Old Dominion 500, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Virginia, October 14th, 2001:
*Pre-Race Festivities*
**God Bless America**
**National Anthem**
*Drivers on alert for the command to report to their cars around 1PM*
*1PM MRN update: Rain delay. Back with a 2PM update*
*2PM MRN update: Rain delay. Back with a 2:30PM update*
*2:08PM it started raining very hard. Rusty Wallace already prepared to fly out. Started the car and left.*
*2:30PM MRN update: Postponed until 11AM Monday October 15th.*
Monday October 15th, 2001:
*Pre-Race Festivities*
**Note: Did not notice this last week, but there was a US Flag attached to every pit wagon**
*Driver introductions which were voluntary since they were done yesterday. Some drivers were staying in the garage until they had to report to their cars*
*God Bless America*
*Invocation*
*National Anthem*
**Note: #71 moves to rear due to driver change. That moves us to start 25th**
*We're in Pit Stall #33. Behind the #5, in front of the #71**
*Command for drivers to start engines*
*Engines started*
Greg: How about you Chris, you copy?
Chris: I gotcha Greg.
John: I got you both, here.
Greg: Ok guys let's have a good day, here, in the pits today.
John: What was that on the radio?
Chris: Greg talking to the guys.
John: Telling everyone to have a good day?
Chris: 10-4, John. 10-4.
*Rolling off pit road*
Pace Laps:
Chris: Ok bud, they're easing off. When we pit we have to remember to get it inside the box today.
Greg: We have to keep the area behind the pit clear. Put the used tires behind the #01's.
Chris: Several have stopped up here, John.
Greg: John when you come around the corner your pit is right here.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok bud, pit road speed.
John: 4800, 2nd gear. 4800, 2nd gear.
Chris: 10-4. 4800, 2nd gear.
Chris: They're going to pick up the speed here for a lap or two.
Chris: 2 to go this time by.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok, slowing down in front of you right here.
John: All fans are on.
Chris: 10-4. 1 to go.
Chris: Ok bud, coming to the green. Good luck. Have a great day.
Chris: Be ready. Be ready. Be ready. Green flag. Green flag:
**Note: (Lap 2) #15 hit our RR quarter panel in Turn 1. Nice doughnut**
**Note: (Lap 5) #31 (same as above)**
Chris: (Lap 10) **#13 spins** Watch it John. Watch it John. Stay high. Stay high. Great job. Come on.
**Note: (Lap 20) Running 25th. No pressure from behind. Following the #18. #9 fighting the #18**
**Note: (Lap 26) Passed the #9**
**Note: Entire 10-car line being held up by the #93**
**Note: Now the #93 and #14 (mid pack) holding up the line**
**Note: (Lap 45) passed the #14**
**Note: (Lap 47) Buckshot lapped**
Chris: (Lap 48) **Turn 4** Spin, John. No caution. Go low. Come on. No caution.
Chris: (Lap 53) Spin in front of you, bud. Spin in front of you. Caution is out. Caution Lap 53: Spin by ???.
Greg: How are your temps, John? Your times are good. Faster than the leaders when you're out of traffic running with the #18.
John: 10-4. Slides a little in the back. I need better traction off and I need to be able to turn off better. I don't know if you can adjust to help both.
Greg: 10-4. I'll go down on air pressure on both left sides.
Greg: The #71 is a lap down so you can get it in the pit straight.
John: 10-4.
Greg: 4 tires guys. 4 tires.
Chris: Here he comes. He's going to be coming quick.
Pit Stop: (Lap 57) 16.28 seconds. 4 tires, fuel. **The #5 pulling in his pit in front didn't help us**
John: Some of them must have taken 2.
Greg: Yeah, 10-4. You're in the same spot mixed up with some ahead of you who took 2.
Greg: Your RF looks good, John. How are your brakes?
John: Fine.
Greg: How are your temps?
John: All are under 200.
Chris: 1 to go, bud.
Chris: Lap cars coming inside, here.
