Bad luck at Loudon by Kellyanne Lynch
16 September 2007
Pit strategy did not work out today for the #00 Burger King team. Cautions fell at all the wrong times in the Sylvania 300, this afternoon's Nextel Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway. David Reutimann finished one lap down in 26th. Car owner Michael Waltrip and teammate Dale Jarrett did not make the field.
"The car actually drove good and we had competitive times, but we just couldn't get anything to go our way," David said after the race. "We just couldn't get a break. I hate to use that as an excuse. You get the thing where it's driving good, and you can run with the 24 (Jeff Gordon) and the 48 (Jimmie Johnson), and the guys that are running really, reall y well, but you just can't seem to get back on the lead lap. The car was good after we had a chance to work on it. All we did was qualifying runs in practice, so we knew we'd have to just take a stab at it. After a pit stop or two, we got it pretty good. I'm just disappointed. I thought we had a much better car than how we finished."
"All right, how 'bout you there, Shawn?" crew chief Frankie Kerr came on the radio at 2:07pm ET.
"I got you," replied spotter Shawn Reutimann.
Frankie told the spotter they would have a competition yellow at lap 35. When Shawn asked, he said he could see as far as the tow truck.
The crew discussed gear ratio. Frankie determined the low side 49 high side 54. Upon further discussion, they determined that going with high side 53 would be safe.
"Check, one, two," David came on the radio a minute later.
"How 'bout you, Dave?" Frankie asked.
"Gotcha."
Frankie reminded his driver when to put on his fans and told him the competition yellow was at lap 35 and to have a good day. He welcomed the people from Burger King before addressing the crew. "Guys down in the pit crew, kick some butt again. We'll have a good day," Frankie said. "All right, guys, enough football down there." He told them to get something changed.
The call to start engines came at 2:10pm.
"Got me, Dave?" Shawn asked the driver.
"10-4, I got ya," David answered. He followed the pace car off pit road.
"Be third time by," his cousin stated.
"Be sure we get that sign up so he can see it on his way by," Frankie told the crew.
"Be one to go when you get back around here," Shawn noted.
"All right, bud, the 42 car is on our right, first car you come to in the pits, and the 43 car is in on our left." Frankie said they were in the 37 stall. "Get some heat in those brakes, pal. Get the tires warmed up, and have a good day."
"All right, next time by," Shawn said. :All right, D-reut, 300 laps here. We'll have time to work on it. " "You're just as good as any of those guys around you. Pace car's off. Be ready? Ready? Ready? Ready? Green green green. Inside, inside. 18 inside. Still there. Still there, inside. Inside, still there. Inside, still there. 31 inside, left rear corner. Still there, inside. Inside, still there. Clear down behind the 31, behind the 31. Clear by three, back to the 26."
Clint Bowyer led the field to the start and pulled out to a solid lead. David started 20th, but he lost a spot to JJ Yeley one lap into the race and another to Jeff Burton the next time around the track.
"Outside, 24 outside, right rear corner," Shawn observed. "Still there. Still there, outside. Still there, right rear corner. Still there. All clear. Back on the outside, right rear corner. Still there, outside. All clear, all clear. Clear by two, back to the 9 and 26."
By lap 8, David was one car length in front of Jamie McMurray's #26. McMurray passed along the inside and was cleared by five car lengths back to Tony Raines' #96.
"Tight on exit, centre off," David reported the next time around the track. He had just fallen to 23rd.
"Clear by three. Keep digging," Shawn encouraged. "We'll get her fixed up under the caution."
"Doing a good job," Frankie assured his driver.
"Clear by two, back to the 96."
"Get all those fans on, buddy. Get all those fans on."
"Clear by one. The 96 right there with you. The 15 coming back quick, really tight in the middle."
"We're tight in the middle too," David commented. "Tight in the middle, tight under throttle."
"How's the entry, bud?" Frankie asked.
"It's okay."
"Clear by two," said Shawn. "96 right there with you."
"30.90, bud," Frankie gave David his lap time.
"Clear by two. Looking inside, left rear corner, down on the flat. All clear. Inside. Going to be there off the corner. Left rear corner. All clear. Clear by one. Inside, left rear corner. Still there. All clear. Down on the apron, inside, left rear corner, all clear."
