2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series


The 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season was the ninth season of the third highest stock car racing in the United States. The season included twenty-five races, beginning with the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at Daytona International Speedway and ending with the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Steve Coulter won the Owners' Championship, while Travis Kvapil won the Drivers' Championship during the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Dodge won the Manufacturers' Championship with 179 points.

2003 teams and drivers

Full-time teams

Part-time teams

Note: If under "team", the owner's name is listed and in italics, that means the name of the race team that fielded the truck is unknown.
ManufacturerTeamDriverCrew chiefRounds
Chevrolet2nd Chance Motorsports79Scott Hall???
ChevroletAndy Petree Racing33Andy Petree???
ChevroletAndy Petree Racing33Paul Menard???
ChevroletAndy Petree Racing33Tony Stewart???
ChevroletBradberry Motorsports78Charlie BradberryTed Kennedy
ChevroletBradford Miller68Brandon Miller???
ChevroletBryan Reffner80Bryan ReffnerWalter Giles
ChevroletClean Line Motorsports38Brandon WhittJerry Pitts
ChevroletConely Racing7Jay SherstonJohn Conely
ChevroletDanny McCall56Matt McCall???
ChevroletDennis Sockwell54Brian SockwellTodd Hall
ChevroletDonald Thompson92Jeremy Thompson???
ChevroletEVI Motorsports89Stan BoydEd Huckabee
ChevroletHands-On Racing94Dennis Hannel???
ChevroletHorn Auto Racing58Chris Horn???
ChevroletJody McCormick77Jody McCormickJeremy McCormick
ChevroletJRS Motorsports39Jason Small???
ChevroletKeller Motorsports77Doug Keller '???
ChevroletKeller Motorsports27Doug Keller 'David Bridgeman
ChevroletKeller Motorsports27Blake MalloryDavid Bridgeman
ChevroletKen Hunt97Jason York???
ChevroletKen Schrader Racing52Mike WallaceDonnie Richeson
ChevroletKen Schrader Racing52Ken SchraderDonnie Richeson
ChevroletJames Burr87Conrad BurrDan Glauz
ChevroletKevin Harvick, Inc.6Ed BerrierWally Rogers
ChevroletKevin Harvick, Inc.6Kevin HarvickWally Rogers
ChevroletKevin Harvick, Inc.6Brandon MillerWally Rogers
ChevroletKevin Harvick, Inc.6Randy LaJoieWally Rogers
ChevroletKW Racing20Ken WeaverRaymond Newman
ChevroletLeRoy's Boys Racing17Darrell WaltripBobby Kennedy
Buddy Barnes
ChevroletMahlik Motorsports09Doug Mahlik???
ChevroletMcGlynn Racing00Ryan McGlynnAllen Crestinger
ChevroletMidgley Racing09David GillilandDick Midgley
ChevroletMorgan-Dollar Motorsports47Joe Varde???
ChevroletMRD Motorsports68Jay Godley???
ChevroletNinety-Nine Racing, LLC82Gilbert KingDan Glauz
ChevroletNinety-Nine Racing, LLC82A. J. FikeDan Glauz
ChevroletRichardson Motorsports0Patrick LawlerLarry Richardson
ChevroletRichardson Motorsports0Loni RichardsonLarry Richardson
ChevroletRonald Jones34Eric JonesEddie Pearson
ChevroletRT Motorsports13Ray Polodna???
ChevroletSealMaster Racing98Cory Kruseman???
ChevroletSealMaster Racing98Matt Crafton???
ChevroletStellar Quest Racing91J. C. StoutSteve Mollnow
ChevroletSutton Motorsports02Kelly SuttonRichard Broome
ChevroletTeam EJP Racing03Eric JonesTom Pearl
ChevroletTeam Racing25Jamie AubeWilliam Kehrer
ChevroletTeam Racing25Wayne EdwardsWilliam Kehrer
ChevroletTeam Racing25Michael DokkenWilliam Kehrer
ChevroletTeam Racing25Dana WhiteWilliam Kehrer
ChevroletTeam Texas Racing49Shawna RobinsonMike Starr
ChevroletTroxell-MacDonald Racing7Stuart Kirby???
ChevroletXpress Motorsports11Jack Sprague???
ChevroletXpress Motorsports11Clay Brown???
ChevroletRick Ware Racing51Chase Montgomery Ken Glen
DodgeRick Ware Racing51G. J. MennenKen Glen
DodgeRick Ware Racing51Rusty AltonKen Glen
DodgeRick Ware Racing51Stan BoydKen Glen
DodgeRick Ware Racing51Brian SockwellKen Glen
