Bobby Hamilton Sr. will back at the track in an ownership role after receiving treatment for head and neck cancer.Bobby Hamilton Jr. will be making his first NCTS start at O’Reilly Raceway Park.The O’Reilly 200 will mark Hamilton Jr.’s 20th NCTS career start.Hamilton Jr. will be making his 12th start in the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge at the Power Stroke Diesel 200. Hamilton Jr. made three starts in the No. 08 to start off the 2006 NCTS season.Bobby Hamilton Jr. has six NASCAR Busch Series starts at Memphis with one top 10 finishes – 4th on August 7th, 2004).The last time a Dodge truck visited victory lane at IRP was in 2004. Former Bobby Hamilton Racing Driver Chad Chaffin took the lead in the No. 18 Dodge on the last lap to win his second race that season.

Bobby Hamilton Sr. on O’Reilly Raceway Park: “IRP Is just one of those places as a driver you have to stay out of trouble. That will be one of Bobby Jr.’s main tasks.  Track position means everything and so qualifying up front will be one of the things we focus on as a team this weekend with the Fastenal Dodge.  I like the track because it is similar to one of those places where most of us cut our teeth on.  I know the fans always get a good show there. It is one of the neatest places we race from a fan’s perspective because they can sit up there on the grass bank with their blankets and their coolers and watch some great racing on a real tight track.”
 
Crew Chief Kip McCord talks about the “uniqueness” of O’Reilly Raceway Park: “It is not your normal basic short track that is for sure. Most short tracks you run right along the bottom but at IRP you utilize a totally different groove, it is really up closer the wall than almost anyplace we run. It offers the same challenges that most short tracks do, you have to get the truck to turn in the middle and you have to have good forward bite. If it gets hot in the daytime during practice you may have to chase it a little bit and that may give you a little different result at night. ”

No. 18 Fastenal Racing Dodge Ram Fast Facts
Power Stroke Diesel 200 - 200 Laps – .686 Mile Oval
O’Reilly Raceway Park- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Qualifying: 5:30pm EDT August 4th
Race Start: 8:00pm EDT August 4th   Broadcast Live on Speed

Bobby Hamilton Sr. on being back at the track after battling head and neck cancer: “Going back to the track was great for me.  I went to Kentucky Speedway where I knew the weather would cooperate and it would be cooler.  It was great to see so many people again who had been calling me and checking in.  It means a lot to know our garage area is so close knit.  I'm on the uphill swing of things now.  Everyday is getting better for me and I am healing up very fast according to my doctor. I'm not pushing it because it is more important for me to be in control of the healing process.  I have orders from Dr. Murphy and I follow them.  It may be the first time I am following the rules.  Right now my focus is going to that race shop everyday and getting it back on track.  Then we'll go to IRP with a new focus and a better finish.  We'll travel back and forth to IMS to check on things there, but everyone has a direction and so far is following my plan to get ready for that race."