Better Half Dash Quotes:

Jacquelyn Butler (No. 6, winner) – “All of the girls did really good. It was fun out there. I want to go back and do it again next week. That was crazy but a lot of fun. I don’t know when I passed her [Allgaier]. All of our tires were wearing down, so that was a good excuse. I just tried to get past her. It was like, there are five [laps] to go, so I had to watch Tricia [Mears, second-place finisher] coming up behind me. I tried to hold my line. I didn’t remember the shot she gave me. I was so focused on what I was doing. It was a lot of fun to do this for MRO and Speedway Children’s Charities. Hopefully, we’ll keep doing it and do it again next year and get the word out there. My charity is, of course, MRO. They do so much for us. [Question: Were you nervous?] I didn’t eat. I had a bite of banana and a little bit of a shake. [Question: Your trophy is bigger than boyfriend David Ragan’s from Daytona, are you going to rub it in?] I’m too proud of him for winning Daytona, but it will be sitting right next to his Daytona trophy. So, I think we’ll take the car to the dealership, and it will sit there a little bit. So, of course, with it sitting there, I will have to mention it every time I come into the room. I have watched David race here, so I know these cars are nothing to play around with. [Question: What is the best advice you received?] I got some from David, his dad Ken and Tom Pistone. I knew with a car in front of you, you don’t follow their line. Run your own line. Eventually, they are going to overdrive it and if you’re following their line, you will follow them. So, focus on your line.”

Tricia Mears (No. 10, second place) – “I didn’t want to spin her [race winner Butler] out, but I wanted to bump her. I couldn’t get too close. I’m so glad I went for it and tried to take the lead. This is not fun finishing second. I would rather finish 14th. It was a learning experience. It is definitely exciting. I appreciate what my husband does a lot more. I have a lot of respect for the guys out there. That was my first race. I want the big check though. I can’t handle it [finishing second]. [Question: Were you nervous?] I didn’t eat. But right there when we walked out to get going, and I saw everybody out on pit road, I got more and more nervous. I tried to stay real hydrated. I did like Ashley [Allgaier] did in practice and fell out of my car trying to get in!”

Ashley Allgaier (No. 31, third place) – “I got to lead a lot; I’m proud of myself. I had a blast. I led the most laps and finished third. The last few laps, my tires went away. That’s what I’m blaming it on. I’m not blaming it on myself. I have never been racing in my life. I learned a lot. I have a lot of respect for what the guys do. It’s definitely a different feeling. I want to do it again. So, next year we’ll see. But, I had a blast and we had three sponsors come on board. I do have a whole lot more respect for the boys. [Question: Were you nervous?] I didn’t eat.”

Better Half Dash Finishing Order
1. Jacquelyn Butler (David Ragan)
2. Trisha Mears (Casey Mears)
3. Ashley Allgaier (Justin Allgaier)
4. Patricia Driscoll (Kurt Busch)
5. Wendy Venturini (Speed Network)
6. Beth Baldwin (Tommy Baldwin)
7. Sabrina Simpson (Joey Logano)
8. Jami McDowell (Michael McDowell)
9. Michelle Gilliland (David Gilliland)
10. Kristen Yeley (J.J. Yeley)
11. Nan Zipadelli (Greg Zipadelli)
12. Angie Skinner (Mike Skinner)
13. Shannon Koch (Blake Koch)
14. Melanie Self (Motor Racing Outreach)