Toyota Two-Race Winning Streak
Ends at Virginia Short Track

After two consecutive victories - at Texas Motor Speedway (Oct. 16) and California Speedway (Oct. 16) - a Toyota Tundra failed to capture the checkered flag in the Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race at Martinsville Speedway this afternoon.

Todd Bodine, driver of the No. 30 Germain/Arnold Racing Tundra, was the top finishing Tundra driver at the Virginia half-mile oval when he crossed the finish line seventh. Bodine, who had a strung together two consecutive victories in his Tundra, battled an ill handling truck to record his fifth top-10 finish in six starts.

"We missed the set-up pretty good and really struggled all day," said Bodine, following the race. "The good thing was we got another top-10, and we were the top finishing Toyota. We kept pitting because we aren't in the hunt for the points championship and we really needed to keep adjusting the truck. Fortunately, at the end of the race, I had some good trucks to follow to the front of the field and that made it easier to get into the top-10."

Following Bodine to the finish line at the Martinsville were Tundra drivers Robert Huffman in the No. 12 Innovative Motorsports Tundra and Johnny Benson in the No. 22 Bill Davis Racing Tundra. Huffman, the top finishing rookie in the race, crossed the finish line 10th, and Benson ended the day in 11th -place. The other Tundra driver in the top-15 was Bill Lester, who was 14th in the No. 22 Bill Davis Racing Tundra.

Travis Kvapil, a two-time race-winner this season in his No. 24 Bang Racing Tundra, started 8th and led 62 laps, before being eliminated from the race in an accident. Kvapil was leading the race with only 25 laps remaining, when the second-place truck made contact and forced both drivers to the garage.

"As the race played out we knew there would be a lot of cautions at the end -- and we elected to stay out after just one stop and ride it out," said Kvapil, following the race. "We pulled out to a bit of a lead there and then the 16 (Jack Sprague) tried hard to pass me. I don't really know what happened because we both drove into Turn One, and next thing I know I was sideways."

After 22 2004 races, three Toyota drivers sit among the top-15 in the NCTS championship point standings. Kvapil is sixth in the point standings with 2,822 points, just 90 points behinds fifth-place Matt Crafton. Skinner is 12th (2,681 points) in the standings and David Reutimann is 14th (2,565 points). Reutimann also continues to top the Rookie-of-the-Year standings.

The next NCTS race is Friday, November 5, at Phoenix International Raceway, beginning at 5:30 PM (EST).

Toyota Finishing Positions @ Martinsville Speedway

7th - Todd Bodine - Germain/Arnold Racing, No. 30 Tundra
10th - Robert Huffman - Innovative Motorsports, No. 12 Toyota Tundra
11th - Johnny Benson - Bill Davis Racing, No. 23 Toyota Tundra
14th - Bill Lester - Bill Davis Racing, No. 22 Toyota Tundra
21st - Travis Kvapil - Bang Racing, No. 24 Toyota All-Star Showdown Tundra
27th - David Reutimann - Darrell Waltrip Motorsports, No. 17 NTN Bearings Tundra
31st - Hank Parker Jr. - Innovative Motorsports, No. 21 AirVest Tundra
33rd - Mike Skinner - Bill Davis Racing, No. 5 Toyota Tundra