Trevor Bayne and the crew of the No. 21 Good Sam/Camping World Ford Fusion were best in class in qualifying at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday, despite the distractions that came because of a radiator change before qualifying for Saturday’s Bank of America 500.
Bayne was 16th fastest with a lap at 191.293 miles per hour, best of the go-or-go-home drivers who have to make the starting field through their qualifying speed. His lap was a significant improvement over his best practice lap of 188.600 mph.
“You want to go for poles,” Bayne said. “That’s what we came here to do, but it makes it hard when you know you’ve got to bring the thing back in one piece or you’re going home.”
“I’m really proud of my guys. We picked up four-tenths from practice, which is kind of the trend for everybody… I’m really happy with this Good Sam/Camping World Ford Fusion.”
Team co-owner Eddie Wood said he always breathes a sigh of relief once his car number pops up among those locked into the starting field at Charlotte.
“This is one place where I really worry about qualifying,” Wood said. “We practice in the daytime and qualify at night, and there’s a lot of difference in the track.”
“Trevor did a good job, and so did Donnie Wingo and the crew.”
“It all worked out.”
The Bank of America 500 is scheduled to get the green flag on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with TV coverage on ABC.
