|
Copyright Autosport.com. Republished by permission. Reproduction
is prohibited.
FEATURE |
 |
Paul Tracy has made a name for himself as one of Champ
Car's biggest stars, with 30-odd race wins and a championship
title in 2003. But now, at the age of 36, the Canadian is looking
for a new racing career in the hugely popular NASCAR Nextel Cup
series, where Tracy is virtually unknown and the competition
is tough. Last weekend, he made his stock car racing debut at
the Busch race in Daytona. Autosport.com's Tim Redmayne followed
Tracy throughout the weekend and brings his thoughts in and out
of the car
| By Tim Redmayne | |
| autosport.com's international news editor |
Loyalty is a precious commodity in motorsport. Most drivers will switch teams or categories at a mere sniff of a better drive or the chance of a higher pay check.
Future signings are nowadays made earlier to secure the bigger names under the noses of a driver's current employers, often in the hope of destabilising their latter stages of the existing contracts. When a team goes through a rough patch, most won't even shut the door on their way out.
But Paul Tracy is not one of those drivers.
The Canadian has essentially driven for just four teams in his 15-year Champ Car career, and while many were defecting to the Indy Racing League in the early part of this decade, he was the only one to stay put, and publicly denounced those who jumped ship.
Tracy stayed loyal to his formula when he received a ban for aggressive driving, and finally got his reward with the 2003 title. He has won 30-odd races and continues to be one of Champ Car's biggest stars.
And aside from a Benetton Ford F1 test at Estoril in 1994, he has never looked at racing anywhere else.
Until now.
Because Tracy realises that his single-seater shelf life is limited. At 36, he knows that he cannot continue to have the success in Champ Car he has enjoyed up until now. He knows he will have to retire from racing soon enough or move into another, less physically demanding category.
"But I don't want to retire," Tracy insists. "I like to race and I want to race and be able to win. I'm at a certain age and when you have guys like Sebastian [Bourdais] and all these young guys coming in, it gets to a point where it gets harder and harder.
"I don't want to be the guy who is running around in tenth taking up the seat from another younger guy who deserves the opportunity, just because I want to be out there.
"I've had a great career. I've achieved everything I've ever wanted to achieve. In that I've won a championship. I've won 30 races and I'd like to win a championship again this year, but the timeline is coming to an end in terms of how competitive I feel I would be.
"NASCAR is what I'd most like to do after Champ Cars. I would like to go Nextel Cup racing next year. But I don't want to go Nextel Cup racing and run at the back."
NASCAR Nextel Cup - America's biggest motor racing formula, where drivers are still earning millions and racing hard in their early fifties.
"I'm never worried about the risk or safety," he continues. "I'm looking at my future long term right now. If something were to open up in NASCAR then I can race another ten years."
Last summer he tested a NASCAR Nextel Cup car at Michigan (a circuit where he still holds the outright lap record in Champ Car) but it didn't result in a drive.
He continued to toy with the idea until a chat with Doug Barnette, a sports agent and mutual friend of Tracy and Jimmy Vasser, resulted in a deal being put together for five races in the NASCAR Busch series this season.
Tracy has one year left on his Champ Car deal with current team Forsythe, but he will dovetail that by racing at all five types of circuits seen on the Busch tour - from the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway to the 0.6-mile oval at Indianapolis Raceway Park, and a road course race in Mexico.
The Busch series is the second tier formula to the big Nextel Cup, but it isn't like comparing GP2 to Formula One. Busch cars look and sound identical and only lap fractionally slower. Nextel Cup drivers regular take part in the Busch races held on the Saturday of their race weekends.
"I'm a big name starting at zero again," Tracy says. "Out here, when you come from other sports, it's not really about what you have done before. I've had to kind of start over, not as a rookie but as a guy trying to get into the sport. This NASCAR bubble that these guys live in is hard to break into - all the good cars are taken and you just have to work your way in by being persistent.
