East 24th in Cub Cadet/Kleenex Ford at California Speedway
Bobby East Improves 12 Positions to Finish 24th in the Camping World 300
Fontana, CA (September 1, 2007)…The NASCAR Busch Series teams faced another hot and humid weekend as temperatures were in the triple digits at the California Speedway. Rookie Bobby East fought with the car all weekend but improved 12 positions from the start of the race to finish in the 24th position.
The #37 Cub Cadet/Kleenex Ford unloaded fast on Friday with East posting the 15th quickest lap time during the morning practice session. However, knowing the track conditions would be much different for the Camping World 300, the #37 team made numerous adjustments to make the car fast for racing under the lights. East had an unfortunate early draw for qualifying and was the 6th car to qualify; as the track cooled off for later qualifiers East would start the race in the 36th position.
By lap 10, Bobby East had driven the #37 Cub Cadet/Kleenex Ford into the 29th position, but just 5-laps later East radioed in he was “Tight in and loose off the corners.” On lap-29 East reported he had “No grip.” Crew chief, Stewart Cooper told his rookie driver, “Search around and see if you can find another groove. We will fix you up.” Just before pitting, East, running in the 33rd position, radioed in “I’m loose, I have no grip.” Cooper brought East down pit road on lap 44 for 4 tires, fuel, and adjustments. He would rejoin the race in 34th position, one-lap down to the leaders.
On lap 65, East once again radioed in that he was “super loose.” Cooper told his driver “If we get a caution we will work on it. You are still learning, keep searching around.” The #37 Cub Cadet/ Kleenex racing team would pit a few laps later, on lap 72, for air pressure and wedge adjustments. East restarted the race in the 30th position. East told the team that the #37 Ford would loose grip 5-laps into a run. A caution on lap 96 allowed the #37 team to pit again for wholesale changes. The team made air pressure, wedge, and trackbar adjustments. After restarting in the 31st position Cooper radioed his driver, “Your lap times are better right now than they have been all night.” The team would pit three more times before the race ended to make small adjustments to continue to improve the #37 Cub Cadet/Kleenex Ford Fusion. When the checkered flag waved East brought the #37 Ford across the finish line in the 24th position.
“I want to thank you guys for working hard in this heat all weekend and for continuing to improve the car throughout the race and working with me as I learn these new tracks.”
–Bobby East
No. 37 Cub Cadet/Kleenex Camping World 300 Race Stats
Qualified: 36th
Finished: 24th
Laps: 147/150
Status: Running
Owner Points Standings: 19th
Next Up: Richmond International Raceway
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