Raines Fights Back to Finish 23rd at Richmond

Tony Raines and the No. 33 Camping World racing team made big strides after an early incident during Friday night’s running of the Circuit City 250 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. Raines ran inside the top-15 for the first 80 laps of the scheduled 250, until a right-front tire went down causing the No. 33 Chevrolet to fall back to the 34th position.  Raines, with the help of his Camping World pit crew, climbed all the way back to finish 23rd. 

After starting ninth, the LaPorte, Ind. native had his hands full with a tight race car.  Over the first 80 laps, Raines drove just outside the top-10 before the fourth caution flag waved, when Justin Diercks made contact with the wall. During the caution, crew chief Dan Stillman called the No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet down pit road for four tires and fuel.  The decision allowed the team to gain one position, before NASCAR penalized Raines for speeding off pit road. Raines, who had a great car, had to start at the tail end of the lead lap cars in 25th.

It didn't take long for the fifth caution to fly over the .75-mile oval.  This gave Raines the opportunity to notify the crew that the No. 33 Camping World Chevy was tight and needed changes if they wanted to battle back into contention for the win.  With only a few cars pitting, Stillman ordered Raines to stay out and gain back as many positions as possible since they had pitted four laps earlier. Raines did move up two positions and restarted 23rd on lap 97. 

What appeared to be business as usual for Raines on Friday night took a dramatic turn on lap 133, when Raines keyed the radio to alert the crew the right front tire was flat.  As the crew prepared on pit road, Raines drove the damaged Chevrolet safely around the track.  Once the Camping World Chevrolet made it to pit road, the crew quickly changed four tires and added fuel.  After a lightning quick pit stop, Raines promptly made his way off pit road when Dange Hanniford crashed in turn two bringing out the caution flag, causing Raines to fall two laps down to the race leader.  

Needing the free pass to get one of two laps back, Raines relied on his crew, which had done a great job all night allowing the team to earn valuable spots coming off pit road. Once the green flag dropped, Raines had to fight eight other cars who were also two laps down.  Restarting upfront, Raines was able to motor around the track with teammate and car co-owner Kevin Harvick, who was in the fifth spot.  Raines would work lapped traffic with Harvick, sometimes passing two cars a lap, before Harvick set sail on the leaders. “Good job Tony, keep digging and you will catch the other lap down cars,” said team spotter Rick Carelli.

The parade of cautions continued on lap 221 and again Raines visited pit road for changes.  The Camping World crew made another round of air pressure adjustments, took four tires and fuel, before sending Raines out to restart 26th.   Now mired back in traffic behind cars that either didn't stop, or took only two tires on pit road, Raines had his work cut out for him. 

With 25 laps remaining and still under caution, Raines had the Camping World Chevy in 25th.  “Great pit stop guys,” radioed Raines. “I think these changes are what we need to gain a few positions.  Please let me know what cars are for position here on out.” 

When the green flag waved on lap 227, Raines was running behind Stephen Leicht and Ward Burton in the 25th position.  Over the final 20 laps, Raines battled back and forth with Leicht and Burton before having the final say with three laps remaining.  Raines crossed the start/finish line in the 23rd position.

Next up for the No. 33 KHI Chevrolet: Tony Stewart will drive the No. 33 Old Spice Chevrolet in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.  Live coverage of the event begins Friday, May 11 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (ET) on ESPN2. The race will also be covered live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Satellite Radio.