Mike Skinner Updates

What is up!!!

2011-03-13T10:52:00.000-04:00

It's Round Up time again! Closing in on the Toyota Skinner round up this week in Daytona Beach -I have to tell you it's been a great year so far , way more than I expected...especially being un-employed! I am not real sure when the day comes that you get tripped up, that you don't land on your fee - but so far Angie and I have been blessed and have landed on our feet every time. Still just doing free lance work from driving the #32 Faslane Racing car for Frankie Stoddard, to an occaissonal truck ride which by the way we turned down a couple offers for Darlington because I don't want to run around in the back...( that's why I am unemployed this year! ) To a fulltime testing gig for MWR to help fellow Toyota drivers hopefully have the chance to win races in cup and make the chase. Actually I am busier now than when I had a fulltime contract. So just when you think life is getting fairly dark, if you look at the glass as half full, it normally is! Hope to raise lots of money for our great charities in volusia county Fl - but I am looking forward to having NORMAL Ang back -- The round up is like her with PMS for 3 months....but it will all be over soon! Enough for now! Peace, Mike Skinner

CELEBRITY GUESTS ANNOUNCED FOR TOYOTA SKINNER ROUND-UP (Spots still available to Play in Skinner Round-Up Golf and Poker Tournaments)

2011-03-11T16:25:00.000-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., March 10, 2011 – NASCAR driver Mike Skinner and his wife Angie today announced the list of celebrity guests who will attend the fifth-annual Toyota Skinner Round-Up presented by Rue & Ziffra Personal Injury Attorneys on Wed., March 16 and Thurs., March 17, at Daytona Beach International Speedway (DIS) and Spruce Creek Country Club.
Nashville recording artist Stacy Mitchhart headlines the Hoe Down Bash on Wed., March 16 with a live concert, along with musical guests Edwin McCain and American Idol finalist Bo Bice, sponsored by Brighthouse Networks. SPEED TV reporter Ray Dunlap will serve as emcee for the Hoe Down Bash, which will take place from 7-11 PM in the Fanzone at Daytona International Speedway.

Skinner will be joined at the two-day event by three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon, as well as fellow NASCAR drivers Ron Hornaday Jr., Scott Speed and Steve Park. Former NASCAR driver and current U.S. Olympic bobsled builder Geoff Bodine, dare devil Robbie Knievel, country music comedian Cledus T Judd and NASCAR Sirius Speedway host Dave Moody are other celebrities who will honor former NASCAR executive Jim Hunter this year. Hunter was a close friend of the Skinners and passed away last Oct.

“We have gathered a great list of celebrities for this year's event,” said Mike Skinner. “Our busy schedules don‟t always allow us to get together with friends and family as much as we like. So, it‟s always fun to get everyone together for two days of fun, and at the same time raise money for charitable organizations in Volusia County that mean so much to Angie and I. We hope to have another successful event, and this year is even more special because we will honor our dear friend Jim Hunter. We will all miss having him at the Round-Up this year.”
Fans coming out to the Hoe Down Bash at DIS can sample "A Taste of Daytona", featuring Volusia County‟s finest restaurants, which is free of charge with the purchase of a Hoe Down ticket. There will once again be live and silent auctions featuring NASCAR and celebrity memorabilia. Among the live auction items are a six-seat EZGO golf cart, vacation packages to the American Idol finale in Los Angeles, the 5F Ranch in Texas, Sonoma wine country and NASCAR race weekends, as well as much more. Skinner will also hold an autograph session from 7-8 PM in victory lane.

The following day, celebrities and sponsors will play a round of golf in the Skinner Round-Up Golf Classic at Spruce Creek Country Club, followed by the Skinner Round-Up Poker Tournament. Spots in the golf tournament are still available for $150.00 per player with a shotgun start at 8:45 A.M. on Thurs. morning. The entry fee for the poker tournament, which begins at 3 PM, is $100.00 per player for the Texas Hold‟em format with the final table of six winning prizes.

Over the past four years, the Skinner Round-Up has raised more than $500,000 for various Volusia County charities, including the Council on Aging, Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare, Greyhound Pets of America, Halifax Foundation and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Tickets for the “Hoe Down Bash" can be purchased online for $10 at www.mikeskinner.com, and will also be available on Wednesday night at the DIS Turn 1 gate off of Williamson Avenue. Children under 12 years of age will be admitted free.

For more information on the Toyota Skinner Round-Up presented by Rue & Ziffra Personal Injury Attorneys, including how to sign up for the golf tournament and sponsorship opportunities for the event, visit www.MikeSkinner.com.

