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'{{Infobox NASCAR driver |name = Mike Skinner |image = Mike Skinner 2011.jpg |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|06|28}} |birth_place = [[Susanville, California|Susanville]], [[California]], [[United States]] |achievements = 1995 [[SuperTruck Series]] Champion |awards = 1997 [[Winston Cup Series]] Rookie of the Year |Total_Cup_Races = 286 |Years_In_Cup = 22 |Cup_Car_Team = No. 98 ([[Phil Parsons Racing]]) |Prev_Cup_Pos = 53rd |Previous_Year = 2012 |Best_Cup_Pos = 10th - [[1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1999]] |First_Cup_Race = [[1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1986]] [[Sovran Bank 500]] ([[Martinsville Speedway|Martinsville]]) |Last_Cup_Race = [[2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series|2012]] [[2012 Pure Michigan 400|Pure Michigan 400]] ([[Michigan International Speedway|Michigan]]) |First_Cup_Win = |Last_Cup_Win = |Cup_Wins = 0 |Cup_Top_Tens = 39 |Cup_Poles = 6 |Total_Busch_Races = 52 |Years_In_Busch = 8 |Busch_Car_Team = |Prev_Busch_Pos = |Prev_Busch_Year = |Best_Busch_Pos = 27th - [[2001 NASCAR Busch Series|2001]] |First_Busch_Race = [[1987 NASCAR Busch Series|1987]] [[Diamond Hill Plywood 200|Country Squire 200]] ([[Darlington Raceway|Darlington]]) |Last_Busch_Race = [[2006 NASCAR Busch Series|2006]] [[Ford 300]] ([[Homestead-Miami Speedway|Homestead]]) |First_Busch_Win = [[1999 NASCAR Busch Series|1999]] [[Yellow Freight 300]] ([[Atlanta Motor Speedway|Atlanta]]) |Last_Busch_Win = |Busch_Wins = 1 |Busch_Top_Tens = 16 |Busch_Poles = 3 |Total_Truck_Races = 231 |Years_In_Truck = 14 |Truck_Car_Team = |Prev_Truck_Pos = 67th |Prev_Truck_Year = 2011 |Best_Truck_Pos = 1st – [[1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series presented by Craftsman|1995]] |First_Truck_Race = [[1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series presented by Craftsman|1995]] [[Lucas Oil 150|Copper World Classic]] ([[Phoenix International Raceway|Phoenix]]) |Last_Truck_Race = [[2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series|2012]] [[NextEra Energy Resources 250]] ([[Daytona International Speedway|Daytona]]) |First_Truck_Win = [[1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series presented by Craftsman|1995]] [[Lucas Oil 150|Copper World Classic]] ([[Phoenix International Raceway|Phoenix]]) |Last_Truck_Win = [[2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series|2009]] [[Copart 200 (Gateway)|Copart 200]] ([[Gateway International Raceway|Gateway]]) |Truck_Wins = 28 |Truck_Top_Tens = 144 |Truck_Poles = 49 |updated = August 19, 2012 }} '''Mike Skinner''' (born June 28, 1957) is an [[United States|American]] [[stock car racing|stock car]] [[racing driver]], who competes in the [[NASCAR]] [[Sprint Cup Series]] and [[Camping World Truck Series]], currently driving the No. 52 in the Sprint Cup Series for [[Hamilton Means Racing]] He is the father of former NASCAR drivers [[Jamie Skinner]] and [[Dustin Skinner]]. He was born in [[Susanville, California]]. == Early career == Skinner began racing at Susanville Speedway in the 1970s in a [[Plymouth Road Runner]] at various California dirt tracks, winning three championships. He soon moved to [[North Carolina]] and worked as a crew member for [[Rusty Wallace]] and at [[Petty Enterprises]]. In 1986, he made his NASCAR debut in the Winston Cup, now Sprint Cup, Series, driving the #19 [[Pontiac]] for the Zanworth Racing Team, and had a best finish of 22nd in three starts. The following year, he made his Busch Series debut at [[Darlington Raceway]], finishing 27th in the #0 Hunt Tire [[Oldsmobile]]. He did not compete in NASCAR again until 1990, when he drove the #13 Glidden Paints [[Buick]] for Mansion Motorsports at [[North Carolina Speedway]], finishing 35th with [[rear end]] failure. He ran four races for Dixon over the next two years, before running one race in 1993 for [[Jimmy Means]]. In 1994, Skinner began racing late models for Gene Petty, and won a local track championship. He and Petty also began racing in the [[Nationwide Series]] in the #88, winning one pole in the [[Kentucky Fried Chicken]] [[Chevrolet]], but failing to finish a race. == RCR == [[Image:MikeSkinner1997Pocono.jpg|thumb|left|1997 Cup racecar]] [[Image:Dale Earnhardt Jr car.