Tony Raines Watkins Glen Race Report

Watkins Glen, NY-The NASCAR Busch Series traveled to upstate New York this past weekend to compete on the only road course track on the season's schedule. The 2.45-mile course consists of 11 turns, which can take a toll on many of the drivers.

Tony Raines and the No. 33 Bayer Consumer Care Racing team started Sunday's GNC Live Well 200 in the 26^th position after qualifying for the race with a speed of 117.718 mph. After making a few adjustments to the car after qualifying, Raines and the crew felt confident that the Bayer car was prepared for a great race. "We've got a great race car," crew chief Michael Kadlecik said. "We just need to be patient and run smooth."

After starting towards the back of the 39-car field, Raines was quick to make his way through the pack. While under the second caution, on lap 9, Raines came in to the pits just to top of the fuel.

Raines gained several positions by lap 28, and was up to the 12^th position.  The No. 33 machine only took on one set of tires during the race, which occurred on lap 38. "We're hoping it goes a full course green the rest of the race," crew chief Michael Kadlecik said. "Our strategy is to only take on one set of tires. Goodyear makes a great tire." Raines continued to maneuver his way around the track and by lap 53 he broke into the top-10.

On lap 66 Raines started dropping back a few positions. Unfortunately the car started to slow down and Tony started losing several positions. He radioed into the crew that there was something wrong with the motor. He started losing rpm's and power.  It was all Raines could do to hang on, but the Bayer Chevy Monte Carlo was able finish the race in the 27^th position.

"We had a good race car, but the problem with the motor really hurt us," Raines said after the race. "We struggled in practice with the brakes. Our problems would just not end. It was a tough weekend all the way around."

"Raines was just nursing the car at the end just to finish," crew chief Michael Kadlecik commented. "We had good strategy all day, and we had a top-10 car. There's nothing anyone can do when you lose a valve spring in the motor."

Raines moved back one position in the point standings to be in the 6^th place, but is only 19 points out of the 5^th spot.

Next weekend marks the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL on Saturday.  This will be the third out of four new facilities the Busch Grand National teams have raced this season. The Bayer Consumer Care Racing team will be taking the car that competed at Atlanta, Charlotte, Texas, and California.  This car has finished in the top-10 three tomes out of those four races.