Ryan Moore's Showdown Ends In Disappointment : Raceway Media

Irwindale, CA - The last race of Ryan Moore's 2004 season turned several heads in Southern California. Both Moore Racing teams put on a tremendous show for race fans in the 2nd Annual Toyota All Star Showdown.

Events for the Showdown began with practice Thursday. Ryan Moore's set-up was right on, thanks to his Moore Racing Team headed by Jamie Lorfano. "These guys gave me a really awesome race car," said Moore, "It's great to come out here and be able to compete with the West guys at such a nice facility."

Out of the three practice sessions, The R.C. Moore/Bill Dodge Auto Group/Shell Rotella T Chevrolet was the fastest in two sessions. "We made a few adjustments before qualifying, we're just hoping to get a good starting spot in tomorrow night's feature," Moore commented. Qualifying for the Showdown consisted of two fifty lap races. Competitors in the first heat, where both Kelly Moore and son Ryan were lined up, would make up the inside row of the 150-lap feature and drivers in the second heat would make up the outside row.

Moore's 74 car was extremely loose throughout the 50-lap event, which prevented him from excelling to the front. "Our set-up was just a little off," said Moore, "once the sun went down we just loosened up way too much." Father Kelly Moore made his way to 3rd, but his young son stayed in the back of the pack where he finished 10th. Ryan would start the feature on the inside of the tenth row, in the 19th spot. "We made a few adjustments before tonight's feature and we're pretty confident about this R.C. Moore, Bill Dodge Chevrolet."

As soon as Moore took the green he could feel his set-up was right on. He quickly began making his way to the front and by lap 8 he had made his way into 12th. He continued picking cars off one by one and on lap 25, he slipped into the 6th spot. Moore had his sights set on the lead and he quickly made his way to second by lap 65. The young driver was ready to take the lead away, but not before a scheduled "break" in the event. At lap 100 a mandatory caution flag was thrown for a ten minute stop in the race, where teams were allowed to make adjustments. When Ryan's crew chief, Jamie, was asked what adjustments were going to be made, his reply was "not many at all, my driver is telling me this car is a rocket ship." Moore would undergo one minor adjustment and new tires.

A number - either four, six, or eight - was then picked to determine the number of cars to be inverted at the front of the field. This was a factor of the Showdown that was meant to add excitement to the competition as well as the race fans. The number eight was chosen, which meant the top eight positions would invert, putting Moore in the 7th with the former race leader behind him in 8th.

As the field took the green, only one lap was completed before the caution was thrown again. Austin Cameron's car was spun directly in front of teammate Kelly Moore, also collecting David Gilliland. The red flag was put out to clean a large amount of debris on the track. When the field took the green Moore was anxious to make his way into the lead, but about 5 laps into the new segment Moore's battery started to fail, causing him to be down on RPMs. He held his own very well, but the 74 car just didn't have to power to stay in the front. Moore drifted back to 8th and on lap 121 the caution flag was thrown. Moore knew his R.C. Moore Monte Carlo would not have the power his competitors would at the restart. He radioed to his team that the cars behind him needed to be aware that he wouldn't have much power at the start. Both Mike Duncan's team and the 47 team were warned about Moore's difficulty, but when the green flag was thrown Moore was hit from behind. He was bumped by Duncan and turned hard into the outside wall. Moore's hopes at winning his first Toyota All Star Showdown were no longer and he would have to park his car for the remainder of the race. Thankfully he got out of the car safely and suffered no injuries, just some minor disappointment. Although he had a wrecked race car, he still had a lot to be proud of. Both Moore Racing Teams put on a great show for NASCAR fans and Ryan was of major competition to all of the drivers. He had one of the fastest race cars on the track, but was hit late with bad luck.

"It was a great experience to be able to come out here and race a second year in a row," said the 2003 Rookie of the Year, "I'm proud to say that my team gave me an awesome race car and I'm sorry we couldn't get a win here tonight. I had a lot of fun and I look forward to coming back here in the future."

Moore would like to thank all that made it possible for his trip out to California and to be able to compete in such a big event: Grandfather Richard Moore and Uncle Shawn Moore of R.C. Moore Transportation, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, Win Dodge and Mike Levesque of Bill Dodge Auto Group, NAPA of Maine, Superior Image, Maine Lubrication, all of his dedicated crew members who had to take several days away from their families, his family members who were willing to travel at length to watch him race, and his Mom and Dad, Roxanne and Kelly Moore.

For more information, visit http://www.ryanmooreonline.com.

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