Dan Pardus Press Release-July 24, 2000

July 24, 2000

SHOULD OF...

Dan Pardus finished 22nd, one lap down in the Pepsi 200 at Pocono Speedway. He should of finished third, maybe second or perhaps even first.

Dan expressed the team's disappointment after the race. "We had a top five car going in, and felt strong about our chances to win. It just didn't happen today."

To win at a Speedway event, a hundred or more different things need to happen right all at the same time. One thing goes wrong and you'll listen to the driver at the post-race interview echo those famous words. "Oh well, that's racing!"

Dan started the race fourth, behind outside polesitter Ryan Newman. Dan commented, "At the start, our car was a little tight and there was difficulty turning in the corners. We dropped back a few spots and hoped to ride it out. An early caution on lap 15 gave us a chance to change tires and adjust the set up. This pit stop turned out to be our one bad omen. A loose lug nut caused a severe vibration and we had to make an unscheduled pit stop on lap 19. It put us a lap down."

In ARCA racing, regaining a lost lap is difficult because you are not allowed to race back to the line on yellow flag conditions. (except during the last 10 laps of a race.) If you are in front of the leader when the caution comes out, you restart the race in front of the leader, not at the end of the line of lead lap cars. At one late caution, it appeared that Dan regained his lost lap, but the caution flag came out when the leader was on the back stretch, and Dan could not improve his position at the start/finish line. He was placed behind the leader at the restart.

After being a lap down, Dan ran with the leaders the balance of the race, always sandwiched somewhere between the top five cars. On the restarts, he outpaced race leaders, Bob Strait and/or Ryan Newman for several laps. In the final laps, Dan passed Kerry Earnhardt for third. (no 22nd, a lap down) and then moved away from the field in a three car draft with race leaders Bob Strait and Ryan Newman. When Bob Strait was bumped into the inside retaining wall just passed turn two with three laps to go, Dan was second (no, still 22nd) behind new leader and race winner Ryan Newman. After his early race malady, Dan showed the field and race fans he had a car that could win.

Car owner, Jim Gardner, though upset, spoke of the team positives. "We have improved each race and the team works well together. It is unfortunate that little things are keeping us out of Victory Lane." Jim added, "We give a lot of praise to our engine builder. Wegner Motorsports. Our engine today was not new, but it had the power and durability to keep in contention all day. Carl Wegner and his staff have been good for our race program."

Before ending the post race interview, Dan remembered his fans and friends. "I want to personally thank everyone for the cards and e-mails we have been receiving. It means a lot, especially when you have a bad week, that so many people support the team and believe it will not be long before we have a victory. It really helps keep the team and I excited going to the next race knowing that our fans, family, and friends are behind us. Thanks again for all the support!"

Dan and the team are scheduled to conduct a Hoosier tire test at the Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday, July 26th. Dan's next race will be a return visit to the Kentucky Speedway on August 26th.

At the next race, we're looking forward to a hundred more things going right all at the same time. No more should of's......