Early Accident Ends Kroger 200 for East and #37 Cub Cadet / Kleenex Racing Team

Hometown product leads first-ever Busch Series race

Clermont, IN (July 28, 2007) … It wasn’t the way Bobby East wanted his “homecoming” to O’Reilly Raceway Park to end. On the restart after a caution period that ended on lap 74, East got “jammed” when cars in front of him slowed and made contact with several cars. The Cub Cadet / Kleenex Ford Fusion also got tagged from the rear during the incident, and the resulting damaged ended the evening for the Brownsburg, Indiana native.

The Kroger 200 at ORP is one of the most prestigious short track events on the NASCAR Busch Series schedule. One of the original events from 1982 when the Busch Series started, the Kroger 200 has a tradition of highly competitive and exciting races. Saturday night was no exception.

With the Kroger 200 being a “one-day” show, the Busch Series had two practice sessions, qualifying, and the 200-lap race all in the same day. After rain on Thursday made technical inspection at ORP a “gloomy day”, the Busch Series hit the track running early Friday morning. Weather conditions were overcast during practice, but improved to sunny for qualifying mid-afternoon. East toured the .686-mile ORP track in 22.912 seconds / 107.786 mph to earn the 20th starting position for the Kroger 200.

After winning a USAC Silver Crown event at ORP on Thursday night, East entered his first-ever Busch Series race at his hometown track with high hopes. And, even though he was starting in the middle of the 43-car field, East felt as though his experience and knowledge of the ORP track would benefit him during the race.

With six cars having to drop to the rear of the field at the start due to a driver change, East benefited and actually started 14th. During the early laps, East settled into a steady race pace and maintained track position. On lap 20, East was running 12th, and when caution waved on lap 45 for a David Ragan spin, all the leaders made their first pit stop of the race.

Playing the track position and race strategy game, Crew Chief Stewart Cooper told East to stay out and not pit. When the race restarted on lap 50, East led the field to the green flag. He was scored as the leader from lap 47 through 50, his first laps led in a NASCAR Busch Series race. His lead was short-lived as Ron Hornaday Jr. took the top position on the restart and East fell to ninth by lap 60. Caution waved on lap 70 for an accident involving Scott Lagasse and Brad Coleman on the frontstretch. The ensuing restart proved to be the end for the #37 Cub Cadet / Kleenex Team as East got “bottled up” with several cars causing race-ending damage to the front and rear of his Ford Fusion. East would be credited with running 74 laps and finishing 39th.

The next race for the #37 Brewco Motorsports Team will be the inaugural visit of the NASCAR Busch Series to Canada and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The NAPA Auto Parts 200 Presented by Dodge is set for Saturday, August 4th. Practice for the Busch Series cars begins Thursday morning with qualifying set for 12:10 p.m. on Saturday. The 74-lap, 200.46-mile event is set for a 3:30 p.m. start. ESPN2 will provide television coverage of the historic event.
 

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