Fike Happy With Start of Rookie Season

Five races into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, Aaron Fike, No. 1 Red Horse Racing Toyota, is right where he wants to be. He leads the Raybestos Rookie of the Year race by 17 points and is 11th in the standings, seven points out of 10th-place."I think everything has gone really well so far," Fike said. "My goals coming into the season were to run in the top 10 in points, win rookie of the year and I'd like to win a pole … a race win would be nice too."Fike has finished in the top 10 in consecutive races and led six laps at Kansas - the first lead he has had in 57 NASCAR races (including 52 NASCAR Busch Series starts). He also knows that he could be doing better in the standings."We should have more top 10s; we've run up front almost every race," Fike said.The Loop Data backs him up. Fike's Average Running Position is 11.925, eighth-best in the series. He is quick to give the credit to his team.

No. 1 Red Horse Racing Toyota (David M. Vaughn Photo)

"I'm just happy to be with a good team," Fike said. "Red Horse Racing is giving me a good truck every weekend. Hopefully we can just keep the momentum going. When you're running good you want to be out there racing every weekend."Despite his early success, Fike knows how tough the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is.

"This series is one of the most competitive in racing," Fike said. "You have a lot of good veterans out there and there are almost 20 different trucks that can win any week."