Coca-Cola 600, Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina, May 28th, 2000:
Pace laps:
Greg: They're gonna release you third time around.
John: 10-4.
????: *interference*
John: 10-4.
Chris: They've got your pit road speed up ahead, bud.
John: Ok. Ummmmmm, going to be 4000, 2nd gear.
John: Correct that. 4100, 2nd gear.
Chris: 4100, 2nd gear.
Greg: Steering wheel ok?
John: Yeah it's ok. I moved it up a bit. I'm getting a little ahead of myself.
Greg: You get the flag, Chris.
John: All fans on.
Greg: How's that black behind you looking, Chris?
Chris: Lots of lightning and really dark, but I think we will be okay for now.
Greg: Here we are on pit road. We're ahead of the #6 and behind the #31.
John: 10-4.
Chris: 1 to go when you get here, bud.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok, Big John. Let's make it a good, safe race. 400 laps. Going to be a long night.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Pace car is off. Be ready. Be ready. Be ready. Green!
Green flag:
John: (Lap 11) This thing is loose.
Greg: 10-4, John. 10-4.
John: (Lap 27) It's starting to jump out.
Greg: 10-4.
John: (Lap 28) Can't hang onto it like that.
Greg: 10-4. We'll get you fixed. You just be careful.
John: (Lap 33) It's.......forget it.
John: (Lap 51) Still loose.
Greg: (Lap 54) Fix your wires, Chris. You're breaking up bad.
Note: I thought it was the weather or where I was sitting.
Chris: How about now, Greg?
Greg: You're fine.
Greg: Gonna pit in 10-12 laps. How do you feel?
John: I'm all for it. I can go.
John: Need a caution.
Note: (Lap 58) Lapped.
Greg: (Lap 62) Pit in 2 laps.
Greg: We'll put air in the right front and lower the track bar.
John: 10-4.
Pit Stop: (Lap 64) 17.13 seconds. 4 tires and adjustments.
Caution Lap 80: #1 spins coming out of Turn 4.
John: Tell Fedewa to get ready. I'm getting out. He might like it a bit freer. It's good in 1 and 2. Problem is I can't get on the power.
Greg: Come in close to the wall John so we can help you out.
Richard: Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
Chris: Plenty of time. The pace car is coming out of Turn 2.
Chris: Can you hear me, Tim?
Tim: Yeah. Got a copy?
Greg: We're going to take a pound out of the right front since you like it tighter.
Tim: 10-4.
Pit Stop: (Lap 82) 4 tires and adjustments made. Could not time it. Too many standing in front of me. Sorry guys! :-(
Tim: Where do the lap cars go? I know they go on the inside, but we pitted the first time in. Go to the longest line?
Chris: You got it. Longest line.
Greg: Just keep it smoothe and let us know what it's doing.
Tim: Longest line, right?
Chris: You got it, bud. Cinch your belts up. Let's go racing.
Restart Lap 84.
Tim He's *explicative* racing me.
Note: Hmmm...who was driving the #13 while Mr Gordon was late for the 600? :-0 :-)
Caution Lap 110: #9 blows a right front in Turn 1.
Greg: Ok Tim, what's it doing?
Tim: Loose in, tight in the middle. Tighter up off toward the end of that run.
Greg: We'll put a rubber in the right front and take wedge out of the right rear.
Tim: Yeah, that should work.
Greg: That should help you getting in.
Tim: 10-4.
Tim Pit 2nd time by?
Greg: 10-4.
Tim: I'll get a little better. That #13 was messing with us too much.
Chris: Yeah, but you were getting him toward the end of that run.
Greg: How's the windshield?
Tim: It can be washed or whatever you guys do.
Greg: We'll have to get it from behind the wall.
Chris: Watch your speed.
Greg: Put the rubber back in and take a round of wedge out, Kev
Pit Stop: (Lap 112) 20.84 seconds. 4 tires and adjustments.
Restart Lap 114.
Greg: (Lap 124) Check your radio again Chris. You're breaking up.
Chris: How's it now?
Greg: Sounds good.