DodgeRick Ware Racing51Carl LongKen Glen
DodgeRick Ware Racing51Randy Briggs 'Ken Glen
DodgeRick Ware Racing51Blake MalloryKen Glen
DodgeRick Ware Racing51Jerry HillKen Glen
DodgeRick Ware Racing51Jason HedleskyKen Glen
DodgeRick Ware Racing51Doug Keller 'Ken Glen
DodgeRick Ware Racing81Doug Keller '???
DodgeCarpenter Group Racing57Brian RosePatrick Wall
DodgeDean Motorsports55Mark McFarland???
DodgeGerald Miller32Jerry MillerMike Seibert
DodgeMLB Motorsports36Michael Dokken???
DodgeMLB Motorsports66Michael Dokken???
DodgeMLB Motorsports66Randy Renfrow???
DodgeMLB Motorsports66Stephen Rhodes???
DodgeMLB Motorsports66Donnie Neuenberger???
DodgeMLB Motorsports66Trevor Boys???
DodgeMLB Motorsports66Blake Mallory???
DodgeMLB Motorsports66Rick Ware???
DodgeMLB Motorsports66Casey Kingsland???
DodgeOrleans Racing61Scott Lynch???
DodgeRick Bogart70Rick Bogart???
DodgeRon Rhodes Racing36Trevor Boys???
DodgeRon Rhodes Racing36Blake Mallory???
DodgeRon Rhodes Racing36Pete Harding???
DodgeUltra Motorsports7Tyler WalkerMatt Puccia
DodgeUltra Motorsports7Stuart KirbyMatt Puccia
DodgeUltra Motorsports7Tracy HinesMatt Puccia
DodgeUltra Motorsports27Tracy Hines???
DodgeUltra Motorsports27P. J. Jones???
FordAlvin Thompson36Geoffrey BodineWalter Giles
FordAlvin Thompson36James StephensonWalter Giles
FordBorneman Motorsports81Johnny Borneman IIIKevin Cram
FordCapital City Motorsports83Willie Green???
FordCraig Wood
Craig Wood???
FordDan Higgs67Gary Higgs???
FordFans Motorsports01Lance HooperDan Kolanda
FordFasscore Motorsports9Rich Bickle???
FordFasscore Motorsports9Andy Houston???
FordFasscore Motorsports9Lance Hooper???
FordFasscore Motorsports9Kenny Hendrick '???
FordFasscore Motorsports9Steadman Marlin???
FordFasscore Motorsports9Johnny Sauter???
FordFour-Tech Racing81Danny Bagwell???
FordJ&J Motorsports70Andy Ponstein???
FordKen Davis65Nathan Wulff???
FordLong Brothers Racing84Nick WoodwardCharlie Long
FordLong Brothers Racing84Elliott SadlerCharlie Long
FordMB Motorsports63Ronnie HornadayMike Mittler
FordMB Motorsports63David StoverMike Mittler
FordRicky Sanders Racing19Ricky Sanders???
FordSpraker Racing Enterprises69Frank Kimmel???
FordTeam Chick Motorsports11Aaron DanielBud Haefele
Steve Chick Jr.
FordTim Woods III54Tim Woods III???
FordUpshaw Racing94Conrad Burr???
FordUpshaw RacingWayne EdwardsEarl Ramey
FordVictory in Jesus Racing21Morgan ShepherdCarl Saylor
FordWallace Motorsports04Shane WallaceDarren Shaw
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Brevak Racing31Tina Gordon 'Todd Myers
Kevin Cram
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Brevak Racing31Tommy PistoneTodd Myers
Kevin Cram
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Brevak Racing31Wayne EdwardsTodd Myers
Kevin Cram
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Brevak Racing31Mike WallaceTodd Myers
Kevin Cram
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Pro Motion Motorsports 35Jason White???
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Pro Motion Motorsports 35L. W. Miller???
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Pro Motion Motorsports 35Tim Sauter???
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Pro Motion Motorsports 35Randy Briggs '???
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Pro Motion Motorsports 53Randy Briggs 'Calvin Humphries
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Pro Motion Motorsports 53Tim SauterCalvin Humphries
Chevrolet
Dodge
Ford
Pro Motion Motorsports 53T. J. Bell 'Calvin Humphries
Chevrolet
Ford
FDNY Racing28L. W. MillerBob Rahilly
Chevrolet
Ford
FDNY Racing28Tommy PistoneTom Pistone
Dodge
Ford
Bobby Sands Racing47Scotty Sands???
Dodge
Ford
Fast Track Racing 10Andy Hillenburg???
Dodge
Ford
Fast Track Racing 10Marty Houston???

