Mike Bliss
No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Race Recap
Silverado 350K
Texas Motor Speedway

As the final laps of the Silverado 350K at Texas Motor Speedway winded down Mike Bliss was running second and was faced with a pretty big dilemma. Crew Chief Marcus Richmond informed him with 12 laps left in the race the Open Joist Dodge would be a mere three laps short of gas to get to the finish line. In the ensuing laps, Richmond and Bliss went back and forth trying to decide if they should pit or not. Bliss was adamant he was not coming in, but Richmond wasn’t so sure the gamble would work. Before the duo could make the final choice, the sixth caution waved for an accident in turn four. Under the caution Bliss came down pit road and refueled. He restarted in the ninth position and dodged two multi-truck wrecks in the final five laps to score a fourth place finish. It was his third top-five finish of the season.

Mike Bliss started the race in the 28th position but didn’t waste any time making up spots. On lap nine he was already in the 21st position despite battling a loose condition. The second caution flag of the day waved on lap 11 for an accident in turn four. Richmond called Bliss down pit road for fuel and a track bar adjustment. He restarted in the 24th position.

Bliss continued to gain positions, but still was struggling with the loose condition. “It is like it just lost everything,” said a frustrated Bliss on lap 27 while running 19th. Luckily, a caution waved several laps later providing the Open Joist Racing Crew an opportunity to tweak on the loose truck.  They changed all four tires, added fuel, went down on the track bar and added wedge to help the loose condition. He restarted in the 16th spot.

Over the next 20 laps Bliss ran in the 15th position, but wasn’t able to move forward because the loose condition persisted. “It is still not any better,” said Bliss on lap 62. “I can’t believe it is not tightening up.” Richmond assured him to hang in there and they would work on it again under the next caution.

That caution was right around the corner and came out on lap 70 for an accident in turn two.  Bliss hit pit road for service and the Open Joist Racing Team cranked out a great pit stop changing all four tires, adding fuel and going down on the track bar. They picked up three spots to move Bliss into the 12th position.

Even after all the changes the loose condition would not getting any tighter, but this time it didn’t seem to hinder the veteran. By lap 110 he had made his way into the ninth position and just 10 laps later was running sixth. While the leaders pitted for fuel Bliss could go several more laps.

Bliss was running second on lap 132 with 17 laps to go when Richmond radioed in, “We are going to be three laps short of crossing the finish line.” Bliss told Richmond to double check his figures because he was not coming in. Richmond did just that and once again radioed they would be three laps short of the finish.

As luck would have it a caution waved several laps later for a crash in turn four. As soon as the pits were open Bliss hit pit road for fuel and four fresh tires. He restarted in the ninth position with six laps to go.

It only took two laps for a multi-truck crash to transpire coming out of turn four collecting five front runners. With the help of his spotter, Bliss was able to dodge the wreck receiving only minor damage to the back quarter panel. The race was then red flagged for 15 minutes.  Once the race was back under caution Bliss hit pit road so the Open Joist Racing Crew could repair the minor damage. He restarted in the eight spot with two laps to go.

As soon as the green flag dropped on the restart trouble happened up front again. Bliss dodged the spinning trucks and flying debris as the seventh caution of the day waved. Bliss crossed the finish line in fourth position and scored his third top five of the season for Bobby Hamilton Racing.

Ted Musgrave won The Silverado 350K before an estimated crowd of 72,000. Brendan Gaughan, Mike Skinner, Bliss and Rick Crawford. The next event for the NCTS will be at Phoenix International Raceway next Saturday.