EARLY DAMAGE ON THE NO. 09 FORD ENDS A PROMISING RUN FOR MCCUMBEE AT CHARLOTTE

Topics:  Chad McCumbee, Tech-Net Auto Service 300

Jessica Caulder
RAB Racing
May 31, 2010

Concord, NC (5-31-2010) – Contact with another competitor on a restart at lap nine proved to be costly for Chad McCumbee and RAB Racing in Saturday’s Tech-Net Auto Service 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The damage suffered resulted in a 27th-place finish for McCumbee in his first NASCAR Nationwide Series start at the 1.5-mile oval.

At the end of the day the incident cost McCumbee and company momentum in their battle back into the top-25. The sophomore team remains 27th in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series point standings, a mere 28 points outside the top-25 and 127 markers outside the top-20.

McCumbee started the 300-mile event in the 15th position, recording the 25-year-old Supply, NC native’s best NASCAR Nationwide Series start in four attempts and RAB Racing’s best start in 2010.

Following the afternoon’s first caution for an accident in turn-2, the 43-car field took the green flag for the second time in the 200-lap shootout. However, the No. 11 machine of Brian Scott did not get going, causing the pack to stack-up and ultimately sending McCumbee into the rear of the No. 15 machine of Michael Annett.

McCumbee made his way down pit road three times under caution to repair the damage to the nose and front fender. When racing resumed on lap 12, the No. 09 TheGPSstore.com Ford Fusion was scored in the 36th position, but still on the lead lap.

McCumbee used the next 92 green flag laps to work his way through the field and was sitting in the 26th position, two laps down when the afternoon’s third caution flag was displayed for debris in turn-3. Two trips down pit road were in order for the No. 09 machine for four tires, fuel and to further fix the damage on the hood. When racing resumed on lap 108 McCumbee was scored 31st.

McCumbee found his way back into the top-25 by lap 167 and was running in the 24th position at lap 188 when the yellow flag was displayed for an accident in turn-4. The RAB Racing crew used this opportunity to come down pit road for four tires and fuel and would restart 28th with 9 scheduled laps remaining in the 200-lap event.

With one lap remaining in the 12th event on the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule, the yellow flag was thrown for the seventh and final time for an accident in turn 4. The race would go into “over drive” and McCumbee would cross the start/finish line in the 27th position. Kyle Busch would go on to capture his 35th NASCAR Nationwide Series victory.

Up next for the NASCAR Nationwide Series is the second stop of the season at Nashville Superspeedway. The Federated Auto Parts 300 will take the green flag Saturday, June 5 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Race coverage will be televised on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET and also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) at 7:00 p.m. ET.

For more information on RAB Racing please visit: www.teamrab.com
For more information on Chad McCumbee please visit: www.ChadMcCumbee.com
For more information on TheGPSstore please visit: www.TheGPSstore.com

Jessica Caulder
RAB Racing with Brack Maggard
Public Relations/Travel Coordinator
704-788-7811 Shop
704-788-7806 Fax
803-240-5807 Cell
JCaulder@teamrab.com
www.teamrab.com