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TrackSideLive!
| EasyCare 200
Atlanta Motor Speedway | October 27 - 28, 2006
TrackSideLive! Presented by
Team ASE with TrackSide Editor Charles Krall...
Exclusive online coverage - from start to
finish - of the tough trucks and even tougher drivers of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
including Practice Times, Notes, Quotes, Photos, Audio interviews and more!
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Good Morning from Soggy Atlanta
10-27-2006 9:52 am
Good morning everyone. We wish we could report a better weather forecast for today, but it's cool, rainy, and there's not much going on here on track other than watching raindrops fall. That does NOT mean we are just sitting around watching the rain fall. We will still be scouring the garage for news and notes, images, and of course, driver interviews leading up to the race for the series championship, and of course the little matter of the Easy Care 200 slated for tomorrow night. So even though it's raining here at the track, stick around for all of the happenings here at AMS.
AMS Track Facts
10-27-2006 9:59 am
Atlanta Motor Speedway was reconfigured from a 1.522-mile true oval (think Homestead) to its current 1.54-mile qual oval configuration in 1997. The first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event was run here in March 2004.
The banking in the four corners is a steep 24 degrees, while the straightaways are tilted at 5 degrees. The frontstretch is 2,323 feet long, and the backstretch (which is straight) is considerably shorter at 1,800 feet.
On the 1.54-mile track, 130 laps equates to 200.2 miles.
AMS Track Records
10-27-2006 10:10 am
Qualifying: Rick Crawford, 30.339 seconds/182.735 mph, March 2005
Race (200 miles): Ron Hornaday, 1 hr, 27 minutes, 35 seconds/142.424 mph, March 2005
Fall Race Records:
Qualifying: Mike Skinner, 182.591 mph, October 2005
Race: Kyle Busch, 132.999 mph
Misc. AMS Track Records
10-27-2006 10:13 am
Wins: 1, four drivers (Bobby Hamilton, Ron Hornaday, Kyle Busch, Todd Bodine)
Poles: 1, four drivers (David Reutimann, Rick Crawford, Mike Skinner, Todd Bodine)
Top-5s: 2, two drivers (Bobby Hamilton, Bobby Labonte)
Top-10s: 3, Bobby Hamilton
Lead changes: 18, 10/05
Lead drivers: 9, 3/05
Fewest lead drivers: 2, 3/06
Most Cautions: 5, 10/05
Fewest cautions: 4, three times
Most caution laps: 21, 3/04
Fewest caution laps:18, 10/05
Most lead lap finishers: 23, 3/05
Fewest lead lap finishers: 13, 3/04
Most running at finish: 31, 10/05
Fewest running at finish: 29, 3/04
Most laps led by a race winner: 54, Bobby Hamilton, 3/04
Fewest laps led by a race winner: 19, Ron Hornaday, 3/04
Most wins by a manufacturer: 2, Chevrolet
Closest margin of victory: 0.008 seconds, 3/05
Largest margin of victory: 0.582 seconds, 10/05
Trophy Unveiled Shortly...
10-27-2006 10:26 am
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship trophy will be publicly unveiled at the top of the hour in a press conference with the two championship contenders, Todd Bodine and Johnny Benson. TruckSeries.com will be there and have a complete report following the press conference.
UPDATE: The weather has even thrown the press conference schedule to the wind. The NCTS championship preview press conference has been delayed to allow the Cup Chase contenders to come inside and do their interviews inside rather than out at their transporters. We will update the rescheduled time as soon as it's determined.
Headed to Garage...
10-27-2006 10:56 am
With the delay in the press conference, we are going to pack up the cameras and the microphones and head to the NCTS garage area to get some images and some driver audio. We will return shortly...
Weather Update
10-27-2006 12:55 pm
We're still socked in by rain here at AMS, but we have some great audio for your listening pleasure. Meanwhile, the rain still falls and the forecast doesn't loom good for the immediate future. The rain continues back through Alabama, and while it looks better for tomorrow, today's weather should be much of the same. Stick with us for much more...
Championship Contenders Meet the Media
10-27-2006 1:03 pm
The two NCTS championship contdenders, Todd Bodine and Johnny Benson, met the media here at Atlanta Motor Speedway and TruckSeries.com was there.
Todd Bodine talks about a range of topics, including how much a NASCAR championship would mean to the Bodine family.
Johnny Benson talks about the season he's had and how previous championship experience can help him as he tries to chase down Bodine for the title.
