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A Loose Lug Nut Takes Away Green’s Victory

Nashville, TN (June 12, 2005)- Nashville is a city built on music, but twice a year the music industry takes a step aside for the NASCAR Busch Series.  The #27 Kleenex®/ Scott® products Ford Taurus team came to Nashville with hope of winning their first race of the year.  Rain normally plays a part in the race weekend and qualifying was canceled and the race was postponed until Sunday due to the rain.   The clouds parted and the race was underway by 12:30 p.m.  Green started 13^th and fought his way to the front.  He led the race for a brief moment before his front right tire fell off the car.  Green finished the race 33^rd. 

The weekend was shaping up to be the best weekend of the season for the Kleenex® team.  David Green was consistently in the top-five during practice.  Crew chief, Stewart Cooper, had the car set-up almost perfect for the race.  Green said, “I think we have the best chance of winning the race if our luck changes for the better.”  Green added, “I’m really looking forward to qualifying… We haven’t had the best qualifying runs this year, but I think this is our turning point.”   The field was set by owner’s points due to the rain, putting Green 13^th in the field.

The #27 Kleenex®/ Kroger team knew this was the week they would get a top-five and possibly a win.  When the race started, David quickly made his move to get in the top-five.  Green moved up to the 5^th position by lap 11.  On lap 20, the race had its first caution.  David and the other leaders decided not to pit holding out for the mandatory caution on lap 41.  NASCAR decided it would have a caution on lap 41 allowing the teams to make adjustments to their cars because of the rain.  When the green flag waved on lap 25, David was in 3^rd place and wasn’t budging an inch.  On lap 36, Cooper got on the radio and said, “David, what adjustments need to be done… NASCAR is about to throw the caution flag.”  David responded, “Stew, I’m a little loose in turns three and four, but that’s because of the wind.”  Green added, “I think the car is as perfect as it’s going to get.  You did an awesome job setting up the car.”  As scheduled, NASCAR pulled out the yellow flag on lap 41.  The Drivers came in to the pits on lap 43.  David took four tires, gas and was out of the pits in 9^th position.  Green was 3^rd out of the pits of the teams that took on four tires and gas.  Many teams tried to get lap position by only taking two tires.

When the official waved the green flag on lap 46, Green was back in the hunt.  He worked his way up through the crowd and was back in the 3^rd position by lap 67.  Green consistently ran the fastest lap times.  Lap traffic put distance between Green and the leaders, but not for long.  On lap 82, the caution flag waved again, which gave David and the leaders a chance to pit.  Green came into the pits on lap 85 and took four tires and gas.  The car was handling great, so no adjustments were needed.  David exited the pits in 3^rd.

The green flag came out on lap 88 and the challenge for the lead was on once again.  Two more cautions slowed Green’s efforts to get the lead, but the lead was eminent for the #27 Kleenex® Ford Taurus.  On lap 120, Green got on the radio and said, “Here I come big boys.”  He was on Clint Bowyer’s bumper by lap 122.  Bowyer passed Truex Jr. on the inside, giving Green an opening to gain one more position.  Green passed Truex Jr. on lap 126 to move him in the 2^nd position.  As Bowyer and Green crossed the start finish line on lap 127, Cooper said to Green, “Hey David, I think it’s about time you go get yourself some of that.”  Green battled for six more laps and on lap 147, Green passed Bowyer in turn four to take the lead.  Green lead for 11 laps before pitting under green.  The Kleenex® team’s pit stops continued to be their downfall as the front tire changer missed a lug nut.  David exited the pits 26^th.

However, David continued to work his way back up the field as the other teams came into pit under green not allowing the previous pit stop to diminish his desire to win.  By lap 187, he was in 6^th place.  But it was short lived when he got on the radio and said, “Stew, I think one of my tires is loose.  The car is shaking like crazy.”  On lap 157, the Kleenex® Ford Taurus lost it’s right front tire in turn one.  The Kleenex®/Scott products team suffered another unlucky break.  Cooper immediately got on the radio and said, “Listen up, this race isn’t over yet, we are racing for the championship here.”  He added, “We need to fix this problem and get David back out there.”  

The Kleenex® Ford Taurus had a broken sway bar and sheet metal damage.  The crew was able to get David back on the track in 6 laps.  The damage was done, but due to the efforts of the team, Green was able to pick up three positions by the end of the race and finished the race 33^rd.

Green said, “If we didn’t have bad luck, we would have no luck at all.  I can’t even describe how disappointed I am.  I wanted to win this race so bad.  Kleenex® has been an amazing sponsor all year… I want to get them a win more than anything.  We are just going to have to put this behind us and get back at it next week.  We are moving in the right direction, all we need is a little GOOD luck.”

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Bill Virtue

SMC 500

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