“We really had a strong car today. I messed up in qualifying, but we were running competitively and our speeds were consistent with those cars running in the top-15. Unfortunately, we were caught up in the wreck with the No. 98 car and suffered quite a bit of damage. When we couldn’t advance any more positions we brought the car to the garage. We were limping around and didn’t want to be a liability for the leaders, as we had a lot of damage, and it was in our best interest to call it a day. The finish was disappointing, but we ran well. I can’t thank these guys enough and am so proud to be part of Team Rensi Motorsports. These last four races have been a lot of fun and I am really looking forward to next week.”
Starting the race from the 38th position McClure set his sights on the cars in front of him and quickly began to work his way through the field. By lap five the team had advanced to the 27th position and remained there until the first caution occurred two laps later. The Hefty® Racing™ team opted not to visit pit road as the driver interpreted that the car’s “freeness” in the turns would improve the longer the race progressed under green conditions. As a result, TRM restarted the event in the 24th position.
On the restart, however, McClure was tapped from behind and shuffled out of line causing him to fall to the 29th position. Nevertheless, he quickly rebounded and began picking off the lost positions and was scored in the 23rd position when the second caution was displayed occurred on lap 77. Fighting a “tight handling car in the center of the turns,” the Hefty® Odor Block™ Ford was brought to pit road for tires, fuel, and a track-bar adjustment. After a quick stop by the crew TRM restarted in the 21st position.
While maintaining the 21st position, the third caution occurred on lap 90 and McClure revisited pit road for another track-bar adjustment as the one made previous “significantly helped” the car’s handling. Shortly after the restart, after advancing back to the 20th position, McClure went high to avoid the spinning No. 98 car but became a victim when the spinning car slid up the track into the side of the No. 24 machine, sending it into the front stretch wall. Receiving significant right and left rear damage, the car was brought to pit road under red flag conditions so the Hefty® Racing™ team could assess the damage.
Once the caution flag was displayed the crew hastily repaired what damage they could on two visits to pit road and sent the driver back on track with hopes of finishing the 200-lap event. Regrettably, the car’s handling worsened over the next fifty laps as a result of the accident, and when it was determined the team couldn’t further advance its position the No. 24 Ford was brought to the garage area on lap 167. As a result TRM was credited with a 28th-place finish and remains 26th in NASCAR Owner Standings.
Up next for the Hefty® Racing™ team is the 2009 Nationwide Series season finale on November 21, 2009 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
- Team Rensi Motorsports Press Release