Bobby Hamilton Jr. made a mad dash to the front of the field at the start of the AAA Insurance 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover International Raceway on Friday afternoon. Hamilton Jr. started his Fastenal Dodge in the fifth position, picked off two spots on lap one and stormed to the lead by lap 15. Unfortunately a strong run faded with a loose chassis late in the event. Despite his handling woes, Hamilton Jr. was able to salvage a 13th place finish.

No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Dover Race Recap

• Hamilton Jr. qualified his Fastenal Dodge in the fifth starting position, hustling around Dover’s famed Monster Mile in 23.495 seconds, equal to 153.224 mph.

• The Fastenal Dodge darted around two other trucks on lap one and claimed the lead by passing David Reutimann on lap 15. Hamilton Jr. led the next nine laps until he was passed by Kyle Busch and Mark Martin on a restart on lap 24.

• Hamilton Jr. continued to run in the top five until the caution flag waved on lap 64 for debris in turn three. Crew Chief Danny Rollins called his driver down pit road for four tires and fuel and a minor chassis adjustment – one round down in the right rear. Hamilton Jr. exited the pits in the sixth position.

• The Fastenal Dodge climbed back in the top five by lap 75 and was up to the fourth spot by lap 80.

• On lap 98 Hamilton Jr. radioed his crew to inform them that his truck was “really, really loose.”

• At the halfway point (lap 100) Hamilton Jr. elected to bring his Dodge to the attention of his Fastenal crew under yellow flag conditions. The crew changed four tires and added fuel and this time made a major chassis adjustment, dropping the right side track bar four rounds. Hamilton Jr. came into the pits fourth and exited fourth.

• On lap 115 Hamilton communicated to his crew that his Dodge was “getting really bad loose again.” This condition precipitated a free fall in positions finally stabilizing in the 12th position by lap 144.

• When Kelly Sutton brought out the fourth and final caution flag of the afternoon on lap 159, Hamilton Jr. once again darted down the Monster Mile’s pit road. The crew changed four tires, added fuel and again made a major chassis adjustment to try and tighten up Hamilton Jr.’s Dodge. They took three rounds out of the right rear track bar and went up two pounds of air pressure in the right front tire. Hamilton Jr. exited the pits in the 14th spot.

• Over the last 36 laps of competition, Hamilton Jr. was able to pick up one additional position and finish in the 13th spot.  

Mark Martin won the AAA Insurance 200. Carl Edwards, Todd Bodine, Mike Bliss and David Reutimann filled out the top five. The next event for the NCTS competitors is slated for June 9th at the 1.5 mile quad-oval at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, TX.