Pennzoil Dodge Race Report: Raines Finishes 13th at California
20 October 1997
#19 Tony Raines, Pennzoil Dodge NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series The No Fear Challenge Race Report California Speedway October 18, 1997 RAINES PASSES DRAFTING TEST WITH 13TH AT CALIFORNIA FONTANA, CA - Pennzoil Dodge driver Tony Raines passed his first drafting test in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with flying colors Saturday by placing 13th in The No Fear Challenge at California Speedway. Raines, who qualified 31st, knew drafting would be critical on the two-mile oval, but had yet to really experience it since joining the truck series this year. But, from the start, he looked comfortable, steadily gaining positions throughout the first 40 laps of the 100-lap event. Then, the Roehrig Motorsports crew helped the rookie move even further up in the field by performing a perfect fuel stop with 15 laps to go before half-time. "The Pennzoil truck was really pretty good all day," Raines said. "We didn't make any major changes at the break. I think we had a top 10 truck today. But, we just started so far back we had a lot of ground to make up." After the mandatory five-minute break, Raines returned to the track in 20th and continued his march toward the front. Running several laps by himself under his qualifying speed, Raines eventually latched on to the tail end of the lead draft and wound up 13th. "All-in-all, it was a pretty uneventful day," Raines said. "We learned something about running in the draft, so that was good, too." Next up for Raines and the Roehrig Motorsports team is the GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 300 at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 1. The race begins at 4 p.m. (EST) and airs live on WTBS. By Cohn & Wolfe