BobbyHamiltonRacing.com
Ryan Mathews Set to Drive The Open Joist Dodge at Atlanta
10-24-2007 | Atlanta, GA

No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Ram Fast Facts
The Easycare Vehicle Service Contracts 200
130 laps – 200.2 miles on a 1.54 Mile Oval
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Qualifying: 9:45am ET October 27th
Race Start: 1:00pm ET October 27th
Broadcast Live on Speed

Driver: Ryan Mathews
Crew Chief: Marcus Richmond
Engineer: Jason Trompeter
Acting Team Owner: Lois Vance

Ryan Mathews will drive the No. 4 Open Joist Dodge this Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Defending race champion and regular driver Mike Bliss will competes in the NASCAR Busch Series race in Memphis this weekend.

Mathews will be making his 13th career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start this weekend at Atlanta. He made his first NCTS start earlier this season at Mansfield in May.

The Lake Geneva, Wisconsin native won his first pole in only his seventh start at Kentucky this season.

Matthews will pilot “Magnum” in the Easycare Vehicle Service Contracts 200. This particular chassis is the newest truck to come out of the BHR stable. It first competed at Gateway International Raceway in September.

Head and Neck Cancer Screenings at AMS: On Friday, October 26th, free Head and Neck Cancer screenings will be conducted ‘inside the track’ for race teams and crew members, by physicians, nurses and speech pathologists from Emory University Hospital. These screenings will occur near the media center from 9am until 4:30pm. Then outside the track on Saturday, October 27th, from 9 a.m. until the race starts there will be head and neck specialists from Atlanta area hospitals that will provide information and conduct free screening exams to check for oral, head and neck cancer. The screening tent is open to the public and will be located in the vendor area near Gate 15 across from the General Motors and Motor Racing Outreach displays. BHR has taken an active role in promoting Head and Neck cancer since Bobby Hamilton Sr. was diagnosed and passed away in January from complications from Head and Neck Cancer.

Mathews on Atlanta: “When you go to a new track that you have never been to it can be a little challenging. So this past weekend I went to Martinsville and talked to a couple of drivers about the characteristics of Atlanta. I spent some time with Johnny Benson because he has so much experience in this sport. He warned me of how free going into turn three can be. He said turns one and two were pretty normal to get around, but to really watch out for turn three. Then I asked Mike Bliss and he gave me some tips on how to maximize all three grooves at Atlanta during the race. During practice he said to really get your truck comfortable on the bottom because that is where you will spend most of the race. I think they helped me understand a lot of what I’m going to experience before I get there. That’s what is nice about the NCTS. You have several older drivers who don’t mind helping us young guys.”

Ryan Mathews Career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Stats
NCTS Starts:
12 Wins: 0
Pole: 1
Top five finishes: 1
Top 10 finishes: 2

2007 No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Team Roster
Crew Member Race Day/Shop Hometown
Ryan Mathews Driver Elkhorn, MN
Marcus Richmond Crew Chief Leasburg, NC
Steve Morgan Catch Can/Mechanic Martinsville, VA
Todd Perryman Front Tire Carrier Lebanon, TN
Jeff Davis Front Tire Changer/Paint Shop Dyer, TN
Josh Sobecki Rear Tire Carrier New Kensington, PA
Chris Marlin Rear Tire Changer/General Mechanic Nashville, TN
Stephen Douglass Jack Man/General Mechanic Nashville, TN
TBD Gas Man TBD
Eric Wise Hauler Driver Nashville, TN