Caution Lap 127: #27 spins out of Turn 4.
Chris: Spin behind you. Bring it on around.
Tim: Better in, tight middle off.
Greg: We'll put air in left front and right rear.
Tim: 10-4.
Greg: How are the temps?
Tim: 220.
Greg: Take the extra lap. Pit for 4 tires. Turn on the engine fan.
Greg: Think the air will help?
Tim: Well, it gets tight after about 15 laps.
Greg: 10-4. Those last 3 laps were great.
Tim 10-4.
Greg: How's the windshield?
Tim: Clean it again.
Pit Stop: 17.63 seconds. 4 tires.
Tim: Car won't start.
Greg: Get some ether.
Tim: Sorry about that. I pushed the clutch in and stalled it. Remind me of that. You did that yesterday and it helped.
Chris: All we have to do is run all day. The others will take themselves out.
Restart Lap 133.
Caution Lap 151: #32 spins out of Turn 2.
Chris: Spin in front of you. Still on the bottom. Stay low. Stay low. Stay low. GOOD JOB, TIM.
Tim: It was better for awhile. It still got tight last 10 laps.
Greg: Air left front, right rear.
Tim: If we can get the adjustment we had before (note: meaning Happy Hour??) that would be great.
Greg: How are the temps?
Tim: 225 on the track.
Greg: We'll put 3/8 rubber in right rear and we'll take some tape off since you're running warm.
Tim: You don't want to take too much off since the front end is what is taking all the air, you know?
Pit Stop: 19.72 seconds. 4 tires and adjustments.
Greg: Run that fan if you need to under caution.
Tim: 10-4. We're running warmer than we should be.
Chris: You should be able to go past the #9 and get behind the #97. The #9 is laps down.
Restart Lap 155.
Tim: (Lap 169) We have to take it out again.
Greg: 10-4. 10-4.
Chris: Try to stay with him. It's starting to sprinkle and I talked with the #25 and they will give us our lap back.
Tim: I'm having to lift off the throttle.
Greg: (Lap 216) We're going to pit in about 3 laps.
Greg: (Lap 218) Have him come in this time. Take rubber out.
Chris: 10-4.
Tim: This time? 10-4.
Pit Stop: 20.19 seconds. 4 tires and adjustments.
Greg: (Lap 230) What's it doing now Tim?
Tim: Better on the gas.
Tim: (Lap 232) Let me know how the lap times are running. Keep me informed.
Chris: 10-4.
Tim: Obviously not too good if we're not passing much.
Chris: 10-4. (LOL)
Note: Once they started giving Tim his lap times he consistently ran faster and seemed to get into a rhythm.
Tim: (Lap 234) Still loose, but better.
Chris: (Lap 243) Get all you can get. Starting to sprinkle again.
Caution Lap 247: RAIN.
Greg: Is it loose everywhere or just in?
Tim: Off and in. Better in the middle. Still loose getting on the gas.
Greg: Air out rear, little left front.
Greg: Stay out. We'll come in when it stops raining.
Tim: Raining pretty hard.
Greg: The others are pitting. Stay out until 1 to go.
Chris: No, but it's raining harder.
RED FLAG Lap 253 for 58 minutes:
Caution Lap 254:
Chris: (Lap 254) Pit this time.
Greg: Windshield ok?
Tim: Come again?
Greg: How's the windshield?
Tim: It's fine.
Chris: Pull right up to the pace car.
Tim: You want me to pull right up?
Chris: 10-4.
Tim: Pit road open?
Chris. No. Wait it will be. Jet dryers are still on it.
Tim: Heard anything Chris?
Chris: Still closed, buddy. Still closed.
Chris: Pit road will be open this time by.
Tim: Coming in this time, Greg.
Greg: Rubber right front. Wedge left rear.
Pit Stop: (Lap 258) 20.12 seconds. 4 tires and adjustments.
Greg: 140 laps to go. Let's get what we can get. Be careful with it since you're in the back, there.
Chris: Make sure your belts are tight.
Restart Lap 261.
