Ohio 200 Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
- Got back from Racefest in downtown Mansfield.
- They shut the streets down and all the haulers line up 3 to 4 wide.
- They had drivers signing and had some of them cooking and also a Q&A session.
- People could walk through some of the haulers as well.
- Mansfield puts on a good show for the fans!
- Back from Graham Auto Mall Pole day.
- The Team ASE / Harris Trucking crew worked very hard today dialing in Ted's truck.
- The first practice saw Ted go in and out of the pits 13 times.
- They tried all sorts of packages.
- Ted ended up 30th quick in the 1st practice with a speed of 106.383 mph.
- We talked briefly with Ted's spotter and he confirmed the team was working very hard today.
- During second practice the crew only came in and out of the pits 7 times.
- Each stop was quite lengthy.
- The end of practice was hectic and team owner Jim Harris was there to lend a hand.
- The crew got Ted's truck balanced by the end so it should be adjustable for the race.
- In final practice Ted was 22nd quick with a speed of 108.519 mph .
- Qualifying would be 4 hours later and Ted would end up 19th with a speed of 107.746 mph.
- Green flag Saturday at 1pm!
- On to Race Day!
- Mansfield let's the fans walk the track prior to the race.
- The weather was great this year unlike some of the previous years.
- Ted would start the race in 19th on the inside.
- Green flag flew and after 5 laps Ted is now 21st.
- Caution #1 as #30 Bodine spins.
- Ted reports being loose.
- Restart on lap 12 and Ted is 20th.
- Lap 17 and #71 Donny Lia slams past Ted.
- Lap 25 and the leaders catch the tail of the field and Ted is 22nd.
- Caution #2 as the #20 Scott Lagasse hits the wall.
- Ted pits for fuel and adjustments only.
- Restart on lap 43 and Ted is 22nd with Bodine right behind.
- Ted reports that he is still loose.
- Caution #3 as Skinner wrecks Hornaday on lap 47.
- Hornaday had been very aggressive on his way to the front.
- Most pit at this point.
- Ted stays out and restarts in 11th.
- Lap 57 and Ted is now 10th.
- Caution #4 as Benson gets spun.
- Restart on lap 76 of 250 and Ted is 7th.
- A few laps later Setzer spins for Caution #5.
- Restart and Ted is now 6th on lap 85.
- Skinner passes Ted right away.
- Ted is at the mercy of the trucks that can pass low.
- The #71 Lia is again racing Ted very hard.
- He passes Ted on lap 99 for 7th.
- A few laps later #9 Marks slams his way past Ted.
- Ted still can't hold the low line.
- Lap 111 and both the #15 and #51 get by Ted.
- Ted is now 10th.
- Caution #6 for a spin in turn 2.
- Ted once again reports that he can not stick his truck in the turns like the other trucks.
- Ted's spotter Curtis then says better to be where he is now than in the back where they are all trying to wreck each other.
- Restart on lap 124 and Ted is 8th.
- Ted once again is doing his best to hold the other trucks off but on lap 132 he falls to 9th.
- Caution #7 as #42 Tim Cowen a local driver hits the wall.
- Restart on lap 143 and Ted is 9th.
- Half way point and there is still 31 trucks on the lead lap!
- Lap 165 and #66 Benny Gordon moves Ted.
- Ted falls back 2 spots to 11th.
- Caution #8 for a wreck in front of Ted.
- Ted pits this time for 4 tires - fuel - and adjustments.
- Restart on lap 159 and Ted is now 28th.
- Ted loses a spot on the restart and is now 29th.
- Caution #9 for a spin once again in front of Ted.
- Ted gets by the spin with very slight damage.
- Restart on lap 172 and Ted is 27th.
- The racing back in the pack where Ted is now is real rough.
- Lap 180 and Ted is 28th.
- Lap 182 and Ted is 29th.
- Ted's spotter Curtis tells him that the trucks ahead are about to wreck and then they do.
- Curtis then directs Ted through the carnage and gained him 3 spots instead of being involved.
- Great job Curtis!
- Restart on lap 191 and Ted is 26th.
- Lap 193 and #22 Scott Speed slides Ted up high and he loses 2 spots.
- Caution #11 for a spin in front of Ted again.
- Restart lap 201 and Ted is 25th.
- Caution #12 as Setzer blows up?
- Ted reports that on the restarts he is very loose and it takes 5 laps to have any grip in the tires.
- He says the truck has no side bite at all.
- Restart lap 209 and Ted is 24th.
- Caution #13 for yet another spin in front of Ted and once again he gets by.
- Restart lap 217 and Ted is 22nd.
- Four laps later and Ted is 23rd.
- Caution #14 for another spin in front of Ted.
- Ted gets by again and restarts 21st on lap 226 of 250.
- Lap 230 and Ted is now 20th.
- Lap 237 and Ted is now 19th.
- Caution #15 as #10 Gaughan spins.
- Single file restart with 7 to go and Ted is 17th.
- The finish was 3 wide in the final turn and #71 Lia wins.
- Ted finishes 17th on the day.
- Ted stuck it out all day with an ill handling truck.
- Not an easy task on such a short track.
- All race long it seemed like Ted had a truck on the inside of him.
- There was no time to rest for him.
- It appeared also that no one had any patience.
- A truck would get along side Ted and then push him up even farther.
- Ted ran the high line all day and trucks had plenty of room to pass but most chose to move Ted anyway.
- Some wouldn't even wait a lap to try to pass clean they would just body slam him when they caught him.
- I guess that is short track racing compounded with a very loose truck.
- Anyway on to Dover.
