Dodge driver Scott Lagasse Jr. was in route to his best finish of the season when once again a cut tire late in the race ruined his day. Lagasse Jr. was running in the 13th place with 46 laps to go when he realized he had a flat tire forcing the Hemi Dodge to pit under green flag conditions. Lagasse Jr. was able to work his way back up to a 20th place finish in the City of Mansfield 250 at Mansfield Motorsprots Speedway.     

No. 04 Hemi Dodge Mansfield Race Recap

• Rain washed out Friday’s scheduled qualifying session. As a result the field was set by NCTS owner’s points and Lagasse Jr. started in the 30th position.
• Immediately following the green flag Lagasse Jr. dropped to the back of the field due to the engine not turning any RPM’s.
• On lap 6, under the first caution, he had to make an unscheduled pit stop to fix the problem. The problem was diagnosed as a cap being left on and he restarted in the 34th position.
• By lap 32 Lagasse Jr. had worked his way up to the 28th position. He radioed in, “It is like the truck has not come to me yet.”
• Under the third caution on lap 41 Crew Chief Randy Seals made the call to bring Lagasse Jr. down pit road for a major adjustment. The Hemi Dodge Racing Team pulled a spring rubber out of the right rear, changed all four tires and added fuel.
• The changes proved to be just what the truck needed because Lagasse Jr. began to pick off the competitors in front. By lap 75 he was running in the 25th position.
• Lagasse Jr. had received some minor bumper damage through contact with another truck. On lap 78 NASCAR notified the team he had to come down pit road and pull off the dangling bumper cover. The unscheduled pit stop put Lagasse Jr. in the 33rd position.
• On lap 145, under the 10th caution, Lagasse Jr. had worked his way up to the 16th position. Crew Chief Randy Seals made the decision to try and stay out for the remainder of the race.
• On lap 204 Lagasse Jr. restarted in the 13th position and immediately noticed a flat right front tire. He came down pit road to the attention of the Hemi Dodge Racing team. He restarted in the 29th position one lap down.
• Four laps later another caution came out allowing Lagasse Jr. to receive the lucky dog and return to the lead lap. 
• Lagasse Jr. was able to work his way through traffic to finish in the 20th position in the City of Mansfield 250.   

Ron Hornaday Jr. won the City Of Mansfield 250. Jack Sprague, David Starr, Johnny Benson and Joey Miller rounded out the top five. There were a record 18 yellow flags for a total of 85 caution laps. The next event for the NCTS competitors is slated for June 2nd at Dover International Raceway Speedway in Dover, DE.