Winston Cup Commentary...


UAW-GM Quality 500 , Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina, October 13th, 2002:

Pre-Race Festivities:
**Driver Introductions**
**Note: **missed them. Stayed at the car to keep dry. :-)
**Invocation**
**National Anthem**
**Fly-over by a lone air craft fighter**

Gentlemen! Start your engines! **Finally!!!! After waiting for almost 4 hours!!!**
**Engines started**
Darien: Can you hear me down there, John?
John: Yeah, 10-4. I got you.
Darien: 10-4. Got you loud and clear.
Darien: Brandon, do you want me to get you the flag?
Brandon: Yeah, Darien, let's continue for you to get the flag so we can see the caution car coming off.
Darien: 10-4. I'm up here straight across from the pit.
Brandon: I see you waving now.
Gary???: Check 1,2.3. How 'bout you Jerry?
Gary???: Check 1,2,3. How 'bout you Jerry?
Crew: Wrong channel. You're on the #43 channel.
Brandon: Darien, get them rolling up there he's on the wrong channel.
Darien: 10-4. I'm trying to find him.
Pace Laps:
Darien: Can you hear me good over there, John?
John: 10-4. Yeah I got you real good over here.
Darien: 10-4.
John: Okay, let me see here. Looks like 4100, 2nd gear. 4100, 2nd gear.
Darien: 10-4. 4100, 2nd.
Darien: 2 to go when you get here. They're going to go green AND yellow and keep riding you around.
Darien: 1 to go when you get here to the green AND yellow.
John: 10-4. 1 to go; green and yellow.
Darien: Okay, Brandon, we can NOT pit, take fuel until we take the FULL green flag.
Brandon: Yeah, 10-4, that.
Darien: After you take the green this time they want the high line to run all the way up against the wall to get that dried off and the low line to run against the bottom to get it dry.
Green/Yellow
Darien: Okay, they are going to start picking up your speed up a little bit now.
John: 10-4.
**Note:** Seemed a little annoyed at the on-track antics going on.
Darien: You'll have 3 to go this time unless you want to wave it off.
John: 10-4.
Brandon: How's the track look out there, John?
John: It looks okay. I mean it's damp in spots, but the air can dry it without pulling out a blower.
Darien: 10-4. 1 to go when you get here. 1 to go.
Darien: Ok buddy. Be ready. 334 of them.
Darien: Pace car's off. Be ready. Be ready. Be ready. Green flag, green flag, green flag.
Green flag:
John: (Lap 15) Okay.
**Note:** (Lap 21) #26 raced us hard into Turn 1.
**Note:** John running 24th; Jerry 34th; Kyle 35th.
John: (Lap 26) **interference**
John: (Lap 27) Loose in the middle. Tight off.
**Note:** (Lap 34) Back by #26. Lost track how many times this was.
John: (Lap 35) Don't thank him.
Darien: 10-4.
Brandon: (Lap 37) Still loose in the middle, tight off?
John: Yeah. Really bad in 1 and 2 where it moves around a lot in the back.
**Note:** (Lap 40) 3 cars until Kyle will be lapped. 2 more after that for Jerry.
**Note:** (Lap 43) Kyle next to be lapped. 2 more after that for Jerry.
**Note:** (Lap 44) Kyle passed #31.
Brandon: (Lap 44) Do you want to pull a rubber out of the LR to try loosen it up off?
John: I think it will make it worse in the middle of 1 and 2.
**Note:** (Lap 46) Kyle passed the #5.
John: (Lap 47) It's really loose in the middle of 1 and 2 and it's getting tight up off 4, big time.
Brandon: 10-4. Loose in the middle of 1 and 2. Really tight off 4.
**Note:** Kyle lapped on the backstretch. 2 more to Jerry.
**Note:** (Lap 50) John running 23rd; Jerry 31st, Kyle 33rd.
Brandon: (Lap 52) Do you want to pull a rubber from the RR to fix the middle of 1 and 2?
John: Yeah we can do that or maybe take some wedge out.
Brandon: Alright, man. 10-4 on that.
John: (Lap 55) Yeah, let's just pull a rubber out of the LR. Let's just leave that one alone, only.
Brandon: 10-4. Rubber out of LR only. Rubber out of LR only.
Brandon: (Lap 56) Pit in 5 laps. 5 laps.
John: 10-4. 5 laps.
**Note:** (Lap 59) Leader pitted. Kyle and Jerry back on lead lap.
Brandon: (Lap 60) Pit in 2 laps. 2 laps.