Greg: (Lap 273) Has it helped you at all?
Tim: 10-4.
Greg: (Lap 291) How are you now?
Tim: Come again?
Tim: (Lap 307) Really, really tight up off now.
Greg: 10-4.
Caution Lap 308:#36 spins beginning of backstretch
Chris: Wreck in the backstretch.
Tim: That was better until the end.
Greg: 10-4. We'll take some wedge out.
Tim: It sure was a lot better getting in, but it tightened up with the build up.
Greg: How are your temps?
Tim: Everything's good on the temps.
Tim: Pit this time?
Greg: 10-4. Pit this time. We're going to hand you a drink. Roger, tear that windshield off.
Pit Stop: (Lap 311) 17.09 seconds. 4 tires and adjustments.
Chris: 1 to go when you get here.
Greg: Follow the #75 up there.
Tim: 10-4.
Greg: The #75 is laying back. #11 is the next one. We're in a lap by ourselves. Just have to stay out of trouble.
Restart Lap 313.
Chris: (Lap 323) Be careful with him Tim. His brain doesn't go past the end of his right foot.
Greg: (Lap 356) What's it doing now?
Tim: Little tight, middle off.
Caution Lap 360:#25 blows going into Turn 1.
Greg: Tight middle off?
Tim: Got that way the last 10-20 laps.
Greg: Did taking wedge out hurt at all? Hurt getting in?
Tim: No, it sure didn't.
Greg: We'll take a little bit more wedge out since it didn't hurt you getting in.
Greg: Temps doing ok?
Chris: They're slowing down in Turn 2. Temps ok?
Tim: Everything's fine. 200/200.
Greg: We'll take 1 round out. We'll leave the grill alone.
Greg: How's the windshield?
Tim: Ok.
Pit Stop: (Lap 363) 21.22 seconds. 4 tires and adjustments. Problem with the right rear.
Greg: You're in a lap of your own. 35 laps to go.
Restart Lap 365.
Checkered Flag.
Chris: Great job, Tim.
Greg: Great job, Tim.
Tim: I sure wish I could have done a better job. *Seemingly now at a loss for words* I can't thank you enough and appreciate the opportunity.
Greg: You did a great job. Way to bring it home in one piece.
Goody's Body Pain 500, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Virginia, April 9th, 2000:
Prior to pace laps:
John: Copy 1,2,3,4.
Chris: Gotcha. Real clear.
John: You too.
Greg: Ok down here.
Chris: 4 1/2 minutes.
John: 10-4. 4 1/2 minutes.
Chris: 2 minutes.
John: 10-4. 2 minutes.
Chris: 1 minute buddy.
John: 10-4. 1 minute.
Pace laps:
Chris: Those brakes are brand new. Get some heat in those tires and break them in.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok Big John. They will roll you off fifth time by.
John: 10-4. Fifth time by.
Chris: Watch it. There's an official on the race track going into Turn 1.
Chris: *entering Turn 2* Ok Big John that's pit road speed.
John: Forteeeeeeeeeeeeey-700 rpm.
Chris: 4700rpm 2nd gear.
John: Sorry. 4500. Hard to get a reading.
Chris: 4500. 10-4.
Greg: Remember 1 to go we double up at the cross gate.
Chris: 10-4. They're gonna bump the speed up now, John.
Greg: Remind everyone to get those tires in today. John be careful in the pits. On the line means you're out of the box.
John: 10-4. Help me getting in and out. It's a tricky pit.
John: 1 to go?
Chris: No. It will be 1 to go next time by.
Greg: You're the best one out there. Keep the fenders on it. We're not going to take any junk all day today. Let's show them you're the best out there.
Chris: 1 to go. Take care of your stuff.
Chris: Ok Greg. You got the green. They're coming at you.
Greg: 10-4.
Green flag:
Caution Lap 2: #55 Kenny Wallace into Turn 3 wall.
Greg: Anything you can tell us?
John: It's so slick out here everyone is slipping and sliding.
Greg: 10-4. Track still has nothing on it. (referring to all the rain from Saturday)
Greg: Was it just the #55?
