September 8, 2003

Square D Racing Recap: Virginia is for Lovers 200
 
Square D driver Bobby Hamilton was robbed of his chance for victory lane in last night’s Virginia is for Lovers 200 at Richmond International Raceway. Despite a late-race spin when tapped by Ted Musgrave, Hamilton soldiered home to finish eighth.

Qualifying was rained out for the 200-lap event. Hamilton started the race in the seventh spot. He battled his way to the lead by lap 93, one lap before the second caution. On lap 94 he came in for his first scheduled pit stop. During this time he radioed to crew chief Newt Moore that the truck was perfect. Moore called for four fresh tires and fuel with no adjustments to the Square D Dodge. Hamilton resumed his position on the track as the leader for the restart on lap 101.

Hamilton battled through four more cautions while leading the field. On lap 177 as his tires started to get worn down, eventual race winner Tony Stewart passed the Square D Dodge for the leading spot. Then third-place driver Ted Musgrave began to battle Hamilton for the second position. On lap 178 as Hamilton was coming off turn four, he got tapped by Musgrave and spun. Luckily he only touched the wall, spun his truck around and ducked onto pit road for new tires.

Hamilton restarted the race in 13th position with only 19 laps to go. He quickly picked up five positions to eighth. On the last lap Hamilton and Brendan Gaughan tangled coming off turn four and Gaughan hit the wall across the start/finish line. Gaughan finished the race in seventh and Hamilton behind him in eighth.

“I wasn’t concerned about Tony getting around me there at the end because he had done it before,” Hamilton said. “It took me about three laps to get it going and then I was about two tenths quicker than most drivers. But then when Ted got to me, he and I tousled around and I got clipped. We were pretty fortunate not to have any more damage than we did. I gassed it up, spun it around and got some new sticky tires on the Square D Dodge and we charged back up to eighth.

“On the last lap when Brendan and I got into it, I don’t really know what happened,” Hamilton said. “Brendan always uses the high line on the race track and so I pulled down to pass him. He shot up under me and I got loose coming off turn four. My truck hooked him in the left rear and spun him. Overall I think we had a tremendous truck tonight. It just goes to show this Square D Racing Team is back on track.”

Tony Stewart won the Virginia is for Lovers 200. Robert Pressley, Ted Musgrave, Jon Wood and Dennis Setzer followed in the top five.

Driver: Bobby Hamilton, No. 4 Square D Dodge Team
Starts Pole Wins Top Fives Top Tens Earnings Points Position
17 0 1 6 11 $ 263,840 7th

Race-by-Race Run Down:
Location Start Finish Laps Status Money Won
Daytona 13 4 106 of 106 Running $ 26,000
Darlington 14 1 147 of 147 Running 39,075
Bakersfield 2 4 255 of 255 Running 12,650
Martinsville 2 5 250 of 250 Running 9,075
Charlotte 5 7 136 of 136 Running 11,325
Dover 1 2 200 of 200 Running 31,550
Texas 1 7 167 of 167 Running 14,450
Memphis 8 7 200 of 200 Running 11,825
Milwaukee 15 29 124 of 200 Engine 7,015
Kansas 5 16 166 of 167 Running 12,015
Kentucky 2 18 146 of 150 Running 14,240
St. Louis 5 14 159 of 160 Running 11,190
Michigan 11 10 100 of 100 Running 13,875
Indy 16 3 200 of 200 Running 21,890
Nashville 3 11 150 of 150 Running 9,000
Bristol 11 12 199 of 200 Running 9,715
Richmond 7 8 200 of 200 Running 8,950

Loudon (Next Event)

Totals 2905 of 2988 (97.2%) $ 263,840

NEXT EVENT: The New Hampshire 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire on September 13, 2003. The event will be televised live on SPEED Channel at 1:00 PM Eastern Time and also live on MRN radio at 1:00 PM Eastern Time.