The No. 4 Open Joist Dodge truck should have a familiar ring to it. The Grand Rapids-based Universal Forest Products, Inc., has renewed its marketing alliance with Bobby Hamilton Racing (BHR) this season, and it will be promoting its Open Joist product on the truck. Open Joist is a versatile, open-web, all-wood floor truss. Universal broke into Craftsman Trucks last year with BHR, which lost its founder, Bobby Hamilton Sr., in January of 2007 to cancer. The team drove on despite losing Hamilton, who won the 2004 championship. Last year proved to be a transitional season in which a handful of drivers took turns racing the Open Joist truck, but things are looking up in 2008.
Stacy Compton has been hired to race the Open Joist Dodge full-time, and after clocking in fifth fastest last weekend in a Daytona test session, he said he is confident 2008 will be a competitive one for him and his team.
Universal was founded in 1955 and now has over 100 facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will be investing in other racing marketing opportunities, too.
"The exposure we have received for the Open Joist brand with this investment is something we would never get in other mediums if we spent the same amount of money," said Larry Kroh, the Open Joist sales manager. "Renewel is the key to keeping this credibility going. We have the opportunity to build brand recognition even more."
"Day 1 AM Testing at Daytona: #99-Erik Darnell was the fastest in Day 1 AM Testing at Daytona Int'l Speedway with a speed of 177.420 followed by #6-Colin Braun, #09-Joey Clanton, #7-Andy Lally, #18-Stacy Compton."
18 Stacy Compton, hey hey, way to go. Nice run in Dennis Setzer's ride.
Or is it Setzer's ride? It begs the question. Does a number on a team truck driven by a teammate constitute the other driver's ride? I guess it might if indeed they were two distinct teams with two distinct crew chiefs. But I am not even sure if this is the case at BHR at this point in the year and this jucture in their merger with Arrington. I don't even know if they are operating out of Tennessee or Virginia at this point.
"Day 1 PM Testing at Daytona: #10-Brendan Gaughan was the fastest in Day 1 PM Testing at Daytona Int'l Speedway with a speed of 184.638 followed by #7-Andy Lally, #09-Joey Clanton, #11-David Starr, #30-Todd Bodine. The fastest Dodge [20th] #18-Stacy Compton. "
20th! 20th?
What the heck happened over lunch. How much did Stacy eat for Pete's sake. Did a cloud come over the track? Something changed. Did it snow?
"Day 2 AM Testing at Daytona: #99-Erik Darnell was the fastest in Day 2 AM Testing at Daytona In'tl Speedway with a speed of 178.547 followed by #29-Scott ####, #5-Mike Skinner, #9-Justin Marks, #4-Stacy Compton. "
O.K. Maybe Stacy just needed to rest. Back to fifth just like that.
My point? I guess it is this. While I enjoy looking at test speeds for a little info. They really don't mean that much necessarily. You don't know what the situation was.
Were they single truck runs? Were they drafting? Were they in qualifying trim? Were they in Racing Trim. Were they on new tires? Were they on old tires? Were they simulating a race run? Were they adjusting this? Were they tinkering with that?
As I suspected might happen, BHR partner Arrington Manufacturing part owner Stacy Compton will be driving the number 4 truck for the Craftsman Truck Series Race Team this season. As had previously been reported during SPEED race coverage last season, Dennis Setzer will continue driving the number 18 for the team.
"Stacy Compton will drive the #4 Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge in the Craftsman Truck Series this season, team spokesman Amanda Jones confirmed Thursday. Compton, a co-owner of BHR partner Arrington Manufacturing, and Dennis Setzer will drive for the organization in 2008.
During an interview by Dave Moody on Sirius Radio, Compton said that Dodge will be heavily involved with the team and sponsorship will be provided by Dodge Dealers on the #4 Dodge."
Compton is practicing both trucks today in Daytona. There has been no word to date on who will sponsor the #18 truck. Fastenal will not be back with BHR in 2008 and has announced they will sponsor the #40 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates entry in the Sprint Cup series and driver Dario Franchitti.
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