βOn a caution flag pit stop near the halfway point of the race, Callaway's team got him out in front of the #38 on a four-tire pit stop, a move that would set the pace for Callaway to earn his first career victory for himself and the family-owned team of Callaway Brothers Racing. Kim ended up sliding to 7th.
"It's not always the easiest to build fast race cars when it's family and friends on the crew, but I think we broke the stereotype that it's impossible for a group like us to win a race," Callaway said. The rest of the top five consisted of Griffin Lynn, Anthony Lopez, Robert Harrison, and Mike Simpson. Simpson won the NFRN Truck Series race at the track. "It's still surreal to have back-to-back great runs at the same race track," Simpson said. Lost from the leaderboard is the #67 of Eric Van Arsdale, who went from running second to a 24th place finish after making contact with Conor Mays on pit road. "I thought I'd lost in every way possible last year, but obviously we're finding new ways to do that this year," Van Arsdale said. "It's usually not our fault either. I know lots of people say it's not their fault, but if you look at all the video, it kinda proves my point that we usually get stuck in situations that other people start. Disappointment also caught many other drivers involved in a lap one accident that was triggered by Shane Borlan tapping the back of Jon Gilbert, sending the #31 into Adam Coon and Mays. The contact would end up damaging multiple cars even though only sending home five. β"I thought we could contend for a top 15," said Jay Jefferson, who finished 29th. "We just decided to go for broke after [the wreck] and play the pit strategy, which got us a few more positions, but it's still a disappointing run." For some caught up in accidents, anger would probably be the better adjective. The #37 driver Hierjel Arvin Alonso was extremely displeased about being spun around by the #33 car. β"Alexander Rowe is the dumbest driver in the NFRN," Alonso said. "I guess he knows how to be fast but not to be a defensive driver." Alonso's anger was justified when his car was crunched by a major stack-up on the backstretch the lap after while drivers mixed with each other choosing whether or not to come down for pit service. Austin Rogers and Jason Thales were the first to check up as in front of them, Columbia International Speedway winner and Thales' teammate Donnie Moore wanted to stay out but got turned by Colorado native Chris Harley wanting to come in. "[Crew chief] Erick [Alexander] told me that Donnie [Moore] was staying out, but I saw the #49 on the outside and didn't think it was turning out well," Thales said. "I guess I had an advantage getting info from teammates cause everyone behind us clearly didn't get the memo." |
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