Fike Fights “The Monster Mile” for Top-10 in Dover

Posted 06-04-2007

Dover, Del.  (June 4, 2007) - After falling two laps short of his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win last weekend at Mansfield Motorsports Park, Raybestos’ Rookie of the Year leader Aaron Fike was looking forward to returning to action at Dover International Speedway where he had hoped to conquer “The Monster Mile” in his first truck race at the one-mile oval.  After qualifying sixth and running fourth, it appeared that Fike would have a shot at his first win again, but the No.1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra would settle for 10th after an inopportune caution fell and cost the team track position in Friday’s AAA Insurance 200.

Fike was the top-qualifying rookie after he qualified the No. 1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra in sixth position by laying down a lap of 23.431 seconds at a speed of 153.643 miles per hour.  “The No. 1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra wasn’t bad,” said Fike after qualifying.  “It’s just a little tight right now.”

At the drop of the green flag for the start of the 200-lap race, Fike nearly got caught up in a wreck involving nine trucks as the leaders came together exiting turn two.  “There’s not a lot of grip on this upper lane at all,” said Fike, under caution, on lap two. 

When the race restarted on lap 11, Fike was fourth.  “I can’t keep it down if I drive it in hard,” said Fike to the crew just before the second caution fell for an accident on the frontstretch.  “It feels like it’s going to be a little tight,” he said on lap 15.

The race restarted on lap 24 and last year’s Champion, Todd Bodine, poked his nose under the left-rear of the No.1 Toyota Tundra, making a pass for position.  “It feels a little bit tight, but we don’t want to free it up too much,” said Fike when the events third caution fell on lap 39.  Bodine hit pit road while Fike stayed out, moving into 4th position at the restart on lap 45. 

Fike slid to 5th when Bodine’s fresh tires caught up.  Needing tires of his own, Fike gave up track position on lap 95 to pit for four tires and fuel under green flag conditions.  Returning to the track mid-pack, Fike was mired in lap traffic.  “We’re one lap down, but just keep hustling that thing,” said Crew Chief Jamie Jones.  “We’ll be good when it all cycles through.”

An inopportune caution fell on lap 130, trapping Fike one-lap down.  “It’s a little tight on exit,” said Fike as he hit pit road for four tires and fuel, under caution, on lap 132.  The Red Horse Racing crew had an awesome stop, returning Fike to the track as the first truck one-lap down.

When the race restarted, Fike quickly bolted ahead of the leader and was on the tail end of the lead lap.  “You’re doing a good job,” said Fike’s spotter, Kevin Ray.  Even though Fike was doing a good job, the No.1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra fell one-lap down in the closing laps and they took home their third top-10 finish of the year.

“I was happy with the truck,” said Fike.  “All the guys are doing a good job.  We ran well all day.  I got a lap down but we still finished in the top-10. We got back on the lead lap but we needed a caution to get the track position back that we lost. We’re just trying to build consistency. We had a good day overall. This was a good point’s day and we’re starting to pull away in the Raybestos Rookie standings. To run as well as we did in my first Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover is pretty awesome.  It was just a good day.”

Fike took home the Raybestos’ Rookie of the Race award for the fifth time in eight races this year.  He also moved into ninth in the 2007 Championship Point Standings.

Fike and the Red Horse Racing team will take the No. 1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra to Texas Motor Speedway for the running of the Sam’s Town 400 on Friday, June 8^th, 2007.  Live television coverage will be provided by SPEED at 8:30 p.m. ET with radio coverage coming to you live from MRN Radio.