CONTACT:
Pam Jansen, 386-631-2489, pjansen@golinharris.com

Support the Skinner Round Up for Charity!

2011-03-03T16:48:00.000-05:00

Help the Skinner Round Up for Charity, in turn, help numerous Greater Daytona Beach Area Charities in 2011!

Purchase a Skinner Round Up 2011 T-Shirt! Cost is only $15.00 each and you'll be helping a great cause. Fast & Easy using PayPal or any major credit card!

You only get charged ONCE for shipping & handling no matter how many shirts you order, so order one for the whole Family!

Click on the link below, or go to mikeskinner.com and navigate to the Round Up page!

GET MY T-SHIRT NOW!

*All proceeds benefit the Skinner Round Up for Charity, Daytona Beach, FL

SKINNER RETURNS TO SITE OF CAREER-FIRST NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES WIN, HOPING TO LEAVE RACING GREMLINS IN DAYTONA | SERIES’ INAUGURAL CHAMP, FIRST WINNER STILL SEARCHING FOR A RIDE AFTER PHOENIX

2011-02-25T13:10:00.000-05:00

Skinner: “I almost started looking at myself, wondering if I was living wrong or something … We were the poster boys for freak things that can go wrong on a race weekend.”

When all else fails in NASCAR, a champion’s provisional usually provides a fairly reliable safety net … unless you’re Mike Skinner and you’re batting zero in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener.

Lucky for Skinner, the next race on the schedule is Friday’s stop at Phoenix International Raceway (8 p.m. ET live on SPEED™; NCWTS Setup with Krista Voda at 7:30 p.m. ET), site of his career-first Truck Series win in the series’ inaugural race in 1995. In 11 Truck starts at Phoenix, Skinner has recorded two wins, two pole positions, six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes.

But rewind to Daytona. Skinner, the 1995 NCWTS champion, failed to make the race last week after suffering unusual mechanical and electrical issues with his No. 45 Cushman/Paytas Homes Toyota. The truck’s starter shorted out before the first practice, burned up the wiring, caught the battery on fire and cost the team significant on-track time. Skinner’s qualifying lap was not fast enough to make the race on time, and to add insult to injury, the team was informed it had not designated a driver on the entry blank by the required time, disallowing Skinner the past champion’s provisional starting spot.

“With all the fluke things that went wrong on the truck with the starter shorting out and the battery catching fire and then us missing the race, I thought it had been a pretty bad start to the weekend,” Skinner recalled. “But when they told us we didn’t get the champion’s provisional because the entry blank had the driver listed as ‘TBD,’ I thought the joke was on me. I almost started looking at myself, wondering if I was living wrong or something. What else could go wrong at this point? We were the poster boys for freak things that can go wrong on a race weekend.”

But Skinner, still searching for a ful ltime ride beyond this weekend, has kept Daytona in perspective and in the rear view mirror.

“I wasn’t expecting to compete in the Truck race when we left Statesville (N.C.) for Daytona,” Skinner explained. “We just planned on hanging out, seeing friends, going to the Truck race, talking to owners and sponsors, playing golf and enjoying the sunshine. It had been as cold as hell up in North Carolina and we decided to go South. Everything that came together with Eddie Sharp Racing for Daytona was all last-minute and when that happens, you usually don’t get an optimum result. It was no fault of anyone’s on the team and I appreciate all their hard work in Daytona and what they’ll do this weekend in Phoenix.”

Skinner says neither he nor the team was aware of the written rule requiring a driver be designated, but that a rule is a rule. However, he thinks that, under the circumstances, he should have been allowed the provisional starting spot.

“If the team went out in practice and found out their truck was terrible and then went out and hired a past champion to ensure they made the race, that’s not fair to the rest of the competition,” he said. “But I was the driver before we ever went through inspection; I started practice. Under the circumstances, I think I should have gotten my champion’s provisional. But we didn’t and last week is history.”

The only part of last week that Skinner and the team won’t set aside is their commitment to the sponsors who supported them at Daytona. Previously not scheduled to compete at Phoenix, the No. 45 Eddie Sharp Racing team entered Friday’s race at Phoenix as a replacement for the one they missed at Daytona. And yes, Skinner’s name is on the entry blank.

“This week we’re going to honor our commitments to the Cushman brand and Paytas Homes of Daytona,” Skinner stated. “They came on board to help us out last week and we didn’t produce. I agreed that I would run the Phoenix race this weekend to fulfill that commitment.”

