Monday
Tim George Jr. Leaves Chicagoland Optimistic
Press Release
“The car was a bullet while the sun was up,” said George, who has one pervious career start at Chicagoland Speedway. “We loosened up a ton after sunset during the middle of the race. The guys on our crew had very fast pit stops. At one point our No.31 was up front, and I wish I could have finished the race there. Scott Wimmer (spotter and development support) did a great job helping out and I look forward to our next intermediate (track) effort.”
The package worked extremely well in the race’s opening laps, where from his ninth-place starting spot, George advanced to third and ran lap times close to those of the race-leader. His best lap came on lap 45 with a time of 31.634 seconds.
A slight hiccup came during the race’s first round of pit stops when the caution flag waved at lap 32. In what should have been a routine, four-tire stop for scuffs and fuel, the night went awry when after servicing the No.31 machine. The car returned to the track beginning to have handling issues, becoming loose.
After the lap-42 restart in fourth position, the loose condition of the car relegated George to 11th-place as the race hit the 50-lap mark. It’s there where George would stay for the remainder of the 100-lap race staying within the top-15, as his car was good, but handling issues prohibited him from getting back to mixing it up with the leaders. Nonetheless, George and the No.31 RCR team collaborative efforts yielded the team’s fourteenth top-20 finish in fifteen races.
In Menards Pole Qualifying Presented by Ansell Friday afternoon, George turned a lap of 30.859 seconds at 174.989 mph on the 1.5-mile paved tri-oval to score his seventh top-10 qualifying effort of the 2010 season.39 drivers attempted to qualify for Ansell Protective Gloves 150.
George was eighth-fastest among 36 drivers who participated in the final practice session at Chicagoland Speedway on Friday morning. George posted his fastest time in the final practice session wheeling his No. 31 RCR Development Chevrolet around the track in 30.842 seconds, a top speed at 175.086 mph.
The New York, N.Y. native was eighth in Thursday afternoon’s lone practice session as well. George reported that the No. 31 was tight getting into turn one and two and the team spent the session working on adjustments to the handling as he took 24 laps around the 1.5-mile track. He was among 36 drivers participating in the first practice.
While over coming handling issues throughout the 2-day event at the intermediate track, George is optimistic that his presence at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds will spark a momentum that will go far beyond the Monday, September 6 event.
“However, for now I will focus my attention on the upcoming dirt race at DuQuoin,” said George.
The Southern Illinois 100 presented by Federated Car Care at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds gets underway at 1:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, September 6. The ARCA Racing Network will cover all the on-track activity for the ARCA Racing Series with live streaming audio and scoring at ARCAracing.com. Live race updates on Tim George Jr. by following @TimGeorgeJr on Twitter.
- Activ8 Communications Press Release
Article Tags: Ansell Protective Gloves 150, ARCA Racing Network, ARCA Racing Series, ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards, ARN, Chicagoland Speedway, Du Quoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds, No. 31 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Development Chevrolet., RCR, Scott Wimmer, Southern Illinois 100 presented by Federated Car Care, Tim George Jr
