Spencer dominates to win first career truck race

LOUDON, N.H. -- NASCAR Winston Cup Series veteran Jimmy Spencer withstood a furious final challenge from Raybestos Rookie Carl Edwards to win Saturday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series New Hampshire 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Spencer, who started his Team ASE Racing/Carquest Dodge from the Bud Pole, edged Edwards' Superchips Ford by .661 second after the pair traded paint with 16 laps remaining in the 200-lap race around the 1.058-mile speedway.

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Spencer, who won in his second series appearance, was the eighth different driver to win in as many events at NHIS. He is the season's 11th different winner. Spencer won at an average speed of 103.867 mph and led 124 laps. He's the first pole starter to win a race since October 2002, when David Starr was victorious at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Spencer's win was worth $49,300 plus a $10,000 pole winner's bonus from series sponsor Craftsman.

Bobby Hamilton's Square D Dodge chased Edwards to the checkered flag, followed by Dennis Setzer, who came from the 19th starting position in the ACXIOM/Computer Associates Chevrolet. Brendan Gaughan, who ran 15th with 80 laps remaining, recovered to finish fifth in the Orleans Hotel Dodge, a half-length behind Setzer.

Gaughan, who started the season's 18th of 25 events with a five-point championship lead over Travis Kvapil, upped the precarious margin to nine as Kvapil finished seventh. Ted Musgrave, 12th after a late stop for fuel and tires, is third, 62 points off the lead. Musgrave led laps 42 through 106 before a pit road penalty on lap 144 dropped the Mopar Performance Dodge to 17th.

Five drivers swapped the lead six times. The event saw the caution out seven times to consume 29 laps.