Daytona Jinx Continues For Mike Bliss, Key Motorsports

Daytona February 16. 2009: It was more of the same at Daytona for former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Mike Bliss, who tallied his third 33rd place finish in the Truck Series season opener.

Bliss, who had practiced 12th fastest in final practice, took the green flag in the 27th position after laying down a qualifying lap of 52.167. By the end of the first lap, the No. 40 Oakland Metal Buildings Chevrolet had improved three positions, riding in 24th for the next four laps.

Trouble struck the Key Motorsports truck on the sixth lap when the No. 85 of Brent Raymer and the No. 11 of T.J. Bell sandwiched the 16 truck of Brian Scott, which sent the him spinning, leaving Mike Bliss with nowhere to go but into the side of Scott.

After spinning onto the apron, the visible damage to the No. 40 Chevrolet seemed minor, but Bliss was unable to fire up the engine, which required him to be pushed back to the pits by the wrecker. Once in the pits, crew chief Gary Showalter discovered that the transmission had broken, leaving the truck unable to continue.

Mike Bliss will continue his six race stint in the Key Motorsports Chevy Silverado this week at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.