UAW-GM Quality 500, Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina, October 12th, 2003:
Pre-Race Festivities:
**Invocation**
**National Anthem** sung by recording artist Monica.
**Flyover by 4 jet fighters** Looked pretty awesome at night.
**Winston Victory Lap presentations for Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon**
Gentlemen! Start your engines!
**Engines started**
Mike: You got me, Jeff?
Jeff: I got you.
Gary: If you look over here to your left we're 3 away right there. In front of the #99; behind the #17.
Jeff: Can you get the Helping Hand® out there a little bit further or is that as far as it'll go?
Gary: Actually, **interference**
Jeff: Yeah I know, can you get that out a little further?
Gary: I think so.
Pace Laps:
Mike: 10-4, bud.
Mike: Look to your left, Jeff, that's the start of pit road right there.
Jeff: 10-4.
Gary: That's pit road speed.
Jeff: Okey dokey...looks to be 4000 and 2nd. 4000 and 2nd.
Mike: 10-4. 4000, 2nd gear.
Mike: While we have this opportunity, the #43 team would like to thank General Mills®, Hamburger Helper® for Lending a Hand®, for Cooking Made Easier®, Georgia-Pacific®, Coca-Cola® and ALL THE FANS that make this possible. For the boys in the pits, have a good safe day. Thanks **interference** Jeff, have a GREAT day today. Just do **interference**. Just one thing extra: Have fun!
Jeff: 10-4, Mike.
Gary: Remember we've got to drop to the back when they give us 1 to go.
Mike: 10-4.
Jeff: We've got bead blowers, right?
Gary: 10-4 and **interference** and run the gear fan.
Jeff: 10-4.
Mike: It'll be 1 to go when you get back to the line, bud.
Jeff: Okay.
Gary: Alright, Jeff. Be patient here. We'll work our way back up through this and have a good race.
Jeff: Thanks guys. You all have a good night, too.
Gary: The valance may rub the first couple of laps so... just you're away of it.
Jeff: Alrighty.
Mike: Coming to the green, bud.
Mike: Pace car's off. Get ready. Green flag. Green flag:
**Note:** (Lap 1) made up 3 positions.
**Note:** (Lap 2) passed Kyle.
Jeff: (Lap 10) It's tight off.
Gary: 10-4.
Mike: Clear all around. They're trying to get underneath the #44.
**Note:** We were in a pack of 6 cars.
**Note:** (Lap 15) passed Christian.
Jeff: (Lap 17) It's getting a littler tighter off.
Mike: 10-4, bud.
Gary: 10-4. We'll take a little air out of the front and a little bit of bite out.
**Note:** (Lap 22) Out of Turn 4. Gutsy move to get by the #60. The #1 attempted to pass us and the #60 high out of Turn 4. Jeff went low to make it 3-wide. Completed the pass and took off. Made this move with a tight car..hmmmm.
Jeff: (Lap 27) Just tell me when I get behind somebody.
Mike: One's looking outside.
Jeff: (Lap 29) Trouble with the rear, Gary. Take the air up a little bit in the rear.
Gary: 10-4.
**Note:** (Lap 32) Running the high line in Turns 3/4.
**Note:** (lap 33) Christian lapped under green.
Jeff: (Lap 37) I need help on all 4 tires getting up off the corners.
Jeff: Mainly the front.
Gary: (Lap 38) Come back on that, Jeff.
Jeff: I need help up off the corners on all 4 tires, but mainly the front.
Gary: 10-4. I'll take a pound out of both fronts.
Jeff: **intereference** the wedge.
**Note:** (Lap 42) Lapped under green.
Mike: Keep digging, bud. You're doing a great job. Stay with these guys. We'll hope to catch a yellow.
Gary: We're going to pit in 10 laps or less unless you want to come.
Jeff: Keep running.
Gary: We're going to stop in 5 or less.
Mike: Clear all around, bud. NASCAR's looking for a little bit of fluid on the race track.
Jeff: What are we going to do with the back, anything Gary?
Gary: Come back on that?
Jeff: How are you going to help me in the back?