Click on the link to the right of the page in the Sights and Sounds box.
David Ragan Audio
10-27-2006 1:16 pm
David Ragan talks about racing in front of the home crowd, and also talks frankly about the criticism he received last week at Martinsville and the unique plan he has to answer some of those critics. Again, click on each driver's name in the Sights and Sounds box to the right side of the page to listen.
TruckShots!
10-27-2006 1:22 pm
TruckShots! are also ready to go up, so look to the Sights and Sounds box and click on the link to see what's goping on in a soggy garage area here at AMS.
What to Do?
10-27-2006 1:57 pm
What do you do when you have nothing to do at the racetrack? If you're Erik Darnell, you find a place to go watch more creatures swimming in deep water. Darnell headed off to the Georgia Aquarium after consulting the radar. "It's going to be wet here all day. If we get any track action it will be Cup cars. If I need to I can get back, but until then we're outta here."
While it has not been formally announced to the teams or the media, NASCAR is considering closing the Truck Series garage for the day early and opening back up early tomorrow. Teams would then get 90 minutes of practice in the morning, qualify at 1 as scheduled, and race at 5 as scheduled. We will officially update the schedule after it is released by NASCAR.
HT Motorsports Promotes Goodwill Industries
10-27-2006 2:09 pm
The No. 59 HT Motorsports Toyota is carrying the colors of Goodwill Industries here this weekend. Owner Jim Harris is excited to promote the organization. "It's a big deal for us," he stated. "They help so many people throughout the year, and we wanted to get them some publicity leading into the holiday season."
Goodwill places someone into a job every 57 seconds of every business day. Last year, nearly one million people - more than 846,000 people - across America benefited from Goodwill's job-training and career programs.
http://www.goodwill.org
Rambo Out; Barry In at Orleans
10-27-2006 2:24 pm
Tony "Rambo" Liberati and Orleans Racing have gone their separate ways, effective here at Atlanta. Brian Barry, truck chief on the No. 77 Dodge, has assumed the role of crew chief. Liberati is here this weekend, seen walking the garage area during today's seemingly endless rain.
Tentative Saturday Schedule
10-27-2006 2:26 pm
If we in fact do get weathered out here this afternoon, here is what the schedule for the NCTS may look like tomorrow:
9 am - 10:30 am ET: NCTS Practice (full field)
1 pm ET: NCTS Bud Pole Qualifying (2 laps, all positions)
3 pm ET: Crown Royal IROC Finale (65 laps, 100 miles)
5 pm ET: NCTS Easy Care Vehicle Service Contracts 200 (130 laps, 200 miles)
Ragan Spends Some Money with SCC
10-27-2006 2:34 pm
Every year at Atlanta there is a Speedway Children's Charities auction. This year, one of the items up for bid was a ride around the speedway during driver introductions with the Cup drivers. Most drivers were raising between $800-$1,200, with some of the marquee names bringing in more. Everyone was shocked that Tony Stewart raised over $5,600 once the gavel went down. When the auctioneer pointed to the winner and said "Sold!" he pointed directly to David Ragan.
"The money goes to a good cause, and it will give me a chance to talk to Tony and explain a little my side of things," Ragan said. "He was one of my harshest critics, and I definitely wanted a chance to talk to him."
Atlanta Weather
10-27-2006 2:45 pm
Garage Closed, See You in the Morning
10-27-2006 2:46 pm
NASCAR has called it a day here at AMS; the rain has showed no signs of stopping and rather than wait in misery we are going to come back loaded for bear tomorrow morning. Here is the tentative schedule:
9-10:20 am ET: NCTS Practice
1:15 pm ET: NCTS Bud Pole Qualifying
5 pm ET: NCTS Easy Care Vehicle Service Contracts 200
We appreciate you hanging out with us on a rainy day here this afternoon. The weather is supposed to be much better tomorrow, dry and windy, and we'll have an action packed day. We'll cover each moment of it right here at TrackSideLive! Thanks for being with us today, see you from a dryer AMS tomorrow morning! Good night everyone.
