Tony Stewart wins, good day gone bad for
Dale Jr._8/11
 No. 8 Budweiser team 35th place after late spin into gravel
Tony Stewart, who managed to survive a week of heated media scrutiny after a
post-race incident where Stewart struck a photographer and was fined by NASCAR AND his
sponsor, put the drama behind him today as well as the rest of the field with a victory in
the Sirius Radio at the Glen at Watkins Glen, NY. Stewart survived a late-race red flag to
hold off rookie Ryan Newman and Robby Gordon in a dash to the finish. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
and the No. 8 Budweiser team ran strong through the first 70 laps of the race, running as
high as second place and utilizing a fuel strategy that positioned them for a top-10
finish. However, while challenging Jeff Gordon for 14th place on lap 72, the rear brakes
locked on the No. 8 car and sent Dale Jr. for a wild ride, sliding backwards through the
gravel trap outside of turn one. The team revived the dust-strewn car in the garage area,
and Dale Jr. returned to the track, finishing 35th place, six laps behind the leaders.
 The Key Moments: Dale Jr., starting 21st, and not known for his road
racing savvy, showed his continuing improvement by running strong and competitive lap
times all afternoon. Choosing to make an early pit stop during the initial yellow flag
period of the race on lap 10, the team was able to take advantage of the extra fuel as
they climbed to second place on lap 29 (of 90) until their second pit stop on lap 38. The
pit strategy looked as if it was going to pay off as the team made what should have been
their final pit stop of the day on lap 52, while many of the cars in front of them were
forced to pit for more fuel later in the afternoon. While battling up through the field,
Dale Jr. got inside of Jeff Gordon for 14th position on lap 72, but the rear brakes locked
while he was positioning the car for the first corner, which sent him careening into the
gravel trap. When the dust-covered No. 8 returned to the pit lane, looking more like a
Baja desert racer than NASCAR stock car, the team was able to make quick repairs and send
Dale Jr. back on the track to finish six laps down in 35th position.
Dale Jr's Quotes: "I apologized to Tony Jr. (Eury, car chief) and the guys
after I spun out. The car was pretty good - and I felt like I was quicker than the guys in
front of me at that point in the race. I got inside (Jeff) Gordon, and when I jumped on
the brakes, they locked and I was just hanging on. I got out after the tow truck pulled
the car out of the gravel and right into the wall. That was the damage to the back of the
car - I didn't do that - the wrecker did!"
 "I felt like we were
going to have a really good finish. I was 15th when I went off, so that's an improvement
for us. I feel like we're getting better and better at the road courses. I was having fun
and I drove my butt off every corner of every lap. It was really hard to pass, so track
position was critical. I was behind Boris (Said, a renowned road racer) and I really felt
like we were faster than him, but I just couldn't get past him anywhere."
Best Radio Conversations:
Not all of the best or most entertaining radio conversations take place on race day.
Friday's practice and qualifying produced some exciting moments, including Dale Jr.
avoiding a possum that wandered onto the course on his qualifying lap. Earlier in the day,
Dale Jr. rolled to a stop during the practice session with a loose rear axle, leading to a
lengthy delay to return to the pits via tow truck…
Tony Eury Jr: "Where y'at?!?"
Dale Jr. "Who knows?! I broke at turn one so now I am at… (pause)
who-knows-what-turn… (pause) I'm at 'www.who-the-hell-knows.com…'"
Following the final pit stop of the day on lap 52, the team believed that they had
enough fuel to continue to the finish, but did not want to take any chances. Under the
yellow flag, they encouraged the driver to save fuel as best he could.
Tony Jr. "Third gear, please, Dale Jr…"
Tony Eury Sr. (crew chief): "You have enough, but just don't pump on that gas
pedal."
Dale Jr. (in a mocking tone) "I dunno… I'm not really a
believer…"
Tony Sr: "Yeah, well, this time you ARE gonna make it."
Dale Jr: (chuckling) "Oh... OK. I'm a believer now."
Tony Jr: (referring to Dale Jr's buddy Hank Parker Jr., who has two Busch Series
victories based primarily on superb fuel mileage) "Just pretend you're Hank Jr. for a
weekend…"
After the field circulated another lap under the yellow flag, Tony Jr. seemed
surprised at their position on the track… (Dale Jr. restarted in 17th position)
Tony Jr: 'Hell - we're almost leading this thing! I thought it was going to be
worse, but we're in a good position here. There are at least seven cars ahead of you that
can't make it (without making another pit stop)."
Today's Stats
Started: 21st
Finished: 35th
Points Position: 17th (no change)
Money Won: $57,605
Laps Led: --
Best Pit Stop: Lap 10 / Stop #1 of 4 / 4 tires, Fuel and Track-bar adjustment / 15.46
seconds
Don't forget the King of Beers on the internet at: www.Budweiser.com-Budweiser
Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Watkins
Glen Preview_8/6
Dale Jr. Quotes for Watkins Glen
"I've been known to be less-than-thrilled when it comes to the road course events,
but I've learned that I have a lot more fun if I just go out there and drive my butt off
on every lap instead of worrying about the track. We did a test this summer at the track
in Virginia (Virginia International Raceway, a road course) and I think it helped with my
frame of mind and helped the team learn about set-ups for the road courses. We were pretty
good at Sears Point until the crash, so I feel better about the way the car should drive
this weekend. I've always said Watkins Glen is a less 'technical' track (than Sears
Point), because you can really haul down the long straights and then set-up for some of
the turns like an oval. Who knows- maybe we'll surprise some people like we did in
'99." (Dale Jr. won the Busch Series race at the Glen with a last-lap pass.)
Dale Jr. and the No. 8 Bud Team at Watkins Glen
Previous Winston Cup Starts: 2
Best Start: 14th (2000)
Best Finish: 12th (2001)
This Race, Last Year: ST: 26
FIN: 12
Help Me Help You
Borrowing a line from Jerry Maguire, fingerprint inc. and Budweiser want you to tell us
how we can help make these race previews and post-race reports better. Is there an element
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take your suggestions very seriously.
If you ever need to review past reports, log in to www.Budweiser.com for a full archive of
this season's reports and all the latest on Dale Jr…
What:
Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen
2.45 mile road course / 90 laps / 220.5 miles / Race #22 of 36
Where:
Watkins Glen International Speedway, Watkins Glen, NY
When:
Sunday, August 11 / 1:00 p.m.
Watch:
NBC / Pre-race: 12:30 pm / (All Times: Eastern)
You can also tune in on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) on a radio or computer near
you…
Bud Pole Qualifying:
Bud Pole qualifying can be seen live at 3:00 pm Friday on the Speed Channel and heard on
MRN affiliates across the nation.
-Budweiser |