"They all know who I am but they all seem to say: 'we know you can drive an open wheel car but you know, we've never seen you drive a stock car.' That is what I'm here to do.
"Hopefully we will just show what we can do at every venue and do the best that we can and then off that we will open some people's eyes."
But when single-seater drivers have made the transition to NASCAR in the past, it has been a bit hit and miss. For every former IRL champion such as Tony Stewart who wins the Nextel Cup title twice, there is an Adrian Fernandez or a Christian Fittipaldi, who have bombed.
"The biggest problem you have being an open wheel guy is the most recent guys that have tried to do this have done really poorly. Adrian Fernandez is the guy who sticks out in everybody's mind as someone who had top equipment and wrecked ten cars in five races.
"But it's still a racing car. It's got four wheels and it is built to race. And that is what I do."
Learning how to drive - again
"Every time I go out on the track I learn something," Tracy says, having just finished his first free practice session at Daytona International Speedway for the Hershey's Kissables 300.
Tracy's NASCAR dream is finally becoming a reality in the number 34 Sportclips/American Crew Chevrolet Monte Carlo, engineered by Frank Cicci Racing.
It is a new world and a different type of racing for Tracy. Daytona is one of two super speedway tracks on the NASCAR circuit. When speeds got dangerously high in the late 1980s, NASCAR mandated an aluminium plate to fit between the engine and carburettor, with four carefully cut holes. The plate restricts the amount of air reaching the engine, meaning at Daytona, cars are driven on full throttle for 100 per cent of the lap.
Which means that learning to master the aerodynamics, and the tow or 'draft' created when cars run together, is crucial to success at the track.
"A lot goes along with these cars and drafting," he says. "A guy comes along and moves over and dumps air on you and the air coming off the front of his car dumps onto your spoiler. It slows you down, that's the things they do to get by. I break off and you have to get back on them. There is a lot of stuff that goes on with the air that I don't get. Those kind of sensations, with these types of cars - to these guys, it's second nature to them."
Oval racing is not new to Tracy. He has raced on a 2.5-mile oval before. He nearly won the Indy 500. But that was nothing like this.
"A NASCAR is completely different to an open wheel car. You can't draft up on a guy and then pass them and sit in front of them. You need help, you need people to work with you. The racing at shorter tracks then maybe it is similar, but at a place like Daytona, it is all about aerodynamics, and it is a different thing.
"The car is not stable. Not at all. By itself it is stable, but in the draft it's moving around - it is sliding and floating."
But this weekend, the attention will be on Tracy. Many of the American media will be out to get him, as another example of the fact that an open wheel racer cannot transfer easily to their sport. He is also Canadian, and no foreigner has ever made it big in NASCAR. Such ill-feeling could be calmed by a strong result.
"I've had a lot of people tell me if I go out and lead the race and end up crashing out people will respect me more than if I run 15th and finish. But no - these people here really look up at a guy who is going to go up there and finish all the races and which is how you win the championships here.
"I know it's kind of against my grain but I just want to finish. I've got a good spotter who is going to keep me under control and the key for me right now is to just finish the races. We've got a good car but it is not at the level of these big Cup teams or anything like that. But if we could finish inside the top 15 that is like a win. People will go 'wow you did a really good job in a mid-pack car'.
"In our car I just drop back a car length and a half from other car. Some of the other cars just suck back up to other cars really quick, but in our car it takes it a little while to get up there. It's the air cowling - there is a lot of tricks on these cars, even at the Cup level, where teams have the 20 million budgets and wind tunnels to make them go well."
Tracy is after acceptance from the NASCAR fraternity. After all, he wants to end up in one of those cars.
It's not where you start, it's where you finish
To reward regular teams and attract committed sponsors, NASCAR guarantees the top 35 cars from the previous season a place in the top 43 starting line-up for the first five races of the new season.
