November 3, 2003

Dodge Racing Recap: Chevy Silverado 150

Dodge driver Bill Lester started off strong in the Chevy Silverado 150 at Phoenix International Raceway and went on to finish the event in 20th position. This marks Lester’s 15th top-20 finish this season.

As soon as the race started Lester was on his toes. His Crew Chief Kip McCord coached Lester into grooves that were working for the front-runners and Lester tried them with his best intentions. His lap times reflected the same as trucks in the top 10 and Lester continued to pick up spots to 13th by lap seven.

Right before the first caution of the day came out on lap 35, Lester told his Dodge Pit Crew that his truck was starting to get tight around the corners. So McCord used the caution to help his driver. He called for a track bar adjustment, changes to air pressures in the tires and for a one-half rubber to be pulled out of the left rear during a pit stop.

After the restart on lap 40, Lester backed out of traffic to let his motor cool off. His temperatures were running a little hot and the Dodge team did not want to jeopardize the race. Lester lost a few positions and landed in the 22nd spot, but accomplished the task when his motor cooled down.

By the second caution on lap 69, Lester was once again battling a tight race truck. McCord told the team to pull another rubber out of the left rear hoping to make the truck faster like it was in practice the day before. It helped the Dodge driver for about 20 laps, but then started to get tight again.

The third caution came out on lap 85 and this time Lester stayed out on the track to maintain his position. McCord watched the drivers in front of Lester who were fast and helped his driver try the same line on the race track. By lap 119 Lester’s truck had started to get loose on him. He was free coming off the corners, but managed to finish the race in 20th position.

"My truck was tight early on and then we got it freed up,” Lester said. “Then at the end it just got freer and freer. It was like Jeckyl and Hyde. I don’t understand it, we expected after the last set of changes that it would go back tight, but be good for the rest of the run. But instead I was hanging on with both hands turning to the right trying to keep it off the wall. I finally wound up striping the thing because it was so free. I don’t understand why it wasn’t consistent, but the guys did everything they could to make it better for me.”

Kevin Harvick won the Chevy Silverado 150 in Phoenix. Ted Musgrave, Dennis Setzer, Carl Edwards and Bobby Hamilton followed in the top five.