Ricky Carmichael/ N0. 4 Monster Energy Toyota Race Recap

VENUE: DAYTONA
INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (2.5-MILE TRI-OVAL)

CIRCUIT: ARCA RACING
SERIES PRESENTED BY RE/MAX AND MENARDS

RACE: LUCAS OIL SLICK
MIST 200 (Race 1 of 20)

DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2010
(80 LAPS, 200 MILES)

START:  14^th

FINISH:  7^th

RACE
RECAP:

·        
Saturday
afternoon under windy conditions Turner Motorsports driver Ricky Carmichael
started his fourth career ARCA Racing Series event. The No. 4 Monster Energy
Toyota rolled off 14^th and wasted no time making a charge toward the
top-10.  

·        
The
first of six cautions that waved during the afternoon came out on lap six for a
multi-car wreck. While running in the 10^th position Carmichael
radioed into his crew. “It’s tight and then wants to snap loose,” he said.
Veteran crew chief, Butch Hylton, agreed and assured his driver the problem
would be fixed during the next pit stop. The field restarted on lap 16.

·        
The
caution flag flew three times during the next 25 laps for accidents on the
track, resulting in red flag conditions on lap 26. Just before the red flag
Carmichael radioed in the No. 4 Monster Energy Toyota was handling better.  Following the red flag conditions he
made his way down pit road to the attention of his Monster Energy Racing Team.
They added two cans of fuel and added tape to the front grill to add down force.
He restarted in the 7^th position. 

·        
On
lap 68 Carmichael showcased his driving ability when two vehicles in front of
him tangled. The Tallahassee native made it through the incident with no damage
in the 9^th spot. 

·        
Over
the final 12 laps Carmichael drove the green and black entry to the high line
and back to the low line searching for the fastest moving lane advancing to the
7th position.

·        
Coming
to the checkered flag Carmichael raced door-to-door with IZOD INDY Car Series
star, Danica Patrick, scoring the 7th spot as he crossed the finish line.

Bobby Gerhart won the
Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. Mark Thompson, John Wes Townley, James Buescher
and  Patrick Sheltra rounded out the
top five finishers.

FAST
FACTS:

·        
Carmichael
scored his best ARCA Racing Series finish during the Lucas Oil Slick Mist
200.  Before Saturday afternoon’s
event his best finish was 17^th at Rockingham last season.

·        
Despite
starting in the 14^th position Carmichael remained in the top-10 for
more than 50 percent of the race.

·        
The
caution flag flew six times for 36 laps during the 80 lap event.

·        
Next
up for Carmichael is next week’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener
at Daytona Friday, February 12. He will pilot the No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet
for Turner Motorsports.

RICKY CARMICHAEL: “Our
main goal today was to log laps and gain seat time. We accomplished that. But I
could never get the car to suck up to the car in front of me in the draft like I
wanted. I am confident if I had been able to do that my Truck Series teammate
(James Buescher) and I could have hooked up and went to the front.”