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Pennzoil Dodge Race Report: Raines at Flemington

10 August 1997

Pennzoil Race Report
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Stevens Beil 200 
Flemington Speedway
August 9, 1997

Promising Start Ends in Disappointment for Pennzoil's Raines

   What started out as a very promising day ended in disappointment 
for Pennzoil Dodge driver Tony Raines Saturday at Flemington Speedway.

   Raines posted the third fastest qualifying time heading into the 
200-lap event.  His fortunes turned even better when fast qualifier 
Terry Cook was forced to the rear after a second-lap qualifying 
accident.  That allowed Raines to start from the pole and jump to an 
early lead.  The Hoosier-rookie led 21 of the first 22 laps, battling 
with eventual winner Ron Hornaday.

   But as the first half wore on, Raines found himself in a bigger 
fight with a truck that grew tighter each lap.  By the half-time break 
at lap 101, Raines stood ninth and came in for the mandatory 
five-minute stop looking for answers.

   For the next 30 laps, it appeared the Roehrig Motorsports crew had 
found the solution as Raines turned his fastest laps of the day and 
moved back toward the front.  But just as it did in the first half, 
the truck tightened again.  Raines battled the truck and the 
challenging Flemington oval the rest of the way, completing all 200 
laps and finishing 16th.

   "I guess that was part of my rookie orientation," Raines said.  
"The Pennzoil Dodge was great early on, but it just seemed to get 
gradually tighter as each half wore on.  I just couldn't turn it.  We 
gained some ground at the break, but then the track changed again, I 
guess.  It's kind of a mystery, right now."

   Raines and his Roehrig Motorsports teammates now head to Nashville 
Motor Speedway for Saturday's Federated Auto Parts 250.  The race 
begins at 2 p.m. (EST) and airs live on TNN.

For More Information
Contact: Al Larsen
Cohn & Wolfe
404-880-5267
al_larsen@cohnwolfe.com