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Kevin Harvick hasn't raced a truck since 2005 but that won't stop him from getting behind the wheel in Friday's Truck Series race at California.By the Numbers: NCTS San Bernardino Co. 200
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After a dramatic, three-wide finish kicking off the 2007 season at Daytona, one could expect a little letdown this week at California. If Kevin Harvick and Mark Martin have anything to say about it, that won't happen.
That's right, the two who gave us the dramatic photo-finish in the Daytona Cup race will be battling it out under the lights in trucks Friday night at the San Bernardino County 200 (8:30 p.m. ET, SPEED).
Mark Martin owned this race last year leading 63 of the 106 laps, capturing the checkered-flag and going on to win six Craftsman Truck Series races in 2006.
For Kevin Harvick, things are just a bit different.
Harvick hasn't driven in a Truck Series race since Richmond back in 2005, where he finished third behind Mike Skinner and Todd Bodine. Harvick hasn't raced a truck in California since 1999 -- his final full season in the Truck Series -- where he finished 15th.
Harvick will be driving the No. 2 Chevy for Cale Gale on Friday. He and his wife DeLana own the No. 2 as well as the No. 33 driven by Ron Hornaday.
Mark Martin will step in for the Wood Brothers and drive the No. 21 Ford in place of rookie Kelly Bires.
Interesting Fact
2.32 Percent of races Kevin Harvick has won in the Truck Series, his worst percentage in NASCAR's three highest levels. Harvick has only won two truck races in 87 attempts. Compare that to the Busch Series where he has 27 victories in 167 attempts, 16.16 percent. In the Cup series he has won 5.11 percent of his races -- 11 trips to Victory Lane in 215 races.
Fun Fact
25 This is the 25th truck race run in the state of California. With the Oscars taking place this weekend in Southern California along with the truck race, we go back 25 years and look at the 1982 Oscar winners. Gandhi dominated the ceremony with nine wins including Best Picture. Steven Spielberg's E.T. brought home three Oscars for Score, Sound and Visual Effects.
All the Facts
0 Number of native Californians who have won the truck race at California.
2 Drivers spent every lap in last year's race in the top-15: Mark Martin and David Reutimann.
2 Number of drivers to win at California from the pole: Mike Bliss in 1997 and Kurt Busch in 2000.
2.158 Largest margin of victory in a Truck Series race at California (Ted Musgrave in 2003).
3 Number of consecutive victories Ted Musgrave had at California ... a track record
6 Times Ted Musgrave has finished in the top five at California, every race at the track he has run in the Truck Series.
8 Number of cautions in last year's California race, tying a Truck Series track record.
22.96 Percent of passes that took place in Turn 4 over the last two races, the most on any part of the racetrack.
26 Number of drivers who finished on the lead lap in last year's race at California, a Truck Series track record.
42.9 Percentage of laps Mark Martin had the fastest truck in last year's race.
49 Laps led by third-place finisher Travis Kvapil last week at Daytona.
57 Number of laps David Starr has led in the last two races at California. That ranks second among active drivers.
145.926 Average speed of Ted Musgrave when he won at California in 2003 ... the fastest at this track.
149.0 Mark Martin's driver rating at last year's California race, one point off a maximum driver rating of 150.
Inside the Numbers
NCTS Winners at California
| Year | Driver | Make | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Mike Bliss | Ford | 137.195 |
| 1998 | Jack Sprague | Chevrolet | 141.844 |
| 1999 | Jack Sprague | Chevrolet | 128.091 |
| 2000 | Kurt Busch | Ford | 144.260 |
| 2001 | Ted Musgrave | Dodge | 113.330 |
| 2002 | Ted Musgrave | Dodge | 140.296 |
| 2003 | Ted Musgrave | Dodge | 145.926 |
| 2004 | Todd Bodine | Toyota | 127.141 |
| 2005 | Steve Park | Dodge | 128.000 |
| 2006 | Mark Martin | Ford | 121.529 |
Truck Series News
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- Skinner to drive at Daytona for Eddie Sharp Racing
- Dillon happy to be called 'Austin's little brother'
- SS Green Light tabs crew chief Berry for Chastain
- Crew chief-turned-owner Wauters tabs Harraka
- Chastain joins SS Green Light Racing for 2012
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