RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 9, 2016) – Gray Gaulding, driver of the No. 60 Krispy Kreme Ford Mustang, battled through a long green flag run after being trapped a lap down to finish 13th in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) event at his home track Richmond International Raceway.
“We could’ve had a top-ten finish if we could’ve just gotten back on the lead lap,” Gaulding said. “We had a good car, and it handled great on the first run. We started to lose the turn on the final green flag run, but a caution would’ve given us a chance to pick up a few more spots.”
Gaulding led the Roush Fenway Racing qualifying effort, taking the green flag from the 11th position. He would maintain that track position through the initial run of the race, utilizing the high line to gain one position before the first caution of the day flew on Lap 48. Crew chief Drew Blickensderfer brought Gaulding down pit road for four fresh Goodyear tires and chassis adjustments, but lost time on pit road forced the Colonial Heights, Va. native to restart from the 15th position.
As the race continued, Gaulding would try both the top and bottom grooves of the racetrack, maintaining his position but ultimately losing a lap to the race leaders during a round of green flag pit stops on Lap 141. After the pit stops cycled through, Gaulding found himself off of the lead lap in the 13th position.
A second caution would come out with Gaulding the second car one Lap down. Though he restarted in the lucky dog position on Lap 163, the race would run green the rest of the way, with Gaulding protecting his track position to take the checkered flag 13th.
