1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series


The 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was the second season of the Craftsman Truck Series, the third highest stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. Ron Hornaday Jr. of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. won the championship.
ESPN and TNN broadcast eight races each. CBS carried five races while TBS aired three races.

Teams and drivers

Full-time schedule

List of full-time teams at the start of 1996.
TeamTruckDriverListed owner
AAG RacingChevrolet C/K65Kenny AllenShiela Allen
Brevak RacingFord F-15031Bob BrevakShelly Brevak
Carnes-Cox-Higgs RacingChevrolet C/K36Lonnie Cox 'Larry Carnes
Chek RacingChevrolet C/K8John NemechekJohn Nemechek
Chesrown RacingChevrolet C/K6Rick CarelliMarshall Chesrown
Clark RacingChevrolet C/K23T. J. ClarkDebbie Clark
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet C/K16Ron Hornaday Jr.Dale Earnhardt
Teresa Earnhardt
Darrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet C/K17Bill SedgwickDarrell Waltrip
Dokken RacingChevrolet C/K64Michael DokkenWayne Dokken
Geoff Bodine RacingFord F-1507Dave RezendesGeoffrey Bodine
Grandaddy RacingDodge Ram30Jimmy HensleyGrier Lackey
Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet C/K24Jack SpragueRick Hendrick
Irvan-Simo RacingFord F-15044Bryan Reffner 'Mark Simo
K Automotive RacingDodge Ram29Bob KeselowskiRon Keselowski
Liberty RacingFord F-15098Butch MillerJim Herrick
Richard Childress RacingChevrolet C/K3Mike SkinnerRichard Childress
Penske RacingFord F-15022Rick Johnson Roger Penske
Penske RacingFord F-15022Kenny Wallace Roger Penske
Penske RacingFord F-15022Rusty Wallace Roger Penske
Petty EnterprisesDodge Ram43Rich BickleRichard Petty
Roush RacingFord F-15080Joe RuttmanJack Roush
RPM RacingFord F-15011Mike HurlbertMike Hurlbert
Spears MotorsportsChevrolet C/K75Bobby Gill 'Wayne Spears
Ultra MotorsportsFord F-1502Mike BlissMarlene Smith
Venable RacingFord F-15021Doug George 'Jim Venable
Walker Evans RacingDodge Ram19Lance Norick Phyllis Evans
Walker Evans RacingDodge Ram19Butch Miller Phyllis Evans
Walker Evans RacingDodge Ram19Johnny Chapman Phyllis Evans
Walker Evans RacingDodge Ram20Walker EvansPhyllis Evans

Part-Time schedule

Races

Florida Dodge Dealers 400

The inaugural Florida Dodge Dealers 400 was held March 17 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Geoffrey Bodine won the pole. The race was broadcast on TNN.
Top ten results
  1. 7-Dave Rezendes
  2. 24-Jack Sprague
  3. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  4. 94-Ron Barfield
  5. 44-Bryan Reffner
  6. 27-Terry McCarthy
  7. 8-John Nemechek
  8. 42-Jay Sauter -1
  9. 00-Frank Kimmel -1
  10. 21-Doug George -1

    Chevrolet Desert Star 300

The Chevrolet Desert Star 300 was held April 21 at Phoenix International Raceway. Mike Skinner won the pole. The race was broadcast on TNN.
Top ten results
  1. 24-Jack Sprague
  2. 3-Mike Skinner
  3. 98-Butch Miller
  4. 44-Bryan Reffner
  5. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  6. 6-Rick Carelli
  7. 80-Joe Ruttman
  8. 94-Ron Barfield
  9. 75-Bobby Gill
  10. 64-Michael Dokken -1

    Craftsman 200

The Craftsman 200 was held May 4 at Portland Speedway. Rich Bickle won the pole. The race was broadcast by TBS.
Top ten results
  1. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  2. 2-Mike Bliss
  3. 3-Mike Skinner
  4. 17-Bill Sedgwick
  5. 98-Butch Miller
  6. 6-Rick Carelli
  7. 44-Bryan Reffner
  8. 24-Jack Sprague
  9. 80-Joe Ruttman
  10. 30-Jimmy Hensley

