Dover: Wood Brothers Racing race report

Wood Brothers U.S. Air Force F-150 Worked Through Toilsome AAA Insurance 200 Toq5th Place Finish

Dover, DE (June 1, 2008)-Wood Brothers Racing crew worked the U.S. Air Force F-150 into the 15th place position after a 200 lap race full of adjustments and pursuant driving.

Wood took the green flag in the 26th position after a qualifying run Friday morning that was less than what the team was looking for, yet a position where moving to the front was feasible. Immediately, Jon reported a tight condition that prohibited him from turning the race truck adequately. Despite the condition, he moved up to the 23rd position by lap 5. The first caution of the evening came out on lap 12 when crew chief John Monsam called the no. 21 down pit road to make adjustments to the truck, get four tires and fuel. Wood returned to the track and restarted in the 28th position.

By lap 25, Jon raced the U.S. Air Force F-150 up to the 23rd position and was still reporting the same tight condition. On lap 36, the leader, Kyle Busch, passed Wood to put the no. 21 one lap down but still scored in the 23rd position. The second caution flag flew on lap 50 and the no. 21 U.S. Air Force machine came down pit road for tires, fuel and more adjustments to assist with the tight condition. The speedy Wood Brothers Racing pit crew sent Jon Wood back to the race track where he restarted the race on lap 57 in the 23rd position.

Half- way through the race on lap 100 and two more cautions, the Wood Brothers Racing team made several major adjustments to assist with the handling of the no. 21 race truck with little improvement. However, on lap 131 when the caution flew again for the seventh time, Jon Wood was awarded the "lucky dog" and won his lap back, which put the no. 21 back on the lead lap. At this point, the team decided to pit and make major adjustments and try something new. 21 team crew members, Josh Leslie and Josh Chaney, swiftly got under the rear of the truck and made adjustments to the track bar as per the call from Crew Chief John Monsam. They sent the truck back out to the race track without any tires as they anticipated more cautions to ensue. The race restarted on lap 134 and the no. 21 was scored in the 18th position.

By lap 150 and in the 17th position, the Wood Brothers race team sought a caution for much needed new tires. Anticipation lasted until lap 170 when the caution flag flew and gave the no. 21 team the opportunity to pit for fresh tires and fuel. The Wood Brothers racing crew hit the pit stop spot on and sent Wood back to the track in the 15th position where he restarted the race on lap 175.

Jon Wood commented on how much better the adjustments made the truck. He said, "You guys have no concept of how good this truck is." As the final laps of the race approached, Wood remained in the 15th position where he took the checkered flag on lap 200.

"You guys did a great job with the pit stops and the truck was the best it's been since Las Vegas." Wood finished third at Las Vegas in 2007.

-credit: wbr