Willie Allen
2007

11/20

Willie Allen Named NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year

Hollywood, FL - Nashville native Willie Allen can now add his name to the history books of NASCAR. Allen, driver of the #13 National Pork Board/Nashville Music City Chevy Silverado edged drivers Joey Clanton and Tim Sauter to become the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Allen was presented with the prestigious honor in front of NASCAR's finest on Monday night at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series banquet in Hollywood, Florida. For Allen, the trophy represents a season of hard work, perseverance and achievement of a year long goal.

"I'm very proud to be named the Raybestos Rookie of the Year," said Allen. "My team and I set this goal at the beginning of the year. For us to pull together and accomplish that goal I think says a lot about us as a team. We had some misfortune this year, but when the chips were down, my team really came through for me. I also can't praise Joey Clanton and Tim Sauter enough. Those guys gave me a great battle this year and it was an honor to race against them each week."

Allen's season was highlighted by a spectacular 6th place run at Talladega Superspeedway. The finish matched Allen's career best finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and landed him at the top of the Rookie of the Year standings, a spot that he would retain for the remainder of the season. Allen is able to put a checkmark next to his goal for the 2007 season and is already looking ahead to improve next year.

"Talladega was definitely one of the highpoints for me and ThorSport Racing this year. We had some really good runs this year that unfortunately doesn't show on paper because of some mechanical issues we had. We finished 15th in the overall points standings and I feel like that is a respectable finish for my rookie year. Next year I would like to finish Top 10 in points. Of course, Top 5 would be even better. We need to stay competitive and hopefully challenge for some wins next season. Hopefully we can learn a lot over winter testing and put ourselves in that top position next year."

It's been a long hard road for Allen. From Go-Karts to Late Models and finally to the big leagues of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Through it all, Allen knows that he could have never done it alone.

"There have been so many people that have helped me throughout my career from the first Go Kart race to the season finale at Homestead this year. Thank you to Duke and Rhonda Thorson for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream. Thank you to my team for being there for me through thick and thin. Those guys really put in some long hours this year to support me. Thanks to Dayne Pierantoni, Sam Brown and Judy Dominick at Chevy for all of their encouragement during my rookie season. Also, thanks to my sponsors this year, The National Pork Board, Nashville Music City, Lowery Plumbing and Josh Turner. The sponsors' support allows all of us in this great series to do something that we enjoy and their support is very much appreciated. I've had a blast during my first year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and I'm already looking forward to Daytona!"

11/19

Thorsport Racing Duo Honored At Nascar Craftsman Truck Series Awards Banquet

ThorSport Racing drivers Willie Allen and Matt Crafton were among those honored at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series awards banquet at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida on Monday night.

Allen won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year award, joining current Nextel Cup stars Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch among others as winners of the award.

“It’s a dream come true for me to win the Rookie of the Year award,” Allen said. “I’ve learned so much this season, and it’s been a thrill to compete against the incredible competitors in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. I’m thankful to everybody at ThorSport Racing, including my teammate Matt Crafton, for all of his help this year. Matt’s a veteran and he knows what this deal is all about, and he’s been great to me. I’m grateful to The National Pork Board, Nashville Music City and Chevrolet for all of their support this season. I’m just thrilled to be doing what I love for a living.” Allen will also be honored today along with Juan Pablo Montoya (Nextel Cup) and David Ragan (Busch) as the top rookies in each of NASCAR'S top touring series at a Raybestos luncheon at The Speedway Club in Charlotte.

Crafton finished 8th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings, and was honored as a top-10 driver for the third time in the last four years. Crafton reached double-digit top-10 finishes for the fifth consecutive year, and sixth in the last seven. He equaled his career-best finish with a 3rd place showing at Atlanta, and qualified a season-best 2nd at Martinsville and Phoenix. He has collected 76 top-10 finishes in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career.

“All in all, it was another pretty strong year for us, and I’m thankful to my guys for everything they did for me this season,” Crafton said. “We showed flashes of what we’re capable of, and did a good job of bouncing back whenever we faced adversity. I’ve said all along that I believe we’re on the right track to becoming a top-five team, and I’m excited to get to Daytona in February. I think some special things are in store for this team.”

The success of Allen and Crafton further entrenches ThorSport Racing as one of the premier teams in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The organization has competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since 1996.

