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[/media-credit]GAFFNEY, S.C. (April 9, 2012) – Mike Wallace and the No. 01 G&K Services Chevrolet team of JD Motorsports have enjoyed their two-week break in the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. But, since they’re racers, they are more then ready to take on the 1.5-mile oval of Texas Motor Speedway under the lights on Friday night.
Crew Chief Newt Moore and team have used the gap in the NNS schedule to go over their stable of cars and work on them for this race, and future ones. Each race rewards the same number of points, but to get the most of them each week takes consistency across the board.
Texas is the second 1.5-mile track on the 2012 schedule and, with a majority of the races taking place on others just like this, Moore and Wallace want to make sure they get most out of their No. 01 G&K Services Chevrolets. Las Vegas was the first 1.5 miler, where they earned a 17th-place finish.
This is the first race of the season on a Friday night; which ratchets up the excitement level for fans and drivers, alike.
Mike Wallace Fast Facts: • This will be the St. Louis native’s 422nd career NNS start and sixth of the 2012 season. • The four-time winner is currently 15th in points trailing his brother, Kenny, by one marker and 12th place by two • Completing 94.6 percent of laps contested (918 of 970) has helped him earn two top-20 finishes this season • Friday night’s TMS start will be Wallace’s 14th time taking to the Texas oval. • He’s led five races and completed 91.9 percent of laps contested (2,317 of 2,521) • His best start was 13th in spring ’08, finish of 12th in the fall of ’08 and earned three top-15 finishes
Tune in for the Win: The first practice is Thursday evening from 7:30 to 9 p.m. ET and final practice is 11 a.m. to Noon on Friday. Qualifying on Friday will air on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. with race action on the same channel at 8 p.m. later that evening. Also, tune into PRN Radio network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90
Mike Wallace Quotes: “Yes, we are very ready to get back on the track and go racing this weekend. Having two weeks off has its advantages, but when you are just coming from the off-season to racing, you like to keep going and making laps.
“Texas is a fast track where you have to be good coming off Turns 2 and 4 to keep that momentum going from the straightaways. We’ll be taking very good notes during that practice on Thursday night because that’s when it’s closest to our actual race conditions on Friday night.
“I know Newt (Moore, crew chief) and Johnny (Davis, owner) and the team have used this time off to work on our cars for this race and the others coming up on the schedule. Preparation is so important and helps you get off to a good start when you show up at the track.
“I like racing Texas, the fans are great and I know everyone is going to be hyped up just a little more because it’s on a Friday night. It kind of has that short track feel, but under big track conditions.”
