Whitt Secures 20th Place Finish at Atlanta

Car: No. 44 Takagi Tankless Water Heaters Camry

Started: 24^th

Finished: 20^th

Current Driver Points: 21^st

 Race Notes:

• Coming off a 14^th 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 22^nd 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 20^th with 155 laps to go. He advanced one position to 19^th 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 20^th 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