Catchfence

BRISTOL, Tenn. (August 20, 2010) – Robert Richardson, Jr. accomplished two goals in Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

First, he brought the unsponsored No. 23 Chevrolet back to the R3 Motorsports hauler in one piece after the race. Second, for the first time, he took the checkered flag in a Bristol race.

When the 250-lap race began, Richardson was lined up 40th. From the beginning, he was telling crew chief Steve Plattenberger and team how the car was handling through the turns of the concrete, high-banked oval.

The first caution flag didn’t wave until lap 56. That was the longest green-flag run in the last 27 NNS races here, too. The car came to pit road for fuel, tires and an air pressure adjustment to help him make his was way through the turns.

From there, Richardson did his best to stay close to the lead-lap cars to take advantage of lucky dogs and/or wave arounds to gain positions. When the caution waved on lap 116, Plattenberger made the call to stay out for a wave around.

This put Richardson down two laps with four cars on the same lap. More pit stops for tires, fuels, air pressure and track bar adjustments throughout the race kept Richardson in the hunt for track positions.

In the latter parts of the race, Richardson was able to move from 35th to 29th and then to 28th as the caution flags flew quite frequently in the last 30 laps. When the checkered finally did wave, Richardson was credited with 28th place.

Alex “Kid” Kennedy will drive the No. 23 Chevrolet for R3 Motorsports next week for Montreal’s road course. Richardson will return to the car for the Atlanta Motor Speedway race where he will also be the Nationwide Series Driver of the Week.

Robert Richardon, Jr. quotes: “We struggled a little bit with handling there for the early part of the race. When we were able to make the right adjustments in the middle part, the car started to really come around.

“I was using the high side and the low side, but found the car to handle better through the turns on the high side. That’s the advantage of running a whole race; you get to learn how things change throughout the deal.

“But, the best part is, I finally finished a race here at Bristol without getting wrecked out or having something break on the car. So, I’ll take that and the slight gains we made on those in front of us in the Owner’s Points and get ready for Atlanta in a few weeks.”

- R3 Motorsports Press Release