    Jerr-Dan/Nelson Truck 200

The Jerr-Dan/Nelson Truck 200 was held May 11 at Evergreen Speedway. Tobey Butler won the pole. The race was broadcast on TBS.
Top ten results
  1. 2-Mike Bliss
  2. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  3. 53-Dan Press
  4. 43-Rich Bickle
  5. 3-Mike Skinner
  6. 52-Tobey Butler
  7. 30-Jimmy Hensley
  8. 80-Joe Ruttman
  9. 94-Ron Barfield
  10. 17-Bill Sedgwick -1

    NAPA 200

The NAPA 200 was held May 25 at Tucson Raceway Park. Bryan Reffner won the pole. The race was broadcast on ESPN.
Top ten results
  1. 3-Mike Skinner
  2. 43-Rich Bickle
  3. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  4. 30-Jimmy Hensley
  5. 24-Jack Sprague
  6. 17-Bill Sedgwick
  7. 75-Bobby Gill
  8. 7-Dave Rezendes
  9. 64-Michael Dokken
  10. 29-Bob Keselowski

    Colorado 250

The Colorado 250 was held June 1 at Colorado National Speedway. Rich Bickle won the pole. The race was broadcast on CBS.
Top ten results
  1. 3-Mike Skinner
  2. 98-Butch Miller
  3. 30-Jimmy Hensley
  4. 24-Jack Sprague
  5. 7-Dave Rezendes
  6. 80-Joe Ruttman
  7. 17-Bill Sedgwick
  8. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  9. 42-Jay Sauter
  10. 21-Doug George

    Lund Look 225

The Lund Look 225 was held June 9 at Heartland Park Topeka. Ron Hornaday Jr. won the pole. The race was broadcast on TNN.
Top ten results
  1. 3-Mike Skinner
  2. 24-Jack Sprague
  3. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  4. 2-Mike Bliss
  5. 42-Jay Sauter
  6. 18-Johnny Benson
  7. 52-Ken Schrader
  8. 99-Jeff Burton
  9. 7-Dave Rezendes
  10. 17-Bill Sedgwick

    Coca-Cola 200

The Coca-Cola 200 was held June 22 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mike Skinner won the pole. On lap 162 Mike Bliss crashed on the front stretch where he hit and rode up the wall and tore down a part of the catch fencing. The race was broadcast on ESPN.
Top ten results
  1. 6-Rick Carelli
  2. 7-Dave Rezendes
  3. 42-Jay Sauter
  4. 3-Mike Skinner
  5. 24-Jack Sprague
  6. 80-Joe Ruttman
  7. 75-Bobby Gill
  8. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  9. 19-Lance Norick -1
  10. 20-Walker Evans -1

    DeVilbiss Superfinish 200

The inaugural DeVilibiss Superfinish 200 was held June 30 at Nazareth Speedway. Jimmy Hensley won the pole. The race was broadcast on CBS. This was the only Truck Series start for Rusty Wallace and Penske Racing
Top ten results
  1. 24-Jack Sprague
  2. 30-Jimmy Hensley
  3. 98-Butch Miller
  4. 99-Jeff Burton
  5. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  6. 18-Johnny Benson
  7. 80-Joe Ruttman
  8. 07-Geoffrey Bodine
  9. 22-Rusty Wallace
  10. 44-Bryan Reffner

    Sears Auto Center 200

The Sears Auto Center 200 was held July 6 at The Milwaukee Mile. Mike Bliss won the pole. The race was broadcast on CBS.
Top ten results
  1. 24-Jack Sprague
  2. 17-Bill Sedgwick
  3. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  4. 30-Jimmy Hensley
  5. 2-Mike Bliss
  6. 75-Bobby Gill
  7. 3-Mike Skinner
  8. 7-Dave Rezendes -1
  9. 15-Mark Gibson -2
  10. 65-Kenny Allen -2

