The "Lady In Black" goes easy on the RFR drivers
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Points leader Greg Biffle Photo by Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs |
Luckily, the Roush Fenway Racing boys managed to avoid
damage during the race and still all finish in the top 12.
Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M/OH/ES Ford, started the
race as the polesitter, his second pole position of the season (with the first
being at Bristol Motor Speedway in March). Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 EcoBoost Ford, started the race in 7th
position. Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 17 Zest Ford started the race on the
inside of the 10th row, in 19th position.
Given the race had no cautions until Lap 172, the Roush drivers and teams went through three rounds of green flag pit stops until the
first caution came out. In each pit stop, the teams all went for fresh tires,
fuel, and minor air pressure adjustments. Throughout the race, the RFR Ford
cars handled well, for the most part, with only minor wedge, track bar, and air
pressure adjustments needed.
All of the organization's drivers stayed within the top 10 until
around Lap 230. At that point, Kenseth and Edwards occasionally found
themselves dropping into positions in the high teens. Biffle managed to stay
within in the top six for the most part.
With 38 laps to go, caution number eight allowed an opportunity
for yellow flag pit stops. Biffle and Kenseth chose to stay out, but Bob
Osborne, crew chief of the No. 99 car, chose to have Edwards pit for new tires,
a wedge adjustment and fuel. Edwards would restart in the 17th
position (with Biffle in fifth and Kenseth in sixth, having
not pitted.)
This decision proved to be somewhat helpful for Edwards.
With fresh tires and no need to save fuel like most of the other drivers on the
lead lap, Edwards was able to climb into the top 10 in just a small number of laps. Another
caution came out, but unfortunately for Edwards, there were no pit stops from those ahead of him to allow him to gain extra positions.
With a green-white-checkered finish, Jimmie Johnson finally gave Hendrick Motorsports their elusive 200th Cup series
win. Kenseth finished highest for RFR, in the sixth position, with
Edwards right behind him in seventh. Biffle would battle with old tire
issues and finish in the 12th position.
Biffle remains atop the point standings, with Kenseth only
two points behind him in second. Edwards gained a spot this week, now
in the 10th position, 74 points behind Biffle.
Congratulations to Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports on the
win at Darlington. Also, congratulations to all the RFR drivers for their
respectable finishes.
See you at the All-Star race!
TOP TWEETS OF THE
WEEK
*No Top Tweets this week. Our RFR drivers were surprisingly
quiet, for the most part. Look for great tweets next week, though, as the
drivers are at the home base in Charlotte for two weeks!*
The "Lady In Black" goes easy on the RFR drivers
Reviewed by Brianne Newsome
on
Monday, May 14, 2012
Rating:
