Eighteen year-old Cameron Dodson learned valuable short-track experience at last weekend's "Kroger 200" NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series' event at Martinsville Speedway even if the outcome wasn't what the teen racing sensation was anticipating.

The half-mile "paper-clip"-shaped oval is difficult to drive because of the tight corners and extreme tire wear.  Dodson and the #63 MB Motorsports team had a strong 25th place qualifying effort and had a rare rookie feat of remaining trouble-free for three-quarters of the 200-lap race.

Dodson's luck soon disappeared as the aggressive, cramped nature of short-track racing thwarted his trouble-free race weekend on lap 148 when he and one other driver had synchronized spins going in to turn four at the Virginia speedway.  The #63 team was forced to pit for tires and sustained no major damage but received a pit infraction relegating them to the end of the longest line.  Attempting to salvage a decent finish, Dodson returned to the track but as the final laps clicked off and equipment and tempers faltered, he was once again collected into a multi-truck pileup along with Robert Richardson and Erin Crocker and sustained more significant damage.  The young Hoosier open-wheel hotshoe learned valuable pavement short-track lessons as he officially was scored in 30th position.

"I came here to stay out of trouble, learn something and hopefully gain some experience," stated Dodson.  "We qualified respectably in 25th and I did stay out of trouble for the majority of the race but once you have problems here and get sent to the back, you're fighting an uphill battle.  Track position is so important on these short-tracks and after that first incident it just went downhill from there.  I had some people pat me on the back for not going out there and driving over my head but I'm not happy with a 30th place, we were better than that so it's disappointing.  But, I guess that's just short-track racing."

For all of the latest news on Cameron Dodson and the other talented young drivers in the Rising Star Driver Development™ stable, visit http://www.RisingStarDD.com.