DHL 400

June 20, 2004
Brooklyn, MI

Look for Derrike this weekend at Michigan where he will be attempting to qualify Hermie Sadler’s #02 Nextel Cup car and run in the DHL 400. When we spoke to Derrike earlier he indicated that someone would fill in for him this weekend in the Busch Race at Kentucky, although the details had not been finalized as of yet. (NASCAR.COM lists Mark Green as the replacement)

The car is sponsored by The FanZCar/ETT and is the #02 Chevrolet.

In the first practice, Derrike was 43rd fastest with a time of 39.517 and speed of 182.200.

In Qualifying, Derrike's lap was 39.148 with a speed of 183.917. This was not fast enough for the top 38 so the team took a provisional and Derrike will be starting in the 43rd position.

For some reason, the team did not participate in the second practice.

In Happy Hour, Derrike was 41st fastest with a time of 40.662 and speed of 177.070.

Derrike started the race in 43rd position and finished in 42nd position.

Derrike gave us a rundown on what happened this past weekend in Michigan. Derrike said, "Qualifying did not go well. We had limited practice due to a problem with a severe tire rub which cost us one of our sets of tires. We also encountered a problem with the engine the whole time, until Happy Hour when we finally overcame the problem. Once the race started, we were on the rev limiter really hard which made me back out of the throttle way too early. We also had a right rear tire go down and had to pit, and while we were on pit road the caution came out putting us laps down.

"On the restart the car ran a few laps and then the engine misfired and then shut off, and the ignition boxes and the wiring were smoking like we were shorting out something. This ended our day. I was hoping for a better day but it was not to be."