SETZER: Truck Struggles End in Mediocre Night at ORP
07-28-2008 4:35 pm
In typical short track fashion Tahoe Driver Dennis Setzer beat and banged his way through traffic into the top 10 for the first 162 laps before an altercation with a lapped truck resulted in substantial damage for the Tahoe Dodge. Setzer came in for repairs several times and the Tahoe Dodge Racing Team jumped into action repairing all the sheet metal on the right front side and replacing the right shock that was destroyed during the accident. Setzer returned to the track three laps down in 27th position with 32 laps remaining in the event. The damage from the accident derailed Setzer to a 26th place finish. Despite the poor finish Setzer sits 10 points out of 10th place in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series point standings. Setzer qualified in the 10th position on Friday afternoon after posting the 14th fastest time in the first practice on Friday morning. Following the drop of the green flag Setzer radioed in, "It is really loose off." On lap 56 Setzer running sixth and still battling the loose condition said, "I have lost total grip." The second caution waved on lap 86 for a spin in turn four. Setzer brought the No. 18 Tahoe Dodge down pit road for service. The Tahoe Racing Team jumped into action changing all four tires, adding two cans of fuel and making an air pressure and spring rubber adjustment. Setzer restarted in 12th position. By lap 126, Setzer had moved back into the top 10. "It is better than earlier in the race," he told Richmond. The sixth caution came out on lap 136 for an accident on the back stretch with Setzer running 14th. He brought the Tahoe Dodge in for service. After receiving four tires, two cans of fuel and making an adjustment on the rear wedge bolt Setzer made his way back onto the race track in 20th position. "I think something broke," he radioed in immediately. The caution flew one lap later and Setzer limped his way to pit road. Setzer came home in 26th position after a hard fought night. Despite the finish he sits only 10 points out of the top 10 in the NCTS Championship standings. Johnny Benson won the Power Stroke Diesel 200. Ron Hornaday Jr. finished second, Erik Darnell, Matt Crafton, and Shelby Howard followed in the top five.
For several laps Setzer had been working hard to get around a fellow competitor who was already one lap down to the leader. The two trucks touched which sent Setzer right into the outside wall.
The Tahoe Racing Crew jumped into action repairing the right front damage and replacing the right front shock which was busted in the accident. It took the team a few laps to repair the damage, but with the help of a few bats, duct tape and some bare bond the Tahoe Dodge was pieced back together and returned to the track. Setzer restarted in 27th position, three laps down to the leader.