BLANEY FINISHES 11TH AT KENTUCKY IN NCWTS RACE
Mayhew Has Mechanical Problems, Finishes 26th
SPARTA, Ky. (Sept. 21, 2012) – Seven drivers led laps in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway. Ryan Blaney was among the elite group in the No. 29 Cooper Standard RAM, leading 13 circuits in the Kentucky 201. Each driver was quick to point out how critical “clean air” was in the 134-lap event.
Half of the lead changes came as a result of pit stops. The rest came from the top three positions. On restarts, some drivers could pick up a couple of spots but would then have to settle in, hold position and hope someone made a mistake.
Blaney was the leader when he was one of three drivers to forego a pit stop during the fourth caution. As the leader, he quickly pulled away to a comfortable advantage. On the restart following the next yellow, Blaney lost the lead but settled into second and held the spot through lap 81 when the sixth of the night’s seven cautions appeared.
With a stop for fuel, teams were within the window to make it to the finish. Tire strategy was a different story. Some took none, some two and some four. Crew Chief Doug Randolph elected to go with four. Blaney restarted ninth. He diced with three drivers for position over the final 52 laps, running as high as seventh before finishing just outside the top 10 in 11th.
“We were OK when we were second or out front,” said Blaney. “It just shows how much clean air affects these trucks. We were tight there when we were second and when we got back in the pack, we were way too tight. We couldn’t make runs on anybody. I tried, but just couldn’t get a run on people. It’s something to work on and get ready for the next race.”
The day started with a major setback as Blaney’s primary RAM was heavily damaged in the first practice session. The rear of the No. 29 lost traction as Blaney entered Turn One and backed into the wall. The team pulled out the backup truck and made the necessary adjustments to get Blaney out for 35 laps in the final one-hour practice session.
“I didn’t make enough laps on the primary truck to tell how it was working,” he said. “The few laps I ran, it seemed to be even tighter than our backup we used. Clean air certainly makes a difference.”
Teammate David Mayhew had problems just before the halfway mark in the No. 19 Steak and Grapes/MMI Services RAM, completing only 53 laps. He finished 26th.
“It looks like the brake caliper on the right front started heating up and it caused the whole hub and bearing to lock up,” said Mayhew. “Up to that point, the truck was really good. We were going forward and had broken into the top 10. All of a sudden on one of the restarts, it just wouldn’t take off. I knew something was wrong right away. We were good enough to pass trucks on the restarts and then fall in line and try to work somebody for a position. All the guys worked hard; it’s disappointing for everybody. The night didn’t turn out how we wanted.”
James Buescher took the win, leading three times for 64 laps. Parker Kligerman was second and Ty Dillon third. The race had seven cautions for 42 laps.
Race Results NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kentucky 201 Kentucky Speedway Friday, Sept. 21, 2012 1. James Buescher 2. Parker Kligerman 3. Ty Dillon 4. Joey Coulter 5. Brian Scott 6. Johnny Sauter 7. Justin Lofton 8. Miguel Paludo 9. Matt Crafton 10. John Wes Townley 11. RYAN BLANEY 26. DAVID MAYHEW
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Point Standings (After 16 of 22 races) 1. Ty Dillon 602 2. James Buescher -4 3. Timothy Peters -26 4. Parker Kligerman -30 5. Joey Coulter -46 6. Matt Crafton -49 7. Justin Lofton -54 8. Nelson Piquet Jr. -78 9. Miguel Paludo -121 10. Ron Hornaday Jr. -125
