Ted Musgrave No. 59 Team ASE/Harris Trucking Toyota Tundra Ohio 250

Ted has competed in each of the four previous NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at Mansfield Motorsports Park. Additionally, he has run in ASA races at Queen City Speedway in West Chester (near Cincinnati), Toledo Speedway in Toledo, and Sandusky Speedway.

How do you set the truck up for Mansfield? “We are still searching for it. It is always changing with the tires and the rules. Right now they have the new tapered spacer so that might affect how you set the truck up. Maybe you go with a two-barrel carburetor and try to do what Dennis Setzer did last year and win it on fuel mileage. The other thing you can do is brace up everything you can – extra heavy bumper bars and braces – and try to knock everyone in front of you out of the way. I guess those are the two ways you can win this race.”

Is it hard to control your emotions during the race on the series’ smallest track? “You need to be patient but not too patient. If you aren’t careful, people will start knocking you around. You have to really balance your temper. You know the only way to pass is to use the bumper. You also have to expect it from others. I think that’s why you see the record number of cautions up there and all the laps we run under caution is because some guys don’t keep that temper under control and get a little too aggressive using the bumper.”

Is this a race where we could see some paybacks from incidents on the track earlier in the season? “I don’t think anyone owes us anything so that’s good. But if someone was looking to pay me back for something, I know I would much rather get it at Mansfield at 80 miles an hour than at Texas or Michigan at 180 miles an hour. You see a lot of bumping at Mansfield anyhow. A lot of it looks innocent but it isn’t. NASCAR keeps a close eye on the guys they know have had some run ins in the past so they won’t let it get too far out of control.”

You are from the Midwest, how important is it for you to race on Memorial Day weekend? “Memorial Day weekend is all about racing for us. I can remember gathering around the radio and listening to the Indy 500 before it was on television. To me that’s what being a diehard race fan was all about, and that is what we were.”

Do you like racing on the short tracks? “I do. We’ve had some great races at places like Martinsville, South Boston, and Mesa Marin. I love going to Ohio and racing in front of the fans up there. The problem is it’s hard for us to put a good show on there. The configuration of the track just doesn’t let us put on the kind of show I think the fans there deserve. I think if the track was to be reconfigured and the banking fixed so we could get out there and run side by side, the fans there would probably see the greatest race ever in Ohio.”

Ted’s Mansfield Stats: In four previous races, Ted has one top ten finish at Mansfield: eighth in 2007. He has three top-three starts, all in the first three races at the tight half-mile. He started third in 2004 and 2005 and lined up second in 2006. His average start is 7.2 and his average finish is 12.2. He has led 61 laps at Mansfield, 59 in 2004 and 2 in 2006. He has completed all of the 1006 laps in competition at Mansfield.

Introducing the 2008 No. 59 Team ASE/Harris Trucking Toyota Tundra:

Led by Crew Chief Danny Rollins:

About Team ASE: 

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has been involved in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since 1995, with a mission to salute the technicians and other automotive professionals who demonstrate high performance every day.

ASE, a national non-profit organization, was founded in 1972 to help improve the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive service professionals.  More than 400,000 ASE-Certified professionals work in dealerships, independent shops, service stations, auto parts stores, fleets, schools and colleges across the nation.