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THE RACE: Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 - GATEWAY INT'L RACEWAY

Truck Series Race #17 of 25 for the 2007 season

Next Race - New Hampshire Int'l Speedway

Race: Saturday, September 1, 2007 at Gateway Int'l Raceway

Length: 160 Laps, 200 Miles

Track Layout: 1.25-mile oval

Race Purse: $618,893

2006 Winner: Todd Bodine

2006 Pole: David Ragan

TV: SPEED - 5:00pm/et

Radio: MRN

Announcers: Rick Allen, Phil Parsons

Pit Reporters: Ray Dunlap, Adam Alexander

Pre-race Host: Krista Voda

Practice Dates/Times

Practice: Friday, August 31, 2007 - 3:30 - 4:30pm, 4:45 - 5:15pm (rookies) and 7:15 - 8:15pm

Qualifying Date/Times

Qualifying: Saturday, September 1, 2007 - 2:05pm

Goodyear Tire Notes

Tire:
Goodyear Wrangler Speedway Radials

Number of Tires:
Left-side - 325
Right-side - 325

Tire Codes:
Left-side -- D-4104
Right-side -- D-4106

Tire Circumference:
Left-side -- 87.4 in.
Right-side -- 88.6 in.

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 20 psi; Left Rear -- 20 psi
Right Front -- 30 psi; Right Rear -- 30 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 15 psi; Left Rear -- 13 psi
Right Front -- 29 psi; Right Rear -- 26 psi

Notes:
This is the first time that NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams have run this specific combination of left- and right-side tires at Gateway. Busch Series teams ran this same tire set-up at Gateway in July. This combination is not new to NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams, having been run at Milwaukee and Indianapolis earlier this summer. Truck teams are also scheduled to run this tire set-up at New Hampshire next race and Phoenix in November. As on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Gateway. Air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear PR)(8-30-2007)

Entry, Practice, Qualifying and Race Information

Benson wins at Gateway: #23-Johhny Benson picked up the win in the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Ram Tough 200 at Gateway Int'l Speedway. Benson had taken over the lead from Hornaday earlier in the race, but problems with a pit stop resulting in a return to the pits had Benson restart from the 21st position. Benson worked his way back through the field to take the lead from #33-Ron Hornaday with just 13 laps remaining to go on to win. It was Benson's third win in 2007, his second in a row. It was also Benson's 8th Truck Series career win. #33-Ron Hornaday finished second with #9-Ted Musgrave third, #30-Todd Bodine fourth, and #47-Regan Smith in fifth. Rounding out the top ten were #6-Travis Kvapil, #99-Erik Darnell, #00-Josh Wise, #88-Matt Crafton, and #77-Brendan Gaughan. #5-Mike Skinner blew a tire early in the race, scraped the wall and sustained considerable damage to the #5-Toyota. Skinner finished 65 laps down from the leaders in 28th place. #1-David Green was running third until blowing a right-front tire with just five laps to go. #22-Ryan Matthews crashed on the final lap, causing the race to end under the yellow flag. There were 7 lead changes among 4 drivers and 6 caution flags for 25 laps.(Unofficial)(9-1-2007)

Race Awards:
Mobil1 Command Performance Driver of the Race: Johnny Benson, #23
Sunoco Diamond Performance: Johnny Benson, #23
Wix Filters Lap Leader Award: Ron Hornaday, Jr., #33 (95 Laps)
Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award : Ted Musgrave, #9 (24 Places)
Checkers/Rally's Double Drive Through: Ron Hornaday, Jr., #33 (97.593 seconds)
Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award: Willie Allen, #13
Budweiser Pole Award: Mike Skinner, #5 (132.708 mph)(9-1-2007)

Unofficial Race Results for the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough
200 - Saturday, September 1, 2007
Gateway International Raceway - Madison, IL - 1.25 Mile Paved