11/14

Allen Enters Season Finale With 7 Point Rookie of the Year Lead

Nashville, TN - The list of former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year winners reads as a who's who of some of the best drivers in the sport today. Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch are just a few past winners who have taken home the coveted award. Willie Allen, driver of the #13 National Pork Board/Nashville Music City Chevy Silverado hopes to add his name to the history books this Friday as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series closes out the 2007 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Allen enters Homestead at the top of the Rookie of the Year standings in a tight battle with Tim Sauter and Joey Clanton. Allen leads Sauter by 7 points and Clanton by 9 points in a wild three way race for the top spot.

"I figured this battle would end up going down to the wire," said Allen. "We have the point lead right now, but we are going to have to go to Homestead and perform at our best to hold onto it. It was our goal at the beginning of the year to be competitive and keep ourselves in the race for Rookie of the Year. I've had a blast competing against Joey Clanton and Tim Sauter this year. They are great drivers on the track and great guys off the track. It would mean a lot to me to win the Rookie of the Year title. There have been several NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers who won Rookie of the Year that have moved on to compete in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. I was fortunate enough to win a Rookie title in late models and supertrucks at the Music City Motorplex in Nashville. Winning it at this level would be such a great honor."

Allen returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the second time in his career with ThorSport Racing. Allen drove a third truck entered by ThorSport in last years season finale. The performance landed Allen in his current role as a full time driver for the team. A lot will ride on Allen's performance again this year as he looks to take home the Rookie of the Year crown. Whatever the outcome, Allen is thrilled to be living his dream as a full time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver.

"I've learned so much this year and it has been great competing against everyone in the series. I am so thankful that I get to do this for a living. I hope we can have a strong finish at Homestead to close out the year. We need to make our truck work on the long runs and work up in the high groove of the track. We'll need to stay out of trouble and have a good pit strategy to be successful. Hopefully we will leave the track with the Rookie of the Year title. I'd like to thank everyone at ThorSport Racing, The National Pork Board, Nashville Music City, and Chevy for all the support they have given me during my rookie year."

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ford 200 will be broadcast LIVE on SPEED Friday, November 16th at 7:30 EST.

10/30

Allen Looks To Bounce Back From Top 20 Finish at Atlanta

Atlanta, GA - Willie Allen left the Atlanta Motor Speedway this past Saturday still in the lead for 2007 Rookie of the Year honors, but disappointed with his 20th place finish in the Easy Care Vehicle Service Contracts 200. Allen started his #13 National Pork Board/Nashville Music City Chevy Silverado in 10th with the hopes of adding another Top 10 finish to his resume. Unfortunately, Allen battled a loose race truck for 130 laps and did everything in his power just to finish inside the Top 20. Allen made several stops on pit road for track bar and air pressure adjustments, but nothing seemed to resolve the problem.

"We just couldn't get a handle on the truck all weekend long," said Allen. "I'm disappointed, but at least we got a Top 20 finish. It could have been worse than that. We were free in and free off the entire race and got it a little too tight in the center at one point. We just never could get the balance on the truck right. We'll see if we can find out what the problem was and move on to Texas."

With just three events remaining in the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, Allen leads fellow rookie competitor Tim Sauter by 7 points in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings. Allen and ThorSport will continue to press forward and work hard as they gear up to take on Texas Motor Speedway for the second time this year. Engine problems put a damper on Allen's first career run at Texas earlier this summer, but that hasn't changed the rookie's opinion of the 10 year old superspeedway track.

“I love Texas Motor Speedway and I’m really excited about going back there. Texas has a lot of speed to it and it's one of my favorite tracks. The track has more than one groove so it makes for exciting side-by-side racing. We had a tough time with our National Pork Board/Nashville Music City Chevy Silverado at Atlanta, so we'll look to bounce back at Texas. We'll keep working hard as a team and try to maintain our Rookie of the Year lead with a good finish this weekend."

10/08

Willie Allen Finishes 6th at Talladega, Claims Rookie of the Year Points Lead

Talladega, AL - Willie Allen may be a rookie, but he certainly didn't drive like one this past weekend during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. Allen scored a 6th place finish before a crowd of 80,000 at the 2.66 mile tri-oval, his best finish of the 2007 season. The results earned Allen the Raybestos Rookie of the Race Award for the third time this season. With just five races remaining, Allen now leads Tim Sauter by 4 points in a tight battle for Rookie of the Year and moves up two spots to 15th in the overall driver standings.

Allen's weekend started with a scare as the ThorSport crew prepared to roll out for qualifying on Friday. "I didn't think we were going to make it at the start of qualifying," said Allen. "I think we had a problem with the kill switch on the steering wheel and there was a wire that pulled out inside of it. The guys went and got another steering wheel to put on and we just made qualifying." Allen put the mishap behind him and qualified his #13 National Pork Board/Nashville Music City Chevy Silverado in the 16th position.

