Ryan Hemphill To Pilot No. 4 Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge

Bobby Hamilton Racing has signed 20-year old Ryan Hemphill to drive the No. 4 Dodge Ram at South Boston Speedway. In the search to find a suitable replacement for the No. 4 truck for the 2003 season, Bobby Hamilton Racing decided to give Hemphill the opportunity to drive one of their trucks.

"The whole idea behind having the No. 4 truck this year was to help Dodge bring along young, exciting new drivers," said Bobby Hamilton, team owner. "We have heard nothing but good things about Ryan (Hemphill), and after meeting with him, we decided to give him a shot in one of the trucks. He ran a few races earlier this year and looked pretty impressive, and he won a race in St. Louis with our crew pitting the car, so we know a little bit about what he can do in a racecar."

Hemphill competed earlier this season in two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events, Memphis Motorsports Park and the Milwaukee Mile. In these events, he recorded a 26th place finish and a respectable 16th place finish after starting from the 33rd position.

"This is a dream come true," said Hemphill. "This is great team, and they are giving me a great opportunity to get in one of their trucks for South Boston. I have been at the shop for the last couple of weeks, and they have really welcomed me in. I just can't wait to get out for practice and see what we can do."

Hemphill, a native of Pennsylvania, has been racing since he was 12 years old. He has raced all over the Northeast and in the Midwest in Late Models. Most recently in 2002, he went to victory lane in the NASCAR All Pro Series at Nashville Super Speedway, the NASCAR Remax Challenge Series at Gateway
International Raceway, and the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series at Phoenix International Raceway.

"I just want to get some seat time, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel like I could get a top ten finish with this team," said Hemphill. "They are in a race to finish in the top ten in owner's points, and they are
expecting me to get into this truck and run up front with the other trucks in their stable. So I know I have my work cut out for me."

The No. 4 Bobby Hamilton Racing team is locked in a points battle to keep the team in the top fifteen in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series owners points standings. They are currently in the 15th position 16 points out of 14th place which Bobby Dotter currently resides.

When Hemphill starts the event in South Boston this weekend it will propel the No. 4 team over the $ 200,000 mark for the season. They need $2,610 in earnings to reach this mark.

With five races remaining in the 2002 season, there are still 15 teams that can win the Truck Series Championship.

Last year Bill Lester drove the No. 4 Truck at South Boston Speedway. He started in the 26th position and finished in the 32nd position after being involved in an accident on lap 129 and failing to finish the event.

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