Chris: 10-4 Greg.
Chris: Wrecker coming at you on the bottom.
John: I got him.
Greg: Turn on all your fans.
John: Got 'em all on.
Chris: Ok buddy. 1 to go next time by.
Restart Lap 10.
Chris: Spin behind you. No caution. No caution. Caution is out.
Caution Lap ??: #60 Spin.
Greg: Ok guys let's be ready.
John: If we come in let's do 2 tires.
Chris: 10-4. No one is coming in.
Greg: Temps okay?.
John: **interference**.
Greg: 10-4.
Chris: Ok buddy. 1 to go next time by.
Chris: Pace car off. Be ready.
Restart Lap 20.
John: (Lap 34) You there?
Chris: I'm with you Big John. Stay with them.
John: Tight right in the middle.
Greg: 10-4 John, 10-4.
Note: (Lap 42) #21 into Turn 4 wall. No caution.
Note: (Lap 45) Passed the #6 high after the #88 passed us high.
Chris: Good job Big John. Be patient. There are some slower ones for now running the bottom.
Caution Lap 45: #13 and others on the frontstretch
Chris: Spinning behind you. They are on the frontstretch. Bring it on around. Careful..#1 coming on inside.
John: I'm loose getting up off and tight in the middle.
John: It got to where I couldn't get off the corner.
Chris: They're coming in. We're in front of the #88.
Greg: 4 tires.
Pit Stop: 4 tires. 17.63 seconds.
Note: We got blocked in by the #10 and had to back up. #88 hit us on the right side (with his left front) in front of the 43 door decal caving it in pretty good.
Greg: Look at the right side.
Chris: Looks good. He got you in front of the 43 on the door.
Greg: Be ready. Be ready.
Restart Lap 55.
Chris: (Lap 66) Straight and smoothe. Take care of your stuff, buddy.
Chris: Slow down. Stay low. Stay low.
Caution Lap 69: #93 Turn 2 wall
Greg: How's it doing?
John: Little tight in the middle. Just a hair, but the tires are still fresh. The track is getting better.
Chris: #88 is pitting guys. Watch yourselves.
Greg: He had a tire rubbing.
John: Water is 200.
Greg: 10-4 John.
Chris: There is a piece of debris on the bottom in Turn 3 & 4. Look out for it.
Greg: How was that hit we took from the #88?
Chris: In front of the 43 door decal. It's way back of the tire.
Greg: Jack stop looks okay?
Chris: 10-4. Right in between the tire and jack stop.
Chris: 1 to go.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Watch the lapped cars coming inside. Pace car is off. Be ready.
Restart Lap 77.
Chris: Go low. Go low. Keep diggin'. Good job buddy. No caution. (The #33 and #8 got into a hooked-up shoving match in Turn 2)
Caution Lap 103: #60 Turn 4 spin
Chris: Caution is out behind you. Stay high. #60 spun in Turn 4. Careful he's backing it up. Stay high.
Greg: How's it running now?
John: Just a hair tight in the middle. I mean just a hair. Other than that I am alright.
Chris: Leaders are coming in.
John: 2 or 4?
Greg: Let's do 4.
Pit Stop: 4 tires. 18.03 seconds.
Note: Blocked in again by the #10.
Chris: 1 to go next time by.
John: 10-4 1 to go.
Chris: Lap cars are coming. Pace car off. Be ready.
Restart Lap 110.
Note: (Lap 138) TOUGH time passing the #13.
Caution Lap 142: #33
Chris: Caution is out. Bring it on around.
Greg: How you doing, John?
John: I ran better on the last run. Still marginally tight. Just having a little trouble getting off the corner. That's my main concern, but it's marginal, ya know?
Chris: Leaders are coming in.
John: 2 or 4?
Greg: Let's do 2 for track position.
Pit Stop: 8.22 seconds. Right side tires only.
John: Guess we decided on 2 tires when everyone else did.
Greg: Yeah, but they got us in the pit again.
John: We just need to have the #10 lapped or something.
