Former Winner at NHIS Disappointed with Finish at One of His Favorite Tracks

The New Hampshire 200 marked the 18th race of the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, and a race that seemed to be a fantastic opportunity for Shell ROTELLA T driver Dennis Setzer to get back to victory lane. Setzer, who is the only driver to win a race in eight straight NCTS seasons, has yet to find victory lane in 2006. Dennis does know where victory lane at New Hampshire International Speedway - visiting there in the Sportsman's division in 1990 and the Craftsman Truck Series ten years later (2000), then vied for the win in a thrilling finish in 2005. He traded the lead numerous times in the closing laps before coming home second just a year ago.

Setzer was disappointed with his qualifying effort, because the truck was much better than the starting position he earned. "I messed both laps up because of what happened to me in turn four on that first lap," said Setzer. "When I got sideways on the first lap, it killed all the momentum we had for the second one." Dennis qualified in nineteenth position.

However, in true short track fashion, Dennis drove his No. 85 Shell ROTELLA T Silverado straight to the front. Setzer methodically picked his way through traffic and found himself comfortably inside the top ten by lap 50. A speedy pit stop by the Morgan-Dollar crew put him back out for the restart in 8th position.

Setzer made his way as high as seventh place before contact with another truck cut his left front tire down at lap 128. Dennis brought the No. 85 Shell ROTELLA T Silverado down pit road under green for left side tires. He would lose one lap and fell to 21st place.

Dennis battled back and received the "Lucky Dog" at lap 159 and got back on the lead lap. Once again, Setzer fought his way to the front, but ran out of time and got only back to 14th place for a disappointing finish at one of his favorite tracks on the circuit.

"Our Silverado was great early in the race. We got a little bit off on the middle section and then had the bad luck when we got pinched into the wall and got the flat tire. We just couldn't recover, when you get back in traffic it is so tough to pass in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and especially here at Loudon. Wish we would have had a better finish because we knew we had a good truck."

Although the Newton, NC native currently sits 11th in the NCTS point standings, he is confident in his team's ability to get in the top-10 by season's end and their chances to win races in the remaining seven races on the schedule.

"We are more determined than ever to win races," Setzer concluded. "Randy (Goss, crew chief) and the entire Morgan-Dollar Motorsports team are putting 110% in our program."

The next event on the NCTS schedule is the Smith's Las Vegas 350 on Saturday, September 23 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.