IRWIN Rough to Finish Award: Last week, the #2 Miller Lite racing team posted one of its best finishes of the 2002 season, both at the finish line and in the pits. As a result, team crew chief Bill Wilburn takes home his second “IRWIN Rough to the Finish” award for the team’s efforts at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona Beach. After starting in 37th position, Rusty Wallace, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, quickly made his way through the field, climbing to 11th position by the second lap of the race. Backed by a strong race car and solid effort from crew chief Bill Wilburn and the #2 Miller Lite pit crew, Wallace raced in the top-five most of the night, avoiding “the big wreck” late in the race that took out much of the field. Once NASCAR resumed racing, Wallace continued to battle for first-place, but ran out of time as the race finished under a late-race caution, its ninth of the night. Wallace’s second-place finish is his best restrictor plate race finish of his career. Each week throughout the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season, IRWIN, makers of professional power tool accessories like Marathon Plus saw blades and Speedbor flat bits, is partnering with Performance Racing Network to honor the crew chief who had the toughest day in the pits, but still managed to help his team to a strong finish. The IRWIN Rough to the Finish Award includes an assortment of tools for the crew chief and a $250 check donated to the Ellerbe, NC Educational Fund in the racing team’s name.. The year-end winner of the crew chief points standings will win a $5,000 check donated to the Fund.. Race fans wanting to make a contribution to the Fund may do so by sending it to the Ellerbe, NC Educational Fund, PO Box 443, Ellerbe, NC 28338.(Golin Harris PR)(7-13-2002) (7-12-2002)
