8-31-2007 - Colin has great stock car debut race at Gateway

From Roush Fenway Racing and Ford Racing

BRAUN IMPRESSIVE IN FIRST START FOR ROUSH FENWAY RACING

 Madison, Ill. (August 31, 2007) – In his first start for Roush Fenway Racing, 18-year old Colin Braun showed patience and tenacity in Friday night’s ARCA RE/MAX Series race.  Braun started the day with a solid 13^th place qualifying run then ended the night with a ninth place finish.  An impressive showing for the Texas native who has never raced a stock car before.

 

Colin in the #99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford - Photo by Don Figler

Braun and the No. 99 team started the weekend by running 59 laps in the only practice session of the day.  Braun followed up a solid practice session with two strong qualifying laps clocking in with a fast lap time of 34.144 seconds, placing him in the 13^th starting position for the 120-lap race.  Josh Wise took the pole with a fast lap time of 33.686 seconds.

A wreck in turn two brought out caution two of the night and the No. 99 team went to work changing four tires, re-fueling and making a wedge adjustment to correct a tight handling car.  A fallen lug nut cost the team several positions so Braun returned to the track in 18^th for the re-start but that didn’t hold him back.  The field went green on lap 41 and Braun methodically moved his way back to the front of the field.

The third caution flew on lap 53 and the group of cars who pitted during the first caution, came down pit road again.  This moved Braun into fourth for the re-start on lap 62 while the No. 2 lead the field.  The top four cars broke away from the field but on lap 63 a frightening accident saw the red flag wave over the 1.25-mile oval.  The No. 60 launched the No. 25 car of Ryan Fischer into a roll down the backstretch while several other cars spun to avoid the airborne No. 25.  Everyone walked away un-hurt and the field resumed green flag conditions about 15 minutes later.

Under green Braun got into a groove clicking off faster lap times with each trip around the track.  The fifth caution flew on lap 83 when the No. 39 blew a right front tire.  Braun was still reporting that his Ford was tight so for his final trip down pit road, Campey planned a track bar adjustment to help him.  In just 16 seconds the No. 99 team changed four tires, made a track bar adjustment and re-fueled the No. 99 Ford returning Braun to the track in 12^th.  The top-10 cars did not pit so overall, the team gained three positions in the pits but unfortunately he would still re-start in 12^th.

Before the re-start Campey gave Braun some final words of encouragement stating, “We’re pretty good here.  Be smart, take care of it, and bring it home.”  The field took the green on lap 91 and Braun worked his way back into the top-10 by lap 93.  As the leaders mixed it up in front, Braun maintained his ninth place position learning as much as possible in the closing laps.  The checkered flag waved in the night as Bryan Calusen crossed the line in first.  Braun brought home a ninth place finish in his first ARCA start and achieved the main goals of the night – to finish on the lead lap and in once piece.

Following the race Braun commented on his experience.

“I had a blast, obviously,” said Braun.  “It’s a fun series to race in.  Driving with guys at Roush Fenway and having the support of a manufacturer like Ford is great because it gives me a chance to get out there and make lots of laps and learn and gain a lot of experience.  Our goal tonight was to finish the race and we did that, so I’m happy about that.  I’m just thankful for everybody here in giving me an opportunity to and run.”

And what about losing third gear in the closing laps?

“I think it was probably my fault.  I’m not used to shifting with these types of cars.  I’ve been working on that all day. With about 15 laps to go, we lost third gear.  Luckily we tested here and we never shifted, so I was used to using one gear.  It seemed to work out okay at the end.  We were just using fourth gear, the top gear, where before we were going down to third gear in turns one and two.”

For a beginner, Gateway is a difficult track because of its shape.  How did Braun handle the challenge?

“For me, I’m used to having a lot of different corners on one race track.”  Braun continued, “So it might have been a little easier than what I’m used to then some of these guys.  But I definitely think this is a tough race track.  It’s just difficult for me running for the first time in traffic and figuring out how the re-starts work and the how the whole pit lane deal works.  I’ve never done an oval race at night.  There are a lot of difficult things and it’s just great to have the crew and the organization with me the whole time.”

THIS WAS YOUR FIRST TIME IN A STOCK CAR-STYLE PIT STOP.  YOU’RE PIT CREW HAD MEMBERS OF THE 6, 50 AND 99 TRUCKS.  WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THESE PIT STOPS?

“It’s definitely different than what I’m used to.  We had pit stop practices back at the shop, but it’s not the same as going and do a pit stop under race conditions.  I didn’t want to go in and run anybody over but at the same time, I didn’t want to give up too many spots.  It’s great for me.  The pit stop guys did a heck of a job.”

WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU LEARNED TONIGHT?

“I’d say the most important thing is how patient you have to be.  For me, it’s amazing how much these cars change and how much you can be so far back and then back in the mix in 20 or 30 laps.  The other important thing, I think was just running in traffic and having the chance to make laps and run the whole time.  Again having a crew like this behind me makes this so much better.”  Photo by Don Figler

A LOT OF THE CARS CAME BACK WITH SOME DAMAGE; YOUR FUSION LOOKS PRETTY CLEAN.  HOW DID YOU KEEP IT SCRATCH-FREE?

“Our goal was to finish the race and that’s what we did. We didn’t take any chances; we weren’t racing anybody that hard.  I just kind of wanted to stay out of everyone’s way and run my laps, get some experience driving a Ford car and we did that.  I’m ready to go onto to Chicago and pick it up a notch.”

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE LENGTH (TIME) OF THE RACE? 

 “I think it went by pretty quick.  I wanted to go more and more because I’m anxious to learn more.  It was great because every lap we were doing I was learning a bunch.  It’s good because I can go back and talk to all the crew. It’s really helped me, especially having a crew chief like Jeff Campey.  I’ve learned a lot from him and all his experience.  It’s been a good run.”

TRAVIS KVAPIL AND ERIK DARNELL WERE IN YOUR PIT BOX DURING THE RACE.  AS A NEW MEMBER TO THE ROUSH FENWAY RACING TEAM, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE YOUR TEAMMATES WITH YOU AT YOUR DEBUT?

 “I think it shows what kind of a team that Roush Fenway Racing really is.  I think everybody kind of bands together and want to help everybody.  It’s been great for me.  Erik has come to a couple of tests and really helped me out putting some laps down and work with me a lot. He’s really helping me get up to speed.  It’s been really nice for me.  It’s great having someone there who has won and driven in this series before and was able to help me out.  I got to meet Travis in Bristol, he seems like a really nice guy, so I’m really enjoying working with everybody here.”

Braun returns to competition next week at Chicagoland in the ARCA RE/MAX Series.  Braun will also race the No. 99 Ford at Talladega Superspeedway later in October.

For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com. 

To sign up for Colin's official fan club click the Roush Fenway Logo below