Pit Crew Helps Propel Fike to Top-Rookie Honors at California Speedway

Fontana, Calif. (February 25, 2007) - Aaron Fike led the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ Raybestos’ rookie class at California Speedway after leading rookie practice, out-qualifying his challengers, and scoring the Raybestos Rookie of the Race Award for his performance in the San Bernardino County 200 on Friday night at the 2-mile Superspeedway.

“I think our RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra is pretty fast,” said Fike after practice on Thursday.  “We were in the top-10 in both practices and I thought that was pretty good.  All the other guys in front of me have a billion laps around here.  We made a qualifying run there at the end and I was pretty loose.  If we get our truck a little more tight; I think we’ve got a shot at being in the top-five but I’d be happy with a top-15 starting spot.”

Even though Fike was a little loose in qualifying, the rookie laid down an impressive lap of 41.258 seconds at a speed of 174.512 miles per hour which was good for 8th on the starting grid, but as the sun went down and the track temperatures began to cool, Fike was faced with a truck that was too tight to turn during the 100-lap race.

“We could never get my truck to turn the whole race,” said Fike.  “I’m proud of all my guys though.  I thought they gave me a better truck than that, but I did what I could do with it.  I just couldn’t turn the whole race.” 

California Speedway is known as a track where handling is crucial.  Fike’s handling problems began to surface at the start of the race and at first opportunity, Crew Chief Jamie Jones brought Fike and the No. 1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra to pit road.  The crew, which has gone through extensive training at PIT Instruction and Training, LLC, was quick to outfit their Toyota with four fresh tires, fuel, and significant air pressure and track bar adjustments.  Even though they made several time consuming adjustments on pit road, the crew picked up six spots, returning their driver to the track 13th, and proving that their training paid off.

Fike continued to struggle with the handling on his Toyota, and slid back to 17th before pitting for another round of adjustments, under caution, on lap 53.  Jones called for four tires, fuel, and another round of track bar and air pressure adjustments.  The crew ripped off another quick stop, returning Fike to the track 14th.

“I can’t turn the truck off the corner,” said Fike on lap 68.  “I feel like if I was by myself, the truck would be pretty decent.  But when I get behind someone, I can’t turn it.” 

Fike had a final opportunity to hit pit road under caution on lap 72.  The crew gave him four fresh tires, fuel, and another round of chassis adjustments, returning him to the track 18th where he would remain for the final 28 laps to capture the Raybestos’ Rookie of the Race Award.

“We freed it up a ton every pit stop and it just never got there,” said Fike after the race.  “We just put this truck together.  This is a brand new truck.  We’ll just go back to the shop and work on it some more and go to Atlanta.”

Fike and the Red Horse Racing team will enjoy two weeks off before taking the No. 1 RFMS/Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra to the fast 1.54-mile quad oval of Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday, March 16^th for the American Commercial Lines 200.  Live television coverage will be provided by SPEED at 8:30 p.m. ET with radio coverage coming to you live from MRN Radio.