| 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season | |
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The 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season was the ninth season of the third highest stock car racing in the United States. The season included twenty-five races, beginning with the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at Daytona International Speedway and ending with the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Steve Coulter won the Owners' Championship, while Travis Kvapil won the Drivers' Championship during the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Dodge won the Manufacturers' Championship with 179 points.
See also: 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 2003 NASCAR Busch Series
| Team | Truck(s) | # | Driver(s) | Primary Sponsor(s) | Listed Owner(s) | Crew Chief |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Ballew Motorsports | Chevrolet Silverado | 15 | Andy Houston/Rich Bickle | Vokal Clothing | Billy Ballew | Gary Showalter |
| Bobby Hamilton Racing | Dodge Ram | 4 | Bobby Hamilton | Square D | Debbie Hamilton | Newt Moore |
| 8 | Bill Lester | Dodge Dealers | Bobby Hamilton | Danny Rollins | ||
| 18 | Chad Chaffin | Dickies | Randy Seals | |||
| Brevak Racing | Dodge Ram | 31 | Tina Gordon (R) | 3M Post It/Microtel | Shelly Brevak | Todd Meyers |
| Circle Bar Racing | Ford F-150 | 14 | Rick Crawford | Circle Bar Motel & RV Park | Tom Mitchell | Ray Stonkus |
| Green Light Racing | Chevrolet Silverado | 07 | Bobby Dotter/Johnny Chapman | Support Our Troops | Gene Christensen | Bob Dotter |
| 08 | Jody Lavender (R) | Lavender's Discount Carpets | Doug Howe | |||
| HT Motorsports | Dodge Ram | 59 | Robert Pressley | Harris Trucking/Melling Engine Parts | Jim Harris | Greg Conner |
| Jim Rosenblum Racing | Chevrolet Silverado | 28 | L. W. Miller | FDNY/Services Directory | Jim Rosenblum | Bob Rahilly |
| K Automotive Racing | Ford F-150 | 29 | Terry Cook | Power Stroke Diesel | Kay Keselowski | Rick Ren |
| Keller Motorsports | Chevrolet Silverado | 27 | Doug Keller (R) | n/a | Doug Keller | Rod Brandt |
| MLB Motorsports | Dodge Ram | 66 | Randy Renfrow/Stephen Rhodes | W.P Rose Supply | Rodney D. Smith | Tony Brandson |
| Morgan-Dollar Motorsports | Chevrolet Silverado | 46 | Dennis Setzer | Acxiom/Computer Associates | David Dollar | Danny Gill |
| Orleans Racing | Dodge Ram | 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Orleans Hotel & Casino | Michael Gaughan | Shane Wilson |
| Pro Motion Motorsports | Ford F-150 | 53 | Randy Briggs (R) | Race Shops For Rent | Mary Ward | Ken Glen |
| Roush Racing | Ford F-150 | 50 | Jon Wood | United States Navy | Jack Roush | John Monsam |
| 99 | Carl Edwards (R) | n/a | Doug Richert | |||
| SealMaster Racing | Chevrolet Silverado | 88 | Matt Crafton | Menards | Duke Thorson | Jerry Cook |
| Spears Motorsports | Chevrolet Silverado | 75 | David Starr | Spears Manufacturing | Wayne Spears | Dave McCarty |
| Team Racing | Chevrolet Silverado | 23 | Phil Bonifield/Dana White | Red Line Oil | Tom Mazucchi | Tom Mazucchi |
| 86 | T. J. Bell (R) | Special Wish Foundation | Phil Bonifield | Phil Bonifield | ||
| Troxell/MacDonald Racing | Chevrolet Silverado | 72 | Randy MacDonald | TheGoal.com | Marrill MacDonald | Cliff Button |
| 93 | Michael Dokken/Teri MacDonald (R) | LesCare Kitchens | Lonnie Troxell | |||
| Ultra Motorsports | Dodge Ram | 1 | Ted Musgrave | Mopar | Jim Smith | Gene Nead |
| 2 | Jason Leffler/Jimmy Spencer/Andy Houston | Team ASE Racing | Marlene Smith | Tim Kohuth | ||
| Victory in Jesus Racing | Ford F-150 | 21 | Morgan Shepherd | Racing With Jesus/Red Line Oil | Cindy Shepherd | Carl Saylor |
| Ware Racing Enteprises | Dodge Ram | 5 | Jerry Hill | n/a | Rick Ware | Doug Taylor |
| Xpress Motorsports | Chevrolet Silverado | 16 | Travis Kvapil | IWX Motor Freight | Steve Coulter | Chris Showalter |
The Florida Dodge Dealers 250 was held February 14 at Daytona International Speedway. Jason Leffler won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Eric Jones (#34), Geoffrey Bodine (#36), Brian Rose (#57), Ricky Sanders (#19)