John: 10-4. 2 laps.
Brandon: Pit next time by. Next time by, minus rubber from LR.
John: 10-4. Pit next time by.
Darien: Ok buddy, the track is loosening up here, but it's after you get going straight.
Darien: 4100, 2nd gear. 4100, 2nd. There's your mark.
Brandon: 5-4-3-2-1. Hit your marks. Hit your marks.
Pit Stop: (Lap 62) 14.38 seconds. 4 tires, fuel, rubber from LR.
Brandon: Clear low, clear low. 4100. Clear low, clear low.
Brandon: Clear all the way out. 4100.
Darien: Dig hard. Single file all the way around.
Jerry's Pit Stop (Lap 63) 18+ seconds.
Kyle's Pit Stop (Lap 64) 13.59 seconds.
**Note:** (Lap 68) John running 22nd; Kyle 30th; Jerry 31st. Jerry lost a ton of track position. Pitted ahead of Kyle and was back on track initially 2 positions behind plus a ton of track position.
John: (Lap 73) Too loose in the middle.
Darien: 10-4. Too loose in the middle.
**Note:** (Lap 94) John lapped in Turns 3 and 4.
Darien: (Lap 108) There are reports of rain going into 1.
**Note:** Yup...sure was!
**Note:** (Lap 111) Great save! Contact passing #11 out of Turn 2.
Brandon: (Lap 122) Pit in 5 laps. 5 laps.
John: 10-4. 5 laps.
Brandon: Pit in 2 laps. 2 laps.
John: 10-4. 2 laps.
Brandon: Pit next time by. Next time by.
John: 10-4. Pit next time by.
Darien: 4100, 2nd gear. 4100, 2nd. There's your mark.
Brandon: 5-4-3-2-1. Hit your marks.
Pit Stop: (Lap 127) 15.25 seconds.
Jerry's Pit Stop (Lap 130) 21.53 seconds. Trouble with left side.
Kyle's Pit Stop (Lap 131) 14.47 seconds.
**Note:** John running 29th; Kyle 30th; Jerry 31st.
Darien: Caution's out. #9 shredded a tire in Turns 1 and 2.
Caution Lap 137: #9 shredded a RR in Turns 1 and 2.
**Note:** I had made my own pit stop prior to the pit stop. Brandon inquired on changing compression (on the shocks??) Conversation was John liking the last adjustment on the last stop under green. Car had been the best it had been all day**
Darien: 4100, 2nd gear. 4100, 2nd.
Brandon: 5-4-3-2-1. Hit your marks.
Pit Stop: (Lap 139) 13.61 seconds. 4 tires, fuel.
**Note:** Kyle pitted. Jerry did NOT.
Darien: 1 to go when you get here.
John: 10-4 on 1 to go.
Darien: He's 2 laps down if he'll let you go.
Brandon: You got a run down up there Darien who we're after?
Darien: 10-4. We're lined up right, now.
Darien: Ok buddy. Be ready. Pace car's off. Be ready. Be ready. Be ready. Be ready. Be ready. Green flag. Green flag. Green flag.
Restart Lap 143
Darien: Got one in the wall down here in 3 and 4. Caution is out.
Darien: Leader's pulling up high, but I don't think you're going to make it.
Caution Lap 150: #02 spins into Turn 4 wall.
**Note:** Jerry got his lap back.
Jerry's Pit Stop (Lap 151) **only noticed him already leaving pit stall**
John: What do you want to do here? Tires and fuel? What do you want to do? I'm not quick enough to run with them to **pause** I don't think the #17 as the tires get older.
Brandon: Alright, 10-4. I think we need to put tires and gas in it again, then.
Darien: You've got a second truck down low right there on the line.
John: Alright to come in?
Darien: You'll be the second car in line, 1 lap down.
Brandon: There's only 8 cars on our lap right now. I'm not sure how many will actually come.
John: You want me to stay out? That way we stay up here so we don't fall back so far?
Brandon: Let's try that and give it a shot. Maybe we'll get another quick caution here.
John: You'll have to tell me when they start pulling off behind me, Darien.
Darien: 10-4. I'll keep an eye on it. The #41 is the next car a lap down. He's right behind you.
Darien: The #44 was able to hang with the #17. He's the one who got his lap back on that one.
John: Yeah, I saw him hanging with him. New tires I think I can hang with him. As they get older I think that is where they are going to beat me.
Darien: 10-4. I'll let you know when the #41 and the #4 are the ones lined up right behind you.
