Mike Bliss continues to impress in the No. 4 Open Joist Dodge. In only his third start for Bobby Hamilton Racing he scored an impressive third top-10 finish. Bliss was no stranger to Kentucky Speedway, scoring a victory there in 2002, and his experience proved valuable during the running of the Built Ford Tough 225. 

Bliss qualified the Open Joist Dodge in the 14th position on Saturday morning, but didn't say there long. Bliss cracked the top 10 by lap five and never looked back. A late race pit stop allowed the team to change four tires and make several changes to help with the tight condition. Unfortunately, most teams took two tires and Bliss restarted in the 16th position. Bliss was up for the challenge working his way back into the top 10 in only 20 laps. He finished the event in ninth position.

Bliss qualified the No. 4 Open Joist Dodge in the 14th position for the 13th race of the season.
By lap five Bliss had moved into the 10th position. "It's no where near like it was last night in practice, but we will work on it," said Bliss.

The first of six cautions waved on lap 13 for an accident in turn four. "It is tight on entry," said Bliss under caution. "But I think it will come to me." He restarted in the ninth spot.

Over the next 20 laps Bliss worked the high line and low line gaining at least one position every five laps. He was able to gain five positions by lap 40, putting the Open Joist Dodge in the top five for the first time of the night.

While running fourth the second caution came out for a wreck in turn two. Crew Chief Marcus Richmond made the call for Bliss to come down pit road for service. The Open Joist Racing Team made adjustments to the Dodge Ram to help with the tight condition and Bliss restarted in the eighth position lap 58.

A series of three cautions waved over the next 10 laps. Bliss continued to run in the eighth spot.
He was running seventh when the last caution waved on lap 96. "It's still tight," said Bliss as soon as the caution came out. He came down pit road to the attention of the Open Joist Racing Team. They changed all four tires, added fuel, pulled a rubber out of the left rear and went down three rounds on the track bar.

"A lot of people in front of us took two tires," said Richmond after the pit stop. Bliss restarted in the 16th position on lap 100.

In just 20 laps Bliss had worked his way back into the top 10. On lap 130 he made his final pass on the night for the ninth position.

Bliss finished ninth in the 150-lap event. It was his third start in the BHR Dodge and his third top-10 finish.

Mike Skinner won the Built Ford Tough 225 before an estimated crowd of 49,000. Travis Kvapil, Ted Musgrave, Ryan Matthews and David Green rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at O'Reilly Raceway Park on July 27th with Bliss behind the wheel.