Finish	Start	Trk #	Driver	Team	Laps	Points	Bonus	Award	Status
1	4	23	Johnny Benson	Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota	160	190	5	$61,375	Running
2	2	33	Ron Hornaday Jr.	Camping World Chevy	160	180	10	$43,050	Running
3	17	9	Ted Musgrave	Team ASE Toyota	160	165		$33,350	Running
4	14	30	Todd Bodine	Lumber Liquidators Toyota	160	160		$24,300	Running
5	6	47	Regan Smith	Ginn Resorts Chevy	160	155		$17,925	Running
6	23	6	Travis Kvapil	K&N Filters Ford	160	150		$17,475	Running
7	7	99	Erik Darnell	Northern Tool + Equipment Ford	160	146		$15,700	Running
8	25	00	Josh Wise	Aaron's Lucky Dog Toyota	160	142		$14,200	Running
9	21	88	Matt Crafton	Menards/Johns Manville Chevy	160	138		$13,800	Running
10	5	77	Brendan Gaughan	South Point Hotel Chevy	160	134		$14,425	Running
11	22	14	Rick Crawford	Power Stroke Diesel by Int''l	160	130		$12,900	Running
12	10	13	Willie Allen #	Thorsport Racing Chevy	160	127		$13,575	Running
13	11	51	Kenny Wallace	Flanders Beef Patties Chevy	160	124		$10,250	Running
14	35	21	Jon Wood	Wood Brother JTG Racing Ford	160	121		$12,450	Running
15	27	8	Chad McCumbee	TheGPSStore.com/GARMIN	160	118		$13,275	Running
16	13	15	J.R. Norris	Flanders Beef Patties Chevy	160	115		$12,100	Running
17	18	18	Ken Schrader	Fastenal Dodge	160	112		$12,050	Running
18	8	22	Ryan Mathews	Bill Davis Racing Toyota	160	109		$11,875	Running
19	28	75	Dennis Setzer	Spears Mfg. Chevy	159	106		$11,775	Running
20	16	1	David Green	RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota	157	108	5	$12,200	Running
21	30	08	Boris Jurkovic	People Against Drugs Chevy	157	100		$10,475	Running
22	29	10	David Starr	Int''l MAXX FORCE Diesel	154	97		$10,450	Running
23	32	7	Jason White #	Hooters Energy Drink Dodge	148	94		$9,425	Running
24	12	50	TJ Bell	Heathcliff's Cat Litter Ford	125	91		$9,400	Accident
25	20	4	Mike Bliss	Open Joist Dodge	124	88		$9,375	Accident
26	31	63	Scott Lynch	Cooper Bussmann Ford	113	85		$9,350	Running
27	19	40	Brandon Miller	Westerman Companies Chevy	111	82		$9,325	Differential
28	1	5	Mike Skinner	XM/Toyota Tundra Toyota	95	84	5	$11,100	Running
29	26	16	Derrike Cope	Xpress Motorsports Ford	70	76		$9,275	Ignition
30	3	59	Terry Cook	Harris Trucking Toyota	65	73		$9,255	Engine
31	9	07	Tim Sauter #	Lester Buildings Chevy	54	70		$9,245	Engine
32	15	60	Jack Sprague	Con-way Freight Toyota	40	67		$9,235	Engine
33	34	86	Dana White	888Karport.com/Red Line Synthetic	29	0		$9,200	Handling
34	24	09	Joey Clanton #	Zaxby's Ford	14	61		$9,175	Accident
35	33	04	Joe Ruttman	Fastenal Dodge	4	0		$9,160	Handling
36	36	68	Jack Smith	Cooper Bussmann Ford	0	0		$9,144	Engine

Race Comments:	Before an estimated crowd of 20,000, Johnny Benson won the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200, his eighth career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory.Before the green flag the following driver, under penalty, dropped to the rear of the field for the reasons indicated: #21 Jon Wood (engine change).
Failed to Qualify:	N/A
Time of Race:	01 Hrs, 55 Mins, 46 Secs.
Average Speed:	103.657 MPH
Margin of Victory:	Under Caution
Caution Flags:	6 for 25 laps: Laps: 16-19 (#09, #15 accident turn 3); 58-62 (Debris backstretch); 105-109 (Debris turn 1); 120-122 (#40 stall access road); 126-132 (#50 accident turn 3); 160-160 (#22 accident turn 1).
Lead Changes:	7 among 4 drivers: M. Skinner 1-31; R. Hornaday Jr. 32-38; J. Benson 39-57; R. Hornaday Jr. 58-106; D. Green 107-109; R. Hornaday Jr. 110-147; J. Benson 148-160

Hornaday new points leader: Troubles for Mike Skinner and a strong second place finish by #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., who also gained bonus points for leading the most laps, has #33-Ron Hornaday leading the driver point standings at 2,769 just four points ahead of second place #5-Mike Skinner. Rounding out the top ten are #6-Travis Kvapil, #30-Todd Bodine, #23-Johnny Benson, #14-Rick Crawford, #9-Ted Musgrave, #60-Jack Sprague, #88-Matt Crafton, and #99-Erik Darnell.(Unofficial)(9-1-2007)

Gateway International Raceway - Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200
Craftsman Truck Series Driver Points Report
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Saturday, 9/1/2007 @ 7:41 PM Eastern UNOFFICAL

