Dennis Setzer
No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Ram Race Recap
Sam’s Las Vegas 350
Las Vegas Motor Speedway

In a city that’s all about beating the odds, Bobby Hamilton Racing rolled the dice this weekend and put Dennis Setzer behind the wheel of the Fastenal Dodge to fill in for Ken Schrader who was called to drive his Nextel Cup car at the last minute. It was a gamble that paid off. After battling a loose race truck in the opening laps of the Las Vegas 350 Setzer and crew overcame the condition to score an impressive seventh place finish in their first outing. It was Setzer’s first top 10 since his win at Mansfield Motorsports Park and the first top 10 since a fifth place finish earlier this season at O’Reilly Raceway Park for the No. 18 Fastenal Team.

The No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Las Vegas Race Recap

After posting the 10th fastest lap in practice Saturday morning Setzer qualified the Fastenal Dodge in 17th position that afternoon.

In the opening laps of the Las Vegas 350, Setzer fell back to 20th position due to an extremely loose truck. “It is snappy loose,” said Setzer by lap 10.

Then by lap 23, Setzer radioed in, “It’s getting better and better. He continued saying, “It just would not go in the beginning.” Crew Chief Jeff White agreed and said he would adjust the air pressures in the tires on the next stop.

The first caution waved on lap 33 for an accident in turn two. Setzer, while running 23rd, came down pit road for service. The Fastenal Racing Team changed right side tires, added fuel and went up on the track bar two rounds. He restarted in the 12th position.

The adjustments proved to help give Setzer the jump in the beginning of a run he needed. After a series of quick cautions he settled in running right outside the top 10.

“Keep digging buddy. Your times are picking up just as much as the leaders.” White coached as Setzer continued to run faster laps around the track.

By the halfway mark, lap 73, the Fastenal Dodge was still running 11th but had developed a tight-off-the-turns condition.

The fourth caution waved several laps later allowing Setzer to come down pit road for more adjustments. The Fastneal Racing Team cranked out another fast pit stop changing all four tires, adding fuel and pumping up the air pressures. He restarted in the 10th position.

By lap 96 Setzer was running ninth. “It is a lot better,” said Setzer as he continued to pass the trucks in front of him.

The sixth of eight cautions of the night waved on lap 110 for an accident in turn four. “It is loose by itself, and aero tight behind other trucks,” said Setzer under the caution. “Other than that we are good to go.” He restarted in the eight position.

Setzer continued to turn fast laps on the track gaining ground on the competitors in front of him. He picked up another position before the night was over and finished the event in the seventh position.

Travis Kvapil won the The Las Vegas 350 before an estimated crowd of 45,000. Johnny Benson, Jon Wood, Terry Cook and Erik Darnell rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Talladega Speedway.