The last-minute addition to the schedule required a little thrashing on the team’s part, but Skinner hopes his strong record at Phoenix will compensate for the lack of proper preparation.

“The bad news is they didn’t have time to prepare a truck specifically for Phoenix,” Skinner said. “It’s an older truck but they worked really hard to get it ready. You never know - I’ve won a bunch of races when we didn’t think we had a shot at running well, so we’ll start with getting it to handle well and see where we stand. The good news for us this weekend is that I’ve got a pretty good grasp on this race track and am extremely comfortable there.”

If Skinner qualifies for Friday’s Truck Series race, it will mark his 230th series start. He says he currently is undecided about his status for the remainder of the season, although he continues to search for sponsorship and the right team.

“We’ve been talking to teams and sponsors and have two or three great leads right now,” Skinner said. “But I’m at the point in my life and career where I’m not going to sign on unless I think we can run up front and contend for wins. Eddie Sharp is the same way. And until we find that right fit, Phoenix might be my last race for a little while.”

• For the original post of this full article and related mentions on SPEED Channel website, click here.
• Mike's Bio page on SPEED can be found here.

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About SPEED™
SPEED, anchored by its popular and wide-ranging coverage of NASCAR, is the nation’s first and only cable television network dedicated to automotive and motorcycle racing, performance and lifestyle. Now available in more than 82 million homes in North America, SPEED, a member of the FOX Sports Media Group, is among the industry leaders in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEED.com, the online motor sports authority.

About FOX Sports Media Group
FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets under Chairman & CEO David Hill. Built with brands that are capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG now includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 19 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus; FUEL TV; and Fox College Sports. In addition, FSMG also includes FOX Sports Interactive Media, which comprises FOXSports.com on MSN, whatifsports.com and scout.com, reaching over 20 million unique visitors monthly. Also included are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network, FOX Sports Skybox restaurants and FOX Sports Grills.

PAYTAS HOMES AND EDDIE SHARP RACING CONTINUE THEIR PARTNERSHIP FOR MIKE SKINNER'S NO.45 TOYOTA TUNDRA IN PHOENIX

2011-02-24T14:34:00.000-05:00

Paytas Homes of Port Orange is proud to continue its partnership with Eddie
Sharp Racing on the sponsorship of the No. 45 Toyota Tundra driven by Mike
Skinner. While the Original Partnership was created with Mike Skinner for
the Camping World Truck Series Race here in Daytona last week, Skinner
missed the start and Paytas Homes ran on the No. 46 Eddie Sharp Racing Truck
driven by Craig Goess, Jim Paytas and Eddie Sharp have reached an agreement
to extend the partnership through this week's race in Phoenix back on the
No. 45 driven by Mike Skinner.

"I really wish that we could have gone out there and raced the No.45 Toyota
Tundra" said Skinner "Especially for Cushman and Paytas Homes, our great
sponsors who came on board. We are looking to come back, compete for the
win, and continue to grow this program." Team owner Eddie Sharp, also
disappointed in the missed start, looks ahead for Skinner and the team
"Thanks to Toyota, Skinner, Cushman, Paytas Homes and our team for all of
their work to get us here. The next event, we will compete at our highest
level."

MONITOR THE PAYTAS HOMES FACEBOOK PAGE THE DAY OF THE RACE FOR INSTANT UPDATES STARTING FROM PRACTICE AT 9:AM FEB 25TH FROM PHOENIX!

Paytas Homes continues to be a leader in the homebuilding industry in
Volusia and Flagler counties. Partnerships like this help strengthen the
reputation and relationships the company has in the Community and with
people such as Mike Skinner and Eddie Sharp Racing. Paytas Homes always has
been and will continue to be recognized as the most sought-after builder in
the area.

FAS LANE RACING PARTNERS WITH GAINEY SUITES IN PHOENIX

2011-02-22T10:27:00.000-05:00

Mooresville, North Carolina (February 21, 2011) – Fresh off a solid Top-15 finish in Daytona, FAS Lane Racing is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Gainey Suites Hotel for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend. The Scottsdale area hotel will be home for the FAS Lane Racing team while being featured on the No. 32 Ford driven by veteran driver Mike Skinner in the running of the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500.

