2001 Year In Review

After a progressive 2001 race season, the No. 33 Bayer Consumer Care Racing team looks like it achieved the stability it once knew when the team won three Busch Grand National Championships in the past. Tony Raines, who was awarded with "Rookie of the Year" honors in 1999, represented the Bayer Consumer Care Racing team as he entered his third year in NASCAR's Busch Grand National division. He has proven his progress and capability of front running, and his potential at one of NASCAR's top competitive levels.

With crew chief Michael Kadlecik's leadership in the last half of the 2000 season, he was appointed to call the shots for the entire 33-race season in 2001. "You have a different perspective about racing, I think, when you are crew chief," Kadlecik said. "The first half of last year Bill Baumgardner (owner of BACE Motorsports) set me aside just to watch how the team works together and what changes could be made. I realized how to motivate the team properly and how to get people to do what needs to be done. The team has to work as a whole, or you basically just don't have a team," he continued. "Tony and I have worked together for six years. We have that chemistry between the two of us that you don't find in every crew chief and driver. He listens to me, and I listen to him. We make a good combination."

The No. 33 team featured a return of several members from the 2000 Busch Series squad, but also added a few newcomers. "We pit practiced as much as we could this season," Kadlecik said. "We made it mandatory to pit practice at least two times per week. We also added a workout program. The workout program was not made mandatory, but we had a rule, no workout no pay," Kadlecik said smiling. "It was more of an incentive for the guys."

The season opener in Daytona brought extreme emotions for the Bayer Consumer Care Racing team, when Raines was tapped from behind during the race and was sent airborne. Raines walked away unhurt, but substantial damage was done to the car. "The guys have worked so hard over the winter to put this car together. This is not how you would like the first race of the year to start off," Raines said. The team set their sites on Rockingham, but to their disappointment, Raines was involved in another accident and was unable to complete the full event, which chalked up the second of five DNF's of the season. The Bayer Consumer Care Racing teams luck was about to change. They entered the Las Vegas event 35th in the point standing's, but with great team work in the pits, Raines finished forth, and moved into the 23rd position. It only got better from there.

Continuing on their progression as a weekly contender, Raines had five top-ten finishes and had also moved up to the eighth place in the point standings, but was only 121 points out of fifth by the first of May. Raines' best finish of the year came at the spring Richmond event where he finished second to Winston Cup driver Jimmy Spencer. "That was a good night," Raines said. "We were so close to that first win."

The upward swing continued for several weeks as Raines captured the pole in Nazareth, moved up to the fifth position in the point standings by the halfway mark of the season, and had four more top ten finishes at tracks Nazareth, Dover Downs, Kentucky, and Milwaukee.

Raines was excited to be back at Indianapolis Raceway Park in August. "This is my home state," Raines said. "A lot of my friends and family come to see me race, and I would like to do well here." After a wild night under the lights, Raines was able to avoid several wrecks and finish in the 12th spot.

The No. 33 remained consistent in the later stages of the season with the exception of a few sour races. After a lengthy rain delay at Memphis, Raines was running in the second spot in the final laps of the race when the transmission in the Alka-Seltzer Plus car failed. "We could have easily had our first win today, but we will never know," Michael Kadlecik said. "What a disappointment."

The Bayer Consumer Care Racing team entered the Homestead-Miami Speedway event, which held the season finale, with a lot of anticipation. "This is the last race of the year," Michael Kadlecik said. "We have been so close all year to that first win. If it is going to happen, this is our last chance. The guys have been great in the pits, and Raines has been calm on the track. I hope it works for us today." Although Raines did not bring home the checkered flag, it gave the Bayer Consumer Care Racing team the confidence they need for the 2002 season. "We had a great year," Michael Kadlecik said. "We ran competitively and we had consistent finishes. Every part of this program has definitely stepped up this year compared to last year, and I am very pleased. We achieved everything we set out to do at the beginning of the year, everything except that first win."

Raines finished sixth in NASCAR's point standings, had 12 top-tens, four top-fives, and captured one pole.

Next season, Bayer Consumer Care will again sponsor Tony Raines and the No.33 as Primary in 15 key race events, and will be a major associate in three more events. Bayer Consumer Care is very excited about the potential for success in the 2002 season, and hopes all of Tony's fans tune in to another exciting Busch season; beginning with Daytona on Saturday, February 16th, with the GNC Livewell 300.

"What would I like to see it happen next year," Michael Kadlecik said. He continued, "Ten wins and a championship. There is no reason not to believe that this can happen. We have the ability to win races. We believe that winning a race will happen. Once the ability meets the belief, every other team better watch out. There will be no stopping us."

The Bayer Consumer Care Racing team was shown their appreciation after the final race as Bayer hosted a party honoring them in Key Largo, Florida. The enclosed pictures reflect the fun and excitement at this year-end celebration.