Olympia Racing News

Bristol, TN. (August 25, 2006) - After qualifying the No. 12 Supercuts Dodge seventh, Skinner knew track position, avoiding the wrecks, and patience would be the key to a good finish at the "World's Fastest Half-Mile." With the help of spotter Scott Clodfelter, Skinner did just that scoring a 13th place finish in the Food City 250 Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.

A few early cautions in the 250-lap event allowed Skinner to catch his breath and update crew chief Paul Wolfe on the handling of his racecar.

"She's a little free in, and real tight in the middle," radioed Skinner. "We're going to have to free this thing up when we stop."

Skinner managed to maintain his top-10 position until a caution on lap 67 allowed him to pit for fresh tires, fuel and significant chassis adjustments before returning to the track in 21st place.

Skinner quickly worked his back up through the field breaking into the top-10 in just 30 short laps.

Steering clear of the carnage on the racetrack, Skinner continued his climb through the field piloting the Supercuts Dodge all the way up to third place.

"I'm starting to slide around," Skinner reported on lap 176. "I'm starting to lose grip. These guys on fresh tires are killing me."

"10-4," replied Wolfe. "Hang in there, your lap times are still pretty good. We can't give up track position this late in the race."

A late race caution on lap 208 gave Skinner the opportunity he had so badly wanted as he piloted the Supercuts Dodge on to pit road for four fresh Goodyear tires before returning to action in 24th place.

Skinner expertly guided his machine through traffic to the 15th position before a late race accident brought out the night's final caution. The lengthy caution left Skinner with only a handful of green flag laps to finish his quest to the front. Despite the valiant effort, he would run out of laps having to settle for a 13th place finish in the Supercuts Dodge.

Carlos Contreras makes his return to the No. 12 Supercuts Dodge as the NASCAR Busch Series heads west next weekend for the Ameriquest 300 Saturday at California Speedway on Saturday night. TNT and MRN Radio will broadcast the race live beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Olympia Steel Buildings is a proud co-sponsor of the No.12 Dodge owned by FitzBradshaw Racing

Bristol, TN. (August 25, 2006) - Scott Wimmer and the Family Dollar team battled the fast Bristol Motor Speedway Friday night to bring the No. 14 Family Dollar Dodge home in the 17 th position in the caution filled Food City 250.

The short track ace started the 250-lap event from the 12th position and quickly began working his way through the field picking off cars one at a time.

"It's a little loose in, and a little tight off," Wimmer radioed crew chief Ron Otto 36 laps into the event. "Not bad though. I think we're going to be ok."

A caution on lap 69 allowed Otto to call his driver to pit road. The Family Dollar crew quickly went to work changing four tires, adding fuel and an air pressure adjustment before returning their driver to the racing surface in the 20 th position.

The adjustments briefly improved the handling of the No. 14 Dodge allowing Wimmer to race his way back into the top-10 by lap 90.

"It's real bad loose," radioed Wimmer. "I've been adjusting the brake bias, but it just seems to make it worse."

Despite the loose condition, Wimmer continued to stay with the leaders inside the top-10. A timely caution on lap 122 was just what the Family Dollar team needed. Hoping to alleviate the loose condition, Wimmer brought the No. 14 to pit road for fuel, tires, and a chassis adjustment.

It didn't take long for Wimmer to radio Otto with an update on the handling of his racecar.

"I can't touch the brakes getting into the corner, it makes it loose, then I get tight off."

Although battling his loose machine, Wimmer was able to fight his way back into the top-20.

Knowing they had nothing to lose, Otto called his driver to pit road one last time on lap 222 for a wedge adjustment hoping to tighten up the No. 14 Dodge for the sprint to the finish.

The adjustment was just what Wimmer needed as he raced his way up through the field in the closing laps of the race. Running out of time due to a lengthy caution, Wimmer and the Family Dollar team would be forced to settle for a 17 th place finish.

"We had a fast racecar tonight," said Wimmer. "I got bad loose there, couldn't even touch the brakes without it busting loose on me. The guys got me fixed up there at the end, we just ran out of laps. If I'd had another 15 laps or so, we could have had us a top-10 finish. The car was real good there at the end."

The NASCAR Busch Series heads to California Speedway next weekend for the Ameriquest 300. All the racing action will be broadcast live on both TNT and MRN Radio starting at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Olympia Steel Buildings is a proud co-sponsor of the No.14 Dodge owned by FitzBradshaw Racing

Brooklyn, MI. (August 19th, 2006) - Qualifying 22nd for the Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway, Mike Skinner and the Supercuts team battled a persistent loose condition to finish 29 th in the No. 12 Supercuts Dodge.

