2001 marked by dominance of few
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
December 24, 2001
12:29 PM EST (1729 GMT)
CONCORD, N.C. -- You don't know Jack? Well, every driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series certainly did in 2001.
 | |
Jack Sprague
|
|
|
Jack Sprague showed that he has both talent and tenacity as he achieved his record third Truck series championship this year. And the Spring Hill, Mich., native proved to those who had doubted him that he wasn't over-the-hill.
Ending the 2000 season in fifth place, Sprague didn't begin this year looking like a champion. But soon he gathered up his No. 24 Chevrolet team and set sail on a record-setting course.
After remaining winless for 22 straight races, the 37-year-old driver returned to Victory Lane with a win at Texas in June. From there, he won three more times and garnered 15 top-five and 17 top-ten finishes.
Along the way, he set records for most money earned in the Craftsman Truck Series, most consecutive races started in the series and most championships won.
Sprague is the only driver to have competed in every race since the series' conception in 1995. That streak will come to an end next year as he moves to the Busch Series with his Hendrick team.
 | |
Joe Ruttman
|
|
|
In 2001, Sprague faced fierce competition on the way to the championship. Scott Riggs and Joe Ruttman both made valiant attempts to win the crown.
Ruttman showed that youth doesn't always reign by winning the season-opener at Daytona. By the end of the year, the 57-year-old driver would earn one more win and finish third in points with 10 top-fives and 15 top-10s.
Unfortunately, Ruttman was released from his ride in the Bobby Hamilton Racing-owned No. 18 Dodge at season's end. But he has shown that he still has the talent and desire to compete.
Another veteran of the Winston Cup ranks made the Craftsman Truck Series his home this year. Ted Musgrave was tapped by Ultra Motorsports to team up with the younger Riggs.
 | |
Ted Musgrave
|
|
|
The No. 1 and No. 2 Dodges gave the one-two punch and captured half of the 24 victories between them this year. Musgrave gave Ultra seven wins, while Riggs, who led the points for most of the way, tossed in five of his own. Between Musgrave, Riggs, Ruttman and Hamilton, Dodge earned its first manufacturer's championship since the Craftsman Truck Series began.
A late-season downturn in Riggs' performance led to his drop in the rankings. During the final race at California, Riggs had a run-in with Sprague in which both trucks were put out of commission.
As a result, Sprague finished 31st and Riggs, 32nd. Sprague had nothing to lose, as he only needed to start the race to clinch the championship. But Riggs became the big loser as he fell to fifth in points.
Musgrave, on the other hand, capitalized on his teammate's altercation and not only won the race, but jumped to second in points. Based on his performance, Musgrave may be the early-season favorite for next year's championship.
The feud between Sprague and Riggs could continue into next year, as both of them move into the Busch Series. Sprague's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Ricky Hendrick, will also move to that series. Riggs will take over the ppc Racing-owned No. 10 Ford vacated by Jeff Green.
A Winston Cup and Busch Series veteran -- Robert Pressley -- will take over the ride Riggs is departing.
Travis Kvapil of the Addington Racing team led the rookie crop in 2001. After coming close many times, the Wisconsin native scored victory number one at Texas. That, along with 11 top-fives and 18 top-10 finishes, helped earn him rookie of the year honors and placed him fourth in points.
 | |
Travis Kvapil
|
|
|
All victories but three this year came from those who would wind up in the top 10. Bobby Hamilton picked up a win at Darlington, and Greg Biffle, the 2000 champion, returned to pick up two for himself and Roush Racing.
Finishing second in the rookie race was Hendrick. The son of team owner Rick Hendrick managed to grab his first victory when he bested the field at Kansas. His eight top-five and 19 top-10 finishes placed him sixth in points.
Dennis Setzer took a victory at Memphis this year and completed the season seventh in points. He will be returning to Morgan Dollar next year with a new crew chief to help him along.
Terry Cook was winless this year, but don't count him out for next year. His first season with Keselowski Racing proved that the match was a good one as he finished seventh in points.
Rick Crawford ended the season with a handful of top-five finishes. That could be the catalyst for career win No. 2 next year and a finish higher than his eighth-place finish this year.
Coy Gibbs didn't find Victory Lane in 2001, but with veteran crew chief Doug Hewitt heading up the operation next year, he might soon get that first win.
Throughout the year, the Truck series seemed to struggle to find itself with the fans. Sparse attendance was a problem at many tracks. Companion races with other series did better than most stand-alone events.
Additionally, the Craftsman Truck Series did not benefit from the new television deals and heavy cross-promotion that the Winston Cup and Busch series enjoyed on the Fox networks, NBC and TNT.
The 2001 Craftsman Truck Series season may be remembered as one of transition. Four of this year's top-10 finishers won't be returning next year, which will open the door for a new champion.
All the drama and excitement begin again in February at Daytona.
| 
