KANSAS CITY, Kansas -- Bobby Dotter and the People Against Drugs/Puma Tools Racing team found their share of misfortune at the Kansas Speedway, but when the checkered flag flew the team was rewarded with a solid, respectable 15th-place finish.
Dotter was in position to move as high as 12th in the running order late in the race when Brian Rose made contact with the turn 4 wall. As Rose slowed, his truck drifted down the banking of the bowed frontstretch at Kansas Speedway and made significant contact with the right side of Dotter's Chevy. Following a spectacular slide down the infield grass, Dotter pitted for makeshift repairs to complete the last 10 laps of the race.
"We sure didn't need that last hit there," Dotter said afterwards. "I was working so hard on trying to catch the 15 truck (Rich Bickle) that I didn't see what was developing ahead of us there. Gene (Christensen, spotter and team owner) cleared me to the low side, and right after he did that, the 4 (Rose) started to come down. We just ran out of room and made contact.
"We really didn't need to damage another truck, but that could have been a lot worse than it was. We still managed a 15th-place finish and we solidified ourselves in the points a little better. We will take this truck back to the shop and evaluate if we can get it ready in time for Kentucky."
Dotter and the People Against Drugs/Puma Tools Chevrolet return to action July 13 at the Kentucky Speedway for the Kroger 225. The green flag will wave on the 36-truck field shortly after 8 pm ET and will be seen on ESPN and heard on XM Satellite Radio and MRN Radio affiliates nationwide.
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