Tony Raines passed, dropping David to 24th on lap 19.
"43 inside, left rear corner," Shawn observed. "Still there, inside. Inside, still there. 40 car inside, left rear corner. All clear. Inside. Clear all around. Got the 9 car looking inside."
"Tight in the centre, tight on exit," David reported.
"All right, buddy, we'll get you all fixed up," Frankie assured him.
David was 25th on lap 20 and 26th the next time around the track.
"31.20," Frankie read off the lap time.
"No front grip in the centre," said the driver.
"Clear by one," Shawn observed. "9 car looking outside. All clear. Right rear corner, outside. Right rear corner, still there. Still there, outside. Got the 17 coming with him. Outside, still there, all clear. 66 about one back. Outside, 66 outside. Outside, going to be there off the corner."
Shawn and David walked over each other on the radio before David told his crew chief, "This thing's pathetic right now, Frank. You're going to have to make a big stab at it to make it better." He was 29th by lap 26 and 30th the next time around the track. "It's about to spin out getting in."
"42 inside," Shawn said. "42, inside. Still there. Clear behind the 42. Got seven laps before the caution. Keep digging."
On lap 28, David was 32nd after Juan Pablo Montoya's #42 and Robby Gordon's #7 passed.
"Inside, 7 car inside. Still there, clear behind the 7," Shawn noted. "Clear by two, back to the 10. Clear by three."
"31.20. Keep digging, buddy. Five laps to the yellow," encouraged the crew chief.
"Clear by four," Shawn said.
"31.20."
"Clear by three. Clear by one, back to the 10. Looking inside, down on the apron. All clear. All clear, down on the apron. All clear. Caution's out. Competition yellow,, competition yellow."
Lap 36 saw the competition caution that NASCAR had mandated. Ward Burton received the free pass. Frankie called for rubber in right rear and an air pressure adjustment.
"Better do more than that," David said. He complained about how bad his car was in the centre and coming off the turn.
Frankie reiterated that they would put rubbers in the right rear and make an air pressure adjustment. He said he didn't want to move the track bar, because David's getting into the turns okay.
"We're like 180 on water temp," David noted.
Frankie called for a piece of tape too.
"All right, catch up. We'll be pitting this time," said Shawn. "It'll be 5300 and second when you get here."
Frankie told David to come around the 42 when he pit.
"5300 and second right here at the line. About ten away."
"All right, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Right here, Dave, right in front of the 42," Frankie guided David to the pit box. "Go go go go go. Go go. 84's outside. All clear."
"5300, all the way out," said Shawn. "All clear. One to go when you get back around here. All right, next time by. Pass right, protect the right. All right, coming to the green. Pace car's off. Be ready. Ready? Ready? Green green green."
Bowyer's #07 led the lap 41 restart with David in 34th. Brian Vickers' #83 was black-flagged for running the paddle at the end of pit road after his stop.
"Clear by two, back to the 78," Shawn noted. "Outside. Outside, still there. Still there, outside. Clear all around."
David had passed AJ Allmendinger for position one lap into the run.
"Clear by five, pulling away. No pressure, all by yourself. Outside, three wide. Down on the bottom. Three-wide, back to two-wide. Still there, still there. Outside. Still there. Going to be there off the corner. Clear behind the 15. Clear all around." Shawn warned David about a slow car up front. "Inside, still there. Clear."
By lap 46, David was 32nd. He had passed Kenny Wallace.
"Clear by five, back to the 88," Shawn said. "Checking up in front of you. Go high, go high. Keep digging. No caution."
Scott Riggs dropped with a left rear flat and had wiggled dramatically. David picked up a spot from Riggs' #10, who was hit by Regan Smith a few cars in front of David.
"Did we help any, Dave?" Frankie asked.
"I can't roll in the centre down there with the brake," David replied. "We helped the exit. Hang on here, just give me a couple laps." Later he added. "I can't be any freer in the centre. You got me?"
Frankie acknowledged his driver's feedback.
"Inside, inside. Still there. Inside. Still there, inside. That 38 up top, he's a lapped car. All clear, all clear. 38 up here in front of the 15, he's a lapped car."
David picked up 30th from David Ragan on lap 53 but lost it to Johnny Sauter the next time around the track. Sauter had passed along the outside.
"Clear by two," said Shawn. "Clear by one, back to the 6."
