Poor handling at the start of the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) thwarted Dale Jarrett and the UPS Team. Jarrett lost a lap early and, despite the team's work to improve the handling of the car after the start, was never able to get back on the lead lap, eventually finishing the event in 30th position.
The UPS Team experienced a pair of decent practice sessions on Saturday and seemed poised for a better day than what they have been experiencing during the first half of the 2007 NASCAR season. Jarrett had to start at the rear of the field after the team had to change the transmission on the UPS Toyota during Saturday but expectations were high despite the setback. Jarrett was able to climb as high as 28th but the ill-handling car dropped through the field and placed Jarrett a lap down by lap 38.
Matt Borland and the team made major adjustments to the UPS Toyota, adjusting the split in air pressure as well as making a major bite adjustment. Jarrett was the first car one lap down during the restart on lap 50 and for the next 50 laps turned in lap times comparable with the cars running in the top 10. As the event continued, the UPS Toyota grew more sensitive to changing track positions and became a handful during various portions of the 334-lap race. Jarrett eventually lost a few more laps as a result of the handling issues and finished the day with a disappointing 30th-place finish.
"A couple times during the race the car was just impossible," Jarrett said. "It felt like three of the four tires were in the air and I could not get in the gas. I guess we were able to learn some things that may help us at some more of these down force tracks, but we're looking forward to getting our new car which should be ready by the time we get to Charlotte."
In the 12 previous NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races at Texas there have been 12 different winners. That trend came to a screeching halt on Sunday as Jeff Burton chased down Matt Kenseth during the closing laps to make the pass on the final lap and become the first two-time winner at the 1.5-mile track.
Phoenix International Raceway is the next stop for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The Subway Fresh Fit 500 begins at 5:30 p.m. PDT and FOX will provide live coverage of all racing action.
