Catchfence

No. 98 Everfi Toyota Tundra

Race Information: VFW 200

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Michigan International Speedway

2.0 -mile Tri-Oval

Banking: 18° turns, 12° front stretch, 5° back stretch

100 laps / 200 miles

Team Facts:

Current Point Standings: 15th

Chassis: 45

Crew Chief: Dan Stillman

Engines: TRIAD

Broadcast Information:

TV: SPEED broadcast live, 12:00 PM EST

Radio: MRN broadcast live, 12:00 PM EST

Round Two for the New Chassis: Heading back to Michigan International Speedway (MIS) for the second time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and for just the third time in his career, Dakoda Armstrong and the No. 98 EverFi Toyota Tundra team will once again have the confidence of bringing a new truck to the track. Armstrong will begin the VFW 200 race at MIS with the same chassis that the team brought to Pocono Raceway just two weeks ago. That chassis had a solid 12th place finish, and Armstrong and his crew hope for another great finish at this 2.0-mile tri-oval.

Armstrong has had two previous starts at Michigan International Speedway. One of which was in the ARCA Racing Series and the second came last year in the NASCAR Camping World Truck series. His best finish of eleventh came in the summer of 2010, but Armstrong knows that the Michigan track will be a whole new track now that it has been repaved.

“We are bringing the same chassis that we used at Pocono, and I’m excited to see how it handles on the newly paved Michigan track,” Armstrong said. “I want to make sure to go out in practices and get around people. Luckily we will have 3 practices so we will be able to go and see how the truck handles in traffic.”

There will be three practice sessions for the NCWTS competitors. These practice sessions will take place on Friday August 17, from 9-10:00 am EST, 11-12:20 pm EST, and 2:10-3:30 pm EST. NCWTS qualifying is scheduled for 9:35 am EST on Saturday the 18th, followed by the NCWTS Setup and VFW 200 broadcast on SPEED beginning at 12:00 pm EST.

Sandusky Wheels of Thunder: With the ThorSport shop just minutes away from a major theme park, Armstrong and his three teammates, Matt Crafton, Johnny Sauter, and Frank Kimmel, all gathered at Sandusky’s Cedar Point on Tuesday August 14th for a special autograph signing for the park guests. The teams hauled in the three NCWTS trucks and the ARCA car for this signing. After they signed autographs they were able to ride on the Millenium Force, and of course the Top Thrill Dragster.

Special Appearance: Armstrong will greet fans with the rest of his fellow competitors at Michigan International Speedway this Friday from 4-5:00 pm EST at the NCWTS autograph session as part of an “Open Garage” experience for a select 200 MIS fans. Stay tuned to Facebook and Twitter (@DakodaArmstrong) for race weekend updates.

A Look Back at Pocono: After bringing a new chassis to the “Tricky Triangle” Armstrong and his crew had a slight miscue during green flag pit stops that caused Armstrong to miss his pits. The team rallyed back from the Lucky Dog position to receive a top 15 finish with his No. 98 EverFi Toyota team for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Pocono Mountains 125. Working through a leaking left rear tire and catching a yellow just in time, Armstrong survived several late restarts, huge wrecks, and three-wide battles to bring home a 12th place finish.

Chassis History: Dan Stillman and the No. 98 ThorSport Racing team have prepared chassis no. 45 for this weekend’s events at Michigan International Speedway. This will be the second start on this chassis, as Armstrong worked his way up to a season-best 12th finish with chassis no. 45 at Pocono Raceway.

Dakoda Armstrong on Michigan International Speedway

With MIS being repaved, how do you expect the truck to handle? Will it be different than the previous times you have been there?

“I think that the track will be a lot different than I am used to. The groves that we used to run there will be different. I also think that everyone will stay pretty bunched up so we definitely have to make sure that we are getting the handling perfect when it comes to being in traffic. I’m glad that we will be bringing a truck that my team built from the bottom up. We should be pretty quick right off the start.”

- Dakoda Armstrong Public Relations Press Release