NASCAR: J.R. Fitzpatrick Dover (Del.) International Speedway Post-race Report 5.31.2009

J.R. Fitzpatrick: No. 4 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet Silverado
AAA Insurance 200 Post-Race Report
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race 7 of 25 — Dover (Del.) International Speedway

Fitzpatrick Rallies From Early-Race Spin; Finishes 11th at Dover

DOVER, Del. (May 31, 2009) – J.R. Fitzpatrick was able to overcome an early-race spin and climbed as high as eighth before finishing 11th in the AAA Insurance 200 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway in his first start behind the wheel of the Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado.

“I don’t really know what happened there (on the lap three spin), it just happened so quickly,” said Fitzpatrick. “We came back and were comfortably sitting around the 15th position all day just trying to save our right-front tires because there were so many guys having right-front tire troubles. When it was time to go, we drove up into the top 10 and I was running 10th on that last restart. It was a great experience for me and I brought the truck back in one piece. It’s a little damaged, but it’s in one piece. I guess that’s why they call Dover the ‘Monster Mile.’”

After starting the race from the 16th position, Fitzpatrick spun while exiting turn two on the third lap and made contact with the inside retaining wall, damaging the front and rear fenders on the left side of his No. 4 KHI Chevrolet Silverado. The crew made repairs to the truck on the next two laps and was able to keep Fitzpatrick on the lead lap.

Fitzpatrick was running in the 28th position when NASCAR officials called a competition caution on lap 47. Having taken four tires 10 laps earlier, crew chief John Monsam decided to only take fuel, which put Fitzpatrick inside the top 20. He restarted from the 17th position on lap 51.

When the caution came out just past the half-way point of the race on lap 102 for an accident in turn four involving James Buescher, Monsam called Fitzpatrick down pit road for the crew to give him four tires and take a spring-rubber out the left-rear before taking fuel on the next lap. He restarted 14th on lap 106.

Fitzpatrick found himself inside the top 10 on lap 138 when he restarted from the eighth spot after taking right-side tires and fuel on his next cycle of pit stops after the caution came out for debris on lap 134. After settling into the 13th spot on lap 170, Fitzpatrick was called down pit road for his final pit stop on lap 185 after the caution came out for an accident in turn two involving Kyle Busch and Colin Braun. Again, Fitzpatrick took right-side tires and fuel, putting him in the 10th position for the final restart on lap 190. He held onto the 11th spot on the final lap for his second top-15 finish in his fifth start of the 2009 season.

Brian Scott scored his first-career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory by winning the race. Rounding out the top five were Dennis Setzer, David Starr, Jason White and Johnny Sauter. The series continues next Friday, June 5, at Texas Motor Speedway for the Winstar World 400, with Ricky Carmichael returning to the driver’s seat of the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado.

Media Contact: Tyler Patterson   |   Kevin Harvick Inc.