Wisely, Barnette brokered a deal to put Tracy in a car that satisfies that criteria, meaning he can relax, and not worry about having to produce a fast lap in qualifying just to get one of the last eight spots in the field.
Instead Tracy can use the free practice sessions to work on his car's race set-up and get used to racing next to other cars, or 'running in the draft' as it is known in NASCAR.
The race is an impound race, which means the cars are held overnight after qualifying and are raced with the same set-up as in qualifying.
NASCAR qualifying is simple - two laps around the oval on your own. Tracy's run is smooth, but it is only good enough for 37th. Yet he is not too disappointed to start at the back of the field.
"In qualifying you just have to go out there and hold it to the wood. Other than cutting up the body of it there was no way I could have gone faster.
"I felt I could run a 49.9 or a 50.0 and we turned a 50.0. We practised a qualifying run the other day and got a 49.9 but it was grippy then and today we slowed up by about half a tenth. We've got pretty much the set up on it that I think the car is good, so we go from there.
"I'm really looking forward to the race. I've done lots of drafting in practice, I've been out there on old tyres.
"I will have to be aggressive changing lanes and moving from one lane to the other. It is about timing and it will be really sensitive to how you time a draft. I can't just drive up on a guy and pull up and go by. You have to drive up, stall him out and helpfully have somebody else just to push you as well. There will be a lot of tricks to it.
"I'll just drive by the seat of my pants."
The first race of the rest of his life
Typical Paul Tracy. The green flag drops and he is ruthless and doesn't hang around. Any plans of being conservative goes out of the window. Starting 37th, he moves up to 24th by the fourth lap and keeps claiming places in the draft. He is up 16th by lap 22 and in the top ten when a multi-car wreck happens inches in front of him on lap 44.
But it goes horribly wrong on lap 50, through no fault of his own.
John Andretti gently nudges him into a spin in Turn Two. It was shock. Andretti, a seasoned Nextel Cup regular, looked like he was the rookie.
Tracy's car spins into the wall and then down onto the apron. The front and rear cowling on his car are messed up. On some tracks he could still continue with little penalty, but at Daytona - where aerodynamics matter most - his car is ruined.
He comes into the pits for repairs, but the cowling then rubs on a tyre on his out lap and he spends two more laps in the pits having the car fixed again. He rejoins last of the non-retired drivers and is three laps down.
"I guess now I can say I've been hit by every Andretti I've ever raced with," Tracy would say after the race. "It was just one of those things. These accidents happen every week."
Tracy works his way back onto the lead lap by NASCAR's lucky dog rule (the leading car not on the lead lap gets a lap back free at every caution).
On the final lap there is a multi-car pileup approaching the flag. Again, he misses it all thanks to help from his spotter, friend and driver, Andy Hillenburg. Tracy hopes to have gained positions as a result, but because the race is classified when the caution comes out, he is 24th at the chequered flag.
Which, all things considered, isn't that bad really.
"We finished the race and did what we needed to do," Tracy says. "When we got up to the front things were going great. After we got spun out we were three laps down. So it was a case to ride it out, ride it out, ride it out.
"People come up to me on the grid today, some owners, some NASCAR officials just to say 'we think you did a great job'. It's better to have people come and say that than think you are a dickhead, right?"
One thing that was important to Tracy was acceptance, and to some degree he did achieve that. He didn't make a mistake all weekend, other than pitting a foot too close to his pit wall on his first stop.
He kept it clean when he was being lapped and didn't get involved with anyone else's crashes, or cause one of his own.
Maybe the run won't be remembered by many other Cup drivers and teams, but that is certainly better than being remembered for the wrong reasons. He now has four more NASCAR races to shine.
The next is the road course event in Mexico City - where Tracy has won in Champ Car. "I have a good chance of doing well at Mexico City on a road course," he says, "and from there I've got one more race in Vegas.
"Then I should really start worrying about Champ Car racing."
SIDEBAR |
|
1:33pm Eastern Time, February 18, 2006.