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Mike Skinner races the #31 Chevrolet in the [[2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|2000]] [[Coca-Cola 600]].]] Skinner was selected by [[Richard Childress Racing]] to drive the #3 [[GM Goodwrench]] [[Chevrolet S-10]] for the first [[Camping World Truck Series|NASCAR SuperTruck Series]], now Camping World Truck Series, season. He won the first race in the series, and collected 7 more victories en route to winning the first championship in series history. He equaled his win total the following season, but fell to 3rd in the standings. That year, he ran 5 races for RCR in the Winston Cup Series, qualifying in the top-ten 3 times and having a best finish of 12th in the #31 Realtree car. He also filled in for teammate [[Dale Earnhardt]] when Earnhardt was recovering from injuries suffered in a wreck at Talladega, where he flipped after contact with Sterling Marlin. In the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup season, Skinner was promoted to full-time, driving the #31 with [[Lowe's]] sponsorship. He won poles at both of the season's races at [[Daytona International Speedway]], and had 3 top-ten finishes. Despite failing to qualify for 1 race and a 30th place points finish, he won the Rookie of the Year award. He had 9 top-tens his sophomore season, but finished 21st in points after being forced sit out three races due to injury. He also won a pair of exhibition races in [[Japan]] during those two seasons, when NASCAR raced in [[Asia]] for the first time since its inception. He finished no worse than 6th in the first four races of the 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, and held the points lead briefly during the early portion of the season. He had a total of 14 top-tens and ended the year a career-high 10th in points. He also returned to the Busch Series, driving the #19 Yellow Freight Systems Chevy for Emerald Performance Group. He won his only career race at Atlanta after being disqualified for a rules infraction, before NASCAR overturned its decision. Skinner had 11 top-tens in the 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, but fell to 12th in points and lost crew chief [[Larry McReynolds]]. In the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season, he had only 1 top-ten and suffered severe injuries in a wreck at [[Chicagoland Speedway]] after cutting a right-front tire and crashing head-first in Turn 1, blacking out for 30+ seconds. He was forced to miss the next 5 races. Skinner had another wreck at [[Darlington Raceway]] before that. He would return and soon after had to undergo season-ending knee surgery and [[Robby Gordon]] took over, beginning at [[Kansas Speedway]] and for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite book | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = 2001 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Yearbook | publisher = UMI Publications | year = 2001 | pages = 240 | isbn = }}</ref> Gordon had taken over before during that period of time that Skinner missed because of the accident. == 2002–present == Skinner signed on to drive the #4 [[Kodak]] Chevy for [[Morgan-McClure Motorsports]] in the 2002 NASCAR season. He only had one top-ten finish and finished 31st in points at season's end. He continued to struggle when the team switched to Pontiac in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup season, and after failing to qualify for the [[Sirius 400]], he was released. He spent the majority of the rest of season running part-time in the Truck Series for [[Billy Ballew Motorsports]] before being selected to fill in for [[Jerry Nadeau]] at [[MBV Motorsports]] . His final race of the season came at Homestead for [[Michael Waltrip Racing]]. In 2004, Skinner returned to the now-Craftsman Truck Series to drive the #42 Toyota Tundra for [[Bang! Racing]]. He was running 9th in points when conflicts between Toyota and Bang's owners caused the team to split and run the #5 Toyota Tundra for Bill Davis Racing. He won 2 poles and finished the year 11th in points with no victories. He collected 2 wins in 2005 and finished 5th in points in the Craftsman Truck Series while running a part-time Sprint Cup schedule for Davis and [[R&J Racing]]. He won only once in 2006 and fell to 10th in points, while filling in at other series at [[FitzBradshaw Racing]], [[Front Row Motorsports]], and [[CJM Racing]]. In 2007, he won five Truck races and fell short of winning the championship by 54 points. [[Image:MikeSkinner2006Truck.jpg|thumb|right|2006 truck]] Skinner's lone 2008 win came at [[Las Vegas Motor Speedway]], and he finished sixth in Truck points. He also ran a part-time schedule