David Starr took the lead on the final lap of Saturday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Dodge Ram Tough 200 to end a 35-race winless streak.
Starr, driving the Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet, nudged his way past Chad Chaffin in Gateway International Raceway’s first turn and beat Dennis Setzer to the checkered flag by a margin of .444 second – about two truck lengths.
The Houston veteran, only the second driver in series history to win by leading only the final lap, averaged 93.694 mph. The race, scheduled for 160 laps, was extended by caution a record four times for 14 laps.
Starr, whose last victory came in October 2002 at Las Vegas, won $54,210.
Ted Musgrave, Mopar Dodge and Chaffin, Dickies Dodge, finished third and fourth with Hank Parker Jr. fifth in a Toyota. Matt Crafton, Travis Kvapil, Randy LaJoie, David Reutimann and Bill Lester completed the top 10 finishers.
Setzer, who entered the race with a six-point championship lead over Bobby Hamilton, extended his advantage to 64.
Nine drivers exchanged the lead a Gateway record 15 times.
The results:
1. (14) David Starr, Chevrolet, 174, $54,210.
2. (11) Dennis Setzer, Chevrolet, 174, $37,425.
3. (13) Ted Musgrave, Dodge, 174, $29,015.
4. (6) Chad Chaffin, Dodge, 174, $21,775.
5. (12) Hank Parker Jr., Toyota, 174, $18,725.
6. (15) Matt Crafton, Chevrolet, 174, $15,625.
7. (5) Travis Kvapil, Toyota, 174, $15,150.
8. (23) Randy LaJoie, Dodge, 174, $15,050.
9. (17) David Reutimann #, Toyota, 174, $13,450.
10. (8) Bill Lester, Toyota, 174, $13,250.
11. (28) Shane Sieg #, Chevrolet, 174, $13,200.
12. (24) Chase Montgomery #, Dodge, 174, $11,515.
13. (10) Andy Houston, Dodge, 174, $11,465.
14. (25) Paul White #, Chevrolet, 174, $11,415.
15. (27) Tracy Hines #, Chevrolet, 174, $11,865.
16. (7) Shane Hmiel, Chevrolet, 174, $12,565.
17. (2) Bobby Hamilton, Dodge, 174, $11,015.
18. (9) Carl Edwards, Ford, 173, $10,840.
19. (26) David Ragan, Ford, 173, $9,490.
20. (22) Brad Keselowski #, Ford, 173, $9,565.
21. (30) Kelly Sutton #, Chevrolet, 173, $8,440.
22. (32) Ken Weaver #, Chevrolet, 172, $8,415.
23. (20) Brandon Whitt #, Ford, 172, $8,390.
24. (29) Chris Wimmer #, Ford, 172, $8,365.
25. (3) Rick Crawford, Ford, 169, accident, $8,340.
26. (18) Terry Cook, Ford, 160, accident, $8,315.
27. (16) Robert Huffman #, Toyota, 160, accident, $8,290.
28. (19) Mike Skinner, Toyota, 159, $8,265.
29. (1) Jack Sprague, Chevrolet, 155, accident, $8,240.
30. (21) Jon Wood, Ford, 154, transmission, $9,720.
31. (4) Steve Park, Dodge, 149, $8,210.
32. (34) Ryck Sanders, Chevrolet, 51, engine failure, $8,200.
33. (33) Wayne Edwards, Chevrolet, 7, brakes, $8,190.
34. (31) Johnny Chapman, Chevrolet, 1, rear end, $8,155.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 93.694 mph.
Time of Race: 2 hours, 19 minutes, 17 seconds.
Margin of Victory: 0.444 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 9 for 36 laps.
Lead Changes: 15 among 9 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Sprague 1-3; B. Hamilton 4-27; J. Sprague 28-31; S. Hmiel 32-41; R. Crawford 42-51; D. Reutimann # 52-66; D. Setzer 67-73; B. Hamilton 74-92; J. Sprague 93-94; S. Hmiel 95-106; J. Sprague 107; T. Hines # 108-109; J. Sprague 110-113; S. Hmiel 114-166; C. Chaffin 167-173; D. Starr 174.
Top 10 in Points: D. Setzer - 1,837; B. Hamilton - 1,773; C. Edwards - 1,671;
M. Crafton - 1,651; C. Chaffin - 1,650; T. Musgrave - 1,610; R. Crawford -
1,603; T. Kvapil - 1,564; J. Sprague - 1,544; J. Wood - 1,527.