PT: Paul Tracy, driver
DF: Dave Fuge Jr, crew chief
AH: Andy Hillenburg, spotter
Some phrases - including general spotter talk such as 'inside', 'outside' and 'clear' have been omitted for clarity.
* * *
Paul is on the warm up lap.
PT: Good luck today everybody. Andy, you are my eyes and ears so I'm relying on you today.
AH: Hopefully I won't have to talk to you much.
PT: Andy, talk as much as want, more than what you want. Check every ten laps so you can keep up with it.
AH: One to go at the stripe. It will be green next time by Paul.
DF: Clear you mind Paul. Do the best you can but be patient.
PT: That isn't in my vocabulary Dave, but I'm going to try for you. Because I love you, man.
DF: Two and a half hours Paul. I know what you are saying, but eventually you are going to have to let your god given talent just take over.
AH: No passing until you cross the stripe. They are always looking for it.
AH: Pace car is off nice and smooth, watch the brake check from cars behind.
Race start. Green flag.
AH: Keep yourself on the bottom until things get strung out.
Number 66 car spins.
AH: Spin in front of you
Caution comes out.
DF: You didn't get a piece of it did you?
PT: No, we are all good.
AH: Watch out for debris Paul.
DF: How you doing? Nice and cool?
PT: Running in fourth gear saving fuel.
DF: Drink bottle working out for you?
PT: 10-4.
PT: Who is this front of me?
DF: That's' Roush's quick guy Danny [O' Quinn Jr.]
Having started 37th, Tracy is up to 24th at the restart on lap 4.
PT: A little bit tight.
AH: 10-4 Nice. A four-car draft there and you can run your own little race for half an hour. Just stay out of trouble, number 12 is going to go with you.
AH: On lap 11 you four cars are in the best four spots on the race track.
DF: Let me know where you are tight in Turn Four.
PT: About halfway through to the corner to the two thirds. I can turn down it coming off, but I just have a bit too much wheel.
DF: It sounds like a pretty minor problem.
DF: Just stick with the 60.
AH: Some people are staying back on purpose. Are we going to the forward or stay smart? Go ahead. Use a lane and stick with it.
PT: Pretty tight in the group here.
DF: You're only on 25 per cent of the fuel run here.
AH: Three wide. Three. Two wide. Two wide.
AH: Good job protecting yourself just keep it up. Stay in the lane that is moving.
AH: Looking good Paul just protect yourself so they don't make you three wide.
Tracy is now 16th on lap 22.
PT: Still a little bit tight in the centre.
DF: Mechanically tight or shoving on the exit with no grip?
PT: Shoving on the exit with no grip. It's from now (pause) to when I'm done now.
DF: Cruising along in the 15th/16th position doing real good.
PT: Getting really tight now off of Turn Two.
DF: Try and keep the air of the left front as much as you can.
AH: Clear by five.AH: Clear by five.
PT: Real tight coming off two really tight spot
AH: Draft with the closest one to you so we don't lose it.
Johnny Sauter, Reed Sorensen and Aaron Fike have an accident at Turn 4.
AH: Spin in Turn Four
DF: Hands up. Good hands signals Paul. Fit in at Turn Two.
PT: Tight coming off of two, really tight.
DF: Ready to pit Paul? We are infront of the 26 so you can pit short.
DF: Make sure those brakes are nice and warm on the backstretch so I don't have to work when you get here.
PT: Count me down to the pitbox please Andy.
Before the Green flag, Tracy and Fuge determined behind the pace car that the pit-lane speed limit equated to 3950 on his dash.
AH: You guys up front watch the 28 car come in. 3950 at the cones start looking.
DF: On the brakes Paul. Real straight.
DF: Put it in gear. Wheels straight. Put on the brakes.
AH:Go go go.
AH: Clear to the grass. Clear to the grass. 3950 to there (pause) now you can close up.
DF: How was that for your first NASCAR pitstop?