    Ford Dealers 225

The Ford Dealers 225 was held July 20 at Louisville Motor Speedway. Mike Bliss won the pole. The race was broadcast on CBS.
Top ten results
  1. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  2. 3-Mike Skinner
  3. 30-Jimmy Hensley
  4. 7-Dave Rezendes
  5. 80-Joe Ruttman
  6. 44-Bryan Reffner
  7. 6-Rick Carelli
  8. 24-Jack Sprague
  9. 98-Butch Miller
  10. 8-John Nemechek

    Western Auto 200

The Western Auto 200 was held July 27 at I-70 Speedway. Butch Miller won the pole. On lap 121 Bob Keselowski crash in turn 1 broke the wall and rolled down the banking 2 1/2 times. The race was broadcast on TNN.
Top ten results
  1. 2-Mike Bliss
  2. 3-Mike Skinner
  3. 6-Rick Carelli
  4. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  5. 17-Bill Sedgwick
  6. 21-Doug George
  7. 75-Nathan Buttke -1
  8. 30-Jimmy Hensley -1
  9. 7-Dave Rezendes -1
  10. 43-Rich Bickle -1

    Cummins 200

The Cummins 200 was held August 1 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Mike Skinner won the pole. The race was broadcast on ESPN.
Top ten results
  1. 3-Mike Skinner
  2. 24-Jack Sprague
  3. 2-Mike Bliss
  4. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  5. 43-Rich Bickle
  6. 42-Jay Sauter
  7. 22-Kenny Wallace
  8. 75-Nathan Buttke
  9. 66-Mike McLaughlin
  10. 4-Tony Stewart
The Stevens Beil/Genuine Parts 200 was held August 10 at Flemington Speedway. Bryan Reffner won the pole. The race was broadcast on TNN.
Top ten results
  1. 3-Mike Skinner
  2. 2-Mike Bliss
  3. 43-Rich Bickle
  4. 7-Dave Rezendes
  5. 24-Jack Sprague
  6. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  7. 6-Rick Carelli
  8. 33-Harry Gant
  9. 30-Jimmy Hensley
  10. 98-Butch Miller -1

    Parts America 150

The Parts America 150 was held August 25 at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Steve Park won the pole qualifying the truck driven by Joe Nemechek. The race was broadcast on ESPN.
Top ten results
  1. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  2. 87-Joe Nemechek
  3. 3-Mike Skinner
  4. 24-Jack Sprague
  5. 43-Rich Bickle
  6. 80-Joe Ruttman
  7. 27-Rob Rizzo
  8. 30-Jimmy Hensley
  9. 21-Doug George
  10. 20-Walker Evans

    Federated Auto Parts 250

The Federated Auto Parts 250 was held August 31 at Nashville Speedway USA. Jack Sprague won the pole. The race was broadcast on TNN.
Top ten results
  1. 7-Dave Rezendes
  2. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  3. 24-Jack Sprague
  4. 9-Butch Miller
  5. 44-Bryan Reffner
  6. 21-Doug George
  7. 64-Michael Dokken
  8. 30-Jimmy Hensley
  9. 6-Rick Carelli
  10. 2-Mike Bliss -1

    Fas Mart Truck Shootout

The Fas Mart Truck Shootout was held September 5 at Richmond International Raceway. Kenny Irwin Jr. won the pole. The race was shortened to 124 laps due to rain from Hurricane Hortense. The race was broadcast on ESPN.
Top ten results
  1. 3-Mike Skinner
  2. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  3. 99-Mark Martin
  4. 80-Joe Ruttman
  5. 62-Kenny Irwin Jr.
  6. 75-Nathan Buttke
  7. 98-Butch Miller
  8. 33-Harry Gant
  9. 5-Darrell Waltrip
  10. 52-Tobey Butler

