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Carelli makes comeback as silly season hits truck series

© Amanda Vincent

Rick Carelli doesn't let obstacles like injuries including substntial head trama get hime down. I've never quit at anything in my life," Carelli said a few days after winning the Kroger 200 on Thursday night at Richmond International Raceway.

Carelli added that while in victory lane, he had flashbacks of May 8, 1999, the day he slammed his truck into a concrete retaining wall at Memphis Motorsports Park. Carelli spent much of the last 17 months recovering from injuries while doctors wondered if the man would even survive. The $39,165 Carelli won Thursday night didn't compare to the feeling that he was back. "I had some emotions and some goose bumps," he said. "It's a feeling you can't explain."

The Kroger 200 was the Colorado natives fourth career win in the Craftsman Truck Series. He lost his ride after the injury, but found another ride to begin the 2000 campaign. Things still didn't look good; Carelli could finish no better than the first nine races of the season. No the driver has substantiated the confidence that he has in himself and has erased any doubts about his future in the truck series. Carelli will be chatting with race fans at 3 p.m. ET Wednesday, Sept. 13 at nascar.com.

***** Race season isn't over, but silly season has already hit the Craftsman Truck Series. The #1 Mopar Dodge team has lost its sponsor, crew chief, and driver, Dennis Setzer. The team is preparing for next season by running a second team for part of the remainder of this season with Hermie Sadler as driver. Perhaps the team is trying Sadler out for its driver opening. Randy Tolsma will be leaving the #16 team, as is the team's crew chief. Andy Houson will make the move to Winston Cup next season to drive the #94 McDonald's car, creating another vacancy.

***** Another new addition has been made to the Craftsman Truck Series 2001 schedule. The series will be heading to the track "too tough to tame" in mid-May. The truck series will be part of a race weekend that will include monstor trucks and the Goody's Dash Series.