RCR XFINITY Series Post Race Report – Michigan International Speedway

Brian Scott Leads Early at Michigan International Speedway, Finishes Ninth

Brian Scott and the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet qualified in the second position for the fourth time this season on Saturday afternoon at Michigan International Speedway. Scott took over the NASCAR XFINITY Series race lead early on, leading 10 laps within the first 30 laps of competition. Strategy was the name of the game for the 125-lap race at the two-mile track. A fuel only stop restarted the Shore Lodge Chevrolet in the 13th position on lap 48. Within five laps, Scott raced his way back inside the top 10 and stayed there until green-flag pit stops began on lap 74. The No. 2 Chevy came in for service including four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment and was scored ninth when the caution was displayed on lap 91. After multiple caution periods within the last 40 laps and a red flag with 13 laps to go, Scott remained inside the top 10 and went on to finish ninth.

Ty Dillon Finishes 13th at Michigan International Speedway

Ty Dillon drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 Red Kap / Arrow Uniform Chevrolet Camaro to a 13th-place finish Saturday afternoon at Michigan International Speedway in the Great Clips 250. Dillon who qualified ninth earlier in the afternoon, raced in and around the top 15 for a majority of the 125-lap event. Despite battling a tight-handling race car, Dillon raced up to fifth place and battled with the leaders. The team struggled on green-flag restarts, but managed to gain track position on longer green-flag runs. Four pit stops allowed the No. 3 team to make adjustments to the Chevrolet Camaro, the last coming on lap 109. In the end, Dillon battled to a 13th-place finish and remained second in the NASCAR XFINITY Series driver point standings.

Start – 9        Finish – 13       Laps Led – 0       Points – 2

TY DILLON QUOTE:

“We made a few mistakes today and struggled to make the bottom line work on restarts. Our team will bounce back and make the proper adjustments for next week’s race at Chicagoland Speedway.”

Paul Menard Finishes 18th After Late-Race Incident at Michigan International Speedway

The No. 33 Richmond/Menards Chevrolet Camaro team started Saturday’s 125-lap NASCAR XFINITY Series event from the fifth spot and battled up front until a late-race incident ended their strong run. After the green flag waved, Menard reported he was fighting a loose-handling condition all the way around the two-mile track. Crew chief Nick Harrison remedied the condition during the NASCAR-mandated competition caution on lap 25 with four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. Menard restarted 11th on lap 29 and was up to ninth when the caution flag was displayed again on lap 44. A strategy call by Harrison for fuel only and a track bar adjustment on lap 46 set the Richard Childress Racing driver up for a restart in the fourth position. Menard took control of the race just 20 laps later and led the field for five laps of competition. After leading the race, Menard came to pit road from his spot in the top two but ran into trouble when the car ran out of fuel just short of his pit stall. This caused the No. 33 to lose a few positions on track. Menard fought back and gained six spots during the lap 96 restart to go from 14th to eighth in just one lap. Up to third by lap 111 and looking to move forward, the No. 33 got too loose and spun around, causing damage to the car which led to multiple repairs on pit road. Hustle by Harrison and team kept Menard on the lead lap where he finished the day in 18th.

Start – 5            Finish – 18             Laps Led – 5              Owners Points – 6

PAUL MENARD QUOTE:

“Nick Harrison and those guys always do a great job of bringing fast cars to the track and that was no different this weekend. Our Richmond/Menards Chevy was good but loose throughout today’s race. I made a move there near the end that I shouldn’t have and it ended our good run. I hate it for those guys. We have a few more races left and I’m hoping to get them another win.”

Brendan Gaughan Finishes 12th at Michigan International Speedway

Brendan Gaughan qualified the No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet in the sixth position for Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR XFINITY Series Great Clips 250 at Michigan International Speedway. The Richard Childress Racing team began battling loose-handling conditions early in the run at the two-mile speedway. When the competition caution fell on lap 25, Gaughan came to the attention of the Shane Wilson-led team to take four tires, fuel, wedge, and track bar adjustments. The Las Vegas native raced inside the top 15 for the majority of the 125-lap event. During Gaughan’s green-flag pit stop on lap 87, the team received a penalty for being too fast on the exit of pit road. After receiving the lucky dog, the No. 62 RCR team restarted in the 17th position and was able to battle to a 12th-place finish when the checkered flag waved. Gaughan is currently tied for eighth in the XFINITY Series driver point standings leading into Chicagoland, the second Series standalone event

Start –   6         Finish –   12       Laps Led – 0         Points –   8

BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:

“It wasn’t the day we wanted on the race track today, but it was a great feeling having all my boys back on pit road. Happy to have Fifty (Anthony O’Brien) and Thor (Josh Wittman) back at the track kicking butt. We weren’t able to get the South Point Chevrolet where we needed it to be. Head back to the shop and we will get ready for Chicago.”