Kvapil returns to finish 32nd, Whitt follows in the 38th position
Sylvania 300 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series | Race 28 of 36 | Sunday, September 21, 2014
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (September 22, 2014) – Alex Bowman led his BK Racing teammates to the checkered flag with a 28th-place finish in the No. 23 Dr Pepper Toyota Camry at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Bowman was followed by Travis Kvapil in the No. 83 Burger King / Dr Pepper Toyota Camry who finished 32nd, and Cole Whitt who finished 38th in the Rinnai Toyota Camry.
Bowman drove the No. 23 Dr Pepper Toyota Camry for his second race this season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. With his car tight from the center off, the Sunoco rookie contender worked closely with his BK Racing team to improve the balance of his car. With a series of air pressure and chassis adjustments, Bowman’s car improved over the short run. With nine cautions in the final 100 laps, Bowman noticed some improvement in his car, which got even better with a track bar adjustment from the BK Racing crew on the final pit stop of the afternoon. By the time the checkered flag waved, Bowman was scored in the 28th position to mark his ninth top-30 finish of the 2014 season.
“We finally had a race where some luck fell our way,” commented Bowman. “Our Dr Pepper Toyota Camry fought a tight condition throughout most of the race, but we were able to get a little better with each pit stop. We were good on the short run, so all of the cautions at the end of the race played in our favor. We’ve had some highs and lows this season, but I’m hoping this means we turned a corner and we’ll finish out the season strong.”
Kvapil, who competed for BK Racing from 2012-2013, made his return to the team to drive the No. 83 Burger King / Dr Pepper Toyota Camry at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Kvapil rolled off 40th on Sunday afternoon and despite having difficulty getting his car to turn throughout the race, Kvapil was able to steadily climb through the field throughout the 300-mile race. Working through a series of chassis and air pressure adjustments, the No. 83 Burger King / Dr Pepper Toyota Camry improved in turns one and two, allowing Kvapil to return to the throttle sooner. When the checkered flag waved, Kvapil was running a race-high 32nd position.
“It was really cool to be back with BK Racing for the race this weekend,” commented Kvapil. “I have a lot of history with this group, so it meant a lot to drive another one of their cars. With the new rules package, it seemed like everyone was fighting a tight racecar today. However, the Burger King / Dr Pepper team made adjustments throughout the afternoon and improved with each stop. For us just teaming up this week, I’m really happy with our performance.”
Making his second start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Whitt rolled off 31st for Sunday’s race. For much of the day, he was the highest-running BK Racing entry despite fighting a tight racecar like his teammates. Whitt’s Rinnai team had made a series of adjustments to improve the handling of his car throughout the early stages of the race; however, their efforts were offset when Whitt was involved in a four-car accident in turn two on lap 180. With extensive front-end damage, Whitt’s team was required to replace the radiator and make several other cosmetic repairs. With valuable track position lost, Whitt was removed from contention but was able to continue to finish in the 38th position.
“Our Rinnai Toyota Camry was a strong car today,” commented Whitt. “However, once we got involved in the accident around lap 180, we just had too much ground to try to make up. My BK Racing team did a great job making repairs, and I’m really proud of their effort. It’s inevitable to get caught up in accidents sometimes; it happens. I’m still very happy with what our Rinnai team is able to accomplish week after week.”
Next weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will revisit Dover (Del.) International Speedway for the second time this season. On Friday, September 26, FOX Sports 1 will air practice at 11 a.m. EDT, with ESPN2 taking over for qualifying at 3:30 p.m. EDT. Coverage will continue on FOX Sports 1 on Saturday with two additional practice sessions at 11 a.m. EDT and 2 p.m. EDT. The AAA 400 from Dover International Speedway will be broadcast on ESPN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, September 28. Fans can visit BKRacing.com, or follow the team on Facebook (facebook.com/BKRacing2383) or twitter (@BKRacing_2383) for the latest news and updates.
