Boris Said

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Aug. 9, 2008) -- Two pit road speeding penalties and a late-race accident relegated Boris Said to a disappointing 27th-place finish in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen International.

Driving the No. 52 7-Eleven Slurpee/No Fear Energy Ford Fusion for Jimmy Means Racing, Said started the road race from the 22nd position. But as soon as the green flag waved to start the 82-lap event, Said was off and running, picking off positions on the 2.45-mile road course.

"We were fast and I felt confident in the beginning that this was going to be a good day," offered Said.

But what Said didn't see coming was a pair of penalties by NASCAR for exiting the pits too fast. After each offense -- on Lap 15 and Lap 48 -- he was sent to the rear of the field.

"I never got a pit-road speeding penalty in my life and today I was nailed twice for speeding -- unbelievable," said a frustrated Said after the race. "We had a fast car and looked like we were going to have great track position at the end. The fuel strategy was working, but that second speeding penalty killed us."

The never-say-quit Said made a late-race charge and appeared to be heading for a top-10 finish. But with fewer than 10 laps remaining, Said wrecked when he attempted to pass Max Papis.

"After that second speeding penalty, we still had a chance for a decent finish," added Said. "But at the end I went for it and tried to pass Max Papis. I couldn't quite get by him -- he came down on me and then I wheel hopped, went through the gravel and wrecked."

After the incident with Papis, Said drove the car to his pit stall where the No. 52 crew made repairs. Said was able to get back on track to finish the race.

"Two speeding penalties and wrecking at the end equals a very frustrating day," noted Said.

Said will drive Kyle Petty's No. 45 Dodge in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at the Glen.

ESPN will televise the Cup race, beginning with a prerace show at 1 p.m. ET.