Races

Florida Dodge Dealers 250

The Florida Dodge Dealers 250 was held February 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Jason Leffler won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 14-Rick Crawford
  2. 16-Travis Kvapil
  3. 59-Robert Pressley
  4. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  5. 15-Andy Houston
  6. 52-Mike Wallace
  7. 46-Dennis Setzer
  8. 50-Jon Wood
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 62-Brendan Gaughan
Failed to qualify: Eric Jones, Geoffrey Bodine, Brian Rose, Ricky Sanders

Craftsman 200

The Craftsman 200 was held March 14 at Darlington Raceway. Travis Kvapil won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  2. 1-Ted Musgrave
  3. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  4. 16-Travis Kvapil
  5. 18-Chad Chaffin
  6. 2-Jason Leffler
  7. 14-Rick Crawford
  8. 29-Terry Cook
  9. 75-David Starr
  10. 59-Robert Pressley
Failed to qualify: none

Lucas Oil 250 Presented by Glidden

The Lucas Oil 250 Presented by Glidden was held March 23 at Mesa Marin Raceway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 46-Dennis Setzer
  2. 50-Jon Wood
  3. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  4. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  5. 1-Ted Musgrave
  6. 14-Rick Crawford
  7. 2-Jason Leffler
  8. 6-Brandon Miller
  9. 75-David Starr
  10. 29-Terry Cook
Failed to qualify: none

Advance Auto Parts 250

The Advance Auto Parts 250 was held April 12 at Martinsville Speedway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 46-Dennis Setzer
  2. 1-Ted Musgrave
  3. 6-Kevin Harvick
  4. 99-Carl Edwards
  5. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  6. 14-Rick Crawford
  7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  8. 9-Rich Bickle
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 33-Andy Petree
Failed to qualify: Conrad Burr, Tina Gordon, Dana White, James Stephenson, Randy Briggs, Doug Keller, Craig Wood, Ron Polodna, Jody McCormick

Hardee's 200

The Hardee's 200 was held May 16 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Bill Lester won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 1-Ted Musgrave
  2. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  3. 14-Rick Crawford
  4. 16-Travis Kvapil
  5. 6-Kevin Harvick
  6. 07-Jeremy Mayfield
  7. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  8. 18-Chad Chaffin
  9. 88-Matt Crafton
  10. 15-Rich Bickle
Failed to qualify: Michael Dokken, Phil Bonifield

MBNA Armed Forces Family 200

The MBNA Armed Forces Family 200 was held May 30 at Dover International Speedway. Bobby Hamilton won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 2-Jason Leffler
  2. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  3. 75-David Starr
  4. 50-Jon Wood
  5. 16-Travis Kvapil
  6. 52-Ken Schrader
  7. 18-Chad Chaffin
  8. 14-Rick Crawford
  9. 46-Dennis Setzer
  10. 59-Robert Pressley
Failed to qualify: none
This was Jason Leffler's only Truck series victory.