Gary: Going to put a 1/2 round in the LR. Why don't you pit this time? Pit this time by.
Gary: Dusty, do it to the RR. Take a 1/2 out of the RR.
Mike: Clear all around, bud. We've got plenty of room to pit. This time by.
Jeff: 10-4.
Mike: Make it 4000, 2nd gear at the line. Come on.
Mike: He's on pit road.
Mike: Gary.
Gary: About 10 away from there. Start looking left. 4-3-2-1. We'll stay put until "clear".
Pit Stop (Lap 5_) 4 tires, fuel, 1/2 out of the RR.
**Note:** Very tough to see where on pit road with the dark paint scheme. Missed timing it.
Gary: All clear. All clear.
Mike: 4000, 2nd gear, bud. We're going to stay below the white line until we get to Turn 2.
**Note:** (Lap 59) Christian pitted.
**Note:** (Lap 62) Kyle pitted.
Jeff: (Lap 67) You helped my tires, but you hurt my back.
Gary: 10-4.
Jeff: (Lap 75) My RR sucks now.
Mike: 10-4 on the no rear grip.
Gary: 10-4. We'll get that back on the next stop. Hang tough with it.
Jeff: (Lap 80) My RR is spinning.
Mike: 10-4.
Jeff: (Lap 81) The front end got tight again.
Mike: 10-4, bud. Great job. The boys will fix it up for you.
Jeff: I know we're not lacking on pit road, that's for sure.
Mike: No sir. The boys had an awesome stop.
Mike: Them boys have one thing on their mind and that's 12/4.
Mike: Yellow is out. Caution Lap 85: #97 spins in Turn 2.
Jeff: We've just got to...I mean I need more total grip. I feel like these guys can go into the corner and they've got more grip than I've got, but they're not sliding around like I am. I need more...for half the run I need more rear grip. Now I need STILL rear grip, but I need a little more up front.
Gary: What do you think about putting a rubber in the LR and raising the track bar?
Jeff: I like that. Let's try it.
Gary: Okay, we'll do that. We'll raise the track bar 1 round, put the rubber in the LR.
Gary: Running 35th at the moment, 1 lap down.
Gary: There are 19 cars left on the lead lap.
Jeff: Okay.
Mike: Pit road IS open for lead lap cars only.
Gary: We're going to have an open pit in front of us so stop him long, Andy, and you'll have to come around the #99 car to get it in here.
Jeff: Okay.
Gary: How's your windshield?
Jeff: It's all right.
Gary: We do have a windshield man if we want to pull a tear off.
Jeff: Yeah, you can if you want. You've got 3 or 4, don't you?
Gary: Yep.
Jeff: Okay, let's pull one.
Gary: Just the left side, Rod.
Mike: 4000, 2nd gear, bud.
Mike: He's on pit road behind the #45...Gary.
Gary: About 4 away from there. Come around the #99.
Gary: Remember the rubber, Colton.
Pit Stop: (Lap 88) 4 tires, fuel, rubber in LR, track bar up 1 round. 20.28 seconds.
Gary: You're outta here. All clear. All the way.
Mike: You've got one on the outside.
Gary: Good job guys.
Jeff: I hope the #21 don't think he beat me.
Mike: That's okay. We'll let NASCAR decide it.
Mike: NASCAR's saying #21, #43.
Jeff: I guess some people up there hate me because, hell, I had half a car on him.
Mike: 10-4, I'd seen that, too, bud. I thought that would have been an easy call.
Mike: You'll have to stay low in Turn 1; there's a fire truck up high.
Gary: We're building up about 2 pounds to both fronts and the LR tire is the coldest tire on the car so this might work.
Jeff: Okay.
Mike: It will be 1 to go when you get back to the line, bud.
Jeff: Okay.
Gary: We're going to have 240 laps to go when you get the green. Still got only 19 cars left on the lead lap. We're still only 1 lap down and still got a long way to go here. We'll keep working on it to get it better.
Jeff: 10-4.
