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The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series visited Mansfield Motorsports Speedway, and put on a great show. Trucks going three sometimes four wide on the less-then-half mile track that was cold and had the rubber washed off by repeated showers and one long thunderstorm. Spinning out and actually continuing on, without sitting there to bring out a caution. Running on the same tires for 250 laps. Say what you want about NASCAR drivers. There's a reason these guys are in the big leagues.
The underfunded Thorsport team is based in nearby Sandusky, Ohio, making this their home race. Matt Crafton moved into the lead when early leader Mike Skinner made a pit stop. And he showed that he belonged there, opening up nice leads and apparently heading for his first career win. Willie Allen drove the unsponsored 13 truck into the top ten, then into the top five.
But it wasn't to be. Matt had a tire cut down driving through lapped traffic, suffering suspension damage and was done. That put Rick Crawford up front, Dennis Setzer second, and Willie third. Willie got underneath Dennis in the turns, but just didn't have enough grunt to stay there on exit. With 11 laps left, Rick cut down a tire and it looked like a race to the finish between Willie and Dennis. Just a couple miles short of the checkers, the 13 truck was out of gas. Dennis was able to conserve enough fuel during the race to finish first.
It was great to see the Spears team win. They are an "original" Truck team, running in the series since the Winter Heats series that predated the Supertruck Series. In that time they've won four races, the last in 2004.
Former champion Jack Sprague finished second, fan favorite KenSchrader third, Skinner fourth, and Johnny Benson fifth. The not-so-fan favorite (at this track) Ron Hornaday wound up sixth.
The up-and-comers put on a good show, with Brendan Gaughn and Kevin Hamlin finshing in the top 10, USAC star Aaron Fike and Hooters star Clay Rogers running near the front most of the day, and a couple drivers making their Trucks debut. Kraig Kinser wasn't one of them, trashing the front and rear of his car on the infield wall.
Despite over five hours of rain delays, it was a great day. Lots of side-by-side racing, strategy, endurance. Smaller teams trying to run the entire race without a pit stop and then hold off the big dollar teams on fresher tires and chassis adjustments.
If I ever get a chance to see another NASCAR race in person, you don't want to be standing in front of me!!! |
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