Mike Bliss
No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Ram Race Recap
O’Reilly 200
Bristol Motor Speedway

Heading into the O’Reilly 200 Mike Bliss wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It was his first trip to Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway driving a Bobby Hamilton Racing entry and mixed in with the newly paved surface at the fastest half-mile he knew it would be a challenging night. It was a challenge he was once again up for. The new surface allowed Bliss to pass trucks on the high line and the low line to score his fourth top-10 finish for BHR, a seventh place finish at Bristol Wednesday night.

The No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Bristol Race Recap

Bliss qualified the No. 4 Open Joist Dodge in the 16th position on Wednesday afternoon for that night’s race.

Just 33 laps into the event, while running 17th, Bliss radioed in, “I’m really loose in.” The second caution waved two laps later for an accident on the frontstretch.

Crew Chief Marcus Richmond called Bliss down pit road for several adjustments. The Open Joist Racing team went to work changing only right side tires, adding fuel and went down two rounds on the track bar to help with loose condition. He restarted in the 10th position.

On lap 51 Bliss moved into the ninth position. The fourth caution waved on lap 105 for debris. While under caution Bliss decided not come down pit road. “I’m really good on the bottom now and don’t want to pit,” said Bliss.

In just 10 laps the handling on the Open Joist Dodge Ram went away. “I am not sure why, but we are just junk now,” said a frustrated Bliss. Thankfully, the caution waved and Bliss hit pit road for service. Richmond called for four tires, fuel and the team pulled a rubber out of the left rear. He restarted in the 23rd position on lap 120.

Immediately, Bliss began to work his way through the field. By lap 150 he was running 12th.

The seventh caution waved 10 laps later. Bliss was running 10th and elected not to pit.

After the restart Bliss continued to move forward. On lap 180 he was running in the seventh position.

The final caution waved on lap 190. NASCAR was forced to red flag the event due to so much debris on the track. “Everyone did a really good job working on this truck tonight,” Bliss said while under the red flag.

The race was restarted several minutes later with four laps to go and Bliss finished the event in the seventh position.

Johnny Benson won the O’Reilly 200 before an estimated crowd of 65,000. Brendan Gaughan, Mark Martin, Mike Skinner and Rick Crawford rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Gateway (Ill.) International Raceway on September 1st with Schrader behind the wheel.