Car: No. 44 Takagi Tankless Water Heaters Camry
Started: 24th
Finished: 20th
Current Driver Points: 21st
Race Notes:
- Coming off a 14th place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway, Cole Whitt made his second NASCAR Nationwide Series start at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
- After final practice on Saturday morning, Whitt’s team discovered a broken piece in one of his shocks forcing them to change the shock entirely.
- Just six laps into the 22nd Annual Great Clips / Grit Chips 300 Whitt radioed to Crew Chief Randy Cox the No. 44 was “tight on the throttle.”
- In an attempt to aid the tight condition, Whitt pitted for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment during the event’s first caution on lap 36.
- The TriStar Motorsports driver restarted 20th with 155 laps to go. He advanced one position to 19th when the events second caution fell three laps later.
- One of two green flag pit stops were made on lap 91 for four tires and fuel.
- Still experiencing a tight condition, Whitt made his second green flag stop on lap 146 for four tires and fuel.
- Final caution of the day with 19 laps to go, Whitt and Cox decided to pit for four sticker tires and fuel.
- Whitt resumed the race in the 20th position and would maintain it until the end.
Post Race Quote:
“I really wish we would have diagnosed the shock issue earlier. Starting the race not knowing how the car would handle the track was challenging. If I was granted a “do-over” this weekend would be one. The car was tight all race long, which made it really hard to advance. I greatly appreciate Takagi Tankless Water Heaters being on the car this weekend and I wish I could have gotten a better finish for them.” – Cole Whitt
