Chad Chaffin: O'Reilly 400K preview

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Chad Chaffin deems the two 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events at Texas Motor Speedway as "the most important races of the year." With executives from Fort Worth sponsor Dickies looking on, Chaffin will be seeking to win Friday night's O'Reilly 400k.

Chaffin kicked off last weekend with his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series triumph at Dover. On the heels of that victory, Chaffin wants to repeat the effort at "The Great American Speedway."

"I love coming to this track," said the Nashville native who drives the Dickies Dodge for fellow Tennessean Bobby Hamilton. "The facilities are beautiful, the track is smooth, it's fun to race here in Texas.

"It's kind of a home track. We are going to have a big group from Dickies at the race. Texas is a big truck market, this is a big race for us. For my team, the two races at Texas are probably the most important of the year."

Chaffin is settling in with former NASCAR Cup Series star Hamilton who is competing full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series for the second straight season. Hamilton cut back a three-truck effort in 2003 to focus on his and Chaffin's machinery for 2004. That, plus great team chemistry from the Nashville-based team, has Chaffin optimistic about his chances in the O'Reilly 400k.

"This year we are able to concentrate more on the vehicle itself, getting my truck and Bobby's similar and better. Because we are based in Nashville, my crew chief Kip McCord and I go back a long way. Most of the guys on the crew have known Bobby for a long time. It's kind of like racing back in the days when you had volunteer help. You went racing with your buddies. Now they are getting paid to do it."