Ricky Carmichael Milwaukee Mile Preview

Ricky Carmichael

No. 4 Monster Energy Truck

Team Race Preview

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race 10 of 25 – The Milwaukee (Wisc.) Mile

 

WISCONSIN BOUND: Ricky Carmichael returns to the No. 4 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Monster Energy truck this weekend at The Milwaukee (Wisc.) Mile for his first career Truck Series start at America’s Legendary Oval. Not only will Carmichael be making his first appearance at the track, but this will also mark his first trip to Wisconsin. His racing career on both two and four wheels has made Carmichael a world traveler, but this is the first time he will make the trek to The Badger State of Wisconsin.

 

In the history of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), no other rider has won as many championships (15) and races (150) as Carmichael, earning him the nickname the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Carmichael was a record five-time AMA “Rider of the Year.”

 

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY: This weekend, Carmichael will celebrate Father’s Day with his two-year-old twins Kadin and Elise. While at the track, Carmichael’s father Rick Carmichael will be cheering his son on as he looks score his first career Truck Series victory.

 

“My father has been very instrumental in my career to get me to where I am today,” said Carmichael. “He will be at the track this weekend in Milwaukee. I’ve always performed well on Father’s Day in the past, so it would be really cool to go out and have a good run for him this weekend. To be as successful as I’ve been, I will always be indebted to my parents for the sacrifices they’ve made for me and my career.”

 

BEFORE THE RACE: QUOTES WITH DRIVER RICKY CARMICHAEL:

This weekend you head to a track you’ve never seen before, but it is a flat track like New Hampshire Motor Speedway where you’ve run well. How do you prepare for your first career start at The Milwaukee Mile? “I’ve actually never been to Wisconsin, so this weekend will be especially neat. I’m looking forward to the race and in the past I’ve been good on flat tracks similar to Loudon (New Hampshire Motor Speedway). I’m excited and optimistic that we can go to Milwaukee and have a good run this weekend.”

 

Recently when you were at Texas Motor Speedway, the 2009 Truck Series Rookie class took laps around the track with veteran driver Ron Hornaday to learn tips and how to get around the mile-and-half track. Who do you turn to for tips and advice heading into this weekend? “Obviously, I talk to Kevin (Harvick) before the weekend starts. I lean on Ron (Hornaday) at the track. Ron is good to lean on during the weekend because he’s there and he has been to all the tracks before, so he knows their characteristics.”

 

FROM ATOP THE BOX: QUOTES WITH CREW CHIEF JOHN MONSAM:

This weekend will mark Ricky Carmichael’s first Truck Series start at The Milwaukee Mile. How do you prepare for that and what are your expectations this weekend? “I’ve spoken to Ricky and he’s really pumped to get back in the truck this weekend. He ran really good last year at New Hampshire in one of the NASCAR Camping World East races and this track is comparable as a flat track. He’s excited and as long as we get the truck set-up right and give him the right equipment, I think he will do well. The pit crew and team have really stepped it up lately and done an outstanding job. It’s time for this team to get back up front and get the finishes it deserves.” 

 

TOP GEAR: Carmichael spent much of last week in California, shooting a segment for the popular BBC-TV show “Top Gear.” Carmichael rode a motorcycle on an obstacle course in conjunction with Monster Energy rally car driver Ken Block for the automotive enthusiast show which is seen worldwide. The show is telecast in the United States on the BBC America channel.

 

CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 4 Monster Energy team will unload truck chassis No. 018 this weekend for Carmichael as he makes his first appearance at The Milwaukee Mile. Earlier this year, this chassis ran at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway where Carmichael started the race 29th and finished in the same position as he earned his rookie stripes around the famous paperclip track. Prior to the 2009 season, this chassis was in the No. 33 truck team’s stable with three-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday.

 

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Turning to the Irish Hills of Michigan, Canadian driver J.R. Fitzpatrick returned to the No. 4 truck for his second appearance of the season for KHI and his first career start at Michigan International Speedway. With a solid qualifying effort and a fast truck, Fitzpatrick qualified eighth for the race and ran most of the day in the top 10. Running as high as fifth place early in the race, Fitzpatrick was involved in a single-truck incident trying to make a pass on the inside of Dennis Setzer on lap 64 and spun, hitting the outside retaining wall. The team attempted to repair the damaged vehicle, but was unable to get Fitzpatrick and the No. 4 truck back on track before the race concluded, scoring a 21st-place finish.

 

QUICK NOTES

 

June 19, 2009

The Milwaukee (Wisc.) Mile

Copart 200

 

Race length: 200 Laps/ 200 Miles

Banking/Turns: 9.25-degrees in turns,

2.5-degree straight-a-ways

Track layout: 1.0-mile

Shape: Oval

 

Pre-Race Schedule

Friday:

Practice: 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m., EST

Final Practice: 1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., EST

Qualifying: 6:30 p.m., EST

 

Friday:

TV: The Copart 200 can be seen on SPEED at 8:30 p.m., EST

 

Radio: The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will broadcast live at 8:30 p.m., EST

 

No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado Specs:

 

Chassis: 018

Engine: PME

 

Ricky Carmichael

No. 4

KHI All-Star Team

 

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Remaining Scheduled Starts:

 

June 19                 Milwaukee

June 27                 Memphis

July 18                   Kentucky

July 24                   Indianapolis

August 1                Nashville

August 29              Chicago

September 5        Iowa

September 12      St. Louis

September 26      Las Vegas

October 31            Talladega

 
About Monster Energy

Monster Energy supports the sport, no matter how radical or extreme. Be it Ricky Carmichael’s high-speed, high-banked NASCAR racing program, supercross, rally, insane distance jumping, motocross, MotoGP, roadracing, supermoto, off-road, freestyle motocross, skate, MTB, rock crawling, wake, mini bikes, surf, snow, BMX – the list goes on – the athletes that participate in these unique forms of athleticism are sparked by Monster Energy. Available in Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, Monster’s fruit juice hybrid dubbed “M-80,” the party-friendly MIXXD, the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line (supercharged with our Monster Energy blend), as well as the new Monster Energy “Hitman” energy shot, there’s something for everyone. Wherever they go, Monster Energy beverages power the Monster Army of athletes. Be sure to check out their never-ending series of adventures at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com.

 

About Kevin Harvick Inc.

Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), established in 2001, is a 70,000 sq. ft. facility located in Kernersville, N.C. KHI houses two full-time Truck Series teams, including the 2007 series champions, the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado driven by three-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday and the No. 4 KHI All-Stars Chevrolet Silverado driven by Ricky Carmichael, J.R. Fitzpatrick and a variety of NASCAR Sprint Cup stars. KHI is also home to the No. 33 Chevrolet Impala competing full-time in the Nationwide Series, with drivers Kevin Harvick (a two-time Nationwide Series champion), 2008 Daytona 500 champion Ryan Newman, Hornaday, Kelly Bires and Cale Gale. The 2009 season marks KHI’s sixth year of full-time competition in NASCAR’s elite divisions. Visit www.kevinharvickinc.com for more information.