Hanes 500 Live Report by Stephen Seib

It was an awful day last Sunday which the rain did not cooperate with the fans and drivers and the teams. The race was delayed for a few hours with all the rain pouring on all of us who did not find a place to keep themselves dry. But that did not prevent the drivers to walk across the trailer when they were called for introductions. Derrike was the first one to be called on. He looked cool as he walked across the trailer. It was still raining for a few hours until someone announced that the race will be postponed until Monday September 29 at 11 A.M. Afterwards the fans went to the parking lot to leave. Some cars and trucks were stuck on the mud at the parking lot. The crews were not allowed to make adjustments for the race on Monday.

Then most of the fans returned to the track on a beautiful sunny day with the highs around 70 or 75 with a few small clouds across the sky. The weather finally cooperated with all of us. There was only one concession stand that was opened and the line was long. I noticed that most of the fans brought their own food. There was some gentle breeze that made the weather a little bit tiny cool.

The drivers were called for introductions again, this time, without truck trailers. They just came to the start/finish line when called. Derrike was the first one, of course, to be called because he started 42nd with a provisional spot. I was thrilled to see him race because he failed to qualify last year.

Derrike passed a few cars after the beginning of the race. He was doing great until on lap 117 when Robert Pressley and the #77 Ford hit the wall and the car just moved to the left and Derrike hit the left side of #77 and the right front tire of Derrike's car was almost cut off, but he managed to go behind the wall for some repairs. He had lost some laps, around 50 or 55 laps before he returned to the race. I was glad to see him return to the track so he could earn some more points for the point standings. He drove around the track for a while until around lap 361 when he came behind the wall again for some repairs, then returned to the track. Around lap 385 or a few laps before that, Derrike was out of the race. He finished 36th. It was better than not starting the race last year.