FIKE SCORES SEASON'S BEST PERFORMANCE IN ATLANTA

Hampton, Ga. (March 19, 2007) - Before entering Atlanta Motor Speedway for Friday night's running of the American Commercial Lines 200, Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender Aaron Fike said that he liked "bigger, faster" race tracks and that proved true after the 24-year-old qualified 5th in the No. 1 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra and finished 12th in his first time at the 1.54-mile oval in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series ride.

Fike and his Red Horse Racing team were eager to hit Atlanta Motor Speedway where it is "Real Racing.  Real Fast." but Mother Nature had a different plan in store.  After washing out the morning's first practice session, Fike and the No. 1 Toyota hit the track for a rain-shortened final practice session where they laid down a lap of 31.081 seconds at a speed of 178.373 miles per hour which was good for 12th on the board.

Proving that he liked Atlanta Motor Speedway, which is one of the fastest tracks on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule, Fike and the Red Horse Racing team stepped it up in qualifying with an impressive lap of 30.811 seconds at a speed of 179.936 miles per hour, resulting in a 5th place starting spot for the rookie and his best qualifying spot of the year.

When the green flag dropped for the start of the American Commercial Lines 200, Fike held strong in the top-5 until he slid to 6th on lap 11.  Citing a loose condition on lap 18, Fike had his first opportunity to hit pit road on lap 27 under a "Competition Caution" which was displayed by NASCAR.  "It's a little too free," said Fike has he brought the No. 1 Red Horse Racing Toyota down pit road.  "I definitely didn't feel comfortable running up top."  Crew Chief Jamie Jones called for a four-tire stop with air and track bar adjustments.  The crew ripped off a lightening fast stop, returning the No. 1 Toyota to the track in 4th position.

When the race returned to green on lap 32, Fike slid to 6th position.  "I'm really loose through one and two," he said.  "But I'm not too bad through three and four."  Fike remained in 6th position through a 25-lap green flag run, until the next caution fell on lap 58.  "I still can't get through one and two like I want too," he said.

Jones brought Fike and his Toyota to pit road for four tires, fuel, and track bar and air pressure adjustments before returning his driver to the track in 5th position.

When the race resumed on lap 66, Fike's Toyota was still a little too loose and he slid to 9th by lap 72.  "It's still free off of turn two," he explained.  "The track bar adjustment seemed to upset the truck getting into two a little more."
Jones added one last round of adjustments to the No. 1 Red Horse Racing Toyota after the caution was displayed on lap 91.  "It felt a little too tight with that last adjustment," Fike said over the radio before dropping off the banking and onto pit road for the final time of the night.  Jones called for four tires, fuel, and air pressure and track bar adjustments before returning his driver to the track.  The top-three drivers stayed out for track position, and Fike was shown 12th on the restart on lap 97.

"The truck is perfect," Fike said under caution on lap 102.  "Let's just pick our way through here as quick as we can," encouraged Spotter, Jeff Dickerson.

Fike remained in 12th position in the closing laps to score his best finish of the year.  By virtue of his 12th place finish, Fike picked up two spots in the Championship Point Standings and currently sits 13th, only three points out of 12th and a mere seven points out of the top-10.  In addition, Fike still remains at the top of the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings.

Fike and the Red Horse Racing team will return to action at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, March 31st for the Kroger 250.  Live television coverage will be provided by SPEED Channel at 3 p.m. ET with radio coverage broadcast live on MRN.