Rodney Childers Concord race notes

CONCORD, N.C. (May 21, 2001) - In the No. 22 Herzog Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Rodney Childers made his American Speed Association (ASA) debut, with a 22nd place finish in yesterday's BFGoodrich 300 held at Concord Motorsports Park in Concord, N.C.

Childers, a Mooresville, N.C.-native turned a solid qualifying lap on Saturday, putting the Herzog Motorsports Chevy on the inside of the second row in the third starting position for the drop of the green flag. Childers was ready for his Herzog Motorsports and ASA debut, after gaining confidence during the three practice sessions held at the facility prior to qualifying.

Known to be the "fastest half-mile" in racing, Concord Motorsports Park was not easy on the 35-car ASA field. A thirteen-car pile-up in turn one on the very first lap of the race forced ASA officials to restart the event. The caution flag would come out 15 separate times during the 300-lap race, making the seventh event on the ASA schedule one of the slowest and messiest of the season.

Childers kept the Chevrolet Monte Carlo solidly in the top-five during the first 100 laps of the race, while dodging several accidents and debris leftover on the track from the numerous wrecks. Childers was riding in the third position when the caution flag flew for the sixth time, and Howie Lettow, crew chief of the Herzog Motorsports-entry, decided it was time for a quick pit stop. On lap 123, Childers brought the No. 22 down pit road to the aid of his crew, allowing the team to put on two right side tires, add fuel, and make a small adjustment, before returning to the 120-degree track. When the race returned to green on lap 125, Childers was in the ninth position, after several cars opted not to pit.

With new tires, Childers began to move the No. 22 back to the front of the pack, while fighting a loose condition and dodging several close calls. Unfortunately, on lap 241, Rodney Childers got loose in turn three of the tricky tri-oval, putting the No. 22 Chevrolet Monte Carlo into the wall. The damage on the Herzog Motorsports-entry was extensive and the car did not return to the track.

"We had a great car today," stated an exhausted Rodney Childers. "The track was really hot and difficult to maneuver with so many wrecks and so much leftover debris. We were looking for a podium finish for Herzog Motorsports, but today just wasn't our day."

Herzog Motorsports is a successful, championship-winning race team. Based in Charlotte, N.C., Milwaukee, Wis. and St. Joseph, Mo., Herzog Motorsports fields teams in the American Speed Association and the NASCAR Busch Series.

The eighth race on the 2001 American Speed Association schedule will be held at Nashville Speedway USA on Saturday, June 2. The Luxaire 300 presented by Hecht's, will start at 9:00 p.m. EST and will be broadcast live on The National Network (TNN).

-HM