AH: Going green this time by.
PT: That stop was good guys but my belt has come undone but I've done everything back up now.
DF: Got everything alright Paul? Good job guys.
Tracy restarts 15th on lap 34.
DF: Paul. The only thing I see you could do differently on your next stop is you could stay away from the wall by about a foot here. It is a little bit hard to work.
PT: 10-4 Next time I'm going to angle it a bit more.
AH: All the way up there Paul, don't even let them think about it on the outside.
AH: Pace car is off:
AH: Inside. Three-wide, three-wide. Still three. Two wide.
AH: Protect your line. Keep it coming.
Paul Menard, Carl Edwards and AJ Foyt IV crash on the tri-oval section. Tracy misses the shunt by inches.
AH: Hand up. Still crashing.
PT: I saw that coming.
AH: A lot of debris on the front stretch.
The race is red-flagged and the cars pull into pitlane.
PT: It was real tight and I was having to back pedal it on entry. It would go through the centre and it wouldn't turn where I wanted it to. From the exit at about 80 per cent of the way through the turn it was sliding off 80 per cent coming out of the banking.
AH: A couple of guys are really sliding it and getting it off the corner.
PT: How many if them in that wreck?
PT: Did they get Carl Edwards?
AH: He is done, I'm sure.
PT: Let me ask the question. Are we leading the draft of Busch drivers?
DF: John Andretti is infront and I consider Denny Hamlin a fulltime Busch driver. But you are third.
Doug Barnette is the sport's agent that put Tracy's NASCAR deal together. They get on well.
DF: 100 miles down Paul and I think you are number one from where you started. Doug Barnette says he loves you anyway.
PT: Who?
PT: Why they go red on this deal?
DF: There is just red crap everywhere.
Paul is 9th at the red flag on lap 44.
DF: Looking at doing a wedge adjustment on the next stop.
The debris is cleared and the cars get ready to restart.
AH: Pace car is being peeling off
PT: Crotch belt wasn't connected on that run so I've got that back done up now.
PT: Be ready. If everyone wants to come in I want you to be ready.
No-one comes in.
AH: Coming around to the one to go.
PT: Keep talking to me Andy. The more I know that is going on the better.
DF: Just try to keep the car from sliding the front end, to look after the left front tyre. We are really good.
AH: One to go, ready to go next time by.
AH: Lapped cars coming up in your inside. Remember which ones they are because some are going to race hard and some are going to drop to the back.
AH: Pace car is off, ready, ready, roll it, Green Green.
AH: Follow the air, stick with that 21.
AH: All clear whatever you want.
AH: Outside outside.
AH: Let him go and tuck in there unless you have got to pull.
There is crackle on the radio.
AH: Hung mike guys, hung mike. Get it fixed. Hung mike.
AH: Two by two all the way back. Still outside. Three wide, three-wide. Two wide.
AH: Two by two behind ya.
AH: Clear high.
AH: Three by three. Three wide.
It is lap 50. John Andretti taps Tracy into a spin in Turn Two. Tracy damages both the rear of the car on the wall and the front of the car on the apron.
AH: Walk her down car left.
DF: We need four tyres I don't think you need anything.
AH: Alright Paul bring it to pit road road now. Don't speed. 3950. Messed up the front valence guys I think that's it.
AH: 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1. Change four tyres.
DF: Letting the jack down stay here, Paul. Stay here. Paul.
AH: Go ahead and go. Easy Paul. Easy Paul. No penalties. 3950 to the yellow. 3950 to the yellow line.
DF: We are right. Come back round to pit again.
To limit the amount of laps lost, Tracy leaves the pitlane with work to do before the pace car puts him a lap down.
AH: Safety Trucks in Turn Four.
AH: Track workers in Turn Four. Safety team stuck in the grove. Exiting four.
AH: 3950 at the cone. Pace car is Turn One. No speeding here. 3950 there. And you are ten away.
