Notes: New winner at Michigan guaranteed

This Saturday's VFW 200 (1:30 p.m. ET on SPEED) at Michigan International Speedway is a rarity indeed. There is not a single previous winner of the event on the entry list.

Michigan is one of just eight tracks on which four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday has failed to record a victory. Current points leader Todd Bodine similarly is without a win -- although Bodine has won at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, a layout similar to MIS.

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Wayne's words

"Michigan is very similar to a superspeedway. Yes, you heard me right. Just like at Daytona and Talladega, aerodynamics will be huge on Saturday and horsepower is key. The truck with the biggest horse under the hood has a good chance of crossing the finish line first.

"Like Daytona and Talladega, the trucks actually draft down the straightaway. MIS has been known for four- sometimes five-wide racing for position. The drivers definitely have room to maneuver.

"Be sure not to get top comfortable in your seats, now, because last-lap passes have been the norm at Michigan.

"Remember in 2008 when Erik Darnell passed Johnny Benson for the victory on the last lap -- winning only by .005 seconds?

"Though young guns have performed well at Michigan the last two seasons, I look to see a veteran doing burnouts after it is all over on Saturday. Maybe Ron Hornaday Jr., who has never won at Michigan, will make his mark on Saturday in his manufacturer's backyard.

"And you can never count out Kyle Busch, Todd Bodine or Mike Skinner at a 2.0-mile oval It's hard to believe they have never won at MIS."

-- Wayne Auton, director, Camping World Truck Series

A Ford has won five of the previous 10 races at the 2-mile speedway including the past three. But the manufacturer has gone winless in 2010 and hasn't visited Victory Lane since last year's Michigan event.

The season's ninth of 25 races is wide open, to say the least. A couple of names stand out among possible winners. Kyle Busch finished in the runner-up position a year ago. Busch, however, was driving the No. 51 Toyota that now belongs to Dover winner Aric Almirola. Billy Ballew Motorsports' No. 15 Toyota was the No. 3 finisher and it's not going out on a limb to make the truck's current driver, Nelson Piquet Jr., a possible winner. Piquet finished a solid eighth a week ago at Texas, the Brazilian's second top-10 run of an abbreviated 2010 campaign.

Add Texas runner-up (and Kansas Speedway winner) Johnny Sauter; 1995 series champion Mike Skinner and Elliott Sadler to an expanding group of contenders. Skinner was impressive in Texas finishing fifth, his season's best performance and fifth consecutive race in the top 10. Sadler ran fifth in his most recent appearance driving the No. 2 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

A rookie has yet to win at Michigan but, based on performance at Texas, Austin Dillon could end that drought. Dillon started from the pole, led the race and finished third. Richard Childress Racing will be making just its second Truck appearance at MIS. Jay Sauter drove the No. 3 truck to a second-place finish behind Greg Biffle in 1999.

Piquet on right track with veteran crew chief

From the outside looking in, you would not know that Nelson Piquet Jr. isn't quite up to speed on many of the Camping World Truck Series' tracks.

In essence, you would not know that he is a former open-wheel driver trying to find his place in a stock-car world because he makes himself look right at home. The Brazilian-born driver has competed in three races (Daytona, Charlotte and Texas) this season, finishing in the top-10 twice.

"When it comes to transitioning from open-wheel racing to stock cars, it's all racing. It's all driving," Piquet said. "Obviously, each series has its own characteristics and different formats of racing. When you're inside a car and fighting, though, it's all very similar. You're battling 'car tight' versus 'car loose' and trying to get the handling corrected. No matter what you're driving, you have to concentrate and maintain yourself during the race."

Piquet's ability to transition so well partially can be credited to his Michigan-native crew chief, Kevin "Cowboy" Starland. Starland is no stranger to the Truck garage. For the past five seasons Cowboy called the shots for series veteran Rick Crawford before moving to work with Piquet during the 2010 season.

"Nelson has come a long way in just a few races," Starland said. "He's got a lot of talent and he's willing to listen. He'll lean on my experience when he's learning a track, then he executes. That what makes us such a good team. We know we can trust each other."

Piquet and Starland head to Michigan -- a track the driver has never seen -- this weekend looking for their third consecutive top-10 finish. (Continued)