Chris: Ok that's the last one. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 61
Chris: (Lap 64) Spin in Turn 1. No caution yet. Caution is out. Caution Lap 64: #4 Turn 2 wall.
Chris: #71 inside. It'll be 1 to go.
Chris: One more coming inside, there.
Chris: #4 car is coming. #4 inside.
Chris: Ok bud. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 70
Chris: (Lap 72) Spin in front of you, John. Go up high. Go up high. Go up high. Ok bud, come on. Caution is out. Caution Lap 72: #25 spins in Turn 4.
Greg: I don't think they'll come, John. If they do we'll stay out.
John: Yeah. I'll stay out, right?
Greg: Yeah, 10-4. 10-4.
Chris: Stay on the bottom here in Turns 3 & 4. Supposed to be debris up high.
**Note: (Lap 75) #25 rams Buckshot going into 1. #25 feels Buckshot helped him with that spin. Buckshot paid the favor back in Turn 4. NASCAR warned both teams. #25 cut a tire.
Chris: 1 to go. Lap cars will be coming inside, here.
Chris: Still got some coming. Ok that's the last one now. Be ready now. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 80
Chris: (Lap 85) Caution is out. We're in it. *pause* Come on, John. Go hard. Go hard. Beat that #24 car. Great job. Caution Lap 85:#43 spins in Turn 4. Left front valance knocked in.
Greg: 4 tires guys.
John: That freakin' #71 spun me out or it might have been that other idiot.
Chris: Greg, you're going to have to do it 2 & 2. Listen to me for the pace car.
Greg: The LF is punched in Chris. How is the RF?
Chris: The RF is fine. You're going to have to do something with the LF.
Chris: Here he comes guys. Gotta be quick. Listen to me, now.
Greg: Work on the LF last. Right sides only guys. Right sides only.
John: Where's the pace car?
Chris: In Turn 3. Time to go.
Pit Stop (Lap 87) 6.84 seconds. Right side tires, fuel.
Chris: 4800, 2nd gear. 4800, 2nd gear. Go hard. Catch up and come back in.
Greg: Ok guys left side tires. You're going to need to knock that LF crush panel forward. I can't see what you may need to do forward of that.
Chris: He's coming. Let's be quick guys.
Pit Stop (lap 88) 7.78 seconds. Left side tires, fuel. LF crush panel knocked back out.
Chris: Time to go.
Chris: It is 1 to go, bud. Go hard.
Greg: Got the LF pretty good. Let me know how it drives, John.
Chris: #71 is coming on the outside.
**Note: What the hell? What is he trying to tell or indicate to John?**
Chris: Green flag. Restart Lap 90
Chris: (Lap 117) Stay after 'em, bud. Leader is behind the pack behind you.
Chris: (Lap 123) #20 just blew up out of Turn 2. Caution is out. Caution Lap 123: #20 lost an engine.
John: How many laps on left tires?
Greg: 34 laps. 34 laps. #18 did pretty good on 2.
John: Maybe that's what we should do then.
Greg: 10-4. We need to get you away from those guys and out of that traffic. 2 tires.
Greg: How's it running, John? Driving okay?
John: What did he say was okay, Chris?
Chris: He said, "Is it driving okay?"
John: It's fine. It's just hard to drive it in traffic. *sarcasm*.
Pit Stop (Lap 125) 6.47 seconds. Right side tires, fuel.
Chris: 1 to go, bud. 1 to go.
Chris: Lap cars coming inside.
Chris: Ok that's all bud. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 127
**Note: (Lap 157) #13 spins in Turn 2. No caution**
**Note: Looks loose up off Turn 2. Running on the curb more than a couple times**
Chris: (Lap 168) Caution is out, bud. #4 in the wall. Caution is out. Caution Lap 168: #4 Turn 4 wall.
Greg: Okay, Big John, how's it driving?
John: Not too bad. Coming in to pit or staying out?
Greg: Staying out.
John: Sure? Bunch of 'em coming in.
Greg: Just stay out.
John: I don't know *pause* I don't think anyone behind me who pitted is on our lap.
