Truckin'...

After avoiding a 7-truck wreck on lap 1, and another wreck on lap 12, AJ commented that “this race is like SIM racing. Yellow’s come out every lap!” After he was finally able to get into a groove, AJ started driving the truck through the field. Crew chief Jason decided to use a different pit strategy than some of the other trucks on the lead lap and pitted during the lap 37 caution, making an air pressure and wedge adjustment and taking 4 tires and fuel.

After working his way up to the 9th position, a green flag pit stop on lap 127 proved costly when the yellow flag waved shortly after. AJ restarted at the front of the field in front of leader Ron Hornaday, Jr. in the 33 truck, which delegated him to the tail end of the lead lap. The team was hoping for a caution to fall so they could restart behind the leaders and start working through the field again. Unfortunately, the much-needed caution never fell. Despite fighting a very loose condition the rest of the race, AJ was able to keep the 00 truck in front of the 33 truck until the end of the race, laying down lap times faster than the leader for most of the last 50 laps. AJ ended up in the 9th position – a solid day for the 00 truck.