AutoZone / Kenny Wallace LAS VEGAS Post-Race Report

Kenny Wallace / #22 AutoZone Ford  Fusion 
Las  Vegas Post-Race  Report 
 

Date: Saturday, March 11,  2006 
Event: Sam’s Town  300 
Track: Las  Vegas Motor  Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada 
Pole Sitter: Matt Kenseth (169.827  mph) 
Kenny Wallace  qualifying: 39th (163.656 mph)   
Race Winner: Kasey Kahne 
Kenny Wallace  finish: 32nd   


Wallace and AutoZone Team Endured  Tough Weekend in Las  Vegas   
(LAS VEGAS, NV) – The saying  goes “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas�?? 
and the #22 AutoZone team hopes  that is true, especially after the on track 
struggles that they endured this  past weekend. After a disappointing qualifying 
session that placed Kenny Wallace  39th on the starting grid, the AutoZone 
team continued to battle with  the handling of the car during the Sam’s Town 300 
resulting in a 32nd  place finish.  
During the  first practice session on Friday, crew chief Randy Cox and the 
AutoZone team  worked on numerous setups to try and gain speed, but Kenny 
Wallace ended up  36th on the speed chart. Wallace and the team discussed their 
options  and made massive changes before the final practice session. The changes 
paid off  and the #22 AutoZone Ford was 17th in the final practice session.   
“We were way  off during the first practice today,�?? Wallace explained. “We 
all discussed what  changes we could make during the break and it definitely 
paid off in the second  practice session.     
Randy Cox and  I are still working on our communication we’re trying to learn 
each other. When  you put new people together sometimes it takes a little 
while to learn how you  work together.�?? 
When the team  arrived at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday morning, the 
temperatures had  plummeted and windy, rainy conditions had moved in. Wallace 
was the third car to  make a qualifying attempt and his lap was only good 
enough for a 39th  place starting spot. 
As race time  approached, the temperature continued to drop and the wind 
gusts picked up even  more. The first caution of the race came on lap 39 and 
Wallace brought the  AutoZone Ford down pit road for fuel and adjustments to 
correct the loose  condition that he was battling in the corners. After the 
adjustment, Wallace was  able to work his way up into the top-20 during the long green 
flag run.   
Around lap 45  the leaders started coming to pit road for green flag pit 
stops, but the  AutoZone team decided to stay out and try to wait for a caution in 
order to gain  track position. Unfortunately, the race stayed green and 
Wallace was forced to  make his second pit stop under green flag conditions on lap 
67.   
Wallace ran  as high as 5th position while the field was cycling through pit 
stops  and they had a chance to catch a caution for rain, but luck was not on 
the #22  team’s side and they went a lap down to the leaders. Throughout the 
remaining  laps, Wallace continued to battle loose handling conditions and 
changing weather  conditions, while trying to get back on the lead lap. When the 
checkered flag  fell, Wallace crossed the start-finish line in 32nd position.   
“I am really  disappointed with our finish today,�?? Wallace said after the 
race. “My new crew  chief, Randy Cox, and I have been working really hard to 
learn how to  communicate with each other. The way that we have been running in 
the first few  races of the season does not show how much hard work has been 
put in by the  AutoZone team. We are going to stay positive and keep working 
hard to produce  better results on the track. Hopefully we can start to turn 
things around next  weekend at Atlanta.�?? 
This coming weekend, Kenny Wallace  and the AutoZone team will be in Atlanta, 
GA to  compete at NASCAR’s fastest track, Atlanta Motor Speedway. Live 
coverage of the  Nicorette 300 begins this Saturday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m. ET on 
F/X.   
Sam’s Town 300 Race  Results: 
1. Kasey Kahne 
2. Matt  Kenseth 
3. Kevin Harvick   
4. Greg Biffle   
5. Carl  Edwards 
32. Kenny Wallace, #22 AutoZone Ford  Fusion 
NBS Driver Points  Standings: 
1. Kevin Harvick            642 
2. Denny Hamlin           600          -42 
3. J.J. Yeley                   595          -47 
4. Jamie McMurray        560          -82 
5. Clint Bowyer              538          -104 
19. Kenny Wallace       358          -284 
Next Event: Nicorette 300 
Race Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway,  Atlanta, GA 
Date: Saturday, March 18,  2006 
Television: F/X, 3:00 p.m.  ET 
Radio: PRN Radio, 2:30 p.m.  ET