Dura Lube 400, North Carolina Speedway, Rockingham, North Carolina, February 25-26, 2001:
Pre-Race Festivities:
Chris: Hey, anyone down there got their radio on?
*later*
John: Testing. 1-2-3-4-5.
Chris: Got you, John.
John: Ok. Got you too.
John: Murf, can you get my air hose?
John: Which ignition you want me to run?
Greg: I can't hear you, John.
John: 10-4.
*Engines started*
Chris: You got it fired up? I'm fired up with you.
John: I can hear both of you loud and clear.
Chris: In 2. (*minutes*)
John: Say what?
Greg: I think someone said, "In 2."
Chris: Someone didn't have the button all the way down right while they were talking.
Greg: Ok Chris, you know where pit road speed starts and ends. I'll let you get the flag from up there.
Pace Laps:
Chris: Ok, John. They're easing off up there. They haven't said how many laps.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Pits are right there. It will be the #8, #4, then you.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok, John. They want you to go down the backstretch out toward the wall. They still have the blowers out there.
Chris: Ok, John. There's your pit road speed. The man right there is the end of pit road speed.
John: Looking......3800, 2nd gear.
Chris: 10-4. 3800, 2nd gear.
Greg: Make sure you keep the fans on, John. All of them.
John: Let me try another pit road speed.
John: 4200. 4200, 2nd gear.
Chris: 10-4. 4200, 2nd gear.
Greg: Is the track pretty dry, buddy?
John: I just turned on the fans.
Greg: 10-4, John.
Greg: John, they are going to pick up your speed, here.
John: 10-4.
Greg: They're saying 5 laps.
John: 10-4 on 5 laps.
Chris: 2 to go this time by.
John: 10-4.
Greg: They just blew off pit road. They did not dry it. We'll let you know its condition when you need to pit.
John: Greg, you need to tape up your mic in case it rains.
Greg: Yeah, 10-4. I will cover it up real good and talk loud.
John: 10-4.
Chris: 1 to go, Big John.
John: 10-4.
John: Greg, let me tune you in before we get running. Say something.
Greg: Yeah. Testing 1-2-3-4-5. Got me?
John: 10-4.
John: I'm going to turn the fans off. Well, I'll leave them on. Water is a bit high.
Chris: Ok, John. Pace car is off. Be ready. Let's get 'em. Be ready.
Green flag:
Chris: Green flag.
Chris: Wrecking behind you. Wrecking behind you. Caution is out.
Caution Lap 1: #8, #7, #26, #27 wreck in Turn 3.
Greg: Ok, Chris. Watch the cars up front for pit road and make sure a bunch of them don't come in and pit.
Chris: 10-4.
Chris: All staying out so far.
John: The water is still at 220.
Greg: It should go down when we get up to speed.
John: I don't think the blower is working. I don't think it is if I ventured to guess.
Greg: Blowing air, just not cool?
John: Well it's not blowing any air at all I can tell.
Greg: Looks like another little band of rain coming through.
John: Yeah. Looks like another one coming across the backstretch there.
Chris: 1 to go, John. 1 to go.
John: 10-4 on 1 to go.
Greg: Ok we're NOT going, buddy. We're not going.
John: 10-4.
John: It's starting to rain out here again.
Chris: Coming down pretty good in Turn 1.
John: It's pouring out here on the frontstretch.
Greg: Water temp coming down?
John: Staying at 210. It won't go below 210.
Chris: Blowers ahead on the outside of Turn 1.
John: Yeah. Keep me abreast of that. Lots of rain on the windshield. I can pretty much guess where the #24 is.
Chris: Ok, John. That's how they want you running out there, but they're going to spread out 1 high and 1 low.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok, John. You've got another one up there about 3/4 up in Turn 3.
John: 10-4. I see 'em.
Greg: They're saying in 5 laps. How's it looking?
John: I don't see it drying any, but I could be wrong.
Greg: Turns don't look bad, but there are some wet spots on the straights like down here going into Turn 1.
John: It's lighter than wet, but like it's still damp.
Chris: Ok, the other blower is up there running high just at the entrance to pit road.
John: 10-4. Thanks. Got 'em.
John: Let's keep an eye on the guys in the back if they pit when we're ready to get running.
Chris: 10-4.
Chris: Blower exit of Turn 2.
John: Got 'em.
Chris: Ok, John. They're going to show you 3 to go.
John: Be ready in case they come down pit road.