The drop of the green flag on Saturday brought the usual wild racing excitement that is expected of Talladega. Allen showed skillful driving by avoiding several incidents on the track, including a crash on Lap 74 that sent Allen through the Talladega grass. "We had a couple close calls out there. We knocked the front splitter off in the grass avoiding a crash on the front straightaway. That tightened the truck up a little bit, but it was loose prior to that. I think it actually helped us a little bit." Allen continued to battle for position by staying in the draft and running the low line of the track, a strategy that payed off by giving Allen his first Top 10 of the year.

"We had a really good truck and were able to run up front for a good portion of the race. Thanks to my crew chief Lance Hooper and all the crew for their hard work. We had good pit stops all day and David Pepper and Danny Gill did a great job of spotting for me. Thanks to my sponsors, The National Pork Board and Nashville Music City for their continued support. It feels really good to bring home a great finish for all of them."

Next up for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is Martinsville Speedway where Allen has one Top 10 in two career starts. Catch all the action Live on SPEED Saturday, October 20 at 2:30pm EST.

9/17

Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower To Sponsor Willie Allen at Las Vegas 350

Las Vegas, NV - The Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower will provide primary sponsorship of Willie Allen's #13 Chevy Silverado for the running of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Las Vegas 350 on September 22nd. Allen will be making his first start at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway as he continues his battle for 2007 Rookie of the Year honors. ThorSport Racing and The Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower are excited to partner once again for the annual Las Vegas race.

"The Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower is very happy to welcome back the ThorSport Racing team for the second year for the Las Vegas truck race," said Robin Johnson, Tour and Sales Manager for the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower. "We really enjoyed working with Matt and Kerry last year and we look forward to meeting Willie and having Matt and Willie participate in the driver autograph session on Friday night at 7 pm. We are proud to be the primary sponsor on the #13 Chevy this weekend and hope to see either Willie or Matt in Victory Lane on Saturday night. "

Allen is currently four points out of the top spot in the Rookie of the Year standings and sits 17th in the overall driver standings. The Nashville native looks forward to his first trip to Las Vegas and is excited about the partnership. "I am very happy to have the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower on board with us for the Las Vegas race, " said Allen. "They are continuing their support of ThorSport Racing for the second year in a row and I am honored to be a part of it this year. We hope to take our #13 Chevy Silverado up front and bring home a great finish."

The Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower, an American Casino and Entertainment Property, is an integrated casino/hotel/entertainment complex located at the north end of the world famous Las Vegas strip. Highlighted by the 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower, the tallest free standing observation tower in the United States, Stratosphere features 2,444 guest rooms and suites; an expansive 80,000 square foot casino offering the best odds in Las Vegas; uniquely themed restaurant, including the acclaimed Top of the World revolving restaurant at the top of the Stratosphere Tower; the Tower Shops, a vast retail and entertainment mall; the destination Big Shot, High Roller and X Scream thrill rides and the American Superstars and BITE production shows.

For more information, please call 1-800-99-TOWER or visit www.stratospherehotel.com.

9/06

Allen Finishes 12th at Gateway, Closes Points Gap in Rookie of the Year Standings

Nashville, TN - With just eight races remaining in the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, the battle for Rookie of the Year honors is beginning to heat up. Willie Allen brought his #13 National Pork Board/Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau Chevy Silverado to a 12th place finish this past weekend at Gateway International Raceway, bringing him within just 2 points of Tim Sauter for the top spot in the Rookie of the Year standings. The finish moved Allen to 17th in the overall driver standings where he also trails Sauter by 2 points.

"This years rookie race is very exciting," said Allen. "Tim Sauter is a great guy and I look forward to competing against him in every race. We just have to take it one race at a time and get the best finish we can week in and week out. We'll see what happens."

Allen qualified 10th for the Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 and ran the majority of the race in the top 15. A caution on lap 60 provided Allen the opportunity to come down pit road for tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Unfortunately, Allen was forced to return to the pits after a lugnut came loose on the left rear tire. Allen returned to the track in the 20th position and quickly worked his way back through the field. On lap 125, Allen narrowly avoided a spinning TJ Bell in an incident that could have very well ended the day early for the rookie. Allen finished the race in the Top 15 for the 4th time this season and was awarded the Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the second week in a row. Overall, Allen was pleased with his truck and what the ThorSport Racing team accomplished.

"Our truck was really good for this race. We were a little tight going in both turns, but we were able to gain a lot on the handling of the truck as the race went on. We were really good around the middle of the race, but we got run up into the wall. That messed us up a little, but the truck was starting to come back to me at the end of the race, we just ran out of time. This was a good weekend for us and we look forward to going to New Hampshire."

