Encouraging start for Green, Brewco Kleenex® team thwarted in Atlanta

Hampton, Georgia (March 20, 2006) – They didn’t qualify where they wanted to, but the No. 27 Brewco Motorsports Kleenex® team and David Green made quick gains right from the start of the Nicorette 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday. However, misfortune toward the end of the race halted an encouraging run, and the team finished the race in a disappointing 36th place.

“We brought a new car to the track,” Green said. “The first practice wasn’t very good but we made some headway in the second practice. With wholesale changes after the practice sessions, and without making a mock run, we were blinded as to what the car was going to do.”

The Kleenex® car qualified in 35th position and Green informed the Brewco crew that the car was a bit loose. However, when the green flag dropped, it was obvious that all of the hard work done by the team was paying off. By lap 10, the No. 27 car had moved up to the 25th position and after tire pressure and trackbar adjustments made on the first pit stop, Green and the Brewco team were running in 18th place by lap 44.

“Sure enough, when the race started, I was able to move up pretty well,” Green said. “The car was driving tons better than it did when we unloaded.”

Things seemed to be going well in many areas for the team. For example, during the race Crew Chief Stewart Cooper commented that while other teams were having problems with their right rear tires, the No. 27 team was not. Even after a miscue on pit road on lap 87, when slick conditions led Green to slide the car past the pit stall, the team kept the car in the top 25, running lap times that were comparable to the leaders. But following a fast pit stop on lap 150, Green informed the Brewco crew that he felt significant vibration in the left rear and thought he may have a flat left rear tire.

“After that last caution flag stop, I had to pit under green,” Green said.” It turned out that the left rear tire was loose.”

The Kleenex® car pitted again on lap 167 to correct the issue, but Green indicated the problem remained. To add insult to injury, the Brewco car was given a pass-through penalty after going too fast entering pit road. The team quickly learned that the problem wasn’t with the tire, but a wheel stud had broken off. NASCAR black flagged the No. 27 car, and the Brewco team ended the race in 36th position, 12 laps down.

Green and the Brewco Motorsports No. 27 car hope to rebound on Saturday as they head to Green’s favorite track - Bristol Motor Speedway – for the Sharpie Mini 300. Last year the Kleenex® racing team qualified 21st and finished in 15th place. Green has one win at the track, as well as six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.