O'Reilly 400K

The O'Reilly 400K was held June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. Bobby Hamilton won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  2. 99-Carl Edwards
  3. 50-Jon Wood
  4. 16-Travis Kvapil
  5. 46-Dennis Setzer
  6. 75-David Starr
  7. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  8. 18-Chad Chaffin
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 88-Matt Crafton
Failed to qualify: none

O'Reilly 200

The O'Reilly 200, the 200th race run in the truck series was held June 21 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Jon Wood won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 1-Ted Musgrave
  2. 16-Travis Kvapil
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 50-Jon Wood
  5. 99-Carl Edwards
  6. 2-Jason Leffler
  7. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  8. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 88-Matt Crafton
Failed to qualify: none

GNC 200

The GNC 200 was held June 28 at The Milwaukee Mile. Terry Cook won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  2. 2-Jason Leffler
  3. 14-Rick Crawford
  4. 1-Ted Musgrave
  5. 46-Dennis Setzer
  6. 16-Travis Kvapil
  7. 29-Terry Cook
  8. 75-Hank Parker Jr.
  9. 88-Matt Crafton
  10. 50-Jon Wood
Failed to qualify: Trevor Boys, Nathal Wulff, Conrad Burr

O'Reilly Auto Parts 250

The O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 was held July 5 at Kansas Speedway. Chad Chaffin won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 50-Jon Wood
  2. 99-Carl Edwards
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 16-Travis Kvapil
  5. 59-Robert Pressley
  6. 03-Eric Jones
  7. 2-Jason Leffler
  8. 33-Paul Menard
  9. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  10. 8-Bill Lester
Failed to qualify: Doug Keller, Aaron Daniel, Wayne Edwards, Bobby Dotter

Built Ford Tough 225

The Built Ford Tough 225 was held July 12 at Kentucky Speedway. Jon Wood won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 99-Carl Edwards
  2. 1-Ted Musgrave
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 50-Jon Wood
  5. 2-Jason Leffler
  6. 16-Travis Kvapil
  7. 88-Matt Crafton
  8. 59-Robert Pressley
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 75-Hank Parker Jr.
Failed to qualify: none
This was Carl Edwards first Truck Series victory but he suffered a 100-point penalty after the race due to cylinder head infractions.

Missouri-Illinois Dealers Ram Tough 200

The Missouri-Illinois Dealers Ram Tough 200 was held July 19 at Gateway International Raceway. Travis Kvapil won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  2. 2-Jason Leffler
  3. 16-Travis Kvapil
  4. 99-Carl Edwards
  5. 14-Rick Crawford
  6. 75-David Starr
  7. 1-Ted Musgrave
  8. 46-Dennis Setzer
  9. 88-Matt Crafton
Failed to qualify: none

Sears 200

The Sears 200 was held July 26 at Michigan International Speedway. Jason Leffler won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  2. 1-Ted Musgrave
  3. 18-Chad Chaffin
  4. 2-Jason Leffler
  5. 99-Carl Edwards
  6. 50-Jon Wood
  7. 16-Travis Kvapil
  8. 46-Dennis Setzer
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 4-Bobby Hamilton
Failed to qualify: none

Power Stroke Diesel 200

The Power Stroke Diesel 200 was held August 1 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Terry Cook won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 99-Carl Edwards
  2. 16-Travis Kvapil
  3. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  4. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  5. 50-Jon Wood
  6. 1-Ted Musgrave
  7. 52-Ken Schrader
  8. 46-Dennis Setzer
  9. 29-Terry Cook
  10. 88-Matt Crafton
Failed to qualify: none

Federated Auto Parts 200

The Federated Auto Parts 200 was held August 8 at Nashville Superspeedway. Chad Chaffin won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 99-Carl Edwards
  2. 1-Ted Musgrave
  3. 14-Rick Crawford
  4. 75-David Starr
  5. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  6. 18-Chad Chaffin
  7. 50-Jon Wood
  8. 46-Dennis Setzer
  9. 16-Travis Kvapil
  10. 88-Matt Crafton
Failed to qualify: none