Pos	Driver	BPts	Pts	Ldr
1	Ron Hornaday Jr.	65	2769	0
2	Mike Skinner	105	2765	-4
3	Travis Kvapil	60	2575	-194
4	Todd Bodine	30	2506	-263
5	Johnny Benson	30	2349	-420
6	Rick Crawford	20	2326	-443
7	Ted Musgrave	20	2122	-647
8	Jack Sprague	10	2094	-675
9	Matt Crafton	5	2087	-682
10	Erik Darnell	15	2021	-748
11	David Starr	0	1960	-809
12	Brendan Gaughan	15	1928	-841
13	Dennis Setzer	5	1887	-882
14	Ken Schrader	0	1801	-968
15	Terry Cook	5	1773	-996
16	Tim Sauter #	10	1653	-1116
17	Willie Allen #	5	1651	-1118
18	Chad McCumbee	20	1554	-1215
19	Bill Lester	5	1550	-1219
20	Aaron Fike	5	1487	-1282
21	Mike Bliss	0	1418	-1351
22	Blake Bjorklund	5	1355	-1414
23	Stacy Compton	0	1321	-1448
24	Ryan Mathews	0	1255	-1514
25	Kraig Kinser	0	1186	-1583
26	Joey Clanton #	0	1178	-1591
27	Jason White #	0	1051	-1718
28	TJ Bell	0	899	-1870
29	A J Allmendinger	10	855	-1914
30	Josh Wise	0	660	-2109
31	Mark Martin	15	648	-2121
32	David Green	5	617	-2152
33	Tyler Walker	0	585	-2184
34	Kelly Bires	0	572	-2197
35	Kyle Busch	15	560	-2209
36	Kevin Harvick	0	523	-2246
37	Jon Wood	0	496	-2273
38	Brandon Miller	0	467	-2302
39	Clay Rogers	0	455	-2314
40	Chase Miller	0	452	-2317
41	Regan Smith	0	418	-2351
42	Cale Gale	0	417	-2352
43	Scott Lynch	0	404	-2365
44	Peter Shepherd	0	352	-2417
45	Brad Keselowski	5	329	-2440
46	Kevin Hamlin	0	322	-2447
47	J C Stout	0	316	-2453
48	Bryan Silas	0	304	-2465
49	Kenny Hendrick	0	286	-2483
50	Derrike Cope	0	286	-2483
51	Shane Huffman	0	279	-2490
52	Bradley Riethmeyer	0	267	-2502
53	Jack Smith	0	252	-2517
54	Carl Edwards	0	251	-2518
55	Danny O'quinn, Jr	0	246	-2523
56	Kelly Sutton	0	231	-2538
57	Clint Bowyer	5	221	-2548
58	Christoher Fontaine	0	215	-2554
59	Aric Almirola	0	206	-2563
60	Morgan Shepherd	0	201	-2568
61	Timothy Peters	0	193	-2576
62	Joe Ruttman	0	170	-2599
63	Wayne Edwards	0	146	-2623
64	Frank Kreyer	0	140	-2629
65	Travis Kittleson	0	134	-2635
66	Kenny Wallace	0	124	-2645
67	Ken Butler	0	119	-2650
68	Benny Gordon	0	118	-2651
69	J.R. Norris	0	115	-2654
70	Brandon Knupp	0	109	-2660
71	Bobby Labonte	0	109	-2660
72	Eric Norris	0	103	-2666
73	Boris Jurkovic	0	100	-2669
74	Scott Lagasse	0	100	-2669
75	Shane Sieg	0	88	-2681
76	Jimmy Simpson	0	85	-2684
77	Keven Wood	0	82	-2687
78	Justin Labonte	0	82	-2687
79	Daniel Pope	0	76	-2693
80	Tim Cowen	0	73	-2696
81	Chris Wimmer	0	73	-2696
82	Brad Mueller	0	73	-2696
83	Dana White	0	67	-2702
84	Larry Foyt	0	67	-2702
85	Casey Kingsland	0	67	-2702
86	Paul Menard	0	64	-2705
87	Brett Thompson	0	64	-2705
88	Nate Monteith	0	64	-2705
89	Boston Reid	0	58	-2711
90	Tim Schendel	0	58	-2711
91	Mike Wallace	0	55	-2714
92	Justin Hobgood	0	55	-2714
93	Kevin Lepage	0	55	-2714
94	Pierre Bourque	0	55	-2714
95	Johnny Chapman	0	0	-2769
96	Blake Mallory	0	0	-2769
97	Bobby Dotter	0	0	-2769
98	Randy MacDonald	0	0	-2769

Gateway International Raceway - Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200
Craftsman Truck Series Owner Points Following Race # 17
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Saturday, 9/1/2007 @ 7:12 PM Eastern UNOFFICIAL

Pos	Owner	Trk#	Pts	Ldr
1	Delana Harvick	33	2,769	--
2	Bill Davis	5	2,765	-4
3	Jack Roush	6	2,575	-194
4	Steve Germain	30	2,506	-263
5	Gail Davis	23	2,349	-420
6	Tom Mitchell	14	2,326	-443
7	Bob Germain	9	2,242	-527
8	Tom Deloach	1	2,104	-665
9	Jeffrey Wyler	60	2,094	-675
10	Rhonda Thorson	88	2,087	-682
11	Jack Roush	99	2,021	-748
12	Gregory Pollex	10	1,960	-809
13	Tad Geschickter	09	1,947	-822
14	Michael Gaughan	77	1,928	-841
15	Lois Vance	18	1,889	-880
16	Wayne Spears	75	1,887	-882
17	Lois Vance	4	1,859	-910
18	Eddie Wood	21	1,856	-913
19	Bill Davis	22	1,840	-929
20	James Harris, Jr	59	1,773	-996
21	Jack Roush	50	1,748	-1,021
22	Billy Ballew	15	1,729	-1,040
23	Darrell Waltrip	00	1,716	-1,053
24	David Dollar	47	1,698	-1,071
25	Bobby Dotter	08	1,669	-1,100
26	Gene Christensen	07	1,653	-1,116
27	Duke Thorson	13	1,651	-1,118
28	Curtis Key	40	1,602	-1,167
29	David Fuge	16	1,552	-1,217
30	Dave Malcolmson	8	1,531	-1,238
31	J L Pennington	7	1,385	-1,384
32	Delana Harvick	2	1,237	-1,532
33	Billy Ballew	51	1,143	-1,626
34	Michael Mittler	63	650	-2,119
35	Andy Hillenburg	71	490	-2,279
36	David Dollar	46	382	-2,387
37	Curtis Key	44	332	-2,437
38	Donald Stout	91	316	-2,453
39	Tracy Trotter	49	252	-2,517
40	Jim Rosenblum	28	210	-2,559
41	Shelly Brevak	31	131	-2,638
42	Scott Upshaw	95	119	-2,650
43	James Blankenbaker	53	119	-2,650
44	Bob Cowen	42	113	-2,656
45	Jerry Reary	54	101	-2,668
46	David Ervin	64	85	-2,684
47	Gene Christensen	06	76	-2,693
48	Jeff Milburn	76	73	-2,696
49	James Lynch	29	64	-2,705
50	Richard Thompson	61	64	-2,705
51	Rick Germain	03	55	-2,714
52	Rick Jones	87	43	-2,726

