Tim Viens was hoping to run the No. 03 Race Fans For Trump Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series races at Daytona International Speedway in February and again this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but circumstances outside of his control led to him heading home instead of getting a chance to race.
As a result, a visibly upset Viens who says he spent well over $12,000 to run the race on Saturday, posted a video to his personal Facebook account to vent. Unfortunately, the video settings are set to private, so it can’t be embedded, but Viens detailed what happened that led to his latest frustration.
“The truth is, I was here,” Viens said. “I did everything I was supposed to do. Secured the ride with the team, Mike Affarano Motorsports. Did everything Financially I was supposed to do. Paid for the ride. I paid for all of the hotels. I bought three sets of sticker tires today before the race, that was $6,500. I paid for a first-class pit crew that was $3,500. I paid $2,000 for the transporter to get down here. Everything I was supposed to do. I was at the track, and was ready to go. This sucks. It really sucks.”
Viens detailed the issues for the No. 03 in technical inspection.
According to Viens, the seat was mounted at too low of a position, but due to where the railing inside the truck was installed, that change could not be made at the track. He also says the No. 03 truck had the incorrect splitter installed. Viens says they could have purchased the correct splitter from someone, but with no way to get the seat correctly mounted, there was no reason.
Viens says due to the constant frustrations stemming from Affarano Motorsports, he’ll be moving to a new team going forward with his Race Fans For Trump sponsorship.
“I believe I’m going to be focusing my efforts most likely in the Xfinity Series,” Viens explained. “We’re going to be partnering with Mike Harmon Racing to do some racing. We’re going to make a decision hopefully by Tuesday, and have a Trump Pence 2020 at Talladega next weekend. We’ll make a decision whether I’m driving or Joe Nemechek will be driving.
“As far as the Truck Series right now, we’re going to have to go in a different direction if we’re going Truck racing. We can’t put all of this time, energy and effort and not make the show. I’m all the way in Miami, I’m sitting at my hotel right now and I have to drive four hours back home tomorrow morning with nothing to show for it but failure.”
An attempt to confirm that Viens will indeed be working with Mike Harmon Racing was met with, “No comment or statement at this time,” from Harmon.
If Viens does opt to remain in the Truck Series instead of moving to the Xfinity Series, sources, who spoke to TobyChristie.com’s Joseph Srigley on the condition of anonymity, state that there is at least one other Truck Series organization that is interested in fielding a truck for Viens.
Wherever Viens does take his Race Fans For Trump sponsorship remains to be seen, but one thing seems certain; it won’t be returning to the No. 03 truck.
