Tony Raines No. 33 RoadLoans.com Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS O’Reilly Challenge Race Recap

Solid Top-10 Finish for Raines at Texas Motor Speedway

Fort Worth, Texas (November 5, 2007) — Tony Raines returned to the driver’s seat of the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) RoadLoans.com Chevrolet Saturday, at Texas Motor Speedway, for the O’Reilly Challenge. Raines began the race in the 26th position, but quickly began his move to the front on his way to securing a solid top-10 finish.

The NASCAR Busch Series (NBS) began the weekend on Friday with two early morning practice sessions, followed by qualifying Friday evening.

During the first practice session, Raines was 15th fastest with a lap time of 29.129 (185.382 mph). Following the first practice, the team made adjustments to the car and rounded out final practice 20th with a lap time of 29.192 (184.982 mph). Raines was third to qualify for the O’Reilly Challenge, placing the No. 33 RoadLoans.com Chevrolet 26th on the starting grid with a lap time of 28.933 (186.638 mph).

With the race under way Saturday afternoon, Raines wasted no time beginning his march to the front. Starting in the 26th position, Raines moved into the 20th position by lap five when the first caution flag waved for a multi-car accident in turn four. Raines restarted on lap nine in the 20th position.

The second caution of the day came on lap 20 and the No. 33 RoadLoans.com Chevrolet opted to pit from the 15th position on lap 21 for four scuffed tires and fuel. While attempting to leave the pit area, Raines stalled the No. 33 Chevrolet and exited pit road in the 22nd position. Raines quickly apologized to the team, “I’m sorry guys. I missed the gear.” Crew Chief Dan Stillman reassured Raines saying, “It’s okay. You’ve got a fast car. We’ll get it back.” The race restarted on lap 26 with Raines in the 22nd position.

Again, Raines continued to lay down fast laps comparable to the leaders and began moving forward on the scoring charts, taking over the 17th position by lap 40. The race stayed under green-flag conditions for long periods of time, forcing many teams to make scheduled green-flag pit stops. On lap 88, the No. 33 RaodLoans.com Chevrolet pitted under green to take on four tires and fuel.

Continuing under green-flag conditions, Raines moved into the 13th position by lap 125. Raines told Stillman, “It’s (the car) a little loose.”

The third caution of the day came on lap 127 for debris. Raines informed Stillman, “(the car) got a little loose (passing) underneath people. Just snug it up a little.” Raines entered pit road from the 13th position and took on four tires and fuel. The race restarted on lap 131 with Raines in the 12th position.

Several laps later, on lap 135, the fourth and final caution flag was waved when two cars were involved in a wreck in turn four. Opting to stay on the track, Raines restarted in the 12th position on lap 140.

By lap 148, Raines moved into the 10th position and was able to gain one more spot by lap 200 to finish the O’Reilly Challenge in the ninth position.

Raines’ ninth-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway marks his second top-10 finish this year for KHI and marks a career best finish at Texas Motor Speedway in the Busch Series. 

With two races remaining in the 2007 season, the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Chevrolet sits sixth in NASCAR Busch Series Owner’s Point Standings following the O’Reilly Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway, 140 points out of fifth.

After the race with Raines: “Today was a really good day for the No. 33 RoadLoans.com Chevrolet. We had fast pit stops, and were only a few ticks away from a top-five finish. This race was a lot of fun and I’m excited to bring home a top-10 finish.”

Next up for the No. 33 KHI Chevrolet: Tony Raines will be behind the wheel of the No. 33 RoadLoans.com Chevrolet for the Arizona. Travel 200 at Phoenix International Raceway, Saturday, November 10, 2007. Live coverage of the event will begin at 4:00 p.m., ET on ESPN2 and live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) at 4:00 p.m., ET and on Sirius Satellite Radio at 4:00 p.m., ET.

STATS RECAP

Date: November 3, 2007
Track: Texas Motor Speedway
Event Name: O’Reilly Challenge
Race: 33 of 35
Driver: Tony Raines
Started: 26th
Finished: 9th
Owner’s Point Standings: 6th

Next on Schedule

Date: November 10, 2007
Track: Phoenix International Raceway
Event Name: Arizona. Travel 200
Driver: Tony Raines

Broadcast Time: 4:00 p.m., ET ESPN2 and MRN Radio