Accident Spoils Run for GMAC Racing at RIR

RICHMOND, Va. (May 5, 2003) – The season’s first night race provided plenty of action for GMAC Racing as a record 14 cautions slowed Friday night’s NASCAR Busch Series event at Richmond International Raceway. The race ended under the yellow flag as an accident with four laps remaining collected many of those cars running in the top-10, including Brian Vickers, driver of the No. 5 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet. After starting 21st, Vickers slid back to 28th during the opening laps, but started to improve his track position from that point on. During the second caution flag, the GMAC team elected to pit on Lap 61 for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment. Prior to the pit stop, Vickers radioed crew chief Lance McGrew that the car was loose getting into the corners and tight in the center of the turns. Vickers restarted the race on Lap 72 in 19th. On Lap 86, Vickers did a great job avoiding an accident in Turn 3 and managed to gain three more positions. After the wreck was cleared, Vickers restarted in 14th. The next 30 laps were slowed by three caution flags, and since track position was so important, the GMAC team elected to stay out until Lap 124 when they brought the No. 5 Chevrolet to pit road for four tires and fuel. With each pit stop, the handling of the car slowly improved, but because of all of the caution flags, it was difficult for Vickers to establish a rhythm and pass cars during the short green-flag runs, so the team resorted to making a timely call to pit, which improved their track position dramatically for the final 50 laps. On Lap 216, Vickers had moved into eighth and was holding his position until Lap 246 when Ron Hornaday spun in front of Vickers. He slowed to avoid the spin, but the car behind him did not, sending the No. 5 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet into the backstretch wall. Vickers quickly re-fired the car and managed to remain on the lead lap. Fortunately for the GMAC team, the race ended under caution with Vickers finishing 16th. Despite the late-race accident, Vickers managed to move back into 10th place in the Busch Series driver standings. The GMAC Racing team will return to action on Saturday, May 10 at Gateway International Raceway for the running of the Charter Pipeline 250. Live coverage begins on FX at 2:30 p.m. EDT.