The 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series was the seventeenth season of the third highest stock car racing in the United States. The season included twenty-five races, beginning with the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway and ending with the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. During the 2010 season, NASCAR announced a few notable calendar changes, including a race addition at Kentucky Speedway and the removal of Gateway International Raceway from the schedule. DeLana Harvick won the owners' championship, while Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing won the drivers' championship with a tenth-place finish at the final race of the season. Chevrolet won the manufacturers' championship with 193 points.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamRace driverCrew chief ChevroletJoe Denette Motorsports23Jason WhiteChad Kendrick Terry Snyder Doug Howe Kevin Harvick, Inc. 2Elliott Sadler Bruce CookClint Bowyer Kevin Harvick Ron Hornaday Jr. Cale Gale David Mayhew 8Nelson Piquet Jr. (R)Jeff Hensley33Ron Hornaday Jr. Rick Carelli Chris Carrier Cale Gale Mike Wallace Norm Benning Racing57Norm BenningJames Dugger Richard Childress Racing3Austin DillonDanny Stockman Jr.22Joey Coulter (R)Harold Holly RSS Racing39Ryan SiegRod Sieg 93Cole Whitt (R) Kris NicholsonShane Sieg Mike Garvey Casey Roderick Dennis Setzer Josh Wise B. J. McLeod Brent Raymer ThorSport Racing13Johnny SauterJoe Shear Jr.88Matt CraftonBud HaefeleTurn One Racing60Cole Whitt (R)Marcus Richmond66Justin Marks Doug Wolcott Trip Bruce Chris Beeson Ross Chastain Peyton Sellers Chris Cockrum J. J. Yeley Max Gresham Turner Motorsports4Ricky CarmichaelDoug George31James BuescherMichael Shelton 32Brad Sweet Mark RetteSteve Arpin Blake Feese Mark Martin RamBrad Keselowski Racing29Parker Kligerman (R)Jeff Stankiewicz Toyota Germain Racing9Max PapisRandy Goss62Brendan GaughanBryan Berry Kyle Busch Motorsports 18Kyle Busch Eric PhillipsKasey Kahne Brian Ickler Josh Richards Denny Hamlin Randy Moss Motorsports5Travis Kvapil Dan Stillman Mike Hillman Jr. Todd Bodine Red Horse Racing7Miguel Paludo (R)Rick Gay17Timothy PetersButch Hylton SS-Green Light Racing81David StarrJason MillerToyotaChevrolet Eddie Sharp Racing 6 Craig Goess (R)Trip Bruce Daniel Bormann Justin Lofton Rick Ware Racing 07Donnie Neuenberger Butch Miller Troy Smith Corrie Stott RacingJamie Dick SS-Green Light RacingB. J. McLeod Caleb Roark Johnny Chapman J. J. Yeley Scott Riggs Ricky Moxley Chad McCumbee Butch Miller John King T. J. Duke
Part-time schedule ManufacturerTeamRace driver(s)Crew chiefRoundsChevroletB. J. McLeod Motorsports78B. J. McLeodJamie JonesBnB Racing 34Billy KeyesDarren Beltz Brad Queen Racing 00Brad QueenTravis Sharpe Corrie Stott Racing02Jamie DickCorrie Stott FDNY Racing28Grant EnfingerDick Rahilly Wes Burton Gene Price Motorsports44Greg PursleyJerry Pitts Jr. Bill Kimmel Jr. ThorSport RacingFrank Kimmel 98Dakoda ArmstrongDan Stillman Justin Marks Jake Crum Racing01Jake CrumJon Wolfe Joe Denette Motorsports24Elliott SadlerErnie Cope Chad Kendrick Jeff Hensley Kevin Harvick, Inc.21Elliott SadlerErnie Cope Scott Naset Mark Petty Ty Dillon Cale Gale Lafferty Motorsports89Chris LaffertyScott Kazura LCS Motorsports87Chris JonesRichard Kahlich MAKE Motorsports50T. J. BellMichael Cheek 55Jake CrumBrad Parrott Norm Benning Racing75Greg SeeversRichard Goad Greg Seevers Kevin Schurtz Mike Harmon James Hylton J. J. Yeley Andrew Ranger Bobby Santos III Johnny Borneman III NTS Motorsports14Brennan