Greg: There are 4 or 5 behind you who pitted.
John: On our lap?
**Note: When the #13 spun prior with no caution it caused a large gap behind John possibly falsely making him think he was farther back than what he actually was**
Greg: 10-4.
Greg: #31, #26 are a couple who came in.
John: I don't know what my position is. It may seem different to think of another decision now, afterwards. If we're so far back we have nothing to lose, you know?
Greg: Yeah, 10-4. That just put you from 23rd to 15th. There are 32 cars still on the lead lap.
Greg: You actually have better tires and fuel then the guys ahead of you, John.
Chris: 1 to go, bud.
Chris: Ok, lap cars coming inside. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 176
Chris: (Lap 206) Great job, bud. Great job. Caution is out. Caution Lap 206: Car# (??) in front of John spun in Turn 4.
Greg: Ok guys. Let's be ready. 4 tires.
Chris: Ok, here he comes.
Pit Stop (Lap 207) 14.28 seconds. 4 tires, fuel.
John: I think I beat him.
Chris: Yeah 10-4. Greg you better check. They're not going to give up unless they're told
Greg: #43, #10.
John: Sorry, what is it?
Chris: You're in front of him.
John: Somebody tell HIM?
Chris: They should have, but I wouldn't swear to it.
Chris: NASCAR just said it again: 43, 10.
John: I heard that.
Chris: Ok bud. 1 to go.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Lap cars coming inside. Ok, be ready now. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 213
**Note: (Lap 240) John looking very antsy. Traffic not moving. Can't go high because the line has the #8 pinned on the outside.
**Note: (Lap 250) Car is starting to take off.
Chris: (Lap 276) Spin off of Turn 2. Spin off Turn 2. No caution yet. Caution is out. Caution Lap 276: #8 Turn 2 wall.
Greg: That's 75 laps. 4 tires. Is it driving okay, John? You're one of the fastest cars out there. You and the #24.
John: 10-4. 4 tires.
Greg: Let's go guys. Let's make sure we get it full of gas.
Pit Stop (Lap 278) 15.81 seconds. 4 tires, fuel.
Chris: 1 to go, bud.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok here come your lap cars. Be ready. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 283
Chris: (Lap 283) Spin in front of you. Stay on the bottom. Stay on the bottom. Come on. No caution. Caution is out. Caution Lap 283: #93 spins in Turn 2.
Chris: 1 to go.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok here comes a lap car inside.
Chris: We're not going this time. We're not going.
Chris: 1 to go this time.
Chris: Ok we're NOT going this time.
Chris: 1 to go.
Chris: Be ready now. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 291
John: (Lap 320) I hate this guy.
Chris: 10-4 bud. Just stay after him. You'll get him.
Chris: (Lap 322) Spin off Turn 2. **Car #4** No caution. No caution yet. Track is clear. No caution.
**Note: (Lap 327) Finally got passed the #12**
Chris: (Lap 330) Spin off Turn 2. **Car #17** Spin off Turn 2. No caution. Track is clear. No caution.
**Note: 3rd through 10th racing HARD. John running 11th**
Chris: (Lap 352) Caution is out. Spin on the backstretch. He's down on the bottom. Caution Lap 352: Car# ?? spins on backstretch.
Greg: How's it driving John?
John: Fine. How many laps left?
Greg: 147. Ok guys. Get it full of gas. Full of gas guys.
Greg: 4 tires. Get it full of fuel.
John: Can you get the tear-off or don't we have the extra man?
Greg: NASCAR hasn't given it to us.
Pit Stop (Lap 354) 13.09 seconds. 4 tires, fuel.
Chris: Good job guys.
John: 10-4. Yeah, good job guys.
Greg: Ok John I'm going to tell you about the fuel. We're 5 laps short. I know we can't make it. We're going to have to see how the cautions fall from here until the end.
