The 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series was the eighteenth season of the third highest stock car racing in the United States. The season was contested over twenty-two races, beginning with the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway and ending with the Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. NASCAR announced some changes, including the removal of New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, and Lucas Oil Raceway from the schedule, and moving the Phoenix race back to its traditional fall date. In addition, Rockingham Speedway was added to the schedule, the first time NASCAR has raced at Rockingham since 2004. James Buescher of Turner Motorsports claimed his first championship with a 13th-place finish in the season finale. Chevrolet won the Manufacturer's Championship with 166 points and 12 wins.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule TeamManufacturerRace DriverCrew ChiefSS-Green Light RacingToyotaChevrolet07T. J. DukeBobby DotterJake CrumButch MillerBobby DotterDaniel SzymkowiakChris JonesRichard GoadJohnny ChapmanChris JonesCaleb RoarkJeff AgnewDoug WeddleRoss Chastain (R)Bryan BerryToyota08Ross Chastain (R)Bryan BerryTodd PeckDaniel SzymkowiakRAB RacingToyota09Travis KvapilChris RiceJohn Wes Townley (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet2Brendan GaughanGil MartinMarcus RichmondGere Kennon Jr.Kevin HarvickTim George Jr.3Ty Dillon (R)Scott NasetMarcus Richmond22Joey CoulterHarold HollyEddie Sharp RacingChevrolet6Justin LoftonDaniel Bormann33Cale Gale (R)Jerry BaxterJoe Denette MotorsportsChevrolet9Ron Hornaday Jr.Jeff HensleyTerry SnyderJennifer Jo Cobb RacingFordRam10Jennifer Jo CobbSteve KuykendallJake CrumChevroletChris LaffertyRed Horse RacingToyota11Todd BodineRick Gay17Timothy PetersButch HyltonThorSport RacingToyota13Johnny SauterJoe Shear Jr.88Matt CraftonCarl JoinerKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota18Jason LefflerEric PhillipsBrian ScottKurt BuschKyle BuschDrew HerringDavid MayhewDenny HamlinGB RacingFord23Jason WhiteDoug GeorgeHillman RacingChevrolet27Ward BurtonTrip BruceJeb Burton (R)Brandon KnuppChris ShowalterMark HillmanBrian MacDonaldMichael LeitnerJason OverstreetC. E. FalkTravis MillerB. J. McLeodStephen LeichtRyan LynchCole WhittRyan TruexJason LefflerBrad Keselowski RacingRam29Parker KligermanDoug RandolphRyan BlaneyGrant EnfingerBrad KeselowskiJeff StankiewiczTurner MotorsportsChevrolet30Nelson Piquet Jr.Chris Carrier31James BuescherMichael Shelton32Miguel PaludoMike Hillman Jr.Jeff HensleyRSS RacingChevrolet39Ryan SiegRod SiegTony WilsonChris Jones93Chris CockrumRod SiegTimothy BrownMike GarveyTony WilsonB. J. McLeodJohnny ChapmanBrent RaymerDennis SetzerRyan SiegChris JonesTim George Jr.Ryan LynchNorm Benning RacingChevrolet57Norm BenningJames DuggerTed WaltersGlenden EnterprisesToyotaChevrolet84Chris FontaineKevin IngramB. J. McLeodRuss DuggerMario GosselinWayne EdwardsAaron BrownT3R MotorsportsFord99Bryan Silas (R)Cal Boprey
Limited schedule TeamManufacturerRace DriverCrew ChiefRoundsObregon RacingFord00Clay GreenfieldScott KazuraRick Ware RacingChevrolet1Donnie NeuenbergerCarl LongYoung's MotorsportsChevrolet02Tyler YoungCody SaulsTurner MotorsportsChevrolet4Kasey KahneMike ShiplettKyle LarsonTrent OwensMike Hillman Jr.Augie GrillDakoda ArmstrongBrandon McReynoldsWauters MotorsportsFord5Paulie Harraka (R)Richie WautersJohn KingAric AlmirolaRyan ReedJosh RichardsRSS RacingChevroletScott RiggsJohnny ChapmanRed Horse RacingToyota7John KingChad KendrickParker KligermanEddie Sharp RacingChevrolet8Mike SkinnerEddie TroconisMax Gresham (R)Chris ShowalterJennifer Jo