By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SPARTA, Ky. - At 40, Walton resident Willie Green is ready to be a rookie again.

Green, a part-time ARCA RE/MAX driver for several years, and Capitol City Motor Sports President Greg Sarff announced Monday at Kentucky Speedway that Green will race at least five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races this season, including the Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky Speedway July 12.

Green has never raced at any level above ARCA and has yet to test one of the two trucks his team currently owns. Green and Sarff were at the track Monday testing their ARCA cars along with more than a dozen other ARCA drivers for The Channel 5-205 on May 10, the Kentucky Speedway season opener.

"I've never raced a truck, and I'm sure there's a learning curve," Green said. "But I don't know how the competition can be tougher than ARCA."

Sarff said the team is still waiting for a primary sponsor for the Craftsman Series. He said Green would definitely race at Kentucky, Michigan, California, Phoenix and Homestead, Fla.

They will begin testing after the ARCA race, and by then Sarff said the team, based in Columbus, should have four trucks.

"Green, who is a full-time transportation director for Covington city schools, said he would happy continuing to race ARCA, a lower division, or Craftsman.

The Craftsman Truck Series is one of the three main NASCAR racing series. It is third in stature behind the Winston Cup and Busch Series.