Dennis Setzer scored his 2005 Indy victory after starting from the pole. Inclement weather forced NASCAR to cancel the scheduled qualifying and the field was set according to the Owner’s Point Standings in which Dennis Setzer’s team was leading at the time.
On that night, the short track specialist led 177 of 200 laps en route to the dominating win at the 0.686-mile O'Reily Raceway Park. The win was the driver's fourth in six races and 16th of his truck career, but his first career top-five at ORP. He started on the pole courtesy of an afternoon rain storm which cancelled qualifying and the race was over almost before it began. Ted Musgrave started on the front row and gave Setzer a challenge for the first couple of laps, but he was no match for Setzer that evening.
This week at ORP Setzer stated, "I might just be the happiest person in the garage at Indy. We had a great run last weekend in Kentucky with the No. 18 Tahoe Dodge. Bringing Jeff Hensley on board has really made a difference in how our team communicates. We won at Martinsville in March and had a really good truck at Mansfield before a parts failure took us out of contention."
"I feel like if we can keep our nose clean we will have a good chance at winning on Friday night. Both the team and myself have scored victories at ORP in the past and I hope we can add another to that list this weekend."
Bobby Hamilton Racing has two victories( 2000 and 2004) at ORP. In 2004 Chad Chaffin drove to victory over Johnny Sauter to score his second win of the season. The No.18 Dodge crossed the finish line 0.348 seconds ahead of the runner-up. The victory was Chaffin's second of the season and second of his truck career. Chaffin's first Craftsman Truck Series win came in June of that year at Dover.
"I drove hard all night," said Chaffin.
Joe Ruttman scored his second of three victories in 2000 for BHRVA by winning at Indy after starting from the pole.
MARTINSVILLE, Va. --On Lap 128, Kyle Busch ran into the back of Brent Raymer who spun in front of Busch, forcing him to slam on the binders and come to a halt. After the caution flew, Busch, Ron Hornaday and a number of other drivers came down pit road for gas and tires. That handed the lead to Dennis Setzer, ahead of Ron Hornaday, Brendan Gaughn, Johnny Benson, Mike Skinner and David Starr. Setzer then held on through numerous restarts and survived a green-white-checker finish to to win the Kroger 250 Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway and put his Duck Head Footwear/Aquadock Dodge Ram into victory lane. The victory was the first for Dodge (and Bobby Hamilton Racing) since the late Hamilton won at Mansfield in 2005, and the truck Setzer won in is co-owned by Hamilton's widow, Lori.
"The emotions are running high right now," Lori Hamilton said. "We always said after Bobby passed away that if we could build it, then we'd do it in honor of him."
Setzer prevailed in a single-file restart. For him, winning at a track where he and Bobby Hamilton dueled also was special.
"I ran second to Bobby the year he won the championship," Setzer said. "We fought like heck all year as far as racing goes, but we were probably as good of friends off the track. We never had a harsh word with each other any time during the year."
The race, run on a cold, overcast day after the teams practiced in heat and sunshine Friday, was dominated by 15 cautions that slowed the pace for 82 laps, and caused the race to go three extra laps for a two-lap sprint to the checkered flag. It was Setzer's 18th career victory in the series and third at Martinsville.
Ten years ago this weekend Bobby Hamilton won The Winston Cup event at Martinsville in the Morgan McClure Motorsports Kodak sponsored Chevrolet. Perhaps Setzer's win today was written in the stars.
Text by The Associated Press, Tom Jensen of TruckSeries.com, Small Town Girl and 14Falcons
"But all this must be suffered by those who profess the stern order of chivalry" Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 and six other occasions. Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
