August 25, 2003

Chad Chaffin Gets a Top Ten Finish with the Team’s Back-up Truck at Bristol Motor Speedway

Chad Chaffin and the No. 18 BHR Dickies Dodge Team showed just what they are made of when they were forced to go to the back-up truck after an early crash, just minutes into the first practice of the day. They went all out to get the back-up truck prepared for Bristol Motor Speedway, and when the day had come to a close, they had recorded a seventh place finish.

“This is like a win after the start we had today,” said Chaffin. “This team is the best team in the garage area. I truly believe that. For the guys to see their primary truck destroyed this morning, and to come back and put the back-up truck in the top ten in qualifying, race most of the night in the top five, and finish to seventh is unbelievable. They all showed tremendous character today. I know they’re all exhausted, but the run tonight makes it ok.”

Chaffin’s day obviously began with a bang, exiting turn two just minutes into morning practice. The truck got loose and Chaffin spun the No. 18, collecting the inside wall head-on. The truck was pulled back to the garage area where the team determined that it was a total loss. It took about two minutes for the Dickies crew to jump into action. They unloaded the back-up truck and went to work setting it up for Bristol Motor Speedway.

It took only an hour to get the back-up truck race ready, and Chaffin was able to get a few laps on the track before the morning practice session ended. After the practice, the team continued working on the truck, changing the springs, shocks, rear end gear, fire bottle, brakes and duck work, and several front suspension parts. When 3:00PM came, it was time to qualify. Chaffin got in the truck, not knowing what to expect with all the changes, and turned in the seventh fastest time.

At that point, it was time to get ready to go racing. They team spent the happy hour practice working on the race set up. When the green flag fell to start the race, Chaffin and the Dickies team had already had a long day. But right from the start, Chaffin jumped in to sixth place just 10 laps into the race. By lap 62, Chaffin had moved to second place and was contending for the lead. It was an outstanding first third of the race.

Shortly after Chaffin’s bid to lead, the tires, which had 70 laps or so on them, began to go away. The truck began to get loose, so Chaffin fell back, pacing himself and his equipment. On lap 118, Chaffin pitted under caution for service to the No. 18 truck. The crew added fuel, changed tires, and made a chassis adjustment. Chaffin returned to the race in the seventh position. Following the pit stop, the team found that the right front tire had a slow leak and was going flat.

Over the next 22 laps, Chaffin worked his way up to fourth place, but just like before when the tires began to go away, the truck got very loose. Chaffin battled to hang on, but as the laps wound down, he fell to seventh place. When the trucks came to the garage area following the race, you would have thought the team had won the race. They were all very pleased with what they had accomplished, in spite of what had happened during the course of the day.

With nine races remaining in the 2003 season, there are 19 teams that can still mathematically win the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship. Chaffin and the Dickies Team remain in the 11th position in the points standings, although, they have closed the gap to the top ten to a mere 64 points.
“We’ve slowly pulled ourselves back into the fight for a top ten in the points standings, and it’s nights like this one that are going to put us back up there,” said Chaffin. “We had a back-up truck out here, and we were able to gain points on the five guys in front of us in the points.”

Driver: Chad Chaffin, No. 18 Dickies Dodge Team
Starts Pole Wins Top Fives Top Tens Earnings Points Position
16 2 0 2 7 $ 186,035 11th

Race-by-Race Run Down:
Location Start Finish Laps Status Money Won
Daytona 6 17 103 of 106 Running $ 13,015
Darlington 7 5 147 of 147 Running 9,175
Bakersfield 27 20 253 of 255 Running 5,665
Martinsville 23 26 245 of 250 Out of Gas 6,865
Charlotte 10 8 136 of 136 Running 11,075
Dover 12 7 200 of 200 Running 15,375
Texas 10 8 167 of 167 Running 13,900
Memphis 2 28 76 of 200 Engine 8,940
Milwaukee 7 13 196 of 200 Running 10,115
Kansas 1 14 166 of 167 Running 13,640
Kentucky 3 26 50 of 150 Engine 11,540
St. Louis 13 13 160 of 160 Running 11,240
Michigan 2 3 100 of 100 Running 22,975
Indy 3 12 199 of 200 Running 10,515
Nashville 1 6 150 of 150 Running 11,950
Bristol 7 7 200 of 200 Running 10,050

Richmond (Next Event)

Totals 2548 of 2788 (91.3%) $ 186,035

NEXT EVENT: The Richmond 200 at Richmond International Speedway in Richmond, Virginia on September 4, 2003. The event will be televised live on SPEED Channel at 8:00 PM Eastern Time and also live on MRN radio at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.