Truck Series Debut Cut Short for Jimmie Johnson at Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. (August 22, 2008) - Heading into "The World's Fastest Half-Mile" for the running of the O'Reilly 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Randy Moss Motorsports had a Truck Series "rookie" - reigning back-to-back NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson - behind the wheel. After a quick start and leading 29 laps, Johnson lost control of his No. 81 Kobalt Tools Chevrolet on lap 101 and received substantial damage to his Silverado, cutting short his Truck Series debut and ending his night with a disappointing 34th-place finish.

“I just want to thank every one of these guys from Randy Moss Motorsports for working as hard as they did on this truck,” Johnson said. “I feel terrible that I tore up their truck. I just got loose coming off of two and I lost it four times, saved it three times and finally crashed on the fifth or something like that.”

Driving a truck for the first time in his bright career, Johnson drove the No. 81 Kobalt Tools Chevrolet Silverado to a ninth-place starting position and quickly broke into the top-five by lap 24. Using pit strategy, Johnson stayed out and on lap 42, he led his first ever lap in the NCTS. The El Cajon, California native went on to lead through lap 70 and stayed in the second position until lap 82, when he came to pit road for his only pit stop of the night. Crew chief Eric Phillips called for four tires, gas, and a track bar adjustment to help the tight handling conditions. Restarting from the 19th-position, Johnson was steadily working his way through the field until he got loose underneath another competitor and lost control of his Chevrolet, finishing the night for the Randy Moss Motorsports team.

“I am trying to get underneath the No. 21 and I just lose it,” said Johnson, while watching a replay after the race. “I fought it, fought it and ran out of talent I guess (LAUGHS) right here at the end. I knew I was going to get hit, but I had a great time. I wish I could have finished it up for these guys. I know we could have had a top-three finish tonight.”

“I got loose I think four times there and lost it on the fifth one, just couldn’t catch it and got turned around there and got collected. I want to thank Kobalt Tools for sponsoring this Silverado and letting me come out and do this. These guys did an exceptional job all day long. I think we could have been there at the end of this thing so hats off to these guys.”

“When I didn’t catch it at first, I knew I was in trouble because the weight of the vehicle starts swinging and it is real tough to catch up with it at that point. Once I got out on the straightaway and didn’t have it under control, I had a good feeling I was in trouble.”

As team owner Randy Moss was getting ready for the upcoming NFL season with the New England Patriots, Johnson had a special message for Moss after the race.

“I had a blast, sorry for tearing up your truck. I really wish I could have gotten you your first win tonight. At least I went out in style and had it crossed up for you. We had a great truck and a really strong performance.”

With the unfortunate 34th-place finish, Randy Moss dropped one spot to the twentieth position in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series owner’s point standings. Moss is only 39 points behind Jack Roush for the seventeenth position.

Next stop for Randy Moss Motorsports and the No. 81 Chevrolet Silverado will be Gateway International Raceway on Saturday, September 6. The green flag will drop on the Camping World 200 in St. Louis, Missouri, shortly after 2:30 P.M. Eastern. SPEED will have live coverage of the 160-lap event, beginning at 2:00 P.M. Eastern. Select affiliates of MRN Radio and Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 128 will also have the live radio broadcast.