Hamilton to run truck; names Chaffin teammate

MOUNT JULIET, Tenn. -- The alignment of two former Nashville Speedway champions was celebrated Tuesday when NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series owner Bobby Hamilton announced Chad Chaffin would drive his No. 18 Dickies Dodge in 2003.

	Bobby Hamilton Credit: Autostock

The pair will be teammates as Hamilton will man the No. 4 Square D Dodge for the full schedule.

Chaffin most recently competed in the NASCAR Busch Series for another Nashville area owner, Wayne Day. He replaces former Winston Cup driver Robert Pressley, a two-time winner in the No. 18 in 2002.

Hamilton has competed in the Winston Cup Series for the last 12 years but found himself without a ride after the 2002 season. He was eager to continue his relationship with Square D as the company sponsored him the past two seasons in Winston Cup at Andy Petree Racing.

"This just makes sense for me," Hamilton said. "I've worked with Square D for the past two years and we have a tremendous relationship. When they talked about coming on board as a sponsor of our truck, I told them without hesitation, 'If you sponsor it, I will drive it.'"

As Dodge continues to look for a marketing partner to continue its diversity truck program with driver Bill Lester, the California engineer will at least open the season in the No. 8 Dodge Motorsports Ram pickup.

Hamilton also announced several other changes within his three-team operation.

Kip McCord, who has served as both team manager and a crew chief within the organization for the last two years, has been named general manager of racing operations.

Newt Moore, 40, another Nashville Speedway champion that most recently served in the Winston Cup Series as a crew chief for MB2 Motorsports, will be Hamilton's crew chief for the No. 4 truck.

Randy Seals, who served as crew chief on the No. 4 truck last season, as it ran a partial schedule, will work on the No. 18 as Chaffin's crew chief. Danny Rollins, who worked on the 18 truck with Pressley, will be Lester's crew chief on the No. 8.

Jeff White, who served as Lester's crew chief at the end of 2002, including missing the Bud Pole at Phoenix by .001 seconds, was announced as the head of Bobby Hamilton Racing's research and development engineering department.

In the four years since Bobby Hamilton Racing was established, Hamilton's teams have garnered nine wins and 15 Bud Poles. The team also has 37 top-five and 74 top-10 finishes.

"I'm working hard to establish a top-notch truck program at Bobby Hamilton Racing," Hamilton said. "It's the future for me and my family.

"We want to start this year out with a bang. I anticipate the best with this package. I feel confident that we can win."