GAFFNEY, S.C. (June 17, 2012) – Mike Wallace and the No. 01 Carl Ent/Bank of Ann Arbor Mortgage Dept Chevrolet team had a longer weekend than normal at the two-mile oval of Michigan International Speedway.
With the track being totally repaved since their last visit in 2011, all NASCAR Nationwide Series teams were taking to a new-feeling surface looking for positive results. Three practice sessions on Friday gave them their first indications of what to expect.
During those sessions, Wallace and the Newt Moore-led team posted the 23rd, 28th and 25th times, respectively, on the scoring chart. Their teammate, Danny Efland in the No. 4 Tradebank Chevrolet, didn’t go out for the first session, but was 35th and 33rd in the second and third practices.
When the race started, Wallace was lined up 30th with Efland in 33rd place.
And, as he does for every race, the veteran experience Wallace brings to the table proved its value as he settled into a product rhythm right from the start. As a four-time NNS winner, he knows it’s important to be there at the end rather than burn up your equipment early.
The first caution took place just two laps into the race, which didn’t require a pit stop. But, a pre-scheduled competition caution for lap 27 allowed a trip down pit road for tires, fuel and adjustments.
From there, Wallace would race his way around the big and wide oval in search of the best line on the new pavement. Handling conditions would continue to be addressed on future pit stops as the teams tried to get their cars better for a good finish.
More cautions allowed for drives to get the Lucky Dog and get back on the lead lap. Wallace, unfortunately, never was in the right position at the right time to take advantage as he raced one lap down to the leaders for the latter portion of the race. He was one of six cars just one lap down, while the rest of the field was two or more.
A wreck on lap 119 brought out the red for just less than nine minutes. It also set up a four-lap shootout to the checkered flag. When that waved on lap 125, Wallace came across the Start/Finish Line in 20th place. He remains 13th in Driver’s Points, trailing 10th by 23 markers as the NNS heads to the left and right turns of Road America next Saturday.
Efland brought the No. 4 Tradebank Chevrolet under the double-checkered flags in 27th place.
Mike Wallace Quotes: “I have to give credit to the folks at Michigan; they did a good job repaving this track. It was smooth and had a ton of grip.
“We weren’t too far off from where were needed to be, but with a track this big it gets so tough to keep up with because everyone is strung out so much. Some of the cautions fell to our favor and helped us make adjustments at the right times.
“I’d like to thank Carl Ent from the Bank of Ann Arbor Mortgage Department for jumping on board with us for this weekend. This is his third year being a part of this race and we appreciate his efforts very much.”
