| Loudon, NH - There was a special excitement this weekend in Loudon, New Hampshire for the Bayer Consumer Care Racing program. For the first time Bayer sponsored the race in association with Bayer Diagnostics. The title name of the race was given to their joint customer CVS Pharmacy.
The weather was uncharacteristically spectacular when Tony qualified 18th on Friday, and blue skies and weather prevailed for race day.
Pre-Race Tony Raines was quoted as follows:
"We qualified 18th yesterday and we think we have found a combination during the final practice that should bring us to the front today. The team has worked hard all weekend to give me the best car possible; I am excited about our chances today. It would be really great to win this race for our sponsors, Bayer and CVS."
Caution was the order of the day for drivers. The race was like a "train" with "follow the leader" driving, which allowed pole sitter, Kevin Harvick, to lead 165 laps in the very quick race which lasted slightly under two hours.
The New Hampshire race experienced only four cautions. Tony successfully avoided the two accidents that occurred in the first twenty laps. Our pit stops were outstanding (less than sixteen seconds) attesting to the skill and practice level of the Bayer pit crew.
Tony was boxed in mid race, stuck in a traffic jam that took him out of contention charging up to the front. He was subsequently shuffled back in traffic, went a lap down, but still managed to finish the race in the 12th position. Jason Keller sped by point's leader, Kevin Harvick, in the 185th lap to win the CVS 200. A win "won" with pit strategy during two cautions in the last 27 laps.
The Bayer #33 car goes on to Nazareth, Pennsylvania next week for the 13th race of the season sitting in eighth position in points. Watch for the Bayer Consumer Care car in FX this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
Bayer Morristown headquarters employees are in for a treat on Thursday May 17th. Tony Raines, and team owners, Bill and Brian Baumgardner, will participate in a NASCAR afternoon fielding questions and answers from the Bayer family of employees. The hauler will also make its first appearance, carrying two of the racecars on their way to the Nazareth event. As added fun, the Bayer employees will get to "race" each other with the Interactive Speedway remote control system.
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