O'Reilly 200 Presented by Valvoline Maxlife

The O'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline Maxlife was held August 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 16-Travis Kvapil
  2. 59-Robert Pressley
  3. 14-Rick Crawford
  4. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  5. 46-Dennis Setzer
  6. 88-Matt Crafton
  7. 18-Chad Chaffin
  8. 50-Jon Wood
  9. 2-Jason Leffler
  10. 6-Kevin Harvick
Failed to qualify: none

Virginia Is For Lovers 200

The Virginia Is For Lovers 200 was held September 4 at Richmond International Raceway. Travis Kvapil won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 33-Tony Stewart
  2. 59-Robert Pressley
  3. 1-Ted Musgrave
  4. 50-Jon Wood
  5. 46-Dennis Setzer
  6. 14-Rick Crawford
  7. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  8. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  9. 16-Travis Kvapil
  10. 9-Johnny Sauter
Failed to qualify: Brian Sockwell

New Hampshire 200

The New Hampshire 200 was held September 13 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Jimmy Spencer won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 2-Jimmy Spencer
  2. 99-Carl Edwards
  3. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  4. 46-Dennis Setzer
  5. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  6. 18-Chad Chaffin
  7. 16-Travis Kvapil
  8. 75-David Starr
  9. 50-Jon Wood
  10. 88-Matt Crafton
Failed to qualify: none
This was Jimmy Spencer's only Truck Series victory.

American Racing Wheels 200

The American Racing Wheels 200 was held September 20 at California Speedway. Brendan Gaughan won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 1-Ted Musgrave
  2. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 14-Rick Crawford
  5. 75-David Starr
  6. 2-Andy Houston
  7. 99-Carl Edwards
  8. 16-Travis Kvapil
  9. 50-Jon Wood
  10. 39-Jason Small
Failed to qualify: Doug Keller, Blake Mallory, Ricky Sanders, Aaron Daniel

Las Vegas 350

The Las Vegas 350 was held September 27 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Brendan Gaughan won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  2. 75-David Starr
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 16-Travis Kvapil
  5. 11-Jack Sprague
  6. 2-Andy Houston
  7. 29-Terry Cook
  8. 1-Ted Musgrave
  9. 88-Matt Crafton
  10. 4-Bobby Hamilton
Failed to qualify: J. C. Stout, Jason Small, Trevor Boys, Chris Horn, Kelly Sutton, Conrad Burr, David Gilliland, Rick Bogart, Loni Richardson, Tina Gordon, Jason York, David Stover, Ricky Sanders, Kenny Hendrick, Tim Woods

John Boy & Billy 250

The John Boy & Billy 250 was held October 4 at South Boston Speedway. Brendan Gaughan won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 46-Dennis Setzer
  2. 16-Travis Kvapil
  3. 1-Ted Musgrave
  4. 50-Jon Wood
  5. 14-Rick Crawford
  6. 2-Andy Houston
  7. 99-Carl Edwards
  8. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  9. 75-David Starr
  10. 59-Robert Pressley
Failed to qualify: none

Silverado 350

The Silverado 350 was held October 11 at Texas Motor Speedway. Andy Houston won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 62-Brendan Gaughan
  2. 16-Travis Kvapil
  3. 1-Ted Musgrave
  4. 99-Carl Edwards
  5. 50-Jon Wood
  6. 29-Terry Cook
  7. 46-Dennis Setzer
  8. 14-Rick Crawford
  9. 4-Bobby Hamilton
Failed to qualify: Shane Wallace, Loni Richardson

Advance Auto Parts 200

The Advance Auto Parts 200 was held October 18 at Martinsville Speedway. Carl Edwards won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 50-Jon Wood
  2. 99-Carl Edwards
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 14-Rick Crawford
  5. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  6. 2-Jimmy Spencer
  7. 17-Darrell Waltrip
  8. 52-Ken Schrader
  9. 75-David Starr
  10. 1-Ted Musgrave
Failed to qualify: Jerry Hill, Ron Polodna, Wayne Edwards, Jeremy Thompson, Craig Wood, Scotty Sands

