Exhausted Johns Finishes 30th in Richmond

RICHMOND, Virginia (September 7, 2007) – The Emerson Radio 250 became a test of endurance for Richard Johns and the No. 25 team.  After brushing the wall in the early stages of the event, exhaust began leaking into the FreeCreditReport.com Ford through a damaged crush panel.  Johns was left breathing fumes for the duration, which had the Lawrenceville, Georgia native ailing by the race’s end.  Johns held on to finish in 30th-place.

Friday got off to a rough start for Johns and the No. 25 gang.  During the first practice session of the morning, the FreeCreditReport.com Fusion got tagged from behind going into turn three and backed into the wall.  The team was forced to roll out the backup car, which was the same vehicle used at California Speedway last weekend.  The vehicle had several things that needed to be overhauled on it before it could tackle the short track action of Richmond International Raceway.  The team worked feverishly in the hot sun to add brake ducts and switch out parts off the damaged vehicle to have it ready in time for qualifying.

Johns was guaranteed a spot in the event and didn’t want to risk damaging another car before the race, so he turned a conservative qualifying lap of 22.229 seconds, placing him 41st on the starting grid. 

When the racing action got underway, Johns began climbing his way forward, reaching as high as 27th-place.  The race was about to become more and more difficult, though.  On lap 40, Johns made contact with the outside retaining wall.  The car’s handling wasn’t affected; however, the incident bent the right-side crush panel.  It allowed fumes to leak inside the driver’s cockpit, having Johns battle a nasty combination of dehydration and nausea throughout the event.  Johns was exhausted, but remained in the car until the checkered flag.  He finished in 30th-place.

Following the race, Johns was treated in the infield care center and released.

“It was a long race,” said Johns.  “I’ve never felt so sick inside a race car before.  The heat and the fumes had me exhausted.  I wish I had a chance to show what our car was capable of.  I wasn’t able to race as competitively as the car could have run.”

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