David said something about the car that Frankie said they'd work on during the next stop.
"Inside, 7 car inside. Left rear corner. Inside. Still there, inside. Inside, 6 car inside. Still there. Inside. Still there. Inside, still there. Left rear corner. All clear. Looking back on the inside, left rear corner. Clear. Outside, 38 outside. Clear."
David was 32nd on lap 61 with Robby Gordon's pass.
"Need more help in the centre or the exit, pal?" Frankie asked.
"Exit's real bad," said David. "Centre's bad too, Frank. I finally got to the point where I can roll the centre, and it just pushes. Really tight on exit."
"Clear by three, back to the 38 lapped car," Shawn noted.
"You gotta wait forever to pick the gas back up," David commented.
"All right, bud, we'll work on it," Frankie replied. "30.90."
"No pressure. All by yourself," said Shawn. "Clear by ten. Clear by ten. Use all the race track you need. Leader at the track now."
"30.90. That pack in front of you is running 31.20's," Frankie stated. "30.80."
"Caution's out. Got one spun out in Turn 1."
Ward Burton lost a tire and spun, drawing the second caution on lap 68. Kenny Wallace received the free pass.
"It starts out really jumpy and free right in the centre, and as the pressures build, it goes to the tighter side," David reported. "It gets tighter and tighter."
Frankie told the crew to put the track bar down. He told them to take wedge out then said to put it in wedge in. Revising his plan, he told the crew to put the track bar down and the right rear screwed down.
"Just remember though, it starts out free, and then it goes to the tight side," David commented.
Again, Frankie revised his plan. He told the crew to put the track bar down one on that side, and to screw on the other side. "That's too much for you on one side. That's too much." He reminded the team to get the grill during the #00's pit. He asked about temperatures.
"Right now, 200. 200, 230," David replied.
"It will be one to go when you get back around here," Shawn noted.
Tony Stewart led the lap 73 restart with David in 31st.
"Outside," warned the spotter. "Outside, still there. Going to be there off the corner. Still there. 15 car outside. Still there. Outside, 7 car outside. Right rear corner. Outside. 15 outside, 7 car right rear corner. Still there. Still there. Clear all around, clear all around."
David picked up 30th from Paul Menard on lap 75; however, Menard took the spot back the next time around the track.
"98's a lapped car on the bottom. Inside. Still there. Still there, clear. Clear by two. Clear by two, back to the 7. Inside, left rear corner, all clear. The 38, rather 70, in the outside groove, coming back. Clear by three, back to the 7. Outside, still there. Still there, outside. Right rear corner. All clear. Good job. Clear by four."
"30.70," Frankie noted. "That was your fastest lap."
"Outside, 7 car outside. Right rear... Outside, 22 outside. Still there. Still there. Going to be there off the corner. Outside. Still there. Clear."
David picked up 30th from Dave Blaney on lap 88.
"30.90," Frankie noted. "Good lap, bud, with a pass. Keep digging. You're faster than the guys in front of you."
"Clear all around. Outside. Outside, still there. Going to be there off the corner. Right rear corner. Still there. Clear."
Passing Elliott Sadler put David in 29th on lap 91. Shawn cleared him by three car lengths.
"30.90. Get up there and get them, buddy. You're doing a good job," Frankie praised.
"Clear by four."
Meanwhile, Dave Blaney pit with a left rear tire.
"30.75. Good lap, bud," Frankie praised.
"Clear by five, back to the 7," said Shawn.
"30.90."
"Outside, 01 outside. Still there. Clear."
Getting around the #01 of Regan Smith on lap 97 put David in 28th.
"Centre on exit, Frank. It just needs more help in the centre," David commented.
"All right, bud," said Frankie. "30.80."
"Clear by five," Shawn noted.
David got around Paul Menard for another spot. He was 27th on lap 100.
"Keep digging there, buddy. You go get 'em!" Frankie encouraged.
"Clear by two."
"30.85. Go get El Diablo up there," Frankie goaded, referring to Juan Pablo Montoya. "30.70, same pace as the leader."
"Clear by five, pulling away from the 15," Shawn spotted. "No pressure. All by yourself. Clear by ten."
"Still need help in the centre?" Frankie asked.
