The 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was the second season of the Craftsman Truck Series, the pickup truck 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.
TeamTruck(s)Driver(s)Listed owner(s)AAG RacingChevrolet C/K65Kenny AllenShiela AllenBrevak RacingFord F-15031Bob BrevakShelly BrevakCarnes-Cox-Higgs RacingChevrolet C/K36Lonnie Cox (R)Larry CarnesChek RacingChevrolet C/K8John NemechekJohn NemechekChesrown RacingChevrolet C/K6Rick CarelliMarshall ChesrownClark RacingChevrolet C/K23T. J. Clark Debbie ClarkDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet C/K16Ron Hornaday Jr.Dale EarnhardtTeresa EarnhardtDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet C/K17Bill Sedgwick Darrell WaltripKen Schrader Dokken RacingChevrolet C/K64Michael Dokken Wayne DokkenGeoff Bodine RacingFord F-1507Dave RezendesGeoff BodineGrandaddy RacingDodge Ram30Jimmy HensleyGrier LackeyHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet C/K24Jack SpragueRick HendrickIrvan-Simo RacingFord F-15044Bryan Reffner (R)Mark SimoK Automotive RacingDodge Ram29Bob KeselowskiRon KeselowskiLiberty RacingFord F-15098Butch Miller Jim HerrickDorsey Schroeder Kenny Irwin Jr. Richard Childress RacingChevrolet C/K3Mike SkinnerRichard ChildressPenske RacingFord F-15022Ricky Johnson Roger PenskeKenny Wallace Rusty Wallace Petty EnterprisesDodge Ram43Rich BickleRichard PettyRoush RacingFord F-15080Joe RuttmanJack RoushRPM RacingFord F-15011Mike HurlbertMike HurlbertSpears MotorsportsChevrolet C/K75Bobby Gill (R)Wayne SpearsNathan Buttke Ultra MotorsportsFord F-1502Mike BlissMarlene SmithVenable RacingFord F-15021Doug George (R)Jim VenableWalker Evans RacingDodge Ram19Lance Norick (R)Phyllis EvansButch Miller Johnny Chapman 20Walker Evans
Part-Time schedule TeamTruck(s)No.Driver(s)Listed Owner(s)RoundsArne HenriksenFord F-15073Bob SchachtArne HenriksenB & R RacingChevrolet C/K27Terry McCarthy (R)Cheryl CoxBernie CoxChevrolet C/K05Monty KleinBernie CoxBilly Ballew MotorsportsFord F-15015Mark GibsonBilly BallewBobby Gill (R)Ricky JohnsonBilly Ogle Jr.Chevrolet C/K01Billy Ogle Jr.Billy Ogle Jr.81Black Tip RacingChevrolet C/K00Frank KimmelAndy CampbellBlake RacingChevrolet C/K12Dave Smith (R)Bob BlakeBob BestChevrolet C/K33Harry GantBob BestBrevak RacingFord F-1501Ken BouchardBob BrevakCarl WegnerChevrolet C/K68Bobby DotterCarl WegnerCharles ZahnFord F-15050Mark DayCharles ZahnChesrown RacingChevrolet C/K66Wally Dallenbach Jr.Marshall ChesrownMike McLaughlinCombs RacingChevrolet C/K49Rodney Combs Jr. (R)Susan CombsRodney CombsCoulter RacingChevrolet C/K61Randy TolsmaSteve CoulterCourtney RegisterChevrolet C/K32Steve Mendenhall (R)Courtney RegisterDale Earnhardt, Inc.Chevrolet C/K76Steve ParkDale EarnhardtDan ObristChevrolet C/K73Dan ObristDan ObristDarrell Waltrip MotorsportsChevrolet C/K5Darrell WaltripDarrell WaltripDel MarkleChevrolet C/K71Rick Markle (R)Del MarkleDollar MotorsportsFord F-15014Marc RobeDavid Dollar74Doran RacingChevrolet C/K77Scott LagasseKevin DoranGary St. AmantBobby LabonteElliott RacingFord F-15094Ron Barfield Jr. (R)Bill ElliottErnie Cope RacingChevrolet C/K38Ernie CopeGina CopeFoyt EnterprisesFord F-15051A. J. FoytA. J. Foyt56Gary MillerChevrolet C/K34Jerry Robertson (R)Gary MillerGenzman RacingFord F-15025Andy GenzmanDeWilton GenzmanGeoff Bodine RacingFord F-15007Geoff BodineGeoff BodineBarry BodineGerhart RacingChevrolet C/K85Bobby GerhartBobby GerhartGlanville MotorsportsFord F-15081Jerry GlanvilleJerry GlanvilleGrandaddy RacingDodge Ram03Kelly DentonGrier LackeyGrubb MotorsportsChevrolet C/K4Wayne GrubbKevin Grubb55Kevin GrubbIrvan-Simo RacingFord F-15028Boris SaidMark SimoErnie IrvanButch MillerJimmy DavisFord F-15013Jimmy DavisJimmy DavisJoe Bessey