A SIXTH PLACE FINISH FOR THE NO. 16 NAPA TEAM IN THE SHOWDOWN

Source: Kaye Reshaw
Date: 10/26/2007

ANTELOPE, California – Brian Ickler, driver of the No. 16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS from the stables of Bill McAnally Racing wheeled the NAPA car to a 6th place finish in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.

The NAPA team’s weekend started out strong when Ickler qualified the No. 16 NAPA Chevrolet in 5th with a time of 18.422 seconds around the half-mile of Irwindale Speedway which was more than two tenths quicker than the starting position back in the July 4th race in which the No. 16 NAPA team went on to record their second win in five days.

Ickler fought his way toward the front and was running in third by lap 20. Continuing on the move, Ickler would wheel the No. 16 NAPA Chevrolet into the second spot before the mandatory break at lap 100. The NAPA team led by crew chief Craig Raudman made adjustments to tighten the car up. At the restart, Ickler would lose a few spots while the car’s fresh tires came up to temperature. Ickler was quick to regain those spots and by lap 155, the No. 16 NAPA Chevrolet was leading the race. At lap 187, the No. 16 NAPA Chevrolet had a right front tire go down. Quick work by the pit crew had the No. 16 NAPA Chevrolet only go one lap down. A caution came out after Ickler was already back on the track. There was another competition yellow at lap 200 for mandatory pit stops. The No. 16 would be the ‘beneficiary’ at the restart putting Ickler back on the lead lap in 20th.

Ickler once again got up on the wheel for the fifty lap shootout as he drove the No. 16 NAPA Chevrolet from the last car on the lead lap into the top ten at lap 208. Nine laps later, he was running in fifth. The race was red flagged on lap 246 and as teams prepared for a green-white-checkered finish in the 250-lap race. In a tight race to the finish, Ickler would bring the No. 16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet across the finish line in 6th.

“The No. 16 NAPA Chevrolet started the race a bit on the free side,” said Ickler. “We came in at the first break and may have been too aggressive in our adjustments. The car was tight everywhere but after a few laps; the car was a rocket and running great. With a few more laps at the end, we might have had something for the leader. Great job by the entire NAPA AUTO PARTS team. I can’t thank them and team owner Bill McAnally enough for a great season.”

For more information on Bill McAnally Racing and our race partners, please visit our website at www.billmcanallyracing.com.

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