Dana Dodge Race Review: Richmond International Raceway
8 September 1997
#18 Dana Dodge Notes & Quotes FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Cornelius, NC (September 5, 1997) -- NASCAR Busch Grand National North veteran Jerry Marquis made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut under the lights of Richmond International Raceway this weekend in the #18 Dana Dodge. Marquis, currently third in points in the BGNN division, is the last in a series of five drivers to test in the #18 Dana Dodge for the 1998 driving job. While Marquis put his driving skills to the test at the unfamiliar track in an unfamiliar vehicle, the #18 Dana Racing team were battling engine woes after losing a motor in early practice, prior to qualifying. In an unprecedented event, both Roehrig Motorsport teams, the #18 Dana Dodge and the #19 Pennzoil Dodge, were forced to take provisional starting spots at the rear of the field for the Virginia Is For Lovers 200. Marquis made the best of the situation, displaying talent and experience as he piloted the #18 Dana Dodge up through the field, passing ten trucks in the first 15 laps. From a dead-last start of 36th, Marquis pushed the Dana Dodge all the way up to 17th position until terminal motor problems on lap 162 forced the truck out of the field and back to the hauler for the remainder of the race. "We had a real good top-15 or top-20 setup tonight," said Marquis. "For my first experience in a truck at this track, we were doing well. I'm really amazed at the guys on this team- they didn't quit for a minute, even with the motor problems we suffered all day. Without that, we wouldn't have had as good a run as we did." "The crew hung tough and everyone kept digging," said crew chief Mike Bodick. "This is one of the hardest working teams out here, and Jerry did a great job in the truck." Next up for the DANA Dodge... ...is the Hanes 250 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. The race begins at 1:00pm eastern time on Saturday, September 27th, and will be broadcast live on ESPN. This is the 21st of 26 race events on the 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck series schedule, and will be 250 laps around the .526 mile oval. In Team News... Roehrig Motorsports teammate Tony Raines in the #19 Pennzoil Dodge suffered his own mechanical difficulties. After taking a provisional starting spot of 33rd, Raines went laps down fairly early in the race, eventually finishing 22nd, four laps down to the leaders. The Pennzoil Dodge carries associate sponsorship from Dana Corporation. In Sponsor News... ...through the efforts of Dana motorsports manager Armedee Nadeau, Dana Corporation has become the pioneers of the NASCAR scorer's dinner. Through an idea generated from NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series chief scorer, Betsy Tyler, Dana has sponsored dinner for the team of scorers a total of five (5) times to date this season. "We wanted to do something different," said Nadeau. "Everyone sponsors the media lunch, and we wanted to participate in a different manner." Almost 50 people enjoyed the Italian dinner provided by Dana Corporation on Thursday evening, and it set a great tone for the evening's work ahead. About DANA Corporation... Dana Corporation and four of its major brands- Spicer, Victor Reinz, Wix, and Perfect Circle, comprise the primary sponsorship of the #18 Dana Dodge. Something unique between the sponsorship arrangement of Dana and Roehrig Motorsport is the product and engineering provided. For example, the #18 Dana Dodge races with Wix brand filters, with Spicer race ready driveshafts and u-joints, with Victor Reinz head gaskets and valve cover gaskets, and with a plethora of Perfect Circle products, including ball joints, tie rod ends, bearings, and seals. For more information on DANA Corporation's products, technology, and racing programs, check out the DANA web site at http://www.dana.com.
