Ted Musgrave won the title despite winning just one race. Credit: Autostock

Musgrave captures first NCTS championship
Bodine wins Ford 200 for his third consecutive Truck victory
By Mark Long, The Associated Press
November 19, 2005
04:01 PM EST (21:01 GMT)

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Crew members piled onto the back of Ted Musgrave's truck as he started to drive around Homestead-Miami Speedway. They all wanted to be part of this celebration -- one that eluded them for several years.

Musgrave finished 19th in the rain-postponed Ford 200 on Saturday and edged Dennis Setzer for his first Craftsman Truck Series championship. The 49-year-old Musgrave became NASCAR's oldest champion, claiming the title after finishing second in 2001 and third the last three years.

"I thought I was a carbon copy of Mark Martin,' Musgrave cracked, referring to Martin's 19 seasons in the Cup series with four runner-ups and no titles.


Todd Bodine won a Truck Series-high five races in 2005. Credit: Autostock

Todd Bodine won his third consecutive race and finished third in the point standings, 73 points behind the champion.

Setzer finished second for the third consecutive year.

"You know we're going to be back next year,' said Setzer, who was 55 points back. "We ain't giving up. We're going to get us one of these.'

Musgrave had to wait an extra day to get his championship -- the race was postponed a day because of intermittent showers Friday night.

He nearly won the title two years ago -- the same season it was revealed he had cancer -- but a black-flag penalty prevented him from getting the series' ultimate title.

On a restart with two laps to go in the 2003 finale at Homestead, Travis Kvapil, Setzer and Musgrave were bunched together and separated by only eight points.

Musgrave steered his truck below Setzer's on the restart, but NASCAR black-flagged him for illegally passing on the inside. After the penalty was upheld in a post-race review, Musgrave was dropped to 13th place, giving Kvapil the title.

"You've been in that position where you think the brass ring slips away from you,' Musgrave said. "That's tough to take.'

Musgrave entered this year's finale 58 points ahead of Setzer and kept the other title contender in his sights throughout the race.

"I don't care if he came in and went to the bathroom, I was going to stay with him,' said Musgrave, whose title also was the first for truck owner Jim Smith, one of the three founders of the Truck Series.

"We did what we had to do," Smith said. "We kept that No. 46 [Setzer] with us all day."

Both drivers avoided several crashes, including two in the closing laps. Deborah Renshaw spun in front of Musgrave, but he turned his No. 1 Dodge toward the wall and slipped past Renshaw's spinning truck. Musgrave and Setzer avoided a multitruck accident on the final lap.

"They were racing for positions and I was racing for a championship,' said Musgrave, who won't talk much about his health other than to say it's stable. "I had to put a bubble around me and stay back there and pick my way through them.'

Bodine, meanwhile, had the best truck in the race. He led the most laps and retook the lead with 16 laps to go when Brendan Gaughan had to pit for fuel.

Bodine also won at Phoenix and Texas the last two weekends. He finished second the week before in Atlanta, and won four of the final six races.

"Right now, we've just got it going on," Bodine said. "If we could bottle it, we could make millions."

Making his first start in the Truck Series since 1996 and third overall, Martin finished eighth. He is planning to run part-time in the Truck Series in 2006 and then full-time in 2007.

"I learned a lot,' Martin said. "I knew I had a lot to learn because it's been so long, but that sure did show up there [Saturday].'

(NASCAR.com)