The 18th race of the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season takes place on Saturday, September 15th from the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, NH.

Coverage begins on SPEED at 2:30 pm EST.

8/10

ALLEN TEAMS WITH JOSH TURNER & CONVENTION/VISITORS BUREAU FOR NASHVILLE HOMECOMING

Willie Allen, No. 13 Josh Turner/Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau/National Pork Board Silverado fielded by ThorSport Racing, has a very full plate. Being the hometown NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) driver at the upcoming August 11, 2007 race at Nashville Superspeedway (NSS) has yielded a whirlwind of activity for the 27 year-old Tennessee native.

Allen's strong tie to country music will be evident with Josh Turner, one of the hottest male singers in the industry right now, signing on as his sponsor for the event. Allen and Turner met through the agency that represents the careers of both young talents. Allen, who will be making just his second start at his hometown track, will also carry the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau on his Silverado race truck.

"It's always exciting when you come back to race in your hometown," said Allen. "You always want to do well in front of your family and friends. Josh Turner and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau will be sponsors on the truck for this race. They have been big supporters of mine throughout my career. They sponsored me last year in a Busch and ARCA race. I'm really excited about having them on the truck along with the National Pork Board. I think it's a great fit for the Nashville race and I'm thankful for their sponsorship once again. It's going to be fun racing at the Nashville Superspeedway. We raced there last year in an ARCA car and had a top 5 finish. I really fell in love with the track and can't wait to get back on it."

Turner will perform a post race concert at the Nashville Superspeedway immediately following the Toyota Tundra 200. The show is being presented by Turner's tour sponsor Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

7/16

Allen Battles To Top 15 at Kentucky

Sparta, KY - Willie Allen fought his way to a 15th place finish this past Saturday at Kentucky Speedway by overcoming a weekend full of obstacles. On Friday, the ThorSport crew unloaded a brand new Chevy Silverado and began preparations for the running of the 13th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race of the season. With practice one under his belt, the Rookie of the Year candidate took to the track for the rookie practice session hoping to gain more knowledge of the Kentucky Speedway track. Unfortunately for Allen, the throttle hung on his #13 Silverado sending him into the wall. The damage forced the ThorSport team to work relentlessly to prepare the backup truck for final practice and qualifying. Allen was able to post a lap time of 31.854 during qualifying that allowed him to start in the 17th position.

At the drop of the green flag on Saturday, Allen battled a loose handling truck as he ran in the 16th position. A caution on Lap 51 allowed Allen to pit for adjustments, four tires, and fuel. However, just nine laps later, Allen was involved in a spin coming out of turn 4. Allen returned to the pits where the crew was forced to use their last set of Goodyear tires. Allen restarted in the back of the field and slowly began to work his way through the competition, running some of his fastest lap times late in the race on old tires. Under the circumstances, Allen was pleased to end the race with a Top 15 finish.

"This finish feels good after everything that happened in practice on Friday," said Allen. "We had a pretty good truck for the race. It was a little loose at the start, but we were able to make some adjustments and got it a lot better at the end. We had a few problems during the race. We spun and had to go to the back. It caused us to lose a set of tires and we had to finish the race on old tires, so it felt good to work our way back up to the top 15. I'd like to thank the crew for working very hard this weekend. I'm happy with the results we got after all that happened to us."

Allen remains 2nd in the Rookie of the Year standings while moving up one position to 19th in the overall driver standings. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads to Indianapolis for the running of the Power Stroke Diesel 200. Coverage begins on SPEED Friday, July 27th at 7:30 pm Eastern.

5/29

Allen Makes Impact at Mansfield Despite Finish

Mansfield, OH - Willie Allen had two goals going into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ohio 250. Make a statement and turn the season around for his #13 ThorSport Chevy Silverado team. Allen managed to accomplish both of these goals despite a 28th place finish that doesn't even begin to reflect his incredible run. The Rookie of the Year contender ran in the Top 10 the majority of the race, proving that he has what it takes to compete with the top guns of the series.

A rainy day in Mansfield and the uncertainty of completing all 250 laps caused many teams to change pit strategy. After three rain delays, the ThorSport crew revaluated their pit strategy and decided to go the distance on fuel without a stop. Allen took his #13 Chevy Silverado all the way up to the third position before running out of gas while the field was under caution with 38 laps remaining.

