Mike Skinner – Toyota Tundra Racing - Post Race Report
Race: O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 (Race 5 of 25) - Track: Kansas Speedway
Date: Saturday, April 28, 2007 - Started: First - Finished: Fifth
Laps Completed: 167 - Total Laps: 167 - NCTS Points: First

After becoming the first driver in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history to win three races in a row on two occasions, Mike Skinner wanted to go down in the record book as the first driver to win four races in a row.

The red-hot No. 5 Toyota Tundra dominated the first practice session Friday at Kansas Speedway. Skinners’ lap times were a tenth and a half quicker than those of the whole field, so Skinner and his Tundra crew were looking fierce going into the happy hour final practice session. However, rain forced the cancellation of that session.

Skinner qualified midway through Saturday’s time trials. Despite a loose handling condition during his lap, Skinner captured his 35th career pole and his second in a row at Kansas with a time of 31.629 seconds.

The No. 5 truck led the 36-truck field to the green flag Saturday night in front of an amazing crowd that had convened for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250. Skinner pulled away from the rest of the field and led the first 58 laps of the race.

A long green flag run forced drivers to pit under green flag conditions, and Skinner took his opportunity to pit on lap 59. He stopped for four tires, fuel, an air pressure adjustment and some tape. The stop went well until the left rear tire lug nuts would not tighten. The crew was forced to tighten them by hand, and the No. 5 Toyota Tundra team lost valuable track position.

Fighting to get back to the front after losing 15 spots, Skinner returned to the top 10 before the caution flag waved on lap 73. Skinner pitted again because his truck was not handling like it was before. He restarted seventh on lap 79 after a four-tire stop with a few adjustments.

Skinner broke into the top-five by lap 98 and remained there until the next caution on lap 111. The handling of his truck was getting looser each lap, so Skinner pitted for four tires, fuel, air pressure and track bar adjustments. He restarted fifth on lap 115.

Skinner remained in the third-to-sixth-place range throughout the next few laps. The handling of his Tundra became extremely tight, but Skinner battled the condition and finished fifth. The finish enabled Skinner to extend his lead in the NCTS Championship standings.

Skinner will lead the series to Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., in a few weeks. The race will be televised live Friday, May 18 on SPEED.