July 14, 2011
A TUMS’ “FightS back fast”MOMENT
(For each of the 36 races during the 2011 Sprint Cup season, TUMS will provide a brief historical recap of a moment when a team fought back to overcome an obstacle, one that can be described as a TUMS “Fights Back Fast” Moment. This week, the focus is on New Hampshire Motor Speedway).
Rusty Wallace and pit crew fight for win at inaugural Slick 50 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
The date was July 11, 1993. Taking advantage of the sixth and final caution of the day during the inaugural Slick 50 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Rusty Wallace gained the lead in his Penske Racing Pontiac by beating Davey Allison off of pit road and held the lead for the final 30 laps. The St. Louis native had to fight the 100-degree summer heat which made temperatures in the cars almost unbearable. He ultimately pulled away to a 1.31-second margin of victory.
NOTE: TUMS is the sponsor of the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the seventh race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, at Martinsville Speedway on October 30.
Wallace and his crew fought back during their final pit stop to erase a six-second lead held by Davey Allison, driver of the Robert Yates Racing Ford. Wallace’s 17-second stop for tires and fuel was text book which allowed him to fight back with a smooth move off the track.
Allison looked as though he had the race won but needed to pit for both tires and fuel. Mark Martin, in the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford, wrestled second away from Allison with five laps remaining and their battle allowed Wallace to pull away even further.
“Lately, we’ve been taking one step forward and two steps back,” Wallace said. “The car was perfect at the end. We had a great car, great tires and a great crew. I can’t say enough about this team. We didn’t want to run out of fuel so we pitted and the crew was really fast.”