"Our pit strategy going into the race was to pit early, which I think was also everyone else's strategy," said Allen. "Once the rain began, we had to take a look at the situation and we decided to try to go the distance without a stop. We knew if everything was right on the truck, we could go all the way. We just had a few little problems that caused us to run out. We knew it could be done and we wanted to take the gamble for the win because that's what we went to the race to do. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for us."

"We had a great truck. The longer we ran the better it got. We started off a little tight, but the more air pressure we got in the tires the better it turned. We had one of the best trucks out there towards the end of the race. I think we had a great shot to win before we ran out of gas."

The impressive run gave Allen and his crew a much needed confidence boost. After being plagued with problems all season, the Mansfield performance proved to everyone that Willie Allen and ThorSport Racing are a force to be reckoned with in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

"We had a great game plan when we got to the track and everyone was really prepared. Besides winning, that's one of the best runs we could have had. It got myself and everyone on the team fired up. We know that the #13 Chevy Silverado can run up front and is going to run up front. I want to thank all the guys for working hard all week and all season. We've been through some tough situations so far this year, but everyone dug down deep this week and put a great truck together. I can't wait to carry this momentum over to the Dover race this week."

5/23

Allen and ThorSport Look for Home Field Advantage at Mansfield

Nashville, TN - Last weeks race at Lowes Motor Speedway took place right in the backyard of the majority of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams. This week however, the series heads to Ohio, the home of ThorSport Racing. Willie Allen looks forward to racing his #13 ThorSport Chevrolet at Mansfield Motorsports Park this weekend. Although Allen is a Nashville native, he hopes to have a strong showing in his team's home state. "I’ve been looking forward to the series coming to Mansfield," said Allen. "ThorSport is based in Sandusky, Ohio so it will be a very exciting atmosphere for us. There is a little added pressure for me racing in front of the crew’s friends and family, but that just makes it more exciting."

Having a home field advantage at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ohio 250 is not the only thing that excites Allen. Mansfield is a return to the bumping and banging of old school short track racing. Allen has a strong background in short tracks and looks to use that to his benefit. "I have a lot of experience racing the short tracks so it will be fun to get back to my racing roots. This is one of just three events in 2007 to be held on a track measuring less than 5/8-mile. These are always action packed races and it will be very exciting from start to finish."

A short track provided Allen his best career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series finish. The rookie accomplished a 6th place finish in his series debut at Martinsville Speedway back in 2005. "I have a little extra bit of confidence when I am racing the short tracks. We will work hard all week and hope to go out and get a solid top10 finish at Mansfield to help get the season turned around.” Allen currently sits 17th in the driver points standing and third in the battle for Raybestos Rookie of the Year.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ohio 250 is the second race of the year to be broadcast LIVE on FOX. Catch all the action May 26th beginning at 1:00 pm EST.

For more information, please visit www.willieallen.com and www.thorsport.com.

5/21

Allen Hangs On to Finish 21st at Lowes

Charlotte, NC - Willie Allen drove the wheels off his #13 National Pork Board Chevrolet this past weekend at the Quaker State and Lube 200. Unfortunately, the rookie was plagued with handling problems all day, but managed to secure a 21st place finish after starting the race 25th. Tires were a major concern for many teams at the newly paved Lowes Motor Speedway and that proved to be a challenge. "We were concerned about the hard tire Goodyear provided for Charlotte," said Allen. "We made several adjustments to the air pressure but we never got a good handle and a good balance."

Allen struggled with handling throughout practice and during the 136 lap race. "We were loose during practice and tight during the race. On long runs, we were very free at the start and got good in the middle. Near the end we became extremely tight off four. I actually scraped the wall with about 10 laps to go. We came in and made a few adjustments but it never really solved the problem. We will go back and continue to work hard to prepare for Mansfield."

As the series moves to Mansfield this week for the 7th race of the season, Allen sits 17th in the driver points standing and second in the race for Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Short track racing is Allen's specialty and he looks forward to heading to the .44 mile track. "I have a lot of experience racing the short tracks so it will be fun to get back to my racing roots."

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ohio 250 will be broadcast live May 26th on Fox beginning at 1:00 pm EST.

3/27

Willie Allen Excited About Return To Martinsville

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads to Martinsville this week and that puts a smile on the face of Willie Allen. This Saturday's running of the Kroger 250 on FOX marks the first short track race of the 2007 season and Allen's return to Martinsville Speedway. Allen's truck series debut came at the legendary 1/2-mile facility in 2005 after his involvement in a GM Racing Driver Development program. The Nashville native made a strong impression finishing sixth, an accomplishment that turned many heads in the NASCAR world. Allen carries a strong background in short track racing and looks to once again make an impact at Martinsville by putting his #13 Chevy Silverado up front.