Greg: How are the temps?
John: What's that?
John: Greg?
Greg: Temps?
John: 200 or lower.
Chris: 1 to go. Lap cars coming on the inside.
Chris: Pace car is in. Be ready.
Restart Lap 148.
Chris: Go high. Go high. No caution.
Caution Lap ??: Kyle's spin coming out of Turn 4.
Chris: Caution is out. Bring it on around.
Chris: None of them are coming in.
Chris: Stay with him. #27 is under you.
Greg: How's the car running now?
John: Ummmmm. Same. Not bad. Just a little of the same. I can't get up next to them up off the corner when I pull up to them. I think we'll be okay when they loosen up and we go neutral on the long runs.
Greg: By yourself you're running decent laps.
John: Yeah. It's hard to pass. Just hanging back and watching to see when they will start passing. Then I move up and go with them.
John: Tell the #13 to give me a break when we get up there.
Greg: Let's keep remembering to bring those tires back. They are handing them out (penalties) left and right today.
Chris: Lap cars coming on the inside.
Restart Lap 165.
Caution Lap 172: Looked like the 25/99/32 in Turn 3.
Chris: Slow down. Go low. Go LOW. Good job.
Note: John was running (testing?) the high groove to move up towards the front.
John: Tell the #27 he's looking to get a real lesson.
Chris: 10-4. Looking for his spotter.
Greg: What's it doing?
John: Just put tires on it.
Chris: No one is coming in.
Chris: Lap cars coming on the inside.
Restart Lap 180.
Caution Lap 183: Kyle's wreck at middle of the backstretch.
Chris: Slow down. Go low. Go low. Good job.
John: What's with the #1?
Chris: Don't know, but he and the #36 just about wrecked each other coming back to the flag.
Greg: 4 tires guys.
Chris: No one is pitting this time either Greg.
Greg: 10-4.
John: Stay out?
Chris: Yeah, stay out.
Chris: 1 to go. You're showing a lot of patience. You're doing good.
Chris: Lap cars coming on the inside. Pace car is off. Be ready.
Restart Lap 190.
Chris: (Lap 251) Kyle's outside.
John: I didn't know he was even there.
Chris: He just had a nose out there on the outside. He just jumped off the corner at you.
Note: (Lap 253) Rusty Wallace blew a right front tire in Turn 2. No caution.
Greg: (Lap 283) You need to let me know when any of these guys start to jump on pit road.
Chris: (Lap 287) #12 is coming in Greg.
Chris: (Lap 290) #40 is coming in Greg.
Chris: (Lap 292) #88 is in.
Greg: Pit next time by.
Chris: Next time?
Greg: Yes.
Chris: Pit this time by. Get your line Big John. #88 has already been in.
Pit Stop: (Lap 295) 4 tires. 16.69 seconds.
Caution Lap 308: #99.
Chris: Caution is out. Bring it on around.
John: Are we on the lead lap or 1 down?
Chris: We heard you buddy. Greg's checking.
Greg: First three cars are on the lead lap. Everyone else is a lap down.
John: What are we going to do?
Greg: How's the car?
John: It's okay now. I was suffering with all those laps on those left tires.
Chris: Stay out.
John: How are we going to line up here?
Greg: Right behind the #40.
Chris: The #36, #2 right behing you are on the lead lap.
Chris: 10-13 of us are on the tail end of the lead lap and we have the option of how to line up. (meaning on the inside or on the outside line in front of the leader)
John: What do you think?
Chris: Get up as far as we can. Stay behind the #40. Don't let anyone in front of you.
John: Lap down cars will be on the inside too, ya know.
Richard: (I did not think he would be there, but...) John, everyone is in the same lap. If they pass you they will lap you.
John: I know. I was trying to figure it all out.
Richard: Stay with the #40.
Restart Lap 317.
Chris: Focus Big John. Drive the wheels off it.
Note: (Lap 331) Went a lap down under green.
John: (Lap 336) Chris you there?
Chris: I'm with you buddy. Clear all around. Stay with him. We'll get it back.