The Craftsman 200 was held March 14 at Darlington Raceway. Travis Kvapil won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The Lucas Oil 250 Presented by Glidden was held March 23 at Mesa Marin Raceway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The Advance Auto Parts 250 was held April 12 at Martinsville Speedway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Conrad Burr (#87), Tina Gordon (#31), Dana White (#23), James Stephenson (#36), Randy Briggs (#53), Doug Keller (#27), Craig Wood (13), Ron Polodna (#13), Jody McCormick (#77)
The Hardee's 200 was held May 16 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Bill Lester won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Michael Dokken (#93), Phil Bonifield (#23)
The MBNA Armed Forces Family 200 was held May 30 at Dover International Speedway. Bobby Hamilton won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The O'Reilly 400K was held June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. Bobby Hamilton won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The O'Reilly 200, the 200th race run in the truck series was held June 21 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Jon Wood won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The GNC 200 was held June 28 at The Milwaukee Mile. Terry Cook won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Trevor Boys (#36), Nathal Wulff (#65), Conrad Burr (#87)
The O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 was held July 5 at Kansas Speedway. Chad Chaffin won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Doug Keller (#27), Aaron Daniel (#11), Wayne Edwards (#25), Bobby Dotter (#07)
The Built Ford Tough 225 was held July 12 at Kentucky Speedway. Jon Wood won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The Missouri-Illinois Dealers Ram Tough 200 was held July 19 at Gateway International Raceway. Travis Kvapil won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The Sears 200 was held July 26 at Michigan International Speedway. Jason Leffler won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The Power Stroke Diesel 200 was held August 1 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Terry Cook won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The Federated Auto Parts 200 was held August 8 at Nashville Superspeedway. Chad Chaffin won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The O'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline Maxlife was held August 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The Virginia Is For Lovers 200 was held September 4 at Richmond International Raceway. Travis Kvapil won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Brian Sockwell (#51)
The New Hampshire 200 was held September 13 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Jimmy Spencer won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The American Racing Wheels 200 was held September 20 at California Speedway. Brendan Gaughan won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Doug Keller (#77), Blake Mallory (#27), Ricky Sanders (#19), Aaron Daniel (#93)
The Las Vegas 350 was held September 27 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Brendan Gaughan won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: J.C. Stout (#91), Jason Small (#39), Trevor Boys (#36), Chris Horn (#58), Kelly Sutton (#02), Conrad Burr (#94), David Gilliland (#09), Rick Bogart (#70), Loni Richardson (#0), Tina Gordon (#31), Jason York (#97), David Stover (#63), Ricky Sanders (#19), Kenny Hendrick (#9), Tim Woods (#54)
The John Boy & Billy 250 was held October 4 at South Boston Speedway. Brendan Gaughan won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: none
The Silverado 350 was held October 11 at Texas Motor Speedway. Andy Houston won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Shane Wallace (#04), Loni Richardson (#0)
The Advance Auto Parts 200 was held October 18 at Martinsville Speedway. Carl Edwards won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Jerry Hill (#51), Ron Polodna (#13), Wayne Edwards (#95), Jeremy Thompson (#92), Craig Wood (#13), Scotty Sands (#47)
The Chevy Silverado 150 was held October 31 at Phoenix International Raceway. Ted Musgrave won the pole.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Nathan Wulff (#65), Tim Woods (#54), Pete Harding (#36), Tommy Pistone (#28), Stan Boyd (#5), Cory Kruseman (#98)
The Ford 200 was held November 14 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bobby Hamilton won the pole.
