CLERMONT, Ind. (July 25, 2009) — Working on what appeared to be a career-best finish, Ricky Carmichael and the No. 4 KHI All-Stars Monster Energy team was solidly in the top 10 before a late-race accident relegated the team to a 19th place finish.
“I wanted that Raybestos Rookie of the Race again and I can’t say enough for KHI,” said Carmichael after the race. “We weren’t that good in practice and man at race time, we showed our true colors and rose to the occasion. It’s a bummer. What’s a shame is we had a top five and don’t have the result to show for it. But they knew we were there and maybe they’ll respect me a little more the next time I’m in the No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet.”
Starting the AAA Insurance 200 from the 18th position, Carmichael fought a loose-handling truck until the first caution flag of the race on lap 36. Deciding to pit from the 17th position, Carmichael came down pit road on lap 38 for four fresh tires and an air-pressure adjustment. The following lap Carmichael returned to pit road for fuel and track-bar and wedge adjustments.
With the race back under way on lap 43, Carmichael restarted from the 17th position a little tight, but the more laps he ran in the No. 4 Monster Energy truck, the better it got. Falling back to 20th following the restart, Carmichael patiently began his move toward the front, picking off one truck at a time. By lap 92, Carmichael had taken over the 12 position when the caution flag waved.
Happy with the trucks entry into the corners, Carmichael asked for the team to free-up the truck from the center off the corners. Under the caution, Carmichael came to pit road on lap 94 for tires and on lap 95 for fuel and a track-bar adjustment. With fast, solid stops and encouragement from team co-owner Kevin Harvick atop the pit box, Carmichael was able to restart the race seventh on lap 101.
With a fast truck, Carmichael continued to run lap times comparable to the leaders and was able to take over the fifth position by lap 177. Running in the sixth position on lap 180, Carmichael looked poised to have a solid finish. Unfortunately, the No. 4 Monster Energy team’s night took a turn for the worse on lap 185 when another competitor got into the back of Carmichael sending him in to the turn four wall. Pitting several times to repair damage, Carmichael was able to cross the finish line in the 19th position.
KHI teammate Ron Hornaday won the race, making NASCAR Truck Series history by being the first driver to win four races in a row, followed by Mike Skinner, Aric Almirola, Dennis Setzer and Colin Braun.
STATS RECAP
July 24, 2009
O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis
AAA Insurance 200 Presented by J.D. Byrider
Race: 13 of 25
Driver: Ricky Carmichael
Started: 18th
Finished: 19th
Race length: 200 Laps/ 137.2 Miles
Banking/Turns: 7.5-degrees in turns, 2-degree straight-a-ways;
Track layout: 0.686-mile
Shape: Oval
Number of Race Cautions: 5 for 27 Laps
First Practice: 15th (23.214 seconds; 106.384 mph)
Final Practice: 18th (23.021 seconds; 107.276 mph)
Qualifying: 18th (22.826 seconds; 108.192 mph)
Next on the Truck Series Schedule:
Date: August 1, 2009
Track: Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway
Event Name: Toyota Tundra 200
Driver: J. R. Fitzpatrick
Broadcast Time: 7:30 p.m., ET on SPEED and 7:00 p.m. EST on MRN Radio