"I am very excited about going back to Martinsville," said Allen. "My background is short track racing, so I look forward to going to all of the short tracks that we race on. I like Martinsville because it really puts the driver back in control.   As a driver you really feel that you can make a difference. One of the biggest challenges at Martinsville is making sure you have good track position. Qualifying for a good starting spot and flawless pit stops will be very critical for the race. Every race is a challenge because you are racing against some of the best drivers in the country."

Allen and the ThorSport Racing team take one advantage with them to Martinsville that they have yet to have this season. This will be the first race of 2007 that takes place at a racetrack Allen has previous experience with. Allen and the ThorSport crew have worked relentlessly preparing the truck for a good, solid run. "I think that we have a good baseline set-up to start out with. The biggest thing about being able to go back to a track that I have raced at before is knowing the feel that the truck needs going into the race. That is what we have struggled with on tracks that I haven't been to before, not knowing what the truck should feel like from practice to the start of the race. Since I have raced in a truck at Martinsville before, I have a better understanding of how to carry that over."

Allen currently sits 19th in the driver points standings and 4th in the Rookie of the Year standings, but hopes those numbers will improve after this weekend's competition. "I think that any time we go to the track our goal is to win the race. We are really focused on winning Rookie of the Year, so another goal for the race is to stay out of trouble and earn a great finish."

3/20

Allen Finishes a Respectable 13th in Atlanta

Willie Allen and ThorSport Racing are improving every time they take to the track and Atlanta proved to be no different. Allen qualified the #13 National Pork Board Chevy Silverado in the 8th position and brought home a 13th place finish. The team battled handling problems early on, but Lance Hooper and the ThorSport crew were able to make significant improvements to the truck as the race progressed.
 
"After qualifying, we knew we would have a lot of speed in the truck for the race, but we were wondering if it would get loose on a long run," said Allen. "After the first 10 or 15 laps, the truck started to get really loose and I couldn't hang onto it around traffic. We got the truck a lot better during the race. We were still off just a little at the end, but I know Lance and the guys will get it figured out by Kansas. They have been working so hard every week and we have been improving significantly week end and week out. I know it won't be long before we have a really good finish."
 
As the series heads to Martinsville, Allen is eager to return to the 1/2 mile short track that has brought him previous success. The rookie finished an amazing sixth at the track in his very first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race back in 2005. "Martinsville will be the first race this year at a track that I've been to before. I absolutely love short track racing. Hopefully we will get to test somewhere before  and  shake the truck down. I can't wait to get to Martinsville!"
 
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 250 will be broadcast live from Martinsville Speedway on FOX March 31 at 3:00 EST.

3/13

Allen Ready For Action in Atlanta
Rookie Confident Heading into Third Race if 2007

Nashville, TN - Willie Allen's first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season may not have started the way he always dreamed, but that hasn't shaken the Rookie of the Year contender's confidence as the series heads to Atlanta. After getting two races under his belt, Allen is very optimistic about his chances to take the #13 National Pork Board Chevy Silverado to a good finish at the American Commercial Lines 200.

"My confidence is very high going into Atlanta," said Allen. "I feel that we gained a ton of knowledge during the California race. We were running very competitively near the end at California. The communication is improving 'big time' each race between me and our crew chief Lance Hooper. We are communicating better with one another about the things that I am feeling inside the truck and what changes are being made to make the truck better. I am really looking forward to Atlanta."

Atlanta Motor Speedway has proven to be a favorite track among drivers over the years. The 1.54 mile quad-oval is known for carrying speed all over the track which has made for very exciting racing. Although Allen has never been behind the wheel in Atlanta for a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, the rookie has been using his time off to prepare in every possible way. "I've been watching some of the race tapes from the past several years to get a better aspect of the line around the track and how the trucks react in traffic. Also, I have been racing Atlanta online on my computer as much as I can. I think most of the drivers love the track mainly because it's a super fast multigrooved race track that you can race side-by-side on."

Chevrolet is no stranger to Atlanta Motor Speedway's Victory Lane. The manufacturer has won three of the last four Atlanta races. Allen and ThorSport hope the long hours and hard work will bring great results. "I know that all the Chevrolet teams are working very hard to make it back to victory lane and I think Atlanta will be a great track for the Silverado's to do it."

The American Commercial Lines 200 will be broadcast on SPEED March 16th at 8:30 pm EST.

For more information on Willie Allen, please visit www.willieallen.com and www.thorsport.com.

