IRWIN Rough to Finish Award #99 Team: Gray skies and rain were consistent at Sunday’s Mountain Dew Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C., and so was the No. 99 CITGO Ford of Jeff Burton. As a result of the team’s top-10 finish, Frank Stoddard takes home this week’s IRWIN “Rough to the Finish” Award, his second award in as many weeks and third overall. As the storms began to subside Sunday on a rain-filled weekend at Darlington Raceway, the race cars began shuffling onto the track. Starting from the 13th position, Burton quickly climbed his way through the field to sixth position by lap 45. Fueled by quick pit stops, Burton was able to take the lead by lap 129, where he remained for the next 24 laps. On lap 204, Burton, now running third, ran through some oil and crashed into the wall causing damage to the #99 CITGO Ford. The No. 99 team sprung into action and by lap 245, the team had the car fixed and Burton was running in 22nd. One by one Burton worked his way back through the pack, again with the help of some of the day’s quickest pit stops, to cross the start/finish line in 10th place, the team’s 10th top-10 finish of the year. “The CITGO team is running well,” said Stoddard. “It’s a shame that we hit that oil patch in turn one after the accident, but what can you do. I applaud the efforts of everyone in the pits today. When our backs were up against the wall, these guys really came through. These guys, including Jeff, deserve all the credit.” With this week’s award, Stoddard is now tied with #97 crew chief Jimmy Fennig for the points lead in the year-long competition. Each crew chief has three awards to his credit so far this season. Four other crew chiefs are tied for second with two awards apiece. They include Chad Knaus (#48), Bill Wilburn (#2), Tony Eury (#8) and Todd Parrott (#88). Five others are tied for third with one award each.(NOTE: Stoddard iss no longer the crew chief of the #99, see story below) 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. In addition to the crew chief award, Irwin is also sponsoring the weekly nationally syndicated radio show, “Fast Talk with Benny Parsons”, throughout the upcoming year.(Golin Harris PR)(9-6-2002) (9-5-2002)
