Back in the Saddle: Ryan Hemphill will return to the seat of the No. 4 Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge team following his accident last week in practice at California Speedway.
"I'm just glad that NASCAR and the doctors cleared me to race this week," said Hemphill. "I feel great. The day after it happened I was glad to sit out, but after a few days I felt fine. I'm just excited about getting back out there and seeing what we can do this week at Phoenix."
Hemphill lost one spot in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings after last week's disappointment. He is now 39th in the overall driver standings. He and the team's goal of a top 25 in the final points standings may have taken a blow when he missed last week's race.
"That's the bad thing about missing the race last week," said Hemphill. "It will be just about impossible for us to finish in the top 25 in the driver points standings now. We can however still finish in the top 15 in truck points so that is what our new goal is heading into this week's race."
The No. 4 truck sits in the 16th position in the owner points standings, just two points behind the No. 15 team.
Past History: There is a lot of history for Bobby Hamilton Racing here at Phoenix International Raceway. It is the site for many firsts for not only the truck organization, but also its owner, Bobby Hamilton. In 2000, the organization won its first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the track, and in 1990 Hamilton made his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series start of his career. Also in 1996, Hamilton won his very first race on the Winston Cup tour.
Hemphill has also gone to victory lane at the Phoenix International Raceway. He won a qualifying race for the NASCAR Southwest Tour Series this past February.
"I really like the place," said Hemphill. "It's like no other track you will ever see. I can't really explain what it is like to drive at Phoenix. You just have to be smooth to go fast."
Career Starts: Hemphill will make his fifth start of his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career this week at Phoenix International Raceway. He was scheduled to make his fifth start last week at California Speedway, before the accident that sidelined him.
Championship Hunt: With two races remaining in the 2002 season, there are still seven teams that can win the Truck Series Championship.
This Week's Truck: Hemphill will be driving, Hulk, this week at Phoenix International Raceway. It was the same truck that started the race at California Speedway last week. It also went to victory lane last season at Darlington Speedway with Bobby Hamilton behind the wheel. Performance Chart: Hulk
DATE RACE START/FINISH DRIVER
10-13-00 Texas 25 11 Joe Ruttman
3-4-01 Homestead 5 9 Joe Ruttman
5-6-01 St. Louis DNQ 36 Bill Lester
5-12-01 Darlington 3 1 Bobby Hamilton
7-21-01 Loudon DNQ 25 Bobby Hamilton
8-26-01 Nazareth 33 31 Sammy Sanders
9-28-01 South Boston 10 5 Joe Ruttman
3-15-02 Darlington 18 8 Brian Rose
4-13-02 Martinsville 9 27 Brian Rose
5-7-02 Texas 14 35 Brian Rose
6-29-02 Milwaukee 12 19 Brian Rose
7-27-02 Michigan 16 23 Brian Rose
8-2-01 IRP 10 30 Bobby Hamilton
9-13-02 Texas 13 11 Joe Ruttman
11-2-02 California DNQ 36 Ricky Bogart
No. 4 Team's 2002 Craftsman Truck Series Event Results
Location Start Finish Laps Status Money Won Driver
Daytona 4 3 100 of 100 Running $ 39,640 Brian Rose
Darlington 18 8 147 of 147 Running 9,975 Brian Rose
Martinsville 9 27 223 of 250 Running 7,815 Brian Rose
St. Louis 27 8 160 of 160 Running 14,425 Brian Rose
Pikes Peak 13 10 200 of 200 Running 12,675 Brian Rose
Dover 15 30 49 of 200 Running 9,415 Brian Rose
Texas 14 35 3 of 167 Accident 8,740 Brian Rose
Memphis 13 10 200 of 200 Running 12,100 Brian Rose
Milwaukee 12 19 200 of 203 Running 8,365 Brian Rose
Kansas 16 21 157 of 167 Accident 10,515 Brian Rose
Kentucky 19 24 144 of 150 Running 11,640 Brian Rose
Loudon 10 25 195 of 207 Accident 7,015 Brian Rose
Michigan 16 23 97 of 100 Running 10,390 Brian Rose
IRP 10 30 170 of 200 Suspension 7,045 B Hamilton
Nashville 7 4 151 of 151 Running 10,375 B Hamilton Jr.
Richmond 7 14 199 of 200 Accident 6,315 B Hamilton
Texas 13 11 145 of 146 Running 10,945 Joe Ruttman
South Boston12 10 257 of 257 Running 10,250 Ryan Hemphill
Las Vegas 4 14 144 of 146 Ignition 10,340 Ryan Hemphill
California 6 36 2 of 100 Ignition 9,535 Ricky Bogart
Phoenix (Next Event)
Totals 2943 of 3451 (85.2%) $ 227,515
*Qualifying attempt turned in by Ryan Hemphill
Hemphill's career best start is a fourth place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last week. His best career finish came at South Boston Speedway where recorded a 10th place finish.
For More Information see www.bobbyhamiltonracing.com