Greg: 10-4. Be ready guys. We'll do 4 tires on it if he comes in.
Chris: Pit road is still closed right now.
Greg: You're at the breaking point there, 18th-19th, whether they will come in or stay out.
John: Yeah. Just make sure pit road is open.
Greg: 10-4.
Chris: Pit road is still closed.
Chris: Ok, they are going to try again 3 to go. Pit road is still closed.
John: 10-4, 3 to go. 10-4, pit road still closed.
Chris: Still closed.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok, pit road will be open next time by.
John: What are we doing, Greg?
Greg: Probably, probably coming in.
Chris: If you do be very careful. The pit BOX is still very wet.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Are we staying out, Greg?
Greg: Come on in.
Chris: 4200 2nd gear. 4200 2nd gear starting riiiigggght there.
Pit Stop: (Lap 29) 4 tires, fuel. 17.33 seconds
*Note* All the pit crews were slipping. If the pit boxes weren't wet so was pit road still.
Chris: All right, bud. Work 'em in. It will be 1 to go when you get back here.
Chris: Ok John. Let's pick 'em off one-by-one. Be careful.
Chris: Be ready. Be ready. Pace car's off. Be ready.
Restart Lap 31
Chris: Green flag.
*Note* (Lap 33) #26 into us (solid hit) on our rear bumper in Turn 3.
*Note* (Lap 41) Very squirrelly-loose throughout Turns 3 & 4.
Chris: Clear all around. Feeling some rain up here again.
Caution Lap 45: Rain.
Greg: Ok guys. Be ready in case he comes in. We'll do 4 tires.
John: Really, really loose in the middle of the corner.
Greg: What did you say?
John: Loose on the throttle.
Greg: Is it snapping out from you or loose?
John: No traction.
Chris: Here they come.
Chris: 4200, 2nd gear right there. Be careful. Pit box is still wet.
Pit Stop: (Lap 47) 4 tires, fuel. 15.16 seconds
Greg: Is it loose ALL the time on you?
John: Mostly loose when I get back in the throttle. It wants to spin the tires.
John: The water is 240.
Greg: Is the fan on?
John: Yeah. I've been running them the whole time.
Red Lap 51: Rain.
Chris: Ok, John. They are going to bring you down pit road.
Greg: Ok, guys. Cover everything up. They say this one is going to last awhile.
John: Are they anticipating it or what because it isn't raining.
Greg: Yeah. It's gonna be at least 1.5 hours.
Greg: Tape that cowl and everything up real good.
Chris: Murf. Turn that radio off.
Murf: 10-4.
Greg: Cover the pipes and grill.
Monday February 26th:
Greg: Chris, remember pit road speed: 4200, 2nd gear.
Chris: 10-4.
Greg: Ok, John. The caution light in Turn 1 does NOT work. All the others around the track are working.
John: 10-4.
Greg: They're going to put a flagman outside the fence, I guess.
Caution Lap 52: Rolling off Pit Road.
Chris: Ok, John. They're easing off up there buddy. Pit road is closed.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Got a couple of cars coming underneath you, John.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok. Pit road will be open.
Chris: 2 to go when you get back to the line.
John: 10-4, 2 to go.
*Note* Buckshot pitted.
Chris: Ok, John. 1 to go. Let's get 'em.
John: 10-4.
Greg: Make sure you have your brake fan on.
John: Brake fans on.
Chris: Pace car is off. Be ready, buddy. Be ready. Be ready.
Restart Lap 55
Chris: Green flag.
*Note* (Lap 67) Harvick into our rear in Turn 1.
*Note* (Lap 69) Same as above ----^.
*Note* (Lap 80) Rides the high line. Drives low to pass. Car looks good and John can drive it anywhere.
*Note* (Lap 111) #99 into Turn 3 wall. No caution.
*Note* (Lap 116) #15 in the lead. The crowd erupted.
*Note* (Lap 118) Buckshot pitted.
Greg: (Lap 128) Ok, John. Pit next time by. 4 tires. Pit next time.
Pit Stop (Lap 129) 15.13 seconds. 4 tires and fuel.
*Note* (Lap 182) Buckshot pitting again.
Greg: (Lap 197) John, pit next time by. Next time by. 4 tires.
John: 10-4.
Greg: Ok guys. Let's give him a good one. 4 tires.
Pit Stop (Lap 198) 16.34 seconds. 4 tires and fuel. Note==> RF of #4 got away and in the way of the boys while we pitted.
