NASCAR trucks rookie Ickler thrilled with fifth-place finish
By COLE YOUNG
The Kansas City Star
There’s a good chance that Brian Ickler’s phone will ring again if Kyle Busch needs to miss another race in the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series.
Ickler, who was filling in for Busch in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 that concluded on Monday at Kansas Speedway, finished in fifth place. Busch had already won two of the four trucks series races this season.
Not bad for Ickler, a 23-year-old rookie who was driving in his first truck race.
Ickler couldn’t help but smile as he stood outside the team’s hauler following Monday’s race, despite the cold mist coming down while he waited to begin a television interview.
“It’s hard to remember everything that happened this weekend,” he said. “It was so drawn out and long.”
Odds are, though, he’ll remember his performance for a long time. While many truck racers have to wait a good while to get a top-five finish, that certainly wasn’t the case for Ickler.
Ickler not only benefited from driving Busch’s truck, which led the points standings entering the Kansas race, but he also had Busch’s father, Tom, working as his spotter from atop the Kansas Speedway grandstand.
While Tom Busch was one of the voices in Ickler’s ear, Ickler also was driving under the guidance of veteran crew chief Doug George.
Perhaps the most important tip they provided Ickler came during the long delay between Saturday’s racing — which was interrupted and finally postponed because of rain — and Monday’s conclusion.
“We’ve been sitting in the hotel room for three days together,” Ickler said. “We’ve talked through every possible scenario of what could happen out here. (Tom) has seen it all with his boys. He’s got a lot of knowledge to pass on, and he’s helped me out immensely.”
Ickler’s talent also had something to do with the fifth-place finish. He’s been a rising star in the NASCAR ranks, as he’s picked up seven career victories in both the Camping World East and West series.
According to Ickler, the team entered the day hoping for a top-10 finish. So to end the rain-shortened Kansas Speedway race in fifth place was something that made him “ecstatic.”
“We’ve got a great truck, and a great owner who wants nothing but to win, and won’t stop at anything to accomplish it,” Ickler said.
Owner Billy Ballew will be relying on Ickler more this season. A San Diego native, Ickler is already scheduled to drive the truck again on June 5 at Texas Motor Speedway.
There’s a good chance he’ll have more opportunities, too, depending on what Kyle Busch’s schedule looks like.
“Kyle has a lot to do with this (success),” Ickler said. “It’s just good people is what it comes down to.”
And judging by Monday’s performance, Ickler looks to be one of those people.
To reach Cole Young, sports reporter for The Star, send e-mail to
ceyoung@kcstar.com
Posted on Mon, Apr. 27, 2009 10:15 PM
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