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[/media-credit]Miguel Paludo – No. 32 Duroline Brakes and Components Chevrolet
Kansas Speedway – SFP 250 – April 21, 2012
Miguel Paludo and the No. 32 Duroline Brakes and Components truck posted a solid day at Kansas Speedway, running consistently fast lap times and boasting near-perfect handling for much of the SFP 250, before bringing home a 10th-place finish. The team battled back from a poorly-timed caution and restarts behind struggling competitors to earn their first top-10 of the season.
The No. 32 truck took the green flag for Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) event from the 13th position, and when the first yellow flag of the day waved on lap 3, Paludo relayed to crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. that his Chevrolet Silverado was “really good.” Despite running outside the top 10, Paludo was consistently laying down lap times as quick as the top-five.
When a caution period slowed the field on lap 37, Paludo reiterated how balanced his handling was to his crew and that he did not require any changes. The Turner Motorsports crew serviced the No. 32 with four tires and fuel, sending Paludo back onto the track in 13th without any adjustments.
Paludo was able to capitalize on an already strong restart when a competitor in front of him missed a shift as the green flag waved, going three wide and elbowing his way into the top 10. Paludo worked his way up to eighth 10 laps later. The No. 32 remained in the top 10 through two quick cautions, but just as a competitor’s poor restart had benefitted him earlier, Paludo got stuck behind a truck with a transmission problem on lap 63, dropping back to 12th place.
The No. 32 truck continued to lay down quick laps, and Paludo broke back into the top 10 before the field began to make green-flag pit stops on lap 92. Paludo brought his Chevy Silverado into the pits on lap 96, taking on four tires and fuel, and the crew provided him with a clean, fast pit stop. Unfortunately, the yellow flag waved just one lap later, and since pit stops had not yet cycled through, Paludo was scored a lap down.
Hillman Jr. advised his driver to remain on the track through the brief caution period, and Paludo was awarded his lap back due to the wave-around rule. Scored in the 21st position when green-flag racing resumed, Paludo once again fought his way back into the top 10 on lap 119, running fast lap after fast lap, many faster than the leader.
A long caution-free run once again led to green-flag pit stops, and this time, Paludo waited until most of his competitors had pitted before heading in for his final stop of the day, entering the pits in the second position on lap 151. Taking only three seconds of racing fuel, Paludo quickly returned to the track. With only 16 laps of racing remaining, Paludo maintained a top-10 position, crossing the finish line 10th. Turner Motorsports teammate James Buescher took the checkered flag in his first career NCWTS win. The win was Turner Motorsports’ second consecutive Truck Series victory.
Miguel Paludo: “This was a great day for the No. 32 Duroline Brakes and Components team. Our truck was really good for the entire race and the guys made really fast pit stops. Turner Motorsports has proven it’s a winning organization in the last two weeks, and I know that it’s going to be the No. 32 truck in victory lane very soon.”
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series takes a three-week break leading up to the N.C. Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 18th.
Practice 1
Position: 15th
Laps: 18
Fastest Lap: 32.227
Final Practice
Position: 7th
Laps: 24
Fastest Lap: 31.763
Qualifying
Position: 13th
Fastest Lap: 31.592
Race
Position: 10th
Laps Completed/Total Laps: 167/167
