Atwood Qualifies Ninth, Finishes Strong in Phoenix

Casey Atwood

Avondale, AZ (November 13, 2006) – Casey Atwood qualified the No. 27 KLEENEX®/VIVA® Ornaments on Parade Ford Fusion in the top-ten and missed the many race cautions to log a 23rd place finish Saturday in the Arizona.Travel 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Early in the weekend, Crew Chief Stewart Cooper worked with Atwood and the Brewco Motorsports crew to make adjustments that took the No. 27 KLEENEX®/VIVA® Ornaments on Parade Ford from 32nd fastest in the first practice session to eighth fastest in the second.

“We knew we had some adjustments to make to pick up the speed we needed,” Cooper said. “Then we got a good qualifying draw – 21st – which helped us get a solid qualifying run and a great ninth place starting position for the race.”

Atwood reported to Cooper early in the race that the car was tight in the middle and changes were needed to get the car turning better. The Brewco team pitted while in the 24th position on lap 58 for four tires with air pressure adjustments and fuel. Atwood immediately reported that the tires felt better and quickly moved up several spots in the running order to 21st place. Adjustments made on a lap 121 pit stop however led Atwood to report tight conditions back to the Brewco crew.

“The last two sets of tires we had weren’t like the ones we got on that pit stop,” Atwood said. “I lost all of my drive-off and our No. 27 Ford got extremely tight in the middle.”

On lap 166 in 27th place, Atwood reported a developing vibration in the front of the car and that he was chattering the right front tire. Cooper led his driver down pit road for additional adjustments. Though Atwood indicated that the tightness in the middle continued, he was able to guide the No. 27 KLEENEX®/VIVA® Ornaments on Parade Ford to a 23rd place finish.

“We just struggled with the tires this weekend,” said Atwood. “We were loose in and tight in the middle much of the race. That’s a tough condition to have at a track like Phoenix.

“I wish we could have had a better result for our No. 27 KLEENEX®/VIVA® Ornaments on Parade Ford. But the good thing is we have one more week to put this special paint scheme in victory lane. I’ve run well at Homestead-Miami Speedway – even sat on the pole there in 1998 – and I am looking forward to getting back there with the Brewco crew on Saturday.”

The No. 27 Brewco team will prepare for the final race of the season this week – the Ford 300 – at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 18. Television coverage of the event begins at 7:00 pm EST on TNT.