07-20-2004 | Tim Stephens
Standing atop the spotters’ stand, my mind flashed back to a World Series a few years back. A hobbling Kirk Gibson hit an improbable game-winning home run off seemingly-unbeatable Dennis Eckersley and announcer Vin Scully uttered the only words that fit this moment. “I can’t believe what I just saw!” In a series that has been marked by too many close finishes to chronicle in less than an hour, the sequence of restarts and crashes that marked the end of the Ram Tough 200 at the Gateway International Raceway Saturday, July 17 was nothing less than the most unbelievable in the history of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Four tries, three crashes (one involving the leaders) and a bump-and-run pass for the win made the 14-lap overtime session not only the longest in series history but the best. Sadly, given the rule change that was announced before the race, it’s an outcome that will never be matched or bettered. By the time David Starr was finished melting rubber onto the Gateway front stretch, one had to be wondering what all the Cup and Busch owners, drivers and crew members were thinking. Sitting at home enjoying one of their last wisps of free time before Thanksgiving, those that tuned into Gateway had to have some reaction to the finish, knowing that a similar rules package is coming there way this weekend at New Hampshire. Cold sweats, perhaps? The neutered version of the green-white-checkered rule that’s now the norm in all three national divisions would have made the Gateway race a rather mundane caution-lap parade with Shane Hmiel winning his first truck race under yellow and checkered flags. Still, the type of action that plagued turns one and two during each of the four restarts was exactly the type of activity that kept the green-white-checkered out of Cup and Busch so long. As competitors, we can argue all day and into the night about whether the new rule, the old rule or no rule is the right rule. But the only barometer that should be read is the one on the faces of the fans. Climbing down the steps of the Gateway grandstands, there was no rumbling or grumbling to be heard. Silly grins and open smiles were the norm. The whole house had just felt the same way Vin Scully did all those years ago at Dodger Stadium. “I can’t believe what I just saw.” There’s no better way to leave ‘em when it’s over. - Tim Stephens, The Inside Line
The smoke had yet to dissipate. Rick Crawford’s No. 14 truck was still sliding down the backstretch, driver’s side to pavement and trailing a shower of sparks that even the post-race fireworks show could envy. Trucks were darting and dashing, most still acting like the freeze the field rule was coming next week, not a change to the green-white-checkered.
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You may contact Tim Stephens directly at tim.stephens@truckseries.com