Skinner wins the pole at Gateway: #5-Mike Skinner is the winner of the pole position for the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 at Gateway with a speed of 132.708. This is Skinner’s ninth pole of the season, one away from matching the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season-pole record which he established in 1995. Skinner was followed by #33-Ron Hornaday Jr. second, #59-Terry Cook third, #23-Johnny Benson fourth, #77-Brendan Gaughan fifth. Rounding out the ten were #47-Regan Smith, #99-Erik Darnell, #22-Ryan Matthews, #07-Tim Sauter, #13-Willie Allen; first rookie [9th] #07-Tim Sauter; first Dodge [18th] #18-Ken Schrader. #21-Jon Wood did not make a qualifying run as the team decided to change the motor. Wood will start from the rear of the field using a provisional.(9-1-2007)

Gateway International Raceway - Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200
Craftsman Truck Series - Starting Lineup
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Sat, September 01, 2007 @ 02:29 PM Eastern

Pos	#	Driver	Team	Time	Speed
1	5	Mike Skinner	XM/Toyota Tundra Toyota	33.909	132.708
2	33	Ron Hornaday Jr.	Camping World Chevy	33.997	132.365
3	59	Terry Cook	Harris Trucking Toyota	34.000	132.353
4	23	Johnny Benson	Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota	34.045	132.178
5	77	Brendan Gaughan	South Point Hotel Chevy	34.055	132.139
6	47	Regan Smith	Ginn Resorts Chevy	34.055	132.139
7	99	Erik Darnell	Northern Tool + Equipment Ford	34.064	132.104
8	22	Ryan Mathews	Bill Davis Racing Toyota	34.065	132.100
9	07	Tim Sauter #	Lester Buildings Chevy	34.108	131.934
10	13	Willie Allen #	Thorsport Racing Chevy	34.138	131.818
11	51	Kenny Wallace	Flanders Beef Patties Chevy	34.200	131.579
12	50	TJ Bell	Heathcliff's Cat Litter Ford	34.225	131.483
13	15	J.R. Norris	Flanders Beef Patties Chevy	34.253	131.375
14	30	Todd Bodine	Lumber Liquidators Toyota	34.261	131.345
15	60	Jack Sprague	Con-way Freight Toyota	34.315	131.138
16	1	David Green	RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota	34.343	131.031
17	9	Ted Musgrave	Team ASE Toyota	34.362	130.959
18	18	Ken Schrader	Fastenal Dodge	34.401	130.810
19	40	Brandon Miller	Westerman Companies Chevy	34.427	130.711
20	4	Mike Bliss	Open Joist Dodge	34.458	130.594
21	88	Matt Crafton	Menards/Johns Manville Chevy	34.525	130.340
22	14	Rick Crawford	Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l Ford	34.531	130.318
23	6	Travis Kvapil	K&N Filters Ford	34.591	130.092
24	09	Joey Clanton #	Zaxby's Ford	34.598	130.065
25	00	Josh Wise	Aaron's Lucky Dog Toyota	34.657	129.844
26	16	Derrike Cope	Xpress Motorsports Ford	34.831	129.195
27	8	Chad McCumbee	TheGPSStore.com/GARMIN Chevy	34.847	129.136
28	75	Dennis Setzer	Spears Mfg. Chevy	34.850	129.125
29	10	David Starr	Int'l MAXX FORCE Diesel Ford	34.890	128.977
30	08	Boris Jurkovic	People Against Drugs Chevy	34.909	128.907
31	63	Scott Lynch	Cooper Bussmann Ford	35.381	127.187
32	7	Jason White #	Hooters Energy Drink Dodge	35.689	126.089
33	04	Joe Ruttman	Fastenal Dodge	35.736	125.923
34	86	Dana White	888Karport.com/Red Line Synthetic Oil	36.603	122.941
35	21	Jon Wood	Wood Brothers JTG Racing Ford	Owner Points
36	68	Jack Smith	Cooper Bussmann Ford	0.000	0.000
DNQ - None

Skinner tops speed chart in final practice: #5-Mike Skinner was the fastest in the final practice session for the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 with a speed of 135.706 followed by #60-Jack Sprague second, #15-J.R. Norris third, #1-David Green fourth, #33-Ron Hornaday Jr. fifth. Rounding out the top ten were #88-Matt Crafton, #47-Regan Smith, #23-Johnny Benson, #22-Ryan Matthews, #4-Mike Bliss; first Ford [13th] #50-T.J. Bell; first rookie [16th] #07-Tim Sauter. #77-Brendan Gaughan scraped the fourth turn wall; and flat-sided the truck, and will be going to a backup truck. There were 35 trucks on track for the final session.(8-31-2007)