Chevy Silverado 150

The Chevy Silverado 150 was held October 31 at Phoenix International Raceway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.
Top ten results
  1. 6-Kevin Harvick
  2. 1-Ted Musgrave
  3. 46-Dennis Setzer
  4. 99-Carl Edwards
  5. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  6. 75-David Starr
  7. 50-Jon Wood
  8. 59-Robert Pressley
  9. 16-Travis Kvapil
  10. 2-Andy Houston
Failed to qualify: Nathan Wulff, Tim Woods, Pete Harding, Tommy Pistone, Stan Boyd, Cory Kruseman

Ford 200

The Ford 200 was held November 14 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bobby Hamilton won the pole.
This race saw the possibility of any one of the series' four top drivers in the points standings coming away with the championship. Going into the race Brendan Gaughan, driving the #62 Dodge Ram for Orleans Racing, was leading the standings. Ted Musgrave, driving the #1 Dodge Ram for Ultra Motorsports, was sitting second. Third place was Dennis Setzer, in the #46 Chevrolet Silverado for Morgan-Dollar Motorsports, and fourth was held by Travis Kvapil, driving the #16 Chevrolet Silverado that Mike Bliss had won the series championship driving one year earlier for Xpress Motorsports.
Controversy was caused, however, by potential roadblocks caused by drivers' teammates. Setzer's team did not enter a second truck in the race. Kvapil's team was fielding the #11 truck for Jack Sprague, who had joined the team after being fired by Haas CNC Racing in the Winston Cup Series. Gaughan's team was fielding the #61. truck driven by Scott Lynch, the team's developmental driver.
Ultra, meanwhile, entered five trucks in the event including Musgrave's #1. The first two trucks were the #2 truck, Ultra's other full-time truck piloted by Andy Houston, and the #7 Dodge Motorsports truck, their part-time truck driven by developmental driver Tyler Walker. In a move that was seen as setting up roadblocks for Musgrave, Ultra prepared two additional Dodge Rams numbered 10 and 27. The #10 truck was driven by Andy Houston's brother Marty, a member of Musgrave's pit crew who had not raced in two years. The #27 was driven by P.J. Jones, who had not run a Truck Series event in eight years and was largely employed as a road course ringer. The extra entries earned a huge amount of criticism from points leader Gaughan as well as fans and other drivers.
As the race went on, Gaughan's complaints proved to be valid. With thirty-four laps to go in the race Gaughan and Marty Houston got into an accident with the #80 of Bryan Reffner. None of the three trucks were able to continue and the accident cost an angry Gaughan, who railed against Ultra's tactics after the accident, the points lead. He went on to finish in twenty-ninth place, ahead of both Houston and Reffner who finished in the next two positions.
The next contender to run into trouble was Musgrave. With two laps to go in the race, the race restarted and Musgrave attempted to make a pass on Kvapil's inside before the cars reached the start/finish line. Musgrave completed the pass and then passed Setzer, but NASCAR threw the black flag as Musgrave was judged to have been in violation of race rules. Musgrave never answered the black flag, and when the checkered flag fell on the next lap he crossed it in sixth place behind Sprague and in front of Kvapil, who passed Setzer for seventh. With the penalty, however, Musgrave was listed as the last car on the lead lap in thirteenth place.
For several minutes, NASCAR held off on making the results official as they reviewed Musgrave's penalty. After a 23-minute delay, the black flag was upheld, and Kvapil was declared the series champion. The final margin was nine points, while Musgrave finished eighteen points behind and Gaughan forty.
In a post-race interview, an obviously angry Musgrave, while acknowledging his infraction, blamed it on Kvapil stabbing the brakes on him and responded with, "That figures. Screw them. All I can say is that next year you're going to see a whole new Ted Musgrave. He's going to be the dirtiest son of a gun going out there on the racetrack and you might as well throw that rulebook away. I ain't going by it no more."
Xpress Motorsports won its second consecutive Truck Series Championship as a team, as Mike Bliss had won the 2002 series championship driving the same truck Kvapil took to the championship.
Polesitter Bobby Hamilton won the race. Of the additional drivers that the Xpress, Ultra, and Orleans teams entered, Jack Sprague and P.J. Jones finished in the top ten, with Sprague fifth and Jones ninth. Scott Lynch finished twelfth, Tyler Walker twenty-third, and Marty Houston thirtieth.
IndyCar Series driver and future Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice made his NASCAR debut in this race driving SealMaster Racing's #88 Chevrolet Silverado normally driven by Matt Crafton. Crafton drove the team's #98 entry for this race. Rice would finish 20th.
Top ten results
  1. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  2. 14-Rick Crawford
  3. 75-David Starr
  4. 2-Andy Houston
  5. 11-Jack Sprague
  6. 1-Ted Musgrave
  7. 16-Travis Kvapil
  8. 46-Dennis Setzer
  9. 50-Jon Wood
  10. 27-P. J. Jones
Top ten results
  1. 4-Bobby Hamilton
  2. 14-Rick Crawford
  3. 75-David Starr
  4. 2-Andy Houston
  5. 11-Jack Sprague
  6. 16-Travis Kvapil
  7. 46-Dennis Setzer
  8. 50-Jon Wood
  9. 27-P. J. Jones
  10. 18-Chad Chaffin
Failed to qualify: Derrike Cope, Jason Hedlesky, Wayne Edwards, Lance Hooper, Dana White, Jamie Aube, Danny Bagwell, Carl Long

