Driver of No. 46 CENTRIX Auto Finance Silverado Making Great Moves On-Track When Mechanical Failure Ended His Day

Kraig Kinser was getting a good rhythm going as the last 100 laps of the City of Mansfield 250 were clicking down, round seven of the 25-race NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) 2006 schedule. He was passing competitors in his No. 46 CENTRIX Auto Finance Silverado and racing for position despite losing a lap as a result of a flat tire and a spin to miss another truck slowing on the track.

Kinser started in 23rd place as a result of the cancellation of qualifying due to inclement weather. On lap five of the 250-lap/125-mile race Kinser spun to avoid a truck slowing on the track directly in his line but righted the No. 46 and kept going without losing a lap.

By the 80th lap, the Bloomington, IN native had worked his way in to the top-20 and was setting a good race pace. On lap 91, typical short-track racing in the NCTS saw the 21-year old make contact with another truck that resulted in flat left side tires.

His Morgan Dollar Motorsports crew was quickly over the wall to change left side tires, then have him return to pit road for right sides and top-off the fuel tank. The exchange cost Kinser a lap but both driver and crew felt like there were enough laps remaining to make up the ground lost.

With approximately 40 laps remaining in the, Kinser had another flat tire. When he came down pit road, he slid over the pit box line. When he went to back up, he was unable to slam the truck in reverse to get in position for the crew to change tires. Crew chief Randy Goss had him bring the truck behind the wall where the crew worked furiously to attempt to repair the problem. But despite their best efforts, there was not enough time to replace the rearend assembly and get Kinser back out to finish the race.

"It is just disappointing for everyone on our CENTRIX Silverado team," Kinser said. "Short track racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is tough and there was a lot of beatin and bangin out there but I felt like I was really getting a good rhythm. We had a flat tire with about 40 laps to go and I headed down pit road, I was over the line and went to back up and I couldn't get it in gear to back up. We lost the rearend gear and there was no way they guys could get it fixed. With the early spin and flat tire, we lost some track position but I feel like I learned a lot and was racing hard for to gain finishing spots. Dover is next on the schedule so we will shake it off and head there."

In his first full-time season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS), Kinser's Silverado is a joint effort between Morgan-Dollar Motorsports and MB2 Motorsports. He joined the MB2 driver development program last season running two ARCA events prior to moving to the NCTS.

Next on the schedule for Kinser and the No. 46 CENTRIX Auto Finance team the 200-lap/200-mile AAA Insurance 200 on Friday, June 2, 2006 at Dover International Speedway, Dover, DE.