Best Buy 400 Benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks Report

ELLIOTT SNARED IN EARLY WRECK; CAME BACK TO FINISH AND GAIN SPOT IN POINTS STANDINGS 

DOVER, DE — Bill Elliott in the No. 21 U.S. Air Force Ford Fusion finished the Best Buy 400 on Sunday, June 1st in the 33rd position. The “Monster Mile” brought out its claws on lap 17 when the Wood Brothers Racing machine was involved in a multi car wreck that left the car with left side damage. Nevertheless, there was not enough damage to hinder a finish.

Bill Elliott started the race in 24th position after a good qualifying attempt on Friday, May 30th that put the Wood Brothers Ford Fusion into the race on speed. On lap 17, as Bill radioed the team with feedback on the conditions of the car, spotter Eddie Thrap broke into the conversation to announce a wreck ahead. It was too late. As Bill hit the brakes, the car broke loose and grazed its left rear against the outside wall. This turned the whole car around as other cars kept coming. He went through the pile-up backwards but was able to regain control and turn back around. The wreck left the Fusion with left front and rear damage, yet Elliott was able to drive away.

As soon as he could, Bill brought the No. 21 down pit road to fix the fenders on the front and the rear. Taped up with bare-bond, the crew sent the No. 21 back out on the track to keep the team on the lead lap. Crew Chief, Mike “Andretti” Smith, radioed Elliott to come back down pit road as soon as possible for new tires and to fix more of the damage. As he entered the pit on lap 22, NASCAR threw the red flag. According to NASCAR rules, teams are not allowed to make any changes or repairs to the race car under the red flag conditions. This is when the team assessed the damage and put a plan in place to fix the major spots.

After the 15 minute red flag period came to an end and the yellow flag was once again waved, the No. 21 pit crew jumped into action to make the planned adjustments and repairs. The team made as many repairs as possible before the pace car would pass them. They sent Bill out on the track before that happened to keep him on the lead lap. The team asked that the No. 21 come back down pit road once more. However when the race restarted on lap 26, pit road closed. Bill had to remain on the track stuck in the 34th position.

After several laps went by, Elliott reported that the car was “super tight”. Lap leader Greg Biffle passed by which caused the No. 21 to fall one lap down from the leader. Fortunately, the yellow flag flew on lap 66. This enabled Bill to pit again allowing the team to make several adjustments to help with the tight condition. The race started again on lap 71, and the Wood Brothers Ford was back out on the track in 35th position.

By lap 100, the adjustments seemed to help the car as Bill commented, “The car is a lot better, the adjustments really helped.” Several green flag laps ticked by when the team decided to pit for fuel and tires on lap 150. As Bill returned to the track, he radioed to the crew that he felt a wheel loose. The No. 21 team decided to make an unscheduled pit stop on the next lap to get new tires. Thankfully, the caution flag flew and Elliott was able to take advantage of it. The team decided to get four tires, fuel and add more bare-bond tape to the rear. The race restarted on lap 160, and Elliott was listed in 34th position.

After a long green flag run, the No. 21 team went back to their pit stop schedule on lap 240. The crew changed four tires but couldn't put fuel in the tank since the dry mount broke. They sent the Ford Fusion back onto the track but needed for the car to immediately come back in again to fix the mount so they could put fuel in the tank. On lap 246, the swift work of the crew fixed the problem enabling Bill to get back onto the track without losing a lap.

Several green flag laps continued, and on lap 327 another caution flag flew. Bill reported that the handling of the car was once again very tight. The team decided to pit to make several more adjustments and sent the No. 21 back to the track in the 34th position.

Despite the damage from the early race accident, Bill Elliott and the Wood Brothers Ford Fusion were able to move up to 33rd position where he took the checkered flag and gained more points for the team. Contributed by Christina Cicci, Wood Brothers Racing

Best Buy 400 for Autism Speaks Results:
1. Kyle Busch
2. Carl Edwards
3. Greg Biffle
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Jeff Gordon
6. Martin Truex, Jr.
7. Jimmie Johnson
8. Jeff Burton
9. Dave Blaney
10. Jamie McMurray
33. 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