This race saw the possibility of any one of the series' four top drivers in the points standings. Going into the race Brendan Gaughan, who was driving for Orleans Racing at the time in the #62 Orleans Casino Dodge and had won six times during the season, was in the lead. Ted Musgrave, driving the #1 Mopar Dodge for Ultra Motorsports and with three wins to his credit that year, was second. Third place belonged to Dennis Setzer, driver of the #46 Centrix Chevrolet for Morgan-Dollar Motorsports, and fourth was held by Travis Kvapil, driver of the #16 IWX Motor Freight Chevrolet for Xpress Motorsports, the defending series championship team.
Controversy was caused, however, by potential roadblocks caused by drivers' teammates. Setzer's team did not enter a second truck in the race. Xpress was a two truck team, also fielding the #11 IWX truck for Jack Sprague. Gaughan had Scott Lynch as his teammate in the #61 truck that also carried Orleans sponsorship. In order to potentially ensure Musgrave winning the championship, Ultra entered five trucks in the race. In addition to Musgrave's truck and the team's other full-time team, the #2 Team ASE/Carquest Dodge that had been driven by Andy Houston since Ultra fired Jason Leffler earlier in the season, the team entered their part-time #7 Dodge Motorsports truck that Tyler Walker piloted. The #27 Ultra Wheels Dodge was fielded for P.J. Jones while the #10 Team ASE/Carquest Dodge was fielded for Marty Houston, brother of Andy Houston and who had been serving on his brother's pit crew as a tire changer. Jones and Houston were entered as one-time only entrants for the race, which earned a huge amount of criticism from points leader Gaughan as well as from fans and other drivers.
As the race went on, Gaughan's complaints proved to be valid. With thirty-four laps to go in the race Gaughan and Marty Houston got into an accident with the #80 of Bryan Reffner. None of the three cars was able to continue and the accident cost an angry Gaughan, who railed against Ultra's tactics after the accident, the points lead. He went on to finish in twenty-ninth place, ahead of both Houston and Reffner who finished in the next two positions.
The next contender to run into trouble was Musgrave, who was black flagged for an attempted pass on Kvapil before a restart after a caution period. Musgrave lost several positions serving his penalty while Kvapil continued to run well. Setzer struggled most of the race and his hopes for the championship were dashed. When the checkered flag came out, Kvapil was sixth, with Setzer seventh and Musgrave thirteenth. However, NASCAR held off on making the results official as they reviewed Musgrave's penalty. The black flag was upheld, and Kvapil was declared the series champion. The final margin was nine points, while Musgrave finished eighteen points behind and Gaughan forty (although it is unclear how many points Musgrave would have gained if the black flag was rescinded). Xpress Motorsports won its second consecutive Truck Series Championship as a team, as Mike Bliss had won the 2002 series championship driving the same truck Kvapil took to the championship.
Top Ten Results
Failed to qualify: Derrike Cope (#93), Jason Hedlesky (#51), Wayne Edwards (#95), Lance Hooper (#01), Dana White (#25), Jamie Aube (#23), Danny Bagwell (#81), Carl Long (#5)
Gong Show winner Carl Edwards was named Rookie of the Year, winning three races and finishing eighth in points for Roush Racing. The first runner-up was Jody Lavender, who competed in 21 of 25 races for Green Light Racing. Tina Gordon, T.J. Bell, and Doug Keller made limited attempts at the award, while Teri MacDonald drove part-time for her brother Randy MacDonald in the Truck Series.
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