Catchfence

Loudon, N.H. (September 18, 2010): Sixteen-year-old Julian Albarracin has never raced on a one-mile oval like New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Colombian-born driver has been using the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season as a practice run at a full season next year. His goal coming into this race was simply to get some experience and stay out of trouble. Those goals were met, and he even had his eye on a top-15 finish. After the race was extended to 136 laps to allow for a green-white-checker finish, Albarracin ran out of fuel two laps before its conclusion and secured a 22nd place finish.

“The car was really good,” said Albarracin. “It was pretty comfortable at the beginning and then it got a little tight. The guys did a really good job with the car. We wanted to finish the race and I was really careful out there. I’m really happy because we met the goals we set for today, and competing on this track was very exciting for me.”

Albarracin started the No. 54 AAIC Chevrolet in the 28th position and maintained his position in the early laps of the race. Albarracin moved up to second position when he did not pit with the leaders at lap 34. Albarracin did come down pit road on the following circuit, however, and restarted the race at the tail end of the field. Albarracin came down pit road again on the next caution period and took on tires.

The race resumed at lap 51 with Albarracin in the 22nd position. At halfway, Albarracin was maintaining his position and remained on the lead lap. As the green flag laps ticked off, Albarracin fell a lap down to the leaders and was running in 26th place. Caution flew and tightened the field back up again, and the 16-year-old driver received the free pass to gain his lap back.

The race resumed at lap 85 and Albarracin moved up to 21st place before caution again slowed the pace at lap 105. The final laps of the event were caution filled and NASCAR was forced to extend the originally scheduled distance of 125 laps to 136 laps to allow for a green-white-checker finish. Two laps before the race conclusion, Albarracin ran out of fuel.

Albarracin was credited with a 22nd place finish.

“I’ve progressed a lot since my first test at White Mountain several months ago,” said Albarracin. “These cars are very different, and running on ovals is a big challenge over the road courses. I’m happy with how things are moving along though. We’re getting there.”

The New Hampshire 125 will air on SPEED on Thursday, September 23 at 6 p.m. ET.

- Fadden Racing Press Release