Darien: Looks like he's going to follow you in. They're all coming. They're all coming. Here they come.
Brandon: 5-4-3-2-1.
Pit Stop (Lap 152) 14.89 seconds. 4 tires, fuel.
Brandon: Clear all the way. Clear all the way.
Darien: 1 to go when you get here.
John: 10-4.
Darien: Okay buddy. That #19 up there on the bottom, he's going to let everyone go by, I think.
Darien: Just follow that #4 car.
Darien: Ok buddy. Be ready. Pace car's off. Be ready. Be ready. Be ready. Be ready. Green flag. Green flag. Green flag.
Restart Lap 154
John: (Lap 183) I'm getting too tight on throttle.
Darien: 10-4. Too tight on throttle.
Brandon: Darien, move the mic closer to your mouth. Closer to your mouth.
John: What's that?
Darien: 10-4. I got you, Brandon.
John: What did he say?
Darien: He wants me to hold the mic closer to my mouth. Can you hear me okay?
Brandon: (Lap 210) Pit in 5 laps. 5 laps.
Darien: 10-4. Pit in 5 laps.
Jerry's Pit Stop (Lap 211) **noticed him already leaving pit stall**
Brandon: Pit in 3 laps.
John: 10-4.
John: Umm..put a pound in the LF.
Darien: 10-4. Put a pound in the LF.
Brandon: 10-4. Pit in 2 laps.
Brandon: Pit next time by. Next time by.
Darien: Okay buddy. Pit this time. I told the #45.
Darien: 4100, 2nd gear. 4100, 2nd. There's your mark.
Brandon: 5-4-3-2-1.
Pit Stop (Lap 215) 13.97 seconds. 4 tires, fuel. Air in LF.
Brandon: Clear all the way. Clear all the way. 4100.
Kyle's Pit Stop (Lap 218) **noticed him already leaving pit stall**
Darien: Caution's out. Caution's out.
Caution Lap 220: #28 blew a RF tire and hit the wall in Turn 3.
John: The rear end is like it's too soft.
Brandon: More on the left side feel like it's too soft?
John: It just lays back on the rear. Yeah, if it lifted a little stiffer it would be better.
Brandon: We can put the rubber back in the LR.
John: Yeah, let's do that.
Darien: You've got your extra man now. Do you want him to clean it or pull it, John?
John: He can pull it.
John: I don't think there are many laps left. Probably about a 100 or so.
Darien: 10-4. About 115. Run your extra lap.
Jerry's Pit Stop (Lap 223) 17.41 seconds. 4 tires, fuel.
John: I wonder if we should put a rubber in the LF, too.
Brandon: Yeah it's **intereference**. Just catch you up here real quick. Just take some time to fix it.
Darien: Okay, buddy. 4100, 2nd.
Brandon: 5-4-3-2-1.
Pit Stop (Lap 224) 18.44 seconds. 4 tires, fuel. Rubber back in LR.
Brandon: Clear low. Clear low. 4100. Clear low.
Darien: Coming outside.
John: Thanks.
John: You got to say outside because if you say clear low I just go on out.
Brandon: Alright, man. Sorry about that.
John: No, it's just a misinterpretation for me.
Jonh: All I hear is clear. That's all I hear. **laughs**
Darien: Alright, I'll go "clear" and "unclear", how's that?
**Note:** ROFLMAOPIP
John: Clear and outside. That will work. Just like on the track.
Darien: Alright, man. 10-4. No problem.
John: So what did we do here?
Brandon: Put a rubber in the LF and the LR.
John: Okay, see how that goes.
Darien: 1 to go when you get here.
John: 10-4.
John: Can we go...If I pit again can we go on one stop?
Brandon: Yeah, 10-4. We only need 1 more stop right around lap 288.
Darien: He's coming in. He's coming in.
John: I thought you wanted to stop. Now just go on by?
Brandon: No. Go on by. Go on by.
Brandon: Sorry, man, didn't understand what you were asking there.
John: That's alright. I saw them at the last minute. I thought they were heading in for fuel.
Kyle's Pit Stop (Lap 226) **noticed him already leaving pit stall**
Brandon: John, just to confirm we are good for one more stop and then we'll make it to the end.
John: 10-4.
Darien: Pace car's off. Be ready. Be ready. Be ready. Be ready. Green flag. Green flag. Green flag.
Restart Lap 227
Darien: Back it down. Back it down.
Caution Lap 231: #26 hits the grass in the dog-leg. Collects the #22, #11, #55, #29, #23, #32, #31, #32, #43.