3/5

Willie Allen Hopes His Racing is a Hit

The name sounds like he should be carrying a guitar up and down Music Row in Nashville. But, the only thing Willie Allen is going to be carrying is a helmet - and hopefully some trophies one day soon.

Allen, 26, is making a Rookie of the Year bid in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this year. Driving the No. 13 ThorSport Chevrolet, this Nashville native hopes the backing he's received leading up to this point will turn into a big hit on the track.

Not the kind of hit that makes fabricators and owners groan, but the kind of hit good friends Wendell Mobley and Ted Greene are used to dealing with.

Mobley is a country songwriter who has penned hits for Rascal Flats ("I Melt") and Kenny Chesney ("How Forever Feels"). He met Allen when they were both running around the local tracks in Nashville.

During that time, Mobley kept urging Greene to check out this kid he'd been battling on the track. Well, just like a country song might go, Greene attended a race and was impressed enough to back Allen's efforts and signed him to his company, Modern Management, which also represents Sara Evans, Diamond Rio and Josh Turner.

"Ted and I teamed up in 2004 and it was probably one of the best things that have happened to my career," Allen said. "When a guy with the connections and success he has gets behind you it means a lot. We were able to put something together with ThorSport Racing for this year."

Willie Allen in the No. 13 National Pork Board/Silver Floss Chevy Silverado at Daytona. (Ronda Greer Photo)

While he might be backed by successful people, Allen has done his share on the track, as well. He finished sixth in his first Truck Series race in 2005 and backed that up with a fourth place qualifying effort in his first Busch Series race last year.

Before that, GM Racing got on board with the up and coming driver in its Driver Development program in 2005. Of the 13 drivers they auditioned, Allen was the fastest in each aspect. Greene and his company helped Chevrolet put together the pairing of country artists and NASCAR drivers for their Silverado All-Star program in 2005. In turn, Modern Management asked that Allen be involved with the developmental deal.

His prowess on the short tracks is evident in his Dodge Weekly Series points championship in 2006, two rookie of the year titles in the Late Model and Super Truck ranks and his 69 wins spread through three divisions of racing.

Now, he's paired with driver-turned-crew chief Lance Hooper at ThorSport and has a teammate in veteran driver Matt Crafton. Hooper is in his second season as a crew chief and has a RoY contender for a driver.

"I think it's good for both sides having someone like Lance," Allen said. "He's been on the track and in the truck, so he knows what I'm talking about when I tell him how the truck is running. He helps me with how to get around the tracks and which line to run.

ThorSport Racing Teamate Matt Crafton. (Ronda Greer Photo)

"Having a teammate like Matt has been very helpful. He tells me who and what to watch out for on the track. Dennis Setzer is the one guy I can go to in the garage for help and he is just awesome in the way he shares his knowledge. He's a class guy all the way."

The growing pains of a rookie were evident at California Speedway when he started 25th and didn't have much luck in the early going running 31st. But, perseverance paid off enabling them to take some knowledge from the track to use later in the season.

"We were way off in the beginning of the race because we missed the set-up in practice," Allen said. "We rode 31st for a long time. Then, when we hit on the set-up, we got back on the lead lap and seemed to pass a truck per lap at the end.

"I just wish we had 20 more laps in that race. We came a long way once we finally got back on the lead lap."

He started racing when he was 15-years old when Kristen, then girlfriend and now wife, encouraged him to get in a go-kart. It also helped that her dad owned the kart, the shop and the engine business.

From there, he just kept learning and paying attention claiming his strong point is set-ups and front end geometry. Currently living near ThorSport Racing's shop in Sandusky, Ohio is a far cry from Nashville, but worth what it takes to be successful.

Like any driver, especially a rookie, Allen has realistic goals.

"I just want to contend for a win," he says. He has the backing of Music City through Modern Management, support from Chevrolet and even gets business advice from two-time Nextel Cup Series champion Tony Stewart.

Combine all that with his proven skill, desire to win and the fact he hates losing more than anyone; it sounds like Willie Allen will be a hit. Stay tuned.

3/1

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year contender Willie Allen, and Grammy nominated multi-platinum recording artist Josh Turner visit backstage at the world famous Ryman Auditorium during a recent Grand Ole Opry show. Allen and Turner are both managed by Modern Management in Nashville.

2/28

Tough Day For Allen In California

The day didn't quite start off as planned for Willie Allen and the ThorSport crew as they began to prepare the #13 Chevrolet Silverado for the running of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series San Bernardino County 200. During a routine check of the truck on Friday morning, metal shavings were discovered in the oil forcing the crew to change engines before qualifying. "We're not exactly sure what happened," said Allen. "I felt a vibration late in the practice on Thursday. We really didn't think it was the motor, but when the crew started preparing the truck for qualifying, they noticed lots of metal in the oil filter."