in Sprint Cup, filling in for [[A. J. Allmendinger]] at [[Red Bull Racing Team|Team Red Bull]] early in the 2008 Sprint Cup season. Skinner made 2 additional starts in the #84 Red Bull Car during the Chase for the Sprint Cup, as Allmendinger would not be back in the car in 2009. Skinner was also hired by [[Michael Waltrip Racing]] to drive the #00 Champion Mortgage car in the Sprint Cup Series for 3 races: Michigan, Bristol, and Auto Club Speedway. Skinner was under contract to drive for Davis through 2009, but the team was sold and ceased operations. On January 29, 2009, it was announced that Skinner would drive one of two trucks that [[Randy Moss Motorsports]] fields, the #5 Exide Tundra. Skinner attempted to qualify for the 2009 [[Daytona 500]] in the [[R3 Motorsports]] #23 [[Mahindra Tractors]] [[Chevrolet Impala]] SS, but failed to qualify due to engine trouble at the Gatorade Duels at Daytona. Skinner drove in a few Sprint Cup races in [[Tommy Baldwin Racing]]'s #36 Car in 2009. He also ran the #70 [[Chevrolet Impala SS]] for TRG Motorsports in NASCAR's top series late in the 2009 season. In the Truck Series, Skinner won three races with Eric Phillips and finished third in points to Ron Hornaday. The next season, however, would be quite different. Phillips left RMM after 2009 to be the crew chief for [[Kyle Busch Motorsports]]. Veteran Gene Nead initially replaced Phillips, but Nead left the team after Charlotte, being replaced by team engineer Stacy Johnson. Their season would only go downhill from there, with Skinner grabbing only two top 5's and a 8th place finish in points. Skinner parted ways with RMM on January 19, 2011. In 2011, Skinner attempted to qualify the #45 Toyota Tundra for Eddie Sharp Racing at Daytona, but failed to make the race on speed. Skinner was ineligible to use his past champion's provisional due to ESR entering the #45 after the entry deadline. He drove #60 Big Red Soda Toyota Camry for Germain Racing in the Sprint Cup Series and also spent a few races driving the #32 Ford Fusion for [[FAS Lane Racing]]. He also drove for Tommy Baldwin Racing in Alanta after medical issues forced [[Dave Blaney]] from the car. In 2012, Skinner drove the #8 [[Eddie Sharp Racing]] Chevrolet in the season-opening Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sirius-speedway.com/2012/02/breaking-news-skinner-returns-at.html|title=BREAKING NEWS: Skinner Returns At Daytona!|last=Moody|first=Dave|date=February 8, 2012|work=Sirius-Speedway.com|publisher=Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio|accessdate=2012-02-08}}</ref> but was involved in a crash with teammate Cale Gale and failed to finish the race. In early May, Skinner joined [[Hamilton Means Racing]] to drive the No. 52 in the Sprint Cup Series starting in the [[Bojangles Southern 500]] at [[Darlington Raceway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorracingnetwork.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2012/05/Skinner-Lands-Cup-Ride.aspx|title=Skinner Lands Cup Ride|date=May 2, 2012|publisher=Motor Racing Network|accessdate=2012-05-09}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} == External links == * {{official website|1=http://www.mikeskinner.com/}} * {{Racing-Reference driver|Mike_Skinner}} {{s-start}} {{s-sport}} {{succession box | before= None | title= [[Camping World Truck Series|NASCAR SuperTruck Series Champion]] | years= 1995 | after= [[Ron Hornaday, Jr.]] }} {{s-ach|ach}} {{succession box | before= [[Johnny Benson|Johnny Benson, Jr.]] | title= [[NASCAR Rookie of the Year|NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year]] | years= 1997 | after= [[Kenny Irwin, Jr.]] }} {{s-end}} {{Go Green Racing}} {{NASCAR Truck Series Champions}} {{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> | NAME = Skinner, Mike | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = American stock car racing driver | DATE OF BIRTH = June 28, 1957 | PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Susanville, California]], USA | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Skinner, Mike}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1957 births]] [[Category:People from Susanville, California]] [[Category:Racing drivers from California]] [[Category:NASCAR drivers]] [[Category:NASCAR Truck Series champions]] [[Category:NASCAR team owners]] [[Category:ARCA Racing Series drivers]] [[de:Mike Skinner (Rennfahrer)]] [[fr:Mike Skinner (NASCAR)]] [[pl:Mike Skinner (kierowca)]] [[sv:Mike Skinner (racerförare)]]'