"It was a tough grind for our entire team, especially in the middle stretch where we were crashing out or outside of the top-20, but we knew starting position was crucial to getting ahead here and we focused all of our resources on qualifying trim," #97 crew chief Wolfe Lambert said.
Several drivers tried unsuccessfully to run different pit strategies to beat out Mundinger. Brock stayed out an extra lap on the first green flag stops while Arndt stayed out on the final pit stop, both leading two laps in the process. Both also ended up losing spots on the other end of their stop. "Hindsight is 20-20," #05 crew chief Ace Rube said. "Looking back at it, we needed to pit one lap earlier rather than one lap later, but we're so far ahead on points that we can try to take that risk and go for the victory. It just didn't work out today." Mundinger's victory also changed the complexion of the playoff standings. His win bypassed what would've been a points spot if he wasn't able to win. It helped Arndt maintain a larger lead against the cut line and also put Jake Baskinger in the third open spot with drivers like Jek Porkins, nascarfan19, and Eric Monaco all struggling at Nox. Porkins' terrible last-place day started in turn one on lap one, where Julio Cesar ran into the back of Dominic Carranza, triggering a multi-car accident. Porkins and nascarfan19 ran wide into the gravel trap, while Jonny Gardner and Monaco were involved in the crash. Carranza pitted later that lap, but Gardner went wide to avoid the #24 and ran into Porkins, putting them both hard into the wall and forcing them to pit. Gardner is safe in the playoffs with his victory at the other road course this season, Calder Park Raceway. Just four races remain in the regular season with a superspeedway, intermediate track, and two short tracks left on the schedule.
He looks to earn a victory on the first of three races in the western part of the United States, including Zen Joltis Quad Oval Mega Speedway in New Mexico and Castle Gorge Speedway in Washington.
Here's how fast they're wheeling on the road course: 1) TheOtherJR (R) - 1:01.538 (48 laps) 2) Ryan Maiden (R) - 1:01.685 (47) 3) Zachary Fitzwater Sr. (R) - 1:01.736 (49) 4) Julio Cesar (R) - 1:01.769 (49) 5) Reece Butcher - 1:01.789 (50) 6) Dominic Carranza (R) - 1:01.801 (49) 7) Phillip Fry (R) - 1:01.806 (45) 8) John Arndt - 1:01.814 (49) 9) Mitchell Marc (R) - 1:01.817 (49) 10) Nick Smith - 1:01.827 (49)
Here's first practice times from Nox:
1) Ryan Maiden (R) - 1:00.804 (71 laps) 2) TheOtherJR (R) - 1:00.818 (74) 3) Adam Mundinger (R) - 1:00.943 (69) 4) Jonny Gardner - 1:00.992 (74) 5) Zachary Fitzwater Sr. (R) - 1:00.999 (76) 6) Cody Hagen (R) - 1:01.045 (73) 7) Stuart Gratton (R) - 1:01.050 (74) 8) Jonathan Raines (R) - 1:01.054 (76) 9) Eli Bright (R) - 1:01.056 (71) 10) Noah Kars - 1:01.083 (74) |
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