Truck Series starts busy five-race stretch at Dover

After six races in three months to open the season, the Camping World Truck Series enters a demanding stretch of five races in 30 days Friday with the AAA Insurance 200 at Dover International Speedway.

It is a pivotal period in the 25-race season, challenging the resources and strength of drivers and teams with constant turnarounds and will have a major impact on the championship.

"The summer stretch pretty much determines your season," ThorSport Racing Chevrolet driver Matt Crafton said. "Last year, we put ourselves in contention during that string of races, but fell off at the end of the season and it cost us. I expect us to be strong again this year and put ourselves in position for good things to happen."

• Get your tickets for all events

Crafton is third in the points, 89 behind leader Ron Hornaday, heading into the Monster Mile. He was third in the previous race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, his best finish of the season and fifth top-10. Crafton was fifth at Dover last year and emerged from the next five races second in points. He ranked third with four remaining in 2008, but faded to fifth. It still equaled Crafton's best season in eight full Truck Series seasons and his best in seven with ThorSport.

Hornaday took the points lead by 84 on Mike Skinner with his first victory of the season at Lowe's two weeks ago. The three-time trucks champion has finished seventh or better in the six races this season and was an unfortunate fourth at Kansas, where rain ended the race 35 laps short with Hornaday's Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet in a superior situation to Skinner with fresh tires and more fuel.

Hornaday has an outstanding record at Dover in four truck starts. He won in 2007, was third last year, fourth in 2005 and seventh in 2006. Hornaday has led 261 laps at Dover.

"After a win, you always have momentum on your side," Hornaday said. "Winning gives you the confidence to go into the next race and know that you can make it to Victory Lane. I have always felt this team thrives off winning. Our season up until Charlotte had not been bad, we have not finished outside of the top 10 yet, so I would say that we kick-started our season in Daytona. We are just now showing our strength."

Kyle Busch, with two wins in five starts this season in Billy Ballew Motorsports' Toyota, and David Gilliland, making his second consecutive start in TRG Motorsports' Chevrolet, are Cup Series regulars entered at Dover.