Loudon: Hamilton preview

Loudon and Soft Walls:

"New Hampshire is a tricky race track to drive. It's fast and hard to get around if you don't know the right places to watch there. The Bahre family has done a tremendous job with the track and is really supportive of racing. They've been in this sport for a long time and done a lot of things to improve their facility. When they added the soft walls around the track it showed all of us they were willing to do whatever it took to make the drivers feel safe. That says a lot for them and us."

Running Good Again:

"Everyone asked me after the spin when we were leading the race in Richmond why I was in such a good mood. When our trucks run the way they did there, then how can you not be? I feel like we are on the upswing again after all the testing we did. The Dodge engineers got us back on track in Colorado and it showed every lap in Richmond. We never touched that truck after we got there and led a ton of the race. It just shows our team is back on track and that is what makes me smile. It's been a rough mid-season so after seeing that I'm pumped up ready to win some races."

Move Up in Points:

"It's tough to move up at this point in the season. We figured at Richmond we had to have a 2.2 finishing position. I tried to lead a lap for five points, lead the most laps for five points and win the race. Unfortunately we weren't able to do that. We need someone to win a championship for Dodge. I'm with the one-team concept for Dodge. I really want it to work out that we can sit at the champions table this year, whether it is my team or any other Dodge team out there."

Notes:

This weekend's truck is Scarface, the same truck he drove last weekend in Richmond. Hamilton has raced it seven times this year and logs four top-10 finishes in those events.

Hamilton will be signing autographs at the Second Annual NASCAR Meet and Greet on Main Street in downtown Laconia, New Hampshire on Thursday, Sept. 11th at 7:30 pm. The Square D Racing Team will compete in a Dodge pit crew challenge from 8-9 pm that same night.

Fans Regardless:

"Most of the time race fans don't know what happened in the race unless the TV has covered it. There is no way that the TV can cover everything that happens out there, but the drivers know whathas happened to them. If people got mad about the late race incident, then I can't help that now. If they were Bobby Hamilton fans and are not anymore because of that particular incident, then I hate that. But if they are Brendan Gaughan fans because of that incident, then I love that. The beauty part of is they are still buying tickets and supporting the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. That is the big picture. NASCAR, teams and sponsors like Square D need the fans to support the program."