Gateway International Raceway - Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200
NCTS Final Practice (HAPPY HOUR)
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, August 31, 2007 @ 08:19 PM Eastern

Pos	#	Driver	Team	Time	Speed
1	5	Mike Skinner	XM/Toyota Tundra Toyota	33.160	135.706
2	60	Jack Sprague	Con-way Freight Toyota	33.502	134.320
3	15	J.R. Norris	Flanders Beef Patties Chevy	33.539	134.172
4	1	David Green	RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota	33.594	133.952
5	33	Ron Hornaday Jr.	Camping World Chevy	33.628	133.817
6	88	Matt Crafton	Menards/Johns Manville Chevy	33.660	133.690
7	47	Regan Smith	Ginn Resorts Chevy	33.676	133.626
8	23	Johnny Benson	Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota	33.679	133.614
9	22	Ryan Mathews	Toyota	33.798	133.144
10	4	Mike Bliss	Open Joist Dodge	33.816	133.073
11	*51	Kenny Wallace	Flanders Beef Patties Chevy	33.831	133.014
12	59	Terry Cook	Harris Trucking Toyota	33.831	133.014
13	50	TJ Bell	Heathcliff's Cat Litter Ford	33.867	132.873
14	99	Erik Darnell	Northern Tool + Equipment Ford	33.892	132.775
15	21	Jon Wood	Ford	33.905	132.724
16	07	Tim Sauter #	Lester Buildings Chevy	33.914	132.689
17	18	Ken Schrader	Fastenal Dodge	33.954	132.532
18	14	Rick Crawford	Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l Ford	33.969	132.474
19	13	Willie Allen #	Thorsport Racing Chevy	34.003	132.341
20	9	Ted Musgrave	Team ASE Toyota	34.006	132.330
21	30	Todd Bodine	Lumber Liquidators Toyota	34.060	132.120
22	09	Joey Clanton #	Zaxby's Ford	34.117	131.899
23	08	Boris Jurkovic	People Against Drugs Chevy	34.133	131.837
24	00	Josh Wise	Aaron's Lucky Dog Toyota	34.134	131.833
25	77	Brendan Gaughan	South Point Hotel Chevy	34.149	131.775
26	16	Derrike Cope	Xpress Motorsports Ford	34.258	131.356
27	10	David Starr	Int'l MAXX FORCE Diesel Ford	34.266	131.326
28	40	Brandon Miller	Westerman Companies Chevy	34.306	131.172
29	6	Travis Kvapil	K&N Filters Ford	34.383	130.879
30	75	Dennis Setzer	Spears Mfg. Chevy	34.486	130.488
31	8	Chad McCumbee	TheGPSStore.com/GARMIN Chevy	34.503	130.423
32	*04	Joe Ruttman	Fastenal Dodge	35.120	128.132
33	*7	Jason White #	Hooters Energy Drink Dodge	35.370	127.226
34	*63	Scott Lynch	Cooper Bussmann Ford	35.418	127.054
35	*68	Jack Smith	Cooper Bussmann Ford	35.941	125.205
*Required to qualify on time

Cook leads first practice session: #59-Terry Cook was the fastest in the first practice session at Gateway Int'l Raceway with a speed of 133.845 followed by #77-Brendan Gaughan second, #23-Johnny Benson third, #88-Matt Crafton fourth, #14-Rick Crawford fifth. Rounding out the top ten were #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., #22-Ryan Matthews, #5-Mike Skinner, #60-Jack Sprague, and #51-Kenny Wallace; first Dodge [14th] #4-Mike Bliss; first rookie [15th] #07-Tim Sauter. Two incidents on track; Travis Kvapil scuffed the turn four wall damaging the right side of the #6 Ford; #10-David Starr had a right front tire go down in turn one and popped the outside wall.(8-31-2007)

Gateway International Raceway - Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200
Craftsman Truck Series - Practice 1
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, August 31, 2007 @ 04:33 PM Eastern

