Circle Bar Racing heads into the second race of the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season this weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway with a new face leading the charge as veteran crew chief Gene Nead joins Series “Ironman” Rick Crawford.

Nead joins Circle Bar Racing after working for such teams as Hendrick Motorsports, Curb-Agajanian Motorsports and most recently Truck Series driver Ted Musgrave and Ultra Motorsports.  While working with Musgrave, Nead helped the team to six wins, seven poles, 26 top-five and 34 top-ten finishes in 47 starts.  With Nead at the helm, the team captured back-to-back third place point’s finishes in the chase for the Series championship.

“I have watched Rick and the guys at Circle Bar Racing the past several seasons,” said Nead.  “They have built a strong organization and I see a lot of potential as we head into 2004.  Mr. Mitchell provides the team with what it takes to win and I know this team will be in contention week in and week out.”

Nead takes over for crew chief Ray Stonkus who joined the team in the fall of 2001.  Under Stonkus the team scored a victory at the Daytona International Speedway, two poles, 33 top-five and 51 top-tens and a second place finish in the Series 2002 point’s standings.

“Replacing Ray is impossible after what he has meant to this team,” explained Crawford.  “He laid the foundation for our success and his knowledge and guidance has helped get us to this point.  When the time came for Ray to step aside I asked him to choose our next crew chief and his first choice was Gene.”

With Nead’s past successes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 2004 should prove to be rewarding for Crawford and Circle Bar Racing.

“Mr. Mitchell and Rick have built this organization into one of the Series top teams,” stated Nead.  “With their move to a new shop and the addition of some strong personnel they’ve proven their desire to win.”

Crawford share’s Nead’s enthusiasm and outlook for the upcoming season and is ready to prove the teams new leader has just what it takes to lead Circle Bar Racing to the front of the pack.

“You look at his results over the past several seasons and see why Gene was the natural choice to lead this team,” explained Crawford.  “Mr. Mitchell and I talked and Gene’s name kept rising to the top of our list.  We knew he was the man for the job and are very excited to have him as part of Circle Bar Racing in 2004.”

Nead leads the team into the Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200.  Live green flag begins on the Speed Channel Saturday, March 13th at 1:00 pm EST with radio coverage coming on MRN Affiliates at 12:30 p.m.