Matt Tifft and No. 2 Nexteer Automotive Team Earn Top-10 Finish in Debut Roval Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway
“That was exactly what we needed out of today with our No. 2 Nexteer Chevrolet Camaro – a quiet day. No one really knew how this race was going to go, so I’m proud to come out of there pretty much unscathed with how on edge every single lap was here. My crew chief Randall (Burnett) and the team really did a great job getting the balance of our Camaro better and better throughout the weekend. The car felt the best it had all weekend at the end of the race. I was just a tad too loose to really push for more spots in the closing laps, but we will take sixth and move on to next weekend. Dover International Speedway is one of my all-time favorite tracks, and I’m really looking forward to getting back there next week for the final Playoff race in the Round of 12.”
-Matt Tifft
Brendan Gaughan Rallies Back to 17th After Being Involved in a Late-Race Incident
“At the beginning of this race, we had a great No. 3 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro, quickly picking up about 10 positions in the first few laps. I could see cars hesitating getting into Turn One so I attacked the corner, and I was able to leapfrog a lot of cars there. Unfortunately, I got spun out late in Stage 2 and had to pit for fresh tires. That set us back in field, and we really could not catch a break after that. On the restart of the final stage, they started wrecking in front of me in Turn One and I had no where to go. I tried to gain as many positions as I could, but unfortunately I didn’t get the finish this team deserves. This was my final race of the season with this No. 3 team and I can’t thank them enough for the effort they have put into giving me fast, competitive race cars this season. I’m grateful everyone at Richard Childress Racing and ECR let me wheel this No. 3 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at these road courses, just disappointed in the results.”
-Brendan Gaughan
Daniel Hemric Leads Laps, Wins Stage in Inaugural Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval Event
“I didn’t make a mistake all weekend and, unfortunately, when I didn’t need to make one, I did. I just wheel-hopped it going into the last chicane chasing the No. 98 (Chase Briscoe) for the lead and ran through the grass. That led to a stop-and-go penalty on the track and dropped us well outside the top 10 with only a handful of laps to go. I’m frustrated with myself and no one else. I had a car that should have won this race today. I’m proud of everyone on this South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet team for putting forth the effort and for giving me a race car that I could contend with. This thing was unbelievable longer into a run. I was struggling taking off and I put a lot of rear brake in it to help, I just didn’t put it back. I got in the corner and wheel-hopped it because of what I did with the brake bias. I know better. It’s all on me. I thought I could catch him. What I am not frustrated with is how hard these RCR guys are working to bring fast race cars week-in and week-out. If we can limit our mistakes, we will keep contending for wins and we hope to do that to close out this first round of the playoffs next weekend at Dover.”
-Daniel Hemric
