Chew Recoups From Early-Race Crash To Finish 18th At WGI : Raceway Media

Watkins Glen, NY (August 15, 2004): A lap-three accident proved detrimental for Bryon Chew and the STA-RITE Pumps race team when contact with a guardrail and a racecar resulted in extensive damage to his No. 99 machine. Despite the early-race hurdle, Chew was able to maintain an 18th place finish and complete the Mohegan Sun 150 on the lead lap.

“The 0 car squeezed Johnson, and my spotter told me to go right so I did. I tried to squeeze between the guardrail and it just didn’t work out,” Chew explained. “The toe in the car was knocked way out and I had to turn the steering wheel all the way around just to get the car to turn.”

Chew started the race in the 14th position after rain canceled all qualifying procedures for the Busch North Series. The team was optimistic for a solid run after the only practice session for the series Thursday afternoon.

After the first circuit around the 2.45-mile course, Chew had worked his way up to 13th, but disaster was looming around the corner. As Chew approached the fourth turn, he was told by his spotter that contact had been made between the 96 and 0 cars. Chew, trying to avoid the incident, tried to squeeze into a hole between the guardrail and the 0 car. Unfortunately, the 0 car was still in motion and Chew was sandwiched into the guardrail.

“We had a lot of damage to the car,” Chew said. “Both sides were pretty torn up.”

A red flag condition was brought out to repair the guardrail in turn four that Chew hit. During the 30-minute period, the STA-RITE Pumps crew was unable to work on the car. Once yellow flag conditions returned, Chew brought the car down pit road lap after lap as the crew made repairs.

“I can’t say enough about this crew!” Chew said. “If there is any redeeming factor today it is that. They worked their tails off out there. They did what they had to do to get the car race-able and keep me on the lead lap.”

Chew worked his way back up through the field to 12th before bad luck struck again. On the final circuit, the right front tire blew and Chew was sent spiraling into the wall.

“I went straight into the wall again!” Chew said. “I couldn’t believe it. Just as I thought things couldn’t get any worse they did.”

Chew took the checkers in the 18th position, but still on the lead lap. Despite the bad luck during the race, the STA-RITE Pumps team was able to move up in the 2004 Busch North Series points from 15th to 13th.

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