"Yeah, 10-4," David replied. "Need some in the centre, need some help off still. You helped it a lot. You just need to help a little more."
"30.90."
"Clear by ten." On lap 110, Shawn addded, "Clear by ten, no pressure. Leader at the line... now."
"31 flat."
"Keep digging, brother. We'll get a caution, and we'll work on it," Shawn encouraged.
"30.90."
"Clear by ten. No pressure. Use all the room you need."
"30.90.
"85."
"Clear by fifteen, pulling away."
"30.90."
"Clear by twenty, no pressure.
"Clear by ten, back to the 15. No pressure, bud.
"All by yourself. Keep digging."
David complained about the car being tight on lap 121.
"All right, pal," Frankie responded, "the centre and exit's still too tight."
"The exit's not bad. It's got away from us so much in the centre."
"Leader... right... now..." said Shawn.
Meanwhile, Kurt Busch's #2 lost a cyllander while running in the top ten. At the front of the field, Bowyer retook the lead.
"Clear by ten," said Shawn. "Clear by ten. 45 right in front of you is a lapped car. Outside. Still there. Clear."
Frankie encouraged David to hang in there.
"Clear by five," said Shawn.
"Ten laps 'til we stop," Frankie informed his driver. "Keep digging, buddy."
"Clear by eight, back to the 15 and the 07. The leader is the 07," Shawn said on lap 132.
Kevin Harvick pit on lap 134 with a right front flat. Shawn encouraged David to keep digging, because they were looking for debris. "Clear by five, back to the 07." Harvick's stop put David in 26th.
"Right there with you," Shawn warned. "Inside, left rear corner. All clear. Inside, inside. Still there. Clear. Coming back to your inside, left rear corner, still there. Still there, inside. Clear behind the 07."
David lost the lead lap on lap 137 after battling Bowyer side-by-side for quite a bit. Green flag pit stops started just after that with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
"Clear by fifteen, back to the 20," said Shawn.
Elliott Sadler skid coming onto pit road.
"Clear by ten."
Others were pitting, including Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, and Matt Kenseth. David Stremme stalled, and his crew pushed him down pit road. Others continued to make stops.
"No pressure. All by yourself," Shawn observed. "20 car pitted. Slow car on the bottom, just came off pit road."
When Bowyer pit, David moved into 15th on lap 141.
"Okay, David, next time by. Next time by, we're pitting," Frankie said.
Shawn encouraged him to get all he could get, and Frankie told him to drop to 5400 and second to be safe. The #00 pit on lap 142. Johnny Sauter stalled on pit road too and was also pushed.
"We'll blend in on the back straightaway. Blend in as fast as you can," Shawn noted. He warned David the #48 and #24 were outside. Meanwhile, Stremme's team had to push their #40 back up pit road as the car still hadn't restarted.
Stops cycled by lap 147, and Bowyer was back in the lead. David was 26th and lapped. He was cleared by four car lengths, back to Tony Stewart's fourth place car.
"Clear by five," said Shawn.
"Last lap was a 30.20," Frankie noted. "That was your fastest. Keep digging, buddy. Halfway."
The third caution was on lap 150 for debris. Kurt Busch got the free pass back onto the lead lap.
"Caution's out for debris," Shawn sighed.
"All right, pal, that was your fastest laps right there. We're going to be staying out here."
Shawn noted that pit road was open and that the #20 was right behind the #00. "They're all staying out."
"Are we coming in, Frank, or are we staying out?" David asked.
"We're definitely staying out," Frankie replied. "The 2 got the lucky dog. We're racing the 42, 66, and the 15 for the free pass. You're way faster than them."
"Where's this debris we're talking about?"
"They're saying there's a tire gauge out there by turn 1," Shawn replied.
Frankie gave his assessment. "A chase car just got a lap down."
"All right, next time by," Shawn noted. Meanwhile, JJ Yeley was black-flagged for being too fast on pit road during his stop. "All right, coming to the green. Pace car's off. Be ready. Ready? Ready? Green green green."
Bowyer led the lap 154 restart. David was one lap down in 24th.
"Outside, outside, outside," Shawn spotted. "Still there. 20 car outside, 12 car outside. Still there. Outside, 8 car outside. That 17's coming to the right rear quarter panel. All clear. Inside, 17 car inside off the corner. Inside. Still there, inside. Still down there. Going to be there off the corner. Still there, inside. Still there. Clear. Inside. All clear."