“We look forward to this partnership with Gainey Suites Hotel and hosting some of their folks at the track this weekend,” stated FAS Lane Racing team owner Frank Stoddard. “We do a lot of traveling during the course of the race season and stay in a lot of hotels and it is awesome to be able to call Gainey Suites Hotel home this week for our race team. The staff has been great to work with on this program and we appreciate all of their support.”
Mike Skinner will make his debut with FAS Lane Racing in Phoenix as he climbs behind the wheel of the No. 32 Ford. The veteran NASCAR driver has over 500 starts in NASCAR’s top three series and was the 1995 Champion in the inaugural season of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Stoddard, a veteran crew chief in NASCAR, has 14 wins to his credit atop the pit box and after a solid run in Daytona looks forward to Mike Skinner climbing behind the wheel of his No. 32 Ford.

Gainey Suites Hotel is stylishly remodeled and ranked by Tripadvisor.com as the #1 Scottsdale Hotel. This all-suites boutique hotel in exclusive Gainey Ranch-Scottsdale offers spacious and well-appointed studio, one and two bedroom suite accommodations featuring the wonderful Gainey Suite Dreams Bed with plush featherbed and opulent 300 thread-count linens, marble baths and vanities and fully equipped residential style kitchens and dining areas. Relax with New LCD HDTVs, Free Wi-Fi throughout the property and work desks with ergonomic chairs, halogen lamps, and laptop size safes for your valuables. The hotel also includes a complimentary full hot breakfast buffet and evening reception with hot and cold appetizers, beer, wine, and soft drinks. For reservations call 1 800 (970) 4666 or book online at www.gaineysuiteshotel.com.

-ISM-

Brent M. Bushu
Integrity Sports Marketing
13420 Reese Blvd., West
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-947-2300
www.WinningWithIntegrity.com

Daytona Efforts

2011-02-19T16:06:00.000-05:00

Well we went to Daytona to look for potential work, see old friends, work on the Skinner Round Up and play some golf - A couple days before the truck race we got a call from Eddie Sharp to see if I would want to drive his second truck - Knowing that the truck had a good strong Triad engine in it - I said sure...we called our friends at EZGO/ Cushman and local buddy Jim Paytas Homes - They joined forces to run the truck race so I could start the 2011 season. Knowing worst case scenario I had a champions provisional in case something freaky happened in qualifying - Much to our surprise we found out because my name was not on the entry list x amount of days before the race - I could not use my champions provisional - Crazy how one little shorted out wire on a starter motor can totally flip a darn good effort into a dissapointing weekend. I do want to thank Eddie Sharp, Carl and all of their staff for the opportunity and I did agree to honor our sponsorships deal in Phoenix for them. We should know Monday if that is what ESR wants to do...we are going to PHX anyway to run Frankie Stoddards Faslane Cup car. We got good news in the making to follow. Let ya know soon - hopefully.

FIFTH ANNUAL SKINNER ROUND-UP SCHEDULED FOR MARCH

2011-02-17T09:38:00.001-05:00

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., February 15, 2011 – NASCAR driver Mike Skinner and his wife Angie are set to host the fifth-annual Toyota Skinner Round-Up presented by Rue & Ziffra, P.A., Personal Injury Attorneys on Wed., March 16 and Thurs., March 17, at Daytona Beach International Speedway (DIS) and Spruce Creek Country Club. This year, the charity event will honor former NASCAR executive Jim Hunter, who was a close friend of the Skinners and passed away last Oct.

The two-day event kicks off to the public with the ‘Hoe Down Bash’ on March 16 from 7-11 PM in the Fanzone at Daytona International Speedway. Fans coming out to the event will get to sample ‘A Taste of Daytona,’ featuring Volusia County’s finest restaurants, which is free of charge with the purchase of a Hoe Down ticket. There will once again be live and silent auctions featuring NASCAR and celebrity memorabilia, an EZGO golf cart, vacation packages and much more.

Skinner will be joined at the Hoe Down Bash by Nashville recording artist Stacy Mitchart, who will perform a live concert, along with other special musical guests, sponsored by Brighthouse Networks. Other celebrities that will be attending will be announced closer to the event.

Tickets for the ‘Hoe Down Bash’ go on sale today, Tues., Feb. 15, and can be purchased online for $10 at www.mikeskinner.com . Tickets will also be available on the night of the event at the DIS Turn 1 gate off of Williamson Avenue. Children under 12 years of age will be admitted free.

“We are very excited to host our fifth-annual Toyota Skinner Round-Up,” said Mike Skinner. “The Hoe Down Bash continues to grow each year and it is an opportunity for families in the area to come out and enjoy a fun-filled evening with great entertainment. We are also pleased to announce that fans can go online to my website this year to purchase advance sale tickets.”

