Pennzoil Dodge Race Report: Raines at Flemington
10 August 1997
Pennzoil Race Report NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Stevens Beil 200 Flemington Speedway August 9, 1997 Promising Start Ends in Disappointment for Pennzoil's Raines What started out as a very promising day ended in disappointment for Pennzoil Dodge driver Tony Raines Saturday at Flemington Speedway. Raines posted the third fastest qualifying time heading into the 200-lap event. His fortunes turned even better when fast qualifier Terry Cook was forced to the rear after a second-lap qualifying accident. That allowed Raines to start from the pole and jump to an early lead. The Hoosier-rookie led 21 of the first 22 laps, battling with eventual winner Ron Hornaday. But as the first half wore on, Raines found himself in a bigger fight with a truck that grew tighter each lap. By the half-time break at lap 101, Raines stood ninth and came in for the mandatory five-minute stop looking for answers. For the next 30 laps, it appeared the Roehrig Motorsports crew had found the solution as Raines turned his fastest laps of the day and moved back toward the front. But just as it did in the first half, the truck tightened again. Raines battled the truck and the challenging Flemington oval the rest of the way, completing all 200 laps and finishing 16th. "I guess that was part of my rookie orientation," Raines said. "The Pennzoil Dodge was great early on, but it just seemed to get gradually tighter as each half wore on. I just couldn't turn it. We gained some ground at the break, but then the track changed again, I guess. It's kind of a mystery, right now." Raines and his Roehrig Motorsports teammates now head to Nashville Motor Speedway for Saturday's Federated Auto Parts 250. The race begins at 2 p.m. (EST) and airs live on TNN. For More Information Contact: Al Larsen Cohn & Wolfe 404-880-5267 al_larsen@cohnwolfe.com