Dennis Setzer and the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge resembled a super hero fleeing from danger as he drove unharmed out of the tremendous cloud of smoke from a multi-truck wreck that transpired in turn four on the final lap of the Kroger 200 to finish 10th at Martinsville Speedway. The two-time Martinsville race winner’s afternoon at the famed short track didn’t start out like he imagined it would, but the top 10 finish was his third top 10 in a row with the BHR team.

After starting the event in 13th position Setzer struggled to gain a comfortable feel in the Fastenal Dodge early in the race. “This tire has absolutely no grip,” he said on lap 10 while running in the 17th position.

It only took 24 laps for the first caution to wave. Crew Chief Jeff White made the call for Setzer to come down pit road for service. The Fastenal Racing Team went to work changing left side tires, adding fuel and going down two rounds on the track bar to help the Fastenal Dodge turn better. Setzer restarted in the 27th position because many competitors decided not to take on tires.

“Track position is hard to gain here,” said Setzer before the restart. “But I think we made the right decision by putting on these tires and the track bar adjustment. We will get it back.”

Slowly but surely Setzer began to pick off the trucks in front of him. By lap 60 he was running 21st. “Despite being in traffic you are running as fast as the leaders,” said White. “Keep going after them.”

He had worked his way into 17th position at the halfway mark of the race. Then as he was following the 09 truck, who moved newcomer Dario Franchitti out of the way, into the turn, Franchitti came down on the fender of Setzer causing himself to spin. Fortunately, no damage was sustained to the Fastenal Dodge. “That was close,” he said under the sixth caution of the day on lap 108. “I’m just a little tight in the center now.”

Little did Setzer and the Fastenal Racing team know that danger was just lurking around the corner in the form of fellow driver Clint Bowyer. On lap 120 Setzer entered the second turn protecting his lane for the 16th position when Bowyer dove hard into the corner sending Setzer spinning. Using his savvy short track skills Setzer was able to keep the truck off the outside wall and sustained no damage despite spinning on the short track.

White immediately brought the Fastenal Dodge down pit road for service. “I don’t think we have any damage,” said Setzer. “I just flat spotted the tires I think.” The Fastenal Racing team went to work changing right side tires, pulling two rubbers out of the right rear tire to help it turn more, and adding fuel. Setzer restarted in 30th position.

“We will just have to work our way back through the field like we did before,” said Setzer. Three cautions waved back to back following the restart. Setzer continued to dodge bullets. Once again using his short track experience he patiently waited for the truck in front of him to boggle and proceeded to make his move.

With 50 laps to go Setzer was running in the 24th spot and when the race began to play into his hands. Over a period of 40 laps, a series of four cautions, and a red flag on lap 194 Setzer set himself up for a strong finish.

Running in the 14th position on lap 198, Spotter Kip McCord told his driver to prepare for a dash to the finish. “Be smart,” said Spotter Kip McCord. “This is going to get wild.”

And it did. On the last circuit coming out of turn four another pile up accumulated several trucks and Setzer’s driving skills were once again tested. With the help of McCord Setzer slowed the Fastenal Dodge and went low despite not being able to see anything due to the enormous amount of smoke and debris.

Like the scene out of a war battle movie the Fastenal Dodge began to appear from the smoke with no damage and Setzer crossed the finish line in 10th position. It was his third straight top-10 finish with the Fastenal Racing Team.

Mike Skinner won the The Kroger 200 before an estimated crowd of 39,000. Jack Sprague, Ron Hornaday Jr., David Starr and Rick Crawford rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Atlanta Motor Speedway next Saturday.