Good Morning from AMS
10-28-2006 8:16 am
Good morning from a much dryer albeit slightly chilly Atlanta Motor Speedway. The rain has moved out, and there is a thin layer of clouds overhead, but the track is dry and we should be on time for a 9 am ET start for NCTS practice. The winds are blustery today, with sustained winds at about 20 mph and gusts at 30+ mph, which should give the drivers a little grief as they make their way around the speedway this morning. We should warm up to near 60 degrees by this afternoon, but we are looking at a cool and cloudy day here at the track. We'll have all the news and notes from NCTS practice right here on TrackSideLive! starting at the top of the hour, and we'll follow that with Live! Bud Pole Qualifying at 1:15 pm ET. Stick with us!
AMS Best Finishes
10-28-2006 8:21 am
Here is each driver entered here this weekend and his or her best previous finish in a fall race at Atlanta Motor Speedway:
Todd Bodine, 2nd
Johnny Benson, 3rd
Jack Sprague, 4th
David Starr, 11th
Mike Skinner, 12th
Dennis Setzer, 13th
Ted Musgrave, 14th
Brendan Gaughan, 15th
Terry Cook, 16th
Bill Lester, 19th
Matt Crafton, 22nd
Rick Crawford, 32nd
David Reutimann, 33rd
Mike Bliss, 36th
Here are the drivers entered here this weekend and their best overall finish at Atlanta:
Bodine, 1st
Hornaday, 1st
Martin, 2nd
Benson, 3rd
Reutimann, 3rd
Musgrave, 4th
Setzer, 4th
Sprague, 4th
Crafton, 5th
Starr, 5th
Bliss, 7th
Chaffin, 7th
Darnell, 8th
Cook, 9th
Crawford, 10th
Gaughan, 13th
Lester, 15th
Almirola, 18th
Hamilton, Jr., 19th
Ragan, 22nd
East, 23rd
Crocker, 26th
McCumbee, 27th
Richardson, 30th
Lagasse, Jr., 31st
Earnhardt, 34th
Here are the drivers making their first NCTS Atlanta start:
A.J. Allmendinger, Marcos Ambrose, Kelly Bires, Derrike Cope, Damon Lusk, Jeremy Mayfield, John Mickel, Chase Miller, Joe Nemechek
AMS Races Summary
10-28-2006 8:36 am
There have been four previous NCTS races here at AMS. The average starting position of the winner is an even 9.0, with the pole starter winning once (this spring when Todd Bodine won). The deepest anyone has come to win was 18th (Ron Hornaday, 3/05).
There are an average of 18 lead lap finishers. The most was 23 in 3/05. The fewest was 13 in 3/04.
The average number of times the lead changes hands 13.5 times per race. The most lead changes in a race was 18 times in 10/05. The fewest was 11 in 3/04.
There are an average of 5.75 lead drivers per race. The most was in 3/05 when 9 drivers swapped the lead. The fewest was in 3/06 when just two drivers swapped the lead.
The caution waves an average of 4.25 times per race. The most was five cautions in 10/05. The other three races each had four cautions.
There are an average of 21.5 laps of caution. The most was 26 laps of caution 26 in 3/04 (mostly due to the heavy backstretch crash involving Tina Gordon, Rick Crawford, and Hank Parker, Jr.). The fewest was 18 laps of caution in 10/05.
The cumulative average speed is 133.121 mph.
Practice Underway
10-28-2006 9:06 am
The track is open for practice, and with just an hour and 20 minutes to get it done the NCTS teams are already hard at work. Just 5 minutes into the session, all 36 trucks have made their way to the track. With the cool temps, everyone has made a few extra slow laps to get some heat in the tires before blasting off on a hot lap. We will have all the action as it happens throughout practice so stay with us.
Cope Brushes Wall, Red Out
10-28-2006 9:10 am
Derrike Cope has brushed the turn four wall on his first hot lap of the morning, bringing out the red flag early in the session. Cope drove the truck back to the garage, but the Key Motorsports crew will have some work to do before Cope can get back out on track. We should be green shortly.
