Aaron Fike, No. 1 Tribute to Virginia Tech Toyota, at the O'reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway. (VPS Motorimages Photo)

Aaron Fike's No. 1 Tribute to Virginia Tech Toyota was as strong as a Midwestern tornado on Saturday at Kansas Speedway, allowing the Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender to lead laps, run among the top-three for most of the race, close out the evening with a solid 8th place finish, and grab the Raybestos' Rookie of the Race award in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250.

The rookie was solid in qualifying, laying down a lap of 32.264 seconds at a speed of 167.369 miles per hour which was good for the 12th on the starting grid, but as the race got underway, Fike's Toyota became "loose" with "no side bite" - a condition that the Red Horse Racing team fought throughout the 167-lap race.

Despite struggling with a loose Toyota, Fike ran among the top-10 before Crew Chief Jamie Jones brought Fike and the No. 1 Tribute to Virginia Tech Toyota Tundra to pit road, under caution, on lap 21 for four tires, fuel, and a track bar adjustment. Several trucks chose to stay out under the caution and Fike lined up 24th on the restart.

When the race returned to green flag action on lap 25, Fike used his fresh tires and Toyota horsepower to motor by his competition, quickly and methodically picking his way through the field before keying the radio to tell the crew that "It's alright, but I still need a little more side bite".

Fike was shown 16th on the scoring monitor as the leaders began to pit under the green flag on lap 54. "It's a little tight off while running in traffic," said Fike to the crew as he picked through traffic and into the top-three by lap 59. "Good lap times, buddy," said Jones to his driver. "Keep diggin'".

Fike did just as he was told and worked his way into the lead on lap 67, a position he held for five laps before the caution flag waved for an accident on the backstretch which allowed Fike to pit for four fresh tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment. Fike gave up the lead but returned to the track in fourth position.

"The truck feels pretty good now," said Fike on lap 80. Good indeed, as Fike cruised around the 1.5-mile oval in third position from lap 80 to lap 110 before hitting pit road for the final time of the night, under caution, on lap 111.

The Red Horse Racing crew ripped off a lightening fast four-tire stop and nearly won the race off pit road. Fike lined up second on the restart on lap 115, and remained there until lap 134 when his Toyota became extremely loose. Struggling with the handling on his Toyota, Fike slid to eighth on lap 145. With only 22 laps remaining and the field strung out, Fike finished out the night 8th - his second top-10 finish in a row.

"Jamie Jones and everybody at Red Horse Racing gave me a good truck and we're walking out of here with a solid top-10 finish," said Fike. "We had a good enough truck to stay up there with the leaders, we just fell off pace at the end of the race. I was way too loose and I just couldn't stay in the gas."

Despite a strong run and great finish, Fike slid one spot in the Championship Point Standings to 11th and currently sits only seven points out of the top-10. Fike continues to lead the Raybestos' Rookie of the Year contenders with 59 points. He has a 17 point lead over Willie Allen (42), Tyler Walker (41), Kelly Bires (37), and Blake Bjorkland (36).

Fike and the Red Horse Racing team will enjoy two weeks off before taking the No. 1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra to Lowe's Motor Speedway on Friday, May 18th for the Quaker Steak and Lube 200 presented by Circle K.