FUEL MILEAGE PLAYS KEY ROLE IN OUTCOME FOR LIA AT MARTINSVILLE

Randy Moss Motorsports Driver was Running in the Top 10 before Running out of Fuel

As Rookie of the Year candidate Donny Lia returned to the wheel of the No. 81 Randy Moss Motorsports Chevrolet, the Long Island, New York native had a strong run going in his second visit to Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series before fuel mileage became a factor ending that run for Lia and relegating him to a 28th-place finish.

"Our finish is not going to show it, but the No. 81 RMM Silverado was awesome all day, commented Lia.  "We unloaded really good and made some changes during practice to make it even better.  There is no telling how good we could have gotten it had we had more time.  The guys did a great job all day and at the shop preparing our truck.  I really need to thank Eric Phillips (crew chief), Chris Showalter (truck chief) and all the guys at the shop for giving me a great truck.  Even though our finish doesn't show it, the day was a success for us and it is something that we can build on together as a team."

The 27-year-old is no stranger to success at the .526-mile track as he scored a top-10 run in the March 29th event earlier this year and also owns a win at the short track in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Division.

After qualifying 12th, the Nationrides.com driver worked his way into the top-10 in the early stages of the 200-lap event.

When the first caution flag waved on lap 36, Lia came down the pit lane and the RMM crew gave him two tires and fuel for what was their only planned pit stop of the day.

Lia remained in the top 10 for the duration of the event until the final caution period late in the race.  With less than 10 laps remaining, the No. 81 ran out fuel while running under the caution and had to return to the pit lane for a splash of Sunoco fuel.  The team struggled to get the RMM Chevrolet re-started and lost two laps while on pit road.

Lia returned to the track for the final laps and took the checkered flag in the 28th position two laps down from the leaders.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads back to the Atlanta Motor Speedway next for round 22 of 25 with the running of the E-Z-GO 200 on Saturday, October 25, 2008.  Green flag coverage will begin at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) on SPEED with coverage from MRN (Motor Racing Network) and Sirius Satellite Radio beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Tight quarters short track racing with Todd Bodine and Matt Crafton.

The #81 Randy Moss Motorsports Chevy passing Colin Braun.