Cobb RacingRamJennifer Jo CobbSteve Kuykendall0Scott KazuraKeith WolfeJake CrumChris LaffertyT. J. BellBrandon KnuppBlake KochJake Crum RacingChevrolet01Jake CrumLee McCallKeith WolfeDGM RacingChevrolet12Russ DuggerMario GosselinNTS MotorsportsChevrolet14Brennan NewberryDan DeeringhoffBrandon MillerArrington RacingRamToyota15Dusty DavisMike DaytonTodd Shafer81David StarrDoug HoweBrad Keselowski RacingRam19Brad KeselowskiJeff StankiewiczDavid MayhewRyan BlaneyDoug RandolphBRG MotorsportsToyota20Rick CrawfordJosh BraggDusty DavisFord82Grant EnfingerEmpire RacingSean CorrBen LeslieJoe Denette MotorsportsChevrolet24Max GreshamTerry SnyderHillman RacingChevrolet25Brandon KnuppMichael LeitnerBrian MacDonaldJason OverstreetStephen LeichtB. J. McLeodTravis MillerFDNY RacingChevrolet28Wes BurtonDick RahillyWin-Tron RacingChevrolet35Matt MerrellMark RetteAllgaier MotorsportsRam36Grant EnfingerKelly KovskiRSS RacingChevrolet37Jeff GreenTimothy BrownDennis SetzerJordan Sieg38Rod SiegJordan SiegTimothy BrownGilbert GarciaJohnny ChapmanChris JonesB. J. McLeodRobert AdamsonReynolds RacingChevrolet47Benjamin ReynoldsScott CoyleMAKE MotorsportsChevrolet50Natalie SatherBobby BurrellKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota51Germán QuirogaRick RenDenny HamlinBilly Ballew MotorsportsChevroletKurt BuschNick HarrisonBill Martel RacingChevrolet59Kyle MartelGene RobertsTurn One RacingChevrolet60J. R. FitzpatrickKevin StarlandGrant EnfingerChad McCumbeePeyton SellersPearce RacingFord61Wes BurtonRandy DeanMB MotorsportsFordChevrolet63Caleb RoarkMike Mittler65Tyler TannerScott StenzelJustin JenningsChris LaffertyClay Greenfield MotorsportsDodge68Clay GreenfieldGene Patient86Scott RiggsGary MannBlake KochClay GreenfieldGene PatientTeam 7 MotorsportsChevrolet70Jeff AgnewDoug WeddleTagsby RacingChevrolet73Rick CrawfordJamie JonesJack JohnstonMike Harmon RacingChevrolet74Wheeler BoysDaniel KolandaDavid WallsRick CrawfordBrian WeberScott Riggs Mike HarmonTim AndrewsHenderson MotorsportsChevrolet75Caleb Holman (R)Kenny HunleyNorm Benning RacingAdam EdwardsGary RitterJosh WiseRay Hackett RacingFord76Derek WhiteBobby BurrellRyan HackettJoe ShuryanGlenden EnterprisesChevrolet83Chris FontaineKevin BoykinRBR EnterprisesChevrolet92David ReutimannJason OverstreetChad McCumbeeKevin StarlandScott RiggsDave FugePeck MotorsportsChevrolet96Todd PeckKeith WolfeAdrian Carriers RacingChevrolet97Jeff ChoquetteNicholas CarlsonThorSport RacingToyota98Dakoda Armstrong (R)Dan StillmanTravis Pastrana Note: A driver designated with a (R) next to their name indicates that they are contenders for the 2012 Rookie of the Year award.
Team changes The Kevin Harvick, Inc.-Richard Childress Racing Merger and Related Spinoff
Richard Childress Racing, per agreement in the Kevin Harvick, Inc. merger agreement, acquired the 2011 Owners Champion No. 2 truck as part of the Harvick-Childress merger that also included the No. 2 and No. 33 Nationwide teams. The No. 8 and No. 33 trucks were spun off in a separate deal. Harvick spun off the No. 8 and No. 33 Truck teams, which Eddie Sharp Racing, acquired. The teams in the spinoff join the present No. 6 truck driven by Justin Lofton to form a three-truck team, which resulted in a September 2011 decision to switch manufacturers from Toyota to Chevrolet immediately, with support from Childress. The spinoff also included development driver Cale Gale, who drove the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet.
Other Changes ThorSport Racing switched to Toyota Tundras for the 2012 season, with the three teams of Matt Crafton (#88), Johnny Sauter (#13), and Dakoda Armstrong (#98) running for the full season.
