Football
Associated Press 21y

Rain forces race postponement

height=90 align=right alt="Jason Keller">
Keller

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Jason Keller's children have given him
what he hopes will be a great good-luck charm.

Joe and Jade Keller put their names and handprints on a white
T-shirt with the words "Go Daddy # 57," trying to cheer up the
driver who trails Busch series leader Greg Biffle by 168 points
with five races left this season.

Keller planned to wear the T-shirt for luck Saturday in the
Sam's Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park. But nonstop rain
postponed the race and the shirt's debut until Sunday.

"They know I've been down here lately, so they made it for
me," Keller said. "I will wear it under my suit and will have it
hopefully tomorrow. Win, lose or draw, it's going to be a good
day,"

Biffle has the pole, his fourth this season, and will be looking
for his fifth victory when they race on the three-quarter-mile
oval.

Keller finished in the top 10 nine of 11 weeks before winding up
30th at Kansas Speedway. Then, in his last race, Keller led at
Lowe's Motor Speedway.

But he and his crew tried to stretch their fuel a little too
far. He had to be push-started after a pit stop, finished 18th and
lost 41 points to Biffle.

"There's plenty of time," Keller said. "But history tells us
that Greg's going to have to make a mistake for us to catch up."

Keller will start 14th Sunday, but was happy with his Ford after
running well in Happy Hour on Friday. He is tied with Biffle with
four victories this season, and said he just needs to avoid wrecks
and stay out of trouble in the race.

"I think we've got a great opportunity to win the race,"
Keller said. "We've got to put ourselves in position to do that.
In qualifying, we didn't do that."

Rain started early Saturday morning and never stopped, keeping
drivers, crew members and fans sloshing through ankle-deep water in
some areas. Some die-hard fans stayed in their seats despite the
weather.

Some crew members played games in the garage, while others
watched college football. This is the second consecutive year this
race, which benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, has
been postponed until Sunday by rain.

Keller said delays were tougher on crew members than drivers.

"We're not going to have to work all week to get the cars
prepared for Atlanta," he said, alluding to the Busch race next
Saturday. "These crew guys they need a day off, and for most of
them Sunday's their day off."

^ Back to Top ^