Sorenson and Target Team Finish 25th at California Speedway

Results from California Speedway

1.   Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet
21. Reed Sorenson, No. 41 Target/ Memorex Dodge
33. Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Wrigley’s Big Red® Dodge
34. David Stremme, No. 40 Target Dodge

FONTANA, Calif. (September 2, 2007) -Reed Sorenson and the No. 41 Target team overcame an extremely hot weekend at California Speedway, where temperatures soared up into the triple digits all three days of NASCAR racing at the West Coast track, in addition to a punctured tire to score a top-25, 21st-place finish in Sunday’s Sharp AQUOS 500. 

The No. 41 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) team lined up 31st to take the green Sunday evening.  Initially, the No. 41 Dodge was running strong on the 2-mile oval, but as the Target team’s run progressed its early momentum seemed to regress.  Sorenson told his team just 50 laps into its run his car was loose on the high groove and tight down low.  That issue continued to echo throughout the 250-lap race. 

The team’s night almost concluded early on lap 172.  Just after the No. 8 car made contact with the left rear of the Target Dodge, the left-rear tire’s outer liner flew out from under the No. 41 car and brought out the 10th yellow flag of the night.  Thanks to the tire’s inner liner and Sorenson’s strong grip, the car stayed on track and then quickly pitted for four fresh tires and fuel.  Racing resumed on lap 178 with the No. 41 in 38th place. 

Sorenson and team managed to pick up almost 20 positions total in the closing 72 laps to say goodnight to the hot and exhausting weekend in 21st place.  Sorenson’s teammates Juan Pablo Montoya and David Stremme finished 33rd and 34th respectively.

Only 17 cars finished on the lead lap Sunday.  The race was almost four hours long, which included 11 yellow flags for a total of 43 laps. 

Sorenson took another step forward in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (NNC) standings, moving up to 24th with a current tally of 2,220 points.  He is currently tied with Mark Martin and is 152 points outside the 20th spot.  The No. 41 Target team took two steps forward in the NNC owner ranks, where the team is now 26th overall and 219 points outside the top 20.

The NEXTEL Cup Series heads to Richmond International Raceway to race under the lights Saturday night, September 8.  The coverage is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC, MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio channel 128. 

CGRFS Driver Quoteboard

REED SORENSON:  “The Target Dodge was loose up high and tight down low pretty much the entire night.  We were just all over the place.  The car just didn't seem to respond to anything we did to it.  We’ll just learn from tonight, put it behind us and move forward.”