Nashville II: Sean Caisse race report

SEAN CAISSE BRINGS HOME RAB RACING'S SIXTH TOP-20 FINISH OF 2010 AT NASHVILLE

Nashville, TN (6-5-2010) -- Sean Caisse, who made his debut with RAB Racing behind the wheel of the No. 09 Ford Fusion this weekend, finished 18th in the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday, June 5 in just his second NASCAR Nationwide Series start at the 1.333-mile oval.

The top-20 performance was Caisse's best NASCAR Nationwide Series finish in four starts and helped build momentum back into the top-25 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series owner point standings for the sophomore team. The No. 09 entry remains 27th in points only 10 markers out of the top-25 and 64 points outside the top-20.

The Pelham, New Hampshire native started the 300-mile event in the 22nd position but due to a tight-handling condition on his Ford Fusion early on, the 24-year-old rookie fell back as far as 27th and lost one lap to the leader in the opening circuits.

At lap 60, in the middle of a long green-flag run, the leaders began to make their way down pit road. However, at lap 63 the afternoon's second caution flag was displayed for an accident on the frontstretch. Caisse, who had not made his way down pit road at the time of the caution, had worked his way up to the 22nd position.

Suffering from a less than perfect handling condition, the No. 09 machine made its way down pit road at lap 65 for four tires, fuel, an air pressure and chassis adjustment. When racing resumed on lap 67, Caisse was scored in the 24th position, still one lap down.

Caisse maintained his position inside the top-25 for the next 41 laps which included a caution flag and pit stop for the RAB Racing team. Therefore, at lap 108 when the fourth caution flag was displayed for an accident on the frontstretch, Caisse was able to take the "wave around" and would be scored in the 22nd position on the lead lap when racing resumed on lap 112.

Just seven laps later, a welcoming opportunity to pit was presented on lap 119 when the event's fifth caution flag was displayed. The No. 09 machine would make its way down pit road for another chassis adjustment, four tires and fuel. The unsponsored Ford Fusion would restart 24th when racing resumed on lap 122.

Over the next 103 laps, Caisse would slowly work his way up the scoring pylon. The No. 09 Ford Fusion would make an additional two pit stops under caution to help aid the handling of the machine and would cross the start/finish line at lap 225 in the 18th position behind race winner Brad Keselowski. The finish improved RAB Racing's spring 2010 Nashville finish by one and captured the team's sixth top-20 performance of the season.

Up next for RAB Racing is the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday, June 12. Caisse, who has two starts at Kentucky Speedway in the ARCA Racing Series including one pole and a second place finish in 2008, will be back behind the wheel of the No. 09 Ford Fusion making his debut at the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

-source: rab racing