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Press Releases by Deborah Renshaw
August 15, 2005
Early Three-Wide Mishap Costs Renshaw
Lebanon, TN – With a multitude of family and
friends in attendance, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver
Deborah Renshaw sped to a career best qualifying effort of
eighth at the Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday. Unfortunately,
a lap two three-wide encounter would result in some minor
damage to the No. 8 Heritage DODGE of Renshaw and she would
limp home with a 26th place finish.
“Man, that is just so frustrating to start up front
like that and then be in a three wide situation so early in
the race,” stated Deborah. “I am not sure what happened
or whose fault it was – I just know that we were all
trying to maintain our spots there early on in the race and
a few of us got together and I think I got the worse of it.
What a shame it is because we had an awesome race truck out
there today. My guys put countless hours into this particular
truck and it showed with our qualifying effort. We made a
few adjustments after our practice sessions and they were
the perfect changes.”
Earlier in the day on Saturday, Deborah would guide her No.
8 DODGE around the 1.33-mile concrete oval in 30.004 seconds
which was good enough for the eighth position on the starting
grid. The qualifying effort was a career best for the Bowling
Green, Kentucky native topping her previous best of ninth
earlier this season in Texas.
The green flag on Saturday afternoon fell under rain-threatening
skies but high expectations for Renshaw and her BHR2 team.
Unfortunately, it fell apart for them on lap two when a three
wide situation resulted in some contact between trucks and
sent Deborah and her No. 8 truck spinning through turn four.
The result was some minor damage on the left rear of the truck
but more devastating was the lose of important track position
inside the top ten.
Deborah and her team would battle the entire day and fight
for the precious “lucky dog” honor to regain a lost
lap on the field. The damage to the left rear would be a minor
problem the rest of the race as it hampered the crew from
fueling the No. 8 DODGE and it affected the aero package as
well on the truck. Deborah would also get caught pitting under
green and ultimately would lose two laps in the pits when
a caution came out a few laps later. In all, Renshaw would
battle for all she could get during the 150-lap event and
come home safely with a 26th place finish.
“We all had high hopes after our qualifying effort
and I just hate that we got into trouble so early in the race,”
said Deborah. “But what is important is that we had a
very strong truck and I got myself real comfortable and that
all showed with our starting spot. It was nice to have so
many family members and friends able to attend the race and
I just wish we could have come home with a better finish.
But we have some positives to take from this race and we will
build on them as we enter the stretch run of this 2005 season.”
The finish moved Deborah up one spot into the 26th position
in the overall driver’s standings. Although the series
has a week off before heading to the Bristol Motor Speedway
next Wednesday, Deborah and her team will remain busy with
a two day manufacturer’s test session.
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