2001 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

2001 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES REVIEW

It was a phenomenal season for NASCAR's third tier of racing. The season started with a bang at the Daytona International Speedway. A late-race wreck saw Terry Cook capture the victory under caution. Over the course of many, many months, we saw a clash between veterans and rookies. The season also had a historic moment: On October 26th, 2001, Willy T. Ribbs snatched a win at Phoenix, making him the first African-American driver to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race since legend Wendell Scott. As for the champion, a total shock emerged: Travis Kvapil, who had never made a single start prior to the season, won the championship for Addington Racing. He beat the likes of Joe Ruttman, Dennis Setzer, Jack Sprague, and Rick Crawford to be crowned champion. Here are the top 20 in the points standings (Red = ROTY Contender):

1.Travis Kvapil 3,621 (2 wins: Loudon & IRP)
2.Joe Ruttman 3,619 (5 wins: Martinsville, Dover, Nashville, Nazareth, Richmond)
3.Jack Sprague 3,528 (5 wins: Homestead, Gateway, Pikes Peak, Memphis, South Boston)
4.Lance Norick 3,476
5.Rick Crawford 3,474 (2 wins: Mesa Marin, Kansas)
6.Ricky Hendrick 3,434 (1 win: Texas 1)
7.Dennis Setzer 3,388 (2 wins: Texas 2, Las Vegas)
8.Terry Cook 3,350 (4 wins: Daytona, Milwaukee, Kentucky, Chicago)
9.Scott Riggs 3,102 (1 win: Darlington)
10.Willy T. Ribbs 3,013 (1 win: Phoenix)
11.Matt Crafton 2,895
12.Ted Musgrave 2,884
13.Billy Bigley Jr. 2,777
14.Coy Gibbs 2,764
15.Bobby Dotter 2,536
16.Carlos Contreras 2,258
17.Randy Tolsma 2,148
18.Jimmy Hensley 2,139
19.Jon Wood 1,970
20.Larry Gunselman 1,924

Other Winners:
22. Blaise Alexander 1,868 (1 win: California)