Go to content Go to navigation Go to recent PR reports Go to search

Mike Skinner Atlanta Motor Speedway Post Race Report

Monday October 27, 2008

 

Mike Skinner – Toyota Tundra Racing
Post Race Report

Race: E-Z-GO 200 (Race 22 of 25)
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Date: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
Started: Sixth
Finish: 26th
Laps Completed: 126
Total Laps: 130
NCTS Points: Seventh

Mike Skinner and the No. 5 team returned to Atlanta Motor Speedway as a previous winner. Skinner and the No. 5 team won the spring 2007 event at the 1.5-mile speedway, and were looking for the same result Saturday afternoon. Skinner has historically performed very well on 1.5-mile speedways, and he was confident the team would have another strong run in the deep South.

All of Friday’s on-track activities were rained out, so the No. 5 Toyota Tundra team made its first on-track appearance Saturday morning during a one-hour practice session. Skinner and the No. 5 Toyota Tundra team worked throughout practice to get their truck to turn in the center of the corner. Skinner explained to his crew that the truck was really good on entry, but it would not turn from the center and out of the turns. Crew Chief Doug Richert and the No. 5 team made significant changes to both the front and back of the truck, hoping to hit on a combination that would be good for the race.

Skinner started the race from the sixth spot on an almost a perfect fall afternoon. On lap eight, he told his team that the truck handled extremely tight in the corners. The team planned to make adjustments during the first pit stop of the race, which came under caution on lap 17. During the four-tire stop, the team adjusted the truck in an attempt to make the handling looser for Skinner.

Skinner restarted the race in the 21st position on lap 19. Skinner told his crew two laps later that the changes helped, but the truck was still very loose entering the corners and tight in the center of the turns. Richert knew significant changes were in order, so he asked Skinner to pull behind the wall when the driver reported to pit road under caution on lap 25. The team changed both front springs and returned Skinner to the track a scant two laps behind the leader.

Skinner returned to the race in the 29th position on lap 29 and unwilling to give up. On lap 40, he told his team that the truck was extremely loose and he was just holding on to it. The team spent the rest of the day trying to improve its Tundra, and Skinner brought his No. 5 truck home in the 26th position.

Skinner and the No. 5 Toyota Tundra team will head to the “Lone Star” state for the Craftsman Truck Series race Friday, Oct. 31 at Texas Motor Speedway. The race is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. CST. Live television coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. CST on Speed Channel.

FRONTSTRETCH LIVE AT THE TRACK THIS WEEKEND AT LOUDON!
Popular writer Amy Henderson will be tracking all the action at New Hampshire from inside the garage, giving you the stories you’re looking for with a special edition of our Newsletter planned over the weekend. It all culminates on Sunday with her special participation in our LIVE blog during the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, paired with our usual panel of expert analysts! It’s three days of going the extra mile for you … so we hope you enjoy it!

This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Kim DeHaven.

 

©2000 - 2008 Kim DeHaven and Frontstetch.com. Thanks for visiting the Frontstretch!