David was in front of the #17 and directly behind the #42, who was the only car in front of him for the free pass.
"Clear by two," said Shawn. "Clear by one, back to the 17. Clear by two. Inside, 17 inside. Still there. Outside, left rear corner. Still there. Inside, 1 car inside. Still there, 1 car inside. You got the 15 right there behind you. You're racing him for the lucky dog, and the 42. Clear by one to the 15 with new tires. Clear by two. Caution's out. Got a wreck in Turn 2."
The fourth caution was on lap 165 when AJ Allmendinger put Dave Blaney in the wall. Montoya got the free pass back onto the lead lap.
"Sorry, guys. It's pretty free in the centre when I roll it," David commented.
Frankie called for four tires and fuel.
"Pit road's open, stay out first time."
Frankie asked about an eighth man. He told David to go around the #42 on pit road. "Four tires and fuel, guys. Let's have a good stop here." He then called for two tires instead. "Right sides only. Let's come around the 42, and stop short, bud. The 10 car will be coming in."
"That'll be 5400?" David asked.
"5400," said Frankie.
"5400," Shawn repeated.
Frankie told him the #42 box when he came in. David took on two tires and fuel before going back out on track. Frankie said three or four cars one lap down had stayed out.
Kyle Busch led the lap 169 restart, as he was the fastest off pit road. David was 27th and lapped. Shawn led David low around the #41, who spun.
The fifth caution was on lap 170 when Reed Sorenson wiggled and went up the track into Casey Mears and spun. Ken Schrader was spun through the grass as the field slowed.
"Yeah, we just can't seem to get it, time it right to catch a break," David commented. Had he stayed out, he would have received the free pass.
"All right, buddy, we'll get it again," Frankie assured him.
"24 in front of the 00, they said," Shawn relayed from NASCAR. "Got the 15 coming around on the front straightaway."
Kyle Busch led the lap 174 restart. David was 27th and one lap down.
"Outside, still there. Still there, outside," Shawn noted. "48 outside, still there. Still there, outside. Outside, still there. Still there, 20 car outside. 12 car outside. Still there. Still there, outside. Three-wide, still there. Back to two-wide. 17 outside. Outside, still there. Clear behind the 17. 1 car outside. All clear, all clear. Clear all around. Clear by one, back to the 19 and 78. That's who you're racing. Clear by five, back to the... Clear by four. They've got the 6 car hung out on the outside. Caution's out."
Dale Earnhardt Jr spun himself out on lap 180, drawing the sixth caution. David Ragan, who was right in front of the #00, got the free pass.
"See what I mean, Frank?" David laughed. "Can't seem to get it, can we?"
Frankie said they're not the lucky dog, but they're the next, so they needed to stay out in case there was a caution.
"Remember, we only got two."
Frankie said they had to stay out; they couldn't take a chance that somebody else would wreck right after a restart.
"I just like how the 8 spins out when he needs a caution," Shawn commented.
"Lap times are pretty darn good right there," Frankie noted. "We're going to stay out, see if we can't get this thing. Make sure you get those tires cleaned off right away." Frankie told him they'd probably wreck each other right away on the restart.
"One to go when you get back around here."
"All right, get 'em all cleaned off, pal."
"All right, coming to the green," Shawn said. He told David not to beat the leader to the line.
Lap 185 saw the restart with Kyle Busch leading. David was 26th and lapped.
"Outside, still there. 07 outside. Outside, still there," Shawn spotted. "Behind that 07. Got that 19 outside, racing him for the lucky dog. Outside. Clear. Inside." He warned him about Casey Mears, then said Elliott Sadler's #19 was back outside for the free pass. "Still there. Clear behind the 19."
David was 27th on lap 188, and Bowyer retook the lead.
"Still there, outside. Caution's out. Damn it!"
The seventh caution came on lap 189. Regan Smith had wrecked Blaney into the wall. Elliott Sadler got the free pass.
"G-- damn it! Son of a bitch!" David exclaimed. "No matter how hard I scuff the tires, it won't frickin' go on the start."
"All right, any chance we got to get the lucky dog is to stay out there, pal," Frankie told his driver. "I'm sorry."
