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NASCAR Trucks: Randy Tolsma; What a Difference a Year Makes

25 June 1998

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 24, 1998) - Randy Tolsma, driver of the No. 61 IWX Motor Freight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chevrolet, is enjoying a change of fortune this season when comparing it to a year ago. The completion of the first third of the season allows the chance to look back and see the dramatic changes that have occurred for Tolsma and the Steve Coulter-owned Xpress Motorsports Team.

Here are results of the races completed this year compared to the 1997 result: 

Randy Tolsma 1997/1998 Race Results Comparison
Race                    1997    1998
Orlando                 DNQ     20th
Homestead               DNQ     37th*(1)
Phoenix                 DNQ     10th
Portland                DNA     2nd
Monroe                  26th    3rd
Odessa                  DNQ     17th
Watkins Glen            32nd    9th
Texas                   8th     25th*(2)
Bristol                 DNA     5th

Points Position         32nd    7th
(Entering Milwaukee race)

DNQ - Did Not Qualify   DNA - Did Not Attempt

*1 - Accident while racing in fourth position  *2 - Engine failed while
leading

Note:  Some of last year's races were at a different time on the schedule.

"This is a very tough business," said Tolsma. "While there are so many variables in racing, the reason for our success is pretty simple. We just have better people working on the trucks.

"When we hired Dave Fuge as crew chief (May 1997) we gained the leadership necessary to build a strong team," he continued. "We have better people, better trucks and just a much better approach to racing. Dave has also been very helpful to me as a driver. The work that he and the guys have done is the reason we've been so strong this season. It's great to talk about it, but the results pretty much speak for themselves."

Tolsma is carrying this momentum into the series next event, the DieHard 200 at The Milwaukee Mile on July 4. This will be his fourth race at the historic one-mile oval.

"I raced there twice in 1993 in open-wheel racing," said the 32 year-old driver from Meridian, Idaho. "I love racing there and did well finishing 3rd in a USAC midget and 4th in a silver crown car. Last year in the truck race we were in an accident and had a disappointing 31st-place finish.

"I love that flat one-mile track," he continued. "We ran well a Phoenix earlier this year, finishing tenth with a serious miss in the engine. Our truck was awesome there and I can't wait to get to Milwaukee and show how strong we were."

The DieHard 200 will get the green flag on Saturday, July 4 at 12:30 p.m. CDT. Qualifying is on Friday, July 3 at 2:30 p.m. CBS Sports carries the race with live television coverage. The NASCAR Truck Network, a division of Motor Racing Network, has live radio coverage.

IWX Motor Freight is a Springfield, Mo. based trucking firm having a fleet of 400 trucks. IWX serves 48 states and annually the trucks will log more than 98 million miles.