Virginia 500, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Virginia, April 8th, 2001:
Note: We were the first team to get through inspection. The car was placed on the grid at 10:34am and the boys prepped it for the race. Additionally we were in Pit# 38 behind the #22 and in front of the #97 in Turn 4.
*Engines started*
John: Rear fans are on. Front fans are on. All the other fans are on.
Pace Laps:
Chris: Ok, John. They're easing off up there, buddy. It will be the 4th time by.
John: 10-4.
Chris: John, the man standing there on the white line in Turn 3 is where pit road speed begins.
John: 10-4.
John: I gotta get a pit road speed, here.
Chris: 10-4.
John: Looking like 4500, 2nd gear. 4500, 2nd gear.
Chris: 10-4. 4500, 2nd gear.
Chris: 1 to go.
Greg: Ok, Big John. It's gonna take them a couple laps to get 'em spread out. Take it easy. We'll get 'em 1 by 1.
John: 10-4.
Greg: Get the flag from up there, Chris, if you can.
Chris: Yeah, 10-4. I'll get it.
Chris: Ok, Big John. Coming to the green. Be ready. Be Ready.
Green flag:
Chris: Green flag.
*Note* (Lap 3) The Earnhardt Salute. I can't tell you how emotional it is.
*Note* (Lap 7) #9 very loose out of Turn 2. Everyone gets checked up. Buckshot gets tagged. He almost spins. Everyone checks up. John passes 4 cars high coming out of Turn 2.
*Note* (Lap 11) #66 slow. Could not get down into the pit entrance.
Chris: Watch the #66 there down low in 1. He's not under power.
*Note* (Lap 20) Up to 29th position. (finally got around the #36)
*Note* (Lap 32) #12 blows a left front tire coming out of Turn 2. No caution.
Caution Lap 39: #96 running in front of John spins entering Turn 3.
Chris: Come on. You're okay. Caution is out.
John: I didn't hit him. He spun himself out.
Greg: Ok John, that was about 40 laps and we moved up to about 26th. What's it doing?
John: No traction up off. It feels like I'm spinning the wheels.
Greg: Are you too tight in the middle? Want to lower the track bar? Adjust some air pressure?
John: Not really. I just have to be careful coming up off for now. I wouldn't change anything now because it might change what little it's doing now, you know?
John: *quickly* Am I coming in?
Greg: Ok we'll just do 4 tires now.
Chris: Pit road is open now.
Chris: Here he comes guys. Be ready.
Pit Stop (Lap 41) 4 tires.
*Note* Sorry everyone. I was equipped with the stop watch as usual, but because Pit #38 was in Turn 4 I couldn't see the car stop or leave from the pits. I saw nothing. I could see the #22 in front of us and the #97 behind us, but our pit was at the perfect point of blocking everything from my view. No times today. :-(
Greg: How is the water temperature, John?
John: I turned the fan on. It jumped up to 230 so I turned the fan on.
Chris: 1 to go, John. Lapped cars getting ready to come inside.
Chris: Ok that's all of them.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok be ready. Be ready, buddy. Be ready.
Restart Lap 47
Chris: Green flag.
Chris: Slow down, John. Slow down. #27 in wall (Turn 2). Caution is out. Good job, buddy.
Caution Lap 55: #27 into the Turn 2 wall.
and then....KABOOM! Right in front of me after John crossed the line.
John: Who the **bleep** hit me?!!
Chris: the #1.
John: (Lap 57) He should be black flagged for racing after the caution. I have to come in. I'm all tore up. **bleep**!!
Chris: He's coming in guys. Right front. Right front Ricky is all tore up.
Pit Stop: (Lap 58)
Greg: The hood is loose on the right side. Let's get right side tires on it, take the fenders out and get him back out.
Greg: Keep us posted, Chris.
Chris: I gotcha. I gotcha. Pace car comin' into Turn 3.
John: Let's go.
Greg: Bungie cord or tape on the hood, Murf?
Greg: When you come back we're gonna put left sides on it and take care of the hood, John.
Chris: Right there, buddy. *catching the end of the field*
Pit Stop: (Lap 60)
Greg: Left sides, guys. Take care of that hood, Murf.
Restart Lap 62
John: (Lap 65) Thing is plowin'.
John: (Lap 72 in Turn 1) Something just broke.
Greg: Power steering? Front end? Can you tell?
