Turner Motorsports seeking third straight truck win

May 16, 2012 - 5:38 PM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Turner Motorsports is hoping its winning momentum in the Camping World Truck Series will continue on Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

One month ago, Kasey Kahne gave team owner Steve Turner his maiden victory in the series at Rockingham, NC. Kahne, a Sprint Cup Series regular, held off teammate James Buescher during the closing laps for the win. One week after Rockingham, Buescher won a race for the first time in his truck career at Kansas.

"What a day," Buescher said after his victory at Kansas. "We have been so close so many times, and we finally closed the deal."

With the win, Buescher moved to within four points of Timothy Peters for the lead in the championship standings.

"I feel like everything is really coming together for us," Buescher added. "We have been a contender each and every week, and if we are going to race for the championship, we have to continue to battle up front."

Buescher has finished fourth in the last two truck races at Charlotte.

Nelson Piquet Jr. and Miguel Paludo also drive for Turner this year. Piquet captured his first pole in trucks at Rockingham. He led a race-high 107 laps before a pit-road speeding penalty resulted in a seventh-place finish.

Piquet finished fourth at Kansas and moved up to fifth in points (-23). He has finished 16th and 21st in his first two truck races at Charlotte.

"This will be my third time competing here, and I'm more prepared than I have ever been," Piquet said. "The No. 30 team has been working so hard, and we've been coming so close that I have a feeling our first victory is due. I would love to get my first NCWTS win at Charlotte Motor Speedway in front of friends and family. Since relocating from Brazil to North Carolina, I now consider Charlotte my home track, and everyone wants to win on their home track."

Paludo, also a Brazilian, is currently 13th in points, with one top-10 finish (10th at Kansas). He claimed his first pole in the series in February at Daytona. Paludo finished 35th at Charlotte during his rookie season last year.

Forty-one teams are on the preliminary entry list for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200. Brad Keselowski and David Reutimann are those Sprint Cup regulars scheduled to compete in this race.

Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck. Date: Friday, May 18. Race: North Carolina Education Lottery 200. Site: Charlotte Motor Speedway. Track: 1.5-mile oval. Start time: 8 p.m. (ET). Laps: 134. Miles: 201. 2011 Winner: Kyle Busch. Television: SPEED. Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)/SIRIUS NASCAR Satellite.