Pos	#	Driver	Team	Time	Speed
1	59	Terry Cook	Harris Trucking Toyota	33.621	133.845
2	77	Brendan Gaughan	South Point Hotel Chevy	33.839	132.983
3	23	Johnny Benson	Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota	33.869	132.865
4	88	Matt Crafton	Menards/Johns Manville Chevy	33.874	132.845
5	14	Rick Crawford	Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l Ford	33.899	132.747
6	33	Ron Hornaday Jr.	Camping World Chevy	33.975	132.450
7	22	Ryan Mathews	Toyota	34.041	132.194
8	5	Mike Skinner	XM/Toyota Tundra Toyota	34.051	132.155
9	60	Jack Sprague	Con-way Freight Toyota	34.057	132.131
10	*51	Kenny Wallace	Flanders Beef Patties Chevy	34.165	131.714
11	6	Travis Kvapil	K&N Filters Ford	34.165	131.714
12	99	Erik Darnell	Northern Tool + Equipment Ford	34.196	131.594
13	50	TJ Bell	Heathcliff's Cat Litter Ford	34.262	131.341
14	4	Mike Bliss	Open Joist Dodge	34.274	131.295
15	07	Tim Sauter #	Lester Buildings Chevy	34.308	131.165
16	47	Regan Smith	Ginn Resorts Chevy	34.336	131.058
17	1	David Green	RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota	34.349	131.008
18	13	Willie Allen #	Thorsport Racing Chevy	34.357	130.978
19	09	Joey Clanton #	Zaxby's Ford	34.359	130.970
20	30	Todd Bodine	Lumber Liquidators Toyota	34.365	130.947
21	18	Ken Schrader	Fastenal Dodge	34.421	130.734
22	15	J.R. Norris	Flanders Beef Patties Chevy	34.502	130.427
23	9	Ted Musgrave	Team ASE Toyota	34.508	130.405
24	00	Josh Wise	Aaron's Lucky Dog Toyota	34.511	130.393
25	21	Jon Wood	Ford	34.526	130.337
26	8	Chad McCumbee	TheGPSStore.com/GARMIN Chevy	34.530	130.321
27	10	David Starr	Int'l MAXX FORCE Diesel Ford	34.583	130.122
28	08	Boris Jurkovic	People Against Drugs Chevy	34.617	129.994
29	40	Brandon Miller	Westerman Companies Chevy	34.640	129.908
30	16	Derrike Cope	Xpress Motorsports Ford	34.703	129.672
31	75	Dennis Setzer	Spears Mfg. Chevy	34.844	129.147
32	*63	Scott Lynch	Cooper Bussmann Ford	35.442	126.968
33	*7	Jason White #	Hooters Energy Drink Dodge	36.534	123.173
34	*86	Dana White	888Karport.com/Red Line Synthetic Oil	36.758	122.422
*Required to qualify on time

Gateway International Raceway - Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200
Craftsman Truck Series - Entry List
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, August 31, 2007 @ 02:03 PM Eastern

Entry	Trk#	Driver	Team	Owner
1	0	Josh Wise	Aaron's Lucky Dog Toyota	Darrell Waltrip
2	1	David Green	RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota	Tom DeLoach
3	*04	Joe Ruttman	Fastenal Dodge	Lori Hamilton
4	4	Mike Bliss	Open Joist Dodge	Lois Vance
5	5	Mike Skinner	XM/Toyota Tundra Toyota	Bill Davis
6	6	Travis Kvapil	K&N Filters Ford	Jack Roush
7	07	Tim Sauter #	Lester Buildings Chevy	Gene Christensen
8	*7	Jason White #	Hooters Energy Drink Dodge	J.L. Pennington
9	08	Boris Jurkovic	People Against Drugs Chevy	Bobby Dotter
10	8	Chad McCumbee	TheGPSStore.com/GARMIN Chevy	David Malcolmson
11	09	Joey Clanton #	Zaxby's Ford	Tad Geschickter
12	9	Ted Musgrave	Team ASE Toyota	Bob Germain
13	10	David Starr	Int'l MAXX FORCE Diesel Ford	Greg Pollex
14	13	Willie Allen #	Thorsport Racing Chevy	Duke Thorson
15	14	Rick Crawford	Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l	Tom Mitchell
16	15	J.R. Norris	Flanders Beef Patties Chevy	Billy Ballew
17	16	Derrike Cope	Xpress Motorsports Ford	David Fuge
18	18	Ken Schrader	Fastenal Dodge	Lois Vance
19	21	Jon Wood	Ford	Eddie Wood
20	22	Ryan Mathews	Toyota	Bill Davis
21	23	Johnny Benson	Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota	Gail Davis
22	30	Todd Bodine	Lumber Liquidators Toyota	Steven Germain
23	33	Ron Hornaday Jr.	Camping World Chevy	Delana Harvick
24	40	Brandon Miller	Westerman Companies Chevy	Curtis Key
25	47	Regan Smith	Ginn Resorts Chevy	David Dollar
26	50	TJ Bell	Heathcliff's Cat Litter Ford	Jack Roush
27	*51	Kenny Wallace	Flanders Beef Patties Chevy	Billy Ballew
28	59	Terry Cook	Harris Trucking Toyota	James Harris
29	60	Jack Sprague	Con-way Freight Toyota	Jeff Wyler
30	*63	Scott Lynch	Cooper Bussmann Ford	Mike Mittler
31	*68	Jack Smith	Cooper Bussmann Ford	Mike Mittler
32	75	Dennis Setzer	Spears Mfg. Chevy	Wayne Spears
33	77	Brendan Gaughan	South Point Hotel Chevy	Michael Gaughan
34	*86	Dana White	888Karport.com/Red Line Synthetic Oil	Phil Bonifield
35	88	Matt Crafton	Menards/Johns Manville Chevy	Rhonda Thorson
36	99	Erik Darnell	Northern Tool + Equipment Ford	Jack Roush
*Required to qualify on time

News & Notes - Gateway Int'l Raceway:

Gateway: good place to win again: speak of dry spells and Ted Musgrave (#9 Team ASE/Germain Toyota) would prefer not to. But it remains that Musgrave's last win came 60 races ago at Gateway Int'l Raceway which the Craftsman Truck Series visits Saturday for the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers 200. Musgrave, a 16-time winner, might have ended the string at the 1.25-mile St. Louis-area facility last year except for one thing. He finished second to Germain Racing teammate and 2006 series champion Todd Bodine (#30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota). Musgrave's 28-month dry spell, however, is only third-longest among active series winners. Ken Schrader (#18 Fastenal Dodge) is 0-for-81 since 1995 and Brendan Gaughan (#77 South Point Chevy), the 2003 Ram Tough 200 winner, has gone 67 races since win #8 at Texas Motor Speedway in November of the same season.

