Michigan: Donny Lia preview

New York Native, Donny Lia Heads to Brooklyn

Michigan International Speedway hosts this weekend's VFW 200 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. New York native Donny Lia is Brooklyn bound... Brooklyn, Michigan that is!

So far in 2010, bad luck has plagued the hard charging Long Islander, two flat tires and two accidents have taken four potential top-ten runs away from Lia and the SS Green Light team. The finishes have not shown how fast the team has been, including qualifying third at Charlotte several weeks ago.

This week Donny will climb behind the wheel of a Dodge RAM usually driven by teammate Jason White, as the team believes it will provide Donny with the best chance for success at the two-mile speedway southwest of Detroit.

"I am just thankful of the opportunity that Ken Smith and Bobby Dotter have given me. It really doesn't matter what brand of truck it is, I ran a Dodge at Daytona and it was fast," Lia said. "If the truck is good enough, my job is put it up front."

Lia has one previous start at Michigan International Speedway back in 2008. He had a very good run coming from the 26th starting spot to finish 12th in the Cool City Customs 200.

Crew Chief Jason Miller is ready for the challenge of the wide, sweeping speedway that is know for long green flag runs and fuel strategy, "It's pretty simple this week; Donny finished 12th back in 08, he knows how to get around this track. If we get the truck right, he'll be up on the wheel."

"I'm excited because I know this is a good truck. We just need to get a little bit of good luck this week and once that happens we can turn this thing back around."

Lia revisited his roots this past weekend. Filling in for modified veteran Wayne Anderson, Donny carved his way from a starting spot deep in the field to win a 35-lap NASCAR Modified feature back home at Riverhead Raceway.

"To be honest racing a Modified wasn't on the list of things to do this year. I really want to put 100-percent of my focus on the Truck. My goal is to run up front every week in the Truck series," Lia added. "I had no intentions of racing a Modified. To race at Riverhead and to help Wayne out is different."

Bobby Dotter, General Manager of SS Green Light Racing has high expectations for Lia and teammate Jason White this week. "We bought a Ford from Roush/Fenway and we decided to run Jason in that truck. So we're going to put Donny into one of the good Dodges that Jason has been running. I think they are the two best trucks we have for a track like Michigan."

-source: ssglr