The following day, celebrities and sponsors will play a round of golf in the Skinner Round-Up Golf Classic at Spruce Creek Country Club, followed by the Skinner Round-Up Poker Tournament. The fee to participate in the golf tournament is $150.00 per player with a shotgun start at 8:45 A.M. on Thurs. morning. The entry fee for the poker tournament, which begins at 2 PM, is $100.00 per player for the Texas Hold’em format with the final table of six winning prizes. Sponsorship opportunities are available for both events.

“Angie and I look forward to this event each and every year,” says Skinner. “It is a great opportunity to bring the Volusia County community together and to give back to local charitable organizations in the area.”

Over the past four years, the Skinner Round-Up has raised more than $500,000 for various Volusia County charities, including the Council on Aging, Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare, Greyhound Pets of America, Halifax Foundation and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

For more information on the Toyota Skinner Round-Up presented by Rue & Ziffra, P.A., Personal Injury Attorneys, including sponsorship opportunities for the event, visit www.MikeSkinner.com .

CONTACT:

Pam Jansen, 386-631-2489, SkinnerRoundupPR@gmail.com

Skinner will make his debut with a new team, Eddie Sharp Racing, at Daytona International Speedway!

2011-02-17T07:51:00.002-05:00

Mike Skinner will pilot the No. 45 Cushman Toyota Tundra with ESR. Skinner will join Craig Goess, driver of the No. 46 Greenville Toyota of N.C. Tundra, at ESR.

New Crew Chief: Jefferson Hodges will serve as Skinner’s crew chief at DIS. Hodges, who served as crew chief for veteran Steve Park in several NCWTS in 2010, provides years of experience in the NASCAR garages, including experience as crew chief for Kevin Conway in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and car chief for Paul Menard in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He also won the NASCAR Weekly Series National Championship with Mark McFarland.

Skinner at DIS: In eight trips to the famed 2.5-mile speedway in the NCWTS, Skinner has two top-five and three top-10 finishes. He also competed at the speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 15 times, with three top-fives, five top-10s and two pole awards. Skinner also has one NASCAR Nationwide Series start at the track.

Tundra Streak: Skinner is the lone driver to pilot a Toyota Tundra in every NCWTS event. Going into the race at DIS, Skinner has competed in 175-straight NCWTS events in a Tundra. Skinner and Toyta partnered in 2004 for the manufacturer's entry into NASCAR.

Cushman On Board: The No. 45 will have Cushman on board as sponsor. Cushman vehicles are used worldwide to transport personnel, materials and equipment at manufacturing facilities, warehouses, resorts, and other commercial and industrial facilities. Cushman brand and product lines are owned by Textron, a global multi-industry company based in Providence, R.I. Cushman is a sister brand to such powerful brands as Cessna, Bell Helicopter, E-Z-GO, Greenlee and Jacobsen. 2011 marks Cushman’s 110thanniversary.

Paytas Homes Teams Up with Skinner: The No. 45 Toyota Tundra added a new partner to the truck with Paytas Homes coming on board for the event at Daytona International Speedway. Since 1970, Paytas Homes has enjoyed an excellent reputation for New Homes Construction in some of the areas finest new communities including Daytona Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach and Palm Coast, FL. Their New Home Designs and Home Improvement concepts contain some of the latest features from listening to their customers and homeowners. By acting as New Home Designers as well as Builders, Developers and Real Estate Specialists, Paytas Homes has been allowed to coordinate the finest possible New Home Package at competitive pricing. For more information, please visit www.paytashomes.com

Skinner Roundup: Skinner and wife Angie will host the fifth-annual Toyota Skinner Round-Up presented by Rue & Ziffra Personal Injury Attorneys on Wed., March 16 and Thurs., March 17, at DIS and Spruce Creek Country Club. This year, the charity event will honor former NASCAR executive Jim Hunter, who was a close friend of the Skinners and passed away last Oct.

Getting SIRIUS: Skinner’s wife, Angie, recently became a part of the SIRIUS Speedway cast on SIRIUS XM 128. Listen live to the show every weekday from 3 – 7 p.m. ET to hear Angie.

Tune In: The NextEra Energy Resources 250 can be seen live on SPEED at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, February 18, 2011. The race can also be heard live on MRN with coverage beginning at 7:15p.m. and on SIRIUS XM Radio, channel 128.

