by Lee Spencer

Around the track

Follow the action:

• Michigan schedule
• Michigan practices

Watch:

• Video Central

Picture perfect:

• Action at Watkins Glen

Read all about it:

• Dale Jr: Changes needed in NASCAR
• Vickers edges Martin for Cup pole

Analysis:

• White: Chasers feel the heat
• Spencer: Drivers to watch at Michigan

The 1995 Camping World Truck Series champion will run 17 of the remaining races 25 for TBR. Patrick Carpentier, who drove for Gillett Evernham Motorsports last season, will run the non-companion events (both events at Pocono Raceway, the spring New Hampshire race, and the fall races at Dover and Richmond). Brian Simo, who had already been contracted before the driver switch, will compete on the road courses.

Scott Riggs started the season with TBR. He qualified for eight of the first 12 races this year and is currently 42nd in the standings. Riggs qualified for the Daytona 500 and finished 25th — his best performance of the season. He's failed to qualify for four of the 11 races run this season.

"I enjoyed my time working with Tommy," Riggs said. "I just think it was time for both of us to make a change. We mutually agreed it was time for someone else to jump behind the wheel of the race car. I wish Tommy the best of luck."

Skinner, 51, who is currently second in points driving the No. 5 truck for Randy Moss, made his NASCAR Cup debut in 1997 driving the second car for Richard Childress Racing. His best effort came in 1999 when Skinner finished 10th in the point standings. He ran seven seasons before returning to the truck series in 2004.

The journeyman racer has excelled in previous fill-in roles, offering struggling teams a solid baseline to bring cars up to speed.

"It's cool," Skinner said. "But I'm more excited about the opportunity to help Tommy. We go back a long time together and hopefully I can help him until he finds a more permanent solution.

"Tommy deserves a chance to be an owner. It's a short term fix for a long-term results. But my first concern is the No. 5 truck."

Carpentier ran 24 races in the No. 10 Dodge last year and finished 38th in points. His best NASCAR finish was second in the Montreal Nationwide Series race last year.