Mike Bliss in Victory Lane View High Sierra Gallery for this Race

Bliss Rallies at South Boston for Fifth Win

Mike Bliss, bidding for his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, extended his points advantage Saturday with a half-second victory over Dennis Setzer in the Hardee's 250 with John Boy and Billy at Big Daddy's South Boston Speedway. Bliss, who started second in the 36-truck field, dropped to 13th after a lap 92 pit stop but methodically worked his way back to the front of the pack. He passed Coy Gibbs for the lead on lap 199 and held a six-second lead over Setzer when the afternoon's 10th and final caution extended the scheduled 250-lap distance to 257 -- and gave Setzer a two-lap shot at Bliss's IWX Motor Freight/Knights Inn Chevrolet. Bliss, however, drove away from Setzer's ACXIOM/Computer Associates Chevrolet. Rick Crawford finished third in his Ford, followed by Gibbs and Travis Kvapil. Ted Musgrave, the Bud Pole winner, experienced late handling trouble and finished 14th despite leading the race's first 92 laps. Bliss, who carries a 55-point championship lead with four races remaining, won $41,250. There were four lead changes among three drivers. The race's 88 laps of caution was a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series record -- 11 more than the 77 here in 2001 when Musgrave won.