07-21-2008 | Sparta, KY
Dennis Setzer
No.18 Tahoe Dodge Ram
Built Ford Tough 225
Kentucky Speedway
Sparta, KY. (July 21, 2008) – Heading into the Built Ford Tough 225 weekend the Tahoe Dodge Racing team knew they had a good chance at winning the race. Tahoe Dodge driver Dennis Setzer’s stats at Kentucky Speedway were impressive and he was looking to add to them while he was in town for the running of the 13th race of the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event. After posting the 11th fastest qualifying lap on Saturday morning Setzer was poised to take on the field later that night. Once the green flag dropped Setzer drove the No. 18 Tahoe Dodge consistently in the top 15 much of the night. It wasn’t until Crew Chief Marcus Richmond made the decision to take on right side scuffs and only one can of fuel on the last pit stop that Setzer cracked the top five. Setzer was able to hold his line in the final 19 laps and score an impressive fourth place finish. It was the team’s second top-five and fourth top-10 finish of the season.
The No. 18 Dodge Ram Race Recap
Setzer qualified in the 11th position on Saturday afternoon after posting the sixth fastest time in the final practice on Friday night. Following the drop of the green flag Setzer radioed in, "It is light on right side grip," he said while running 12th. "Other than that it is good."
The second caution waved on lap 13 for a spin in turn two. Richmond made the call to stay out and Setzer restarted 13th.
"It has a really bad aero push," said Setzer on lap 22 while under the third caution. "I have noticed it here more than any other track this season." Richmond elected to stay out despite the push. "It is still too early to pit," he said. Setzer restarted 14th.
Over the next 20 laps Setzer was able to get in a rhythm and passed four trucks to crack the top 10 for the first time all night.
The fourth caution came out on lap 53 due to an accident in turn three. Richmond made the call and brought the No. 18 Tahoe Dodge down pit road for service. The Tahoe Racing Team jumped into action changing all four tires, adding fuel and made an air pressure adjustment to help the tight condition. Following the pit stop NASCAR was forced to red flag the event while track workers fixed the safer barrier that was destroyed in the accident. Setzer restarted 12th once the race resumed.
After the adjustments Setzer still battled a tight race truck. "It is still tight, but not as tight as before." He drove back into the top 10 again on lap 81.
The sixth of eight cautions waved on lap 115 for debris. Setzer hit pit road for his final pit stop. Richmond made the call to take right side scuffs and only one can of fuel. The Tahoe Racing Team jumped into action busting out a great pit stop getting Setzer out in second place.
Following the restart on lap 119 Setzer held his own in second place for several laps before falling back to third and then eventually to fourth place before the night was over. "The truck was the best it had been all night long there at the end," said Setzer after scoring an impressive fourth-place finish. It was his second top-five finish and fourth top-10 finish of the season.
Johnny Benson won the Built Ford Tough 250. Michael Annett finished second, Matt Crafton, Dennis Setzer, and David Starr followed in the top five.