"What's the yellow out for this time, Shawn?"
"22 car got spun out," Shawn told David.
Frankie told Shawn to get David out there with the leaders by getting David to the outside.
"Yes, Frank, but we're not going to get the thing stuffed in the fence off of Turn 2 over there," Frankie replied.
Shawn warned David that the #70 of Johnny Sauter was lining up behind him on the restart. "All right, coming to the green. Pace car's off. Be ready. Ready? Ready? Green green green."
Bowyer led the lap 192 restart. David was 27th and lapped. Kyle Busch on the lead lap immediately passed, and the #70 was right behind him.
"Clear by one, back to the 70," Shawn noted. "Clear by three. Clear by four, back to the 25."
"30.30. Great lap, bud. Keep digging!" praised the crew chief. "30.30."
"Clear by four, back to the 25," Shawn continued.
"Where's the next car I'm racing?" David asked.
Frankie said Sauter was back by half a straightaway and told David he was doing well. Shawn added that the leaders were passing Sauter pretty heavily.
"Clear by four, back to the 25," Shawn added.
"30.30," Frankie read off the lap time. "Doing great, buddy."
"Clear by five, pulling away.
"Clear by ten, back to the 20. 100 laps to go.
"Clear by ten, back to the 20."
"30.20 - your fastest lap."
"You're three-quarters ahead of the guy you're racing for the lucky dog," Shawn observed. "Three quarters of a straightaway. Clear by five, back to the 20."
"30.40."
"Tell me where he wants to go when he gets here, Shawn," David requested. "I don't want to screw anybody up."
"I can't get to his spotter. He's all the way on the other end," Shawn replied. "He's been running around the bottom. Clear by four. Coming inside there, inside. Clear behind the 20. Clear by five, back to the 24.
"Clear by two, back to the 24," Shawn continued. "Looking inside. Clear behind the 24. Clear by two, back to the 48. Looking inside, inside. Left rear corner. Inside." He told David he had a gap after the 48. "Gotta keep digging. Leader's starting to catch the pack again. Clear by twenty.
"Clear by twenty, no pressure.
"Clear by twenty. Working lap 214.
"No pressure. All by yourself."
"30.60, bud," Frankie read off the lap time. "You're doing a good job.
"30.60."
"No pressure, all by yourself," said Shawn. "Clear by half a straightaway.
"No pressure. All by yourself. 4 car is about three laps down in front of you. Outside. Clear."
"30.60."
Kyle Busch was the first of the leaders to pit on lap 226 for a scheduled stop. Others followed suite.
"Clear by ten," said Shawn.
David was up to 25th as drivers pit.
"Got the 5 car two back just come off pit road with new tires," Shawn warned. "Coming inside, looking inside. Left rear corner. Clear behind the 5."
Kyle Busch's pass moved David back to 26th on lap 230. He was cleared by ten car lengths, back to Truex Jr's #1.
"Clear by four," said Shawn. The #1 passed moments later.
"All right, we're about ten away from our stop, Dave. Ten away," Frankie noted.
"Clear by five," Shawn observed. "Outside, still there. Outside, still there. Clear." He warned David about lead lap cars passing with fresh tires.
"Okay, Dave, one more lap. Not this lap but one more lap, buddy," Frankie said. David was currently 24th on lap 235. "It'll be next time by, bud. Next time by."
Shawn told him to get all he could get. "Get all you can get this time. 5400 and second when you get here. 5400 and second."
"All right, be smooth coming to the pits. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Here we go. Wheels straight, put on the brakes," Frankie guided. "Go go go go go go go!"
"5400 and second, all the way out," Shawn reminded. "5400 and second. Keep on the bottom to the back straightaway. Get all you can get." He cleared David behind the #98 of Boris Said.
Meanwhile, Bowyer pit and gave the lead to Truex Jr on lap 239. Reed Sorenson took over the lead when Truex Jr pit the next time around the track. David was being marked two laps down now. He was 34th on lap 240.
"98's a bunch of laps down. You've got newer tires than all these cars in front of you," Shawn noted. "Outside, still there. Still there, outside. Right rear corner. Clear all around."
"Frank, we got any chance of the lucky dog?" David asked. "It's so spread out. Who we racing?"
"It's hard to tell, bud," Frankie replied. "Hard to tell. We're racing the 84."