Mike Skinner on driving at Daytona International Speedway
“I’m excited to have Cushman on board for Daytona, and I’m ready to get on the track. We are currently working on sponsorship for the rest of the season, and I really hope that we can put together something to be able to run the full NCWTS schedule. I have a great relationship with Toyota, and we have really helped each other throughout the years- good and bad. It is a win-win situation for both myself and Toyota, and through our relationship, we are able to work with people like Eddie Sharp.”
Follow ESR on Twitter | friend on Facebook |

Erin Sagester
Public Relations Manager
o. 704.489.8809
c. 919.815.2940
esagester@teamesr.com
Eddie Sharp Racing
3570 Denver Dr.
Denver, NC 28037

Mike Skinner | NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Feb. 18, 2011

Skinner Signs With Eddie Sharp Racing For Daytona Truck Race

2011-02-11T18:32:00.000-05:00

Former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Mike Skinner told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that he will compete in the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway in a #45 Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota, with sponsorship from Cushman Utility Vehicles.

Skinner parted company with Randy Moss Motorsports during the off season and has been scrambling to put together an eleventh-hour package for Daytona.

“It came together late, but it came together,” said Skinner. “We’d like to race here at Daytona and also at Phoenix, then we’ll have a little time to try and put something together for the rest of the season. I’m going to represent the Cushman Brand, and I’m excited about the relationship. Eddie hopes to run fulltime with one truck (to be driven by former ARCA standout Craig Goess), and maybe we can get something together for a second Tundra.

“Eddie Sharp’s a racer,” said Skinner. “He’ll take last $10 out of his pocket to go racing. My first choice is to continue driving a Toyota. I’m the only guy to run every race for them since they arrived in the series. I feel like I helped them get into the sport, and I’m happy to be staying with them.”

Skinner said he currently has no over-the-wall pitcrew for the race, but intends to find one. “There are lots of pit crews hanging around these garages this week, and I’m going to walk around, beg and plead and get someone to help us out. We don’t have a lot of money to spend, but I’ve got a few friends in the garage that I hope will agree to help us out.”

A Thoroughbred Racer

2011-02-03T16:25:00.000-05:00

I had a sponsor once and their motto was "start positive, stay positive" ( by the way they make good batteries too! ) - After spending last weekend at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA, with my ole buddy The Race Guy Pat Patterson, who was kind enough to let me sit in on the broadcast on Sirius NASCAR Channel 128 - I ran into a lot of ole racers I raced against and had friendships with many many years ago. After kicking around old times, it was time to get down to business and help call the race. I saw many young driver with lots of talent racing hard - knowing the likes of Rusty Wallace, MIchael Waltrip, Robert Yates and several others were there watching them for the equivilant of their Daytona short track 500. I evaluated a lot of drivers from their actions on the race track to their actions on Speed during TV interviews or after a crash/ mechanical failures, even penalties - It was not hard to separate the real thoroughbred racers from the nags that probably won't get too far in their racing careers. While the thoroughbreds often critized a situation, which some folks in our sport would post as negative, myself along with most of the media saw it as somebody who was very competitive, passionate and dissapointed in the situation - but found the grit and professionalism to plug each and every sponsor in the most postive manner. So sometimes perception is not reality...my hats off to the young racer that is passionate and not willing to settle for less than a win and be happy about it. So with thought in mind, I am driving my bus down to Daytona - to cheer on old friends and competitors...and continue my hunt to find the right ride that will accept my desire to be a thoroughbred.
peace, Mike Skinner

New "Official Mike Skinner Facebook Fan Page" on the way

2011-01-31T09:41:00.000-05:00

Jerry Matacale at DreamLightDigital.com, (our new webmaster for all things MikeSkinner.com) is in the process of setting up the new "Official Mike Skinner Facebook Fan Page". There has been a lot of confusion in the past as there are a number of pages and profiles on Facebook, supposedly representing me, most of which I have nothing to do with! LOL. This new page will be the "official" one where all others will be directed to. More information and a full Press Release will be sent out shortly.. stay tuned for details.

Skinner Confirms RMM Split, Looking For New Toyota Truck Ride

2011-01-19T09:25:00.001-05:00

After weeks of conjecture, Mike Skinner confirmed today that he will not return to the Randy Moss Motorsports Camping World Truck Series team this season. Skinner told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that his parting with RMM was amicable.

“I can’t say anything bad about David Dollar or Randy Moss,” he said. “They gave me a chance in 2009 when I didn’t have anything going. We had Cinderella season; winning three races, finishing third in points, and it was great. When (crewchief) Eric Phillips left, the chemistry just wasn’t there anymore. It was no fault of theirs, and no fault of mine. It just didn’t work out.”

