Author: RWR

Timmy Hill looked like a season veteran though his only vision of Talladega has been his iRacing simulator. Hill entered the weekend with Sunoco Rookie of the Year points lead but that did not stop him from putting the pressure on the veteran leaders.

Hill qualified in the 34th position and quickly paired up with another rookie, Blake Koch and set sail on the leaders. The two rookies charged up into the 20th position and was becoming a duo to watch throughout the event, passing veterans at every turn.

In the closing laps, Hill charged up to the 14th position, dodging three seperate wrecks in the direct path of his unsponsored #15 Ford to capture his career high and Rookie of the Race honors.

"This race was a blast. It was a great car and a great team effort. It felt awesome to contend and finally show what this team is capable of. With momentum finally on the positive side, its time to hit the Music City."

Jeffrey Earnhardt was on his way to perhaps his career high in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Martinsville Speedway.

Piloting the #1 Chevy Silverado, Earnhardt had placed his steed in the Top 6 in the running order at the half way mark and was running down the leaders when a collision with James Buescher ruined his day.

Driving into turn three, Earnhardt was hit hard from behind and sent the nose of his Chevy into the wall, after the brakes had failed on Buescher's truck.

"It stinks that we had such a great run going. The crew, the truck, the pit stops, it was all going on our way. I hate it for the team and our chance at Top 5," stated Earnhardt.

Earnhardt and RWR will now regroup during the break and search for sponsorship as Fuel Doctor has left the organization after the race.

Timmy Hill in the #15 Ford looked to forward to a Texas like a gambler with some new chips. Hill entered the weekend with high hopes of a top 20 and was on his way to hitting that mark when the gamble came up short.

Hill qualified in the 38th position but knew that learning the track in race conditions would only help him achieve is weekend goal.

"We were pretty decent in practice and understood that the track would come to us as more rubber got put down," stated Hill.

Timmy moved into the Top 25 by mid race and his lap times continued to get better each time. With under thirty laps remaining the team decided to gamble and try to stretch the mileage and not make a pit stop in the closing ten laps.

We tried to teach Timmy to save fuel under race conditions, something he has never had to do," stated crew chief Doug Richert. "Cup guys struggle with this talent but we figured Timmy learns so quickly that it is worth the gamble."

With his foot off the gas, Hill managed to get quicker and quicker through the turns and with 7 laps remaining ran out of fuel. Hill coasted from the finish line all the way around the track to his pit stall, losing 5 laps to the leaders and ultimately a solid finish.

"We came home in 28th. Not great but its another lession learned and I doubt this will ever happen again. Onto Talladega."