BRISTOL, Tenn. – For the second consecutive week in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Bolen Motorsports has been missing from action.
After turning in a top-15 performance with rookie driver Justin Fontaine in a collaborative effort with AM Racing at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway on Aug. 5, the team has sat idle.
The team did not attempt Michigan International Speedway last week nor tonight’s UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway putting their consecutive attempts on hiatus while leaving many pondering when the Jeff Bolen-owned team would return to the circuit.
Bolen Motorsports crew chief Paul Clapprood told CATCHFENCE.com Wednesday that the second-year team is hopeful to make a return in two weeks at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park with a Canadian driver, but the team is actively seeking sponsorship to continue the beat.
“We’re trying,” said Clapprood who is helping Copp Motorsports at Bristol. “Jeff (Bolen) has poured a lot of resources into the team, but you can only do so much.”
When reached by phone Wednesday, Bolen says it remains his top priority to put the No. 66 team back on the track as soon as possible, but reiterated sponsorship needs to be in place.
“We continue our search daily to find the right sponsor partners that will us to not just stay on the track, but compete at a high level,” Bolen told CATCHFENCE.com.
When asked about the upcoming regular season event at Canada, Bolen confirmed that the Silverado 250 on Sept. 3 is a possibility, but nothing is confirmed.
The team started off the year in the hole after getting collected in a Lap 1 crash at Daytona but bounced back the next two races with back-to-back top-10 finishes at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway with veteran Ross Chastain.
Chastain has driven in four other races at Kansas, Charlotte, Dover and Kentucky earning two additional top-15 finishes along the way before handing the steering wheel to a slew of drivers including former series champion Travis Kvapil, Trey Hutchens, veteran Ken Schrader and Fontaine.
Outside of Daytona and a mechanical issue at Gateway Motorsports Park with Kvapil, the team posted solid top-20 finishes in 10 of the 12 races its competed this season.
Clapprood remains hopeful that the Mooresville, N.C.-based team could also return to Martinsville in October and maybe compete in the penultimate race at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 10. He added that Chastain could return as the driver for one or both races, but nothing has been confirmed and could change between now and then.
Bolen said discussions with existing driver and partners continue, but they are also exploring placing funded drivers in their No. 66 Chevrolet.
“While our focus is on our existing driver and partner relationships, we do have opportunities for funded drivers,” added Bolen. “I’ve put a lot of effort into this team. Sometimes, you have to take a step backward in order to advance the cause.
“I look forward to the weekend when we get back on track and remain a healthy, strong organization that is not only competing for top-10s but ultimately race wins.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