The RMM/Skinner tandem slipped substantially in performance last season, finishing eighth in points with only two Top-5 finishes in 25 starts. And Skinner said that slip was attributable to chemistry. “Chemistry is real important in our sport and we just didn’t have it,” he said. “I wish (RMM) a lot of luck. They’ve got a real good operation there, and I look for them to do well in the future.”

Skinner said he is searching for a new ride, and would prefer to remain in the Toyota camp. “I’ve been with Toyota since they arrived in NASCAR,” he said. “They’ve picked me out of the dirt a couple of times, and I would like to stay with them. If I never race again, I’ll be thankful to Toyota for everything they’ve done. And if there’s any way to get back into a Toyota again, I’d like to do it.

“I’m not throwing in towel,” said the former series champion. “I have a hell of a fire in my belly right now; more than I’ve had in years. I’m not ready to hang it up yet. My phone has rung a lot (recently), but I haven’t found a situation I can win with yet. I have no desire to go out and run 12th.”

Skinner said he has spoken to teams in the Sprint Cup garage about serving as a start-and-park driver this season, and has had “a couple of truck teams” approach him, as well.

“I’ve talked to one Truck team that wins 50 percent of its races, and I could drive for them tomorrow if the money was there,” he said. “If I’ve got the bucks in my pocket, I can pick my ride. There are a lot of rich daddys out there who get their kids into good rides simply by writing a big check.

“I’ve got credentials. I don’t have to prove myself, but I need a sponsor to go with it.”

Good Morning Fans!

2011-01-19T08:59:00.000-05:00

Good Morning! Well...the new website is finally up and apparently I am supposed to blog - so I will be sending you all a note now and then! I really don't know what is going on right now, I do know that Angie and I are working diligently on finding a sponsor to get into a competitive truck. I heard an interview on Sirius Speedway yesterday from Elliott Sadler. He was talking about the difference it makes to have a race team want you and support you. I have been on both sides of the table in that scenario and I can tell you that being on the side where the team wants you and supports your racing is way more productive than the other. So...until I find that scenario I will be working on my golf game - which tremendously sucks right now! I guess its because I have that fire in my belly to race and win in the truck series. So I am in Daytona now getting my NASCAR physical, license, hard cards, etc... preparing for that ride. I thought I would have retired a few years ago, but almost winning the championship in 2007 made my desire to win another champonship to big to ignore. So my plan is to do just that before I hang my helmet up for the last time. In the meantime...I will be working on that golf game and playing with my grandboys. I will be heading back up to NC soon to continue that sponsor/team search. OH! what did ya think of my girl on Sirius Speedway this week? Peace Out, Skinner

Mike Skinner Update Blog is now live (again)!

2011-01-12T14:38:00.000-05:00

The Mike Skinner Press Release Blog has been moved to the new site and is now LIVE AGAIN!

Riding To Phoenix

2009-11-09T10:53:00.000-05:00

Hey Skinnerites! thought while Ang and I were riding down the road toward Phoenix I would take some time and update you all on the latest in our world! got 2 more to go and feel we just need a couple decent top 10 finishes to secure 3rd in points. We are working hard on next year...and hope to make some announcements public in the next 30 days...but things look good. We are headed to Tombstone today - put on our cowboy duds and hang out then head to Phoenix to play some golf. Had a good time this weekend in Texas helping out TRG start a new team - never intended to run the whole race...but it was fun to work with some guys which I worked with in the past - it was like a little family re-union of old crew members from different teams! We may try to make the Homestead race for TRG. I do want to say thank you to Kevin Buckler - he is a great owner with great intentions to grow in NASCAR...and it doesn't hurt that he makes good wine too - you know I drive for wine! ha! angie says they are working on the new website - as soon as we get our sponsors announced for 2010, then we can roll with it and get you all your site again! Thanks!!!

2009-10-12T11:26:00.000-04:00

Hey All! Just an quick update.... Got rained out in Rockingham test today... so headed to the Harley store to buy a new battery for the screaming eagle - and still ticked off that Patriots and my boss Randy Moss lost to Devner last night~!

2009-10-08T09:16:00.000-04:00

Good Morning! Just a quick update...or I guess I am supposed to say ..blog...! Enjoying some time in North Carolina while we have these few weeks off from the truck races. We are still trying to get our 2010 season figured out...so no announcements yet. I can announce that I will not be running Charlotte or any other TBR events for the rest of this season due to sponsor conflicts...but join me in wishing Tommy the best of luck with his team development. He's a good guy and we want to see him do well! Angie has had me hanging lights, pictures and whatever other job she can find around this new place we bought in Statesville...so I am ready to get back to racing! Will give you the first update when we get any more closer to a 2010 agreement and contract.