AH: Take your time. Pace car at exit of two. Easy on those fenders.
Tracy comes in again.
DF: Paul straighten out those tyres so we can check the clearing. Make sure there are plenty of bare bond out there. Don't leave any holes on the nose.
AH: Got about 15 seconds guys.
Tracy exits the pit box.
AH: 3950. Don't get caught up. Go ahead and catch up.
DF: Paul, your nose ain't all that great. Just tuck in behind somebody and stay with them. If you let the draft go you are going to be really slow, so just stay with them.
AH: It was a little help from the 10 car there.
AH: Pace car is off, watch the brake checks back there. Still got a long way to go.
When racing resumes Tracy's car has smoke pouring from the back of it.
AH: Tyre rub we're going to have to fix that pull otherwise we'll have a flat.
AH: Run it down the back, you might get a caution here. Right-front fender.
There is no caution. Tracy brings the car to pitlane.
AH: 3950 at the cone.
DF: Here we are Paul, wheels straight, put on the brakes. Pull the tape off the grill.
DF: Ease it down, now check the clearance. Is it ok or do we need to go back?
DF: What we have got is it good.
DF: It was the left side tyre going into Three. Make sure your water temperature is coming down.
Tracy leaves the pitlane.
DF: Paul you got a copy?
DF: Paul are you there?
AH: Alright the field is at the start and finish line now.
DF: Earn some respect here and don't do anything stupid. They'll remember ya if we do.
DF: Keep digging we might get a caution.
Tracy is now 34th, three laps down.
John Andretti, who was responsible for Tracy's demise, retires with a blown tyre on lap 61.
AH: Keep drafting. That nose is too chewed up to get any kind of drafting. Follow the air Paul - that was the last car in the lead draft.
Caution comes out on lap 77 for debris.
DF: Alright Paul. Caution out watch for debris in Turn Two.
DF: What do you say Paul, are you in there?
DF: We're going to pit on the second time by. We're gonna do gas and work on the nose a little bit.
DF: Here's what we gonna do Paul. We're going fuel you until the end, wait until the big wreck happens and pick up ten spots with attrition. You can still pick up a good finish.
DF: And incase you wanna know, the karma has taken over and the guy who took you out is now behind the wall.
Tracy pits.
AH: It's going to take one full one then a splash. 3950.
AH: Lot of time guys, safety car in Turn One.
Tracy exits the pits.
AH: Ok dig hard and catch up. Left side on the tyres. Track blowers in the grove at the exit of Turn Two.
AH: Want to work on the nose again Dave?
DF: No. Just leave him out there.
AH: I think we're on a lap on our own and start getting the lucky dog I think.
AH: The only car a lap down is the 18. If we get a bunch of cautions were going to start making up a bunch of laps.
AH: One to go Paul. Lap 79.
AH: Green, green.
AH: One more then we've got a bit of a break back here.
AH: All clear, big hole. Coming up on your outside. Clear.
Caution comes out for debris on lap 91.
AH: Metal parts in Turn Two Paul. Caution.
AH: Got a whole train there do your best.
DF: Paul. I know you are not happy right now, but you did a really good job. You ran up front and everybody in the world knows you got turned round. OK? You've just got to ride this thing out.
PT: I know we did guys. I know. We ran up front and that's it.
DF: Here's something to think about. You've got 60 laps on your tyres so try not to abuse them too much. Try not to abuse them too much and they should last just fine.
PT: Ok. So I'll ride this car out.
PT: Confirm for me, we are on lap all by ourselves.
DF: Paul, you racing everyone for distance. Remember you are after that lucky dog. Be courteous to the leaders.
DF: Your nose is chewed up. You are going to go to the back like a rock so just do it sensibly.
AH: Do not beat the leaders to the start finish line. Be a bit behind him all you'll be busted.
The race goes back to green.
Kasey Kahne, Regan Smith, Greg Biffle and Brian Vickers crash on the back stretch.