Mike: Alright, bud, it will be green next time by. In front of you you've got the #21, #45, #23; behind you the #44.
**Note:** Kyle 34th; Jeff 36th; Christian 37th. All 1 lap down.
Mike: Pace car's headed to pit road. Get ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 94
Jeff: It did help. You DID help me a little bit.
Gary: 10-4.
Mike: Clear all around. You look much better.
Jeff: When the car gets up to the front of these guys it really makes me push...off.
Gary: 10-4.
Jeff: I'm getting too tight off.
Mike: 10-4 on the too tight off.
Jeff: **I don't know what he said. LOL**
Gary: 10-4.
Jeff: I don't think we need to worry about it. I think he's going to wreck himself.
**Note:** (Lap 128) Christian lapped under green.
**Note:** (Lap 130) Jeff lapped under green.
Jeff: It's getting tigher and tigher...up off at both ends.
Gary: 10-4.
**Note:** (Lap 133) Kyle lapped under green.
Gary: How's your rear grip doing?
Jeff: Rear is good right now.
Gary: (Lap 137) We're going to pit in about 10 laps or less. We're going to take another 1/2 pound out of both fronts; raise the track bar a little.
Mike: (Lap 140) Keep digging. The boys will get you fixed up in a couple laps.
Gary: We're going to pit in 5 laps or less.
Gary: We're going to take a 1/2 pound out of both fronts and raise the track bar 1/2 turn.
Jeff: Okay.
Gary: Pit this time. This time by.
Jeff: 10-4 this time by.
Mike: 4000, 2nd gear.
Mike: On pit road all by himself.
Gary: About 10 away from there. 4-3-2-1.
Pit Stop: (Lap 147) 4 tires, fuel, 1/2 pound out of both fronts, 1/2 turn up on track bar. 14.56 seconds.
Gary: All clear, all clear.
**Note:** (Lap 153) Christian pitted.
**Note:** (Lap 155) Kyle pitted.
Mike: Yellow is out. Caution is out for Turn 4.
Mike: Turn 4 is clear. Caution Lap 160: #38, #01 get together out of Turn 4 almost towards the end of green flag pit stops.
Jeff: It's pretty balanced. Hurt my back a little bit there, but not too bad.
Gary: 10-4. Maybe need to take a 1/2 pound out of the RR.
Jeff: Yeah, I just don't want it to hurt me up off...as far as the front end.
Gary: How about a 1/2 pound out of both lefts?
Jeff: Yes, we can try that.
Mike: Pit road is open for lead lap cars only.
Gary: Same deal as the last caution. We'll have an open pit in front of us so stop him long, Andy, and we'll have to come around the #99.
Gary: There's 17 cars left on the lead lap and there is probably back to....23rd or 24th is 1 lap down. We're running 33rd 2 laps down.
Jeff: Okay.
Gary: It's going to be 4 tires and gas.
Mike: Pit this time by, bud. 4000, 2nd gear.
Jeff: Okay.
Gary: Stop him short, Andy, if the #99 is staying out.
Mike: Run hard, bud. 4000, 2nd gear, right there.
Mike: Behind the #21.
Gary: Start looking left. You're about 5 away. 3-2-1.
Pit Stop: (Lap 162) 4 tires, fuel. 14.69 seconds.
Gary: You're outta here; 1 outside.
Mike: All the way to the grass, bud.
Mike: 4000, 2nd gear.
Mike: Nice job boys.
Mike: It will be 1 to go when you get back to the line, bud.
Jeff: Okay. Good job guys.
Mike: Green next time by, bud.
Jeff: Okay.
Gary: We're racing the #22, #23, #99, #74, #21, #77, #7, #45, #1, #25, #4, #60.
Mike: Pace car's headed to pit road. Get ready. Green flag.
**Note:** Jeff 33rd; Kyle 35th, Christian 40th all 2 laps down. Restart Lap 164
Mike: Yellow flag. Keep digging. Caution Lap 167: #31 bangs along the Turn 4 wall.
Mike: #77, #43.
Jeff: What happened that time?