Multi-truck teams, one-two sweeps rare before 1999: Roush Fenway Racing pioneered the concept of multi-truck teams in the Craftsman Truck Series and, not surprising, scored the initial top two sweep in October 1997. The top two finishing drivers at Phoenix Int'l Raceway were Joe Ruttman and Chuck Bown. Since then, the "sweep" has been accomplished on 18 different occasions, most recently by Bill Davis Racing's Johnny Benson and Mike Skinner last fall at New Hampshire Int'l Speedway. Roush Fenway Racing drivers have finished one-two on 11 separate occasions with 11 different drivers figuring in those equations. Greg Biffle was the most dominant, beating teammate and 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Kurt Busch three of four times they ran one-two in 2000. Biffle also beat Mike Bliss (#4 Open Joist Dodge) twice in 1999. Four teams have placed their drivers one-two: Roush Fenway, Ultra Motorsports (five times), Bill Davis Racing (once) and Germain Racing (once).

Craftsman Truck Series - One-Two Team Finishes by the Numbers:
1 Number of Top-Two Finishes Prior to 1999
4 Teams With Top-Two Finishes
5 Greg Biffle's Wins In Top-Two Finishes
11 Top-Two Finishes by Roush Fenway Drivers
17 Top-Two Finishes Since 1999
18 Top-Two Finishes In Series History
First Top Two: 1997 - Roush Fenway Racing (Phoenix Int'l Raceway)
Latest Top Two: 2006 - Bill Davis Racing (New Hampshire Int'l Speedway)

Victory lane fall-off new experience for Bodine: Hard to believe but Todd Bodine, the defending Craftsman Truck Series champion, has won exactly one race in the past 14 months. That, after setting the season on fire in 2005 with victories in the final three races and five overall. While it hasn't exactly been a lean year - Bodine is fourth in points with a win, seven top-five and 12 top-10 finishes - the 43-year-old champion is less than happy when he's not visiting Victory Lane. But, looking at the bright side, the defending winner of Saturday's Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200, points to an increased level of competition in the series overall. "The competition has kind of stepped it up and we are going to have to step it up and get that dominant edge again," said Bodine.

Six drivers who have won the past seven editions of the Ram Tough 200 are expected to compete in this week's 10th series race at the 1.25-mile speedway. That's the most of any track on the schedule in 2007 - one more than the winners of six races earlier this summer at The Milwaukee Mile. Gateway's egg-shaped layout favors the best in the business - drivers, crew chiefs and teams. So it isn't surprising that five Gateway winners count a combined six championships. The past two winners of the Ram Tough 200 - Ted Musgrave and Bodine - went on to win the season's title.

How the Points Break Down: [The point spread between first and second places after 16 races is the closest it's been in the last four seasons]
Year - Point Difference
2007, 92
2004, 96
2006, 144
2005, 178

Etc:

Brendan Gaughan's runner-up finish at Bristol Motor Speedway was the Las Vegas driver's best since running second to Mark Martin (#21 Mark Martin Ford) at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2006. Martin this time ran third.

Bristol winner Johnny Benson (#23 Exide Batteries Toyota) is the season's fourth multiple winner. The victory was Benson's first on a short track. Benson and Ron Hornaday Jr. (#33 Camping World Chevy) are the only drivers with top-10 finishes on all five short tracks in 2007.

And now they're teammates. Rick Crawford (#14 Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l Ford) and David Starr (#10 MaxxForce Int'l Diesel Power Ford) were a very big part of the story line at Gateway Int'l Raceway in 2004. Starr won the race - leading only the last lap - and Crawford wound up taking a wild, 500-foot ride, driver side down, after a Turn 2 accident during a multiple green-white-checker finish. "It was a memory of racing you'd rather forget," said Crawford. "It wasn't a bad spill and it showed two things: How safe the trucks are, but also with all of the head and neck restraints that you have now, that it was quick for a driver to escape - even after a spill like that." Chad Chaffin and Starr, running third and fourth, raced for the win after leaders Bobby Hamilton and Shane Hmiel collided. "He (Chaffin) was slowing his truck down and kinda blocking me in the lower lane," said Starr. "He got on the brakes too early to block the center (of the turn) and I just got into the back of him square enough where it made him wiggle … and I passed him to win the race."

Two points to ponder: One, there never has been a first-time series winner at Gateway and two, the best finish by a Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate is fourth by Carl Edwards in 2003.

Mittler Bros. Motorsports, the series' only St. Louis-based team, will compete in its 10th consecutive Ram Tough 200 with driver Scott Lynch (#63 Cooper Bussmann Ford). Five entered teams have run all nine Gateway races.