Skinner and his team threw everything they could at the No. 12 Dodge during Friday's two practice sessions in an effort to tighten up their race machine.

Despite their efforts, Skinner knew he had his work cut out for him before taking the green flag to start the 125-lap event.

Despite the loose condition, Skinner was able to slowly begin working his way up through the field. The team's struggles would continue as the Supercuts Dodge would made slight contact with the wall knocking in the right side fenders.

A timely caution on lap 19 allowed crew chief Paul Wolfe to call his driver to pit road to assess the right side damage. After a brief assessment by the crew, it was determined the damage was minimal to the right side, needing only a few tugs by the crew to pull the sheet metal off the tire. Skinner would return to the racing surface in 27 th place after receiving four fresh tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment.

The caution flags flew on a regular basis allowing Skinner to bring the No. 12 to pit road three more times before lap 110 for tires and significant chassis adjustments in hopes of tightening up his racecar.

Both Wolfe and his driver soon realized that sticker tires worsened the loose condition that had been plaguing the team throughout the day. A set of scuffed tires tightened up the No. 12 Supercuts Dodge.

"It has to be the tires," radioed Skinner. "I can get in the gas without getting loose now. I'm actually a little tight in believe it or not."

The Supercuts Dodge would take the checkered flag in the 29th position ending what had been a long day for driver and crew.

Skinner and the Supercuts team head to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend as they prepare to do battle at the World's Fastest half-mile. The Food City 250 will be broadcast live on both TNT and PRN Radio starting at 7:45 p.m. ET.

Olympia Steel Buildings is a proud co-sponsor of the No.12 Dodge owned by FitzBradshaw Racing

Watkins Glen, NY. (August 12th, 2006) - After running in the top-10 for most of the Zippo 200, contact from a lapped competitor sent Carlos Contreras spinning into the gravel pit costing the No. 12 team their lead lap position. The Goulds Pump Dodge, unable to regain track position, finished a disappointing 32nd.

Despite qualifying in the 20th position for Saturday's Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International, the No. 12 team knew they had both a driver and car capable of scoring their first top-10 finish of the year.

From the drop of the green flag, it was quickly evident the No. 12 Dodge was a car to contend with. Although battling a loose condition, Contreras expertly worked his way through the field, breaking into the top-10 by lap 15.

Contreras radioed his crew the loose condition he battled was worsening. Paul Wolfe, crew chief, made the decision to call his driver to pit road for some much needed adjustments as the field worked lap 18.

Relinquishing the sixth position, Contreras brought the No. 12 Dodge down pit road. The crew sprang into action bolting on four fresh tires, adding fuel as well as going two rounds down on the track bar. Adjustments completed, Contreras returned to the racing action in the 29th position, with his work cut out for him.

It didn't take long for Contreras to radio his crew with an update on the handling of his machine. "It's still loose," relayed Contreras. "Now it's tight in, but still loose off."

"Nice and smooth Carlos," replied Wolfe. "We'll keep working on it, just keep it on the track."

Although Contreras battled both a tight and loose condition, he still managed to race his way back into the top-10 as the field came to the crossed flags indicating the halfway point in the race.

Continuing to update the crew about being tight in and "bad loose off", Wolfe called his driver to pit road for tires, fuel and more adjustments. The No. 12 returned to the race in the 20th position prepared to make it to the end.

With just 16 laps to go, Contreras received contact from the lapped machine of Jason Leffler sending the No. 12 spinning into the gravel pit. Unable to free his machine in time, Contreras could only sit helplessly and watch as the leaders passed him by trapping him one lap down.

Finally freed from the gravel, Contreras radioed his crew the car actually felt okay and after a quick assessment by the crew, restarted in the 38th position.

Contreras's troubles would continue as a severe left rear tire vibration forced the No. 12 to pit road two more times. Pebbles found in the bead of the tire from the earlier spin into the gravel was determined to be the cause of the vibration.

Contreras was able to pick up six more positions in the closing laps to bring the Goulds Pumps Dodge home in 32nd place.

"We had a great car today," Contreras stated. "This was a top-10 car for sure. I was being patient, trying not to make any mistakes. The 38, he just hit me. I don't understand, he was a lap down. I don't know why he would do that. After that we were never in position to get our lap back. I am very disappointed. I wanted to give Goulds Pumps and my team their first top-10 of the year. This was not the day we had envisioned."

