Coming off their best finish of the season last weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Bill Lester and his Bill Davis Racing team had high hopes for their weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The team fought a loose-handling truck for much of the day and finished 22nd.

Lester was the 24th of 36 drivers to make his qualifying attempt around the 1.54-mile oval Saturday afternoon. He posted a time of 31.594 seconds (175.476 mph) in his Checkers Rally's Toyota Tundra, which landed him the 32nd starting spot for the event. Though it was not the qualifying effort the crew had hoped for, it was optimistic it would have a good handling truck for the race.

The green flag waved for the start of the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200, and when the first caution flag of the day waved four laps into the event, Lester communicated to his crew that the handling of the Checkers Rally's Toyota was loose. Crew chief Doug Wolcott made plans for a shock adjustment and the addition of a full rubber to the left rear spring during the first pit stop of the day, which occurred under caution on lap 15. The crew made additional wedge and track bar adjustments several laps later in an effort to ensure the truck would not be as loose during the next run. Lester restarted in 31st place on lap 19 of the 130-lap event.

Lester continued to complain of a loose handling truck and went one lap down to the leader while running in the 29th spot on lap 39. It is said timing is everything, and that was the case two laps later when a caution flag waved once again, giving the No. 22 team the Lucky Dog pass and returning Lester to the lead lap. Wolcott called his driver back into the pits on lap 44 for additional track bar, wedge and spring rubber changes. Lester took the green flag for the restart on lap 48 in the 25th spot.

Lester and the team continued to struggle with a loose handling truck for the remainder of the race, though adjustments made to the Checkers Rally's Toyota Tundra seemed to help a bit near the end of the event. Lester was again unable to hold off the leaders and again went one lap down on lap 65. The team fought in the final stages of the race to get back on the lead lap, but ran out of time. When the checkered flag waved, Lester held the 22nd spot.