MIKE BLISS, PIT STOP STRATEGY IN CALIFORNIA RACE HELPS PAVE WAY TO FIRST TOP 10 TRUCK SERIES FINISH FOR KEY MOTORSPORTS

“We had a good race truck tonight,” Bliss said after the race. “Had we had a little better effort in the pits and maybe a little more power, we may have enjoyed even a better finish, but we did beat a lot of big teams and trucks tonight, so you have to be pleased with that,” he added.

Bliss, who qualified 13th to show early the kind of Chevrolet race truck he had in the 2007 season’s second event, twice had to battle himself back through the field after pit stops cost him.

The first, on lap 32, saw Bliss enter the pits for his first 4-tire and gas stop in 11th place only to see him come out 19th. Following a lap 35 restart, it took Bliss just five laps to move back into the top 15 despite comments that his race truck was on the loose side.

Bliss and the #40 held its ground before pitting for the second time on lap 53 during another caution that came out for Kraig Kinser’s spin in his Chevrolet in turn four. On that stop, Bliss entered the pits in the 13th position but lost six spots to exit again in the 19th spot. In just 10 laps of green flag racing after that, Bliss powered his Key Motorsports machine up to 14th and was battling the Dodge driven by Nextel Cup veteran Ken Schrader and the Ford of Stacey Compton for position.

Having to work his way from the back of the lead lap line of trucks a second time set the tone for the pit strategy to come on lap 72 when David Starr’s Ford spun to bring out the race’s third caution and with Bliss in that same 14th position on the track.

“We had no choice but to stay out with most of the leaders when they decided not to pit,” crew chief Barry Dodson said. “We were the only team on pit road with a set of sticker tires left, and we would have killed them had we pitted. But we just couldn’t afford to give up track position again with so few laps left. It was the right call,” Dodson added, and Bliss confirmed it. “It made little sense to pit and have to work our way all the way back again to end up where we were at the time of the caution, so Barry made the right call then,” Bliss added.

Despite an aero tight handling condition that plagued most of the teams on the extremely cool night, Bliss used the final 20 laps to pass more top race trucks for position.

He moved to 11th on lap 81 while battling the Toyota of Johnny Benson and Chevy of Matt Crafton and then moved into the top 10 for the first time all night with just 13 laps remaining while contending with Kevin Harvick, Crafton and Compton.

Bliss actually moved into ninth place following a spin at the start-finish by then leader Mark Martin when the latter was bumped from behind on a restart following the race’s fifth and final caution. Only a final lap move by Harvick in the first turn bumped Bliss back a spot but could not dislodge him from the coveted top 10 finish.

“This race team continues to improve, but we have to keep up the pace we are making in preparing our race trucks to give Mike the best chance to run up front consistently and have a chance at winning,” said Dodson, alluding to his concern for the team’s frustrating pit stops. “But I promise you that we will get better,” he added.

Bliss’ finish helped move him up in the driver point standing and the #40 Key Motorsports machine well into the top 20 in the all important owner points standing.

Key Motorsports did start a second truck as a field filler with ageless Morgan Shepherd starting the #44 race truck from the 32nd position. Shepherd exited competition after just four laps and finished 34th.

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