Randy Tolsma
Encyclopedia
Randy Tolsma is a former race car driver. Tolsma began his racing career in go-kart
s at the age of nine, before moving into sprint cars
, running as high as USAC
, where he won four track championships. He failed to qualify for the 1996 Indianapolis 500
and then shifted his focus to NASCAR
and made his first start in the Craftsman Truck Series
later that year. From then until 2002, he made 107 starts in the Truck Series. He also made 13 Busch Series
starts in 2000 and 2001.
Tolsma made his NASCAR debut in 1996
at Phoenix International Raceway
. Driving the #61 IWX Motor Freight Chevrolet Silverado
for Steve Coulter
's Xpress Motorsports
team, he started 16th but finished 29th after wrecking early in the race. Tolsma returned to the team in 1997
, running a limited schedule for Coulter. Running 15 races, he had 5 top-tens, including his first career win at Mesa Marin Raceway
, where he held off fellow rookie Stacy Compton
for the final twelve laps. Tolsma teamed with Coulter to run full-time in 1998
, grabbing his first career pole at Indianapolis Raceway Park, and had ten top-ten finishes. Late in the season, Coulter shut down his Truck team, and Tolsma split the year driving for Liberty Racing
, Phil Bonifield
, and Dominic Dobson
. He ran 26 races total and finished 14th in points.
For 1999
, Tolsma signed to drive the new #25 Supergard Motor Oil Dodge Ram
for Impact Motorsports
. He sat on the pole in the season-opening race at Homestead
and posted ten top-ten finishes throughout the course of the season, finishing eleventh in points. In 2000
, Tolsma grabbed fifteen top-tens and a win at Nashville. He finished eighth in points. He also made his Busch Series debut at Dover
, driving the #25 Lance Snacks Chevy for Team Rensi Motorsports
. He started 38th and finishing 28th.
After Impact began running into financial problems, Tolsma left to drive for Rensi's truck team. Unfortunately, their #16 was unsponsored, and despite Tolsma being in the top-ten in points, the team folded after the Power Stroke Diesel 200
. He finished out the year driving twelve races for Rensi's Busch team, his best finish an 18th at Memphis
. He was unable to keep his ride for the 2002 season, and ran one Truck race at Martinsville
, where he finished 18th. He has not raced in NASCAR since.
Go-kart
thumb|A [[Kart racing|racing kart]] at the [[Commission Internationale de Karting|CIK-FIA]] European Championship 2008A go-kart is a small four-wheeled vehicle...
s at the age of nine, before moving into sprint cars
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
, running as high as USAC
United States Automobile Club
The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500...
, where he won four track championships. He failed to qualify for the 1996 Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
and then shifted his focus to NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
and made his first start in the Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
later that year. From then until 2002, he made 107 starts in the Truck Series. He also made 13 Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
starts in 2000 and 2001.
Tolsma made his NASCAR debut in 1996
1996 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season began March 17 and ended November 3. Ron Hornaday of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. won the championship.See also: 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1996 NASCAR Busch Series- 1996 Team Chart :...
at Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
. Driving the #61 IWX Motor Freight Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
for Steve Coulter
Steve Coulter
Steve Coulter is a team owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His team, Xpress Motorsports, won the Truck Series championship in 2002 and 2003, with Mike Bliss and Travis Kvapil, respectively. He has also fielded cars in the Busch Series and part-time in the Winston Cup series part-time. He...
's Xpress Motorsports
Xpress Motorsports
Xpress Motrsports was a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. The team won the Truck Series championship in 2002 and 2003 with Mike Bliss and Travis Kvapil, respectively. The team was owned by Steve Coulter until 2004, when he sold the team to then team manager Dave Fuge, who owned the team until...
team, he started 16th but finished 29th after wrecking early in the race. Tolsma returned to the team in 1997
1997 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season began on January 19 and ended on November 19. Jack Sprague of Hendrick Motorsports won the title.See also: 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1997 NASCAR Busch Series- 1997 Team Chart :- Chevy Trucks Challenge :...
