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After Strong Qualifying Run, Night Ends Early For Braun

AVONDALE, Ariz. (April 9, 2010) – Needing to qualify on time, Colin Braun turned a fast lap of 27.86 seconds to start the No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford in the eighth position for the Basha’s Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.  Even though Braun showed promise and the team delivered fast pit stops, the No. 16 was yet again caught up in an accident on a restart on lap 135.  The team finished 34th.

By the first caution on lap 15, Braun was scored in 12th and radioed to crew chief Eddie Pardue that his car was tight off of turn two.  Because the majority of the field elected to stay on track under that caution, Braun wouldn’t bring the No. 16 to pit road until a lap 31 caution where the team made adjustments, changed four tires and added fuel.  Braun restarted in 17th as the top nine competitors elected not to pit.  The adjustments freed the car up a bit too much, but after more adjustments under a lap 73 caution, the crew found Braun a suitable balance for the No. 16 Ford.  By lap 109, Braun was scored 27th, but continued to move forward at a track where passing is very difficult. 

Unfortunately, the bad luck that continues to plague the No. 16 team resurfaced when the field took the green on a lap 137 restart.  Leader Kyle Busch slowed as the field took the green flag, thus causing an accordion affect back through the line of cars which resulted in a multi-car pile up that engulfed Braun and the No. 16 Ford.  Pardue and the team assessed the damage under the red flag and made a significant attempt to get their driver back out on track.  After further inspection however, the damage proved to be race-ending. 

“It’s amazing to me how the actions of one individual can have such an incredible impact on so many others,” Braun said after the race.  “I’ve said this before after days like this, but it’s no less true this week- I’m so frustrated for my guys.  They continue week in and week out to bring me awesome race cars and they had some of the best pit stops today that they’ve had all season and we just got caught up in someone else’s deal.  I’m so grateful to be going home to Texas next week and a track where we have some room to race.  I’m hopeful for a result that shows just how hard everyone at Roush Fenway is working.”

Even after being black flagged for his actions on a restart, Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in Phoenix followed by Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Brendan Gaughan and Greg Biffle.  In the Rookie of the Year standings, Braun is in fourth place six points behind leader Brian Scott.