EA Sports 500 Report
Talladega, Alabama September 26th,2003
Final Talladega Ratings: NBC Sports’ broadcast of last Sunday’s EA Sports 500 from Talladega Superspeedway set a record as the highest national rating ever for any auto race in competition with professional football, a 5.5 national rating/ 12 share, according to Nielsen Media Research.(NASCAR PR)(10-3-2003)
September 24th,2003 - Buckshot qualifies 16th for the EA Sports 500. He was originally 17th until Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was found by Nascar Officials to have his rear quater panel(s) too low and had to take a provisional.#00-Buckshot Jones (16th) has his best starting spot since he started 14th at Atlanta in March of 2002 (only 6 races).
| EA SPORTS 500 |
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| Buckshot Jones leads early in the race driving the No. 00 Chevrolet. |
Buckshot Jones, who has run only one other race this season, raced like a seasoned pro for the first half the EA Sports 500. Buckshot Jones led today for the first time since he led one lap at Michigan in June of 2001. He's the 46th different driver to lead a lap this season.
Driving a dominating car prepared by Dale Earnhardt Inc., Jones started 16th, sped to the front and led 19 laps straight (25-43) before being passed by his teammate, car owner and eventual winner Michael Waltrip, on Lap 42.
Michael Waltrip leads a large pack of cars. Credit: Autostock
But on Lap 89, the right front tire blew on Jones' No. 00 Chevrolet, and the shredded tire ripped the fender, destroying the aerodynamics of the car.
Buckshot Jones led at one point, but his day ended when he blew a tire. Credit: Autostock
Cut tire possibly from coming in to hot to pit road and flat spotting or maybe getting into debris from Ryan Newman's tire. Only making a two tire stop and not changing the cut tire and then it flew apart causing damage. Buckshot retires from the race.
Since Buckshot, who hasn't had a regular ride since he was released by Petty Enterprises last April, isn't running for points, he parked the car rather than ride around to protect his position in the standings.
"DEI has awesome stuff," Jones said. "I had a lot of fun. It felt good to come back and get in a good race car."- AJC.COM
Buckshot came home with a 40th place finish.($51,730)
Buckshot's Highlights
Lap 25: Buckshot Jones takes the lead.
Lap 43: Michael Waltrip takes the lead from Buckshot Jones despite a troublesome car.
Lap 84: Another round of green-flag pit stops is under way.
Lap 89: Ryan Newman pits again after a tire goes down.
Lap 90: Caution out for Buckshot Jones -- blown tire.
Lap 94: Buckshot Jones heads to the garage.
