Kyle Larson
No. 42 Colgate Chevrolet
Chicagoland Speedway
Jimmy Johns Freaky Fast 300
September 14, 2014
JOLIET, Ill. (September 13, 2014) – Making his fourth-career NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) start at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday afternoon, Kyle Larson came up just short of the win, crossing the finish line in second position while scoring his career-best finish at the 1.5-mile track.
With Colgate® Enamel Health TM aboard the No. 42 Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) car for its second weekend in a row, Larson set his sights on redemption after a disappointing finish the previous weekend at Richmond. As rained moved into the Chicago area, Larson laid down the 10th-fastest lap time during the first and only practice session of the weekend, later advancing his Colgate Chevy to the final round of knockout qualifying. The No. 42 car took the green flag from the fifth position and quickly began laying down the fastest laps on the track. With a competition caution scheduled for lap 25, crew chief Scott Zipadelli called for four tires, fuel and a slight air-pressure adjustment to tighten up Larson’s entry and exit. Larson remained in the third position throughout the next two cautions, maintaining his track position after two lightning-fast pit stops. By lap 120, Larson was .02 seconds faster than his fellow competitors; a trend that continued throughout the majority of the 200-lap race. After receiving four new tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment under the fourth caution on lap 136, Zipadelli made a last-minute decision to bring the No. 42 Colgate Chevy back to pit road when the fifth caution arose on lap 153. Rejoining the field in 11th position, the NNS saw its sixth and final caution just laps later and Zipadelli told Larson to save fuel for the last restart. In the final 30 laps, Larson held his position but couldn’t close the gap between he and the leader, ultimately scoring a second-place finish in the No. 42 Colgate Chevy.
Kyle Larson on Racing at Chicagoland Speedway:
“We had a great car today. I almost took the lead on one of the restarts, and that would’ve set us up just right but unfortunately, I got loose and fell back a few spots. Our Colgate Chevy was really fast all day. Towards the end, I think I got into some oil when the last caution waved, which caused me to get loose and make slight contact with Brian Scott. I’m really thankful to be a part of this team and I think we’ve got another win or two in us before the season ends. Thanks to Colgate for their support throughout the last two races. I wish we could’ve crossed the finish line in first, but I’ll take second any day. It was a lot of fun.”
Final Practice
Position: 10
Fastest Lap: 30.564 sec.
Laps: 27
Qualifying
Position: 5
Fastest Lap Time: 29.841
Race
Position: 2
Completed/Total: 200/200
Led: 0
What’s Next – The NNS heads to Kentucky Speedway next weekend for an afternoon of racing in the Bluegrass State. TSM driver Dylan Kwasniewski will make his final start behind the wheel of the No. 42 car while Larson fulfills his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series duties at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Larson will return to the No. 42 car at Dover International Speedway and for the remainder of the NNS season.
About Turner Scott Motorsports: Turner Scott Motorsports was established in 1999 and has become one of the most successful organizations in NASCAR by combining the business acumen and shared passion for racing of co-owners Steve Turner and Harry Scott Jr. This season will mark the fourth season of full-time NASCAR competition for the organization, which expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series. The team earned its first championship when James Buescher captured the NCWTS title in 2012. Turner Scott Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C. The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors’ powerhouse team Hendrick Motorsports, which provides engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. For more information on Turner Scott Motorsports, visit www.TurnerScottMotorsports.com.
