SR2 Motorsports Sam’s Town 300 Race Report
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 1.5-mile oval, Las Vegas, Nev.
Blake Koch
Blake Koch No. 24 I am Second/Salt Life/Support Military.org Toyota Camry
Starting Position: 22
Finishing Position: 21
SR2 Motorsports just missed their second consecutive top-20 finish after Blake Koch scraped the wall in the closing laps of Saturday’s Sam’s Town 300 at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway. Koch ran inside the top-20 for the majority of the the 200-lap event and proved that SR2 Motorsports will be a threat on mile-and-a-half tracks all season.
Koch and his No. 24 I am Second/Salt Life/SupportMilitary.org team started in the 21st position but quickly jumped to 19th in the opening laps. The team was strong all day and raced as high as 17th and just outside a top-15 spot. The crew made various chassis adjustments and had no issues on pit road. For SR2, the finish moved them up three spots in Owner Points. For Koch, he advanced five spots to 17th in the driver championships standings giving the team a lot of confidence.
As SR2 continues to make their mark in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the No. 24 Toyota team’s finish was the 11th best today for teams who just focus on racing in the Nationwide Series. It gives the team momentum heading into the rest of the season.
Comments from Blake Koch following the race at Las Vegas:
“We came out of Daytona knowing that we had a strong superspeedway car but just got into a wreck. We were pretty strong last weekend, and now, today at Las Vegas, we had another good car all day. I think we could have had a top-20 if we didn’t have that little mishap at the end of the race. Still, I’m pumped about the direction we’re heading.
“Everyone with SR2 Motorsports works hard, and we’re this team that is really showing, quickly, that we’re going to race the biggest teams in the Nationwide Series this season. After today, we have proven that we can get top finsihes at any track. We just need to keep gaining momentum, get some more partners to help us out and then go out and race for top-10 finishes. I’m excited for next week.”
Jason White
Jason White, No. 00 Headrush Toyota Camry
Starting Position: 28
Finishing Position: 35
Jason White and the No. 00 Headrush Toyota team of SR2 Motorsports had a broken piece under their car end any chances of a strong run in the Sam’s Town 300 Saturday afternoon at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. White knew something was wrong with the car and was forced to bring the Headrush Toyota into the garage in the opening laps of Saturday’s race. The team was forced to replace an exhaust piece before getting back on the track.
The team, however, was able to do such and still maintain a strong position in the championship chase heading to Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway next weekend where White is always a strong contender. The No. 00 team is 21st in driver points with White. A long season ahead, White knows today was still a positive for the organization.
Comments from Jason White following the race at Las Vegas:
“We were able to get back on the track and get some points after the problem we had. I’m proud of the guys for fixing our Headrush Toyota. This is a team that is really working hard, doing the right things and we can learn from today. Although the finish wasn’t there, we didn’t give up and made the best out of it.
“We want to get to Bristol and move back into the top-20 in points.”
