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NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series No Fear Challenge Report: #14 Rick Crawford

20 October 1997

 #14 Rick Crawford, Circle Bar RV and Motorhome Park Ford
 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
 The No Fear Challenge Race Report
 California Speedway
 October 18, 1997

                  CRAWFORD POSTS ANOTHER TOP-10 FINISH

FONTANA, CA - Rick Crawford, driving the #14 Circle Bar RV and Motorhome Park 
Ford F150, had another top-10 finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for 
the ninth time this season. Crawford finished tenth in Saturday's No Fear 
Challenge at the new California Speedway. He started ninth on the grid after 
piloting the #14 Circle Bar Ford around the D-shaped 2-mile oval in 42.004 
seconds (171.412 mph). Pole sitter Mike Bliss had a fast lap time 41.571 
seconds (173.198 mph). 

At the beginning of the 100-lap race, Crawford slid back in the pack due to a 
loose handling truck and major shuffling on the track. Crawford and crew 
chief Roland Wlodyka discussed coming in for adjustments, but opted to 
remain on the track and wait for the break. By lap 39, Crawford was back up 
to 16th place. Since the break was not scheduled until lap 60, all the 
competitors needed to make a gas only pit stop. Crawford came in on lap 41 
and by the break had worked up to 12th place. 

Crawford maneuvered his Ford F150 into 10th place on lap 66 and held onto the 
position till the end. The top-10 was looking a little in doubt when Rob 
Rizzo made contact with Crawford while spinning for the second time on lap 
90. "I'm not sure what happened," stated Crawford after the race. "Rizzo was 
a lap down. I'm just glad nobody got hurt."

Crawford remains in 12th place in drivers' points, just 81 points behind 10th 
place Kenny Irwin, who Crawford is also chasing in the Cintas Rookie of the 
Year Challenge. 


By Circle Bar Auto Racing Public Relations