Mike Skinner – Toyota Tundra Racing - Post Race Report
Race: O’Reilly 200 (Race 12 of 25) - Track: Memphis Motorsports Park
Date: Saturday, June 30, 2007 - Started: Third - Finished: Fourth
Laps Completed: 200 - Total Laps: 200 - NCTS Points: First

The No. 5 Toyota Tundra team headed to Memphis looking to run well at the hot track. Skinner has never finished higher than ninth at the .75 mile track, but he was looking to change that statistic this weekend.

The team struggled somewhat during the first practice session and made many necessary changes to its Tundra in order to pick up the pace a bit for the final session. However, the truck continued to handle poorly, frustrating the No. 5 team and leaving it as the seventh fastest team after the final practice session.

After setting the truck up for the Saturday afternoon qualifying session, the No. 5 team was the 19th team to attempt to qualify. Skinner’s lap of 22.799 seconds meant he would start in the third position, his highest starting position at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Skinner immediately charged forward from the start of the race. He ran second throughout a long green flag run before taking the lead on lap 61. By taking the lead, Skinner tied Jason Leffler’s 2002 record of most consecutive laps led at a race (12).

Skinner would soon have to pit after the caution flag waved on lap 72. No adjustments were made during the four-tire stop, and Skinner retained the lead upon the restart. He remained the leader until lap 78 and raced among the top three throughout the next 30 laps.

Skinner and crew would make their last stop of the night under caution on lap 114. After another four-tire stop, Skinner restarted second on lap 119.

Skinner fought to maintain his position under yet another long green flag run. He finished fourth, his 10th top-five finish and his 12th top-10 finish of the year.

Skinner continues to lead the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship standings as the series heads to Kentucky in two weeks. The race will be televised on SPEED Saturday, July 14.