A cut tire on lap 31 under green flag conditions and damage from a multi-truck wreck on lap 58 ended all hopes of a good run for No. 04 Hemi Dodge driver Scott Lagasse Jr. and team. The BHR team was able to repair the No. 04 Hemi Dodge in record time and Lagasse was able to salvage a 31st place finish in the John Deere 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

“This is not the finish I was hoping for,” said Lagasse, after he climbed out of the truck. “We worked so hard after California to fix our aero problems and then to come here and blow a tire so early in the wreck just ruined our chances of showing that. The blown tire was destroyed when I got back to the pits. Randy (Seals) told me Bobby’s (Hamilton) was the same way, our tire just blew before his did. That put us behind and then we got caught up in the wreck with Mike Skinner and Joey Miller. It just killed our night. I am glad we are headed to Martinsville in two weeks maybe I can find some better luck there.”

No. 04 Hemi Dodge Race Recap

Lagasse qualified the No. 04 Hemi Dodge in 34th position on Friday afternoon right behind owner Bobby Hamilton.  
By lap 20 Lagasse was gaining substantial ground on the front runners following the lead of Hamilton by running the high line.
On lap 28 Lagasse radioed in, “ I just picked up a vibration, but I am going to ride it out and hope we get a caution soon.”
On the next lap Lagasse’s tire blew forcing him into the wall bringing out the first caution of the night. He came down pit road to the attention of the Hemi Dodge Racing team who changed the right side tires and then sent him back out to keep from going another lap down. Lagasse then came back down pit road for left side tires and fuel. He restarted in 35th spot.
On lap 58 Lagasse tangled with Skinner and Miller receiving substantial rear end damage. Lagasse came down pit road to the attention of The Hemi Dodge Racing team who, with baseball bats in hand, were ready for the challenge. Lagasse came down pit road four more times to repair the damage and receive four fresh Goodyear Wranglers on lap 65.
Over the next 20 laps Lagasse ran in the 30th position, three laps down to the leader battling a small vibration and tight race truck.
The third caution waved on lap 92 for a spin providing Lagasse and crew the opportunity to come down pit road to fix the vibration and tight condition. The Hemi Dodge Racing team changed all four tires, added fuel and put in two rounds of bite. He restarted in 32nd spot.
Lagasse continued to battle the tight condition for the remaining 40 laps of the night, but was able to stay out of trouble and salvage a 31st place finish, 6 laps down to the leader.

 Todd Bodine won the John Deere 200. Mark Martin, Johnny Benson, Ted Musgrave and David Reuitmann followed in the top five.