"Clear by ten, back to the 99," Shawn noted.
"30.30. Good lap, bud. Keep digging."
"Outside, outside. Still there. Outside, still there, right rear corner. All clear. Leader's about three-quarters a straightaway in front of you on old tires. He's pitting now, he's pitting now."
Sorenson pit on lap 249, giving the lead to Earnhardt Jr. David was now marked one lap down.
"30.40, buddy. Keep digging."
"Racing that 84, right there ahead of you," said Shawn. "Clear by five back to the 99. Keep digging.
"50 laps to go. Clear by two, back to the 99."
Earnhardt Jr pit on lap 253, putting Bowyer back in the lead. David was 30th, one lap down.
"30.50, buddy," Frankie gave the lap time. "Keep digging."
"Clear by two."
Montoya pit around 255, after an attempt to stay on the lead lap by holding out for a caution. David was now 29th; he had passed Robby Gordon.
"99 right there with you," Shawn warned. "Looking inside, inside. Clear behind the 99. The 41 looking inside with new tires. New tires, inside. Still there. Clear behind the 41."
Getting around Jeff Green on lap 257 put David in 28th. Green fell to two laps down.
"Clear by twenty, back to the 21," Shawn noted. "38 bunch of laps down out there on the outside. Outside. Still there. Clear."
"Next car you're racing is that 22, up there a little ways," Frankie told his driver.
"Clear by two."
Blaney pit on lap 261, putting David in 27th.
"40 laps to go," Shawn commented. "Clear by four, back to the 38. 01 right in front of you. All clear."
Lap 263 saw Kurt Busch pit.
"30.70. Next car you're racing is half a straightaway in front of you, running 31 flat."
"Are we racing the 7 or not?" Shawn asked. "Clear by three."
"We are racing the 7 and the 2."
"Clear by five."
"30.70. Lap before a 50."
"Clear by four," said Shawn. "Clear by five, back to the 7.
"30 laps to go. Clear by five."
"30.70, bud. You're doing a good job," Frankie praised.
"Clear by four. 98 bunch of laps down. 25 laps to go. Outside. Clear."
"The 19's up there real slow, bud."
"19 car slow on the bottom, getting into 3. You'll catch him down here in 1 and 2. Inside. Inside, still there. Still there. Clear all around."
David got around Sadler for 26th on lap 278.
"30.80, bud," said Frankie. "Go get 'em! 2 car's the next one you're racing."
"Clear by five," Shawn stated. "Got no pressure from behind. Got the 8 car about five back."
Robby Gordon slowed and headed for the pits with 17 laps to go. Sadler was also on pit road, getting the battery changed in his #19.
"Clear by five, back to the 8. He's got newer tires than you do," said Shawn. "Fifteen laps to go. 8 car right there with you. Inside. Left rear corner. Still there. Clear."
"88 got ___ trouble up there. Watch him," Frankie warned.
"88 slow right there. Ten to go."
"30.70, bud. You're doing good. Car you're chasing is doing 31.10."
"22 slow down the back straightaway. Inside. Clear," Shawn directed. "Nine laps to go. Leader's about half a straightaway behind you." Blaney was already three laps down. "No pressure. All by yourself. Eight to go."
"Last lap a 30.70," said Frankie. "30.70."
"Clear by half a straightaway. Keep digging." With 4 laps to go, he added. "The 07 said they're not planning on passing you. They have a big enough gap. 84's bunch of laps down in front of you. Four to go.
"Three to go. Still there. Clear.
"Got two more laps. Two more laps for you, bud. Two laps. 88 down two cyllanders, down there on the bottom. We'll get the white flag this time." He said the leader wasn't far behind him. "No pressure, all by yourself."
Clint Bowyer picked up the win.
"All right, sorry we didn't have it any closer there," Frankie addressed his driver. "We'll get it. We probably shouldn't have stayed out to get the lucky dog, but we'd never know. You did a good job. Everyone did a good job."
"Where'd we end up, Frank?" Shawn asked.
"26th."
Michael Waltrip Racing goes to Dover next weekend. Coverage of the Nextel Cup's Dover 400 begins Sunday at 1:00pm ET on ABC. The Busch Series' RoadLoans.com 200 airs the day before at 3:00pm on ESPN2.