Mike Skinner and his No. 5 Toyota Tundra team went into Atlanta’s Motor Speedway with hopes of dominating just like they did there in the Spring. Capturing the pole at the 1.5 mile last Fall and this past Spring, as well as winning the race in the Spring, Skinner was looking to extend his points lead in the series.

During the first practice session on Friday afternoon, Skinner’s Tundra seemed very loose and had many aero problems as well. Making adjustments little by little, crew chief Jeff Hensley and team adjusted the truck to Skinner’s likings and in the final practice session, Skinner ended up on top of the speed charts.

As qualifying got underway in the early hours on Saturday morning, Skinner and his crew waited to make their run as they were near the back of the pack in the qualifying order, when it finally came Skinner’s turn, he hit the ground running. Running a great time of 30.545 seconds, Skinner’s lap was good enough for the second position, the outside of row number one.

As the green flag fell over the 36-truck field, NCTS point’s leader Skinner and the man right behind him in points, Ron Hornaday both led the field to the start/finish line. Immediately Skinner radioed over to his crew that his Tundra was loose and with a competition caution flying on lap 30, Skinner would come to pit road along with the rest of the field to try and fix his truck.

Taking two right side tires only, while making a trackbar and wedge adjustment, crew chief Jeff Hensley would use some pit strategy to get Skinner the lead off pit road. Leading a lap for those oh-so crucial five bonus points is what Skinner needed, however he would shortly once again let his crew know that his truck was once again loose.

As the caution flag would fly on lap 45, Skinner and his crew would take a chance and come down pit road to fix their problems, while the majority of the field stayed out. This time taking two left side tires and fuel, while making another trackbar adjustment and adding more rubber to the left rear, Skinner would restart the race in the 17th position on lap 54.

Picking off positions one by one, Skinner’s No. 5 Tundra would look as if it was vaulting its way through the field. By lap 75 though, Skinner once again let his No. 5 crew know that his truck was loose again. Coming to pit road under caution on lap 80 with the rest of the field, Skinner would take four tires and fuel, along with an air pressure adjustment. Skinner would now restart in the 10th position on the lap 85 restart.

Not being able to pass on the racetrack, due to Skinner’s Tundra once again becoming loose in the gas, but aerotight behind trucks, Skinner knew he would have one last chance to pit and get his truck right before the end of the race.

As the fourth caution of the night flew on lap 106, Skinner dove down pit road for four sticker tires, fuel and let his crew take the wedge back out that they had put in earlier in the race, Skinner would restart in the 11th position on lap 111.

With Skinner being one of the only drivers with sticker tires due to the great pit strategy by crew chief Jeff Hensley, Skinner vaulted his way through the field throughout the last few laps. Crossing the finish line in the fifth position, but losing the points lead by a mere four points.

Skinner try to get back the points lead this weekend at one of his favorite tracks, the Texas Motor Speedway. The race will be televised live on SPEED, Friday, November 2.