Bobby Hamilton was a victim of circumstance in the early laps of the Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky Speedway, but his Bailey’s Racing Team never gave up.  As the crew members from the No. 18 Dodge of BHR teammate Chase Montgomery pitched in to help, the combined crews pieced the virtually destroyed truck back together enough to salvage a 31st place finish.   

“My guys worked really hard getting this truck put back together,” Hamilton said.  “It showed great sportsmanship amongst them.  Everyone’s help thrashing on the truck got us back out quicker and I was able to gain two more spots and amazingly finish the race.”

Hamilton started the race in the 15th position.  By the time the first caution came out on lap 44 he was extremely loose getting in turn three.  The driver informed his crew chief that he also had an aerodynamic push when behind other trucks.  Crew Chief Danny Rollins elected to pit and make changes to help his Dodge.  The Bailey’s Racing Team cranked out a fast pit stop, helping Hamilton gain six positions to restart the race 15th. 

The race restarted on lap 49 and one lap later Hamilton was racing on the outside of fill-in driver Boris Said.  Said moved up the track clipping Hamilton in the rear and causing him to turn sideways off turn two.  Hamilton had his truck saved and was almost in the clear when three trucks barreled through the spinning vehicles, hitting Hamilton and Said and causing a multi-truck pile up.  The damage to the Bailey’s Dodge was immense. 

“I almost had it saved and then three trucks raced in there and we hit,” Hamilton said.  “Boris drove up the track on me and clipped my rear end.  We starting spinning and then the melee happened.”

Immediately the No. 18 team came over to help as teammate Chase Montgomery’s truck was also caught up in the accident.  The team replaced the right front sheet metal, cutting bars and repairing equipment on the Bailey’s Dodge.  Meanwhile others went to work diligently on the rear damage, even replacing the battery that fell out during the wreck.  Finally on lap 79 Hamilton returned to the track. 

The team pitted several more times over the next 70 laps fixing pieces that fell off, an oil leak and a tire rub on the newly replaced front end.  By returning to the fray, Hamilton picked up two more positions and finished the race in the 31st position. 

“I thought they were joking me when they told me they were fixing the truck,” Hamilton said.  “There is no way we should have got that truck back on the track, but these guys were determined.  All in all it helped us by picking up two more positions.”

Dennis Setzer won the Built Ford Tough 225.  Todd Bodine, David Reutimann, Mike Skinner and Ted Musgrave followed in the top five.