John: Something just broke. It's all **bleep**ed up.
*Into the Pits*
John: It's overheating, too. You're going to have to put some water in it.
Greg: We're gonna getcha back out runnin', John.
Greg: Is there any room to pull in, Chris?
Chris: About 4 to 5 pit stalls in front of you.
*Behind the wall*
Greg: Steering wheel off center?
John: 10-4. Off to the right.
Greg: Let's try to get the toe back to center 100%, Murf.
Greg: Turn the wheel all the way to the left.
John: All the way to the left?
John: You can get me another drink. This one sucks. The straw is too short.
John: How long is this going to take?
Greg: About another 20 minutes.
With the work the boys had to do on the car it got quiet as it seemed they took their head sets off to work on the car. One thing I did hear (at least I think so) was 'tie-rod'. I don't know if the hit which sent us into the wall bent it or broke it.
While they worked behind the wall I switched to Buckshot since he was next in line on the track.
Caution Lap 94: #15 gets into #26 in Turn 2.
Pit Stop (Lap 95) Right side tires and fuel. 11.91 seconds.
Pit Stop (Lap 97) Left side tires and fuel. **I didn't time it. Buckshot's radio was silent. I switched to him as he came down pit road the first time so this double stop was obviously planned to save the lap. They caught me off guard with the second stop** :-(
Restart Lap 99
**Switched to Kyle since Buckshot's frequency was pretty quiet**
Spotter: (Lap 112) Right in front of you. *pause*
Caution Lap 112: #17, #15, #29, #36, Kyle, Buckshot wreck coming out of Turn 2
Spotter: What the **bleep** is it going to take? **Interpretation....luck**
Kyle: We just wrecked guys. Sorry about that.
Kyle: He went in their wide open with his **bleep**ing eyes closed shut.
Kyle: Just make sure the fenders aren't rubbing.
Spotter: Just get caught up here, guys.
Spotter: Pit first time by.
Kyle: Let's stay out. Give us some time. I want more than half a lap to look at it.
Spotter: I don't care if you have to pull the screen off, but this first time in work on the grill.
Kyle: What was wrong with John?
**Switched back to John as he re-entered the race on Lap 115**
John: Was the toe adjusted?
Greg: 1/2". Murf did it.
John: I think it's still a little off.
Greg: It might be with the left front. Somehow it got a little tore up.
Greg: Did the water temperature come back down, John?
John: Yeah, about 210.
John: Looks like somebody lost a weight going into Turn 1, there.
Chris: Yeah, they're going to pick it up right now, John.
John: You're gonna have to make me a better drink bottle. This one isn't going to work. The straw has to be taped down and go down TO the bottom and then be at least 2" out of the top so I can get it underneath my helmet.
Greg: You get a copy on that, guys?
Chris: Ok, John, they want you to tighten up the best you can.
Chris: The next time by they are going to bring you down pit road to help clear out the speedy-dry on pit road. There's lots of it. (Lots of it in Buckshot's pit)
John: 10-4.
Chris: It'll be 1 to go this time by.
Restart Lap 129
Chris: #15 outside.
John: Wooo-ooo. Racing me for 90th. Michael, you da man!
**Note** ROFLMAOPIP
John: Has Kyle been in? **John was now behind Kyle and I guess he noticed how battered the Sprint Dodge looked.
Caution Lap 148: #19 spins.
John: I think I'm gonna try and make a lap up here.
John: Shoot, I couldn't. I betcha Steve Park could have.
John: Motor is running a little warm. I turned the fans on.
Greg: How's the car running, John? Pushing real bad?
John: Car's good.
John: There's no reason to be running hard and getting caught in a wreck we have no business being in.
Chris: #28 on inside.
Chris: #28 pitting.
John: Ok, thanks.
John: I let off just past the start/finish line and roll into Turn 1 without barely braking and I can keep up with them fairly easily in the back, here.
Greg: 10-4. No need to be up there running hard if they are going to be wrecking in front of us.
Pit Stop: (Lap 151) 4 tires, fuel.
John: Does Kyle want to restart in front of me? It doesn't matter to me.
Chris: Let me ask him.
Chris: He said he's gonna pit again.
John: When they're done does he want ahead of me? Are they down any laps or not?
Chris: 1 or 2.
John: Is it 1 to go?
Chris: No not yet, John.
