Fontana, CA. (September 2, 2006) - Carlos Contreras and the No. 12 Supercuts/Corriendo por la Salud team had high hopes as they made the long trip West to sunny California for the Ameriquest 300 at California Speedway. Their weekend would end in gloom as a problem with the rear-end gear would relegate Contreras to a disappointing 38th place finish.
Battling both record breaking heat and a very loose racecar, Contreras found very little grip out on the racetrack as he made his qualifying laps forcing him to start from the rear of the 43-car field.
With the sun setting and temperatures finally cooling, Contreras took the green flag with renewed confidence in his racecar knowing the change in temperature would alter the handling of his loose machine.
Contreras quickly radioed crew chief Paul Wolfe an update on the handling of the No. 12 Dodge in the beginning laps of the 150-lap race.
"Tight everywhere," commented Contreras. "Entry, middle and off."
An early caution on lap 5 allowed Contreras to pilot his machine to pit road to the attention of his crew. After a quick track bar adjustment, Contreras would return to the race in the 40 th position.
With the improved handling of his racecar, Contreras methodically made his way up through the field picking off cars one at a time.
As the laps wore on, Contreras once again began complaining of an increasingly tight condition. A caution on lap 28 was just what crew chief Wolfe was looking for. Contreras returned to pit road for fuel, four tires, and both wedge and air pressure adjustments.
Contreras retook the green in the 33rd position.
Not long into the run Contreras radioed his crew with an update. "Every lap is better and better, the changes you made really helped, but I still need more, I'm still tight middle and off."
Contreras returned to pit road twice more during subsequent cautions for chassis adjustments to improve the handling of the Supercuts/Corriendo por la Salud Dodge.
Trouble would soon find the No. 12 Dodge as Contreras radioed Wolfe on lap 56 that he might have a problem.
"There's something wrong with the car," radioed Contreras. "I have a vibration in the rear of the car. It wants to snap loose on me when I get in the gas."
"Hang in there," replied Wolfe. "Let me know if it gets worse."
The vibration would indeed worsen as Contreras and Wolfe attempted to pinpoint the source of the vibration as the race wore on. The two determined the rear gear was the source of the vibration, and accepted the fact that the goal now was to finish the 150-lap race, salvaging what they could from the night.
Despite the severe vibration, Contreras would hold on to the end, taking the checkered flag in the 38th position.
"The vibration just got worse and worse," stated Contreras. "It was so bad at the end I was just barely holding on. We had a good car tonight. I am very disappointed, this is not the finish I had hoped for."
The NASCAR Busch Series heads to Richmond International Raceway Friday night for the Emerson Radio 250. All the action will be broadcast live on TNT and MRN Radio beginning at 7:45 p.m. ET.
Olympia Steel Buildings is a proud co-sponsor of the No.12 Dodge owned by FitzBradshaw Racing
# posted by Olympia Steel Buildings @ 6:18 AM
