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02-25-2005
Park Place
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High Sierra Photo | Four years to the day since his last trip to Victory Lane, Steve Park captured his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win in the American Racing Wheels 200 at the California Speedway on Friday night. Park capitalized on leader Mike Bliss' bad luck when Bliss ran out of fuel on lap 95 and led the rest of the way to take the win. The win marks Park's first NASCAR win since February 25, 2001 when he drove to victory in the Nextel Cup Series event in Rockingham, N.C.
Bliss, who had relieved injured Jack Sprague on lap 6, had led since taking over the top spot on lap 64 following a round of pit stops. Bliss stretched the advantage to nearly a half second late in the race before the tank ran dry just 10 miles from the checkered flag.
Defending series champion Bobby Hamilton fought overheating problems early in the race and fought back all night long to take the second spot at the checkered. He was followed at the end by Roush Racing teammates Ricky Craven and Todd Kluever, with three-time California winner Ted Musgrave rounding out the top-5.
Matt Crafton jumped from 10th at the green flag to run fourth after the first lap and stayed up front all night long to finish sixth. Jimmy Spencer fought back from being trapped a lap down after a caution came out during a round of green flag pit stops to finish seventh, with Ron Hornaday, Robert Huffman, and Dennis Setzer rounding out the top-10.
David Starr led the most laps on the night, but ended up in the garage after a hard crash on lap 77. His truck broke loose coming off turn two and turn right into the backstretch wall. As he bounced off the wall, he collected Johnny Benson sending Benson't truck on a long slide down the backstretch as well. Starr was uninjured in the accident, but done for the night.
Last year's winner Todd Bodine was involved in an early crash with Ken Weaver and finished last in the 36-truck field.
There were five cautions for 21 laps with 20 drivers finishing on the lead lap. Hamilton unofficially leads Craven by 25 points heading into the next race in Atlanta on March 18.
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