By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Spencer Davis will make his Camping World Truck Series debut Friday night at Dayton International Speedway.
As if the expected chaos of Daytona isn’t intimidating enough for a first-timer, a spot in a Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota may reach that max level of pressure.
“Definitely the best opportunity I’ve ever had in a racecar to date,” Davis told Kickin’ The Tires.
With a lengthy racing resume in his pocket, Davis, 19, hasn’t seen anything quite like the Truck Series. After 21 K&N Pro Series East starts (with one win in 2016) and 11 starts in the Whelen Modified Tour, Davis will race five times for one of the series’ powerhouse organizations, KBM and the No. 51 Toyota in 2018.
“Being able to have a diverse background running different cars, you take different things away,” he said. “You don’t get bad habits. You see the modified guys using the bumper a lot, you tend to see K&N guys ride a lot because of the tires. I think the diverse schedule is a good thing, it’s proven I can get into anything and run up front.
“I’m not labeled as one thing and that’s good.”
Another class of racing will be added Friday, entering one of the wildcards of the Truck Series calendar. Davis knowingly has a lot to endure in the season opener.
“You’re always going to be nervous before the first race,” he said. “This is the beginning of the make-or-break deal. If you don’t perform here, everyone will look down on you.”
Indeed, KBM has 65 wins in their Truck Series history since 2010. And Davis joins a colorful list of young talent hoping to climb the ladder to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
“There’s always going to be pressure,” he said, “but it’s how you handle it. I’m going to use this pressure to drive me, honestly. I feel I can get it done and I know the truck can get it done.”
Behind the truck is a team of experience. Leading the No. 51 crew at Daytona is crew chief Mike Hillman Jr., someone who Davis feels will offer guidance in the first race.
“His [amount] of experience is going to be really nice,” he said. “Things that I don’t know, they may play out differently since he’s been there and done that. Anything I can take away from anyone — that’s the good thing about having friends in racing.
“Any time you’re learning, it’s a good thing.”