Discontinued operations Germain Racing had shut down the No. 9 and No. 30 trucks with employees asked to look for other employment, as the team's Sprint Cup team changed to Ford from Toyota.
Driver changes
Changed teams Neither of the Kevin Harvick, Inc. drivers were retained by Eddie Sharp Racing after the spinoff. Ron Hornaday Jr. joined Joe Denette Motorsports and drive their No. 9 Chevrolet. He was reunited with KHI crew chief Jeff Hensley. Hornaday was not an exempt driver through the points standings during the first five races, but had an exemption through his status as a former Series Champion. (Series champions have an exemption available in certain circumstances.) Nelson Piquet Jr. moved to Turner Motorsports to contest the full Truck series season as well as a limited Nationwide schedule. Piquet Jr. was teammates with fellow Brazilian Miguel Paludo, who leaves Red Horse Racing. After enduring a disappointing season at Germain Racing, Brendan Gaughan moves to Richard Childress Racing to run 8 Truck races. Those races were in the No. 2 truck acquired in the Childress-Harvick merger. After Germain Racing shut down its Truck Series operations, Todd Bodine moves to Red Horse Racing to driving the No. 11 truck that was the No. 7 that Miguel Paludo drove. However, Bodine tweeted that he needed sponsorship to run the season. After a disappointing 2011, David Starr took the number 81 with him to the newly formed Arrington Racing formed by engine builder Joey Arrington. After a one-year stint with Joe Denette Motorsports, Jason White formed his own team for 2012 and fielded Fords.
Rookie entries The Rookie of the Year standout would be Ty Dillon, the younger brother of 2011 Champion Austin Dillon. Ty scored a win at Atlanta and was in contention for the championship until a late crash at Homestead knocked him to 4th in the points but easily won him the RoTY title. Former Kevin Harvick, Inc. development driver Cale Gale was runner-up to Dillon, taking a pole at Bristol and a win at Homestead. Ross Chastain finished 3rd in the rookie battle, while John Wes Townley, despite missing Daytona, had two top-10s. Contenders Jeb Burton, Dakoda Armstrong, and Daytona winner John King saw their runs for RoTY aborted due to sponsorship issues. K&N Pro Series East Champion Max Gresham struggled with Joe Denette Motorsports and departed the team early on. Duke University graduate Paulie Harraka struggled most of the season with Wauters Motorsport and left before Atlanta.
Returned to the series Tim George Jr. returned to the Truck Series for the first time since 2009. He ran 12 races driving Richard Childress Racing's No. 2 truck inherited from Kevin Harvick, Inc. David Reutimann returns to the series for 4 races with RBR Enterprises. Ward Burton returned to NASCAR for the first time after a five-year absence, driving the season-opening Daytona race for Hillman Racing. His son Jeb would drive the following 4 races before a lack of sponsorship ended his run.
Exited the series Truck Series champion and former Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon moved up to the NASCAR Nationwide Series full-time with crew chief Danny Stockman. Johanna Long moved to the Nationwide Series for a limited schedule with ML Motorsports. Cole Whitt moved up to the NASCAR Nationwide series full-time in the 88 Chevrolet with JR Motorsports.
2012 calendar No.Race titleTrackDate1NextEra Energy Resources 250Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach24 February2Kroger 250Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway31 March3Good Sam Roadside Assistance Carolina 200Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham15 April4SFP 250Kansas Speedway, Kansas City21 April5North Carolina Education Lottery 200Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord18 May6Lucas Oil 200Dover International Speedway, Dover1 June7WinStar World Casino 400KTexas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth8 June8UNOH 225Kentucky Speedway, Sparta28 June9American Ethanol 200Iowa Speedway, Newton14 July10American Ethanol 225Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet21 July11Pocono Mountains 125Pocono Raceway, Long Pond4 August12VFW 200Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn18 August13UNOH 200Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol22 August14Jeff Foxworthy's Grit Chips 200Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton31 August15American Ethanol 200Iowa Speedway, Newton15 September16Kentucky 201Kentucky Speedway, Sparta21 September17Smith's 350Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada29 September18Fred's 250Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega6 October19Kroger 200Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway27 October20WinStar World Casino 350KTexas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth2 November21Lucas Oil 150Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix9 November22Ford EcoBoost 200Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead16 November
Calendar changes