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2001 season coming to a close

© Amanda Vincent

For once this season, it doesn't look like the Craftsman Truck Series championship is going down to the wire. All two-time champion Jack Sprague has to do is start the race this weekend at California Speedway, and the 2001 title is all his.

All season long, fans have witnessed the closest points chase in the series' short history. The always competitive truck series seemed to be even more competitive this season, with not only the championship race up in doubt practically all season, but also a very tight Rookie of the Year battle. Rookie sensations Ricky Hendrick and Travis Kvapil have each posted a win this year and the rookie battle seemed to be neck and neck, but Kvapil seems to have pulled away in the late running. The season isn't over yet, with still one race remaining to be decided this weekend, but both the championship and rookie titles do seem to have finally been decided and the "silly season" rumors are well underway.

Rumor has it that both Sprague and Hendrick will be heading to the Busch Series in 2002, piloting rides for Rick Hendrick. What will the truck series be like without Sprague? It's hard to say since that's something fans have yet to experience. Sprague is the only driver left that has competed in all Craftsman Truck Series races since the league's inception in 1995. Will truck series fans find out what life is like without the two-time, soon to be three-time series champion?

The series may be losing a familiar face in Sprage, but fans can look forward to being sort of re-introduced to an old face, even if in a different capacity. Kevin Harvick has plans to return full-time to the truck series in 2002, but this time as owner instead of driver. In this case, the driving will probably be left up to Rick Carelli.

It also looks as if Scott Riggs, one of those drivers in contention for the 2001 championship most of the season, will also be jumping to the Busch Series, but don't think that the departures will leave the field sparse. Returning in 2002 will be Kvapil, who passed up several offers to stay in the truck series for at least another season, and veteran Joe Ruttman. Ruttman may have started his career before many of his competitors were even born, but he seems to still have a few exciting years left. Add to the mix talented young driver Kyle Busch, younger brother of 2000 Rookie of the Year Kurt Busch, and look forward to another exciting year in the truck series.

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