DieHard 500 Live Report by Greg Leizear

Saturday
I attended the Busch Race on Saturday - sure was ugly for the #92 Kraft car and a lot of others. Sure hope tomorrow's race isn't the same.

Sunday
Prior to the race, the #30 car was late through tech, along with several other cars. At 12:00 noon, the #30 is put in the line up. Finally, at 12:10pm, the command to start the engines came. Prior to the start, Doug Hewitt, crew chief, said to be prepared for 2-tire stops.

At the start of the race, it was obvious that Derrike had a fast car and that he would be a contender all day.

Here is some information heard on the scanner and my thoughts:

• Lap 11 - "can't get no help" - back to 19th (I guess Derrike didn't have a dancing partner)
• Lap 24 - In the top ten (where is Echo?)
• Lap 40 - back to 7th
• Lap 55 - pit - took 2 tires/gas, pitted with #18 car
• Lap 58 - 8th
• Lap 75 - 4th (Echo must be in the car - found out today that my guess was correct!)
• Lap 80 - Crew chief advised to work with #88 to go to the front
• Lap 90 - Derrike angry with #88 not working with him. Hewitt told Derrike to stay calm, Derrike replied, "I'll be calm."
• Lap 94 - 5th position
• Lap 105 - 4 tires/gas
• Lap 109 - caution - debris on the backstretch During the caution, crew wants Derrike to work with #3 car - Derrike said no because Earnhardt wouldn't work with him earlier in the race.
• Lap 114 - 8th at restart of race (Good racing so far - where is the Talladega curse?)
• Lap 120 - falling back - no help - won't let in line
• Lap 130 - caution - gas only - fake a 4 tire change
• Lap 133 - restart
• Lap 141 - accident - red flag - left front damaged - restrictor plate racing (There it is!)
• Lap 147 - repaired car - back out
• Lap 188 - finished 22nd

Derrike said the car was still good and they will use it again at Daytona in July. I thought Derrike had a top 5 car for the race, but, unfortunately, things didn't work out that way.