11-20-2006 | TruckSeries.com Report
Dodge Development Driver Chase Miller headed to Homestead-Miami Speedway looking for luck and once again all he found was a dose bad luck. Miller posted the fastest time Friday morning in the first practice and looked to do the same in the second practice before scraping the wall with minutes remaining. The No. 4 Dodge Motorsports Dodge Homestead Recap Miller posted the fastest time Friday morning in the first practice and looked to do the same in the second practice before scraping the wall with minutes remaining. On lap 44 Michael Waltrip hit the wall in turn four directly in font of the No. 4 Dodge Motorsports Dodge. Miller received minor damage and hit pit road for repairs. The Dodge Motorsports Dodge Racing Team changed four tires, added fuel, made a major track bar adjustment to aid the tight condition and repaired the right front damage sustained. The fourth caution came out on lap 64 for a spin on the front stretch. Richmond called Miller down pit road to diagnose the vibration. The Dodge Motorsports Dodge Racing Team concluded the right front tire was towed out and causing the vibration. He restarted in the 27th position on lap 67. Miller finished in the 32nd position.
The No. 4 Dodge Motorsports Dodge Racing Team was able to repair the damage. Miller rebounded from the wreck by qualifying 13th for the Ford 200. Miller battled a loose race truck and a vibration during much of the race. On lap 94 Miller radioed in he had a tire going down and Crew Chief Marcus Richmond called him to pit road the next lap. The next lap proved to be too late. Miller blew a tire in turn two and spun to the inside. The momentum for the spin carried Miller back onto the banking of the race track in to the line of competitor Johnny Benson. The rear of Miller's truck made contact with the left side of Benson ending the night for the No. 4 Dodge Motorsports Dodge. Miller finished the final NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event of the season in 32nd position.
The No. 4 Dodge Motorsports Dodge Team was able to repair the damage and Miller rebounded qualifying in the 13th position.
The first of five cautions waved on lap seven. "It's loose," said Miller while running 15th under the caution.
"She is still loose," said Miller on lap 28 running in the 20th position. Richmond told Miller he would tighten it up on the first pit stop.
On lap 58 Miller radioed in he was picking up a vibration in the corners.
On lap 80 Miller radioed in he was still experiencing the vibration.
"I have a tire going down," said Miller on lap 94. Richmond told him to pit on the next lap. But before Miller could hit pit road the tire blew causing him to spin to the inside in turn two. The momentum for the spin carried Miller back onto the banking of the race track in to the line of competitor Johnny Benson. The rear of Miller's truck made contact with the left side of Benson ending the night for the No. 4 Dodge Motorsports Dodge.
Mark Martin won the Ford 200 before an estimated crowd of 35,000, posting his 6th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory for 2006. Brendan Gaughan, Erik Darnell, Bobby Hamilton Jr. and Jack Sprague rounded out the top five finishers. Todd Bodine finished 21st to secure his first ever NCTS championship.