BHR Driver Chase Montgomery was in the wrong place at the wrong time in the early laps of the Built Ford Tough 225. Montgomery was making his way through the field after a pit stop when Bobby Hamilton and Boris Said tangled in front of him. He drove the No. 18 TracRac Dodge down low to miss the wreck, but didn’t anticipate the two trucks coming back down the track. In the end the multi-truck pile up resulted in a severely mangled truck. Montgomery was forced to retire from the event in 34th position
“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Montgomery said. “It was unfortunate because we were on our way to the front. I had an awesome truck and we were just taking our time. I wish we could have got back out there, but my guys were able to help get Bobby (Hamilton) repaired. It was a great team effort for BHR.”
Montgomery qualified his No. 18 TracRac Dodge in the 29th position and was able to gain several positions in the opening laps. “I can tell by the line you are running you have a good truck,” Crew Chief Kip McCord said. “Just take care of it and we will make a few adjustments during our first pit stop.”
The pit stop came under the first caution on lap 44 while Montgomery was running 24th. Crew Chief Kip McCord made the decision to pit. Montgomery informed his team he was tight in the center and when exiting the turn. McCord called for an air pressure change as Montgomery came down pit road. The TracRac Racing Team performed a lighting-fast pit stop changing four tires, adding fuel and pulling tape of the front grill to fix the tight condition. He restarted in 17th position.
The race restarted on lap 49 and on the following lap Hamilton and Said tangled coming out of turn two. Montgomery, with the help of spotter Jerry Adcock, was inches from clearing the wreck when the two trucks came down the track leaving Montgomery no where to go. He piled into the side of them crushing the front nose of the No. 18 Dodge. The damage was too extensive to repair in the remaining laps. Montgomery retired to a 34th finishing position.
“I was so disappointed after our qualifying effort earlier in the day,” Montgomery said. “I was so over that in the first few laps of the race because I realized I had a hot ride underneath me. I think that is what is so frustrating. We were on our way to the front and I know we would have finished in the top 10, but things are going to happen we can’t control. It just seems to be happening to us every weekend. It was not a very good night for BHR, but when we are down is when we learn the most. We will be back at Memphis and we will be better than ever.”
Dennis Setzer won the Built Ford Tough 225. Todd Bodine, David Reutimann, Mike Skinner and Ted Musgrave followed in the top five.