Practice Rundown 1
10-28-2006 9:14 am
Here is the rundown as of the red flag, 12 minutes into the session:
1. Skinner, 182.970
2. Reutimann 182.278
3. Martin 182.003
4. Hamilton, Jr. 181.034
5. Musgrave 181.011
6. Bliss 180.636
7. Earnhardt 180.269
8. Allmendinger 180.029
9. Ragan 179.924
10. Darnell 179.528
11. Nemechek 179.388
12. Almirola 179.325
13. McCumbee 178.989
14. Cook 178.574
15. Mayfield 178.407
16. Starr 178.338
17. Chaffin 177.835
18. East 177.397
19. Bodine 177.074
20. Setzer 177.011
21. Gaughan 177.000
22. Miller, 176.983
23. Hornaday 175.382
24. Lester 173.886
25. Mickel 173.608
26. Ambrose 173.228
27. Sprague 173.180
28. Lusk 172.597
29. Richardson 171.758
30. Bires 171.143
31. Crocker 170.879
32. Crafton 168.306
33. Lagasse, Jr. 165.138
34. Benson 162.757
35. Cope 153.701
36. Crawford, No Speed
Practice Rundown 2
10-28-2006 9:39 am
1. Skinner 182.970
2. Reutimann 182.278
3. Martin 182.003
4. Musgrave 181.550
5. Hamilton 181.171
6. Bodine 180.978
7. Bliss 180.686
8. Cook 180.510
9. Earnhardt 180.269
10. Allmendinger 180.029
11. Ragan 179.924
12. Darnell 179.528
13. Nemechek 179.458
14. Almirola 179.325
15. Lester 179.029
16. McCumbee 178.989
17. Chaffin 178.954
18. Ambrose 178.948
19. Crawford 178.839
20. Miller 178.810
21. East 178.729
22. Crocker 178.706
23. Bired 178.510
24. Mayfield 178.407
25. Starr 178.338
26. Crafton 177.926
27. Gaughan 177.323
28. Sprague 177.051
29. Setzer 177.011
30. Mickel 175.599
31. Hornaday 175.382
32. Lagasse, Jr. 175.127
33. Lusk 172.597
34. Richardson 171.758
35. Benson 168.603
36. Cope 153.701
Practice Rundown 3
10-28-2006 10:07 am
1. Skinner 182.970
2. Reutimann 182.278
3. Martin 182.003
4. Musgrave 181.550
5. Hamilton 181.171
6. Bodine 180.987
7. Bliss 180.686
8. Cook 180.510
9. Earnhardt 180.269
10. Allmendinger 180.029
11. Ragan 179.024
12. Crawford 179.638
13. Darnell 179.528
14. Nemechek 179.458
15. Benson 179.348
16. Almirola 179.325
17. Lester 179.214
18. McCumbee 178.989
19. Chaffin 178.954
20. Ambrose 178.948
21. Crafton 178.868
22. Miller 178.810
23. Sprague 178.729
24. East 178.729
25. Crocker 178.706
26. Bires 178.510
27. Mayfield 178.407
28. Starr 178.338
29. Hornaday 178.086
30. Setzer 178.023
31. Lusk 177.749
32. Gaughan 177.323
33. Lagasse, Jr. 176.000
34. Mickel 175.559
35. Richardson 173.158
36. Cope 153.701
Cook to Practice Cup Car
10-28-2006 10:11 am
WithTerry Cook's ppc Racing teammate Kenny Wallace in Memphis for today's Busch Series action, Wallace needed assistance practice the No. 78 Chevy he drives in the Cup Series. Keeping it within team boundaries, Wallace drafted Cook into duty. As soon as NCTS practice is over, Cook will hustle to the NNCS garage and spend the next couple of hours working on the setup Wallace will run tomorrow. Wallace will have his work cut out for him as he's slated to roll off 43rd tomorrow.
Off to the garage...
10-28-2006 10:35 am
We're going to head out for some more pics and audio...we'll continue with TrackSideLive! shortly...
Cope to Backup
10-28-2006 12:11 pm
The damage to the primary No. 40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet was not serious after Derrike Cope's brush with the wall in practice, but it was bad enough for force the team to a backup truck. Cope never made a full lap in the primary, and will be forced to qualify the backup truck without any time at all on the track.
Engine Swap on the No. 1
10-28-2006 12:15 pm
The R3 team is swapping engines after Robert Richardson experienced some issues in practice. Due to the engine change, Richardson will be forced to give up the position he earns in qualifying and drop to the rear of the field.
Clouds on the Way Out
10-28-2006 12:22 pm
After nearly two full days of heavy overcast and nearly two inches of rain yesterday, the clouds are finally on the way out and the Atlanta Motor Speedway is bathed in sunshine. Cup Series practice is nearly over, and then it's time for Live! Bud Pole Qualifying for the Truck Series at 1:15 pm ET. The question now is how the sunshine and somewhat warmer temperatures will affect qualifying. Track conditions were quite different when the trucks last were on track at 10:20 this morning. The sun will raise track temps and by default tire temps, and with no chance to change the setup between qualifying and the race, we could see several teams struggling before the first pit stop here today.
