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2003 Season
2003 Coca-Cola 600
| Race Information |
| Event: Coca-Cola 600 |
| Date: May 25, 2003 |
Track: Lowe's Motor Speedway |
| Qualified: 24th |
Finished: 41st |
| Status: Brakes |
Laps Completed:
240 of 276 (race shorted from
400 to 276 laps by rain) |
| Points
Pos. Before/After Race:
2nd/2nd |
Points
Earned: 40 (w/ 0 bonus) |
| Money
Earned: $109,457 |
Summary and Related News |
Bad brakes equal bad break for Dale Jr._5/25/03
No. 8 Budweiser Team Ends Rainy Night in Garage
Jimmie Johnson won the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 Sunday evening at Lowe’s Motor
Speedway, as the race was stopped on lap 276 of a scheduled 400 laps, while a year-long
streak ended for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 8 Budweiser team. They had been running at
the finish of 36 consecutive Winston Cup races until a problem with the brake system on
the car sent the team to the garage after completing only 241 laps. The rear brakes had
locked up, causing Dale Jr. to spin wildly at the exit of turn four on lap 223. Multiple
pit stops proved ineffective at repairing the problem, and the car was taken to the
garage. The team finished in the 41st position, but remained in second place in the
Winston Cup point standings. Had the race resumed for the final 124 laps, the Budweiser
car could have returned to the track after the crew replaced the entire brake assembly on
both rear wheels in approximately 25 minutes. Points leader Matt Kenseth finished second
and Bobby Labonte finished third.
The Key Moments: Starting 24th, Dale Jr. was able to move forward when
the green flag fell on what was scheduled to be the longest race of the Winston Cup
season. Dale Jr. moved easily into the top-10 in 30 laps, and continued to gain positions
for the first 100 laps. Loose lug nuts on both left-side tires during a pit stop on lap
104 caused the team to make an extra pit stop to tighten the wheels, dropping them back to
the 24th position. The race was stopped for rain on lap 107. When the race resumed, Dale
Jr. again began climbing toward the front. The team made a strategic move on lap 132,
making an extra pit stop for fuel during a yellow-flag period, which allowed the Bud car
to stay on the track while all but two other cars were forced to make pit stops. When a
yellow flag came out on lap 200, Dale Jr. was able to pit while in third place. Dale Jr.
moved into second place on lap 212, and was closing on leader Bobby Labonte when the rear
brakes locked, sending the No. 8 car into a spin off of turn four. The brake rotors on the
rear wheels became so heated that both rear wheels began shooting flames as the team made
multiple pit stops to try and repair the problem.
Dale Jr’s Quotes: “We were almost ready to go back out there
when they called the race. It’s a shame that our streak of finishing every race for a
full year (this event in 2002 was the team’s last DNF) had to end because of rain. We
had a good car, but not a great car tonight. The car had been loose for a big chunk of the
race, but as I came off of turn four onto the flat part of the straight, the rear wheels
locked up and I was spinning. It was wild. We kind of brushed the wall – bent the
rear bumper a bit, but not too bad. We thought we had it fixed after a few pit stops
– and we were still on the lead lap – but the rotors kept locking up. The rotor
and the whole assembly on the left rear wheel finally failed and we had to take it to the
garage.”
“I told the guys that we can’t expect to be a championship contender if we keep
making mistakes on pit stops. But, it happened early in the race, and we had a strong car,
so I felt like we were going to be OK. We had a lot of time left to get back up to the
front. Then, (car chief) Tony (Eury) Jr. decided we should make an extra stop to top off
on fuel, and that strategy worked perfectly. The yellow came out on the lap we had planned
to stop again, so all of a sudden we’re in third place and looking good. It’s
kind of frustrating because right now we don’t know what failed or what caused the
problem, but I guess we’re still in second place in points.”
Best Radio Conversations
When the race was slowed by rain on lap 104, Dale Jr. used the break to describe his
car to the crew.
Dale Jr: “The car was really good during the first run, but I
didn’t like the second set of tires. I think we were OK – because it looked like
nobody else was really happy out there at that point. I felt like I couldn’t drive
hard or abuse the tires. I was trying not to wreck, just takin’ it easy. Man, a few
times I thought I had lost it – thought I was wreckin,’ but somehow I saved it.
I was strong off of turn four, which is good. If we lose that, it could be a problem if I
can’t get back on the throttle there.”
After the spin and brake issues, the team made a series of pit stops to try and solve
the problem. The rear brakes were so hot that flames were shooting from inside of both
rear wheels on several stops. As Dale Jr. returned to the track, spotter Ty Norris would
try to keep him updated on the status of the brake rotors – which could be seen
glowing red hot on the race track.
Norris: (on lap 225) “OK – it looks good, they’re not
glowing right now.”
Dale Jr. (on lap 227) “They’re locked again! I can’t get
down the straightway!”
Tony Eury Sr. (crew chief): “Dale Jr., turn the valve beside your
seat to see if something is wrong with the brake bias. Give it about six turns to see if
something’s stuck.”
Dale Jr: “Can we just adjust the (brake) bias so the rear brakes are
off? I’m telling you, if one of these rotors fall off, we’re in
trouble…”
Norris: (on lap 232) “OK. Looks good. No glow. No glow.”
