We experienced an early-race battery problem last weekend in Dover, Del., that resulted in a 23rd-place finish for the Quality Farm & Country team.

It was a tough afternoon for the team. I had a strong top-10 car, but the battery problem got us behind and you can't make up that big of a deficit. I was just maintaining my position during the early stages because I knew we'd get the competition caution to make our first pit stop. Then, the thing just shut off. It's disappointing to have this good of a car and not get the finish to show it.

For the second week in a row, qualifying was cancelled due to heavy rains at the track. Therefore, the starting grid was set by Busch Series car owner points. With this format, we started the No. 43 Quality Farm Stores Chevrolet in the 19th position.

The excitement of getting the race started lasted less than one lap as rain fell again before the first lap was complete. A red flag condition for rain lasted over two hours before the track was ready to go racing.

We maintained the 19th position on the track during the early stages. On lap 50, we began to move up in the running order.

NASCAR threw a competition yellow on lap 52 so that all teams could pit and check their tires. That's when the entire afternoon took a turn for the worst.

As the pit crew was performing their routine services, the car suddenly shut off. A problem with the battery was discovered and the crew had to replace it behind the wall. This put us several laps down and in 31st position.

We worked hard to make up laps and gain positions for the remainder of the race. We were turning some competitive lap times during the final stages of the race. We finished 23rd.

We maintained our 17th-place position in the standings. We are currently 117 points out of 10th place.

After a week off, our next race is at the new Kentucky Speedway on June 16. We tested there earlier in the year and had a really good run. We look forward to the first race ever at the new track.

It will be the first time that the Curb-Agajanian team will have multiple cars running in a Busch race. Phil Parsons, who used to compete with my current chief Gene Nead, will be driving a second car for the race in Kentucky. The car number will be 97 and the sponsor will be our associate sponsor, Morton Salt. I am looking forward to having a teammate on the track, it should be fun.

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.