Spencer to run Truck Series race in Milwaukee

In other NCTS news, Bang Racing makes crew chief swap

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Jimmy Spencer will replace Andy Houston in owner Jim Smith's No. 2 ASE/CARQUEST Dodge for Friday night's Black Cat Fireworks 200 at The Milwaukee Mile.

	Jimmy Spencer

In another Craftsman Truck Series personnel move, Bang Racing owner Alex Meshkin has swapped the crews, including the crew chiefs, of his two Toyota Tundra teams for former series champions Mike Skinner and Travis Kvapil.

Smith said Wednesday that the change is for one race and that he simply wants to get his second truck running as well as team leader Ted Musgrave's No. 1 Mopar Dodge. Musgrave has been a threat to win the past two races since Gene Nead returned as crew chief.

"Jimmy is going to try to help us figure out what's wrong with that 2 truck," Smith said. "I don't think it's Andy -- I think we've got an issue and I need a second opinion about what's going on.

"We got the 1 fixed and I'm on my way to getting the other one fixed."

Despite the move, Houston plans to be in Milwaukee for Friday's event.

Spencer drove Smith's Cup Series cars in 2003 and made three Craftsman Truck Series starts after Jason Leffler left Ultra for a Cup ride.

Spencer and crew chief Dennis Connor had a dominant win in the No. 2 Ram last September at New Hampshire International Speedway, leading 124 of 200 laps.

"Andy is our driver and I have all the confidence in the world in him," Smith said. "But I thought it would be good to get Jimmy Spencer in there and to give me some good feedback.

"(Andy) will be fine. We'll get it all sorted out and move on to Kansas City next week with Andy in the truck."

Spencer was available for the Black Cat 200 when his Nextel Cup Series owner, Larry McClure, decided to skip this weekend's Dodge/Save Mart 350 road race at Infineon Raceway.

Houston returned to the Truck Series this season after leaving after the 2000 campaign to attempt a Cup career. Houston ran six of the final seven races of 2003 in the No. 2 trucks and had two top-five and six top-10 finishes and led 67 laps.

In 2004, Houston has struggled to two top-10 finishes. Houston has yet to lead a lap.

"Over the winter they did something really, really wrong to all those trucks -- we found out what it was and we have fixed it," Smith said. "Accidentally all the (mounting) points got moved on the trucks. It was a major, major issue."

Nead engineered 13 victories in Musgrave's first three seasons in the Truck Series, but left in the offseason. He returned two races ago and Musgrave's performance has turned around.

Bang makes a change

At Bang, Skinner is sixth and Kvapil 12th in points with no victories, five top-five and six top-10 finishes between them after eight races.

	Mike Skinner

Effective immediately, rookie Truck Series chief mechanic Eric Phillips and his crew will switch to inaugural Truck Series champion Skinner's No. 42 Toyota-backed truck and veteran truck mechanic Rick Ren and his team will engineer defending series champion Kvapil's No. 24 Line-X Tundra.

"From the beginning we have stressed that we are one team fielding two trucks," Meshkin said. "We came out of the gates at Daytona very strong and have worked to give both teams the best in equipment and support.

"We have been consistent and strong, and want to continue to stay within striking distance of the championship. To keep the momentum going, (we) are making a switch to accommodate the drivers' unique needs."

	Travis Kvapil

Ren first worked with Kvapil on owner Mike Addington's team in 2002, when they won two races together.

"I'm excited to work with Travis again," Ren said. "We already have a winning, two-year relationship and don't have to learn what each other likes or dislikes, so everything will probably go back to the way it was before.

"It will work out fine, and it is what we needed to do to get both trucks turned around and run consistently in the top five and back in the top five in points. I don't see how it will affect the team's day-to-day operations (and) I think that it is definitely a positive for both teams."

"Both teams were struggling with results and should be running in the top five every week, not outside of the top 10," Kvapil said. "It may be a little tough at first adjusting to the situation but things will work out, and both teams will rise to the occasion."