Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 Live Report by Carol Dignazio, Patty Leizear, and Angela Walker

Carol Dignazio arrived in Richmond at about 10:00 a.m. on Friday. After meeting up with the rest of her group, she traveled to RIR for practice, Busch Pole qualifying and the Autolite Platinum 250, Busch Grand National Race.

Derrike took quite a few laps in practice and the track grew quiet in preparation for qualifying. Qualifying began at 5:30, and with Derrike very near the end of the 47 cars attempting to qualify, it was a long wait. Derrike's first lap put him in 32nd position, the second lap though he bumped up to 18th. Only one car after him was able to beat that time, and Derrike was set to start the Virginia 400 in 19th starting position.

During first round qualifying, Angela Walker saw Ernie Irvan walk down pit road and stop to talk with Ray Evernham who looked like Jay Frye for about 10 minutes.

Angela observed that Derrike got a little squirrely coming out of pit road to take his first qualifying lap but seemed to hold the track well after that. She was pleased he made the first round by qualifying 19th. Patty Leizear had the same sentiments, but, unfortunately was watching qualifying at home on TV.

Upon returning to the hotel, Carol discovered that the show car was in the lot. The hauler from the SKITTLES® merchandise trailer was also there.

Carol arrived at RIR on Saturday bright and early, about 8am. After a day of tailgating, food, friends and horseshoes, she set off in search of Patty and Angela. Patty & Co. did not get to the track until about 1pm - the traffic was heavier this year. I guess the more seats they add, the more difficult it will become to get in and out of the track.

Everyone met at the SKITTLES® trailer at about 1:30. Carol renewed her friendship with Patty and her husband, Greg, and began building a new one with Angela, a.k.a. The Black Cloud, and her husband, Doug. What a great time! We took a few photos at the SKITTLES® trailer for the website. Carol invited them all back to her group's tailgate party, and there, a group picture was taken.

While at the trailer, Patty left a self-made sign, expressing her deep, emotional sentiments regarding the change in drivers, and thought that a public notice was appropriate ... something about SKITTLES®, Ernie, and Pearle Vision. She wonders how long it stayed there.

The time came to part ways again, creating sad faces for the departure, but smiles soon to reappear because of the friendships that have blossomed. The three made plans to meet after the race in the event that the #36 was piloted to a win! Carol and her group went into the track at about 7pm and Patty joined her and her husband, Tony, in the stands for a few minutes before the race began. Patty took lots of pictures for the website. She felt sadness in seeing the #36 and the #28 car on pit road side by side; it just didn't look right. But, we can hope for better things to come for 1998.

Angela reports that Derrike got as high as 12th during the race but started falling off the pace as the tires and handling seemed to go away before the first pit stop. She heard on the scanner on the second to the last pit stop that Derrike wanted to take a round of wedge out, but Ryan Pemberton said, "Let's go with 1/2 a wedge, we don't want to get too crazy." After the last pit stop, DC's car seemed to be handling extremely well as he passed nearly everyone in the field. A lot of people in the stands around me were making comments and gesturing at the SKITTLES® car flying around the track. Too bad there weren't more laps! He may have finished higher than 16th.

Patty heard the following being said between Ryan and Derrike over the scanner:

• Lap 20 (caution) - Derrike said the car was tight into the middle-off (whatever that means), asked for 1 turn - Ryan said he was doing a good job.
• Lap 32 - temperature okay
• Lap 36 - Ryan said Derrike was keeping a good pace and to keep that rhythm
• Lap 47 - Ryan told Derrike that some drivers were running the high line and it was working good, so he might want to try it. I didn't see that Derrike made any change in his line after Ryan said this.
• Lap 81 - Ryan reassured Derrike that the cars that were passing him were cars that had been in during the caution, so their tires were fresher than his.
• Lap 91 - Derrike complained about something being wrong when coming out of the corners - Ryan only said he'd have to get his rhythm back.
• Lap 106 - took on 4 tires
• Lap 110 - Ryan told Derrike to try to stay up with the #99 car
• Lap 172 - Derrike said the car was tight - he requested 1/2 lb. out of the right front and to raise the track bar 1/2 turn.

Carol, Angela, and Patty all enjoyed the race, especially the last segment of the race when Derrike passed everyone, including the leaders, and then stretched out in front of them by a straight-away. Oh! If only that would have been for the lead!

Sunday morning, Carol caught up with Kevin Meador, SKITTLES® Show Car Driver, and thanked him for assisting with the website and for supporting Derrike. He told her that he would still be working with the SKITTLES® show car, just with a different driver. At that point, Carol assured him she would be sticking with Derrike Cope, and probably wouldn't have any need for the SKITTLES® car. He laughed about that (Carol was just teasing, well, maybe not!) and they parted on a friendly note.

All in all, it was a good day; friends reuniting, new friendships being formed, a good race, and everyone looking forward to seeing the entire group in Charlotte next year.