The NASCAR Busch Series heads to Michigan International Speedway this weekend for the Carfax 250 Saturday August 19th. TNT and MRN Radio will broadcast all the racing action live beginning at 2:45 p.m. ET.

Olympia Steel Buildings is a proud co-sponsor of the No.14 Dodge owned by FitzBradshaw Racing

Clermont, IN. (August 5, 2006) - Mike Skinner battled back from early race contact and a tight handling racecar to bring the No. 12 Supercuts Dodge home in 18th place in the Kroger 200 Benefiting Riley Hospital for Children Saturday at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

When Mike Skinner climbed behind the wheel of the Supercuts Dodge Saturday morning, this NASCAR veteran had already run more than 200 miles in just two days. The Kroger 200 would be the second of three races Skinner would run this weekend in Indianapolis. The veteran held the distinction of being the only driver to compete in the NCTS, NBS and Nextel Cup races in the same weekend.

The Supercuts Dodge unloaded fast right off the truck with Skinner posting the second quickest time in the morning's first practice. The veteran was able to better his practice speed posting the 11th fastest qualifying time for the 200-lap event.

Knowing they had a fast racecar and a veteran driver behind the wheel, confidence was high in the Supercuts pit as the No. 12 took the green. Unfortunately contact from the No. 38 car on lap 11 sent Skinner careening into the wall bringing out the night's second caution.

Relinquishing his track position Skinner brought the No. 12 Dodge to pit road for repairs. After a quick assessment by the Supercuts crew, Skinner was sent back out on to the racing surface with what appeared to be only cosmetic damage.

It didn't take long into the green flag run for Skinner to radio an assessment of his wounded racecar.

"It's really tight," he said. "It won't turn in the middle, it's really tight."

A timely caution on lap 22 would allow Skinner to bring the No. 12 back to pit road for some much needed adjustments. Along with four fresh tires and fuel, the No. 12 crew took a spring rubber from the right rear and made significant air pressure changes hoping to loosen up the Supercuts Dodge.

Although continuing to inform the crew his racecar was "really, really tight" Skinner charged up through the field breaking back into the top-20 just past the halfway point of the 200-lap event.

A caution on lap 130 allowed Skinner one last pit stop in hopes of loosening up his very tight racecar. The Supercuts crew sprang into action bolting on four Goodyear tires, adding fuel and making a track bar change. Skinner was sent back into battle restarting in the 16th position.

Despite the wholesale changes made by the Supercuts crew, Skinner would continue to battle a persistent tight condition, taking the checkered flag in the 18th position.

Road course specialist Carlos Contreras returns to the No. 12 Dodge along with primary sponsor Goulds Pumps as the NASCAR Busch Series heads to Watkins Glen International for the second road course race of the year. NBC and MRN Radio will broadcast the Zippo 200 live beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Olympia Steel Buildings is a proud co-sponsor of the No.14 Dodge owned by FitzBradshaw Racing

Clermont, IN. (August 5, 2006) - After running in the top-15 for most of the Kroger 200, a tight-handling condition forced Ted Musgrave and the No. 14 Family Dollar team to settle for a 25th place finish Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

Making his first NASCAR Busch Series start in almost two years, this defending Craftsman Truck Series champion found a yellow stripe on the bumper of his racecar Saturday morning. Busch Series officials deemed Musgrave, a NASCAR veteran, a "rookie" for Saturday's event at ORP.

Lead by the team of Mike Hillman Sr. and Mike Hillman Jr. the No. 14 Family Dollar car was fast right off the truck posting the 10th quickest time in the mornings first practice session.

After qualifying 17th, Musgrave used both patience and experience to guide his path through the field picking off spots one by one.

"She's a little loose," radioed Musgrave. "It's not bad though, I'm just being patient; saving my stuff."

The night's fourth caution flag waved on lap 53 allowing crew chief, Mike Hillman Jr. to bring his driver down pit road for service. Hoping to alleviate the loose condition Musgrave battled, Hillman called for fuel, four tires and an air pressure adjustment to the No. 14 Family Dollar machine.

Despite the adjustments made on the first stop, Musgrave continued to battle his tight machine.

"No grip," Musgrave radioed. "It's tight in the center, loose off."

"Do all you can with it," replied Hillman Sr. "We'll work on it next caution, hang in there."

A lengthy green flag run would allow leader Kevin Harvick to lap almost half the entire 43-car field including the No. 14 Family Dollar car before the caution flag would wave on lap 130.

