McGlynn NASCAR Nextel Cup Team Makes Field Two Weeks in a Row

The McGlynn NASCAR Nextel Cup race team sponsored by Sundance Vacations made the field for both of their last attempts. The Sundance Vacations Royal Administration Dodge started in the 41st starting position for the Crown Royal 400 and in the 33rd starting position for the Dodge Charger 500 at Darlington.

Wilkes Barre, Pa (PRWEB) May 17, 2006 --The Sundance Vacations Royal Administration Dodge driven by Derrike Cope was able to make the field for both the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 6th and the Dodge Charger 500 held at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina this past weekend.

Cope started 41st at Richmond and finished 43rd. The qualifying effort improved this past weekend and the Sundance Vacations Royal Administration Dodge was able to capture the 33rd starting spot at Darlington.

These are the team’s first starts following a fine levied by NASCAR during the April race at Texas Motor speedway. NASCAR inspectors seized a manifold they claimed to be illegal before the race. NASCAR also smacked the team with the second largest fine in the NASCAR racing history, $50,000. The team appealed the decision for several reasons one of which was that the amount of the fine was extraordinary and not consistent with fines levied on other teams historically. The appeal was unsuccessful.

Richmond
The Sundance Vacations Royal Administration Dodge lost an hour of practice before the Crown Royal 400. For some reason, the inspection process took longer than usual. NASCAR also demanded a fuel sample, something they had not done before. With clean fuel and a car that met inspection the Sundance Vacations Royal Administration Dodge finally got on the racetrack.

Lack of practice resulted in a poor setup, which became evident within the first 10 laps of the race. Cope reported a severe vibration and pulled the Sundance Vacations Dodge into the garage.

Darlington
Driver Derrike Cope comments about the Darlington qualifying effort, "I am obviously pleased and excited how well things have been going. All the guys are doing a great job! The engine is running well and I am making some good laps in qualifying. When it came time to qualify we went out 5th and I got through 1 and 2 pretty good, but really got in turn three hard and it stuck pretty well, and I was able to get to the throttle very quickly and with a lot of authority. So it put us 33rd fastest."

Despite the adversity of the past few weeks, the team can hold their head high. To their credit, the McGlynn race team qualified ahead of the multimillion-dollar teams fielded by UPS and Napa Auto Parts, placing them and their driver among the best drivers in the country.

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