BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) – Dennis Setzer raced to his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory of the season Saturday, winning under caution after Ted Musgrave blew an engine while running second with less than two laps to go.
Setzer took the white flag for the final lap just before NASCAR officials threw the caution flag for Musgrave in the Paramount Health Insurance 200 on the two-mile Michigan International Speedway.
“It blew up big time,” Musgrave said. “I kept it wound up on the high side and I was catching up with Dennis. I was going to mess him up on the last lap down the backstretch.”
Setzer gave Chevrolet its first win at Michigan, finishing in the top 10 for the seventh time in the season’s first 10 races.
“I really didn’t even know Ted had blown up,” Setzer said. “I hadn’t even looked in my mirror.”
Nextel Cup regular Kyle Busch, the pole winner, finished second, and Bobby Hamilton was third to take the series season points lead from Musgrave. Busch said he would have had a chance to catch Setzer had the yellow flag not come out late.
“I think I was going to have a pretty good shot at him,” Busch said. “It was a shame the caution flew.”
Kevin Harvick, who finished fourth, said he was surprised the other leaders were able to get around Musgrave after his engine blew.
“I can’t believe we all didn’t wreck right there,” Harvick said.
The competitive race featured 13 different leaders and 17 lead changes.
Maine’s Ricky Craven led a lap and was among the leaders when he spun into the wall on Lap 77 after he was struck by Brandon Whitt. Craven ended up in 33rd place and dropped from second to fourth in the season points standings, 56 points out of first place.
Speeds were high when the race was not under caution. The yellow flags – which covered 26 of the race’s 100 laps -dropped Setzer’s average speed to 122.387 mph.
Earlier Saturday, 30 of the field’s 36 drivers broke the series qualifying record at Michigan, led by Busch at 181.612 mph. Speeds were high because of cooler than normal temperatures at the track.
It was the first career truck pole for Busch, a two-time winner this year.
Busch led early but had tire problems and had fallen to the back of the pack 30 laps into the race. He rallied late, but the final caution ended his victory hopes.
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