Hamilton Talks
10-28-2006 12:26 pm
During the break between practice and qualifying, we had a chance to sit down and spend a few minutes with 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton. After stepping out of the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge after the race here in the spring, Hamilton has fought to regain his health and to keep BHR as one of the prominent teams in the Truck Series garage. We talked to him about his health, the health of his race team, and talk about how even though fighting cancer is not anything anyone would ever want to endure it has allowed him to see how his team operates from a totally different perspective.
Look to the Sights and Sounds box to the right side of the TrackSideLive! page and click on Bobby Hamilton to listen.
2006 Key Race Stats
10-28-2006 12:37 pm
Avg start of winner: 7.2
Highest: 22nd (Kentucky and Nashville)
Lowest: 1st (Daytona, Atlanta1, Memphis, Bristol, Vegas, Talladega, and Martinsville)
The pole starter has won the last three races, and four of the last five. In the fifth race, the outside front row start won.
Avg lead changes per race: 9.0
Highest: 21 (Daytona)
Lowest: 2 (Mansfield, Bristol, Martinsville)
Agv lead drivers per race: 5.4
Highest: 9
Lowest: 2
Avg cautions per race: 9.0
Highest: 18 (Mansfield)
Lowest: 4 (Atlanta1, Dover)
Avg caution laps per race: 39.9
Highest: 87 (Martinsville1)
Lowest: 17 (Daytona)
Avg running at finish: 31.3
Highest: 35 (Kansas, Memphis)
Lowest: 26 (Talladega)
Avg lead lap finishers: 21.4
Highest: 30 (Michigan)
Lowest: 13 (Texas)
Manufacturer Year-to-Date
10-28-2006 12:46 pm
Chevrolet: 3 wins, 1 pole, 19 top-5, 55 top-10, 806 laps led
Dodge: 0 wins, 1 pole, 4 top-5, 12 top-10, 44 laps led
Ford: 7 wins, 6 poles, 21 top-5, 51 top-10, 916 laps led
Toyota: 11 wins, 11 poles, 61 top-5, 92 top-10, 1751 laps led
Live! Bud Pole Qualifying Next
10-28-2006 1:18 pm
Check out our
Live! Bud Pole Qualifying
coverage! We'll resume TrackSideLive! after the field is set.
We're Back...Lots of News!
10-28-2006 4:39 pm
We're back after spending some time touring the garage and cheering on Ted Musgrave in the IROC finale. We have some news to report before we get the green flag so stay with us!
Tyler Walker to BDR in '07
10-28-2006 4:42 pm
In an unveiling ceremony just moments ago, Bill Davis Racing announced Tyler Walker and 360 OTC will jump on board for a full-season Truck Series campaign in the No. 36 Toyota. We talked to Walker as the truck was being unveiled, so look to the Sights and Sounds box to the right side of the page to listen.
Bires to Wood/jtg No. 21 in '07
10-28-2006 4:46 pm
In an announcement posted on the team's website, Kelly Bires has been named as the driver of the No. 21 Wood/jtg Racing Ford for the 2007 NCTS season. It was also announced that former NCTS winner Stacy Compton will return to the series, swapping rides with current driver of the No. 20 Ford Marcos Ambrose. Ambrose will take over Compton's ride in the No. 59 Ford in the Busch Series. No word yet on what current No. 21 driver Bobby East has planned for 2007.
Sun will be an Issue After Green FLag
10-28-2006 4:49 pm
With the 5:15 pm ET start time, the setting sun will be a major issue for all of the drivers and teams here this evening. The sun is notorious at Atlanta even during the middle of the afternoon, and that problem is only exacerbated once it starts to set. Many drivers have gone to tinted shield on their helmets and have placed several strips of tape on their windshields to keep the sun out of their eyes.
Easy Care 200 Pit Assignments
10-28-2006 4:51 pm
Starting at pit exit in turn one and ending at pit entrance in turn four:
Skinner
Cope
Bodine
Mickel
Bliss
Richardson
Almirola
East
Empty stall
Reutimann
Lagasse
Sprague
Bires
Gaughan
Starr
Crafton
Benson
Break in pit wall
Miller
Ambrose
Start/Finish Line & Scoring Camera
Nemechek
Mayfield
Empty stall
Empty stall
Allmendinger
Hamilton, Jr.
