Bobby Hamilton Jr. wrestled with a nearly two ton gorilla on Friday night and the gorilla finally won. Hamilton Jr. battled an extremely loose No. 18 Fastenal Dodge in Friday evening’s Sam’s Town 400 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. Despite numerous attempts to tighten up the chassis on the Bobby Hamilton Racing entry, Hamilton Jr. was relegated to a 25th place finish.

No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Texas Race Recap

• Hamilton Jr. qualified his Fastenal Dodge in the 29th starting position

• The Fastenal Dodge passed five trucks on lap one and was seemingly on its way to a successful run when Hamilton started to fade backwards telling his crew that he was “bad loose.”

• Hamilton Jr. made his first pit stop on lap 23 taking on two tires and fuel and making a chassis adjustment – going downward on the track bar.

• On lap 36 Hamilton radioed his crew that his truck had absolutely no grip at all.

• Hamilton Jr. pitted again on lap 51, taking on four scuffed tires and fuel and making another chassis adjustment – air pressure on all four tires was increased and the track bar was adjusted.

• On lap 60 Hamilton communicated to his crew that his Dodge was “doing everything but wrecking.” Spotter Jerry Adcock added that the truck was “just a banana.”

• Hamilton Jr. came over the radio on lap 97 with the bad news that his right rear tire was going flat. His Fastenal Racing crew scrambled to get ready as Hamilton Jr. brought his ailing Dodge down pit road. Just as the crew completed the emergency stop, the caution flag fell for Kerry Earnhardt’s misfortune in turn three. The bad timing caused Hamilton Jr. to fall two laps behind the lead lap trucks.

• The Fastenal Racing team brought Hamilton Jr. back down pit road on lap 102 to put two rounds in the left rear and to open the right front shock absorber.

• On lap 114, Hamilton once again came down pit road for additional work. The crew added bite and pumped up the air pressure again. Hamilton Jr. exited the pits in the 26th position and was able to gain one additional spot as the final laps wound down.

Todd Bodine won the Sam’s Town 400 in front of an estimated crowd of 52,000 NASCAR enthusiasts. Mike Skinner, Rick Crawford, David Reutimann and Johnny Benson filled out the top five. The next event for the NCTS competitors is slated for June 17th at the two mile oval at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, MI.