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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