Vidovich Matches Season-Best Finish of 15th at Memphis

Auggie Vidovich

Memphis, Tenn. (October 27, 2006) – Auggie Vidovich, driver of the No. 4 GEICO Dodge, left Memphis Motorsports Park on Saturday without singing the blues after finishing a strong 15th in his first NASCAR Busch Series race at the .75-mile oval. Vidovich’s finish matched his season-best run, which came at the Milwaukee Mile in June. Vidovich and the Biagi DenBeste team came back from a lap down at one point in the event to claim arguably their gutsiest finish of the year.

“The crew really kept us in it. The pit stops were fast and the calls and adjustments really helped the car get better. Since Kansas, we have really started to run strong and this team is setting itself up for a great 2007 season,” said Vidovich.

At the start of the race, Vidovich’s Dodge was tight as he tried to adjust on it from the cockpit. Vidovich dialed more rear brake into his machine, but nothing seemed to help. In typical short-track form, the leaders crept up quickly on the tail of the field and in 34 laps, Vidovich fell one lap down. When the event’s first caution fell on lap 46, Vidovich hit pit road where the Biagi DenBeste pit crew went to work, quickly outfitting their Dodge with four tires, fuel, and significant air pressure adjustments. Even with the adjustments, the crew’s quick pit work allowed Vidovich to pick up five spots on pit road, and he returned to the track 33rd.

By lap 100, Vidovich’s Dodge was still tight and Crew Chief Joe Dan Bailey called his driver to pit road, under caution on lap 101, for his second pit stop of the day. The Biagi DenBeste crew ripped off another quick stop and gave their Dodge four fresh tires, fuel, air pressure and chassis adjustments, before returning it to the track 30th.

Vidovich was down but not out as he battled side-by-side with the leaders on the restart in an effort to become the “Lucky Dog” and regain his position on the lead lap. Vidovich’s lap times mirrored the leaders and he caught a break on lap 123 when the No. 90 car spun in turn two, bringing out the caution. Vidovich became the “Lucky Dog” and was allowed to pass the pace car, reclaiming his spot on the lead lap before hitting pit road for his third stop of the day. The crew made significant chassis adjustments, gave their Dodge four scuffed tires, and fuel before returning it to the track in 27th position on the lead lap.

As the race returned to green, a multi-car wreck ensued and Vidovich did a great job of avoiding any contact. While others elected to pit, Vidovich stayed out and was 12th on the leader board when the race returned to green flag action on lap 147. As is typical with short-track racing, cautions breed cautions and such was the case as three more cautions fell in only the next 32 laps. Vidovich managed to avoid the first two, but did suffer slight damage in an altercation with Burney Lamar on lap 179.

Vidovich pitted for minor repairs, four tires, and air pressure and chassis adjustments on lap 181 and returned to the track 26th. In the final 50 laps, Vidovich worked his way into 18th and was set to steal more spots, but he was held up by the No. 06 for over 30 laps and would settle for 15th after avoiding a late race crash and surviving through the green, white, checkered finish.

Vidovich and the GEICO team will return to Texas Motor Speedway for Saturday afternoon’s running of the O’Reilly Challenge 300. Live television coverage will begin at 2 p.m. ET on TNT with radio coverage provided by PRN and XM Satellite Radio.