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Hamlin and Crew Bring Home First Top-10 of the Season at Mansfield

May 29th, 2007 - Concord, NC
Source: BHR PR

Before Friday morning Kevin Hamlin had never seen Mansfield Motorsports Park, but that did not slow down the Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate. Hamlin, after qualifying 26th for the seventh race of the season, battled his way into the top 10 in the closing laps of the rain filled Ohio 250 while racing some of the best short track racers for position.

He showed patience waiting for the exact moment to attack and advance another position. He was able to score a 10th place finish. It was his first top-10 finish and the team’s best finish of the season.

The No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Mansfield Motorsports Park Race Recap

Hamlin was the fourth truck to qualify on Friday afternoon. The unfortunate draw resulted in a 26th starting position.
The first caution waved on lap 10 for a spin in turn two. “It’s a little tight in the center,” said Hamlin. “It will come to me.”
The first rain shower moved into the area just as the field was going back green on lap 15. NASCAR was forced to red flag the event due to rain three laps later.
After a long rain delay NASCAR attempted restart the field once again. Crew Chief Marcus Richmond called the No. 4 Open Joist Dodge down pit road for fuel. The Open Joist Racing Team went to work adding fuel and making a wedge adjustment to aide the tight condition. He restarted in the 32nd position.
By lap 70 Hamlin was running in the 19th position when Spotter Kip McCord began having radio problems. “I can not hear him at all,” said Hamlin. “Someone is going to have to take over for him if the radio doesn’t start working.”
Fortunately for the team a thunderstorm was moving into the area forcing rain to pour on the track once again. Richmond put a plan into place with McCord to get a new radio and head set sent to him in the stands. Once the race was rain delayed for a second time McCord was able to get a new radio.
After a very long four hour rain delay NASCAR restarted the event on lap 118. Hamlin immediately went to work passing several trucks in front of him. By lap 140 Hamlin was running in the 14th position ready to pounce on his next victim.
Six of the 13th cautions of the event took place in the final 100 laps leaving minimal time under green flag conditions, but Hamlin capitalized on every situation in front of him.
Over the final 50 laps Hamlin cracked the top 10 and never wavered. The 10th place finish was the first top-10 of his career and the team’s best finish of the season.
“I am so proud of my team today,” said Hamlin after the race. “It was a very long day and they never gave up. We really made the best of every situation. Several times I held my breath and hoped for the best out there. Now that we have the first top-10 under our belts I expect nothing but good things from this race team.”

Dennis Setzer won the The Ohio 250 before an estimated crowd of 15,000. Jack Sprague, Schrader, Mike Skinner and Johnny Benson rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Dover International Speedway on June 1, 2007.