A wicked loose Fastenal Dodge kept driver Dennis Setzer and crew on their toes during the course of The Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  Setzer struggled with the loose condition through out the entire weekend including during qualifying where he posted the 34th fastest time on Friday afternoon.  In the opening laps of the race Crew Chief Jeff White made the call for Setzer to pit and made numerous major changes to the Fastenal Dodge. Despite pitting several times during the 200-lap event, the loose condition never completely went away. Setzer finished the race in 29th position, three laps down to winner Johnny Benson.

“It is bad loose,” said Setzer several laps after the start of the final NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. The caution waved on lap 16 for a spin in turn two allowing the Fastenal Dodge to hit pit road for service. The Fastenal Racing team lifted the hood and added wedge to the front end to help with the balance of the truck. He restarted in the 35th position.

By lap 30 Setzer was doing everything he could to help the loose condition. He tried driving a different lane, but nothing seemed to help at the time. The leaders were closing in on the back bumper of the Fastenal Dodge and Setzer was unable to hold them off. He went down one lap on lap 34.

Slowly, but surely Setzer was able to work his way through the field. “It is just so loose,” said Setzer again on lap 74 despite running in the 29th position. Luckily, the second caution waved one lap later for debris. “There is some smoke in the cockpit,” said Setzer right after the caution waved. “Just double check that on the stop.”

As soon as the pit road opened Setzer headed toward the Fastenal pit stall for service. The Fastenal Racing team changed all four tires, added fuel, made an adjustment on both the right side and left side track bar and checked the cockpit for smoke. Everything checked out okay and Setzer restarted in the 29th position on lap 79.

“It is a little better now,” said Setzer while under the third caution that waved on lap 82. White brought Setzer down pit road again to make another track bar adjustment. After the Fastenal Racing Team went up again on the track bar, Setzer returned to the track in 29th spot.

In the closing laps of the race the Fastenal Dodge was not as loose and Setzer was able to pull off the fastest laps he had run all night. He finished the final event of the season in 29th position, three laps down. Despite the disappointing finish Setzer remained 13th in the championship point standings. Bobby Hamilton Racing finished the year in 13th position in the NCTS owner’s points, two spots ahead of last year’s finish.

Benson won The Ford 200 before an estimated crowd of 20,000. Kyle Busch, Rick Crawford, Kevin Harvick and Jason Leffler rounded out the top five.