Manufacturers Notes:

Promotion targets Homestead finales: Competitors in NASCAR's three national series aren't the only ones looking forward to Ford Championship Weekend Nov. 16-18 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Ford, the Official Truck of NASCAR, for the fourth time has renewed its Race to the Dream promotion sponsored by Ford trucks which culminates in an entrant being selected the "Ultimate Fan Champion." That fan will experience a complete front and backstage view of the three days of competition including a ride in the pace truck prior to the Nov. 16 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ford 200. Fans can enter by going to racetothedream.com. One finalist will be selected each week until the contest closes on Oct. 30. "We know that NASCAR fans also are also truck enthusiasts so it's a great opportunity for us to combine two of their favorite passions into a truly unique experience," said Todd Eckert, Ford Truck and SUV Manager.

Chevy, Dodge Share Gateway victory lead:
Chevy, currently second in Craftsman Truck Series Manufacturers' Championship points, shares the most victories at Gateway Int'l Raceway - three - with Dodge. That fact may give the latter truck builder hope as it seeks win #1 of the 2007 season. Dodge's wins came in 2001, 2003 and 2005 - thus it is due in 2007. Chevy's three victories were logged in 1998, 2000 and 2004.

Manufacturers' Point Standings:
Toyota, 114
Chevy, 96
Ford, 93
Dodge, 49

In The Loop:

Craftsman Truck Series points leader Skinner has seesawed between good and bad finishes at Gateway. In 2003, his first race there, Skinner scored a 12th-place finish. The following year: 28th place. Over the last two years, the pattern continued with a fourth-place finish followed by a 35th-place finish. The sequence predicts a good finish this year by Skinner. Over the last two years, Skinner has a Driver Rating of 91.0, which is 13th-best - and one spot ahead of Ron Hornaday Jr.

Hornaday, the prime candidate to catch Skinner in the standings, is 92 points out in second. He has a Gateway Driver Rating of 87.8 and an Average Running Position of 11.7.

Though not exactly in the championship hunt, figure Ted Musgrave to have a strong showing at Gateway. He won there in 2005 and finished second last year. Over the past two years, Musgrave holds the top numbers in Driver Rating (136.0), Average Running Position (3.8), Fastest Laps Run (54) and Laps in the Top 15 (307).

Homecoming for Schrader: Ken Schrader ran his only Craftsman Truck Series race at Gateway in 2001 finishing 17th. He finished fifth in Gateway's 1999 Busch Series race driving a Chevy owned by now ESPN analyst Andy Petree.

Brothers and such: St. Louis native Kenny Wallace (#51 Flanders Provisions Co. Chevy) will return to the series after an absence of nearly nine years. Wallace last competed at Phoenix Int'l Raceway in 1995. The Wallace family - Kenny, Mike and Rusty - is one of four to have three brothers race in the Craftsman Truck Series. "I have some unfinished business with Mike," said Wallace. "He may have more starts there in a truck, but I've had some good runs in Busch and I look forward to this opportunity to get a good top-five run in our hometown." Mike Wallace's best Gateway finish is fifth. Each of the families - the Wallaces, Bodines, Greens and Sauters - is represented in the Ram Tough 200. The entry includes Wallace, Todd Bodine, David Green (#1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota) and Tim Sauter (#07 Lester Buildings Chevy).

This Week's Craftsman Truck Series Leaders: (through 16 races of the 25-race season)
Points leader - Mike Skinner (2,681)
Driver Rating - Mike Skinner (122.2)
Winnings - Mike Skinner ($541,500)
Laps led - Mike Skinner (912)
Victories - Mike Skinner (4)
Bud Poles - Mike Skinner (8)
Top-five finishes - Mike Skinner (13)
Top-10 finishes - Mike Skinner, Ron Hornaday Jr. (15)
Raybestos Rookie Leader - Tim Sauter (5 points over Willie Allen)
Races led - Mike Skinner (15)
Weeks in Top 10 - Nine drivers tied with 16

Raybestos Rookie of the Year Standings:
The roster of eligible Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidates will drop to five following this week's Ram Tough 200. That's because the rookie agreement requires that eligibility is terminated if a candidate fails to attempt to qualify for eight of the season's first 17 races.
1. Tim Sauter, 126
2. Willie Allen, 121
3. Blake Bjorklund, 110
4. Joey Clanton, 101
5. Jason White, 85
6. Kelly Bires, 49*
7. Peter Shepherd, 32*
8. Kevin Hamlin, 26*
9. Casey Kingsland, 5*
10. Brian Sockwell, 2*
* Eligibility will terminate after Gateway

Up Next: New Hampshire

The big question as the series heads for New England for the Sept. 15 New Hampshire 200 is this: Will the 1.058-mile New Hampshire Int'l Speedway see its 12th different winner?

NHIS and Homestead-Miami Speedway, which joined the schedule in 1996, have identical records as tracks where no previous winner has been able to revisit Victory Lane. That's probably bad news for seven NHIS winners expected to compete, including defending New Hampshire 200 champion Johnny Benson.

It's difficult - if not impossible - to explain why past winners have experienced such frustration in Loudon, N.H. Consider this, though: It's been the same story with the NASCAR Busch Series and in spades. Kevin Harvick became the track's 21st different winner when the series visited NHIS on June 30.

The track has no winners common to both series. David Green is the only NBS winner expected to compete in the New Hampshire 200.(NASCAR Media)(8-27-2007)

Additional Gateway Truck Series Race Info at:
gatewayraceway.com
espn.go.com
NASCAR.com
truckseries.com

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