Mike Skinner’s Reaction to Robby Gordon Loudon Win | Stories From Motorsports

Описание: Mike Skinner reacts to Robby Gordon’s first win at Loudon in 2001. Mike Skinner is known for his time as a competitor in NASCAR competition. Skinner, originally from California, found his way into NASCAR through some rough processes. Skinner's career in NASCAR began in 1986 when he drove at Martinsville for Zanworth Racing Team. After making sporadic starts over the next decade, Skinner was discovered by Richard Childress who brought him onto his race team for the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. Skinner performed very good right away, winning the inaugural season championship.

The 1995 championship opened the door for Mike Skinner to drive for RCR in the Cup Series. After a few Cup starts in 1996, Skinner was moved up to Cup with the #31 Lowe's Chevrolet. This would be his team for the next 5 seasons. In 1997, he won the pole for the Daytona 500, but overall struggled during the season. In 1998, he performed better, nearly winning at Watkins Glen before finishing 21st in the standings despite missing 3 races because of injury.

After a 10th-place showing in 1999, Mike Skinner almost won his first Cup Series win at Atlanta in 2000. He led with less than 20 laps to go, only to blow an engine. It allowed his RCR teammate Dale Earnhardt to win. Later that season, Skinner took the lead at Talladega with a few laps to go, only to be passed by a hard-charging Dale Earnhardt, who made an amazing drive from 18th place to 1st in only 6 laps. It was Dale Earnhardt's 76th and final NASCAR Cup Series win.

By 2001, Skinner struggled after a crew chief change. He hadn't won in 5 years, and driver and team parted ways. After a wreck in Chicago that forced Mike Skinner out for 5 races, the team replaced him with Robby Gordon. Robby would almost win at Watkins Glen before his car set on fire while making a pit stop. Robby then won at Loudon in November 2001, for the #31 team's first win. Mike Skinner signed with Morgan McClure Motorsports at year's end. After two winless seasons with MMM, Mike Skinner moved back down to the Truck Series. He drove for Morgan-Dollar Motorsports, before he signed with Bill Davis Racing and Toyota for 2005.

Mike's time with Bill Davis Racing was amongst his greatest years in racing. In 2007, Mike almost won his second Truck Series championship, dominating most of the early season, and engaging in a battle with Ron Hornaday. Although he was not able to prove it, Mike Skinner and BDR believe that Ron Hornaday and Kevin Harvick cheated to win the championship by sabotaging Mike's truck before the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The next year, Mike Skinner had a terrific year, but failed to capture the championship, which went to teammate Johnny Benson Jr.. At year's end, BDR shut down and Mike Skinner moved to Randy Moss' team. Mike continued being a contender in 2009, and won his last race at Gateway in 2009.

Before retiring from NASCAR competition in 2012, Mike continued running occasional Cup Series races. He won the pole at Richmond in the #01 US Army Chevrolet in 2003. He briefly returned to RCR for a Cup Series start at Daytona in 2004, ran a few races for Michael Waltrip Racing, and also drove for Go Green Racing a few times in 2012. He also ran a part-time season in 2011 for Germain Racing's #60 Toyota, only to have terrible results. Skinner has not raced since 2012, but enjoys his time with his motorhome and Round-Up channel.

Enjoy Mike's amazing racing journey.