What started out as a promising day ended with anything but for Dale Jarrett and the #88 UPS Racing Team in the Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Handling problems and an equalized tire put the UPS Ford Fusion down a lap early, forcing the team to work their way back from the setback. Jarrett finished the race in 17th place.
RYR had high hopes going into Sunday's 500-mile event after a pair of successful practice sessions on Saturday in which both its drivers were in the top six. Jarrett was fifth quick in the first practice on Saturday morning while teammate Elliott Sadler was close behind in sixth. Even more impressive, however, was the duos happy hour practice in which only veteran driver Mark Martin was quicker. Sadler was second with his fastest lap being a time of 20.190 seconds and 184.995 mph and Jarrett pacing the practice in third with a quick lap of 20.219 seconds and 184.811 mph.
Within the first two laps Jarrett was relaying handling issues that saw the UPS Ford Fusion slide quickly through the field, winding up in 40th place within the first 25 laps. Jarrett went down a lap four laps later explaining that the car wouldn't turn through the corners. A lucky break on lap 189 awarded the UPS Team the lucky dog award placing the car back on the lead lap. Handling issues continued on the #88 UPS Ford Fusion and Jarrett lost the lead lap cars again in the waning laps. The ninth and final caution on lap 313 found Jarrett in position to pick up the award again, thus putting the UPS Team back on the lead lap in 17th place for the finale.
"We have a lot of work to do," Jarrett said of the performance. "We just can't find anything that helps these cars in the front. Elliott and I have been having the same problems each week. We really have our work cut out for us."
Sadler and the M&M'S® Team did make forward progress in the early stages of the 334-lap racing climbing to the top-10 at one point before handling problems started dropping the #38 M&M'S Ford back in the running order. A bad day came to an abrupt halt, however, when the engine broke on the M&M'S Ford on lap 287 forcing Sadler to miss the conclusion of the event. He was scored in 33rd place at day's end.
Kasey Kahne picked up the win - his second of the season and second from the pole position.
Jimmie Johnson maintains the point lead by a mere 15 points over Matt Kenseth. Jarrett maintained 11th place in the point standings while Sadler dropped three spots to 12th.
The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series will take next weekend off in observance of the Easter holiday. Racing action resumes in two weeks at Phoenix International Raceway.
