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Press Releases by Deborah Renshaw
July 4, 2005
Renshaw Grinds Out Finish in Kansas
Kansas City, KA – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
driver Deborah Renshaw has been visiting tracks for the first
time in her career a lot this season and it has been a true
test. On Saturday, Deborah made her career debut at the Kansas
Speedway and steered her No. 8 DODGE to a 26th place finish
in the running of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250.
“Unfortunately this was a tough weekend for me,”
stated Deborah. “I never fully could get comfortable
with the truck and track together. My guys stayed behind me
and kept me pumped up throughout the weekend. We were gaining
on it there in the second half of the race and we turned some
of our best laps of the weekend. What was important was that
I finished the race and gained some valuable experience on
the track here in Kansas for future races. This was not the
type of run we were hoping for but in all it was a good day
for experience and solid seat time. ”
Deborah struggles began during the two practice sessions
on Friday and continued in qualifying where her time earned
her the 34th starting spot for Saturday’s race. Race
day brought warm temperatures and a large crowd in the stands
for the 250-mile event on the 1.5-mile track. The green flag
flew and Renshaw rode around the 30th position as she radioed
to her crew that the No. 8 DODGE was extremely loose.
Deborah would come down pit road for the first time on lap
31 for four fresh tires, fuel and an adjustment for the loose
condition. Back to green flag racing, the No. 8 DODGE would
continue to run around the 30th position but Deborah began
to turn some consistent lap times. A timely caution on lap
66 awarded Renshaw and her team the precious “lucky dog”
award and a return to the lead lap. Under the caution, she
would make another trip down pit road to the attention of
her BHR2 crew for four tires and fuel. With the race reaching
the halfway point, Renshaw would return to the track around
the 30th spot and ride there for a good portion of the next
50 laps.
A few late cautions in the event would allow Deborah to come
down pit road for a few adjustments as the BHR2 team worked
to improve the truck for its driver. This along with the track
time seemed to be helping the Bowling Green, Kentucky native
as she patiently picked up some valuable positions on the
track in the remaining laps of the event. In the end, Renshaw
would bring home her No. 8 DODGE to a safe 26th place finish.
“I welcome challenging weekends like this as I think
I learned some things out there today about this track that
hopefully will help me throughout the rest of the season,”
said Deborah. “This was one of those gut checking events
for me and this team and I think it will pay some dividends
here down the road. It was a hot one out there today as well
and it tested your conditioning and concentration. I will
take what I learned here in Kansas and move on to the next
event.”
Deborah will be returning to a familiar track this coming
week as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series visits the home
state of Renshaw and the Kentucky Speedway for the running
of the Built Ford Tough 225.
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