By Tommy Praytor, Circle Bar Racing
Photo(s): Battered Circle Bar/Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford F-150 during the Built Ford Tough 225 presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers at Kentucky Speedway. Compliments of Ronda Greer.
Having finished second in last years Built Ford Tough 225 presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers, Rick Crawford and his Power Stroke Diesel by International team returned to Kentucky Speedway with high hopes of finishing one spot better and rolling their Ford F-150 into victory lane. As part of a promotional swing for Ford and the Speedway Crawford arrived a day earlier than normal and spent the Thursday before the race hopping from TV, radio and print media outlets promoting the race. On Friday, Crawford would get to climb into his office, the cab of his Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford F-150, and get down to business.
Crew chief Kevin “Cowboy” Starland and the Power Stroke Diesel by International team have spent the better part of he 2007 season developing and tweaking on their newest down force chassis, CB-21 better known as “Black Jack”. Black Jack rolled off the trailer in the top 15 on the practice charts with Cowboy and Crawford working on getting the right feel for the race. Qualifying put the team 16th, familiar territory, with Black Jack having a reputation for not qualifying well but racing to the front with the drop of the green flag. From the 16th spot Crawford was on the move and by lap 10 he was passing the pole sitter Ryan Mathews when his Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford F-150 got aero loose and hit the outside retaining wall hard. With extensive damage to the rear and the right front the team was forced to take their ailing machine to the garage area for major repairs. 75 laps later Crawford returned to the track in 33rd position. Crawford and the Power Stroke Diesel by International teams hard work would gain them another 3 spots by the end of the race and maintain their 5th position in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings.
KEVIN “COWBOY” STARLAND “The guys did a heck of a job putting our Ford F-150 back together. These guys just keep on digging every week. They never quit until the checkered flag falls. I’m proud of their effort every week. .”
RICK CRAWFORD “It was my mistake, I drove it in under the 22 truck (Ryan Matthews) trying to advance my position and it didn’t stick. Our Power Stroke Diesel by International team is built Ford tough and the guys got me back out there and we picked up 3 spots. I hate it happened, these guys have been giving me great trucks all year and I hate tearing them up. We’ve got Elvis ready to defend our Power Stroke Diesel title at ORP in a couple of weeks.”
The Circle Bar/Power Stroke Diesel by International Team will be in action when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series holds round 14 of the 2007 season in the Power Stroke Diesel 200 presented by Ford and International at O’Reilly Raceway Park on Friday July 27th at 7:30 PM EST. For live trackside reports of practice and qualifying go to truckseries.com. Live coverage of the race provided by Speed, MRN and Sirius Radio.
www.circlebarracing.com or www.rickcrawford.com