Dodge Development Driver Chase Miller finished 19th in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway on Saturday. It was Miller's 15th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event and his first visit to Kansas Speedway. Miller battled an extremely tight race truck when his front splitter was knocked off in the opening laps of the event.

A long green flag run in the middle of the race forced Miller to pit under green flag conditions, something he had not previously done in his short career, and put him one lap down to the leader. As he was entering pit road Miller was unable to slow down fast enough and ran over a cone at the entrance of pit road. He was penalized a pass-through penalty and went another lap down. Miller was able to make the best of the situation and pulled off a 19th place finish.

Miller qualified the No. 4 Open Joist Dodge in the seventh position on Saturday morning. It was the team's best qualifying effort of the season.  

The first of five cautions of the day waved only seven laps into the event for a spin. "The truck is really good," said Miller under the caution. He restarted in the sixth position.

By lap 18 the No. 4 Open Joist Dodge had developed a push in the corner causing Miller to lose track position. "It's very tight," said Miller. "I mean really tight."  Crew Chief Marcus Richmond assured Miller they would fix the tight condition on the next pit stop.

On lap 39 Miller radioed in he had developed a vibration during the long green flag run.

Miller came to pit road on lap 54 during green flag conditions for four tires, fuel and a major track bar adjustment to fix the tight condition. As Miller was reducing his speed to enter pit road he didn't slow down fast enough. Miller ran over a cone at the entrance of pit road resulting in a pass through penalty the next lap. He went back on the track in the 30th position two laps down.  It only took a couple laps before the previous vibration returned. "The vibration is from you being so tight," said Richmond. "We will keep working on it."

The third caution waved on lap 73 for an accident on the back stretch. Miller came down pit road for four fresh tires, fuel and another track bar adjustment to help the persistent tight condition.  He restarted on lap 78 in the 29th position two laps down.  It didn't take long for Miller to start gaining positions on the track after the pit stop. By lap 100 Miller had moved to the 26th spot.

The caution waved again on lap 111 for an accident in turn one. Richmond made the decision to bring Miller to pit road for four fresh tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. He restarted in the 25th position.
"You no longer have a splitter," said Richmond on lap 120. "That is what is causing you to be so tight and causing you to feel a vibration."

Miller was still able to pull off a 19th place finish in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250.

Erik Darnell won the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 before an estimated crowd of 81,687. Rick Crawford, Jack Sprague, Johnny Benson and Mike Skinner rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be the Quaker Steak and Lube 300 at Lowes Motor Speedway on May 18, 2007.