Riggs Overcomes Valvoline/Stanley Tools Dodge’s Handling Woes to Post Season’s Best Finish

03/21/2006

HAMPTON, Ga. (March 20, 2006) – Scott Riggs qualified the No. 10 Valvoline/Stanley Tool Dodge Charger in the 29th position for the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Although the invocation and national anthem were completed on Sunday, rain showers prevented the start of the race and it was delayed until 11 a.m. on Monday. At the start of the race Riggs fought the same handling problems that had plagued him in practice, free on entry and exit of the corners, tight in the center, but at the same time loose over the bumps.

On his first trip to pit road on Lap 47, incidental contact with the No. 25 of Brian Vickers damaged the nose of Riggs’ Charger and he was forced to pit a second time and restarted 42nd. Team Director Rodney Childers called for track bar and wedge adjustments over the next three pit stops on Lap 44, Lap 66, and Lap 116 as the handling of the No. 10 Valvoline/Stanley Tools Dodge slowly improved. By the mid point of the 325-lap race, Riggs had climbed up to the 25th position. Childers continued to adjust on the car during stops on Laps 166 and 189. But it was after the final stop of the day on Lap 264 that Riggs put together his strongest run, passing 11 cars on his final set of tires. When the checkers fell Riggs finished in 11th position, his highest finish since Michigan International Speedway last August, raising Valvoline Evernham Racing four positions to 29th in Nextel Cup Series owner’s points. Teammate Kasey Kahne secured his first victory of the season, winning from the pole and moving into second place in driver’s points.

“First I want to congratulate Kasey and his team on getting the pole and winning the race. Those guys have been working really hard and have stayed consistent all year,” Riggs said after the race. “Even when the No. 10 isn’t at the front we want the folks from Valvoline, Stanley, and Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper to pull for our teammates Jeremy and Kasey because they are partners on those cars too. It’s good to have talented teammates who are running well so we can learn from each other and do better next week.

“Overall it was a good race for this Valvoline/Stanley Tools Dodge. Being able to finish 11th after really struggling with this car all weekend is pretty good. We fought the same problem all weekend and halfway through the race we started to hit on something that helped. But we had a bad set of tires that made us too free and we fell back. By the end we had climbed back up front. Track position was key today and we couldn’t risk taking on two tires so the only way to pick up spots was to pass them. It was just a hard fought day for us, the guys on pit road definitely stepped it up and we maintained our position every time. That’s what we will need to finish even better at Bristol.”

NO. 10 VALVOLINE/STANLEY TOOLS DODGE CHARGER IN THE MEDIA
Scott Riggs spoke with 96 Rocks FM radio station in Atlanta, and Steve Waid of NASCAR Scene on Friday. Also on Thursday, Riggs and Team Director Rodney Childers were guests on the Valvoline Racing Radio Show and Childers made time before qualifying for an interview with SPEED Channel’s “NASCAR Raceday.” During Sunday’s rain delay, Riggs made an impromptu visit to his souvenir rig to sign autographs for rain soaked race fans. After the race on Monday, Riggs made time to talk to Dodge Notes and Quotes as well as “SPEED News” on SPEED Channel.

YAY for Scotty!!!

:na :checkered