Chris: 1 to go next time by.
John: Where does The King want me to start? Back here or up there?
Greg: You're fine where you are. You're fine where you are, John.
John: I think so, too.
Greg: The #97 is 10 laps ahead of us. #29 is 1 behind. Other than that we're just riding out there for position today.
Chris: Be ready, John. Be ready.
Restart Lap 159
Chris: Green flag.
Caution Lap 202: #25 spins.
John: Shimmies bad on the left front. Was someone else talking because I didn't hear what you said.
Greg: I noticed it too the last couple of laps. We'll take a look under the hood after tires.
John: I don't know if something broke or has come loose. It's like the left front goes in the air when I come up off. It could be rubber build up on the track since it only started the last couple of laps.
Greg: We'll put 4 tires on then raise the hood and look at that left front.
Pit Stop (Lap 204) 4 tires and inspect the left front.
John: 10-4. Try not to get me down a lap to the #29. At least we can stay ahead of him. If not, I understand.
Crew: Broke shock. Shock is broken.
Greg: Is it broke or is the pin out?
Crew: *pause* The pin is broke.
Greg: Gonna get it there, Darian?
John: What the hell is he gonna hold us for?
Greg: He's just waiting there for us until we're finished.
John: I know but what IS he going to hold us for?
Greg: The RR is out of the box.
John: The RR is ALLOWED to be out. Tell him to get a pit box card and look at it.
Greg: He got the card out of his back pocket and he realizes it now.
Greg: Want some ice packs to put in your suit, John?
John: Nah, I'm getting fidgety anyway. *laughs*
Crew: Jack it up a little more, Arch.
Crew: Bring it down a little. More. *pause* Whoa!
Restart Lap 209
*Note* (Lap 210) #5 into (very close) the Turn 2 wall. No caution.
Chris: Spin down here in 4. Slow down. In the middle. Go high.
Caution Lap 212: #18, #11, #31 wreck in Turn 4.
John: Where's Kyle? Is he not running anymore?
Chris: He was in the same wreck with Buckshot and others. He blew up due to overheating.
Greg: Is the water temperature staying down, John?
John: Yeah. Comes down on cautions. I turned all the fans on.
John: After they get singled out on restarts I figure I may as well pass 'em since the car is running so good, but until they get singled out I'll stay back when they're in a group.
Greg: Yeah, 10-4. If we were 5 laps down I'd tell ya to go ahead and get your laps back, but you're fine with what you're doing.
John: How many laps are we down? (seemed surprised)
Greg: 20. No, 70. (Actually it was about 50. LOL). I said 'If we were 5 laps down I'd tell ya to go ahead and get your laps back, but you're fine with what you're doing.
John: Oh, ok. I was like, "Where have I been?" *laughs*
Chris: 1 to go. Lapped cars comin' on the inside.
Chris: Ok. That's all of 'em.
Chris: Be ready. Be ready, buddy.
Restart Lap 218
Chris: Green flag.
Chris: (Lap 232) Slow down, John. Slow down. Come on. Come on. Keep diggin'.
*Note* #33 had spun in a pack right in front of John. No caution.
*Note* (Lap 256) Buckshot pitted. Tire went down.
Chris: Spin in 3 and 4. Up against the wall. Staying up against the wall.
Caution Lap 269: #6 spins in Turns 3 & 4.
Greg: How's it running, John? You want any adjustments with the way it's running?
John: Yeah. Now all I just need is forward traction on the longer runs.
Richard: Does it get loose on you when you try to run up high?
John: Yeah. I don't like running up high. It makes me too loose.
Richard: That's what I thought.
Greg: Run the track bar down. See what that does to it, Scott.
Chris: He's coming in guys. Be ready.
Pit Stop (Lap 271) 4 tires. Track bar down.
Chris: (leaving pit road) They're stopping here in front of you. Ok, they're going now.
John: Did you say something?
Chris: No sir.
Chris: Ok, John. It will be 1 to go next time by.
Chris: Ok, John. Be ready, buddy. Be ready.
Restart Lap 283
Chris: Green flag.
Chris: Caution is out. Debris down in Turn 1.
Caution Lap 288: Debris in Turn 1.
Chris: Just stay down on the bottom. It's right there in the second groove.
Chris: Right there in front of you. There ya go.
John: I'm not so sure if it's looser with that adjustment.
