Hometown Hero Ends Race in 23rd after Late-Race Shuffle
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (February 6, 2010) – Alli Owens put on an outstanding performance in the season-opening Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway, unfortunately the record books won’t reflect it. In front of her hometown, and on racing’s grandest stage, Owens ran her No. 15 ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevrolet in the top-three for the majority of the event and was poised for a career-best finish. However, Owens’ promising run came to and end when she was shuffled out of the draft in the final ten laps and spun out after driving through fluid on the track. Owens and her Venturini Motorsports crew settled for a 23rd-place finish.
Owens started the race from the inside of row 10. Not wanting to force the issue too early, Owens settled into the 25th position after the green flag waved. She was content clicking off laps before she found a partner to draft with to the front.
Things took an interesting turn on lap five. Owens reported that her seatbelt had become loose and she needed to make an unscheduled pit stop for the team to re-secure it. Owens went one lap down as her team fixed the problem, but an auspicious yellow flag waved while the No. 15 car was on pit lane. Owens was awarded the “Lucky Dog” pass and returned to the field on the lead lap. Owens lined up in 28th-place for the ensuing restart.
The race went green on lap 16. A wreck brought out the caution flag before the field completed one circuit. TheElectrifyingCareers.com Chevy moved up three positions prior to the yellow halting the race. The No. 15 team decided to make Owens’ one scheduled pit stop during caution period, so the ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevy came down pit lane for service. The crew changed four tires and topped off the fuel cell. Owens returned to the track in 28th-place.
Green flag action resumed on lap 24. Another caution flag waved on lap 26, with Owens holding down 23rd-place. The majority of the field chose this caution period to make pit stops, but Owens stayed on the track and moved up to third-place.
On lap 31, the race returned to green. With Owens sniffing the lead, the No. 15 car held strong in the third position. Owens’ spotter issued constant reminders for Owens to hold the No. 15 machine on the yellow line, and Owens followed instructions to the tee. Owens fended off several challenges from other cars who aimed to pass her on the outside. Owens remained in the top-five for the next 40 laps and appeared ready to top her previous best finish of sixth-place.
On lap 71, with nine laps remaining, Owens was bumped from behind and knocked out of the bottom groove. Owens was passed by several competitors before she could settle back in line. As she was fighting to rejoin the leaders, the car in front of Owens dropped fluid on the track and the No. 15 car ran through it. Owens spun out and blew a tire in the process. She was forced to make a trip down pit lane for her crew to change her tires. She rejoined the field on the final lap of the event. After a hopeful start, Owens crossed the finish line in 23rd-place.
“We had an amazing car today,” said Owens after the race. ”I was biding my time in third-place. I was just waiting for the final few laps to make a move for the lead. I had no doubt that the ElectrifyingCareers.com car was going to win the race today. Everything was shaping up for us. Unfortunately I got knocked out of the bottom groove in the final 10 laps. I was trying to work my way back into the lead draft when I ran through some fluid that another car dropped on the track. I spun out and that took away any chance of a decent finish.
“My team did an awesome job today. I wish we had a finish that reflected the hard work and effort that they put into my car. If we keep this up, I know that it won’t be long before the ElectrifyingCareers.com car lands a win.”