Darien: Clear right there, John.
John: Yeah, I hit 'em though.
Brandon: Alright, 10-4. We'll catch the caution car and we'll come down with the lead lap cars because we'll have to fix it.
Darien: Okay there, John?
John: Did I break the radiator?
Darien: I don't see any fluids from here.
John: I know it's overheating, but it might just be closed off.
Darien: 10-4. Hoses seem to be fine. Pit road is not open.
Brandon: Alright, John, let's go ahead and get caught up and we'll bring it in.
John: I'm caught up.
John: You want me to shut it off when I bring it in?
Brandon: Go ahead and bring it to me this time back. We'll just go to the tail end on the re-start.
Brandon: No gas this time. No tires. We're just going to fix the front.
John: It's getting really hot. It's getting really, really hot.
Brandon: Get that water down here and be ready.
Brandon: 5-4-3-2-1. Get the hood open. Get the hood open. Let's cool it down, cool it down.
Pit Stop (Lap 232) 1:11.56 seconds. Work on the front end.
Brandon: Go ahead and cut the motor, John. Cut the motor.
Brandon: **Very irritated** Come on guys!! Get the cooler down and get it over there!!
John: Where's the pace car, Darien?
Brandon: Where is it at?
Darien: I'll keep you updated.
Crew: Have you run this one you got plugged in?
Crew: Yeah, go ahead. Crank it.
Darien: Going into 3.
Darien: Middle of 3 and 4.
John: Let's go! Let's go!!
Darien: Into 4.
John: Let's go!!
Darien: You're okay. Just be careful down there. They've got ambulances everywhere.
Dairen: Okay you're clear. Go hard.
John: It's still hot.
Brandon: 10-4. Radiator's closed up.
Darien: Pace car's coming off 2.
John: I'm going to pace myself just to get them. When I get back here so I don't have to slow down too much.
Darien: 10-4. The end of the field is just now going into 1.
Brandon: John, do you have the radiator fan on right now?
John: No. I'm afraid to turn it on in case it hits...should I turn it on?
Brandon: Yeah, go ahead and turn it on. We have to get it going.
John: It's cooled down quite a bit now. It's cooled down 20 degrees. It's only on 240.
Darien: You can see the end of the field now.
John: Unless it's cooling down because it doesn't have water.
Brandon: I think it's full of water because it was pushing it out the overflow. Just bring it on in. We're going to open up the radiator a little bit.
Darien: Okay, buddy. Bring it on in. 4100, 2nd.
Pit Stop (Lap 234) 1:11.25 seconds. Work on opening up radiator.
Darien: Just now coming off of 2.
Darien: Middle of the backstretch.
Darien: Entering 3.
John. Okay. Let's get ready.
Darien: Middle of 3 and 4.
Darien: Middle of 4.
John: Okay. Let's go!
John: Let's go!! GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Crew: Hey, Joe, what kind of opening do you have on the top?
Darien: End of the field's in 1.
Brandon: Alright guys. We have to bring it in this time. We've got to open it up a little bit more. We need to get some tires and gas in it. Darien, how long does it look like they are going to be out there?
John: I'm running 205 right now.
Darien: It's going to be a little while. They are going to blow all the way around to Turn 2.
John: It's 205.
Brandon: 10-4. You said 205, John, right?
John: 10-4.
John: It's hanging there right now.
Brandon: Alright, 10-4. Let's fix the rest of that front end. Get everything cut away that might get into the grill. Get the hood pins down, tape it up; we'll go back out, come in and put tires on it.
Brandon: 3-2-1.
Pit Stop (Lap 235) 49.94 seconds. Work on front end.
Darien: Just now coming off of 2.
Darien: Entering 3.
Brandon: Alright, let's go. Let's get caught up. We're going to put tires on it and fuel in it next time by.
Brandon: John, go ahead and catch up to the field. Run you another lap and then we'll put tires on it. We're going to sweep out our pit box and make sure we don't get any cuts.
Brandon: Where's that leaf blower at? Why don't you blow it off a little bit?
Darien: Okay, buddy. Bring it in next time for tires. I'm going to be off-line here for a few minutes.
Brandon: How's your windshield, John? You want me to just pull another strip?
John: I don't know. How many strips are left?
Brandon: Probably one more on there. We've got about 100 laps to go.
John: You can just clean it. That will be alright.
John: You want me to pit this time, right?
Brandon: 10-4. Pit this time for tires and fuel.
Brandon: 5-4-3-2-1.