Chris: 1 to go.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Lap cars coming inside. Be ready, John. Be ready, bud. Still inside. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 360
Chris: (Lap 361) Watch it, John. Watch it. #97 slow here up on top. **LR down**
**Note: Lost 2 spots from the nasty bottleneck**
**Note: (Lap 375) #29 got punted. Did a slide job into Turn 1. Saved it**
Chris: (Lap 381) Spin in front of you. Stay on the bottom. Stay on the bottom. Come on. Caution is out. Caution Lap 381: Car# ?? spins in Turn 4.
Greg: 25 laps. We're not going to make it on fuel. Do you want to wait it out or come in and get it done now?
John: If you're going to give me fuel give me tires.
Greg: Make a decision while you're back there, **backstretch** John.
John: What if the others don't come in?
John: You want me to come in?
Chris: He's coming guys.
John: You have to tell me if you want me to come in. *committed to pit road*
Greg: 10-4. Come on in. 4 tires guys.
Pit Stop (Lap 383) 14.38 seconds. 4 tires, fuel.
Chris: 1 to go.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok you've got one coming on the inside. Be ready now. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 387
Chris: (Lap 423) Watch it, John. **#15 spins in Turn 4** Stay low. Come on. Come on. No caution.
**Note: (Lap 431) Buckshot had a LF go down in Turn 2**
John: Brake pedal is getting low.
Chris: 10-4 bud. About 60 laps left.
John: (Lap 439) I don't have any left.
Chris: 60 laps to go bud.
John: I don't have any more brakes left! I don't have any more **bleep**ing brakes left. Only have rears.
Greg: Bring it in here John when you can. We're going to have to take a look at it.
John: I can't drive it anymore like this.
Chris: (Lap 445) Caution over here. Spin in Turn 2. They're up against the wall, John. Caution Lap 445: #25, #1 spin in Turn 2.
Chris: They're going to be slowing up when you come back around.
John: Wouldn't that have been the leader?
Chris: Yes it was.
John: Thanks Bobby. I can't believe that.
John: I'm done. I'm done. I'm done. I don't think I have any left now.
Greg: Pit first time by and we'll have to open up the hood and look at it.
John: Be prepared to stop me.
Pit Stop (Lap 448) **Rolled through the box and ended up 2 stalls down. They changed tires there**
John: You want me to go on out and come back?
Greg: No. Wait until the #1 behind you to finish up and then just come back.
Greg: Ok John come on back here. Guys go help bring him back.
Greg: Get some fluid in it. Get some fluid in it. Get some fluid in it.
Greg: Start pumping the pedal, John. See if it does anything.
John: No. It might be stuck.
Greg: *interference*
Greg: Anything yet?
John: No.
Greg: Keep pumping it, John.
Greg: Anything on the pedal yet?
John: Not yet.
John: No. I don't feel like it's got anything to it. Wait...there it goes.
Greg: We filled it back up with fluid. You were empty.
John: It's got rears.
Chris: Careful going out, John.
**Note: Back on track on Lap 455**
Greg: Is it coming back at all?
John: Yeah. I'm okay. How many laps?
Chris: About 40.
**Note: Started walking to the car**
Chris: Caution is out. Caution Lap 4__:
John: I'm sorry if I abused the brakes. I didn't think I was running them that hard.
Greg: There was a leak, John. You had PLENTY of pad left. It wasn't anything you were doing.
Greg: Have the brakes come back?
John: Yeah. I'll restart at the back. At the speed I'm running I shouldn't burn them up.
Greg: 10-4. You have enough fluid.
John: You guys did a heck of a job today. The car was really great. Too bad we didn't get to finish like we should.
Greg: Yeah. 10-4, John. 10-4.
**Note: All of them disappointed. You could hear it and feel it**
Chris: They're doubling up. It isn't 1 to go. There's debris on the track.
John: 10-4.
Chris: They just put some oil-dry down just past the the start/finish line going into Turn 1.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok 1 to go.
Chris: Clear all around. 10 laps to go.
Chris: 5 more.
Chris: Ok just ease it on around for this last one.
Checkered flag
Greg: You have enough brakes to get back into the garage?
John: I'll be alright.
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