Caution Lap 243: #31, #5 spin out of Turn 2.
Chris: Caution is out. Spin in Turn 2.
Greg: What's it doing? You're good with 'em. We just need to get track position back.
John: 10-4.
Greg: How's it doing, John? You need anything or just tires?
John: Just tires. Loose. If we tighten it up a bit it might be worse.
Greg: 10-4. Ok guys. 4 tires. Give him a good one guys.
Pit Stop (Lap 245) 15.53 seconds. 4 tires and fuel.
Greg: You're doing good. A lot of the time better than the leaders. They've just had better breaks in traffic.
John: Looks like they're going to box me in here, too.
Greg: 10-4.
John: Loose in the middle is the biggest problem.
Chris: 1 to go.
John: 10-4, 1 to go.
Chris: Bunch of lap cars coming on the inside.
Chris: Pace car is off. Be ready, buddy. Be ready. Be ready.
Restart Lap 249
Chris: Green flag.
John: (Lap 251) I think the RR is low. Might come in for tires.
Chris: (Lap 252) We just hit the wall in Turn 1, Greg.
John: (same lap) What's with him?
John: (Lap 253) Ah *bleep*. We just **bleep**ed the car up. It's **bleep**ed up.
John: (Lap 254) It **bleep*ed the car up. **Bleep**ed up the toe.
John: (Lap 255) Maybe not. Maybe it was just dirty. *pause* I don't know.
Chris: (Lap 256) You should be able to feel it. You got both wheels when you scrubbed the wall. I don't see anything rubbing, John.
John: Yeah, it's a bit tight off.
Greg: 10-4.
*Note* John fell back to the tail end of the pack and 'felt it out'. After a few laps he got back into it and took off again. We were very lucky.
Chris: (Lap 293) Outside. That's the leader behind you.
John: (Lap 294) It's pushing like a pig.
*Note* Lapped under green coming out of Turn 2.
Caution Lap 300: #92 blows going into Turn 1.
Chris: Blown in front of you. Got down on the apron.
Greg: Go get the leader, John.
Chris: Come on, John. Go hard. Go hard.
Chris: Come on. Go hard.
John: **Bleep** him. Remember him.
Chris: I tried to get him (spotter), but he wasn't waiting for anyone.
John: **Bleep**. He'll never get another lap back the rest of his life. Can't wait to see him next week.
Greg: Anything we can help you with the tight off with what you got, John?
John: You didn't do anything, Greg. I hit the wall. It's not really tight. It's tight, loose. Tight, loose. Tight, loose instead of just staying loose.
Greg: 10-4. We'll do some air pressures to help you out with that.
John: I can't run on greens. The RR is so hard it's like a land mine.
Greg: 10-4. The air pressures will help you with that.
Greg: Pull that windshield cover off, Roger.
Chris: Ok guys. Let's give him a good one. He needs it.
Pit Stop (Laps 303) 14.94 seconds. 4 tires and fuel.
Greg: 10-4 the RF hit hard, John, but it's not worn so there was nothing rubbing. You were still running pretty decent, even with the leaders. Just not as decent as before. There are only 6 others on our lap.
John: 10-4.
John: Is the #97 a lap down?
Greg: #97? No.
John: Wonder if he'll let me by?
Chris: Hang on. Let me check.
Chris: He's more than a lap down. Go on around when you start to bunch up.
Greg: Few laps close on fuel. We'll have to see how this thing plays out.
John: 10-4.
Chris: 1 to go when you get over here, buddy.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok buddy. I'm not going to say anything. I'll let you go with him.
Restart Lap 308
*Note* Did not get a good restart. Nothing was said so it must have been the cold tires.
Chris: (Lap 352) Ok, John. 40 laps to go.
John: (Lap 354) Think we need to pit? It will be a gamble, but....
Greg: (Lap 378) #36 is the next car on our lap. He's about at least a half lap behind.
John: 10-4.
Greg: (Lap 382) 10 to go, John. Start conserving fuel and do the best you can. The #36 is still the only one behind us.
John: 10-4.
Checkered flag
John: You guys did a good job. I didn't. I hit the wall. Sorry guys. My fault.
Greg: We all did. You did a god job, John. Conserving that fuel gained us spots.
John: You guys did yours. I didn't do mine. I shouldn't have passed him on the high side going into Turn 1.
Greg: Don't fill it up with gas. I want to check it.
Back to Winston Cup Link