MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Ricky Carmichael attracted a huge fan base while winning motocross race after motocross race, motocross title after motocross title.

That fan base apparently followed him to NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series, where Carmichael, who drove an 18-race schedule this season for Kevin Harvick Inc., won the fan voting for the Most Popular Driver award.

I’m among a great amount of talent out here, Carmichael said in accepting the award. I can’t say enough obviously about my fans who voted for me. Everybody in NASCAR, I just want to thank you for all the respect, especially the drivers and everybody that gave me the respect this year.

I know it’s pretty tough for another person to come into the sport who has never really done it to give them the respect. You guys were awesome to me on the track and away from the track. This is a dream come true for me. I’ve always been a competitor, just in a different form.”

The 29-year-old Carmichael seemed a little surprised by the award.

I’m nervous – I feel like a clown up here; I can’t even talk, Carmichael said on stage. It’s definitely special. I’m against some guys that have been doing this [for a long time] and have way more credentials.

“I try to be the best person I can in front of the TV and on the race track and whatever happens at the end of the day is what happens.”

By Bob Pockrass
Associate Editor – SceneDaily.com

Carmichael will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway this season-finale weekend. The rookie will see the 1.5-mile oval for the first time on Thursday evening as the trucks roll out for their first practice session in preparation for Friday night’s race. Despite his lack of experience at Homestead, Carmichael has competed at seven 1.5-mile ovals this season, with his best finish of seventh coming at Kentucky. In addition, Carmichael has started in the top-15 for each of those seven 1.5-mile oval starts.

REARVIEW MIRROR: During the 2009 season, Carmichael has competed on a part-time basis with Kevin Harvick, Inc., before joining Turner Motorsports for the first time last weekend at Phoenix. In a total of 17 races, the 29-year-old Florida resident has claimed two top-10 finishes, while completing 92.6% of the laps competed (2485 of 2685). Carmichael also has an average starting position of 13.1. Carmichael currently sits fourth in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year point standings, but the first of part-time competitors.

DID YOU KNOW: Carmichael’s best finish of 2009 came at Kentucky Speedway in July, where he claimed a seventh-place effort. Also, Carmichael has qualified third three times this season (California, Kansas, Kentucky).

LOOKING AHEAD: As the 2009 season comes to a close in Miami this weekend, Carmichael will begin looking ahead to his 2010 racing schedule. Previously announced last week, Carmichael has signed a multi-year deal and will pilot a full-time entry in the Truck Series for Turner Motorsports. In addition to gain as much seat time as possible, the GOAT will also compete in 10 ARCA RE/MAX Series races and possibly a few NASCAR Nationwide Series events for the team.

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Last week, Carmichael headed to Phoenix International Raceway for the second-to-last race of the year with a new organization, Turner Motorsports. Carmichael and the No. 31 Monster Energy Chevrolet team worked together for the first time at the one-mile oval, as the pair prepares for their full-time Truck Series schedule next season. After qualifying in the 13th position, the Clearwater, Florida native raced inside the top-20 for the majority of the 150-lap race, as the Silverado faced a lack of grip. Even though the team made adjustments, Carmichael fell one lap down to the leaders on lap 79 and finished with a respectable 18th-place finish.

STAY UP TO SPEED: The Ford 200 from Homestead-Miami Speedway will take the green flag Friday, November 20th at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. Race coverage will be televised live on SPEED, beginning at 7:30 P.M. Eastern, and heard live on select affiliates of MRN Radio and Sirius-XM NASCAR Radio Channel 128, beginning at 7:30 P.M. Eastern. In addition, NCWTS Practice can be seen on SPEED, Thursday evening at 6:30 P.M. Eastern, as well as qualifying, Friday at 5:00 P.M. Eastern.

IT’S OFFICIAL: Tuesday night on SPEED’s The Race Hub, Turner Motorsports and Carmichael announced the former professional motocross and supercross racer has joined the organization to pilot the No. 31 Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado in the final two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) events of the 2009 season. In addition, Carmichael has signed a multi-year contract and will compete full-time in the 2010 Truck Series season for the Mooresville, N.C.-based team. In an effort to gain maximum seat time, Carmichael will also participate in 10 ARCA RE/MAX Series races throughout the 2010 season.

CARMICHAEL AT PHOENIX: Friday night’s race at Phoenix International Raceway will Carmichael’s first start at the Arizona track. The Raybestos Rookie will see the one-mile tri-oval for the first time on Thursday afternoon as the NCWTS embarks on the track for their first practice session.

TOP OF THE BOX: For the final two races of the 2009 NCWTS season, Carmichael will have a familiar face on top of the pit box – crew chief John Monsam. Monsam will be calling the shots for the Clearwater, Florida native and the No. 31 Monster Energy team.

SEASON IN REVIEW: Carmichael has competed on a part-time basis with Kevin Harvick, Inc. during the 2009 season, running a total of 16 races. In these races, the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Candidate has claimed two top-10 finishes, while completing 92.1% of the laps competed (2335 of 2534). Carmichael also has an average starting position of 13.1.

DID YOU KNOW: In his most recent outing at Texas Motor Speedway, Carmichael started from the ninth position and finished in 12th-place, his fourth highest finish of the season.

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: For their NASCAR debut, Turner Motorsports returned to the state where it all began 10 years ago. In 1999, owners Steve and Sandra Turner started the newly formed NCWTS team in a shop located in Hallettsville, Texas. Veteran driver Scott Wimmer was behind the wheel of the No. 31 Wolfpack Rentals Chevrolet Silverado, which qualified in the 20th position. After making adjustments throughout the 147-lap race, Wimmer raced his way up to 13th-place as the checkered flag waved on Turner Motorsports’ NASCAR debut.

STAY UP TO SPEED: The Lucas Oil 150 from Phoenix International Raceway will take the green flag this Friday, November 13th at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. Race coverage will be televised live on SPEED, beginning at 7:30 P.M. Eastern, and heard live on select affiliates of MRN Radio and Sirius-XM NASCAR Radio Channel 128, beginning at 7:30 P.M. Eastern. In addition, NCWTS Qualifying can be seen on SPEED, Friday afternoon at 4:30 P.M. Eastern.