Bobby Hamilton Racing driver Chase Montgomery drove a smart race in the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 at Gateway International Raceway bringing the No. 18 Dodge home in 19th position. Montgomery’s first top-20 finish of the season enabled him to move into 30th place in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point standings.

Montgomery started 29th and rode in the top 20 comfortably until the second of seven cautions came out on lap 37 for a spin in turn four. Then the driver wheeled his No. 18 Dodge down pit road to the attention of the BHR Team for four Goodyear Wrangler tires and Sunoco fuel. He restarted in the 24th position. 

Over the next 20 laps Montgomery raced his way into the top 20. “I’m able to pass them on the straightaways,” Montgomery said. “But I am tight on the throttle and it is hurting me coming off the corner.” The fourth caution waved on lap 61, and Crew Chief Kip McCord told Montgomery stay out. “I predict this is going to be a short caution so we are not pitting,” McCord said. “Hang in there and we will get you fixed up under the next one.”

He restarted in 17th place, but began to lose positions. “You are the fastest of the bunch you are racing against,” said spotter Jerry Adcock. “You’ve got them covered coming down the straightaways. Hold your line and pass them in the corners.”

On lap 106 the fifth caution of the night came out due to a wreck in turn two. Montgomery brought the No. 18 Dodge down pit road for four tires and fuel. McCord called for a minor track bar adjustment to aid the tight condition. The Dodge Racing Team cranked out a fast pit stop, gaining two positions on pit road. Montgomery restarted in the 20th position.

Montgomery slowly worked his No. 18 Dodge into the top 20. On lap 155, Montgomery was bumped by Shane Hmiel coming down the front straightaway pushing him into the wall. Luckily, the seventh caution came out on the next lap for debris which allowed the driver to bring his truck in for repairs.     

Montgomery came down pit road for two right side tires. The No. 18 Racing Team pulled out the sheet metal damage and sent Montgomery back out onto the race track. He restarted in 21st position.

With a three-lap shoot out to the end, Montgomery gained two positions to secure his best finish of the year. The 19th place finish was the team’s first top 20 of the season.

“I am tickled to death to come home in 19th place,” Montgomery said after the race. “We had a better truck that that, but got roughed up at the end. After the season we have had a 19th place finish is like a top 10. I am so proud of my guys for sticking behind me. It was not an easy day, but we came out much better than we started. We will carry this momentum Mansfield and go out it again.”

Ted Musgrave won the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200. Dennis Setzer, Jimmy Spencer, Mike Skinner and Rick Crawford followed in the top five.