Mike: The #31 was trying to make it 3-wide on the outside of us and got into the wall and spun around in Turn 4.
Jeff: I gotcha.
Gary: We only had 3 green flag laps so we'll probably stay out.
Gary: As long as it feels alright.
Jeff: I think it feels pretty good.
Gary: How's your water temperature been doing?
Jeff: It runs about 220 on the cautions and 200 wide open.
Gary: 10-4.
Mike: You're going to have a jet dryer up high down the frontstretch.
**Note: (Lap 170) Kyle pitted.
Mike: Okay, bud, we're going to have to stay low. We've got the #16 coming by on the outside to get his lap back.
Jeff: 10-4.
Mike: Coming by you now.
Gary: 18 cars left on the lead lap and there are....back to 24th is 1 lap down.
Jeff: 10-4.
Gary: We're running 27th.
Gary: It will be 162 to go when you get the green. We are a little bit past halfway.
Mike: Pace car is headed to pit road. Get ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 172
Jeff: I can't keep it in the throttle. I'm really having to work with it.
Mike: 10-4, bud.
Jeff: I'm a little bit snug off, but the balance is pretty decent.
Mike: Alright, the yellow is out. We've got the #38 down the frontstretch. Caution Lap 205: #54 spins; tags the #38 and it hits the wall on the frontstretch head on.
Mike: Stay low when you come down the frontstretch. The #54 is sitting in the middle of the track right there.
Mike: You're fine.
Jeff: I guess we're going to need all 4 tires to get better. Help my front just a little bit up off if you can.
Gary: 10-4. Drop a 1/2 pound on all 4.
Gary: Dustin work on the LF there when you come around.
Mike: Pit road is open. Lead lap cars only.
Jeff: Okay.
Gary: Same deal. Come to the pit sign. Come around the #99 again.
Gary: The majority of the guys in front of you will be peeling off before you.
Jeff: Okay.
Mike: 4000, 2nd gear.
Mike: He's behind the #23.
Gary: About 10 away from there. Come around the #99.
Pit Stop: (Lap 207) 4 tires, fuel, drop pressure in all 4 tires. 14.13 seconds.
Gary: You're outta here. All clear. 1 outside, 1 outside.
Mike: You've got a jet dryer up high right here.
Mike: Alright, come up close to the wall.
Mike: Alright, we've got the #19 coming to the outside trying to get his lap back.
Mike: He's by you now.
Mike: We're working Lap 210. 124 left to go. Now'll be a good time to take a nice cold drink of that Coca-Cola®
Jeff: 10-4.
Gary: We've got 17 cars left on the lead lap. From 18th-22nd is 1 lap down.
Jeff: Okay.
Gary: We're running 27th. We can get up to 23rd and the 2-lap down cars go all the way back to 37th.
**Note:** Jeff 27th; Christian 33rd; Kyle 37th all 2 laps down.
Mike: It will be 1 to go when you get back to the line.
Jeff: 10-4.
Mike: Make sure your belts are nice and tight.
Mike: Pace car's headed to pit road. Get ready.
Mike: Get ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 213
Gary: 30.90. Fastest lap of the day.
**Note:** Car looked real good at this point.
Gary: The #97 is a lap down.
Jeff: Is the #5 by himself, Mike?
Mike: Yes sir!
Gary: He's also a lap down.
Mike: Keep digging, bud. The #97 just bounced off the wall. Just keep digging.
Mike: No yellow yet. They're saying it's okay.
Mike: You're going to have...the yellow is out. Keep digging, bud.
Mike: Alright ease it up. Stay to the high side down there in Turn 1. Caution Lap 231: #97 blows RF on the frontstretch after riding the Turn 3/4 wall 2 laps before and hits the wall at the end of the frontstretch into Turn 1.
Jeff: I need some more of that. Maybe a LITTLE bit tight. Definitely took off a lot better.
Gary: Pit road is closed at the moment. Dustin, take another 1/2 pound out of everything but the RR.
Jeff: What are we going to do, Gary?
Gary: Take out a 1/2 pound on all the tires except the RR.
Jeff: Okay.