After Vegas.....

2009-09-29T10:55:00.000-04:00

Hey Skinnerites ( ok this is Angie....) Mike is in Arkansas for the Bad Boy Mowers Convention ...how appropriate! Also visiting with Bill and Gail Davis at the Chimney Rock Cattle Ranch and I am in Florida packing up more stuff to send to NC! Now...how does he always get out of the moving? There is always a test or sponsor appearance....hmmmm????? Thanks to you all for coming to Vegas - we hope you enjoyed the garage passes and sorry we could not spend more time, but one day shows are crammed full of practice, quals, and meeting after meeting. Unlike most of you who meet during the week...we get most of ours done at the track! We are trying and hoping we get to stay with RMM for 2010 and our #5 team. We are all in negotiations and sponsor hunting to make it a good effort. Mike and I are looking forward to these next few weekends off to go to the race shop in Statesville and maybe get our 2010 season signed! Heidi from the Skinnerites also came up with a GREAT idea to create a Mike Skinner Fanpage on Facebook....so I will get on that now....and you all get the fans to sign up! This can be our new discussion board too!

2009-09-16T19:15:00.000-04:00

Hey Skinner Fans! Hope you like the new website design - We are still working on getting the entire new site up and running for you again by end of season when we announce our new 2010 sponsors and partners...but thought I would give you all a quick update on this week! Randy Moss, David Dollar and myself are working hard to keep the team in tact for 2010 - we have some sponsors returning for next season and some pitches in for a few more so we can continue a fight for another championship and trips to victory lane. In the meantime, stay tuned and I will blog ( never thought I would say that! ) to keep you all informed on what me and Ang are doing at the track, off the track and on the road. The past 2 weeks have been pretty awesome and I think is a sign of what's to come with this RMM #5 bunch. Angie tried to put my 2 new trophies in the new garage in NC while we build the trophy room, but I put the trophies in the bed with me and Tundra and told Ang to sleep in the garage! NO..actually I just put them on her new foyer table on display and I think she about had a heart attack - but it's all good and they stayed there and will for a few more weeks! We are taking the same truck to NH from these past couple wins and have a really good piece for Vegas too - Thanks for hanging with us...hope to share some more victories with you all!

Pre-Race Notes and Quotes New Hampshire Motor Speedway Heluva Good® 200

2009-09-15T14:07:00.000-04:00

SKINNER AT LOUDON: Mike Skinner will be making his 198th start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) when the green flag drops for the Heluva Good® 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. Saturday afternoon. In six truck series starts at the one-mile track, Skinner has earned two top-five and two top-10 finishes. He started from the pole position in 1996 and 2007 and has five top-10 qualifying efforts. Skinner has never qualified outside the top 16. In addition, the 1995 Truck Series champion has made competed in 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races and 1 Nationwide Series race at the track.

PHILLIPS’ CHASSIS CHOICE: Crew Chief Eric Phillips and the No. 5 Randy Moss Motorsports team will utilize the same truck the team has run in the last two races. That’s bad news for the competition as Skinner has won both of those events. This particular truck is a favorite of the team and has been run at six previous races this year, including Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, The Milwaukee Mile, Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park and O’Reilly Raceway Park near Indianapolis, Iowa Speedway and Gateway International Raceway.

THE SEASON’S STATS: The No. 5 team has posted eight top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 18 events this season, including three wins, which came at Kansas Speedway in April, Iowa Speedway and Gateway International Raceway last weekend. Skinner holds down the third spot in the NCWTS driver point standings, 16 markers behind second place and 213 points out of first.

WATCH AND LISTEN: Race coverage will be televised on SPEED and heard live on select affiliates of MRN Radio and Sirius-XM NASCAR Radio Channel 128, beginning at 2:30 p.m. (ET).

SKINNER CAREER NCWTS STATS: Mike Skinner has scored 28 victories in 197 starts in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competition and has earned 88 top-five and 126 top-10 finishes since making his first start in Phoenix (and going on to win the event) in 1995. He has also earned 48 pole positions during that time, including his latest two weeks ago at Iowa Speedway.

POINT AND CLICK: Fans can continue to vote for their favorite driver for the Most Popular Driver Award through the end of October. The results of the online balloting will be announced at the NCWTS awards banquet at the end of the season. Visitwww.nascar.com for more details and to cast your vote for Mike.