Crash Takes Green
Out of Contention
Charlotte, NC
(October 14, 2005)
–Lowe’s Motor
Speedway has been a
favorite stop on the
Busch Series
circuit, but with
the renovations to
the track this year,
many drivers have
become a little
skeptical about the
driving conditions.
The track has become
faster and more
dangerous since it
was repaved. One of
the drivers that had
his weekend ended
early due to the new
conditions was David
Green, who was on
pace to have a good
finish. Green was
right outside the
top-ten, when a
driver cut a tire
and caused a car
pile up which
collected the #27
Kleenex® Ford
Taurus. Green was
sent to the hospital
for precautionary
reasons, but was
released by the end
of the night. He
was diagnosed with a
mild concussion.
The Kleenex® team
came into the
weekend hoping that
the new track
conditions would not
cause them any
troubles. Green and
the Kleenex®/ Bi-Lo
team battled through
both practice
sessions to find the
balance they needed
to get the speed off
the corners without
sacrificing
handling. In the
final 15 minutes of
the practice, they
seemed to have the
car dialed in.
Knowing they would
struggle in
qualifying, they
decided to set the
car up more for race
conditions.
Green qualified 27th,
but knew that if
they could avoid the
wrecks, they would
be in contention for
a win. When the
green flag dropped,
Green was on the
move to the front.
He maneuvered his
way up to 25th
by lap 5. Green
said, “The car’s
balance is great.
I’m just dragging
really bad.” Green
fought to keep his
position before the
first wreck of the
day. On lap 28, the
first yellow flag
came out and the
team decided to come
in and try to fix
the problem. Green
came into the pits,
took four tires,
fuel and made a
wedge adjustment.
He exited the pits
24th, one
spot higher than he
entered.
The green flag
dropped on lap 34
and the car was
handling better.
Green picked up
position after
position before the
second caution flag
came out. Green was
in 18th,
when the track went
yellow. They
decided not to pit.
The green flag
dropped and Green
was in 15th.
The car was started
to become loose on
the entry and exit
of the turns. Green
slipped to 18th
before the next
caution came out on
lap 70. Green
entered the pits and
took four tires,
fuel and made an air
pressure
adjustment. He
exited the pits 25th
because one of the
crewmembers slipped
while making a tire
exchange.
When green flag
action resumed,
Green was anxious to
gain back the
positions that he
had just lost. A
few caution flags
slowed his efforts
to get to the front,
but by lap 97, Green
was back up to 15th
and was gaining
ground on the
leaders. On lap
101, two competitors
were battling for
position, when one
of them cut a tire
and spun across the
track. Green did
his best to avoid
the wreck, but had
no where to go and
collided with the
oncoming vehicle.
Green’s day on the
track was done,
which resulted in a
38th
place finish,
dropping him to 9th
in the Busch series
standings. Green
had a mild
concussion, so the
infield medical
staff sent Green to
the local hospital
to get extra tests
done to make sure he
was OK. He was
released after all
the test came back
negative. Green
will be back behind
the wheel next
weekend at the
Memphis Motorsports
Park for the Sam’s
Town 250.
Green said, “I hate
weekends like this
because my car was
starting to handle
great and we were
moving to the
front. I was coming
off of turn four and
I saw the two guys
in front of me spin
out. Todd (#27
Spotter) said to me,
‘Go high and you’re
clear.’ I went high
and I thought I was
clear. All of a
sudden, I spotted
one of them out of
the corner of my
eye. I didn’t even
have a chance to
react. Next thing I
knew, I could hear
Stewart (#27 Crew
Chief) say, ‘David
are you all right?’
I could tell I was
ok, but once we got
to the infield care
center, I new they
were going to send
me to the hospital.
I hate to wreck, but
more importantly, I
hate worrying my
wife. She is so
supportive and
understanding of the
dangers of my job.
I’m ready to get
back in the seat and
race.”
