Catchfence

When Rick Crawford pulls the straps tight at the start of Sunday’s truck race it will be his 327th start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

But it will be the first time in 14 years that he won’t be behind the wheel of a Circle Bar Racing Ford.

Circle Bar fielded Crawford’s familiar No. 14 without sponsorship for the first four races of this season but couldn’t continue on to Kansas Speedway this week. Much of the team has been laid off.

“The 14 truck will not race again without financial backing,” Crawford said. “I’m surprised the No. 14 truck made it those four races.”

Crawford’s 326 career starts is a record in the Truck Series. The only race the driver from Mobile has missed since 1997 was a 2005 race at Kentucky he skipped after a hard crash in practice.

But now Crawford, 51, is leaving the No. 14 — at least temporarily — to drive the No. 76 Ford for Ray Hackett Racing this Sunday at Kansas.

- The Birmingham News