Miguel Paludo
No. 32 Duroline Brakes and Components Chevrolet
Atlanta Motor Speedway – Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 200 – August 31, 2012
Miguel Paludo was poised for a top-10 night in the Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 200, but battled an incredibly free race truck for the entirety of the 130-lap event. After going a lap down late in the race, pit strategy allowed the No. 32 Duroline Brakes and Components Chevrolet to return to the lead lap, ultimately crossing the finish line in 16th at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Taking the green flag from the seventh position after a strong 31.504-second qualifying lap, Paludo was instantly way too free and the No. 32 truck slipped back to 17th by lap 12. As the laps ticked by, Paludo continued to get more and more free, but he held on to the 17th spot until the first caution flag of the night waved on lap 31. Crew chief Jeff Hensley decided to make wholesale changes to the Duroline machine, opting for four tires, fuel, and spring rubber and track bar adjustments before sending him back onto the track in 21st for the lap-36 restart.
Despite dropping to 23rd before the caution flag waved once again three laps later, Paludo radioed the No. 32 team to tell them that the truck’s handling seemed better. With nothing to lose in terms of track position, Hensley called his driver into the pits to top off on fuel and add tape to the Chevrolet’s nose.
Paludo restarted in 23rd on lap 45, and with improved handling, the Brazilian was able to work the Duroline Chevrolet up to 19th by lap 59. Despite being free on entry in both corners, Paludo held his position on the high-speed, wide-open track until green-flag pit stops began on lap 78. Able to go farther than his competitors on fuel, Paludo remained on the track until lap 94, taking over the third spot before peeling onto pit road for four fresh Goodyear tires, fuel and both air pressure and track bar adjustments to tighten up his truck’s handling.
Paludo returned to the racing surface in 21st, now one lap down to the leaders. When the caution flag waved on lap 106 for what would be the final time, Hensley made a strategic move to get his driver back on the lead lap, opting to keep the No. 32 Chevrolet Silverado on the racetrack throughout the caution period to take the wave around. Paludo was scored 19th on the lead lap when green-flag racing resumed on lap 110.
In the closing 20 laps, Paludo battled his still loose truck and the competitors around him, picking up three positions before the checkered flag fell, putting him 16th on the scoring pylon when he crossed the finish line.
Miguel Paludo: “I was really excited going into Atlanta, but we just struggled with a free truck for pretty much the entire race. Jeff [Hensley] made great calls on the adjustments and on taking the wave around, but it just wasn’t enough to overcome how loose we were. I’m glad we were able to stay out of trouble and keep chipping away on the top-10 in points. It was a rough night, but I trust my team completely and I know that we will regroup and keep getting better.”
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series enjoys one off-weekend before heading back to Iowa Speedway for the second event of the season at the Newton, Iowa facility. The American Ethanol 200 presented by Hy-Vee goes green on Saturday, September 15th at 8:00 PM ET.
First Practice
Position: 12th
Laps: 26
Fastest Lap: 31.539
Final Practice
Position: 11th
Laps: 21
Fastest Lap: 31.767
Qualifying
Position: 7th
Fastest Lap: 31.504
Race
Position: 16th
Laps Completed/Total Laps: 130/130
