A TOP-20 PERFORMANCE IN MUSIC CITY LANDS RAB RACING A TOP-20 SPOT IN POINTS

Topics:  Scott Riggs, Nashville 300

Jessica Caulder
RAB Racing
April 5, 2010

Nashville, TN (4-3-2010) - Scott Riggs tussled with a tight-handling Ford Fusion during most of the Nashville 300 on Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway. However, his 19th-place finish was good enough to lock him into a top-20 position in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series point standings.

While the effort fell short of the No. 09 team's expectations, the Ben Gable-led crew collectively kept their heads in the game, and along with some lucky breaks, were able to recover from a less than satisfying qualifying effort to turn in their fourth top-20 finish of the season. At the same time the sophomore team advanced two positions in the championship point standings to 19th; a mere 22 markers outside the top-15.

When the green flag dropped Saturday afternoon, the two-time Nashville NASCAR Nationwide Series winner began making his way through the field. By lap 13, he was up to 26th and was quick to report that his machine was extremely tight, a circumstance that would plague the team throughout the entire 225-lap event.

A welcomed opportunity for relief came on lap 32 when the afternoon's second caution flag was displayed for a NASCAR mandated competition caution. Gable brought his veteran driver down pit road for adjustments. A spring rubber in the right rear, chassis adjustment, four tires and fuel were in order for the No. 09 machine before heading back out onto the 1.333-mile track.

Restarting 29th, and still struggling from an ill-handling Ford Fusion, Riggs was able to pass four more cars on the race track but due to a long green-flag run lost one lap to race leader, Kevin Harvick. As the leaders began hitting pit road just past the 100-lap mark for scheduled stops, an accident in turn-4 brought out the fourth caution on lap 106. Riggs, had not made his scheduled stop and was scored in the fourth position still one lap down.

However, the No. 09 machine would capture the "Lucky Dog" award for being the first car one lap down and after making a pit stop for four tires including an air pressure adjustment, fuel and a chassis adjustment the fan sponsored Ford would restart 4th.

The veteran driver maintained a position in the top-15 over the next 80 circuits. Gable's last hope of finding his driver's comfort level came on lap 192 when the afternoon's final caution flag was displayed for a spin on the frontstretch. A four tire stop including an air pressure adjustment and chassis adjustment were in order for the machine. Riggs would return to the racing surface in the 16th position.

Over the final 30 laps, Riggs would fall back to the 19th position where he remained as he crossed the line for the 225th time. Kevin Harvick would go on to win the event.

"We struggled with a tight handling race car this weekend which was the same problem we worked on during the race," said Riggs. "We were lucky with the way the race played out because we were able to salvage a decent finish. The car is virtually unscathed and now we can get it ready for Texas. My only regret is not to have had a better performance for all of the fans who went above and beyond to support our efforts in Nashville."

The NASCAR Nationwide Series will head west for the first of two stops on the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule at Phoenix International Raceway. The Bashas' Supermarkets 300 will be televised live on ESPN2, Friday April 9th beginning at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and can be heard on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) at 9:15 p.m. ET.

For more information on RAB Racing please visit: www.teamrab.com
For more information on Scott Riggs please visit: www.scottriggs.com