ICKLER: Keeps Ballew Owners Points Lead
06-21-2009 2:24 pm

Brian Ickler piloting the No. 51 Miccosukee Resort Toyota Tundra in his first start at the Milwaukee Mile posted a 15th-place finish Saturday afternoon in the rain delayed Copart 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

Rain in the Milwaukee area canceled qualifying setting the 36-truck field up by 2009 Owner Points putting the No. 51 Miccosukee Resort Toyota Tundra on the pole for the 200 lap, 200 mile race.

Ickler held the point position leading the lap one, but his race truck was too free loosing spots on the ¾-mile racetrack. Ickler reported in that the truck was having a large rotation in the corners, feeling like the truck was sending him off the corner sideways.

The team brought Ickler down pit road on lap 37 for four fresh Goodyear tires, trackbar and wedge adjustments to help the free conditions. Ickler restarted in the 11th-place position and reported that the longer the run the better the truck would become.

A long green flag run on the racetrack forced teams to come down pit road under the green for fuel. Ickler reported he needed more "lateral grip" and came down pit road for service on lap 127 when caution came out trapping the young driver a lap down.

Ickler in the No. 51 Miccosukee Resort Toyota Tundra continued to persevere, despite the ill-handling race truck, posting a 15th-place finish for the Billy Ballew Motorsports team.

"We struggled a little in practice but thought we had the truck pretty race ready," Ickler said. "With the change to a day race we had to chase the truck. We made some adjustments and were headed in the right direction until we got caught a lap down when we came in for fuel and the caution came out. We'll go see what we can do in the Miccosukee Resort Tundra next week in Memphis."

Billy Ballew maintains the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Owner Points Championship lead as the series heads to the Memphis Motorsports Park Saturday, June 27th.