The No. 31 Wolfpack Rentals Turner Motorsports Chevrolet team came into Iowa Speedway with one thing on their mind: redemption. During the first trip to the state of the art .875 short track, Buescher led 91 laps before an unexpected tire failure sent him into the turn two retaining wall, effectively ending his race.
For the second of two trips to Iowa Speedway, the Turner Motorsports team unloaded the chassis TMS-220, the same truck that Buescher drove to a third-place finish two weeks prior at Atlanta Motor Speedway. During practice, the team made several small adjustments attempting to make the truck less tight in the center of the corners for Buescher. The No. 31 team didn’t make a mock qualifying run until Saturday afternoon’s final practice, leaving them eighth fastest. Overall, Buescher and the team were confident they had a nicely balanced truck that was capable of pulling off their goal at Iowa, a victory.
After a stout qualifying run, Buescher would start the American Ethanol 200 from the fifth position. Buescher would go right to work during the opening laps, quickly climbing up the ranks eventually to the lead by lap 28. Buescher would stay in this spot until lap 36 when the yellow flag came out. At that time, Buescher would bring the No. 31 Wolfpack Rentals Chevy Silverado down pit road for Sunoco fuel only, lining him back up in the sixth position. On the restart, Buescher would go three wide into turn one, putting him back in the top-three by the time the next lap was completed.
During the next green flag run, Buescher radioed to the crew that the truck was a little free in the corners but it was manageable. With a race that was plagued by yellow flags, the next one flew on lap 56. At this point Crew Chief Michael Shelton called Buescher back down pit road for four fresh tires and an air-pressure adjustment in the left rear tire.
When racing resumed, it would do so for a long green flag run. Buescher was running solidly in the top ten, working diligently to get back in the lead once again. On lap 145, in preparation for the race’s only green flag pit stop, Buescher radioed to the crew that the truck was still a little loose in the corners and that he had developed a vibration. Buescher would remain calm and positive on the radio saying, “Let’s make an adjustment and go out and win this thing.” Shelton would waste no time in bringing Buescher back down pit road in fear of what happened in the previous trip to Iowa earlier in the season. The crew went to work giving Buescher four fresh Goodyear Wrangler tires, Sunoco fuel and a wedge adjustment. After the pit stop, the crew analyzed the tires and noticed that the vibration was caused from a blister on the right front tire.
With many teams on different pit strategies, Buescher would continue to ride in the ninth spot until six laps to go. Buescher was forced three wide once again, this time, however, he came in contact with another competitor, sending Buescher spinning in turn three and ending what promised to be a good points night. Buescher would go on to finish in the 17th position, one lap down. Buescher still sits third in points, just 11 markers behind the points leader.
“I was looking forward to coming back to Iowa with the team because we felt one got away from us the last time here. It’s unfortunate we got caught up in some tight racing at the end and ruined our night. I hate it for the team, we thought we had a truck that was capable of finally winning here. We’ll rebound from this like we always do.” said Buescher following the American Ethanol 200.
The No. 31 FOE Chevrolet of James Buescher and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be back in action next Friday night at 7pm at Kentucky Speedway for the Kentucky 201 Live on SPEED.
First Practice Position: 8th Laps: 45 Fastest Lap: 23.454
Second Practice Position: 10th Laps: 25 Fastest Lap: 23.453
Qualifying Position: 5th Fastest Lap: 23.092
Race Position: 17th Laps Completed/Total Laps: 199/200
