We had a pretty good night in Richmond last Friday considering what could have been a disaster. We were able to overcome a practice crash and push our backup car to a strong 10th-place finish. We were also able to gain two positions to 13th in the overall points and we are only 31 points out of the top-10.

	Sauter is currently 13th in the Busch points standings.

Our weekend started off with a crash during the first practice session on Thursday afternoon. The crash eliminated our primary car for the race. Gene (Nead, crew chief) was able to prepare the backup car for qualifying, which we qualified in the 16th position.

With no practice laps in the backup car, we had to utilize the entire 60-minute happy hour practice session Friday to set the car up for the race.

The Quality Farm & Country Stores back-up car appeared to be a very strong from the start of the race. Early in the race, we worked our way up to the top-10 and competed there for most of the race while avoiding the many accidents that come with short track racing.

We raced as high as seventh and finished with a solid 10th. This was a personal best for me at Richmond in the NASCAR Busch Series and my best finish overall there since a third-place run in the truck races in 1997. I'm really thankful to have such a hard working group of guys on this team. They never gave up after the primary car wreck in practice. They showed just how good this team is when they pulled out the backup and we still managed a 16th-place qualifying run.

After happy hour, I felt like I had a strong car for the race, and I was right. To get another top-10 on our record this year helps us build the consistency that we need. We've just got to keep working hard and the points will come. This weekend could have been a real setback, but we left on a high note.

New Hampshire is next on the tour stop. This track holds a special place for me since we won our first NASCAR event there in 1997 in the truck series. I have always liked the track because it is a flat mile track like Milwaukee -- one of my favorite tracks. I will be driving the same car that I ran at Richmond last week. That car really performed well and I am confident that it will be good for Loudon.

This Quality Farm Stores team has really come together. The guys have really worked hard to give me a good car at each race. I would love to give this team their first win Saturday, that would be special.

Last year in the Busch race, I think that I got involved in every little accident there was during the race. After taking a provisional start, it just wasn't a very good day. Of course, the tragedy with Adam Petty will always be remembered. All in all, it was a very tough weekend on and off the track.

Jay Sauter drives the No. 43 car in the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division and will be submitting a weekly diary to ESPN.com throughout the season.