LifeLock.com 400 Report

SATURDAY NIGHT LIGHTS AT CHICAGOLAND  

JOLIET, IL — Wood Brothers Racing and Bill Elliott were faced with a new challenge of racing under the lights at Chicagoland Speedway. Elliott began the 400 mile race in the 37th position by using his past champion's provisional after NASCAR cancelled qualifying due to rain on Thursday evening. Since the teams never practiced or raced during the night time’s cooler conditions, the No. 21 team could only speculate on how the car would perform in the inaugural night race at the 1.5 D-shaped track. Within 5 laps of the green flag flying, Elliott reported a very loose race car that was hard to control. He worked with the car to see if putting laps on the tires would help. Despite the loose condition, Bill’s lap times were decent as he kept pace with the leaders.

On lap 36, NASCAR called a competition yellow flag to check tire wear since the track conditions were unknown. The No. 21 team took the opportunity to make some adjustments to help with the loose handling and to prepare for cooler track temperatures as evening set in. They also put on four fresh tires and added fuel.

The race restarted on lap 39, and Elliott was scored in the 38th position. The second caution came out on lap 48, and Bill reported that the Ford Fusion seemed to be better. Crew Chief Mike Smith decided to bring the No. 21 down pit road for four tires, fuel and to add a little more to the previous adjustments. The green flag waved on lap 52, and Bill restarted in the 37th position.

The darkening sky brought with it cooler temperatures. By lap 85 Bill reported that the car was pretty good in turn three, but tight after. The Wood Brothers team decided to make a green flag pit stop on lap 101 where they made a slight air pressure and chassis adjustments along with adding fuel. The pit crew finished the task in 14.4 seconds and sent the No. 21 back to the track in 40th position. Elliott quickly gained the lost ground and moved up to 37th.

After several laps and another caution, the No. 21 team was able to make more adjustments to help with the persisting tight condition. Elliott radioed the team that the car was loose at the start of a green flag run but tightened up as the run went on. Shortly past the halfway mark of the 267 lap race, caution flew for debris. Crew Chief Mike Smith called for Bill back down pit road for more adjustments. Elliott restarted on lap 146 in 38th.

By lap 190, the adjustments appeared to be doing the job as Elliott moved up to 35th. On lap 207, Bill reported that the car was better and was able to maintain position. As the race wound down, two more cautions came out allowing more adjustments to be made to the car. Bill took the checkered flag on lap 267 finishing in 35th place.

Look for Little Debbie at the Brickyard of Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 27th, with our new driver, Marcos Ambrose, in the No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Ford Fusion. Contributed by Christina Cicci, Wood Brothers Racing

USG Sheetrock 400 Results:
1. Kyle Busch
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Kevin Harvick
4. Greg Biffle
5. Tony Stewart
6. Brian Vickers
7. Matt Kenseth
8. David Ragan
9. Martin Truex, Jr.
10. Ryan Newman
35. Bill Elliott

2008 Final
Point Standings:
1. Jimmie Johnson — 6684
2. Carl Edwards — 6615
3. Greg Biffle — 6467
4. Kevin Harvick — 6408
5. Clint Bowyer — 6381
6. Jeff Burton — 6335
7. Jeff Gordon — 6316
8. Denny Hamlin — 6214
9. Tony Stewart — 6202
10. Kyle Busch — 6186
11. Matt Kensteh — 6184
12. D. Earnhardt, Jr. — 6127
36. M. Ambrose* — 2655
*Listed by Owner Points for Michael Waltrip Racing/
JTG Daugherty Racing