If anyone has ever been in the garage area of a Truck Series race they can tell you it has a different feel. It is less corporate (though just as professional), more relaxed (but still focused) and more fun than any of the other series. More importantly though the racing you find in the Truck Series is without a doubt, week after week, the best in NASCAR.

As the trucks got out for their first practice session Wednesday afternoon I couldn’t help but get a little giddy. Yeah I just said I got giddy. It happens every now and then.

With all the negative news regarding this particular series in the off season it was nice to see them get back out on the track. So I thought this would be a good time to look at a few teams and drivers and discuss their prospects for this season.

Randy Moss Motorsports

This team comes into 2009 as a new incarnation of the old Morgan-Dollar Motorsports. The team is now fielding two full time Toyotas with drivers Tayler Malsam and Mike Skinner. You can call this little BDR if you like; they even bought the #22 hauler.

While both may need some time to get acclimated to their new surroundings, if practice was any indication they are on the right path. Malsam is teamed with Doug Wolcott, his crew chief from BDR and Skinner gets veteran Eric Phillips who incidentally helped get Toyota their first NASCAR win.

I think Malsam will be competitive this season and I think you may see a re-energized Skinner. Skinner struggled some last season, but he seems to have a pretty positive outlook for 2009. Look for Skinner back in victory lane and Malsam locked in a tight battle for Rookie of the Year honors.

Todd Bodine

Bodine is always a force to be reckoned with in the truck series, but he currently finds himself without sponsorship for the season. He looked good in drafting practice today coming out 2nd in the first practice and 1st in the second.

The 2006 series champion has the potential to do well, but he faces things that may be bigger than him. I hope his Germain team is able to lock down sponsorship for the remainder of the year, because a series without Bodine is not necessarily a good one.

Johnny Benson

The reigning series champion joins Red Horse Racing in 2009. The team comes off a mediocre season with driver David Starr. While the plan was to have two trucks, the team is currently in limbo. They are fielding a second truck for T.J. Bell in Daytona and California, but beyond that it is uncertain.

I expect Benson to continue to be competitive this season, but I don’t see a repeat performance in his future.

Brian Scott

I had my doubts about Scott when he first emerged last season, but he looked solid toward the end of the year. While his deal with BDR fell through when the team closed its doors, he retains veteran crew chief Jeff Hensley at his family owned Xpress Motorsports.

While he had some struggles today, the team is fast and given continued development I think Scott can be a contender. He may not be in a position to win a championship right now, but I think he will show great improvement in 2009.

Kevin Harvick Inc.

This team is unstoppable. Ron Hornaday Jr. came within feet of winning his second straight championship and scored six wins in 2008. In addition the team brings on motocross champion Ricky Carmichael to drive their second entry.

Again Hornaday will be a contender this season as in years past. He is in good equipment and has a great support system behind him. Carmichael is a wild card though. He was OK in the Camping World East Series, but his stock car experience is not extensive. 2009 will tell us if he has what it takes to be successful in NASCAR.

Colin Braun

Throughout 2008 this rookie just couldn’t seal the deal. Whenever he was up front he was frequently involved in wrecks that more often than not were not his fault.

I think the jury is still out on Braun. He certainly has a lot of talent, but you can’t continue on the road he is on and hope to be successful. I think he’ll win one this season, but I doubt he’ll be competing for a championship. Braun needs to find consistency in 2009 or risk becoming a could have been.

There is some great talent in the truck series this season. While there will certainly be races where the truck count is not where it used to be, I don’t think the racing will suffer too much. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for Friday.

Related posts:

• Respect the Trucks
• The Trucks at Pocono? Really?
• BREAKING NEWS: Bodine To Race At Iowa With International Trucks Sponsorship
• Hard Times for NCWTS Sponsorships
• Bristol is the Best Damn Track in NASCAR