Kevin Hamlin
No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Ram Race Recap
The O’Reilly 200
Memphis Motorsports Park

Dodge Driver Kevin Hamlin and the No. 4 Open Joist Racing Team worked extremely hard throughout the O’Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park to overcome a tight race truck. Hamlin qualified 21st for the 12th race of the 2007 season and came home in the same position. Hamlin and crew made a variety of changes during two pit stops that improved the running of the Dodge, but a racing incident with Terry Cook with several laps to go forced Hamlin out of the racing groove. He finished in the 21st position.

The No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Memphis Motorsports Park Race Recap

Hamlin qualified the Open Joist Dodge in 21st position Saturday afternoon. The first caution waved early into the event on lap eight for a wreck in turn two. “Watch how you arch it into one,” advised spotter Kip McCord under the caution. Hamlin restarted in the 21st position.

Over the next 30 laps Hamlin, running 24th, battled an extremely tight race truck. This was the very same condition teammate Ken Schrader was battling with on the track. The caution waved on lap 72 providing the Open Joist Team with the opportunity to make some major adjustments.

Crew Chief Marcus Richmond made the call to bring Hamlin down pit road for four tires, added fuel, closed the right front shock and added a spring rubber in the right rear to help the tight condition. He restarted in the 22nd spot.

The adjustments proved to help as Hamlin began to make his way passed several trucks in front of him. The third caution waved on lap 114 and once again Hamlin came back down pit road.

The Open Joist Racing team went back to work changing all four tires, added fuel and went up three rounds on the track bar. He restarted in the 21st position. Hamlin comfortably stayed in the 21st position, but was unable to hold off the leader. On lap 170 the Open Joist Dodge went one lap down.

Then in typical fashion of short track racing, Hamlin and Terry Cook bumped into each other thus knocking Hamlin out of the groove making him lose two spots. The final caution waved on lap 191 setting the field up for a five lap shoot out to the end. Hamlin was able to gain back the two spots he lost in the previous incident and finished in the 21st position.

Travis Kvapil won the O’Reilly 200 before an estimated crowd of 27,500. Jack Sprague, Ron Hornaday Jr., Mike Skinner and Aaron Fike rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Kentucky Speedway on July 14th, 2007.