Gateway Int'l Raceway - Gateway 250

RACE WINNER: REED SORENSON

Scott Wimmer: 2nd (started 1st)
- It was a big victory for Scott to get his first Busch pole with RCR, and breaking the track record! He did a great job keeping his position at the beginning of the race and led 53 laps. In a frustrating turn of events, Scott cut a tire and had to pit under green, but luckily for him scheduled green flag pit stops began shortly after, bringing the Holiday Inn Chevy back near the front. When the closing laps arrived Scott picked his way through the Top 5 and with a handful of circuits to go chased after eventual racer winner Reed. Oh so close, but a great night for the team and more encouragement that their win is coming.

David Reutimann: 3rd (started 8th)
- D. Reut had a great little Dream Machine but brake problems plagued him from early on after the green flag fell. Despite this setback he made it to the front near the end of the race and led 23 laps before a late caution closed the field back onto his bumper. With his brake problems he couldn’t be as aggressive as he wanted and was passed by Reed and Scott. However, David passed Kevin Harvick again for 2nd in points.

- Quotes:
“Everybody had great pit stops tonight and we had a great car for most of the race. But I think we came here with too small of a brake package and I couldn't stop it there at the end. I kept having to move up the race track and it allowed those other guys to get me. All in all it was a good effort, but I'm disappointed because I really thought we should have won the race and we definitely had a car capable of winning tonight.”

Todd Kluever: 11th (started 26th)
-A good run for this team, especially since Todd has struggled on tracks with little banking. 11th is a great improvement on a dismal qualifying run. He avoided all the wrecks while making his way through the field and the best thing is is that he’s learning how to adapt to tracks he hasn’t run well at in the past.

- Quotes:
“It was a long night. We had a really good car. We had a better car than what we finished with, unfortunately. It’s so hard to pass here with the gear rolls and stuff, that’s the way it is. We got a little off on our pit sequence there and probably cost ourselves quite a bit of track position. If you look at how we run at flatter tracks like Milwaukee and Loudon, we come here and actually have a really decent car. I’m really proud of my guys. All in all, not a bad night, but we’ve run better.”

Other Notes:

- Go Reed! It’s great for this kid get a victory with new crew chief Brad Parrott. I for one was glad to see a happy smile on Brad’s face this time instead of tears when Montoya took out Pruett at Mexico.

- A lot of fans are ragging on a wrecked Steven Wallace for nearly hitting a kid as he was heading to his garage stall. I hadn’t seen the replay at first, but when I watched it I laughed. What exactly was that stupid kid doing running – flailing arms and legs like an idiot – through the garage during a race? Steven turned a sharp corner and noticeably slowed when he saw the kid, but he didn’t aim for him like some fans are thinking. It’s a parent’s responsibility to keep an eye on their children at the track.