Craftsman Truck Series champion Ted Musgrave will be driving a Ford F-150 next season instead of a Dodge. Credit: Autostock

Musgrave, Ultra switching to Ford for '06

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ultra Motorsports, which fields the No. 1 truck that was driven to the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship by Ted Musgrave, signed a multi-year contract with Ford Racing, starting with the 2006 season.

	Craftsman Truck Series Official Standings Pos. Driver Pts. Behind 1. T. Musgrave 3,535 -- 2. D. Setzer 3,480 -55 3. T. Bodine 3,462 -73 4. R. Hornaday 3,369 -166 5. M. Skinner 3,273 -262 • Complete standings, click here Final lapsTodd Bodine takes win but Ted Musgrave wins title Title timeTed Musgrave wins his first career NCTS championship! Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"The addition of Ultra Motorsports shows the level of commitment Ford Racing is making to improve its truck program," said Greg Specht, manager, North American Racing Operations, Ford Racing Technology. "Ultra Motorsports is a championship-level team with a long history of success in the Craftsman Truck Series. They had several very successful years with Ford, and we are elated that they're returning home to our program."

Ultra Motorsports owner Jim Smith -- one of the founding members of the truck series, campaigning Ford F-150s from 1995-2000 -- said he is pleased about reuniting with the manufacturer.

"I'm excited to be reunited with Ford Racing," Smith said. "We started in this series running a Ford, and the F-150 with the Roush-Yates engine package looks to be the ticket for 2006. Team ASE/Ultra Wheel looks forward to defending the Craftsman Truck Series Championship in a Ford."

Ultra Motorsports, which won 10 races in six years with Ford Racing the first time around, has produced at least one victory each year throughout the history of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (1995-present).

Musgrave, who has competed in all three of NASCAR's top-tier series, won his first-ever championship at any level in 2005, clinching the title with a 20th-place finish in the season-ending Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.

Musgrave is among the Craftsman Truck Series' all-time leaders in victories, top-fives, top-10s, poles and money won. Prior to winning the championship last year, he finished second in the standings in 2001 and was third from 2002 to 2004.