Hillman Jr. again called his driver to pit road to adjust on the Family Dollar machine. Four tires and an air pressure adjustment complete, and the No. 14 returned to the racing surface ready to return to the battle.

Some hard racing by Musgrave on a restart allowed the veteran to get by the leaders and regain his spot on the lead lap before the caution flag would again wave.

Restarting deep in the pack, the Family Dollar team watched as the veteran battled his way up through traffic picking off cars with each lap. As the war between man and machine wore on, the No. 14 Family Dollar machine received some front-end damage due to the fierce battle for position out on the track.

Battling an increasingly tight condition due to the front-end damage, Musgrave would bring the No. 14 down pit road twice more for tires and adjustments hoping to loosen up his racecar. Despite their efforts, Musgrave's machine remained tight hampering his efforts to climb back into the top-20.

A late-race caution would set up a 13-lap sprint to the finish. Musgrave would battle amidst two and three wide racing right up to the checkered flag before finishing 25th in the No. 14 Family Dollar entry.

The NASCAR Busch Series heads to the road course of Watkins Glen International this weekend. NBC and MRN Radio will broadcast the Zippo 200 live beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Olympia Steel Buildings is a proud co-sponsor of the No.14 Dodge owned by FitzBradshaw Racing

Defending Craftsman Truck Series champion Ted Musgrave has been tapped by FitzBradshaw Racing to pilot the No. 14 Family Dollar car in the Kroger 200 benefiting Riley Hospital for Children at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

"Having Ted in the car is exciting for our team, as well as sponsor Family Dollar," said Armando Fitz, team owner. "He is a proven winner and a NASCAR series champion. We're going into this weekend with confidence in our team and driver choice. I feel very strongly we can achieve positive results with this combination."

Musgrave's last Busch race at O'Reilly Raceway Park in 2000 resulted in a 21st place finish. The last time Musgrave competed in a NASCAR Busch Series race was in September 2004 at Richmond International Raceway.

Musgrave will benefit from having driven 200 laps around the .686-mile oval before climbing into the Family Dollar car the following night. The veteran will compete in the Power Stroke Diesel 200 NCTS race Friday night at ORP.

"I'm looking forward to working with FitzBradshaw Racing this weekend," states Musgrave. "O'Reilly Raceway Park has been a good track for me in the Craftsman Truck Series, I've run well there in the past. This is a great opportunity to race the Family Dollar car for FitzBradshaw Racing. I think it's going to be a lot of fun."

The Kroger 200 benefiting Riley Hospital for Children will be broadcast live on both TNT and MRN Radio beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Olympia Steel Buildings is a proud co-sponsor of the No.14 Dodge owned by FitzBradshaw Racing

• Mike Skinner will once again pilot the No. 12 Supercuts Dodge for FitzBradshaw Racing in Saturday's Kroger 200 at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.
• Skinner will attempt to pull triple-duty this weekend as all three of NASCAR's top-series roll into the Hoosier state. In addition to running both the Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Series races, Skinner will attempt to qualify for The Allstate 400 Nextel Cup race at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
• In eight starts at O'Reilly Raceway Park, Skinner has two victories in the NCTS in 1995 and 1996. Skinner has two poles and has led 350 laps .He has three top-10's and two top-fives.
• Skinner's last Busch Series start here came in 2003, starting ninth and finishing seventh.
• The Supercuts team will unload chassis #10 this weekend. This particular car was recently run at Martinsville Speedway.

SKINNER ON RETURNING TO THE SUPERCUTS DODGE:

"I'm looking forward to getting back in the No. 12 Supercuts Dodge for FitzBradshaw Racing. I really like this track. Historically it's been a good track for me. I've led some laps, won two races here in the Craftsman Truck Series, I'm excited about this weekend. The competition is so tough now in the Busch Series that you really need to be on your game. I'd like to think if we can take some things from the truck race, hopefully we can get the Supercuts Dodge competitive, and have a good run Saturday night."

SKINNER ON PULLING TRIPLE-DUTY:

"I'm going to have an awful full plate this weekend, but I'm up for it. It's going to be pretty hectic going back and forth between both tracks. It's going to be a lot of fun.
I really think running the truck race the night before can only benefit my Busch car. I will have a full day's worth of practice plus a race under my belt before I even climb into the car. The set ups are not that far off between the two. I think we can learn a lot in the truck race on Friday night that will help us Saturday in the Busch car."

Olympia Steel Buildings is a proud co-sponsor of the No.14 Dodge owned by FitzBradshaw Racing