NO STRANGER TO IOWA: The Coca-Cola 200 presented by Hy-Vee may be the first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series appearance at Iowa Speedway for David Mayhew, but this talented driver is no stranger to the seven-eighths-mile tri-oval. Mayhew has made six starts at ‘America’s Place to Race’ in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West division. The Californina native has collected one pole, three wins, four top-five and five top-10 finishes at the track. He holds an average start of 3.2 and average finish of 6, and has also led a lotal 210 laps at the track. Mayhew will pilot the No. 2 MMI Serivce Chevrolet Silverado at Iowa Speedway, his second Truck Series appearance of the 2011 season with Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI).
HAND PICKED: KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick chose his fellow Bakersfield, Calif., native initially to practice his NASCAR Nationwide Series cars in Iowa (2010) and Chicago (2011). Mayhew has also tested cars for the KHI stable during the off-season. Harvick was quickly impressed by Mayhew’s ability and knowledge, which has led to the driver being invited to pilot the No. 2 KHI Truck Series entry for two races during the 2011 racing season.
KHI TRUCK SERIES SUCCESS: KHI drivers have made four starts at Iowa Speedway since the Truck Series began racing at the .875-mile facility in 2009. The team has collected two top-five and two top-10 finishes at the track. KHI trucks hold an average starting position of 18.2 and an average finishing position of 11.2. Ricky Carmichael, Ron Hornaday and Kenny Schrader have all wheeled a KHI entry around the Newton, Iowa facility.
CHASSIS HISTORY: When the No. 2 KHI team heads to Iowa Speedway they will unload chassis No. 057. This is the same chassis that KHI co-owner Harvick drove to a fourth-place finish at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in April after starting the race from the third position.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Elliott Sadler climbed behind the wheel of the No. 2 Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet Silverado for his third appearance of the 2011 season during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway on July 7. Sadler started the event in the fourth position and quickly pulled out front leading the field around the 1.5-mile Sparta, Ky., facility. A late-race caution played against Sadler and the No. 2 team, as the driver was shuffled back through the pack after restarting in the third position, leaving him with a sixth-place finish.
MAYHEW’S THOUGHTS ON IOWA:
What are your thoughts heading to Iowa Speedway for your first Truck Series appearance at the track?
“I feel good heading into this race because I’ve got experience at Iowa Speedway. It gives you a level of confidence when you head to a track that you know. I always learn something new each time I go to track, but it takes away some of the pressure knowing that I have been there before. That experience will give me the edge on knowing where to pass, knowing which line to run and how to help make the truck quicker. Iowa has a lot of momentum and there is just a unique feel about the speedway. I’m excited to head back.”
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