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11-12-2008
BLISS: Lap One Wreck Spoils Chances at PIR
High hopes were pinned on the 2002 Truck Champion Mike Bliss, who was at the
helm of the #40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet at Friday night's Lucas Oil 150 that
was held at Phoenix International Raceway under the lights. Phoenix
International is a well-liked track for Bliss and proof of that was when he ran
the #40 Key Motorsports truck12th in the first practice and 5th during happy
hour. Bliss then qualified the #40 Key Motorsports / Alice Cooper'stown truck
with a respectable 17th place starting position for the night time race.
As soon as the checkered flag was dropped, the competition got serious. Ron
Hornaday in the #33 truck and Kyle Busch in the #51 truck bolted at the
checkered flag, and ran deep into turn three. Busch took the air off of
Hornaday's truck and sent him careening across the track and into J.R.
Fitzpatrick in the #71. The #40 was stopped in the grass when it was rear ended
by the #60 of Jack Sprague who pushed the #40 into Ron Hornaday's driver's side
door, damaging the front clip and equipment.
The #40 truck limped back to the garage area where Crew Chief Lance Hooper set
the team to work on the repairs. "What a shame," stated Hooper, "we expected to
have good run here tonight, it's unfortunate—and on lap ONE none the less!"
The Key Motorsports truck reemerged onto the race track, only to be plagued by
overheating which ended the team's day in 31st position. "We have one hundred
and fifty laps to race, and you have guys racing like it's the last lap. It just
makes no sense to tear up trucks like this", stated Key, "we were in possession
of a great driver, a great team and a great truck. We could have possibly
secured a victory or even a top five finish tonight."
The Key Motorsports #40 team is looking forward to the Ford 200 at
Homestead-Miami with driver Chad Chaffin at the helm.
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