RoadLoans Driver Chase Montgomery overcame handling issues at the start of the Ford 200, which was postponed Friday night till Saturday morning due to rain, to finish 23rd in the final race of the season at Homestead Speedway. It was Montgomery’s 16th top-25 finish of the season. 

“We had a decent truck today,” said Montgomery. “I was loose in the center of the corner and tight coming off so I had to work at it all day. The truck was set up for nighttime, but with the rain delay we raced in the day. I knew at the start I would battle some handling issue because of the change in race time. I am not disappointed with our finish at all. We played a smart race and stayed out of trouble. My goal today was to finish the race and not come home with a wrecked truck. It is one less truck we have to fix for 2006.”
 
• Montgomery qualified 34th for the final race of the season, but was forced to the rear of the field when the team had to make an unapproved change after qualifying for the second week in a row.
• By lap 10 Montgomery was complaining of a loose race truck. Crew Chief Kip McCord assured him the truck would come to him once he got some laps under his belt. 
• The second of seven cautions waved on lap 34 for an accident in turn 2. Montgomery came down pit road to the attention of the RoadLoans Racing Team. They changed all four tires, added fuel and pulled two rubbers out of the right rear. Montgomery restarted in 26th position.
• On lap 52 Spotter Jerry Adcock advised Montgomery while running in the 26th position not to over rotate the truck in the corner. He coached him on a new line around the race track the next few laps.
• Montgomery took his advice and was able to gain three positions in eight laps.
• Lap 97 Montgomery came down pit road for a green flag pit stop. The RoadLoans Racing Team changed all four tires, added fuel and made an air pressure adjustment in lighting fast time. Montgomery returned to the track in 25th position.
• The sixth caution came out on lap 124 and Crew Chief McCord elected to come down pit road. Montgomery took on right side tires only. He restarted in the 22nd position.
• Montgomery came home in the 23rd position . It was his 16th top-25 finish of the 2005 season.
• He finished 23rd in the Driver Points Standings. 

“We will close the book on the season and get pumped up for 2006,” said Montgomery after the race. “I plan to take a couple days off and then we will all start focusing on how to be better next year. I am proud of my guys for all the hard work they have put in this season. We didn’t win a race, but we learned a lot. I think the ups and downs we went through this year will only make us stronger for next year.”

Todd Bodine won the Ford 200.  Jack Sprague, Johnny Benson, Mike Bliss and Bill Lester followed in the top five. Ted Musgrave was crowned the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion.