CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY RACE RECAP
AJ ALLMENDINGER • No. 43 Geek Squad Ford Fusion
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AJ Allmendinger started in the 13th position in his third career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in Joliet, Ill.
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Allmendinger collected his 10th top-15 finish of the season on Saturday night, finishing 14th
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Allmendinger now stands in 22nd place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings after 19 races
Race Summary: AJ Allmendinger lined his No. 43 Geek Squad Ford Fusion up in the 13th position for the start of Saturday night’s event at Chicagoland Speedway. As the opening laps of the 267-lap event unfolded, Allmendinger relayed to crew chief Mike Shiplett that he was fighting a tight handling condition with his No. 43 Ford. Despite the issue, Allmendinger was able to maintain his position in the top-15.
At Lap 39, the first of four caution flags flew and allowed Shiplett an opportunity to bring his driver down pit road for four tires, fuel and some air pressure adjustments. The No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports crew delivered a solid stop, and sent their driver out with a gain of five positions. The field went back to green with Allmendinger inside the top-10.
As the race approached the 100-lap mark, Allmendinger felt his Ford Fusion was still too tight. After a round of green flag pit stops, the No. 43 brushed the wall, which caused right side damage to the Geek Squad machine. Even though Allmendinger was able to maintain position on the track, a much needed break came to the Richard Petty Motorsports team with a caution at Lap 129. The yellow flag period allowed Shiplett to bring Allmendinger down pit road for repairs to the spoiler, which had affected the aero of the car. The Geek Squad crew also bolted on four new Goodyear tires, added fuel, made minor trackbar and wedge adjustments and checked for any further right side damage. The crew was able to get everything done and keep their driver on the lead lap.
The field went back to green at Lap 135 with the No. 43 of Allmendinger slated in the 23rd position. With another caution at Lap 137, the crew took the opportunity to make a right front shock adjustment in an effort to continue to improve the condition of the car. As the remaining laps wound down, Allmendinger fought his way from the 23rd position to finish the event 14th. The top-15 result was the driver’s 10th of the season.
Allmendinger on the Chicagoland Event:“The last couple of years I have been here you get loose the beginning of the race and then as the night goes on it gets looser. We were just way too tight the whole time. I hit the wall there and got way tight off turn two and that hurt us for a little bit. The guys did a great job to get it back to pretty much where it was. We just were fighting tight all night and struggling with that. I will take finishing 14th. One of my goals the last 18 races is to be in the top-15 every race. If we do that I think we will keep making up points. We are going to have days like this, but to get a 14th out if it is good. I am proud of the guys. We all deserve better and we will keep working at it.”
The following is the finish position of the other Richard Petty Motorsports drivers:
KASEY KAHNE • No. 9 Budweiser Ford Fusion 6th
PAUL MENARD • No. 98 Moen/Menards Ford Fusion 10th
ELLIOTT SADLER • No. 19 Stanley/ACE/CMN Ford Fusion 21st
NEXT RACE INFORMATION:
Date: July 25, 2010
Race: Brickyard 400
Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Laps: 160Laps/400 Miles
TV Information: 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Radio Information: 1 p.m. ET on IMS and Sirius Radio Satellite Radio