AUSTIN HILL RUNS UP FRONT BUT FINISHES 12TH IN FUEL MILEAGE RACE
Austin Hill made his first ever start at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., during Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 37 Kind Days 250. Opening practice was canceled due to rain at the mile and a half circuit, but the track rookie made several runs in Final Practice to end up 17th. The United Rentals No. 02 team went to work and it showed off as Hill was able to advance to the final round of qualifying, ultimately earning the ninth starting position for the 167-lap event.
STAGE 1 RECAP:
· Started Stage 1: P9
· Finished Stage 1: P15
The opening stage went all 40 laps caution free. Hill reported that the United Rentals No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado was tight. Under the caution after the end of the stage, crew chief Chad Kendrick called the Winston, Ga., native to pit road for four tires, fuel and an adjustment.
STAGE 2 RECAP:
· Started Stage 2: P14
· Finished Stage 2: P13
Stage two got underway on Lap 50 and went caution free until the end at Lap 80. Hill was still reporting a tight condition and brought his truck to pit road on Lap 84 for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment.
STAGE 3 RECAP:
· Started Stage 3: P12
· Finished Stage 3: P12
The final stage got back to green flag racing on Lap 88. The caution was displayed on lap 99 and Kendrick called Hill down pit road for fuel and an adjustment. He restarted 11th and when the caution was displayed again on lap 106, Hill reported his United Rentals No. 02 was feeling free. At the end of the race, the team tried to stretch their run on fuel mileage and ran within the top five, but ultimately came up a few laps short. Hill came to pit road in the closing laps for fuel, relegating him to a 12th-place finish.
“Friday night was a lot of fun,” said Hill. “It felt good to run up front at a track I had never been to before. It’s a bummer we couldn’t make it to the end on fuel, my guys work so hard on this United Rentals No. 02 team and a top five finish would have been great for us, but coming home 12th after having to pit late is still a good finish. I am already looking forward to next week at Charlotte.”
BUBBA WALLACE TALLIES TOP-15 IN TRUCK SERIES RETURN
Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr., made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series return on Friday at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. The opening practice session was canceled as a result of rain, but the 24-year-old made several runs and ended Final Practice in 12th and then qualified 15th for the 37 Kind Days 250.
STAGE 1 RECAP:
· Started Stage 1: P15
· Finished Stage 1: P12
The first stage of the night went green flag racing from flag to flag. During the stage, Wallace reported that his No. 20 Andy’s Frozen Custard Chevrolet was tight. The team pit on lap 43 for four tires, fuel and an adjustment. Unfortunately, the team got hit with an uncontrolled tire penalty and had to serve a pass-through penalty.
STAGE 2 RECAP:
Started Stage 2: P16
Finished Stage 2: P11
Wallace restarted the second stage from 16th on lap 50 and worked his way up to just outside of the top 10 by Lap 80 when the caution was displayed for the end of the stage. The Alabama native brought his truck down pit road on Lap 84 for four tires and fuel.
STAGE 3 RECAP:
· Started Stage 3: P14
· Finished Stage 3: P14
Wallace restarted the final stage from 14th and quickly moved inside the top 10. When the caution was displayed on Lap 99, he brought the No. 20 Andy’s Frozen Custard Chevrolet down pit road for four tires and fuel. He restarted in 12th and quickly moved back inside the top 10. In the closing laps of what became a fuel mileage race, Wallace ran within the top five looking to stretch his fuel and make it to the end. Unfortunately, he came up a little short and had to pit with a few laps remaining in the 37 Kind Days 250, relegating him to a 14th-place finish.
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