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Behind the scenes as Colin prepares for Kansas
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By Mark Boyle

Editor’s note: Reporter Mark Boyle takes us behind the scenes of news stories in the area. This week, he catches up with drivers on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at the Kansas Speedway. While avoiding being run over in the garage area, Mark was able to tag along with the sport’s largest race team.

Think you’ve experienced teamwork and hard work in a chaotic working environment?

Teams on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series circuit redefine these terms. Friday was practice day, ahead of the O’Reilly 250 at the Kansas Speedway, and we had the opportunity to follow around Colin Braun in his No. 6 truck with Roush-Fenway racing.

“For me as a driver it’s fairly easy,” said Braun, a second-year NASCAR driver. “I get to get in this truck and just drive it around and it’s a lot of fun for me, but for these guys it’s long hours back at the shop getting these trucks ready.”

With just two practice sessions throughout the day, each team meticulously checks over and tests each aspect of its truck, making sure they can run the best possible race. The practices are the only chance for teams to test track and vehicle conditions.

“We had great feedback, and the truck ended up fifth right there in final practice,” said Mike Beam, the Braun team’s crew chief. “We just look at changing things like shock absorbers … trying to get the truck where it will run down the straightaway faster.”

Braun has a long history of racing but has run fewer than 40 oval races in his career. His team has a history of running well at the Kansas Speedway, and Braun picks up on that.

“We think we can compete for some wins; we’ve got a really fast truck and these guys do a great job working back at the shop making these trucks fast,” Braun said.

At the rate of speed the trucks were tearing down the front stretch, I was curious just how fast the trucks go.

“I don’t really know,” Braun said, laughing. “We all go off of stop watches and lap times … a good lap time in this last session was in the thirty-two second range.”

Drivers seem to enjoy driving at the Kansas Speedway because it’s always well-attended, and you can expect to see Braun and Roush-Fenway racing back again next season.