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10-5-2007 - Colin 1st with one to go - ends up 9th, Talladega Talladega AL - With one lap to go Colin pulled out from 2nd place to make a pass on leader Michael Annett thinking 8 time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel and fellow Ford driver would go with him allowing both to draft past the Toyota of Annett. Colin was ahead in the tri-oval when Kimmel moved high to go with Colin then suddenly went low to go with the rival Toyota. In that instant Colin was doomed. The line of cars followed Kimmel low and Colin was hung out to dry finishing 9th.
A vibration force the team to bring Colin in on the next yellow and change all 4 tires. This put Colin 35th on the restart. A "deal" with Frank Kimmel saw both Ford drivers slice thru the pack using the advantage of 2 cars drafting to make the passes. With about 10 laps to go Colin was 2nd and Kimmel was right behind in 3rd. What Colin learned in the last 2 laps it is every man for himself. Colin said:
It was a disappointing result for Colin and all the guys, having come so close to winning the race, but all knew that they had accomplished way more than they expected. NASCAR is likely to give Colin a Super Speedway license after his drive here allowing him to race in in NASCAR races at Daytona in February. He has 3 top 10 results and no car damage in 3 straight races, and Jack Roush and Dan Davis (head of Ford Racing) are very happy with Colin's progress. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements about more stock car races this year for Colin. From the Roush Fenway Racing Web site: Braun Captures Third Top-10 Finish in as Many ARCA Starts Talladega, Ala. (October 5, 2007) – With just two ARCA starts under his belt, rising star Colin Braun looked like a pro during practice, qualifying and the race at Talladega Superspeedway. A solid qualifying run placed Braun up front for the start of Friday’s 94-lap race and his patience and tenacity enabled him to capture his third top-10 finish of the 2007 ARCA season in as many starts. Braun was the 38th car to qualify Thursday afternoon clocking in with a fast lap time of 51.898 seconds placing him in the third starting position for Friday’s race. In only his third career ARCA start, the lap time marked Braun’s career best qualifying effort in the series. Bryan Clauson took the pole with a lap time of 51.807 seconds, however he would start at the back of the field after his team made an illegal change per ARCA’s impound rules. This put Braun on the pole, and in charge, for the start of the race. Braun brought the field to the green and everyone immediately shuffled for position. After completing one lap Braun occupied third while the rest of the field battled two and three wide behind him. By lap 20 Braun was second behind Michael Annett and Frank Kimmel had moved into third before the first caution flew on lap 28 when the No. 4 blew a tire on the backstretch. Colin radioed that the No. 99 Ford was a tad tight and he also asked for Kimmel’s help in pushing him past Annett. Braun brought the No. 99 Ford down pit road for service where the team changed four tires and re-fueled in 16.38 seconds. Braun entered and exited pit road in second but cycled into first after the first place car pitted. The field took the green again on lap 36 and Braun continued to lead the pack while the competition raced three-wide behind him. Around lap 41 the No. 28 pulled out from behind Braun and drove past the No. 99 and a lapped car to resume the lead, placing Braun in second and trapped behind the lapped car. The second caution flew on lap 43 when the No. 23 spun off turn two. Under caution Braun reported that he felt a slight vibration so crew chief Jeff Campey opted to bring him down pit road for the final time as a precaution. The No. 99 entered pit road in second and in 15.79 seconds the team changed four tires, re-fueled and made an air pressure adjustment sending Braun back out in 15th for the re-start on lap 47. Many cars remained on track during the pit cycle forcing Braun to maneuver back to the front after the re-start but he proved this was not a problem. One-by-one Braun passed his fellow competitors finding his way to third by lap 71. Lap 72 saw the “big one” but fortunately it was behind Braun. The No. 2 got lose and eventually collected five other cars bringing out a lengthy caution that would last until lap 83 when the field resumed under green. Under caution the No. 99 team was working pit road making deals. The plan was for Braun to jump to the high side on the backstretch bringing Kimmel and others with him. Running in second, Braun made his move to the high side with third place Kimmel starting to follow but when Braun didn’t have Annett fully cleared, Kimmel ducked back down behind Annett leaving Braun hung out to dry on the outside. The field crossed the finish line with Annett leading the train and Braun in ninth, his third top-10 finish in three ARCA RE/MAX Series starts. “I really thought they’d come with me,” said Braun following the race. “The No. 99 Ford was a tad tight so I was looking for help to get me past the No. 28. I thought Kimmel was coming with me but at the last minute he didn’t and I got hung out. I really think we had the car and the team to win today. The Roush Fenway guys did a great job preparing the car and they had great pit stops today. I had a lot of fun and learned a ton. It was different getting used to how these guys race. I had a good time though and I’m looking forward to coming back here.” ABOUT ROUSH FENWAY
RACING
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Colin started
the white #99 from the pole position (picture on right)
after qualifying 3rd out of the 54 cars attempting to qualify.
The pole winning car made changes to the car before the race and
this is not allowed so he had to move to the rear of the field
moving Colin straight forward to the pole. On the start Colin
held 2nd place to the first pit stop about lap 30, where the Roush
Fenway crew got him out in 1st place. 
"I really thought Frank would go with me and that we
could have made it a Ford 1-2. I had a great run on Michael
and Frank and I had worked so well together up to that point, I
thought we had it made...oh well. I learned a bunch today and
that was the point. The #99 Roush Fenway crew gave me the best
Ford in the field and that came from hours in the fab shop, engine
shop and testing. These guys put everything they had into it
and the pit stops were great also. Came in 2nd and out 1st.
That was so cool because I could not pass that Toyota at that stage
of he race."