, running a limited schedule for Coulter. Running 15 races, he had 5 top-tens, including his first career win at Mesa Marin Raceway
Mesa Marin Raceway
Mesa Marin Raceway was a NASCAR affiliated oval racetrack located in Bakersfield, California from 1977 until 2005. It was leveled in the fall of 2005 after being sold to developers....
, where he held off fellow rookie Stacy Compton
Stacy Compton
Stacy Compton is a NASCAR team owner and former driver. He currently owns Turn One Racing. He is a former co-owner of Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia in the Craftsman Truck Series, and is a former racing analyst for ESPN full-time...
for the final twelve laps. Tolsma teamed with Coulter to run full-time in 1998
1998 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 1998 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season began January 18 and ended November 8. Ron Hornaday of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. won the championship.See also: 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1998 NASCAR Busch Series- 1998 Team Chart :- Chevy Trucks Challenge :...
, grabbing his first career pole at Indianapolis Raceway Park, and had ten top-ten finishes. Late in the season, Coulter shut down his Truck team, and Tolsma split the year driving for Liberty Racing
Liberty Racing
Liberty Racing was a American auto racing team co-owned by former Cleveland Cavaliers player Brad Daugherty. The team ran a single Ford in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series between 1997 and 1999...
, Phil Bonifield
Phil Bonifield
Phil Bonifield is an owner/driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Series. He fielded Team Racing for six years in the Truck Series. Bonifield began his racing career in 1973, when he began competing with BMX bicycles. Racing across the United States, he won several championships from...
, and Dominic Dobson
Dominic Dobson
Dominic Dobson is a German-born former CART and Craftsman Truck Series driver who made 7 starts in the Indianapolis 500 with a best finish of 12th in 1992, over 60 starts in the CART , with a best finish of 3rd at the Michigan 500 in 1994...
. He ran 26 races total and finished 14th in points.
For 1999
1999 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 1999 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season began March 20 and ended October 30. Jack Sprague of Hendrick Motorsports was crowned champion.See also: 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1999 NASCAR Busch Series- 1999 Team Chart :...
, Tolsma signed to drive the new #25 Supergard Motor Oil Dodge Ram
Dodge Ram
The Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck manufactured by the Chrysler Group LLC. As of late 2010, it has been sold under the Ram Trucks brand. Previously, Ram was part of the Dodge lineup of light trucks...
for Impact Motorsports
Impact Motorsports
Impact Motorsports is a former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. It was owned by David Hodson and Russell Kersh from 1997 until 2001, when it was sold to Phil Bonifield....
. He sat on the pole in the season-opening race at Homestead
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
and posted ten top-ten finishes throughout the course of the season, finishing eleventh in points. In 2000
2000 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season began February 18 and ended October 28. Greg Biffle of Roush Racing was crowned the series champion.See also: 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 2000 NASCAR Busch Series- 2000 Team Chart :- Daytona 250 :...
, Tolsma grabbed fifteen top-tens and a win at Nashville. He finished eighth in points. He also made his Busch Series debut at Dover
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
, driving the #25 Lance Snacks Chevy for Team Rensi Motorsports
Team Rensi Motorsports
Team Rensi Motorsports is a NASCAR Nationwide Series team owned by Ed Rensi, Gary Weisbaum, and formerly Sam Rensi. The team has also competed in the Winston Cup Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA racing series...
. He started 38th and finishing 28th.
After Impact began running into financial problems, Tolsma left to drive for Rensi's truck team. Unfortunately, their #16 was unsponsored, and despite Tolsma being in the top-ten in points, the team folded after the Power Stroke Diesel 200
Power Stroke Diesel 200
The AAA Insurance 200 was a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that took place at Lucas Oil Raceway in the suburb of Clermont, Indiana, located west of Indianapolis...
. He finished out the year driving twelve races for Rensi's Busch team, his best finish an 18th at Memphis
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
. He was unable to keep his ride for the 2002 season, and ran one Truck race at Martinsville
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
, where he finished 18th. He has not raced in NASCAR since.