Pit Stop (Lap 237) 13.56 seconds. 4 tires, fuel.
Brandon: Clear all the way. clear all the way.
John: How do the fenders look?
Brandon: Adam had that right side, but the left side was pushed up just a little bit.
John: Do we need to do anything else. I'm coming back up to the field.
Adam: The right side's fine. It's all basically...the center's smashed and the top quarter of the fender got buckled under.
John: Alright, 10-4. You guys want me anymore on pit road?
Adam: The only thing we can try and do is get that left side valance down a little bit.
Darien: Here he comes.
Pit Stop (Lap 238) Work on front valance.
Darien: We've got plenty of time for a shock adjustment, or something, too, if you want it, John.
John: No, no. I would have pulled that on another pit time. Good idea anyway.
Darien: Just now coming off of 2.
Brandon: Adam grab a little of the left front fender and just tweak it out.
Darien: Middle of the backstretch.
Darien: Entering 3.
Brandon: That's doesn't look too bad. Grab a little bit more down by the valance.
Darien: Middle of 3.
John: Okay, let's go. We can come back in.
Brandon: John, that's all we can get there; is just push the center of the hood, center of the left front fender straight out.
Jerry's Pit Stop (Lap 239) **noticed him already leaving pit stall**
Brandon: Your steering feel okay? It's not off to the side or anything?
John: The steering wheel's fine.
Darien: They've still got about 200-250 yards to blow if you need anything else.
John: Actually you can probably tape the front off a little bit now. It's going all the way down to 190.
Brandon: Alright, 10-4. Let's get me an air patch ready. Put it about 6 inches across on the left side.
Darien: Here he comes, guys. 4100.
Pit Stop (Lap 240) Taping off the front end.
Brandon: 3-2-1. Get you another patch ready for that right side in the middle.
Adam: You want one on both sides?
Darien: Just now coming off of 2. Got plenty of time.
Darien: Middle of the backstretch.
Brandon: Alright, let's wrap it up.
Kyle's Pit Stop (Lap 240) **noticed him already leaving pit stall**
Brandon: Alright, Darien, we need to go to the end of the longest line; tail end.
John: 10-4.
Brandon: What was that, John?
John: 10-4. Tail end of the longest line.
Darien: Tail end of the field's coming out of 3.
Darien: 1 to go when you get here.
John: 10-4 on 1 to go.
Darien: Okay buddy. Be ready. Pace car's off. Be ready. Be ready. Be Ready. Be ready. Green flag, green flag, green flag.
Restart Lap 243
Darien: Clear all around. Is everything okay?
John: Yeah, everything seems to be okay. A little tighter.
Darien: 10-4, a little tighter.
John: (Lap 273) I think my front tires are gone.
Darien: 10-4. Front tires are gone.
Brandon: 10-4 on the front tires. We can pit in 3 and put some more on it.
John: Do what?
Darien: He said you can pit in 3 laps if you want to get some front tires.
John: How long will they last me? How long did these last?
Brandon: About 35 laps.
John: I am going to come this time, if you're ready.
Brandon: 10-4. We're ready. We'll do it again before the end of the race. We're going to do 4.
Darien: Bring it in this time. 4100, 2nd. 4100.
Brandon: 5-4-3-2-1.
Pit Stop (Lap 278) 13.84 seconds. 4 tires, fuel.
Brandon: Clear all the way. Clear, clear.
John: It just wants to go straight. It's got to be the nose.
Darien: 10-4 on the nose.
Darien: 30 laps to go. 3-0.
Brandon: You want tires again?
John: No. I think I'm going to finish better if I don't get them. It's a tough call.
Brandon: You'll give up one spot.
John: Can I hold that spot off if I don't?
Brandon: **breaks up**
John: It just doesn't want to go.
John: Last time I don't think new tires helped me.
Brandon: **breaks up**
Darien: 15 to go. Hang in there buddy.
Darien: 5 to go. 5 laps.
Darien: That's it, buddy. Bring it on back.
Checkered flag Darien: Good job, today. Good job.
Brandon: Way to hang in there, John. 23rd place.
John: What place?
Darien: 23rd.
John: You've got to be kidding.
John: Where did the #44 finish?
Brandon: 13th.
John: He was hauling a$$. He did a good job.
Brandon: **breaks up**
John: He's going to kill somebody out there, isn't he?
John: Who's that?
John: Is that alright, Brandon?
Brandon: Yeah, that's fine.
John: Where'd Kyle end up?
Darien: 20th.





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