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Unofficial Race Results

Ford 200 | Homestead-Miami Speedway

November 18, 2005 | Race 25 of 25

Fin St Car Driver Make Sponsor Pts/Bonus Laps Status
1 9 #30 Todd Bodine Toyota Germain Motor Company 190/10 134 Running
2 3 #260 Jack Sprague Toyota Jeff Wyler Toyota 175/5 134 Running
3 7 #23 Johnny Benson Toyota Aaron's 170/5 134 Running
4 25 #16 Mike Bliss Chevrolet Chevy Trucks 165/5 134 Running
5 2 #22 Bill Lester Toyota SunTrust 155/0 134 Running
6 15 #15 Kyle Busch Chevrolet ditech.com/National Land Liquidations 150/0 134 Running
7 11 #50 Todd Kluever * Ford World Financial Group 146/0 134 Running
8 14 #133 Mark Martin Ford Stonebridge Life Insurance 147/5 134 Running
9 13 #6 Ron Hornaday Chevrolet GM Goodwrench 138/0 134 Running
10 10 #88 Matt Crafton Chevrolet Menards/Seal Best 134/0 134 Running
11 16 #75 David Starr Chevrolet Spears Manufacturing 130/0 134 Running
12 5 #5 Mike Skinner Toyota Toyota Tundra 132/5 134 Running
13 6 #12 Joey Miller Toyota Toyota Tundra 129/5 133 Running
14 19 #2 Jimmy Spencer Dodge Team ASE 121/0 133 Running
15 20 #4 Timothy Peters * Dodge Bailey's 118/0 133 Running
16 24 #77 Brendan Gaughan Dodge Jasper Engines & Transmissions 120/5 133 Running
17 31 #62 Scott Lynch Dodge Lynch Mob Motorsports/The Orleans 112/0 133 Running
18 23 #46 Dennis Setzer Chevrolet Chevrolet Silverado 109/0 133 Running
19 8 #1 Ted Musgrave Dodge Mopar 106/0 133 Running
20 28 #13 Johnny Sauter Chevrolet ThorSport Rcg/Zoriki Mtspts 103/0 133 Running
21 30 #99 Ricky Craven Ford Superchips 100/0 133 Running
22 26 #29 Brad Keselowski Ford Samson Stone 97/0 133 Running
23 34 #18 Chase Montgomery Dodge RoadLoans 94/0 133 Running
24 29 #59 Robert Pressley Dodge Harris Trucking 91/0 133 Running
25 32 #8 Deborah Renshaw Dodge Heritage 88/0 133 Running
26 17 #10 Terry Cook Ford Power Stroke Diesel 85/0 132 Running
27 35 #14 Rick Crawford Ford Circle Bar Truck Corral/Lilly Trucking 82/0 132 Running
28 22 #08 Jack Bailey Chevrolet Century 21 Team 79/0 132 Running
29 4 #38 Brandon Whitt Toyota DW Boogity Grill 76/0 128 Running
30 18 #205 Erin Crocker Dodge Cheerios/Betty Crocker/Dodge Ram PE 104 Running
31 21 #04 Bobby Hamilton Dodge Bailey's 70/0 95 Out of Race
32 27 #106 Regan Smith * Chevrolet MRD Motorsports 67/0 86 Out of Race
33 33 #07 Chris Wimmer Chevrolet ASI Limited 64/0 51 Out of Race
34 36 #135 Robert Richardson Chevrolet Richardson Racing 61/0 51 Out of Race
35 12 #9 Justin Hobgood Toyota Germain Motor Company 58/0 40 Out of Race
36 1 #17 David Reutimann Toyota NTN Bearings 60/5 24 Out of Race

* Denotes Rookie

(NASCAR.com)

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2005 Unofficial Driver Standings