Chaffin
Crocker
Darnell
McCumbee
Ragan
Break in pit wall
Musgrave
Setzer
Lusk
Earnhardt
Crawford
Hornaday
Cook
Martin
Musgrave Fifth in IROC
10-28-2006 5:02 pm
Ted Musgrave had some battle scars, as did every other driver in the 12-man field, but managed to come out of the 100-mile IROC finale with a fifth place finish. Musgrave will start ninth in today's Easy Care 200.
Drivers Introduced, Easy Care 200 Up Next
10-28-2006 5:06 pm
The drivers have been introduced, they are getting buckled in, and the command to start engines is just moments away. We'll have all of the action throughout the race right here, so stick with us! Of couse, we'll have comprehensive post-race coverage following the checkered flag as well.
Easy Care 200 Race Updates 1-10
10-28-2006 5:10 pm
10. Lap 18 - Restart. Benson holds off a charge from Reutimann. Bodine meanwhile is dropping back, falling to seventh.
9. Lap 14 - Benson leads Reutimann, Musgrave, Miller, Bodine, Bliss, Darnell, Crawford, Crafton, Cook, Hornaday, Ragan, Skinner, Setzer, Ambrose, McCumbee, Almirola, Lusk, Sprague, Chaffin, Mayfield, Mickel, Gaughan, Starr, Crocker, East, Lester, Hamilton, Lagasse, Richardson, Bires, Cope, Earnhardt. Allmendinger, Nemechek, and Martin are all off the track.
8. Lap 11 - Benson has moved to second and is challenging Allmendinger for the lead. Skinner has slid back to ninth. Allmendinger spins off two and collects Nemechek as Bodine narrowly misses the incident. Caution out for the second time.
7. Lap 8 - Allmendinger powers to the lead as Skinner and Reutimann get together coming off turn two. Reutimann grazes the fence but everyone keeps it straight and under control.
6. Lap 5 - Martin takes his truck behind the wall. Restart. Skinner leads as Reutimann looks inside Allmendinger for second. Miller looks under Reutimann in a three wide move for second.
5. Lap 2 - Miller grazes the wall fighting for second and drops to fourth. Allmendinger fights for second as contact is made behind and Martin goes spinning into the inside SAFER barrier on the backstretch. Crocker nearly makes contact with Martin as he backs across the track but Martin is the only driver involved.
4. Green flag is out. Skinner noses out to a lead but Allmendinger hangs tough on the outside. Martin moves to the inside as Miller goes to the outside and moves to fight for second. Skinner leads at the line.
3. One to go before we get the green. NASCAR added a lap to help get temperatures up before the green.
2. Field is setting pit road speed. Two laps to go before the green flag.
1. Engines have been fired. Two drivers to the back for the start: Richardson (engine change) and Lagasse (unapproved impound adjustment).
Easy Care 200 Race Updates 11-20
10-28-2006 5:38 pm
20. Lap 57 - Cook slips up off turn two allowing Darnell and Crawford to sweep past. McCumbee has cracked the top ten for the first time today.
19. Lap 53 - Bliss takes the lead from Benson and Reutimann closes in to make it a three way race for the lead. Reutimann takes second and Cook races Benson for fourth. Bliss now opens a 1.5 second lead on the field.
18. Lap 49 - Darnell passes Crawford to take sixth. Benson is dealing with a hard charging Bliss for the lead. Reutimann, Cook, and Sprague round out the top five.
17. Lap 47 - Restart. Benson immediately looks outside and takes the lead off turn two. Bliss goes to second as the fiels strings off turn four.
16. Lap 42 - Lead lap trucks come to pit road. Lester will pick up the free pass. Reutimann leads off pit road with Benson, Bliss, Cook, Sprague, Crawford, Darnell, Almirola, Setzer, Musgrave, McCumbee, Ambrose, Mayfield, Skinner, Chaffin, Lagasse, Lusk, Mickel, Crafton, Crocker, Starr, East, Gaughan, Bires, Hornaday, Earnhardt, Hamilton, Richardson, Bodine, Cope, and Miller.
15. Lap 40 - Debris brings out the caution for the third time. Miller has also come to pit road and lost three laps to the leader after brushing the fence.
14. Lap 35 - Bodine brushes the wall and drops off the pace, coming to pit road. Bodine is going to lose at least two laps on pit road.
13. Lap 29 - Shakeup among the top five: Reutimann leads Bliss, Benson, Darnell and Miller. Cook and Crafton sweep past Bodine while Musgrave and Crawford round out the top 10.
