After that first round of pit stops, Ricky Craven's Tide team was checking the tires. It's the most god-awful smell you can imagine, but oddly comforting. I must be sick or something.
Dale Jr. thanked his crew for his car, "I want to tell you thanks for the car. For no practice, it's pretty good." He also had the following to say about the #20 car, "That's who we'll be racing for the win. Not to say we'll be racin' for the win, but that's who'll be good at the end." Later, he said something about "getting out of here". There was some concern about getting ready for Martinsville. Tony Eury Jr. told him they'd be okay.
After Dale Jr.'s crash, apparently he didn't respond to the crew fast enough. Eventually, he came over the radio with this, "I hit the d--- wall, buddy! I'm trying to get out of the way!" His crew quickly grabbed their gear and headed for the garage. Dave Lippard, the catch-can man, was one of the last to follow. He grabbed a "Saws-all" in a case, but it fell open and scattered on the ground right in front of me. He bent over to pick it up (blades had scattered everywhere), but was having trouble because he was still wearing the heavy gloves he uses when fueling the car. A NAPA crewmember came along on his way to the garage to help, and he stopped to pick up a few before going on. Lippard was still having lots of trouble picking up the blades, so I stooped down and picked them up for him. Then he snapped the case shut and took off like a lightning bolt. It sure gave me a rush to think that maybe I helped.
I followed the #8 team to the garage to watch them work. They brought the car in, but Dale Jr. was nowhere to be seen.