Final points standings

  1. Travis Kvapil – 3837
  2. Dennis Setzer – 3828
  3. Ted Musgrave – 3819
  4. Brendan Gaughan – 3797
  5. Jon Wood – 3659
  6. Bobby Hamilton – 3627
  7. Rick Crawford – 3578
  8. Carl Edwards – 3416
  9. Terry Cook – 3212
  10. Chad Chaffin – 3143
  11. Matt Crafton – 3074
  12. Robert Pressley – 2773
  13. David Starr – 2768
  14. Bill Lester – 2712
  15. Randy MacDonald – 2458
  16. Jason Leffler – 2209
  17. Jody Lavender – 2168
  18. Jerry Hill – 1882
  19. Randy Briggs – 1618
  20. Phil Bonifield – 1524
  21. Andy Houston – 1487
  22. Rich Bickle – 1288
  23. Ken Schrader – 1286
  24. Lance Hooper – 1191
  25. Tina Gordon – 1112
  26. T. J. Bell – 1059
  27. Eric Jones – 1058
  28. Morgan Shepherd – 991
  29. Bobby Dotter – 939
  30. Kevin Harvick – 807
  31. Jamie Aube – 800
  32. Stan Boyd – 799
  33. Shane Wallace – 685
  34. Doug Keller – 674
  35. Kenny Hendrick – 656
  36. Chris Horn – 625
  37. David Stover – 607
  38. Roland Isaacs – 600
  39. Wayne Edwards – 595
  40. Brandon Whitt – 592
  41. Ricky Sanders – 573
  42. Paul Menard – 572
  43. L. W. Miller – 558
  44. Hank Parker Jr. – 524
  45. Johnny Chapman – 513
  46. Mike Wallace – 500
  47. Ken Weaver – 482
  48. Mike Skinner – 471
  49. Trevor Boys – 471
  50. Andy Petree – 467

    Rookie of the Year

Gong Show winner Carl Edwards was named Rookie of the Year, winning three races and finishing eighth in points for Roush Racing. The first runner-up was Jody Lavender, who competed in 21 of 25 races for Green Light Racing. Tina Gordon, T. J. Bell and Doug Keller made limited attempts at the award, while Teri MacDonald drove part-time for her brother Randy MacDonald in the Truck Series.