Mike Bliss
No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Race Recap
The New Hampshire 200
New Hampshire International Speedway

Mike Bliss and the No. 4 Open Joist Dodge were fast the entire weekend of The New Hampshire 200. Bliss posted the fourth fastest time in both the first and final practices on Friday. Early morning rain showers on Saturday forced NASCAR to cancel qualifying and set the field by owner points according to the rule book. Bliss started in the 17th position, but did not stay there long. It took him only five laps to pass five trucks and move into the 12th position. A two tire stop during the first caution allowed Bliss to move into the top five and he never looked back. Bliss scored his second top-five and fifth top-10 finish in the Open Joist Dodge.

“The two tire stop was a great call,” said Bliss after the race. “It is so hard to pass here so it gained us the valuable track position we needed. In the end I was too loose to pass. I could get to their bumper and even to their door, but I couldn’t complete the pass.”

The No. 4 Open Joist Dodge New Hampshire Race Recap

After Bliss posted fourth place runs in both practice sessions on Friday the entire Open Joist team was disappointed when qualifying was canceled Saturday morning due to rain. Bliss started in the 17th position.

In the first five laps of the event Bliss passed five trucks moving the Open Joist Dodge into the 12th position.
On lap 20 he radioed in while running 11th, “It is a little tight on the throttle.”

The first caution waved on lap 39 for debris. “Okay, we are going to take just two tires,” said Crew Chief Marcus Richmond. Bliss came down pit road to the attention of his crew. They changed two tires, added two cans of fuel and went up two rounds on the track bar to aid the tight condition. The fast pit stop moved Bliss into second place.

The second caution came out a few laps later for an accident in turn three. “I think the adjustments helped, but I haven’t really had enough time to tell,” said Bliss.

Bliss jumped to the outside of the second place truck on the restart and then dove to the inside the next lap seeking the perfect line for the Open Joist Dodge. He was unable to complete the pass and eventually settled into the fourth position.

A spin in turn two on lap 58 brought out the third caution. Bliss restarted in the fourth position.
“It’s getting loose now,” said Bliss as he lost another spot on lap 76.

A long green flag run forced Bliss to pit under green on lap 127 for a fresh set of tires and fuel. The Open Joist Racing Team cranked out a fast pit stop changing all four tires, adding fuel and making another track bar adjustment. Bliss returned to the track in 12th position, one lap down to the leader.

Bliss moved back into the top 10 on lap 138. Several laps later the final caution flag waved allowing Bliss to return to the lead lap. All the trucks that had not pitted under green came down pit road for service moving Bliss back into the fifth position.

“I am just too loose to pass,” said Bliss in the closing laps. “I can get to them, but just can’t pass them.” Despite the loose condition Bliss came home in fifth position. It was his second top five in the Open Joist Dodge.

Ron Hornaday Jr. won the The New Hampshire 200 before an estimated crowd of 31,000. Erik Darnell, Mike Skinner, Todd Bodine and Bliss rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next weekend.