CJM Racing/Dover II Post-Race Report

No. 11 InvestLinc Chevrolet / Jason Keller

Dover II Post-Race Report

 

 




Date: Saturday, September 22, 2007

Event: RoadLoans.com 200

Track: Dover International Speedway, Dover, Del.

Pole Sitter: Greg Biffle, 23.310 sec. 

Keller's Qualifying Position: 27th, 24.139 sec. 

Race Winner: Denny Hamlin

Keller's Finishing Position: 8th 

 

 

 

Experience and Strategy Give CJM Racing Their Second Straight Top-10 Finish 

 

(September 22, 2007) Dover, Del.  GPg PR - When you ask Jason Keller what
his favorite memory is over the last 416 career starts, the first one that
comes to mind is the 2000 MBNA Platinum 200 at Dover International Speedway
where he passed Mark Martin for the win. From that moment on the "Monster
Mile" has always been a track Jason looks forward to throughout the season.
His track record there has been impressive and that streak continued
Saturday afternoon as Jason gave the CJM Racing team their second straight
top-10 finish when the No. 11 InvestLinc Chevrolet crossed the finish line
in eighth. 

 

With a brand new chassis in tow, the CJM Racing team unloaded and prepared
for the first of two practice sessions on Friday. The No. 11 InvestLinc
Chevy was quick in first practice and was displayed in the 13th position
with a time of 23.883 seconds. Lap times slowed considerably as the
afternoon practice session got underway and Keller turned the 22nd quickest
lap at 24.263 seconds.

 

Race day events got underway Saturday afternoon as 43 cars took to the mile
track for a two-lap qualifying effort. Keller drew the 18th qualifying spot
and placed the No. 11 machine in the 27th position for the RoadLoans.com 200
later that afternoon.

 

After a brief rain shower moved through the area, the team's put on their
game faces and got ready for a 200-lap shoot out. With sauna like conditions
in the air, Keller climbed into the No. 11 InvestLinc Chevy and prepared for
a two hour, caution filled event.

 

The tone of the day was set almost immediately as the first caution flag
fell on lap five and Keller reported in that he was battling with rear grip.


 

With only a few laps on the board, crew chief Todd Gordon opted to stay out
on the track and see if the condition would resolve itself as more laps were
laid down. 

 

Despite the concern over rear grip, Keller managed to gain valuable
positions when green flag conditions resumed. By lap 30 the No. 11 moved up
11 positions and was displayed in the 16th position. As the first pit stop
of the day was made on lap 40 for fresh tires, fuel, a track bar and right
side air pressure adjustments Keller would make a rookie mistake and stall
the InvestLinc Chevy on pit road. The team restarted in the 29th position
and a determined Keller made his quest to the front of the pack again. It
would take some time but Keller drove his way back up into the top-15 by lap
130.

 

As the caution flags continued to fall throughout the race, Gordon would
have to make some key decisions regarding pit strategy. The team visited pit
road two more times for rear grip adjustments, tires and fuel. 

 

It was the closing laps of the day that determined the fate of the
InvestLinc race team. As the leaders came down pit road on lap 167 for their
final pit stop of the day, Gordon made the decision to stay out on the
track. 

 

Keller restarted in the fourth position and would only give up four
positions to cars with fresher tires in the remaining 30 lap showdown. The
No. 11 InvestLinc Chevy finished out the grueling day in the eighth position
and gave the CJM Racing team their third top-10 finish in just 10 races this
season.

 

"Now that was fun," remarked Keller. "We had a great day. Todd made some
great calls and the team did a great job. I'm really happy with the
direction we're going and can't wait to get back behind the wheel in
Kansas."

 

 

 

 

Race Results:                                 NBS Driver Points Standings:

1. Denny Hamlin                                1. Carl Edwards
4153

2. Martin Truex Jr.                             2. David Reutimann
3399               -754

3. Matt Kenseth                                 3. Kevin Harvick
3265               -888

4. Mike Bliss                                      4. Jason Leffler
3245               -908

5. Reed Sorenson                             5. David Ragan
3088               -1065

8. Jason Keller                                

                                                            ###

 

 

Shayna Keller

#11 CJM Racing/Jason Keller

Media Relations Manager

Global Performance group, LLC

(704) 902-8381 Cell #

(704) 660-3467 Ext. 222 Office #

(704) 660-3466 Fax #

  shayna@gperformance.com