09-04-2007 | TruckSeries.com Report
T.J. Bell had anxiously awaited the race at Gateway International Raceway. It would mark his return to the driver's seat of the No. 50 Heathcliff's Cat Litter Ford. Bell would race for the first time since Michigan in June, and he had high expectations of a strong finish. Things seemed to be going his way until he was taken out at lap 125 by the No. 00 truck. Bell started the race in the 12th position, and things quickly got exciting for the driver of the Heathcliff's Cat Litter Ford. Bell made slight contact with the outside retaining wall on the third lap of the race, resulting in him dropping to the 14th position. Bell reported in the early going that the truck was tight from the center and off of turns one and two, but that he was good in turns three and four. As the field began to spread out and settle into their running positions, Bell continued to hold the 14th position. When the caution flag came out at lap 55 for an incident involving the No. 5 truck of Mike Skinner, Bell took advantage of the situation by coming to pit road for tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. Quick work on pit road sent Bell back on track in the 10th position for the restart at lap 63. Bell quickly picked up two positions, and settled into the eighth position as the field once again spread out. On lap 75 Bell again made slight contact with the outside retaining wall. No major damage was done to the No. 50 Ford, but it did cost Bell valuable track position. Bell continued in the ninth position until the caution flag came out once again at lap 104 for debris on the racetrack. Once again the Heathcliff's crew decided to take advantage of the opportunity, bringing Bell to pit road for tires, fuel and another track bar adjustment. The No. 50 team again performed well on pit road, sending Bell back on track in the ninth position for the restart at lap 110. Things seemed to be going Bell's way, as he continued to run in the ninth position. It seemed as if he was closing in on a top-10 finish until lap 125, when the No. 00 truck attempted a three-wide move inside Bell and the No. 4 truck of Mike Bliss. The end result of the move left the Nos. 4 and 50 trucks unable to continue, taking away what Bell had considered a strong return. "Before we talk about the race, I want to send my thoughts and prayers out to Jack and his whole family about the passing of his mother," said Bell. "I can't thank him enough for giving me this opportunity in this [No.] 50 Ford F-150; this thing was just unbelievable. We had a top-10 run going. I haven't been in a truck in about two months. I just got taken out by stupidity; it's not a good thing." The Craftsman Truck Series returns to action at New Hampshire International Speedway on Saturday, September 15.