Dennis Setzer
No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Ram Race Recap
Mountain Dew 250
Talladega Superspeedway

In the closing laps of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega Superspeedway Dennis Setzer mapped out his game plan. “I’m going stay in the bottom lane,” said Setzer before the green-white-checkered flag restart. “It has had the most momentum all day long.” His plan worked and Setzer brought home the Fastenal Dodge in an impressive fifth place finish. It was the team’s second straight top 10 finish in only the second race with Setzer behind the wheel. The top five finish helped the Bobby Hamilton Racing team move up in the NCTS points battle where they are tied for 14th place.

The No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Talladega Race Recap

Setzer qualified 23rd for the Mountain Dew 250 on Friday afternoon.

The first caution waved on lap eight for a wreck in turn two. Crew Chief Jeff White called Setzer, who was running 20th at the time, down pit road for fuel. The Fastenal Racing Team cranked out a fast pit stop adding fuel and pulling a piece of tape off the front grill. He restarted in the 22nd position.

On lap 15 White informed Setzer, “These lap times are faster than what the cup cars were running in practice.”

The second caution came out on lap 17 for debris. Setzer came back down pit road for service. The Fastenal Racing Team changed two tires, added fuel and picked up two positions in the process.
Over the next 20 laps Setzer maneuvered his way through the pack three wide, sometimes even four wide. By lap 40 he was running in the 10th position.

“I’m going try the high lane,” said Setzer on lap 42. He jumped outside only to be swooped back through the field. “I’m sorry you guys, I just had to try it,” he said as he jumped back in line and began to regain positions.

“We are going to have to pit for fuel,” said White during the long green flag run.

Just as Setzer was preparing to exit the track and hit pit road, spotter Kip McCord yelled for him to stay out on the track as a multi-truck wreck transpired behind Setzer. The wreck brought out the fourth of seven cautions just in the nick of time.

Setzer came down pit road for service under the caution. The Fastenal Racing Team added the much needed fuel to the Fastenal Dodge, changed four tires and pulled off a windshield tear for Setzer. Due to the time it took to clean up the wreck Setzer was able to come down pit road twice and top off the fuel tank so the team could go the remainder of the race on fuel. The race restarted on lap 80.
With the help of McCord Setzer was able to dodge another bullet two laps later as he drove down pit road when another competitor got loose running and started spinning right beside Setzer. He restarted in the eighth position.

Setzer was mapping out his way to the front in the final laps. He had worked his way into the fifth position when the final caution of the day waved on lap 91 for a spin.
“This will set you up for a green-white-checkered-flag finish,” said White. “You know what you have got to do.” Setzer responded with his game plan. “I am taking the low lane because the top lane has not moved all day long.”

As soon as the green flag dropped Setzer was able to hold the momentum for two laps to pull off an outstanding fifth place finish. It was the Fastenal Racing Team’s second straight top 10 finish.

Todd Bodine won the The Mountain Dew 250 before an estimated crowd of 80,000. Rick Crawford, Johnny Benson, Jason Leffler and Setzer rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Martinsville Speedway.