Greg: Looser up off, John? (Sounded like he didn't hear John completely or clearly)
John: *repeats again*
Greg: If you want you can come back in and we can raise it back up.
John: Ok.
Chris: Watch the safety truck. Still there now moving into 1.
John: 10-4.
Greg: Just raise it back up to where it was, Scott.
Pit Stop (Lap 291) Track bar put back to original set-up.
Chris: 1 to go next time by.
Chris: Be ready. Be ready. Be ready, John.
Restart Lap 297
Chris: Green flag.
*Note* #36 RF down in Turn 3. No caution.
John: (Lap 336) Tell him not to be a pain in the **bleep**. (Not sure if John was referring to whom we just passed or who was in front of us).
Chris: 10-4.
Chris: Caution is out for debris again. Caution is out for debris.
Caution Lap 363: Debris on track.
John: 10-4.
John: You might want to tape the hood down a little better.
Greg: Yeah, 10-4. We'll do it after tires. Get the tape ready guys.
Pit Stop (Lap 366) 4 tires. Re-taped the hood down.
John: We can come back in again if we need more. It doesn't really matter.
Greg: Need anymore, Ricky?
Greg: It's okay now, John.
John: Ok. 'Cause it does not really matter to come back in to put more on at this point.
Greg: Ok. Ricky is going to put more on it for you so you don't have to watch it flap around as much.
John: Ok. I'm going to go around one more time.
Greg: 10-4.
Pit Stop (Lap 368) Back in for more tape.
Chris: Ok, let's go. Let's go.
Chris: They're going to bring the blower out here in a bit. It will be a few laps if you want to do anything more so now's the time to do it.
Greg: Is your drink working now, John?
John: Yeah. I got one now. Too bad the other one wouldn't work before. I could have used it while we were running.
John: Well what do you know? The other one works now. *laughs*
Greg: Might have been a little piece of ice plugged up in it.
John: I don't think there's a chance of it still being there now I imagine.
Greg: 10-4.
Richard: Dale worked on it for you.
John: Did you say, 'Dale worked on it for me?'
Richard: 10-4. I did.
John: *laughs* He's probably sitting home laughing.
*Note* The reference was to Dale Inman.
Chris: 1 to go next time by.
John: 10-4.
Restart Lap 375
Chris: Caution is out. Spin in Turn 3.
Caution Lap 412: #7 spins in Turn 3.
Chris: Pit road is closed. We're going to have to run 2 more laps.
John: What?
Chris: *repeats above*
John: The tape is all coming off again, but I'm sure you can see that.
Pit Stop (Lap 415) Main issue to re-tape the hood.
Greg: Get the junk on the hood.
John: Can you get the junk off to tape it better?
Greg: You got some cleaner back there?
John: Just be careful it doesn't run down onto the brakes.
John: Might as well take the windshield tear off.
Chris: Make it quick. 1 to go.
Greg: Just run the tape from front to rear.
John: Where's the pace car?
Chris: Come on. They're in 4.
Restart Lap 419
*Note* I started packing up and began walking back to the car 'at the ready' for more notes.
John: The engine is starting to sound bad, I think.
Chris: #32 is in the wall. No caution. No caution. There it is. Caution is out.
Caution Lap 452: #32 into the wall, Turn 2.
John: Are we picking up any positions with all this?
*Note* The answer was choppy and I can only presume the answer was 'no'.
*Note* Another choppy response about tires on the pit stop. Funny because I was still in the grandstands walking closer to their pit. LOL
John: 2 tires? Well ok if it's my choice. *laughs*
Chris: 1 to go next time by.
Chris: Be ready, John. Be ready. Be ready.
Restart Lap 458
Chris: Green flag.
Chris: (About 15 laps left) Those 4 ahead of you are racing for position.
John: Ok, I'll stay back.
*Note* (Lap 493) #14 into the wall. No caution.
Checkered flag
Comments: We had a win robbed from us today. Simply put. The car still ran awesome after the wreck. We never got lapped once we returned to the track. We even pulled away from the leaders every time even though we restarted last to keep out of the way. During that long green flag run we came through over half the field passing cars in the Top 10. The car was simply awesome. Sure hope they get that drink cup fixed by the fall. The team did yeoman's work to get that car back out onto the track. They remained upbeat and kept on diggin'. Good job boys. You done good.
Back to Winston Cup Link