Allen qualified in the 25th position and fought extremely loose handling problems early on in the race, making it difficult for the rookie to gain spots. "Our truck was so loose at the start of the race. It was probably one of the loosest vehicles I have ever driven. It was a struggle just to keep from wrecking it in the corners." As the race went on however, Allen and crew chief Lance Hooper were able to get a better idea of what was going on with the #13 Chevy Silverado. After making adjustments on each stop, the crew was able to make major improvements to the handling of the truck. "Our Chevy Silverado was a totally different truck at the end of the race. Lance and the guys made it better every time we came into the pits. I just wish we would have had more laps at the end."

Allen was able to bring home a 22nd place finish and move into second place in the 2007 Rookie of the Year standings. "My very first goal was to finish the race. We were really shooting for a top ten, but with all the early problems, finishing where we did seemed like a big accomplishment." Allen and the ThorSport crew will regroup as the NASCAR Craftsmen Truck Series heads to Atlanta for the American Commercial Lines 200 on Friday, March 16.
Jack Furr
Modern Management
www.modmgmt.com

2/13

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CONTENDER LOOKS TO SUCCESSFUL START AT DAYTONA

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener February 16th marks a new beginning for Nashville native Willie Allen. The Chevy Silverado HD 250 from Daytona International Speedway will be Allen's first truck start at the famed 2.5 mile tri-oval and his debut as full time driver of the No. 13 National Pork Board Chevy Silverado for ThorSport Racing. "I am so excited to be with the No. 13 National Pork Board Chevy Silverado team," said Allen. "It's almost overwhelming how hard Lance Hooper and the guys have been working to prepare our truck for the upcoming season. They are so passionate about winning and being competitive. I am very proud to be a part of this organization and can't wait to get started with them at Daytona."

Daytona will be Allen's 4th career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start since his 2005 debut at Martinsville Speedway where he landed a strong 6th place finish. The January testing sessions gave Allen a little taste of the challenges Daytona presents and proved to be a great learning experience for the rookie driver. "Learning how the truck reacts in the draft was probably one of the most beneficial things that I learned from the test. Another major benefit from winter testing was getting the chance to bond and form a relationship with the guys from ThorSport. I think we hit it off great and I believe we will have a very successful year together."

Allen is among the ten contenders vying for this years Rookie of the Year crown, an achievement Allen has his sights set on. "The Rookie of the Year title is something I am going to work hard to try and accomplish this year. I also want to be competitive week in and week out and earn the respect of the veterans. As for Daytona, I hope to avoid the 'big one', be there at the end, and try to put myself in place for a good finish."

Silver Floss Sauerkraut will join the National Pork Board as a sponsor of Allen's No. 13 Chevy Silverado for Daytona. "I really want to thank the National Pork Board and Silver Floss Sauerkraut for their support. Without sponsors, it would be nearly impossible for us to do what we do. I am extremely grateful to them and hope to put our truck up front this weekend."

12/29

THORSPORT RACING TABS WILLIE ALLEN TO DRIVE NO.13

Willie Allen has joined ThorSport Racing as driver of the No. 13 Chevrolet Silverado in ‘07, the organization announced on Thursday.

Allen, 26, hails from Nashville, Tennessee, near the same fertile racing ground that produced such stock-car racing notables as Coo Coo and Sterling Martin, Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Hamilton. Allen was named one of NASCAR’S hottest prospects in ’06 by several stock-car racing publications, and his performance last season further showcased the youngster’s enormous potential.

Allen won the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Championship at the Music City Motorplex in Nashville, and finished 8th nationally in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division IV standings. He finished a strong sixth in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Martinsville in ’05, and qualified 4th in his first NASCAR Busch Series start at Memphis last fall, proof of Allen’s ability to compete with NASCAR’S elite.

“It’s a dream come true for me to have an opportunity to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and I’m excited to join the ThorSport Racing team,” said Allen. “It’s a super competitive series, with a great mix of veterans and rookies. I think it’s the best racing out there right now, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

For Allen, a fulltime ride in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is the realization of a lifelong dream, and the fruit of countless hours invested by Allen and a host of supporters along the way. "There have been many people who have helped me along the path, from Go-Karts to Late Models, and I'm so thankful for that," Allen said. "To reach this level is almost unbelievable to me. You’ve got to keep believing in yourself, and make the most of the opportunity when it comes. I’m confident that I can get the job done, and I’m looking forward to proving myself in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. I can’t wait to get started.”