Race Report - Pepsi 400
#49 Schwan’s Home Service Dodge
Pepsi 400, July 2, 2005
2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Fla.
RESULTS:
1. Tony Stewart, Chevrolet
2. Jamie McMurray, Dodge
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet
4. Rusty Wallace, Dodge
5. Dale Jarrett, Ford
10. Ken Schrader, Dodge
FULL RUNDOWN: http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2005/17/data/results_unofficial.html
What normally is one of the quickest races of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Season became a marathon on Saturday night. The Pepsi 400 was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. local time but Mother Nature had other plans; pouring rain on the Daytona International Speedway for the early part of the evening. As a result to field took the green and yellow flag shortly before 11 .m. and officially began the 47th running of the Pepsi 400.
Rout may be a curious word to describe a win by less than one car length, but considering no one came close to mounting a challenge to pass Tony Stewart all evening, the word fits. Stewart started on the pole, and if not for pit stops, may have led the entire evening. The race was slowed by several multi-car incidents, first on lap 35 when a number of cars got together coming off turn four and sending cars spinning through the infield grass. The last incident was virtually identical to the first, sending six cars to the garage with just 13 laps to go.
The caution sent the field to pit road one final time and Stewart would restart in fourth, but within two laps had driven to the front where he would hold the field at bay en route to his first points race victory at Daytona. The checkered flag fell on Stewart’s second consecutive victory shortly before 2:00 AM in the morning. Following him to the checkers was Jamie McMurray, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and veterans Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett.
It was one wild night for Ken Schrader and the Schwan’s Home Service Dodge team. Starting in the 41st position Schrader used his restrictor plate racing knowledge to work the draft and patiently move his way to the front. That was, until, a lap 35 multi-car wreck sent Schrader on evasive slide through the front stretch grass. The initial contact damaged the left-front fender, but under caution the David Hyder-led Schwan’s Home Service crew went to work repairing the damage.
After extensive repairs, Schrader remained on the lead lap, but on the restart was unable to latch on to the draft and appeared to be a sitting duck as the multi-car pack circuited several miles per hour faster than Schrader was able to go by himself. New life was breathed to the #49 on lap 63, as a timely caution allowed Schrader to rejoin the pack. That’s the only break the team would need. Nearly missing the multi-car accident with 13 laps to go, Schrader came to pit road and would restart 17th. Over the final 10 laps, Schrader moved into the 10th position and held off all challenges to score the team’s third top 10 of the 2005 season, and the second consecutive top 10 at a restrictor plate track.
“We fought hard all night,” Schrader smiled. “We had some things that didn’t go our way early on, but were able to hang tough and got another chance. This was a big night for us in the points standings and a nice shot in the arm too; all around a pretty good night… eh, morning, for the Schwan’s Home Service team. We’ll do our best to keep the ball rolling next week in Chicago.”
The Pepsi 400 aired live on NBC and was broadcast live on MRN Radio.
The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series will next head to the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway, located in Joliet, Ill., for Sunday’s USG Sheetrock 400.
www.schwansracing.com www.bam49racing.com www.schraderracing.com