Dale Jr. (on lap 237- in a frantic tone) “They’re locked! I
just lost a rotor… Tell NASCAR there’s a brake rotor on the back
stretch…”
Today’s Stats
Started: 24th
Finished: 41st
Points Position: 2nd
Money Won: $109,457
Best Pit Stop: Lap 55 / Stop #1 of 13 / Fuel, four tires / 14.72 seconds
The Numbers
The 41st-place finish ends a streak of five consecutive top-10 finishes for the Bud
team… Their streak of running at the finish of 36 consecutive races had been the best
of any Winston Cup team…
The Troops
Dale Jr’s No. 8 car raced this evening with special decals honoring the 2nd Marine
Tank Battalion, currently located in Iraq. Dale Earnhardt Inc. shipped four banners to the
battalion, three signed by race fans in attendance at Dale Earnhardt Day (April 29 at
DEI), and the fourth signed by each employee of Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Want music? Films? Fun? Budweiser? Get it all at www.Budweiser.com. OK-
you need to see your local retailer about the Bud, but with the wedding season
heatin’ up, you must check out the hilarious short film “The Best Man.”
It’s ONLY at www.Budweiser.com. True.
-Budweiser
Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Coca-Cola 600 Preview_5/19/03
Dale Jr. Quotes for Charlotte
“The 600 is different from our other races in a lot of ways. The way the race
progresses from sunlight to darkness, it’s always a challenge to keep the car
handling the way you want it to. You don’t have that transition in any other race.
The track changes a lot with the weather and temperature, so that puts pressure on the
team to have a car that can be adjusted to fit the conditions. Plus, the extra 100 miles
really does make a big difference. It seems like a lot happens once we go beyond 500
miles. We lost an engine last year, which is really, really rare. Your body and your mind
also becomes accustomed to a ‘normal’ 500-mile race, so the extra distance
challenges you to keep focused. Your arms, your neck and even your eyes feel the
difference.
“The 600 was my first Winston Cup race (in 1999), so it’s kind of special each
year. I’ll be a lot more relaxed qualifying for this one than I was for that first
race. Man, I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t have made the field
that year after all the build-up and hype surrounding it. Now, we know we have a
provisional spot in the field even if we don’t kick butt in qualifying. I don’t
ever want to have to use it (a provisional) or start back that far, but it’s just
good to know it’s there.
“The Winston was fun, but we’re ready to get back to the championship focus.
When you're doing as well as we have been, you're itching to get back to the race track.
We’ve been really consistent and have been near the front at almost every race so far
this year, and that’s what it’s going to take to keep up with Matt (Kenseth,
points leader). We’re confident and we’re having fun, and the whole team is
committed to doing whatever it takes to win races and the championship. That’s
what’s been most fun for me, knowing that every time I get in one of those red cars,
it will be right, it will be fast.”
Brandon Bernstein, the son of Kenny Bernstein and winner of three NHRA Top Fuel events
so far in his rookie season, was injured in a crash Sunday at Englishtown, N.J. Brandon is
expected to be out of action in the Budweiser Top Fuel car for several months.
"I want to be sure to send along a 'hello' and a 'get well' to Brandon Bernstein -
who crashed this past weekend at the NHRA event. All of us who are sponsored by Budweiser
- no matter what kind of racing or what kind of sport it is - hang together like a big
family, and I want to let him know we're thinking of him. I'm sure he'll be back soon and
winning a lot more races."
Dale Jr. and the No. 8 Bud Team at Charlotte
Previous Winston Cup Starts: 7
Best Start: 1st (May, 2000)
Best Finish: 4th (May, 2000)
This Race, Last Year: ST: 6th FIN: 35th
-- Dale Jr. and the Budweiser team ran at or near the front of last year’s 600 until
being caught against the wall when a lapped car slid high. The team made five pit stops
for repairs, and eventually clawed back into the top-10 before a blown engine ended their
race on lap 372.
-- Dale Jr. and the Budweiser bunch have been the hottest team in Winston Cup in the last
nine races. They have finished in the top-three in six out of the nine races, and have
finished worse than sixth only one time. They have also led seven of those nine races.
-- Dale Jr. is 20 points behind Matt Kenseth for the lead in the Winston Cup point
standings.
-- Since this event last season, the Budweiser team has been running at the finish of
every Winston Cup points race, the longest current streak among Winston Cup teams.
-- Dale Jr. made his Winston Cup debut at this event in 1999, qualifying eighth and
finishing 16th.
-- Dale Jr. holds the track record for Winston Cup cars at Lowe’s Motor Speedway with
a lap at 186.034 mph, recorded when he won his first career Bud Pole position at this
event in 2000.
What:
Coca-Cola 600
400 laps / 600 miles / Race #12 of 36-race Winston Cup Series
Where:
Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Concord, NC
1.5-mile oval
When:
Sunday, May 25 / 6:00 p.m.
Watch:
Fox-TV (pre-race: 5:30 pm)
Bud Pole Qualifying:
Bud Pole qualifying can be seen live Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. on Speed Channel. You
can also hear qualifying and race action on the Performance Racing Network (PRN) on a
radio station or computer near you. The radio programming is also heard on the 24-hour
NASCAR channel on XM Radio. (All Times: Eastern)
-Budweiser |
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