RCR Nationwide Series Kentucky Speedway Post Race Report

Brian Scott Collects Seventh Top-10 Finish of Season at Kentucky Speedway

Brian Scott and the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro team started the John R. Elliott Hero Campaign 300 presented by Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over in the fifth position at Kentucky Speedway. In the opening laps of the 300-mile race, Scott struggled to find front grip on his Camaro shuffling him back to 13th place at the halfway mark. Visiting pit road multiple times during the 200-lap event for adjustments, the Phil Gould-led team played pit strategy and took fuel only at the halfway mark. The team, then off sequence to the leaders, was fourth with 50 laps to go. The team battled a tight Camaro for the remainder of the race and crossed the finish line eighth. This marks the seventh top-10 finish for the Shore Lodge team and puts Scott fifth in the driver point standings. The NASCAR Nationwide Series heads to Daytona International Speedway next week for a Fourth of July special on Friday night.

Start – 5th        Finish – 8th     Laps Led – 0    Pts – 5th

BRIAN SCOTT QUOTE:
“I would’ve never thought we would finish where we did today. We had such a good Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro all weekend. As soon as the race started, we were all over the place. We really struggled today and my team did a great job with strategy to get us a top-10 finish.”

Ty Dillon Finishes Seventh at Kentucky Speedway

Ty Dillon drove the No. 3 Alsco/Red Kap Chevrolet Camaro to a seventh-place finish Friday night in the John R. Elliott Hero Campaign 300, recording the team’s 11th top-10 finish of the season. Dillon, who qualified eighth earlier in the afternoon, gave his team confidence by running inside the top-five for the first 41 laps. The 22-year-old, Welcome, N.C.-native floated back to 15th-place, twice, but managed to drive back inside the top-10 each time. For the remainder of the race, Dillon radioed he did not need adjustments to his No. 3 Camaro, but instead was searching for the right groove on the 1.5-mile race track. On lap 168, the caution flag dropped and left crew chief Danny Stockman with a decision for his driver to come to pit road, or stay out. His decision to change the four Goodyear tires paid off; Dillon moved up nine positions in the race’s final 27 laps and finished seventh. He was the first Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender to cross the finish line, and remains fourth in the driver point standings.

Start – 8th    Finish – 7th   Laps Led -0      Points – 4th

Ty Dillon Quote:

“We had one of the best race cars tonight we’ve had all season. I told Danny (Stockman) at the end of the race, if he keeps giving me cars like that, we’re going to win some races pretty soon. I was happy with his decision to make a pit stop there at the end. It gave me the right car to finish the way we did.”

Paul Menard Finishes Fourth at Kentucky Speedway

Paul Menard drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 Libman/Menards Chevrolet Camaro to a fourth-place finish in Friday’s 300-mile event at Kentucky Speedway. The Eau Claire, Wis., driver started third and raced in the top three for 81 laps of competition. During the second caution of the night, Nick Harrison radioed for Menard to come down pit road for four tires, fuel, tape on the grill and a track bar adjustment. After 13 laps, Menard reported the Libman/Menards Chevy was handling better after the adjustments. The Richard Childress Racing driver would only race outside of the top-five during green-flag pit stops when he cycled to the 16th-position. Menard would race his way back in to the top three after the lap 177 caution and ultimately finish in the fourth position. Up next for Menard in the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro is Saturday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 12th.

Start – 3rd             Finish – 4th             Laps Led – 3              Points – N/A

PAUL MENARD QUOTE:

“We’ve been here since Tuesday, so we’ve had a few days to get the Libman/Menards Chevy dialed-in. I think we had a second-place car, but got screwed up when the caution came out there and others were able to get fresh tires. My guys have been working hard and continue to bring fast cars to the track. I look forward to our next race together in Loudon.”
 

Brendan Gaughan Earns Fourth Top-10 of the Season at Kentucky Speedway

Brendan Gaughan and the No. 62 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro qualified 12th for the NASCAR Nationwide Series John R. Elliott Hero Campaign 300 at Kentucky Speedway. Gaughan began reporting on lap 15 that he was loose on entry and tight on exit. During the first caution on lap 43, crew chief Shane Wilson elected to take four tires, fuel, make air pressure and wedge adjustments. As teams started to make green-flag pit stops on lap 140, Gaughan moved up to the second position by staying out on track. The caution fell on lap 157 for debris and Gaughan visited pit road to make another chassis adjustment, restarting in seventh. The Las Vegas-native crossed the finish line in the sixth position at the 1.5-mile track. Gaughan and the No. 62 RCR team remain seventh in the driver point standings as the Nationwide Series heads back to Daytona International Speedway.

Start – 12th       Finish -6th     Laps Led – 0     Points – 7th

BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:

“Not a bad finish for the No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet. I really wanted that top-five tonight and did not need that last caution. I am proud of the guys on this team for working hard during the stops tonight to improve the car.”