    Pennzoil/VIP Tripleheader

The Pennzoil/VIP Tripleheader was held September 8 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Mike Skinner won the pole. The race was broadcast on TNN.
Top ten results
  1. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  2. 24-Jack Sprague
  3. 2-Mike Bliss
  4. 18-Steve Park
  5. 28-Ernie Irvan
  6. 9-Joe Bessey
  7. 44-Bryan Reffner
  8. 80-Joe Ruttman
  9. 30-Jimmy Hensley -1
  10. 17-Bill Sedgwick -1

    Hanes 250

The Hanes 250 was held September 21 at Martinsville Speedway. Bobby Hamilton won the pole. The race was broadcast on ESPN.
Top ten results
  1. 3-Mike Skinner
  2. 98-Butch Miller
  3. 24-Jack Sprague
  4. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  5. 5-Darrell Waltrip
  6. 80-Joe Ruttman
  7. 43-Rich Bickle
  8. 99-Jeff Burton
  9. 30-Jimmy Hensley
  10. 33-Harry Gant

    Lowe's 250

The final Lowe's 250 was held September 28 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Johnny Benson won the pole. The race was broadcast on ESPN.
Top ten results
  1. 99-Mark Martin
  2. 24-Jack Sprague
  3. 98-Butch Miller
  4. 22-Kenny Wallace
  5. 80-Joe Ruttman
  6. 6-Rick Carelli
  7. 18-Johnny Benson
  8. 43-Rich Bickle
  9. 3-Mike Skinner
  10. 5-Darrell Waltrip

    Kragen 151

The Kragen 151 was held October 7 at Sears Point International Raceway. Mike Skinner won the pole. The race was broadcast on ESPN.
Top ten results
  1. 7-Dave Rezendes
  2. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  3. 3-Mike Skinner
  4. 80-Joe Ruttman
  5. 21-Doug George
  6. 24-Jack Sprague
  7. 2-Mike Bliss
  8. 44-Bryan Reffner
  9. 6-Rick Carelli
  10. 30-Jimmy Hensley

    Ford Dealers/Ford Credit 300

The Ford Dealers/Ford Credit 300 was held October 14 at Mesa Marin Raceway. Ron Hornaday Jr. won the pole. The race was broadcast on TNN.
Top ten results
  1. 3-Mike Skinner
  2. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  3. 80-Joe Ruttman
  4. 2-Mike Bliss
  5. 98-Butch Miller
  6. 21-Doug George
  7. 43-Rich Bickle
  8. 20-Walker Evans -1
  9. 7-Dave Rezendes -1

    GM Goodwrench/AC Delco 300

The GM Goodwrench/AC Delco 300 was held October 26 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jack Sprague won the pole. The race was broadcast on TBS.
Top ten results
  1. 24-Jack Sprague
  2. 18-Johnny Benson
  3. 80-Joe Ruttman
  4. 3-Mike Skinner
  5. 99-Ted Musgrave
  6. 52-Tobey Butler
  7. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.
  8. 87Joe Nemechek
  9. 21-Doug George
  10. 33-Harry Gant

    Carquest 420K

The Carquest 420K was held November 3 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Bryan Reffner won the pole. The race was broadcast on CBS.
Top ten results
  1. 24-Jack Sprague
  2. 4-Bill Elliott
  3. 80-Joe Ruttman
  4. 1-Michael Waltrip
  5. 7-Dave Rezendes
  6. 18-Robby Gordon
  7. 3-Mike Skinner
  8. 52-Ken Schrader
  9. 44-Bryan Reffner
  10. 16-Ron Hornaday Jr.

    Final points standings

Drivers

Rookie of the Year

was named the 1996 Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the year, winning three poles and finishing ninth in points. He was followed by Doug George, who had eight top-tens over the course of the season, and Lance Norick, who split the season between two different teams. Bobby Gill began the year with Spears Motorsports, but was released. Jay Sauter and Lonnie Cox ran abbreviated schedules for their teams.