CONCORD, N.C. (July 23, 2012) -A combination of pit strategy and expert driving skills helped Kenny Wallace, Family Farmers and RAB Racing with Brack Maggard garner their best finish of the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season this Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway.
Making the first of two trips to the Windy City during the 2012 season, Wallace and RAB Racing recorded the 17th and 15th-fastest times, respectively, in the two scheduled NASCAR Nationwide Series practices leading up to the Sunday afternoon event. After his qualifying attempt on the 1.5-mile tri-oval, Wallace posted a speed fast enough to slot into the 11th-place starting position.
From the drop of the green flag in the STP 300, Wallace expertly navigated through the field, keeping the No. 09 Family Farmers Toyota Camry running just outside of the top 10.
With 40 laps to go, crew chief Scott Zipadelli made the call for Wallace to remain on track as the leaders pitted under green. The pit strategy proved advantageous as a caution flag flew and Wallace was able to restart inside the top five, where he would remain as the laps wound down.
Wallace battled a loose-handling racecar until an accident on Lap 195 forced a green-white-checker finish. Luckily for the RAB Racing team, this allowed the tires to cool and Wallace to gain some grip on the track. He raced his way to the second position before getting loose, which allowed two competitors to get around him as he came to take the checkered flag in the fourth position.
The finish, Wallace’s highest in 113 Nationwide Series races, also marks his first top-five result since finishing fifth at Richmond International Raceway last September. It also marked RAB Racing’s best finish at Chicagoland Speedway.
As one of the four highest-finishing Nationwide Series drivers, Wallace also qualified for the Nationwide Insurance “Dash 4 Cash” program next week at the inaugural event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“Our Family Farmers Camry handled really well,” said Wallace. “It was really fast for 40 laps and then we would get wicked loose. I’ve got to thank everyone at RAB Racing and these Family Farmers that keep supporting me.All the farmers are starving here, they’ve lost their livelihood, all their money — their corn has burnt up. I’m a racer and without the Family Farmers of America Ethanol, this car wouldn’t be here.I’m just happy to think that today we might have given them something to smile about and take their minds off these tough times.”
The next stop for the NASCAR Nationwide Series will be Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, July 28th, 2012.