AH: Hand up Paul big wreck behind you. Big wreck. Still wrecking.
DF: That's one of our laps there Paul. Good job.
PT: How many in that wreck?
AH: I'm thinking five are wounded at least?
DF: Paul. We're still not racing anyone on track it's all about track position.
AH: Paul. Go round the outside to get the lucky dog on the back stretch. Muscle back around in Turn One. And the track is clear.
AH: You've got to be patient. I know that is not in your vocabulary but good job.
AH: Go to the tail of the longest line, that's a lucky dog rule. Start backing her down. The field on the back stretch.
The race goes green for just three laps, before a caution on the backstretch.
AH: Caution out. Watch for debris. Should get one lap more back right here.
AH: We got it again. We'll have to weed our way up when we go to the outside.
PT: 10-4.
DF: Give it all you got because we're going to get the green half a lap back. All you the field is in the middle of three and four. Pass them to the right.
DF: Do you best, get another caution and we are back on the lead lap on this thing.
AH: Spin in the tri-oval. Track is clear. No caution yet. Clear. Keep digging.
AH: He ain't going to make it all the way back around so we're not going to get on back on the lap.
AH: Hustle up on those right side tyres, we're gonna need them.
No caution comes out.
PT: How many laps to go Dave?
DF: 15. Keep pedalling you are doing a great job.
The race goes green for seven laps this time, before Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Jamie McMurray collide going into Turn Three.
AH: Got a spin in Turn Three Paul. Caution is out Paul. Watch for debris. There shouldn't be much. Quicky yellow. We're not going to get there.
Tracy's gets another lucky dog pass and is back on the lead lap.
AH: Don't go yet Paul. They'll take it from you as fast as they give it to you.
DF: Be smart, you run these ten laps clean Paul and you'll get the respect you deserve in this garage Paul.
The race goes green.
AH: 10 laps to go Paul.
AH: Still there. Still there. Outside. Get in behind him he has a fast car.
AH: Stick with that 20 car whatever he does.
AH: Car against the wall in Turn 2. No caution. Keep digging no caution.
David Reutimann crashes at Turn Two.
AH: Caution is out.
PT: What is our position at the line?
DF: Paul 25th Paul. But I'm sure there is going to be another wreck.
PT: How many laps to go?
AH: Seven. They are going to blow the whole backstretch so it will probably be two more laps under yellow.
DF: We've had so many cautions here, you've only had 35 laps on the tyres. Feel free to lean on them on a bit.
PT: Anyone going to come in here and take tyres here? I see the Rockwell crew getting ready?
PT: Who I am racing here? The Menards car?
DF: No. They are all banged to pieces. Just remember choose somebody to go with because your nose is all chewed up. If you pull out you will fall to the back.
AH: Follow the 64 car, we're open the last car on the lead lap.
AH: Stay behind that 64 get that 20 out there.
AH: Stay about two car lengths
PT: What is the 20 car up to?
AH: He's a really good car, Paul, got sent to the back of the field. But he's just weaving around to try and intimidate you.
PT: How about I give him my finger?
DF: They are telling him to move back.
AH: Paul lets finish this thing. He is laying back a bit to get good run.
AH: Pace car is off watch the brake checks.
Green flag.
AH: Back off, let him have it. Clear high if you want it.
AH: Protect the bottom. Slow one on the bottom. Inside, inside, three-wide.
On the final corner of the last lap, Stacy Compton triggers an 11-car wreck.
AH: Big wreck big wreck. Keep it down. Keep it down. Take to the pit road.
Tracy goes to the grass to avoid the carnage.
PT: How many positions did I make up?
AH: Dunno. Maybe five. The timing has frozen so we'll find out on monitors.
DF: You made it fair and square Paul and got the respect you deserved. Well done.
The classification is decided when the caution comes out. Tracy hasn't made up the positions he had hoped to. He is classified 24th but on the lead lap, for his first NASCAR race.