Chapter 73: Hershey Kisses 300 presented by Oreo @ Daytona
�Lets go to Ashley down in the pits,� Mike Joy said.
�Going into to today�s NASCAR Busch Series Hershey Kisses 300 presented by Oreo Dale Earnhardt Jr has dominated the plate races with Chance 2 Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Inc,� Jr started. �A lot of teams were thinking of teaming up with them but as we know there is a DEI/RCR partnership so we will see which prevails. Now lets go to Marty.�
�In Michael Waltrip�s pit his crew chief says that his car can go on a long way on gas but watch out because some of the drivers will have to pit when they are very close to running out of gas,� Marty reported. �Now lets go to Matt.�
�In the #5 pit they have done a driver change,� Matt started. �Jimmie Johnson will be driving the 5 car instead of Kyle Busch. The team has not said their reason but by doing a driver change they�ll have to start at the tail end of the field. Now back to Mike Joy.�
�Thanks Matt,� Mike thanked Matt. �This track is tough with drafting. How do you get to the front?�
�Pick the line that�s moving and keep moving to the front,� Darryl answered. �It helps to have a great package which is what the DEI cars have so that�s why they run so good.�
�And also watch out with the gas mileage,� Larry added. Then the drivers were coming down so Larry continued. �Darryl pull your belts tight because were about to start this season.�
�Ok�green flag�Boogity Boogity Boogity lets go racing boys!� Darryl said.
The race started and after a few laps the caution was out.
�Trouble in turn 1,� Mike called.
�Looks like the #81 car hit the #22 car and spun him out,� Darryl reported.
�Yeah or the 22 just got loose,� Larry added.
�Marty did you find anything down in the 22 pit about the spin?� Mike asked.
�Jason Keller came on the radio and said that when the 81 got under his spoiler it spun him which we famously call aero loose,� Marty answered
�Thanks,� Mike thanked Marty. �Darryl why was he so aero loose when the 81 got under his spoiler?�
�Because when you get close to somebody at that part on the track it might spin them around,� Darryl started. �Through he could of spun because the handling on the car was already loose and when the 81 came up on him it made him looser.�
�Ok,� Mike said. �Lets go down to the Hollywood Hotel and Jeff Hammond will tell us why he got so loose.�
�Standing down here by the cutaway car,� Jeff started. �With the new aerodynamic package if a car gets this close in any turn it will spin it. Because the only spot you can really bump draft or get that close would be the straightaway.
�Thanks Jeff,� Mike thanked Jeff.
�Looks like were going back green,� Darryl reported.
�Ok,� Mike said. �Mikey and Jr got right side tires and the rest got 4 tires.�
�Good move on their part since were only a couple laps into the race,� Larry congratulated them.
�Green flag is out,� Mike told the fans.
The top 5 were Jr, Mikey, Martin, Shane and Kevin. After a few laps under green Jr called his crew and tell them what the car was doing.
�Loose coming out of turn 2,� Jr told them.
�Ok,� BONO said. �Do we need to make any adjustments when you come in to make your pit stop?�
�Well I have a question,� Jr started. �Dose this track naturally loose or tighten up throughout a day?�
�It should tighten up,� Tony Jr answered.
�Then lets not adjust on it cause I can drive with it this loose,� Jr told Tony Jr. �Its not like its real bad loose just a little.�
�10-4,� Tony Jr said.
So they kept on racing. Lap 100 comes and there was a caution for a blown engine.
�Who blew up?� Mikey asked.
�#5 blew up,� Mikey�s spotter answered.
�Beautiful,� Mikey comments
�I know,� Mikey�s spotter agreed. �Jr.�s spotter let Jr know who blew up and he said �lets party after the race�.�
�Hey I like that idea but no party till we win here now,� Mikey comments,
�Ok,� replied Mikey�s spotter. �I will let Jr.�s spotter know about that.�
�10-4,� Mikey said.
Then a few laps after the green flag went out again. Jr led with Mikey right on his bumper with Shane Hmiel and Kevin Harvick close behind. Jason Leftler was trying to pass Harvick for 4th with help from Bobby Hamilton Jr. but Kevin blocks them. Then Robby came up and got on Kevin�s bumper with help from David Green. Kevin was going to go and pass Mikey for 2nd with Robby on his bumper. Shane stayed tucked behind Mikey. Kevin passed Mikey and then headed to catch Jr but the laps were running out. Jr went up to block Kevin and Robby and as he was doing that Mikey went under Jr with Shane pushing him. And Mikey was in the lead but not for long. Jr passed Mikey for the lead. Coming to 10 to go, the top group was Jr, Mikey, Kevin, Shane, Robby, Jason, David and Bobby Jr. The caution then came out again.
�What happened this time?� Mikey asked.
�Well it was a accident right behind you,� Mikey�s spotter told him. �It got the #00 and #25.�
�ALRIGHT we don�t gotta worry about them,� Mikey commented. �Hey Jr you got any clue where Martin is because I haven�t seen him up here in the top group since the first ten laps of the race?�
�Well Mikey he is in the back pack somewhere but I don�t know where,� Jr answered. �He might be in the 26th position.�
�Spotters help us out,� Mikey demanded. �Where is Martin?�
�Martin is in the 20th place,� replied Mikey�s spotter.
�Well if he can get up here in like 3-5 laps easy then he�ll be up here,� Mikey commented.
�I already talked to Martin�s spotter and he said that Martin�s car is very loose and he might not catch up with you guys,� Mikey�s spotter reported.
�Well lets just hope we can do it at least,� Jr said.
�Ok,� Mikey said.
The race restarted with 7 to go. The top group was Jr, Mikey, Kevin, Shane, Robby and David. Mikey helped Jr stay in front but Kevin was down on the lower line and ready to pass. Mikey went down in front of Kevin and Robby while Shane and David stayed on Jr.�s bumper. With one lap to go Jr was still in front. With Mikey trying to get him on the inside with help from Kevin and Robby yet they couldn�t get by since Shane and David pushed Jr really hard. But Jr saw the checkered flag and the big happened at the end of the race after Jr won. Those involved were Mikey, Kevin, Robby, Shane and David.
�Everybody ok on are end?� Jr wondered.
�Yes they are doing fine,� Jr.�s spotter answered.
�Just checking,� Jr said. �Great job to everyone on winning.�
�Way to go Jr!� BONO congratulated him. �You did it! We did it too!�
�Ok party is on tonight for many reasons!� Jr declared.
�Ok,� BONO said. �Are you going to invite Mikey and Kev to the party too since they finished 2nd and 3rd before the big one?�
�Totally!� Jr answered. �We gotta celebrate the win, Johnson blowing up and 00 getting wrecked.
�Ok,� BONO said.
Jr then celebrated in the grass and then headed to victory lane.