NewberryDan DeeringhoffPeck Motorsports96Todd PeckKeith WolfeRBR Enterprises92Clay RogersBarry ElvisRick Ware Racing1Jeffrey EarnhardtBobby Burrell Sterling Laughlin Carl LongBobby Hamilton Jr. 16Donnie NeuenbergerSterling Laughlin RSS Racing38Mike GarveyTony Wilson Dennis Setzer Steve McGowan Motorsports19David MayhewTerry HenryTagsby Racing65Stephan McCurleyKelly Frankum Brent Raymer Tim Andrews Lance Fenton 73Rick CrawfordMichael Cheek Brian Johnson Jr. J. J. Yeley Tim Andrews Clay Greenfield Brent Raymer Team 7 Motorsports70Jeff AgnewDoug Weddle Turner Motorsports08Ryan NewmanTrent Owens FordT3R, LLC09Bryan SilasCal Boprey AJ Genali Charlie Vest 99Wayne EdwardsAJ Genali Cal Boprey Charlie Vest Chase Mattioli RacingChad McCumbee Chase Mattioli (R) J. R. Fitzpatrick Bryan Silas Charlie Vest Patrick Sheltra Bragg Racing Group82Grant EnfingerJosh Bragg Brent Raymer Racing85Brent RaymerJosh RaymerMB Motorsports63Nick HoffmanMike Mittler Jack Smith 65Tyler Tanner Ray Hackett Racing76Alli OwensSteve Darne Ray Hackett Bobby Burrell Ryan Hackett Derek White Sam Pearce Racing61Wes BurtonRandy DeanRamAlger Motorsports68Clay GreenfieldTim Walter Wayne Edwards Allgaier Motorsports36Grant EnfingerJohn Monsam Martins Motorsports42Tommy Joe MartinsRon Smith ToyotaCoulter Motorsports 97 Matt LoftonBlake Bainbridge Jon Wolfe Germain Racing30Todd BodineMike Hillman Jr. 77Justin LoftonRyan Fugle Glenden Enterprises84Chris FontaineKevin Ingram Panhandle Motorsports20Johanna Long (R)Kevin Starland Trip Bruce Ross Chastain Randy Moss Motorsports25Tayler MalsamDan Stillman Vision Aviation Racing Billy Ballew Motorsports merged with West Coast team Vision Aviation Racing to continue running in the Truck Series. The team ran under the VAR banner, with Ballew being majority owner and Toyota continuing its support. The original plan, as stated by manager Tom Davis, was to run his son Dusty in the No. 15 for 7 races and Justin Johnson for 22. However, after Nashville, the No. 15 was shut down and the No. 51 running a limited schedule after Vision Airlines Chief operating officer Steven Acor decided to cut back the racing team. Billy Ballew Motorsports Kyle Busch Motorsports 15Michael Waltrip Doug Howe Rick Ren Dusty Davis (R) Kimi Räikkönen Josh Richards FordChevroletMike Harmon Racing74Mike HarmonDaniel Kolanda ChevroletToyota Eddie Sharp Racing45Mike SkinnerJefferson Hodges Carl Hartmann Greg Kennon Jr. Chad McCumbee Tim George Jr. RamWinfield Motorsports27Chris Eggleston (R)Rob Winfield ChevroletRSS RacingClay GreenfieldKris Nicholson Jerry Henry Timothy Brown David Stremme Brent Raymer Chris Jones Dennis Setzer FordRamJennifer Jo Cobb Racing0Wayne EdwardsKevin Eagle T. J. Bell 10Jennifer Jo CobbSteve Kuykendall Cal Boprey Mark Janes-O'Rourke Kevin Eagle Nick Ramey Chase Mattioli Chris Lafferty Sacred Power Motorsports73A. J. RussellKevin Eagle Rusty Davidson FordToyotaJohn King Racing16John KingJimmie Barfield Toyota Chevrolet Ford Vision Aviation Racing Billy Ballew Motorsports Kyle Busch Motorsports 51Aric Almirola Doug George Rick Ren Richie Wauters Justin Johnson (R) Chris Fontaine Colin Braun Josh Richards Germán Quiroga
Note: A driver designated with a (R) next to their name indicates that they are contenders for the 2011 Rookie of the Year award.
Team changes Germain Racing added the No. 9 team to its full-time lineup with Max Papis. Billy Ballew Motorsports and Vision Aviation Racing merged to continue to field No. 15 and No. 51 trucks but after six races, Vision Aviation Racing was shut down.
