Keller starts 2nd, has strong showing in Memphis
Yard-Man Ford finishes 12th

Millington, TN (October 31, 2006) – Jason Keller returned to Brewco Motorsports and the No. 66 Yard-Man Ford Fusion this weekend at Memphis Motorsports Park for what would turn out to be a season-best weekend for the team.  Keller qualified the Yard-Man Ford 2nd; the best starting spot this year for the No. 66 team.  Keller ran in the top-15 for 250 of 252 laps of the Sam’s Town 250 and had an average running position of 6.8.  The Yard-Man Ford stayed up front for most of the race but was caught up in a late-race caution.  Keller came back to finish 12th, the 16th top-15 finish for the No. 66 team this season.

Rain shortened first practice Friday but Keller turned enough laps to feel good about the Yard-Man Ford.  During a lengthy final practice crew chief Newt Moore called for numerous changes and at the end of the session the Yard-Man team felt they had the car to beat on Saturday. 

The weather cleared up just in time for qualifying Saturday morning.  With a time of 22.806 seconds, the Yard-Man Ford was on the pole for most of qualifying.  Keller was knocked off by Johnny Sauter’s time of 22.763 seconds.  The Yard-Man Ford rolled of 2nd, the best starting spot all year.

Running 2nd, Keller was very quiet over the radio early in the Sam’s Town 250.  The first report of the Yard-Man Ford’s handling was “tight in the center” on lap 38.  Keller received a slight air pressure adjustment during the first pit stop on lap 47.  The Yard-Man team had a solid stop and Keller held on to 2nd place. 

The Yard-Man Ford was 5th when the caution flew on lap 98.  Keller reported that he was “still tight in the center – need to turn better.”  Moore called for four tires and track bar and air pressure adjustments.  Keller restarted 10th after the adjustments and quickly made his way back up through the top 10. 

A quiet Keller held his ground inside the top-10.  The Yard-Man Ford was running 7th when he spun on lap 233.  Keller recovered to finish 12th. 

“That’s not at all the finish we were hoping for,” said Keller.  “The Yard-Man Ford was easily a 6th or 7th place car today.  These Brewco Motorsports guys did an awesome job all weekend.  Pit stops were really, really good.  I just lost too much ground on that spin and could never recover.  There were just not enough green flag laps at the end.  We ran out of laps there at the end with all of those late cautions.  It’s a good thing when you’re disappointed at 12th place, though.  I had a blast out there and I have to thank Brewco Motorsports and Yard-Man for the opportunity.”