July 7, 2003

Career Best Finish for Bill Lester But He Paid the Price

Bill Lester and the No. 8 Team did what they set out to do this past Saturday at Kansas Speedway. The team entered the race having never finished a race in the top ten, but that all changed when the green checkered flag fell at the end of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250.

Lester began the day outside of his teammate, Chad Chaffin, on the front row and raced all day in the top 15. As the race began to wind down, the No. 8 truck was in the 11th position. Lester had brought his Dodge Dealers Dodge truck to pit road multiple times during the day, trying to get the handle right on it, and with a handful of laps left, it appeared the truck was running well enough to make a run at the top ten.

With five laps left in the race and his spotter, Kip McCord, and Crew Chief Randy Seals cheering him on, Lester made it by Terry Cook to record a career best tenth place finish. But as the truck came down the pit lane following the checkered flag, it was apparent that Lester was feeling the effects of the 103 degree heat of the day. When the truck came to a stop, Lester tried to get out of the truck, but collapsed by the side of his truck, in part relieved, and part due to heat exhaustion. The paramedics were on hand and took Lester to the infield care center where he received liquids and oxygen.

“Wow, that is all I have to say,” said Lester. “I can’t believe it. We finally did it, and on a day that was probably the hardest on all of us. It was hotter than I can remember, and the guys worked their guts out on pit stops making changes. I think we must have made ten pit stops today trying to get this truck right, but it paid off. We finally have our first top ten of the year and my career. I just can’t say enough about Bobby (Hamilton) for giving me this ride, and these guys putting in unbelievable hours to make this happen. But we’re not stopping here. Next week we’re in Kentucky, and it’s a lot like Kansas, so now we need a ninth place or better.”

Lester’s first top ten finish help the team maintain the 13th position in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings. Only now they are exactly 100 points out of tenth position.

Driver: Bill Lester, No. 8 Dodge Dealers Dodge Team
Starts Pole Wins Top Fives Top Tens Earnings Points Position
10 1 0 0 1 $ 114,145 13th

Race-by-Race Run Down:
Location Start Finish Laps Status Money Won
Daytona 8 18 97 of 106 Accident $ 15,165
Darlington 15 12 144 of 147 Running 9,465
Bakersfield 23 13 255 of 255 Running 8,190
Martinsville 17 19 250 of 250 Running 9,315
Charlotte 1 15 135 of 136 Running 11,890
Dover 15 11 198 of 200 Running 13,750
Texas 13 12 167 of 167 Running 13,165
Memphis 14 26 128 of 200 Running 8,990
Milwaukee 23 12 198 of 200 Running 10,215
Kansas 2 10 167 of 167 Running 14,000
Kentucky (Next Event)
Totals 1741 of 1828 (95.2%) $ 114,145