Spencer Battles Back to Finish 7th in California
By: Truckseries.com
February 28, 2005

Jimmy Spencer drove his No. 2 Team ASE/Ultra Wheels Dodge fielded by Ultra Motorsports to a seventh-place finish in the NASCAR Truck Series race at California Speedway on Friday night.  Spencer was forced to start from the tail of the field following a post-qualifying oil cooler change, and quickly fought his way through the field.  With several late race cautions bunching the field, Spencer was able to make up several positions and come home with his second top-10 finish in as many series events in 2005.

“Buddy (crew chief Buddy ‘Red Dog’ Barnes) and the guys found a problem with the oil cooler after qualifying and we had to go to the back for the start,” Spencer said.  “A lot of times you might think that’s bad luck, but I always say that’s good luck.  I’d rather find that stuff before the race than right after it starts."

With the problems solved, Spencer quickly ran to the front once the green flag flew.  But a bump with another competitor scraped the side of Spencer’s Dodge Ram and changed the handling characteristics of the truck.

“Someone got into us on our way through the field,” Spencer said.  “It messed up the aerodynamics of the truck and we had to pit to get it fixed.  Unfortunately, the caution came out as pit stops were cycling through and pinned us a lap down.”

When the leaders pitted, it allowed several drivers that pitted under green to restart at the tail end of the lead lap in front of the leader, including Spencer.

“We got a jump on the leaders and we were running up there with (David) Starr and the engine started sputtering through the corners,” Spencer said.  “He got by us, but we got lucky and the caution came out and we got the Lucky Dog and were back on the lead lap.  We’ve been having some carburetor problems and that’s what bit us here tonight.  We fought hard and never gave up, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the problem with the carburetor.  We ended up seventh, which all things considered wasn’t too bad, but we’re here to win races.