No. 11 Dutch Quality Stone Chevrolet / Jason Keller

Bristol Post-Race Report

Date: Friday, August 24, 2007
Event: Food City 250
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
Pole Sitter: Jason Leffler, 15.947 sec.
Keller’s Qualifying Position: 13th, 16.145 sec.
Race Winner: Kasey Kahne
Keller’s Finishing Position: 24th

CJM Racing Takes on the Worlds Fastest Half-Mile, Finish 24th

(August 24, 2007) Bristol, Tenn.  GPg PR – A newly resurfaced Bristol Motor Speedway made for some exciting racing Friday night under the lights. 43 drivers took to the “Worlds Fastest Half-Mile” and praised the on-track action as cars were going two and three-wide in the corners. Jason Keller and the No. 11 Dutch Quality Stone Chevrolet were front and center for all of the action. Keller put forth a valiant effort and crossed the finish line in the 24th position.

NASCAR Busch Series teams were given some extra track time at Bristol Motor Speedway to help the drivers become accustomed to the new surface. An open practice session commenced Thursday afternoon and as the team took advantage of the opportunity they noticed a problem with the motor causing them to make a last minute decision to switch out motors.

With a new motor in place and a veteran driver behind the wheel of the No. 11 Dutch Quality Stone Chevy, the crew did some minor tweaking throughout Friday’s practice sessions in preparation for the race later that evening. As qualifying drew near the anticipation and temperature rose to high levels. Drawing a late qualifying run, Keller hit the track and turned a quick time of 16.145 seconds placing the No. 11 machine in the 13th starting position.

As the sun fell behind the grandstands, the green flag waved and the Food City 250 got underway for 250-laps of nail biting excitement. Keller maintained his track position and was able to avoid any on-track incidents.

When the first caution flag of the night waved on lap 18, Keller reported in a tight handling condition that was not allowing him to roll through the center of the turns.

The handling condition continued to wreak havoc on the race car as the laps progressed. With that in mind, Crew Chief Todd Gordon called Keller to the pits when the caution flag waved again on lap 52. The No. 11 was brought down pit road for four tires, fuel, an air pressure and track bar adjustment.

Back out on the track and running in the 21st position, Keller found himself in the middle of three-wide racing. The Dutch Quality Stone Chevy held a steady course and Keller managed to avoid a lot of the trouble transpiring on the track.

Concern over the handling plagued the CJM Racing team as the night went on. Gordon would call Keller to the pit six times throughout the course of the event. Track bar, wedge and air pressure adjustments were made in hopes of freeing the No. 11 Chevy up.

“I don’t know what happened to the car. The handling was good during practice but as soon as we hit the track for the race it went downhill. Our front end was pretty banged up from side-by-side racing so maybe that has something to do with it. It’s disappointing but what can you do. We’ll go back to the shop and work on the cars some more and see if we can get this figured out,” explained Keller.

Keller kept the No. 11 Dutch Quality Stone on the lead lap for the entire event and crossed the finish line in the 24th position.

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