Kansas: Deborah Renshaw race notes

RENSHAW GRINDS OUT FINISH IN KANSAS
"Driver Battled Track For First Time"

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS (July 4, 2005) -- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Deborah Renshaw has been visiting tracks for the first time in her career a lot this season and it has been a true test. On Saturday, Deborah made her career debut at the Kansas Speedway and steered her No. 8 DODGE to a 26th place finish in the running of the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250.

"Unfortunately this was a tough weekend for me," stated Deborah. "I never fully could get comfortable with the truck and track together. My guys stayed behind me and kept me pumped up throughout the weekend. We were gaining on it there in the second half of the race and we turned some of our best laps of the weekend. What was important was that I finished the race and gained some valuable experience on the track here in Kansas for future races. This was not the type of run we were hoping for but in all it was a good day for experience and solid seat time."

Deborah struggles began during the two practice sessions on Friday and continued in qualifying where her time earned her the 34th starting spot for Saturday's race. Race day brought warm temperatures and a large crowd in the stands for the 250-mile event on the 1.5-mile track. The green flag flew and Renshaw rode around the 30th position as she radioed to her crew that the No. 8 DODGE was extremely loose.

Deborah would come down pit road for the first time on lap 31 for four fresh tires, fuel and an adjustment for the loose condition. Back to green flag racing, the No. 8 DODGE would continue to run around the 30th position but Deborah began to turn some consistent lap times. A timely caution on lap 66 awarded Renshaw and her team the precious "lucky dog" award and a return to the lead lap. Under the caution, she would make another trip down pit road to the attention of her BHR2 crew for four tires and fuel. With the race reaching the halfway point, Renshaw would return to the track around the 30th spot and ride there for a good portion of the next 50 laps.

A few late cautions in the event would allow Deborah to come down pit road for a few adjustments as the BHR2 team worked to improve the truck for its driver. This along with the track time seemed to be helping the Bowling Green, Kentucky native as she patiently picked up some valuable positions on the track in the remaining laps of the event. In the end, Renshaw would bring home her No. 8 DODGE to a safe 26th place finish.

"I welcome challenging weekends like this as I think I learned some things out there today about this track that hopefully will help me throughout the rest of the season," said Deborah. "This was one of those gut checking events for me and this team and I think it will pay some dividends here down the road. It was a hot one out there today as well and it tested your conditioning and concentration. I will take what I learned here in Kansas and move on to the next event."

Deborah will be returning to a familiar track this coming week as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series visits the home state of Renshaw and the Kentucky Speedway for the running of the Built Ford Tough 225.

-www.deborahrenshaw.com