Pennzoil Dodge Race Report: Raines Just Misses 6th Straight Top Ten Finish
1 August 1997
Pennzoil Race Report NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Cummins 200 Indianapolis Raceway Park July 31, 1997 Sixth Straight Top 10 Eludes Raines in Final 10 Laps at IRP Last week at Topeka, Pennzoil Dodge driver Tony Raines earned a top 10 finish due to a steady performance and a little good fortune in the late stages of the race. Thursday at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Raines turned in another steady performance, but was bitten by bad luck 10 laps from the end and settled for a 27th place finish in the Cummins 200. Raines started 13th in the 34-truck field and stayed on pace with the leaders for 185 laps. But with 15 laps remaining, Raines felt his truck growing tighter with each circuit. The cause of the push revealed itself five laps later as a cut right front tire sent Raines to pit road. He returned for the final two laps and finished seven laps behind winner Ron Hornaday. "That was a tough night," Raines said. "I only had a couple laps warning (with the tire), but I knew something was going to happen. We had done a good job staying out of trouble all night, but there wasn't much we could do about that." Raines and his Roehrig Motorsports teammates head to Flemington Speedway next for the Stevens Beil/Genuine Car Parts 200 on August 9. The race begins at 2 p.m. and airs live on TNN. For More Information Contact: Al Larsen Cohn & Wolfe 404-880-5267 al_larsen@cohnwolfe.com