By Dustin Dow
Enquirer staff writer

It does not bring with it the star-power of the Busch Series, but the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has been at Kentucky Speedway since the very beginning in 2000 and is back for a fifth time this weekend.

The CTS is the longest-running major NASCAR series at Kentucky Speedway, and will race again Saturday with The Built Ford Tough 225.

For the first time at Kentucky Speedway, a previous year's champion will return to defend his title.

Carl Edwards will come back to the track where last season he needed a win to shore up sponsorship issues for him and teammate Jon Wood.

Despite having reportedly secured the sponsorship before the start of the Kentucky race last year, the team continued to play up its financial problems, gaining even more publicity when Edwards won and Wood finished fourthEdwards went on to win the CTS Rookie of the Year Award.He was later penalized by NASCAR for using an illegal engine part during the race at Kentucky but was allowed to keep the win.

"Last year was spectacular," said Edwards, who is second in the CTS points standings. "I grew up racing at local dirt tracks and I never imagined running a race like this, much less winning one."

Kentucky Speedway continues its propensity to pay well. The $731,384 purse is the second-largest CTS purse behind Daytona. The race winner receives a minimum of $76,975.

Qualifying for The Built Ford Tough 225 begins at 6 p.m. Friday, and is followed by the Kentucky 150, an ARCA RE/MAX Series race. All qualifying tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate.

The green flag drops at 8 p.m. for Saturday's feature race. Tickets are $40-$70 and available by calling 888-652-RACE, at KentuckySpeedway.com or Tickets.com outlets at Meijer stores.

NASCAR Craftsman Built Ford Tough 225

Friday: ARCA RE/MAX Series qualifying 6 p.m.; NASCAR Craftsman Truck qualifying 8 p.m.; ARCA RE/MAX Kentucky 150

Saturday: Craftsman Truck Built Ford Tough 225, 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on race day for Friday's events. Tickets for Saturday's truck race range from $40 to $70.

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E-mail ddow@enquirer.com