Fernandez, Team Lowe’s Racing Meet Early End at Homestead

Adrian Fernandez

November 20, 2005 - An accident on lap 40 of the NASCAR Busch Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway ended the day early for Adrian Fernandez and the No. 5 Lowe’s race team on Saturday.

Making just the sixth start of his NASCAR career, Fernandez was performing well in the early going, posting some of the fastest lap times of any driver in the event. Working his way up from his 28th starting position, Fernandez was attempting to pass the car of Ashton Lewis Jr. when the back of Fernandez’s No. 5 Lowe’s/Spectracide Chevrolet snapped around and made contact with Lewis’ No. 25 car.

The damage sent both drivers to the garage for the remainder of the race, and the No. 5 team was credited with a 42nd-place finish.

“That’s not the way I wanted to close out the season,” Fernandez said. “The car felt pretty good at that point. It was ‘pushing’ a little bit, but I felt like we were going to be in good shape. I got underneath the other car and I guess I lost the air off my spoiler or something. The car just slid out from under me. I’m sorry that two cars were damaged in that.

“I have to thank Rick Hendrick and Lowe’s again for giving me this opportunity this year. It’s been a big learning experience, but I’ve also had a lot of fun.”

With the finish, the No. 5 Team Lowe’s Racing crew wound up in 26th position in the Busch Series owners’ points standings, finishing the season with one win, two pole positions, three top-five and five top-10 finishes.