MotorsportsChevrolet C/K9Joe BesseyJoe BesseyJoe HornerChevrolet C/K32Kenny HendrickJoe HornerJoe MadoreChevrolet C/K60Joe Madore (R)Joe MadoreKen Schrader RacingChevrolet C/K52Ken SchraderKen SchraderTobey ButlerLiberty RacingFord F-15062Kenny Irwin Jr.Jim HerrickMansion MotorsportsFord F-15001Gary LloydThee DixonRandy MacDonald0Gary LloydJohn Blewett IIIMB MotorsportsFord F-15026Kenny Irwin Jr.Mike MittlerRandy PorterRick BeebeMichael DokkenKen BouchardMcCray RacingChevrolet C/K02Rick McCrayRick McCrayMichael Waltrip RacingFord F-1501Michael WaltripMichael WaltripMike ColabucciChevrolet C/K1Mike ColabucciMike Colabucci10Curtis Markham15Mike CollabucciMike HarvickChevrolet C/K72Kevin Harvick (R)Mike HarvickMJ RacingChevrolet C/K39Jeff SprakerMilo JanuskaMountanos RacingChevrolet C/K38Mark MountanosLinda Mountanos83Steve PortengaMueller Brothers RacingChevrolet C/K4Robbie ReiserMueller BrothersTony Stewart42Robbie ReiserNEMCO MotorsportsChevrolet C/K87Joe NemechekJoe NemechekNorick RacingFord F-15090Lance Norick (R)Ron NorickPress RacingChevrolet C/K53Dan PressDan PressProctor RacingFord F-1505Jerry Robertson (R)Rudy ProctorRandy Dixon04Ernest WinslowRandy DixonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet C/K03Jay Sauter (R)Richard ChildressRizzo RacingFord F-15027Rob RizzoRob RizzoRoehrig MotorsportsChevrolet C/K18Johnny BensonKurt RoehrigDavid GreenSteve ParkMichael DokkenRobby GordonRosenblum RacingChevrolet C/K51Ritchie PettyJim RosenblumT.J. ClarkPerry TrippRoush RacingFord F-15099Jeff BurtonJack RoushMark MartinTed MusgraveSellers MotorsportsFord F-15078Mike ChaseSteven SellersSerrano RacingChevrolet C/K40Carlos SerranoCarlos SerranoShenandoah Valley MotorsportsFord F-1501Ronnie NewmanHarry Johnson11Joe Gaita (R)71Dave StacySKB RacingChevrolet C/K92Charlie Cragan (R)Raymond ScanlanRodney Combs Jr. (R)Spicer RacingChevrolet C/K48Casey AtwoodChuck SpicerBobby HamiltonStar Nursery Racing TeamChevrolet C/K0Chris TrickleChuck TrickleStrait RacingFord F-15037Bob StraitJim SpicuzzaStroppe MotorsportsFord F-15014Butch Gilliland (R)Bill StroppeTeam SABCOChevrolet C/K42Jay Sauter (R)Felix SabatesRobby GordonThorpe MotorsportsChevrolet C/K84Doug Thorpe Jr. (R)Doug Thorpe Jr.ThorSport RacingChevrolet C/K88Terry CookDuke ThorsonToy Box RacingDodge Ram59Mark GibsonMark GibsonTrue Dee PaquesChevrolet C/K09Jon PaquesTrue Dee PaquesTurnage RacingFord F-15041Randy RenfrowGreg TurnageUltra MotorsportsFord F-1504Bill ElliottJim SmithUSA RacingChevrolet C/K9Davy JonesWilbur BunceGreg MarloweMichael DokkenAndy MichnerVenturini MotorsportsChevrolet C/K35Bill VenturiniCathy VenturiniVestar MotorsportsChevrolet C/K1Andy HillenburgScoop VesselsWalker Evans RacingDodge Ram02Johnny ChapmanWalker EvansSteve ParkWayne JacksChevrolet C/K58Wayne JacksWayne Jacks
Schedule No. Race title Track Date 1 Florida Dodge Dealers 400 Homestead–Miami Speedway, Homestead March 17 2 Chevrolet Desert Star 300 Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix April 21 3 Craftsman 200 Portland Speedway, Portland May 4 4 Jerr-Dan/Nelson Truck 200 Evergreen Speedway, Monroe May 11 5 NAPA 200 Tucson Raceway Park, Tucson May 25 6 Colorado 250 Colorado National Speedway, Dacono June 1 7 Lund Look 225 Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka June 9 8 Coca-Cola 200 Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol June 22 9 DeVilbiss Superfinish 200 Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth June 30 10 Sears Auto Center 200 Milwaukee Mile, West Allis July 6 11 Ford Dealers 225 Louisville Motor Speedway, Louisville July 20 12 Western Auto 200 I-70 Speedway, Odessa July 27 13 Cummins 200 Indianapolis Raceway Park, Brownsburg August 1 14 Stevens Beil/Genuine Parts 200 Flemington