12. Lap 25 - Bliss moves to third. Crafton now closes on Bodine in a race for seventh. Cook makes it a three way
race for the spot off turn four. Reutimann looks for room inside Benson for the lead, but momentum carries Benson better off the high side.
11. Lap 22 - Musgrave presses Reutimann for second. Benson leads by half a second. Bliss moves to fourth and starts to inch closer to the battle for second. Darnell takes fifth from Miller, with Bodine seventh and Crafton and Cook side by side for eighth and ninth.
Easy Care 200 Race Updates 21-30
10-28-2006 6:04 pm
30. Lap 92 - Sprague leads on the restart. The field scrambles three wide behind on the break. Darnell looks outside Crawford for third. Musgrave makes a move for fourth as Crawford slips to fifth.
29. Lap 90 - The spin was caused by a broken drive shaft. Benson's crew is hustling for the replacement. He also has a flat right rear. Major implications in the points race.
28. Lap 89 - Now both championship contenders have had problems as Benson spins in turn two. Benson has stopped on the backstretch and is waiting for a push to the pits. It doesn't appear that he has damage to the truck, but possibly flat tires.
27. Lap 85 - Crawford leads for a lap before Sprague takes back the top spot. Darnell now looks inside in a race for the lead down the backstetch.
26. Lap 83 - Sprague leads on the restart. Reutimann, Crawford, Cook, Darnell, Ragan, Musgave, Benson, Bliss and Starr the top ten. Bliss lost spots on pit road with loose lug nuts. Reutimann goes to the outside on the restart but Sprague holds him off. Now he looks to the inside into three with the field fanning out behind.
25. Lap 77 - Miller rapped the outside wall with the tail of the truck then slid down and slapped the inside wall with the drivers side. He brings the truck to pit road with damage to all sides. Lead lap trucks pit.
24. Lap 76 - Bliss continues to work his way through traffic, lapping up to the 20th position. Pole starter Skinner is 21st, one lap down. Skinner catches a break as Miller spins off turn four to bring out the caution for the fourth time today, giving Skinner the free pass to rejoin the lead lap.
23. Lap 69 - Darnell pursues Crawford for the second spot. Bliss leads by 5.8 seconds. Top-10: Bliss, Crawford, Darnell, COok, Reutimann, Sprague, Benson, Ragan, McCumbee and Musgrave.
22. Lap 64 - Reutimann slides up the track in three letting Crawford, Darnell and Cook to pass. Crafton is back to 14th after dropping to 20th on pit road.
21. Lap 60 - Benson slides up the banking in turn two and drops to sixth. The shadows have draped all of the speedway now except the frontstretch.
Easy Care 200 Race Updates 31 - 40
10-28-2006 6:32 pm
40. Final Lap - Mike Bliss wins at Atlanta Motor Speedway
39. Lap 127 - Cook has closed on Bliss as Musgrave has a problem in four and comes to pit road, giving up a top five position. Bliss leads by five lengths.
38. Lap 121 - Bliss clears Darnell on the restart. Hamilton and Cook race for third. Cook takes the spot. Musgrave, Reutimann and Crawford mix it up for fifth.
37. Lap 116 - Almirola comes to a stop off turn four with flames belching from under the hood. Caution is out. Darnell is leading Bliss, Hamilton, Cook, Reutimann, Musgrave, Crawford, Sprague, Ragan, McCumbee, Starr, Crafton, Skinner, Setzer, Ambrose, East, Hornaday, Lusk, Lagasse the lead lap trucks.
36. Lap 114 - Darnell takes the lead from Hamilton with Bliss following through to second. Cook races Hamilton for third.
35. Lap 109 - It's settled down somewhat at the front. Hamilton leads Darnell, Cook, Reutimann, Bliss, Musgrave, Crawford, Sprague, Ragan and Almirola.
34. Lap 104 - Hamilton and Reutimann are locked in a side by side race for the lead. Hamilton clears after several laps stuck in the outside. Darnell is third with Crawford fourth.
33. Lap 100 - Mixing up for the lead Hamilton makes it three wide as Sprague loses it and brushes the wall. Reutimann makes the pass before Hamilton can lead a lap. Now Musgrave takes a shot at the lead.
