Motor Sports Update
#20 Team Takes the Checkers at Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI (June 23, 2007) — This week the NASCAR Busch Series unloaded at the oldest track on the circuit, the Milwaukee Mile. Home of primary sponsor Rockwell Automation, the crew brought a brand new car for this event. With Denny Hamlin having Nextel Cup obligations in Sonoma, CA, it would be up to driver Aric Almirola to handle the setup and qualifying duties again this year.
During practice, Almirola quickly showed the speed of this car. Easily posting the 2nd fastest time in both practice sessions, Almirola wondered if an early draw would hamper his attempt to defend his Busch Pole qualifying effort at Milwaukee last year. Even with a couple close calls, Almirola claimed his second Busch Pole of the year & his second Busch Pole at the Milwaukee Mile.
As the beginning of the race neared, Hamlin remained on a tight schedule, but landed at the Milwaukee airport at 7:00 p.m. As the helicopter neared the track, the Milwaukee Mile Race Operations Director notified the helicopter that they would be unable to land at the helipad due to that fact they had parked cars in that area. Requesting that the helicopter remain near, they would land it on the turn 3 section of the race track. As the time to the race neared, the track changed their mind and informed the pilot he would not be able to land on race track property and will need to return to Milwaukee General Airport. With the race just minutes from starting, Aric Almirola climbed in the car and prepared to begin to race as Hamlin and spotter Curtis Markham climbed into a rental car and headed to the race track.
Almirola showed the strength of the #20 car as he led the first 43 laps of the event while Hamlin was getting to the track. During lap 57, Almirola brought the car to pit road and Hamlin assumed driving duties. With the adjustments to seatbelts and the seat, Hamlin would come out in the 31st position, one lap down to the leaders. As the race restarted a long green flag run ensued. Hamlin quickly put himself in the position for the lucky dog but as race leader Carl Edwards continued to set a furious pace and add cars to the lap down list, Hamlin had trouble keeping up. After 65 green flag laps, Hamlin had moved up to 17th place but still remained a lap down to the leaders. He would have to wait until the caution period on lap 145 to receive the free pass and join the cars on the lead lap in the 16th position. It was this point the crew made a critical decision. With only two sets of tires left, Crew Chief Dave Rogers called for Hamlin to come to pit road for fresh rubber. As the race restarted, Hamlin began his assault on the front. Challenged with a lot of traffic in front of him, Hamlin moved into the top-ten in less than 5 laps. By lap 165 when the caution flew, Hamlin had climbed up to fifth. As the leaders went to pit road, they made the decision to use their last set of tires and hope for a long green flag run. The pit crew turned around their best stop of the night returning Hamlin to the track second behind the 29 car and two cars that did not pit. When the race restarted, Hamlin made quick work of those cars and assumed the lead for the first time of the night on lap 173.
Extending to almost a four second lead, the long run ended with a caution on lap 222 and the team knew all the cars behind him would come to get their last set of tires. So Hamlin led the leaders to pit road and they chose to put on the 16-lap tires that just came off the car. Worried they might be a little tight, Hamlin returned to the track behind two cars who took only two tires. After a quick caution, the two leaders battled door by door, Hamlin jumped to the inside making a daring three wide pass and assumed the lead. Hamlin would lead the final 13 laps and took the checkered flag first. Almirola would be credited with the win since he started the event but it was a great win for hometown company Rockwell Automation and both their drivers.
This weekend, the NASCAR Busch Series heads to Loudon, NH for the Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com at New Hampshire International Speedway. This event is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ABC.
