Reed Sorenson started the Wallace Family Tribute 250 from the outside pole and by the end of the night, he was able to better his position and claim the second win of the year for the No. 41 Home123 team.
But prior to visiting St. Louis, Sorenson had some quick studying to do so he could even consider himself a contender for the event.
Just over a week ago the Georgia native tested the track - although assisting his Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammates in a Nextel Cup car. Sorenson explained that no matter the car, the practice was “To get some laps in because I had never been here before.”
His easy adaptation on the 1.25-mile Gateway International
Raceway was obvious and after an hour-long practice Friday night and a session early Saturday, Sorenson strapped in for qualifying and charged his Home123 Dodge into the second position.
“The car is super. It feels good to qualify back up front again,” he said.
Once nightfall crept in and Busch Series official Kevin Moss waved the green flag over the 43-car field chatter quickly crackled over the 41 team radio – but for the better. Challenging for the lead, Sorenson took the position early, on lap six.
Within laps however Sorenson and many of his competitors began complaining about oil being on the racing surface. The first caution flag then fell on lap 17.
“It’s kind of free and chatters the right rear but we’re alright,” Sorenson said leading under the yellow.
The second yellow fell on lap 32 and with it came a chance for Sorenson to take on his first pitstop of the night. He guided his No. 41 Dodge Charger to the attention of his crew and thanks to a solid stop, the car won the battle for the lead off of pitroad but at the same time, some cars opted not to pit this time around, lining Reed up in fifth at the restart.
Charging along and eyeing the lead yet again Sorenson was running second when the yellow dropped for the third time on lap 62.
Debating what strategy to take on under the yellow and stating that he’d rather have four tires than two, Sorenson summoned the compliment from his knowledgeable crew chief Brian Pattie, “You sound like a 40 year veteran right there.”
Pit strategy varied throughout the remainder of the night. From discussions of a fuel only stop to a two-tire swap-out Pattie made the calls to keep his driver challenging as the main threat for the win.
Sorenson held steady, stayed calm and charged on with
the coaching of Lorin Ranier in his ear. Cruising along in second to David Stremme on lap 117 of the scheduled 200, the spotter insisted, “That looks like a perfect pace right there you don’t need to run any harder.”
With just over a second spacing him from the lead and six seconds comfortably between the third place car, sporty Sorenson was able to calmly click off laps before the sixth caution fell on lap 136.
“It feels good. I want to go green. The longer we go the better I am,” Sorenson told his team.
This time around, Pattie called for four fresh tires and fuel with no adjustments. Again, the pit crew worked their magic and got Sorenson back on track in a competitive third spot.
Once racing resumed it didn’t take long for Sorenson to pounce for position. He made the move on the inside of David Stremme on lap 151 to jump back into second.
Five laps later he informed his crew that he couldn’t quite make the pass on then leader Martin Truex, Jr. because the car was “aero tight.”
Finally, on lap 168 after laps of lining up his pass, Sorenson stole the lead on the inside after going three-wide with a lapped car.
Reed's Home123 crew got him out of the pits fast and he took it over from there. (Getty IMages)
IT was Reed's and the team's second win of the 2005 season. The first came here at Nashville.
“I knew I had a great car. The 14 (Stremme) was strong, the 8 (Truex) was strong at times. That last run we were just pacing ourselves. We came in and got those last four tires – I was pushing it as hard as I could and we got a good lead,” Sorenson explained after the race.
The only time throughout the night that caused the team any worry was a late race caution flag with only eight laps left on the board. Running second David Stremme lost a right front tire forcing the yellow flag to fall for debris.
Sorenson lost a strong and impressive four-second lead.
During the caution laps Sorenson’s thoughts were running as fast as his sporty ride. After a long silence over the radio Pattie asked, “You still with us?”
“I’m just trying to concentrate,” Sorenson responded.
He led the field to the final restart with only three laps remaining. The jump was a good one at the flag stand as the 41 shot out to a strong lead for the duration.
Crossing the stripe gaining his second career win, Sorenson took the checkered flag and celebrated across the front stretch before joining his team in victory lane.
“I tell you what, if I would have lost that race after that caution I would have been sick that’s for sure – and probably literally. I did not want to see that caution. I was nervous,” Sorenson said of the final charge.
“They asked me if I was still there because I went three laps under caution and didn’t say a word. I was hoping we could get through the first couple of turns and maybe we could win if we got through that and we did.”
After a late night at Gateway – made even longer with a post race victory and technical inspection, the No. 41 hauler packed up and headed to Watkins Glen for a test session for the second and final road course event of 2005 which falls after next week’s event in Indianapolis. Crew chief Brian Pattie says the car is the same one ran by teammate Jamie McMurray in Mexico City earlier this season.
Following the victory celebration and the test at The Glen, the team will next tackle the short track, Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP) on Saturday, where Reed’s Busch Series career began just one year ago.
“It was my first race in a Busch car. I ran some ASA races there. We’re going to take this car. We’re going to take it back to the shop and get it turned around. If it runs like it did here, we should be a top five,” Reed said. “Last year we qualified good and finished 13th.”