After: Ford 200 | Homestead-Miami Speedway | Race 25 of 25

Rank +/- Driver Points Behind Starts Poles Wins Top 5 Top 10
1 -- Ted Musgrave 3535 Leader 25 1 1 11 15
2 -- Dennis Setzer 3480 -55 25 0 4 10 13
3 -- Todd Bodine 3462 -73 25 0 5 12 15
4 -- Ron Hornaday 3369 -166 25 1 1 7 13
5 -- Mike Skinner 3273 -262 25 7 2 9 13
6 -- Bobby Hamilton 3164 -371 25 1 2 6 12
7 -- David Starr 3148 -387 25 2 0 4 10
8 -- Jack Sprague 3137 -398 25 1 1 7 11
9 -- Matt Crafton 3095 -440 25 1 0 2 10
10 +3 Johnny Benson 3076 -459 25 0 0 6 10
11 -- Todd Kluever* 3074 -461 25 0 0 6 12
12 -2 Jimmy Spencer 3050 -485 25 0 0 3 9
13 -1 David Reutimann 2979 -556 25 2 1 6 9
14 -- Ricky Craven 2976 -559 25 0 1 4 9
15 -- Terry Cook 2936 -599 25 0 0 2 8
16 -- Rick Crawford 2917 -618 24 2 1 3 11
17 +1 Bill Lester 2672 -863 25 2 0 2 4
18 -1 Brandon Whitt 2602 -933 25 2 1 2 5
19 -- Brendan Gaughan 2564 -971 23 0 0 2 7
20 -- Robert Pressley 2493 -1042 25 0 0 0 3
21 +1 Brad Keselowski 2367 -1168 25 0 0 0 1
22 -1 Steve Park 2275 -1260 22 0 1 2 4
23 -- Chase Montgomery 2230 -1305 25 0 0 0 0
24 +2 Deborah Renshaw 2123 -1412 24 0 0 0 0
25 -1 Tracy Hines 2108 -1427 23 0 0 1 1
26 -1 Chad Chaffin 2068 -1467 21 0 0 1 5
27 -- Kyle Busch 1734 -1801 11 1 3 7 9
28 -- Timothy Peters* 1568 -1967 16 0 0 0 2
29 -- Kelly Sutton 1315 -2220 16 0 0 0 0
30 -- Robert Huffman 1271 -2264 14 0 0 0 2
31 -- Ken Schrader 1013 -2522 10 0 0 0 1
32 -- Tim Fedewa 749 -2786 7 0 0 0 1
33 -- Wayne Edwards 731 -2804 10 0 0 0 1
34 -- Clay Rogers 723 -2812 6 0 0 1 2
35 -- Shigeaki Hattori* 703 -2832 10 0 0 0 0
36 -- Bobby Labonte 679 -2856 5 0 1 3 3
37 -- Sean Murphy 657 -2878 7 0 0 0 0
38 +1 Regan Smith* 640 -2895 9 0 0 0 0
39 -1 Mike Wallace 604 -2931 5 0 0 0 2
40 +3 Joey Miller 587 -2948 5 0 0 0 1
41 +4 Mike Bliss 581 -2954 5 0 0 1 2
42 -2 Shane Hmiel 513 -3022 4 0 0 1 2
43 +1 Chris Wimmer 504 -3031 6 0 0 0 0
44 +4 Jack Bailey 477 -3058 6 0 0 0 0
45 +4 Scott Lynch 476 -3059 5 0 0 0 0
46 -5 John Andretti 465 -3070 4 0 0 0 2
47 -5 Rich Bickle 458 -3077 5 0 0 1 1
48 -2 Aric Almirola 410 -3125 4 0 0 0 2
49 -2 Jimmy Kite 403 -3132 4 0 0 0 0
50 -- Eric Norris 360 -3175 4 0 0 0 0
51 -- Ken Weaver 357 -3178 4 0 0 0 1
52 -- Casey Atwood 348 -3187 3 0 0 0 0
53 -- Butch Miller 343 -3192 3 0 0 0 1
54 -- Mike Harmon 337 -3198 4 0 0 0 0
55 -- Kevin Harvick 335 -3200 3 0 0 2 2
56 -- Nick Tucker 334 -3201 4 0 0 0 0
57 -- Johnny Chapman 317 -3218 4 0 0 0 0
58 -- Justin Allgaier 304 -3231 4 0 0 0 0
59 +4 Johnny Sauter 288 -3247 3 0 0 0 0
60 -1 Chris Fontaine 276 -3259 3 0 0 0 0
61 -1 Tony Stewart 234 -3301 2 0 0 1 1
62 -1 Willie Allen 211 -3324 2 0 0 0 1
63 -1 Alex Yontz 198 -3337 4 0 0 0 0
64 -- Burney Lamar 179 -3356 2 0 0 0 0
65 -- Tam Topham 177 -3358 3 0 0 0 0
66 -- Kerry Earnhardt 175 -3360 2 1 0 0 0
67 -- Jarit Johnson 167 -3368 2 0 0 0 0
68 -- Robert Richardson, Ii 155 -3380 2 0 0 0 0
69 +9 Justin Hobgood 152 -3383 3 0 0 0 0
70 -- Mark Martin 147 -3388 1 0 0 0 1
71 -2 J C Stout 143 -3392 2 0 0 0 0
72 -2 Jose Luis Ramirez 131 -3404 2 0 0 0 0
73 -2 Darrell Waltrip 124 -3411 1 0 0 0 0
74 -2 Blake Feese 118 -3417 1 0 0 0 0
75 -2 T.J. Bell 115 -3420 1 0 0 0 0
76 -- Bradley Rogers 106 -3429 1 0 0 0 0
77 -3 Kevin Lepage 106 -3429 1 0 0 0 0
78 -3 Martin Truex Jr. 106 -3429 1 0 0 0 0
79 -2 David Gilliland 97 -3438 1 0 0 0 0
80 -1 Kevin Hamlin 94 -3441 1 0 0 0 0
81 -1 John Mickel 76 -3459 1 0 0 0 0
82 -1 Mark McFarland 73 -3462 1 0 0 0 0
83 -1 Bobby East 73 -3462 1 0 0 0 0
84 -1 Garrett Liberty 70 -3465 1 0 0 0 0
85 -1 Rob Ferguson 64 -3471 1 0 0 0 0
86 -1 Andy Houston 64 -3471 1 0 0 0 0
87 -- Bill Manfull 61 -3474 1 0 0 0 0
88 -- Robert Richardson 61 -3474 1 0 0 0 0
89 -3 Blake Mallory 61 -3474 1 0 0 0 0
90 -1 Chase Pistone 58 -3477 1 0 0 0 0
91 -3 Boris Said 58 -3477 1 0 0 0 0
92 -- Erin Crocker 55 -3480 2 0 0 0 0
93 -3 Casey Kingsland 55 -3480 1 0 0 0 0
94 -3 Roland Isaacs 55 -3480 1 0 0 0 0

* Denotes Rookie

(NASCAR.com)

 

Congrats to Ted Musgrave. Its should be his 2nd championship after getting screwed 2 years ago.

 

Who won the manufacturers championship? Was it Toyota?[:@]
Dodge really tanked in the second half there, Whats wrong with their trucks?
Are they pulling out to concentrate on Cup?

And where can I get some Musgrave Championship gear?
NASCAR.com already has tons of Stewart Championship stuff, and tons of Truex championship stuff, but no Musgrave stuff at all.
This Sucks!
And whats a good source for Supertruck stuff in general?