Richmond, VA. (September 8, 2006) - Once again behind the wheel of the No. 12 FitzBradshaw Racing entry, Mike Skinner ran in the top-10 for most of the Emerson Radio 250 Friday night at Richmond International Raceway. Caught up in a late race accident, Skinner would be forced to retire to the garage and finish a disappointing 32nd.
Skinner battled a tight handling condition in the beginning laps of the race forcing crew chief Paul Wolfe to bring the Bluegreen Resorts/Supercuts Dodge to pit road twice within 35 laps for significant chassis adjustments.
Despite track bar, wedge and air pressure changes, Skinner continued to fight a tight handling condition. "The entry's good," Skinner radioed Wolfe. "You fixed that, but I'm still tight off. I can't get back in the throttle."
"Let's take more wedge out," Wolfe replied. "That seemed to help you the most. We'll make a left rear shock adjustment as well when we stop."
A timely caution on lap 76 allowed Skinner to bring the No. 12 to pit road for service. The crew quickly went to work bolting on four fresh tires and making both shock and wedge adjustments hoping to alleviate the tight condition. Skinner would restart his Dodge in the 33rd position.
The changes were exactly what Skinner needed as he quickly worked his way up through the field breaking into the top-20 by lap 110.
"It's still a little tight in the middle but we're holding our own here," Skinner radioed Wolfe.
"You are one of the fastest cars out there," Wolfe replied. "Keep doing what you're doing."
Continuing to pick off spots one at a time, Skinner found himself back inside the top-10 by lap 134.
The caution flag would again wave on lap 145 allowing Skinner to return the No. 12 Dodge to pit road. With four fresh tires, an air pressure adjustment and a tank full of Sunoco racing fuel, Skinner restarted the race in the 25th position.
Skinner once again piloted the No. 12 Dodge up through the field returning to the top-10 by lap 179. Allow complaining of a loose condition, Skinner was able to race with the leaders, maintaining his top-15 position.
Skinner pitted one last time under caution on lap 205 for tires, fuel, wedge and air pressure adjustments. Restarting towards the rear of the field, Skinner once again began working his way up through heavy traffic, gaining spots with each lap.
Disaster would strike on lap 225, as the No. 12 Dodge would be collected in the night's biggest wreck.
"It's killed boys," Skinner radioed his crew. "I just didn't have anywhere to go, I'm sorry guys."
"Take it behind the wall," replied Wolfe. "Let's take a look."
The front-end damage to the Bluegreen Resorts/Supercuts Dodge was too severe to return to the race, forcing the team to settle with a 32nd place finish.
The NASCAR Busch Series gets a much needed week off before returning to action at the Monster Mile in Dover, Delaware September 23rd.
Olympia Steel Buildings is a proud co-sponsor of the No.12 Dodge owned by FitzBradshaw Racing
# posted by Olympia Steel Buildings @ 8:39 AM
