The No. 14 Ford is riding a string of two consecutive top-10 finishes. Credit: Autostock

Crawford hopes momentum continues

In sports, sometimes confidence and momentum are everything. Rick Crawford has both heading into Friday night's Quaker Steak and Lube 200 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

"We've had some very good runs in Charlotte but we are looking for even better," Crawford said.

	2005 CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES •   Results •   Standings •   Schedule •   Best 25 Over Last Six Races •   Best Starts •   Best Finishes

Past history dictates that may happen. In two starts at Lowe's, Crawford has an average fnish of fifth, tops among those drivers with both starts that are competing in Saturday's race.

Crawford said he has extra motivation to perform well at the Charlotte track.

"All the races are important and all pay the same number of championship points, but racing in Charlotte is something extra special," said Crawford, a native of Mobile, Ala. "The Circle Bar shop is located right behind the backstretch grandstand.

"I can just about see Victory Lane from my office window."

After a less-than-stellar start to the 2005 campaign, Crawford is inching toward the series top 10. He was fifth at Gateway two weeks ago and he finished sixth at Mansfield on Sunday.

Crawford now sits 13th, 70 points behind 10th-place Johnny Benson.

"It's no surprise to me or the team that we have put together a couple of good finishes," said Crawford. "[Crew chief] Cowboy [Starland] and the crew have given me great trucks in every race this season and now we are getting the finishes to show for it.

"I always have confidence in the trucks they prepare for me."

Smooth as glass

The trucks will be the first group to race on the new track surface at Lowe's. Most of the NCTS drivers that have tested on the surface like what they've seen.

"It's deceiving because when you see the middle of Turns 3 and 4 you see a lighter patch and think the 'Humpy Bump' is still there," explains Bill Lester. "Now you can go right over that part of the track -- and it doesn't upset the truck anymore.

"We should be able to go two wide through that corner -- which is something we couldn't do before."

Robert Huffman agrees.

"The track will be totally different this year with the grinding that they've done to the surface," Huffman said.

"I have heard that the track has a lot more grip. It's a lot smoother, which I think we'll be a lot like Texas or Atlanta. "It should be an exciting race. I feel sure with the grinding of the track, it will make it even much better."

Ready to forget Mansfield

Ron Hornaday

After a black-flag penalty took him out of contention last week at Mansfield, Ron Hornaday said he's willing, if not eager, to move on.

"It is obvious to our guys that we can win no matter where we go, and winning in Charlotte would be a great place to prove that to everyone else.

"What happened is in the past and we are moving on. Of course we were disappointed because we felt we had a truck capable of winning, but sometimes these things happen. There is nothing we can do to change it, so now we are thinking about Charlotte."