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cloud
however, remained
over the #26 Dr
Pepper Chevrolet,
when on Lap 32 the
cam shaft broke
resulting in an
early exit and a
38th place finish.
Due
to the rain out of
qualifying the Dr
Pepper Racing Team
was designated the
18th starting
position based upon
the Owner’s Points
Standings.
Ron Hornaday
was locked in and
focused when the
Green Flag waved; he
wasted no time in
passing the
competition.
The Dr Pepper
Monte Carlo picked
up six positions and
moved into 12th
place within the
first ten laps.
Hornaday was
settling in and the
Dr Pepper Chevy was
just a little tight
in the handling.
Crew Chief,
Todd Lohse, had
prepared to make a
slight air pressure
adjustment and a
wedge adjustment to
ready the car at the
first pit
opportunity.
That
first chance to pit
with the leaders
came on Lap 32
following an
accident between #5
Ricky Hendrick and
#12 Kerry Earnhardt.
While
Hornaday was
approaching the
“Thirst Crew” to
receive service on
the #26 Dr Pepper
Chevy, he radioed
that the car
backfired three
times and stalled on
Pit Road.
After
numerous attempts to
restart the engine,
the “Thirst
Crew” had to run
down pit lane and
retrieve the car.
They pushed
it to the pit stall,
opened the hood and
tried to diagnose
the problem before
proceeding behind
the wall for a more
thorough search.
Upon a closer
investigation it was
realized that the
cam shaft was broken
and the day was
terminated.
“This
weekend turned out
to be an extreme
disappointment,”
commented Hornaday.
“Our
expectations and
optimism were high
going into
Darlington.
We were
anticipating a Top-5
qualifying effort
with this Dr Pepper
Chevy and then that
got canceled putting
us in the middle of
the field.
This was the
best car I’ve ever
driven at Darlington
and I was looking
forward to a great
race.
That’s why
this one hurts so
much, but it’s
nothing we can hang
our heads over. We
just need to regroup
and attack Richmond
next week.
I’m a big
fan of Richmond and
can’t wait to get
jump in the Dr
Pepper Monte Carlo
and give the fans a
great show.”
The
unfortunate incident
was the second motor
failure of the year
for the Dr Pepper
Racing Team, the
first occurred in
Kentucky.
The Carroll
Racing Team dropped
two spots in the
Points Standings to
20th.
The
Gatorade 200 ended
under caution on Lap
74 due to rain and
darkness, despite
NASCAR’s efforts
to finish under
green flag
conditions.
#9 Jeff
Burton took the
Checkered Flag and
swept the Busch
races at Darlington
for the 2002 Season.
The
Dr Pepper Racing
Team will travel to
Richmond for a
Friday Night Feature
at the Richmond
International
Raceway.
The Funai 250
is guaranteed to be
filled with
excitement as the
Busch Series circles
the ¾-mile oval
under the lights.
Starting at 8
pm on Friday
September 6th,
TNT and MRN will
supply coverage of
the event.
Sponsor
Exposure:
The
Dr Pepper Racing
Team utilized the
rain delays this
weekend to entertain
a number of guests
with garage tours
and story telling.
Ron took
advantage of the
down time to grant
some interviews and
spend time with the
team’s guests.
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