32. Lap 98 - Sprague leads Reutimann, Darnell, Musgrave, Crawford, Hamilton, Bliss, Cook, Ragan, Starr, Almirola, McCumbee, Crafton, Setzer, Hornaday, Ambrose, Skinner, Lagasse, Lusk, Gaughan, and East.
31. Lap 96 - Chaffin gets hit in the right rear and smacks the fence on the homestretch, doing significant damage. Benson returns to the track seven laps down.
Bliss Wins; Unofficial Results
10-28-2006 7:01 pm
1. Bliss
2. Cook
3. Darnell
4. Reutimann
5. Crawford
6. Ragan
7. McCumbee
8. Skinner
9. Hamilton
10. Sprague
11. Starr
12. Crafton
13. Hornaday
14. Setzer
15. East
16. Ambrose
17. Lusk
18. Lagasse
19. Bires
20. Mickel
21. Earnhardt
22. Lester
23. Crocker
24. Musgave
25. Bodine
26. Gaughan
27. Richardson
28. Cope
29. Benson
30. Almirola
31. Mayfield
32. Chaffin
33. Miller
34. Allmendinger
35. Nemechek
36. Martin
AMS Post-race Audio
10-28-2006 8:18 pm
We met up with a quarter of the starting field following the Easy Care 200 here at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Mike Bliss spoke with us about his first win since 2002 and the dominant truck he had here this evening. Bliss said that while his team isn't part of a direct manufacturer-backed program or affiliated with a Cup team, its performance on the track proves they are a major player in the Truck Series.
Terry Cook told us he thought he had a shot at his second win of the season, and had he had one more lap the top two positions just may have been reversed.
Erik Darnell talked to us about his second consecutive third-place finish, and says his team learned enough here tonight to fight for another win next week in Texas.
David Reutimann talked about the difficulty of racing in traffic at Atlanta and Jack Sprague talked about his tense moment coming off turn two fighting for the lead three-wide with Reutimann and Bobby Hamilton. Marcos Ambrose talked to us about his first impressions of Atlanta, and Kelly Bires spoke about his NCTS debut as well - which he ably ran without radio communication with his crew. John Mickel scored a top 20 finish and compared what he was doing today with his racing background in Europe. Finally, Joe Nemechek shared his disappointment of having a race-winning truck but watching it all go away after an early crash.
Look to the Sights and Sounds box to the right side of the TrackSideLive! page and click on each driver's name to listen.
Lead Change Mark Ties Daytona
10-28-2006 8:26 pm
What is it about Atlanta Motor Speedway that produces some of the most classic NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races of the year? After each race, everyone always asks what can possibly be done to top it? Somehow, the drivers of the NCTS always rise to the challenge and give the fans an even better race the next time around.
While there was no side-by-side finish or a multi-truck tangle coming to the checkered flag, the fans left here today after witnessing one of the most classic races of the season. A total of 21 lead changes among 9 drivers - both of which tie the season best set earlier this season at Daytona - left the fans on their feet throughout the day. At times, ten drivers were mixing it up for the lead three and four wide for laps on end.
It was a phenomenal race. Whoever was going to win - and Mike Bliss eventually did - was going to have to earn it, and earn it he did.
Points Update
10-28-2006 8:32 pm
1. Bodine 3285
2. Benson 3199 -86
3. Reutimann 3095 -190
4. Musgrave 3014 -271
5. Crawford 3006 -279
6. Starr 2944 -341
7. Hornaday 2913 -372
8. Sprague 2867 -418
9. Cook 2863 -422
10. Bliss 2861 -424
No positions changed among the top ten.
That's a Wrap from AMS
10-28-2006 8:49 pm
They are ushering us out the door, so we're going to load up and head for the hills. Enjoy all of the post-race audio we got - many of the front runners and some of the guys we don't always get a chance to talk to as well - and browse through the TruckShots! photo gallery as well. There are dozens of images for you to check out while your listening to the audio cuts, and of course you can always go through our audio and image archives as well.
Congratulations to Mike Bliss, Dave Fuge, and the entire Xpress Motorsports team on their first win together since 2002. It was a fantastic race, with some of the best racing of the year and another great Atlanta finish.
Thanks to Marcy Scott and all of the AMS PR staff for their wonderful hospitality here this weekend. And of course, thanks to all of you for checking us out! We look forward to talking to you again from Texas. Don't forget to check back later in the week for all of the post-race team recaps, the Texas previews, and our exclusive Fastenal Race Report from here in Atlanta. That's all from AMS, so long everybody!
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