Note: The #25 was coming up on us fast on new tires.
Chris: (Lap 353) I have to change batteries.
Chris: Ok. I'm back with you.
Note: Had to make my own pit stop to take care of nature...but it was bad timing because:
Chris: There's a spin. GO GET 'EM. GO GET 'EM. GO GET 'EM. GO GET 'EM BIG JOHN. YOU ARE THE MAN!! YOU ARE THE MAN! Good job.
Caution Lap 3__: Don't know who for.
Greg: Ok 4 tires. John you want to do anything with the track bar?
John: Keep in mind I'm still a little loose off.
Note: I came tearing out of the bathroom. LOL
Greg: Tell me if we need to do 2 and then come back in and do the other 2.
Chris: You're fine. Pace car in Turn 3. You're not going to make it. You're not going to make it.
Pit Stop: 4 tires. Trouble in the left rear. 19.88 seconds.
Chris: GO HARD.
John: The worst thing is we'll be at the end of the longest line for speeding.
Chris: Good job. You put us back in the ball park.
Note: Our luck. NASCAR left us alone.
Restart Lap 370.
Caution Lap 380: #60 spun again.
Chris: Caution is out.
John: We're the last car on the lead lap. Pit for fuel and tires?
Greg: Okay. Bring it on in.
Pit Stop: 4 tires. More concern on left rear. 19.91 seconds.
Greg: How are the temps?
John: Do what?
Greg: Temps.
John: They're climbing a little now.
John: Can we make it the rest of the way on fuel? Or everyone can?
Chris: Everyone should be able to.
Restart Lap 386.
Caution Lap 390: Don't know for whom..
Chris: They are spinning in front of you. Stay high. Stay high.
John: That #25 is going to get a punch in the nose.
Greg: Talking to him right now.
Greg: If they all come in stay out if everything feels ok including the tires.
John: 10-4. Everything's okay.
Chris: #25 says he is sorry.
John: 10-4.
Greg: Keep an eye on your temps. There is paper stuck on the grill.
John: It's ok. 185. I never turned the fans off.
John: Behind the #25 on the restart?
Chris: #99.
John: He's on the lead lap?
Chris: Yes he is.
Chris: 1 to go next time by.
Chris: #18 behind you is on the lead lap. He got his lap back.
Restart Lap 401.
Caution Lap 410: #13, #93.
Chris: Big wreck in Turn 2. Bring it on around.
Chris: Can you do 2, John?
John: Yeah. 4 if no one. 2 if everyone.
Chris: #88 is flashing 2.
Pit Stop: 4 tires. 15.63 seconds.
Chris: Stay with the #25. Be ready.
Restart Lap 414.
John: (Lap 431) That *explicative* #33 let him (#7) go.
Caution Lap 434: #25 Turn 3&4 wall.
Greg: What's it doing now? You're the fastest car out there especially when you're by yourself.
John: It's fine. I just have to work so hard to get by the lapped traffic.
Greg: Just stay out.
John: Gotta deal with the lap cars.
John: They're all coming in.
Greg: Stay out.
Greg: Temps okay?
John: Yes, 200.
Chris: Be patient with the lap cars and we'll get them. #99 is only on 2 tires.
Chris: 1 to go next time by.
Chris: We are not going.
Chris: 1 to go THIS time by.
Restart Lap 443.
At this point we had to make a decision to pack it in at our usual less than 50 lap to go mark or stay since we were restarting third. With stop watch in hand I gave it until lap 470 and decided to leave our seats. Just exiting the track was the next caution and Chris was informed by the #99 that John needs to do what he needs to do. John responded with he was not going to hit him. He just needed to stay with the #99.
We just pulled on to US Route 220 heading home when the next caution flew and since it was 10 laps to go on the restart they started single file. I am sure you all know what happened after that.
After the race was over MRN interviewed Michael Waltrip for his fine finish and he was not capable of being interviewed. MRN said he was just sitting there with his head in his hands just sickened by the fact he caused John's spin.
It was a good race, people. They fought hard all day long.
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