Bobby Hamilton is the defending Craftsman Truck Series winner at Daytona. Credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Hamilton starting anew as Truck season begins

Former NCTS champion leader of a four-team Dodge entry

At this point last year, defending Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton was coming off a last-lap victory at Daytona International Speedway, while Jimmy Spencer, Todd Bodine, Ricky Craven and Ted Musgrave rounded out the top five.

Fast forward to the start of the 2006 season -- and see how much has changed in such a short time.

Inside the Numbers Truck winners at Daytona Year Driver Start 2000 Mike Wallace 2 2001 Joe Ruttman 1 2002 Robert Pressley 10 2003 Rick Crawford 19 2004 Carl Edwards 6 2005 Bobby Hamilton 36

Spencer and Craven are out of the series, and Musgrave nearly joined them when Jim Smith pulled the plug on his championship-winning truck team. Musgrave and Bodine are now teammates, while Hamilton will showcase a new sponsor, a new number and new teammates when the GM Flex Fuel 250 kicks off the season Friday night at Daytona.

"At the end of last year and during the offseason, we have grown our company into a four-team stable," Hamilton said. "The good part is that I have a great group of people that are all pitching in to work on each other's trucks and help make our entire organization get ahead."

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Six drivers have won the six previous races at Daytona, so Hamilton knows repeating is more a matter of staying away from danger and finding the right drafting partner.

"It is hard to tell what the right strategy is here at Daytona," Hamilton said. "If your truck is real good, you want to run to the front, but if it looks like it is not going to be a very wild race, then I will probably run and hide somewhere.

"I have already had a couple of drivers come and talk with me about it. Depending on who is in the field and who you have back there as a partner determines what you can do and when you can do it."

Hamilton used that strategy wisely in 2005, starting 36th and dodging multiple accidents on his way to the victory, which came while he was dueling with Spencer for the race lead. Spencer's Victory Lane celebration was cut short when NASCAR ruled Hamilton was ahead when the final yellow flew.

In addition to piloting the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge in 2006, Hamilton will own Dodges driven by Timothy Peters, Scott Lagasse and Bobby Hamilton Jr.

GM FLEX FUEL 250 •   Race Lineup

"I've got an even mix of drivers this year," Hamilton said. "I've got the veterans with Bobby Jr. and myself. I've also got the two young guys in Timothy and Scott. It's a good mix.

"We all drive a lot alike and so our styles on the track will really help when it comes to feedback on the trucks. We have two bully veterans out there to teach two young anxious drivers, so it should be pretty interesting."

A total of 42 trucks are entered for the 100-lap opener under the lights.