Speedway, Flemington August 10 15 Parts America 150 Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen August 25 16 Federated Auto Parts 250 Nashville Speedway USA, Nashville August 31 17 Fas Mart Truck Shootout Richmond International Raceway, Richmond September 5 18 Pennzoil/VIP Tripleheader New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon September 8 19 Hanes 250 Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway September 21 20 Lowe's 250 North Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro September 28 21 Kragen 151 Sears Point Raceway, Sonoma October 5 22 Ford Dealers/Ford Credit 300 Mesa Marin Raceway, Bakersfield October 13 23 GM Goodwrench/AC Delco 300 Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix October 26 24 Carquest 420K Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas November 3
Races
Florida Dodge Dealers 400
The inaugural Florida Dodge Dealers 400 was held March 17 at Homestead–Miami Speedway. Geoff Bodine won the pole. The race was broadcast on TNN.
Top ten results
#7 - Dave Rezendes #24 - Jack Sprague #16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #94 - Ron Barfield Jr. #44 - Bryan Reffner #27 - Terry McCarthy #8 - John Nemechek #42 - Jay Sauter -1 #00 - Frank Kimmel -1 #21 - Doug George -1
Failed to qualify: #0 - Gary Lloyd, #11 - Mike Hurlbert, #23 - T.J. Clark, #25 - Andy Genzman, #55 - Randy Churchill, #59 - Mark Gibson, #70 - G. T. Dallas, #78 - Mike Chase, #82 - Guy Thomas, #84 - Doug Thorpe Jr.
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
#24 - Jack Sprague #3 - Mike Skinner #98 - Butch Miller #44 - Bryan Reffner #16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #6 - Rick Carelli #80 - Joe Ruttman #94 - Ron Barfield Jr. #75 - Bobby Gill #64 - Michael Dokken -1
Failed to qualify: #02 - Rick McCray, #60 - Joe Madore, #65 - Kenny Allen, #70 - G. T. Dallas
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
#16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #2 - Mike Bliss #3 - Mike Skinner #17 - Bill Sedgwick #98 - Butch Miller #6 - Rick Carelli #44 - Bryan Reffner #24 - Jack Sprague #80 - Joe Ruttman #30 - Jimmy Hensley
Failed to qualify: #60 - Joe Madore
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
#2 - Mike Bliss #16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #53 - Dan Press #43 - Rich Bickle #3 - Mike Skinner #52 - Tobey Butler #30 - Jimmy Hensley #80 - Joe Ruttman #94 - Ron Barfield Jr. #17 - Bill Sedgwick -1
Failed to qualify: none
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
#3 - Mike Skinner #43 - Rich Bickle #16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #30 - Jimmy Hensley #24 - Jack Sprague #17 - Bill Sedgwick #75 - Bobby Gill #7 - Dave Rezendes #64 - Michael Dokken #29 - Bob Keselowski
Failed to qualify: none
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
#3 - Mike Skinner #98 - Butch Miller #30 - Jimmy Hensley #24 - Jack Sprague #7 - Dave Rezendes #80 - Joe Ruttman #17 - Bill Sedgwick #16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #42 - Jay Sauter #21 - Doug George
Failed to qualify: #11 - Mike Hurlbert, #22 - Ricky Johnson, #58 - Wayne Jacks
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
#3 - Mike Skinner #24 - Jack Sprague #16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #2 - Mike Bliss #42 - Jay Sauter #18 - Johnny Benson #52 - Ken Schrader #99 - Jeff Burton #7 - Dave Rezendes #17 - Bill Sedgwick
Failed to qualify: none
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
#6 - Rick Carelli #7 - Dave Rezendes #42 - Jay Sauter #3 - Mike Skinner #24 - Jack Sprague #80 - Joe Ruttman #75 - Bobby Gill #16 - Ron Hornaday Jr. #19 - Lance Norick -1 #20 - Walker Evans -1
Failed to qualify: none
DeVilbiss Superfinish 200