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DOVER, DE (Sept. 24) - Aaron Fike, driver of the #43 Kleenex® / Super Fresh Ford, started 27^th and finished 23^rd in the Dover 200 at Dover International Speedway.  Fike, who was making his 18^th NASCAR Busch Series start of the season, was involved in an early race accident.  Despite damage to his race car, the 22-year old, Galesburg, IL native managed to stay on the lead lap for most of the race.  Ultimately a flat left front tire and a pair of pit road penalties cost Fike a solid top-15 finish.

 

Unloading a car that finished 8^th at Pikes Peak International Raceway earlier this season, Aaron Fike and his Curb-Agajanian teammates held high expectations upon entering this weekend's 200 lap race at Dover.  "We ran really well here last fall, and this car is without a doubt a lot stronger.  This place can be really tricky if you don't stay focused lap after lap.  I'm really excited for the race," Fike said with regards to his third career start at the "Monster Mileâ.".

 

With two practices scheduled for Thursday afternoon, Fike had more than enough time to get acclimated to the one-mile concrete track.  Despite struggling with a loose handling racecar, Fike felt confident of his chances come race time.  Despite a decent draw in the qualifying lineup, Fike would be forced to settle for a 27^th place starting position.  "We were way too loose on those two laps.  Its unfortunate to start that far back, but come race time, loose is the way to be.  We'll be fine as long as we stay out of trouble," Fike added.

 

Under overcast conditions, 43 competitors took the green flag at Dover International Speedway for the second time this season.  Quickly settling into his rhythm, Fike was forced to take evasive action on lap two.  As Matt Kenseth spun off of turn two, several cars checked up.  With no where to go Fike ran into the back of teammate David Green.  In a heads up move, Fike quickly worked his way back around the track, managing to stay on the lead lap.  Ultimately, he headed to pit road to fix the minor damage.

 

While the car was a little wounded, Fike continued to work his way through the field.  Nevertheless, the young driver was dealt a second blow on lap 75.  While heading down the back stretch, Fike radioed, "I've got a left front flat, I'm heading to pit road." Unfortunately, as he crossed the first timing line upon entering pit road, Fike was caught speeding.  As a result of the infraction, Fike was issued a drive-thru penalty.  After changing four tires and returning to the pit road to serve his initial penalty, Fike was once again handed a penalty for speeding.  When all was said and done, Fike returned to racing action five laps down.

 

Despite the unfortunate series of events, Fike kept his cool and concentrated on the task at hand.  With several cars out of the race due to early accidents, Fike held his own and continued to gain valuable positions.  When the checkered flag fell, he crossed the finish line in 23^rd place.

 

"Obviously that's not the kind of day we were hoping for, but I guess we made the best of a bad situation.  I'm pretty sure we had a good car, but it's hard to stay because of the damage we suffered on lap two.  Had we not had the pit road penalties, I think we would have had a solid top-15 finish," Fike said after the Dover 200.

 

Next up, Aaron Fike heads to Kansas Speedway for the United Way 300 on Saturday, October 8^th.  NBC and MRN will provide live coverage of the event beginning at 2:00pm EDT.