Began operations Texas businessmen Bob Leavine and Lance Fenton have formed Leavine Fenton Racing. Fenton ran a partial schedule in the No. 95 Ford. Virginia native Joe Denette started his own race team, Joe Denette Motorsports. Denette is a NASCAR fan who won the Virginia Lottery Mega Million in May 2009 after being laid off four months prior. He has teamed with fellow Virginian Hermie Sadler to start his own team with assistance from Kevin Harvick, Inc. Jason White joined the team for the 2011 season.
Discontinued operations Team Gill Racing shut down with their assets having been purchased by Eddie Sharp Racing.
Driver changes Mike Skinner parted ways with Randy Moss Motorsports after the 2010 season due to a lack of chemistry. In an interview with Sirius Speedway, Skinner said that he had talked to a few teams and would prefer to remain with Toyota. On February 11, Skinner announced that he would drive the No. 45 of Eddie Sharp Racing at Daytona and potentially at Phoenix.
Changed teams Justin Lofton was released by Red Horse Racing after his rookie season. He drove the No. 77 for Germain Racing. Jason White leaves SS-Green Light Racing and joined the new Joe Denette Motorsports team. Midway through 2011, Germain Racing was unable to field its flagship No. 30 Toyota driven by Todd Bodine due to a lack of sponsorship. Germain announced on July 13 that they would partner with Randy Moss Motorsports to put Bodine in the No. 5 for the rest of 2011, releasing Travis Kvapil. According to owner Bob Germain, the trucks was prepared by Germain but given the #5.
Entered the series Joey Coulter drove full-time this season with Richard Childress Racing, as a teammate to Austin Dillon. He drove the No. 22 Silverado and had veteran Harold Holly as crew chief. Fourth-generation driver Jeffrey Earnhardt ran for ROTY with Rick Ware Racing. However, he was released after 3 races when Fuel Doctor decided to leave. Johanna Long moved up to full-time status for 2011 with her Panhandle Motorsports team. Former Renault F1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr. drove for Kevin Harvick, Inc. full-time this season. With Eddie Sharp Racing having purchased Team Gill Racing, 2010 ARCA runner-up Craig Goess drove the No. 46 Toyota full-time in 2011. Brazilian driver Miguel Paludo drove Red Horse Racing's No. 7 Toyota full-time. Vision Aviation Racing teammates Dusty Davis and Justin Johnson moved up from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West to drive the No. 15 and No. 51 Toyotas respectively. They were not approved to run at Daytona International Speedway, so Michael Waltrip and Aric Almirola drove the No. 15 and #51. Chris Eggleston attempted to run for ROTY with Winfield Motorsports. Red Bull development driver Cole Whitt, after spending a season in the K&N Pro Series East, ran for ROTY with Stacy Compton's Turn One Racing. Chase Mattioli, son of Pocono Raceway owner Joseph Mattioli, formed his own team, Chase Mattioli Racing and ran the full 2011 season. Mattioli was unable to start at Daytona due to a gastrointestinal infection and had Chad McCumbee drive. The team used Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing's owner points from 2010, as Jennifer Jo Cobb is running the Nationwide Series. Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen announced that he would run a part-time schedule starting in the summer, driving for his own ICE 1 Racing team in a partnership with Foster Gillett. On April 2, it was announced that Räikkönen would instead drive a limited schedule for Kyle Busch Motorsports starting at Charlotte. He entered at Charlotte driving Vision Aviation Racing's No. 15 Toyota, fielded by Busch.
Returned to the series Brendan Gaughan returns to the Truck Series full-time for the first time since 2008. He drove for Germain Racing. Travis Kvapil returns to the Truck Series full-time for the first time since 2007. He drove the No. 5 for Randy Moss Motorsports, replacing Mike Skinner. Kvapil also ran the Sprint Cup title while driving the No. 38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports. Justin Marks returns to NASCAR for the first time since 2008. He drove for Stacy Compton's Turn One Racing.
Exited the series Aric Almirola drove for JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series due to lack of sponsorship being found for Vision Aviation Racing; he returned to the No. 51 truck for the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona as Vision Aviation Racing's drivers were both ineligible to run Daytona because of NASCAR's requirements for driver experience before running Daytona or Talladega. Narain Karthikeyan returned to Formula One this season with Hispania Racing.
Mid-season changes Justin Lofton parted ways with Germain Racing after the WinStar World Casino & Resort 400. He soon signed with Eddie Sharp Racing, which, ironically, was the team that Lofton won the 2009 ARCA Re/Max Series championship with. Craig Goess, the driver Lofton replaced, is currently unable to find a ride.