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Penalties and Rain Set Back the #27 Kleenex®/Scott® Team

Fontana, California (February 26) – With Daytona now in the past, it was truly time for the #27 Kleenex®/Scott® products team to get the ball rolling for the 2005 season ahead.  With a new motor program and new manufacturer in place, the Kleenex®/Scott® products team came prepared for a California victory.  Thanks to a terrific qualifying run, driver David Green started off the “Stater Brothers 300” in the 8^th spot with a car that was capable of running in the top 5 all day.  Unfortunately, despite best efforts by driver and crew, a mistake on pit road compounded by rain delays, resulted in a 14^th position finish for the #27 team.

Qualifying 8^th, with a lap time of 39.001 seconds, David Green and the #27 Kleenex® team couldn’t have been happier.  “Since we didn’t make any qualifying runs in practice, it really put a damper on our run,” said Green.  “The car drug a little on turn 2, but other than that, it ran perfect.  I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

“Wow it feels good to have a motor,” said Green on lap 2 referring to new cylinder heads from Roush/Yates motor program.  He was rapidly making gains right off the start.  Quickly in the 5^th position by lap 4, the car was running great.  However, by lap 14, David told Crew Chief Stewart Cooper that the front tires might need some air as the car was running just a little tight.  On lap 27, the caution flag was out, and the crew took that opportunity to swiftly make air pressure and wedge adjustments.  Unfortunately, the pit stop was a little too swift as one of the crew members jumped the wall too early. As a result, the #27 Kleenex®/Scott® products Ford was penalized, and held back 15 seconds.  The flag didn’t go green again until lap 38, and Driver David Green was set back to 22^nd place.

With the #27 Kleenex® Ford running as fast as the leaders, Green was prepared to come back as he gained three positions to 19^th by lap 47.  Suddenly, on lap 48, a wreck occurred between nearby vehicles. Under the caution, Crew Chief Stewart Cooper decided to make an effort towards preserving fresh tires, and gave the #27 Kleenex® Ford Taurus 4 scuffed tires from the day before, and a refuel.   The flag went green on lap 52, and David was out in 18^th.  With a car that was still running very well at a speed equivalent to the leaders, David was once again striving to re-gain positions from the incurred deficit.  By lap 73, Green was all the way back up to 15^th.

Lap 81, the caution flag was out again due to excessive debris out on the track.  Although the car was running great, and no adjustments were needed, Crew Chief Cooper brought the car in to receive 4 fresh tires and a refuel.  As a result of the penalty earlier, the crew was extra cautious and took a slow pit.  Consequently, when the flag went green on lap 89, the #27 Kleenex® Ford Taurus lost 4 positions to 19^th.   Once again, Green was stuck in the middle of the pack trying to regain his front-running position.

By lap 109 David had re-gained one position to 18^th and the caution flag was up for rain.  Again, no adjustments were needed for a near perfect car, but Crew Chief Cooper took that chance to add four fresh tires and a re-fuel.  This time, with an exceptional performance by the crew, the pit was much quicker, putting the Kleenex® Ford Taurus back on the track in 15th.  By lap 120, Green had managed to gain 3 more positions to 12^th.  However, the rain persisted, and the caution flag was back out on lap 121.  After a few caution laps, the rain didn’t settle, and the red flag came up on lap 128.  After a 20 to 30 minute intermission, the rain finally stopped, and the race was back on.  Lap 131, the flag went green and every car scrambled to gain positions.  Unfortunately, this resulted in many collisions which made it very difficult for David to make gains.  As a result, the #27 Kleenex®/Scott® Products team crossed the finish line at California Speedway in the 14^th position.

“Stewart and the guys brought me a well prepared and fast Ford Taurus to California,” said David. “We left the test last month not totally satisfied with the car, but they went back and worked hard on it, and boy was it fun to drive.  There was and excellent qualifying package Stewart and the guys put under it, and it was all due to an awesome effort in practice Friday.”

“When that green flag fell, our Kleenex® Ford was dialed in.  The new Ford engine was getting it done, and Stewart had the chassis right on.  It seemed like our number one pit stop when we got back in dirty air and had to fight and claw for the rest of the day, but Stewart’s pit calls and adjustments were right all day.  The last set of tires were tighter, and with the red flag and 20 minute delay, it really made my car tight in the last 8 laps.  The track temperature dropped 20 degrees or so which compounded our tight condition, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.  I really feel that if the red flag hadn’t happened, we would have been right there.  Either way, we are pumped, and more excited than ever about our new Kleenex® Ford’s, and can’t wait to get to Vegas to pick up right where we left off at Fontana.”

   Media Contact:  Stephen Kirby

   Sales and Marketing LLC (SMC)

   910-692-4600

   skirby@smc500.com