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A Bad Gear Box Keeps Green Out of Top-5

 

Richmond, VA (September 9, 2005) - Although it wasn't a full moon on September 9^th, the drivers were acting as if it were.  There was a lot of bumping and grinding during the entire race. Many drivers got caught up in the ten wrecks that occurred during the race.  Because of David Green's experience and veteran prowess, he was able to avoid all of the wrecks, unfortunately that didn't keep him out of harms way.  A gear box malfunction prevented him from getting to victory lane.  Despite the gear box problem, Green finished the race in the 18^th position.

 

David Green and the Kleenex®/Dollar Tree team came into the weekend with the hope of seeing victory lane for the second time this year.  After two hours of practice, it was obvious Green had a car that could get the job done.  Green said, "We have a good car.  Our qualifying set-up is a little off, but our race setup is really good.  I think we should be able to move to the front pretty quick in the race."  Green had a good qualifying run going until he got loose in turns three and four, placing him 29^th in the starting grid. 

 

When the green flag dropped, just as the sun was setting in the distance, Green started making his way to the front of the group.  His run was abruptly interrupted by the first caution of the day.  Green had moved up to 21^st by the time the yellow flag came out.  Crew Chief, Stewart Cooper, decided to take advantage of the caution and adjust the left rear wedge up one round along with making the normal pit stop changes.  The car had been tight in the middle of the turns.  Green exited pit row 18^th, which was three positions higher than he entered. 

 

The green flag dropped again on lap 46 and Green picked up right where he left off.  He moved up two more positions before he told Cooper, "The car is still really tight in the middle of the turns."  The cool night air cooled the track down and made the track extremely tight.  Green battled to keep his position until the next caution came out on lap 97. Green had dropped to 20^th by that time and came in for a routine stop and track bar adjustment to loosen up the #27 machine.  As Green exited the pits, Cooper said, "The lug nuts are not on, so you have to come in again."  After Green came back in the pits, he was in 25^th.

 

When the green flag dropped, Green was on the move again to pick up the lost positions.  He moved up six positions to 19^th place by lap 113 when another caution came out.  Green didn't pit which moved him up to 18^th.  When the green flag came out on lap 126, Green only had a few laps of racing before another caution came out.  Cooper decided to bring Green into pit this time.  The Kleenex® Team made a picture perfect four tire, fuel and track bar adjustment pit stop.  When Green exited the pits he was in 18^th, despite being one of the only cars to pit.

 

Once the green flag dropped, it wasn't long before the caution waved again.  Green didn't pit with the leaders, because he pitted a few laps before and track position was critical.  Cooper's pit strategy paid off and Green was in the 7^th position.  Green was now in contention to win.  When the green flag came out, Green was able to pick up two more quick positions and was battling in the top-5.  He told Cooper, "There's a vibration in the car and I just lost 2^nd and 3^rd gear."  Even though his car was having trouble, Green continued to battle for his spot in the race.  Unfortunately, he wasn't able to hold the drivers off with a malfunctioning car.  He slipped to 13^th by the time a caution came out on lap 188.  Green came into the pits to get four tires, fuel and to make an air pressure adjustment.  When he exited the pits, he was in 20^th.

 

Green fought hard to get back into the top-10, but wasn't able to pick up the lost positions with a damaged car.  He finished the race 18^th, moving him up one spot to 8^th in the Busch Series standings.  Green said, "Richmond was a very disappointing finish for my Kleenex® Team and me!  After we had a good practice, we had a good qualifying lap going until I got real loose in 3 and 4 which killed me.  We were determined to drive up through the field and get to our window to complete the event with 4 tires and fuel and stay out during the rest of the cautions.    My car had great balance all night.  After that we adjusted and tweaked the balance getting it right where I needed it.  But as we have experienced a couple times this year already, misfortune struck again.  The transmission developed a severe vibration with about 100 laps to go and eventually 2^nd and 3^rd gears went completely out.  All I had was 4^th for the last 70 and with all the cautions it completely killed our shot at a top-5 finish.  I'm proud of the way my car handled and how our new tire changers stepped up and gave us good solid stops all night.  Hopefully our transmission issues are behind us and we can get the results we deserve.  Thank goodness the transmission lasted the entire 250 laps allowing us to gain a spot back in points and close the gap on other top 10 guys."

 

Brookes Versaggi

SMC 500
155 W. New York Ave, Suite 300
Southern Pines, NC 28387

phone (910) 692-4600
fax      (910) 692-4638
cell     (910) 315-3488