Dickies 500

Burton scores second consecutive top-10 finish in Texas

November 9, 2009

With less than 15 minutes remaining in Friday’s practice session, Jeff Burton made heavy contact with the outside retaining wall and damaged the No. 31 machine significantly. The No. 31 team was forced to unload the back-up Chevy for Friday’s qualifying session and Burton recorded the 42nd-fastest qualifying time as a result. Despite starting in the back of the field when the green flag flew on Sunday, Burton powered his way through the field and broke into the top-20 by lap 91.

In the middle stages of the event, crew chief Todd Berrier called Burton to pit road a number of times for scheduled green-flag pit stops, making adjustments that helped Burton continue his advance through the field. As the race progressed, Burton advanced to the 16th position on lap 182, the 13th position on lap 205, and the 10th position on lap 292.

It became apparent, as the race neared its conclusion, that fuel-conservation was necessary to make it to the end of the race. However, since Burton didn’t have enough fuel to get to the finish, Berrier made a quick decision to bring Burton to pit road on lap 319. Although Burton returned to the racing surface one lap down to the leader in the 16th position, many of the leaders began to run out of fuel and were forced to drive down pit road. As a result, Burton was able to advance his track position and cross the finish line in the ninth position when the checkered flag flew.

“Although the No. 31 machine was damaged in Friday’s practice session, the entire team did a great job preparing our back-up car for the race and allowing us to record our second consecutive top-10 finish,” said Burton after the race. “I like the way we have been racing lately and I hope we can continue this momentum in the last two races of the season.”

Jeff Burton and the No. 31 team remain in the 17th position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship Point Standings.

Harvick “coasts” to a top-five finish at Texas Motor Speedway

After starting in the 24th position when the green flag flew on Sunday, Harvick began his strategic climb toward the front of the field, picking up four positions before the first scheduled green-flag pit stop on lap 52. At this time, Harvick drove down pit road for fresh tires, fuel and adjustments, and returned to the racing surface in the 17th position once the rest of the field cycled through pit stops. Then, on lap 88, a caution period allowed Harvick the opportunity to drive down pit road for another round of service. And when green-flag racing resumed, Harvick returned to the racing surface in the 15th position and continued his advance through the field.

Throughout the middle stages of the event, Harvick raced inside the top-15 and eventually broke into the top-10 by lap 202. At this time, crew chief Gil Martin called his driver to pit road for service and returned the No. 29 machine to the racing surface in the eighth position, where Harvick remained for the majority of the event.

In the closing laps, it became apparent that fuel-conservation would be a key factor in the outcome of the race. Harvick was instructed to conserve as much fuel as possible to make it to the end of the race. And while many of the race leaders ran out of fuel, Harvick advanced to the third position. Unfortunately, Harvick came up just a bit short, and ran out of fuel on the last lap. Harvick coasted on the backstretch and crossed the finish line in the fifth position when the checkered flag flew.

“This was a great race for us. I’m glad we ran in the top-10 throughout the second half of the race, using a fuel-conservation strategy to gain track position in the end,” said Harvick. “Our hard work is paying off in the form of top-five and top-10 finishes, and we look to continue this momentum in the races ahead.”

Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 team remain in the 21st position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship Point Standings.

Bowyer secures a seventh-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway

When the green flag flew on Sunday’s race, Clint Bowyer rolled off the starting grid in the 10th position and ran as high as the sixth position before driving down pit road on lap 53 for a scheduled green-flag pit stop. At this time, Bowyer informed crew chief Shane Wilson that he was pleased with the No. 33 machine’s handling and did not need any adjustments. Wilson agreed and added fresh fuel and tires only, returning Bowyer to the racing surface in the top-10. Unfortunately, changing track conditions in the middle stages of the 334-lap event caused the No. 33 machine to develop an ill-handling condition. And when a caution flag presented itself, Wilson took the opportunity to bring Bowyer to pit road for adjustments. Luckily, the adjustments helped and Bowyer was able to maintain his position in the top-10.

Knowing the majority of race leaders would be short on fuel in the closing laps of the event, Wilson and Bowyer decided to make one final green-flag pit stop on lap 301 for fuel only. Just as they anticipated, Bowyer’s competitors began to run out of fuel, allowing Bowyer to pick up a handful of positions. And when the checkered flag flew, Bowyer crossed the finish line in the seventh position.

“Crew chief Shane Wilson made an outstanding call in the later stages of the event that helped us advance and finish in the seventh position,” said Bowyer after the race. “We are glad to grab another top-10 finish and hope to finish the last two races of the season with top-10 finishes or better.”

Clint Bowyer and the No. 33 team remain in the 15th position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship Point Standings.

Mears takes a 21st-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway

When the green flag flew on Sunday’s race, Casey Mears rolled off the starting grid in the 32nd position and immediately battled with a tight-handling racecar. Unfortunately, after a scheduled green-flag pit stop on lap 52, Mears returned to the racing surface in the 31st position and fell one lap down to the leader on lap 54.

Throughout the middle stages of the event, Mears drove down pit road a number of times for adjustments to improve the No. 07 machine’s handling. Although the No. 07 machine eventually showed improvement and recorded lap times comparable to the leaders, the event’s long green-flag runs prevented Mears from returning to the lead lap.

In the closing stages of the event, it became apparent that fuel mileage would be a factor in the outcome of the race. So crew chief Doug Randolph called Mears to pit road on lap 318 for a fresh set of tires and fuel. As a result, Mears was able to maintain his track position and cross the finish line in the 21st position when the checkered flag flew.

“Starting in the back of the field hindered our advancement today since we were unable to return to the lead lap,” said Mears after the race. “Had we returned to the lead lap, we most likely would have finished in the top-15. Looking ahead, we will try for a better outcome next weekend in Arizona.”

Casey Mears and the No. 07 team remain in the 20th position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship Point Standings.

The SKF Racing Team of Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Casey Mears will next travel to Phoenix, Arizona for the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil at Phoenix International Raceway. The event will be televised on ABC beginning at 2:30 p.m. (EST) on November 15, 2009.