DOVER, DE (June 3, 2006) — Mike Skinner and the Supercuts team took on the "Monster Mile" in the Stonebridgeracing.com 200, and brought home a top-25 finish in their first battle together.
The No.12 Dodge was fast right off the truck posting the second fastest time in Friday's morning practice session. Although fighting a loose racecar, final practice still found the No.12 tenth on the board, raising the confidence level of this young team and their veteran driver. Unfortunately rain would wash out qualifying, relegating the No.12 to a 35th starting spot despite having a car capable of a top-fifteen starting spot.
The rain that fell Saturday over Dover International Speedway couldn't dampen the spirits of the Supercuts team as they readied the No.12 Dodge Charger for the Stonebridgeracing.com 200.With a fast racecar and Mike Skinner behind the wheel, the team was optimistic as the green flag waved over the 43-car field.
The veteran quickly went to work picking up four positions in just six laps before the loose condition that had plagued him in practice returned.
"I'm pretty loose!" Skinner radioed Crew Chief, John Frattura. "Big time loose!" he added.
"Hang in there, we'll get you fixed up on the first caution," responded Frattura.
The first caution flag of the day would wave on lap 31 allowing Skinner to bring his Supercuts Dodge to pit road. The team quickly went to work changing four tires and adding fuel, as well making both wedge and air pressure adjustments in hopes of alleviating the loose condition.
Two more quick caution flags allowed Frattura to call his driver back to pit road for adjustments as they continued to battle the persistent loose condition.
"I think we're gaining on it a little." Skinner told his crew. "Let's see what we got. I think we can still come out of here with a decent finish."
The fifth caution of the day on lap 60 couldn't have come at a better time for the Supercuts team. Contact between Skinner and another car on a restart had cut down the right front tire forcing the No.12 back to pit road for two new right side tires.
As the race continued, the loose condition plaguing the No. 12 Dodge remained an issue despite the numerous changes made throughout the race.
"The son of a gun has loosened up on us again!" Skinner radioed his crew. "I can't get back in the gas; it wants to spin out on me."
Frequent caution flags late in the race allowed the Supercuts team to continue making adjustments in hopes of alleviating the persistent loose condition Skinner had battled throughout the day.
"This is the best we've been all day here, it's the first time today I can touch the throttle." Skinner radioed his team. "We're definitely going the right way with it, man that first half just killed us, but let's just try and see if we learn something here today for next time."
Although two laps down to the leader, Skinner was able to make progress picking up six spots in the last 40 laps of the race to bring the Supercuts Dodge home in 25th place.
"This was not the finish we had hoped for; man we were just so loose." Skinner stated.
"The guys did a good job, we adjusted on the car every chance we got, and it was actually pretty good there at the end. I would definitely like another opportunity to drive the Supercuts Dodge again sometime soon."
Mike Skinner will once again pilot the No.12 FitzBradshaw Dodge next weekend as the team heads to Nashville Superspeedway for the Federated Auto Parts 300. FX and MRN will carry all the racing action Saturday night starting at 7:30 PM. EST.
- Veteran Mike Skinner returns to the No.12 Supercuts Dodge in his fourth start at this 1.333- mile concrete oval. Skinner has one previous NBS start at the track in 2001 scoring a top-ten finish.
- In two previous starts in the Craftsman Truck Series, Skinner has one pole, one top-five finish, and one top-ten finish.
- Supercuts once again will share space on the FitzBradshaw Racing Dodge with country music recording star Trent Tomlinson. His debut album, Country Is My Rock will adorn the hood of the No.12 for Saturday's race under the lights.
- FitzBradshaw Racing will unload chassis # 10 this weekend. This car was raced previously at Atlanta in March 2006.
- The No.12 Supercuts Dodge has three top-ten finishes in 9 previous starts at the Nashville Superspeedway.
"Nashville's a great track for me, I really like the place. I have some real good finishes there; sat on the pole last year in my truck, I'm excited about this weekend."
"I'm looking forward to working with this team again. It's a young team; they've got some good stuff to work with there, good motors, good people, a good foundation to build on. Communication is the key, and I think if we can work on that, the good finishes will come. I'd really like to get this team running better and back up in the points, the potential is definitely there. It's a good challenge for me, for all of us, but we're up for it."
Both FX and MRN will broadcast the race live Saturday night beginning at 7:30 PM. EST
# posted by Olympia Steel Buildings @ 1:00 PM