Gary: We took a 1/2 pound out of all 4 of them the last time.
Jeff: 10-4.
Mike: Pit road looks like it's still closed.
Jeff: Why don't you do a 1/4 more in the RR; 1/4 instead of a 1/2 more. Know what I mean?
Gary: 10-4.
Gary: You're just a LITTLE bit tight up off, right?
Jeff: Yeah, but I was able to wear the gas out. I just don't want to make it loose.
Gary: 10-4.
Gary: Just have to make sure you work them in good before we go back to green. We're getting a little low on the RF.
Jeff: Put them back like they were, then. Put them like they were and let it be like it was then and just put me a 1/4 in the RR.
Gary: 10-4.
Pit Stop: (Lap 233) 4 tires, fuel, adjustment on RR pressure.
**Note:** Had to make my own pit stop. Came back just as they were finished. Couldn't time it. Sorry!! :-(
Mike: It will be 1 to go when you get back to the line, bud.
Jeff: Okay.
Mike: We've got the #32 coming to get his lap back on the outside.
Gary: It will be 97 to go when you get the green. There are 18 cars left on the lead lap and we are waving it off.
Mike: We're not going green this time.
Mike: We've waived it off. The 1 lap...too close with the #32.
Jeff: 10-4.
**Note:** There was a concern the #32 waited too long to pass the pace car to take the Lucky Dog pass.**
Gary: There's only 2 cars left 1 lap down. Everybody else is 2.
Gary: We're running 25th.
Jeff: Alright.
**Note:** Jeff 25th; Christian 32nd; Kyle 35th all 2 laps down.
Mike: Alright, bud, pace car's headed to pit road.
Mike: Get ready.
Mike: Green flag. Restart Lap 238
**Note: (Lap 245) Looks like it is getting tight.
Jeff: (Lap 250) Believe it or not I'm tighter.
Gary: 10-4.
Jeff: Are the tires a lot different?
Gary: Come back on that, Jeff.
Jeff: Are the tires a lot different?
Gary: That set is VERY slightly different. The set I've got on the wall is a lot freer than the set you've got on right now.
Mike: (Lap 256) Next car in front of you is the #45 and he seems hurt.
**Note:** (Lap 257) Kyle lapped under green.
**Note:** (Lap 260) Engine on Kyle sounds bad and is visibly running slower.
**Note:** (Lap 268) Kyle pitted for 1:41:16 seconds.
**Note:** (Lap 274) Christian pitted.
**Note:** (Lap 276) Kyle back in the pits and eventually returned to the track.
Jeff: Take that 1/4 back out of the RR. It loosened me up. It loosened me up too much.
Gary: 10-4.
Jeff: Adjusting that tire screwed it up. It pushes in the center and made it loose off.
Gary: 10-4. Give me about 10 more laps on them and we'll put 4 fresh ones on for you.
**Note:** (Lap 281) Kyle comes down pit road and takes it to the garage.
**Note:** (Lap 283) Jeff lapped under green.
Gary: We're going to pit in 5 laps.
Gary: Let's pit this time. Pit this time by.
Jeff: 10-4. This time by.
Mike: 4000, 2nd gear.
Mike: He's on pit road all by himself...Gary.
Gary: About 10 away from there. 5...2-1.
Pit Stop: (Lap 288) 4 tires, fuel. 14.38 seconds.
Gary: You're outta here. All clear, all clear.
Mike: 4000, 2nd gear, bud.
Gary: 35 laps to go. You're racing with the #7 in front of you.
Mike: About 25 laps to go. Let's finish this thing off. You're doing a great job.
Gary: 25 laps to go. They're starting to back up to you.
Mike: About 20 laps left to go.
Mike: You're doing a great job. We've got about 15 laps left to go.
Jeff: 10-4. It's off with the grip in the rear a little bit.
Mike: 10-4, bud. Nothing coming from behind.
Mike: 5 laps left to go, bud.
Checkered flag
Jeff: Great job guys. You are awesome. We just need to be a little bit better.
Jeff: Good job spotter.
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