Setzer joins exclusive list of series streakers By winning the Aug. 5 Power Stroke Diesel 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Dennis Setzer (#46 Chevrolet Silverado 200) became the fourth driver to win four of his last six starts in the same NASCAR Craftsman Truck season. Greg Biffle was the most recent to do so in 1999. Biffle and Ron Hornaday Jr. (#6 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) posted six victories in eight starts in 1999 and 1997, respectively. Setzer also reached a single-season high in wins. He won three times in 1999 and 2003.
Raybestos Rookie leader maintains torrid pace Todd Kluever (#50 Shell Rotella T Ford) came within a couple of truck lengths of upstaging Setzer at Indianapolis. The runaway Raybestos Rookie of the Year leader by nearly 100 points finished second, matching his series-best finish at Kentucky Speedway. He started 16th. That was a tall order on a track where nine of 11 winners have started third or higher. Kluever has three top-10 finishes in four starts since Mike Beam took over as crew chief. The 27-year-old driver had three top 10s in his previous 11 appearances. There was nothing wrong with the guys I had but weve really clicked, said Kluever. Its been a phenomenal last four weeks and a lot of fun. I thought tonight was going to be our night.
ETC. Setzer is the third driver in 2005 to win from the #1 starting position. Inclement weather caused the field to be set via the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rule Book with Setzer on top by virtue of his rank in the standings. The seventh consecutive different winner at IRP, Setzer has eight wins on short tracks to go with eight victories on speedways. He last won on a short track in October 2003 at South Boston Speedway in Virginia. Last years Nashville race saw 27 among 30 finishers complete all 150 laps. The first number is a series record matched in June at Michigan International Speedway. Caution laps have increased each year that the event has been run: 10, 13, 17 and 30. Still, only 10 percent of the races 601 laps have fallen to the yellow light. Two of four Nashville races have been settled by less than one second. The closest was Mike Bliss .305-second victory over Rick Crawford (#14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford) in 2002. The Bud Pole starter has won two of four events. Defending winner Bobby Hamilton (#04 Baileys Dodge) started 15th and led 17 laps fewest by any Nashville winner. Musgrave has led all four races (for 85 laps) at Nashville Superspeedway, the only driver to do so. Smyrna, Tenn. resident Chad Chaffin (#60 Jeff Wyler Toyota Toyota) has become the 28th series competitor to reach $1 million career winnings. Chaffins total is $1,005,879 following a 21st-place finish at IRP. Setzer needs $92,446 to join Jack Sprague (#16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet) as the tours only $4 million winner.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Ultra isnt the only master of concrete Roush Racing also likes concrete, and has done Ultra Motorsports one better. Roush drivers have swept the schedules three concrete-surfaced tracks Dover, Nashville and Bristol Motor Speedway. Carl Edwards won at Nashville in 2003 and Bristol in 2004. The latter win, on Aug. 25, is Fords last in the series. Biffle and Kurt Busch each won at Dover. Roush and Ultra remain the series co-leaders with 36 owner wins apiece.
BHR teams race well at home track Bobby Hamilton Racing teams, headquartered in Lebanon, Tenn., have won the Bud Pole at Nashville Superspeedway in consecutive seasons. Bobby Hamilton Jr. led 89 laps of last years Toyota Tundra 200 from the pole before finishing fourth behind his father. The elder Hamilton won in his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck appearance at the track. Chaffin was the #1 qualifier in 2003 and finished sixth.
10 YEARS TOUGH
Nashville has been a stop on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since 1996 when with the backing of the late promoter Bob Harmon a 255-lap race was run at the .546-mile Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Dave Rezendes won the inaugural event over Ron Hornaday Jr. and Jack Sprague. Jimmy Hensley gave Richard Petty his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck victory there in 1998. Competition shifted to Nashville Superspeedway in 2001.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion has won at Nashville Superspeedway in two of the past three seasons. Bobby Hamilton edged David Starr in the most recent edition of the Toyota Tundra 200. Mike Bliss, the 2002 series champion, won that years Nashville event.
Fast Facts
Next Event: Toyota Tundra 200. (Race #16 of 25)
Where: Nashville Superspeedway.
When: 5:15 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 13.
Track layout: 1.333-mile banked concrete oval.
Race length: 200 miles/150 laps.
Posted awards: $438,690.
TV: SPEED Channel, 5:00 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 winner: Bobby Hamilton.
2004 polesitter: Bobby Hamilton Jr.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday Practice 2:15 3:15 p.m. and 4:15-5:15 p.m. Saturday – Qualifying at 11 a.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(8-9-2005)
