BUSCH: Unfortunate "spin" spoils good run at Nazareth

NAZARETH, Pa.-With a week off from NASCAR Busch Series competition, the Superflo/HMV Motorsports team spent a week preparing the No. 63 Monte Carlo for the Econo Lodge 200 held at the Nazareth Speedway in Nazareth, Pa. "When we got back to the shop after Milwaukee we examined every aspect of the car to pin-point our handling problem," said Jeff Hensley, HMV Motorsports team manager. "We made some adjustments to the front-end and came to Nazareth with what we thought would be a really strong racecar." With threatening weather, the NASCAR Busch Series teams got their first round of practice canceled. Leaving them just one practice session to prepare for the late afternoon qualifying session. "We were anxious to get out on the track to see if the changes we had made had worked," continued Hensley. "We were disappointed that we were only going to have one round of practice to get the car set-up for qualifying." The weather delay did not seem to be a problem for the Superflo team as they made good use of the practice improving the car by seven-tenths of a second, putting them eleventh fastest going into qualifying. "When we first took the track the car was tight under throttle," explained Mark Green, driver of the No. 63 Superflo Monte Carlo. "Kenneth (Campbell, crew chief) made some good decisions on how to fix the car and the crew worked hard to give me plenty of time on the track." Going into qualifying, a few adjustments were made that proved to be beneficial as Green drove to the eleventh qualifying position, his second best start of the season. "It is funny that at Milwaukee we struggled to even make the show and that now we are a little disappointed that we didn't make it into the top-ten," laughed Green. "In racing you always want more." "I am really happy with where we are," continued Green. "It shows that hard work really pays off." Riding their stellar qualifying time into Sunday's Econo Lodge 200, Green was confident that they had a strong enough car to carry them into the top-ten before the checkered flag fell. "If we can stay out of trouble and drive a smart race there is no reason why we should not be a top-ten finisher or even break into the top-five," added Green. At the half-way point, it seemed as though that would be the case as Green had worked his way to the sixth position after a green flag pit stop in which the Superflo team gave him four fresh tires and fuel. "The boys did a great job on the pit stop," exclaimed Hensley. "We came into the pits in the sixth position and left in 12th under green. They really worked hard to keep Mark up front." The day seemed to be going as planned until lap 108 when Green got tangled up with a lapped car which sent him into the wall hard, rear end first causing the car to burst into flames. "I had just gotten around a lapped car and was coming down into turn one when the car just spun," explained Green. "I thought that he would give me room to get down, but I guess that wasn't the case. The car was running excellent, but I guess it just wasn't our day." The wreck landed Green in the 42nd finishing position. The team is looking to next weeks race in Pikes Peak to improve their points standings. "Now that we know what the car likes and does not like, we will apply that to our Pikes Peak car," explained Hensley. "It is disappointing that we couldn't finish the race today but at least we learned more about the car. Our season is coming together and our luck will change." The No. 63 Superflo Monte Carlo will participate in next week's NASCAR Busch Series NAPA Auto Care 250 Saturday, July 22 at 3:30 p.m. EST live on ESPN2.