring to make a NASCAR start, and she gets her chance at Richmond.

Crocker will become the sixth different driver in the No. 6 Dodge in the Busch Series in 2005. The team is still searching for its initial win. Mike Wallace finished second in the car at Gateway in July.

It is not unreasonable to expect a strong run in Crocker's debut. She's made five ARCA starts this year with four top-10s, including a pole in her first start at the notoriously difficult Nashville Superspeedway.

"This weekend is what I have been waiting for, working for and striving for so many years," said Crocker, who came up through the World of Outlaw ranks. "It is almost hard to believe that the hard work and years of dedication has finally paid off."

Crocker tested last week at Richmond to prepare for Friday night's Emerson Radio 250.

"It was a lot for Erin to take in just one day but she is a quick learner and a great race car driver," said crew chief Trip Bruce. "She displayed a lot of car control, which is essential at a short track like Richmond.

"Our goals for this weekend are to help Erin stay on a pace she can maintain, to complete every lap, to have good pit stops and to have a good, clean race. If we can do those things we should have a pretty good night."


Busch Series Standings
After 27 of 35 races
Rank Driver Points Behind
1. M. Truex Jr. 3,874 Leader
2. C. Bowyer 3,732 -142
3. C. Edwards 3,516 -358
4. R. Sorenson 3,494 -380
5. D. Hamlin 3,285 -589
6. K. Wallace 3,278 -596
7. D. Stremme 3,030 -844
8. P. Menard 3,021 -853
9. D. Green 3,017 -857
10. J. Keller 2,969 -905


Busch Series briefs

Clint Bowyer has scored four top-10s in the last six races, but he's still lost 20 points to leader Martin Truex Jr. over that span...

Johnny Sauter has five top-10s in his last six races and should be considered a favorite to win Richmond...

Reed Sorenson hasn't had a top-10 finish in a month...

Paul Menard has just three finishes out of the top 10 since mid-June...

Truex Jr. leads in every major stat category except Bud Poles, which are led by Carl Edwards and Kasey Kahne with three each.