Hemi Driver Scott Lagasse Jr. was running 9th with one lap to go and on track for a career best NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series finish when he was involved in a incident with veteran competitor Dennis Setzer sending the No. 04 Hemi Dodge into the wall. Lagasse Jr. quickly recovered and salvaged a 21st finishing position in the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200.

No. 04 Hemi Dodge Gateway Race Recap

• Qualifying for the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 was cancelled due to rain showers.  As a result the field was started on drivers points. Lagasse Jr. started in the 28th position.
• The first caution flag waved on lap 7 and Lagasse Jr. radioed to his crew, “The truck is free everywhere.” He restarted in the 24th position.
• By the third caution on lap 31 Lagasse Jr. had worked his way through traffic to the 15th position. Many teams pitted, but Crew Chief Randy Seals made the call to stay out.
• The fourth caution waved several laps later on lap 46 and Seals radioed for Lagasse Jr. to come down pit road. The Hemi Dodge pit crew changed all four tires, added fuel, put on round of wedge in the left rear and attempted to take a rubber out of the right rear, but was unsuccessful. The changes made for a long pit stop, causing Lagasse Jr  to restart 31st at the end of the field.
• Two laps after the restart another caution came out allowing the No. 04 Hemi Dodge team another opportunity to remove the rubber out of the right rear. This time they were successful and Lagasse Jr. restarted in the 29th position.
• On lap 62 a multi-truck pile up happened directly in front of Lagasse Jr. causing him to slam on his breaks and flat spot the tires. The No. 04 Hemi Dodge did not receive any damage, but Lagasse Jr. was forced to pit for four fresh tires. He restarted in the 26th position.
• Once again Lagasse Jr. climbed his way through traffic up to the 9th position, but began feeling a vibration soon after causing him to fall back in the traffic.
• On lap 125, while under caution, Lagasse Jr. elected to come down pit road to address the vibration issue. The No. 04 Hemi Dodge Team changed all four tires discovering five loose lug nuts on the right front. Lagasse Jr. restarted in the 20th position.
• Over the course of the next 30 laps Lagasse Jr once again fought his way through traffic cracking the top 10 on lap 155.
• Lagasse Jr. was running 9th on lap 159 when he was involved in an altercation with veteran driver Dennis Setzer causing him to hit the wall. He was able to recover and finish in the 21st finish.   

“We had an awesome truck tonight,” said Lagasee Jr after the event. “We dodged so many bullets both on the track and on pit road. No matter how far back I had to restart the Hemi Dodge would work its way back through the traffic. I am not sure what happened on the last lap. I was racing with Setzer pretty hard and I thought I had given him enough room. I was looking for the checkered flag and the next thing I know I am turned around looking in the opposite direction. Thankfully, I was able to recover and finish. In the end it was a great performance for us. I think everyone knew we where here tonight.” 

Todd Bodine won the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 in front of an estimated crowd of 40,000. Ted Musgrave, David Reutimann, Jack Sprague and Johnny Benson rounded out the top five.