Catchfence

Make Motorsports

*This is MAKE Motorsports’ third start in 2010, after the Nashville 200 & Kansas O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 (with driver G.R. Smith); and the first start with driver T.J. Bell.

*Driver T.J. Bell qualified 24th on the grid & finished 27th due to a blown engine on lap 120, after making it through five previous race cautions on a slick rain-delayed track.

*Average race speeds were 109MPH during the Charlotte race.

*T.J. Bell has 73 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts since 2003; 3 Charlotte starts; 1 top 10 finish & average finish 22nd.

*The #50 Chevy Silverado team pit twice during the race – first at lap 27 for four tires, fuel & wedge adjustment; second at lap 85 for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment; third at lap 115 for top off fuel only.

*Bell averaged 18th position throughout the race, until blown engine; highest place 16th on lap 22 after the second caution of the evening.

*Bell rallied from 27th after a pit on caution at lap 26, to 17th when the engine blew at lap 120.

TJ BELL, No. 50 Twin Oaks South/MAKE Motorsports Chevy Silverado, MAKE Motorsports

Finishing Position: 27th

How was your race?

I felt really great getting back in the seat again. After a successful 2009, I wanted to be able to come back to Charlotte and show that I’m still a super competitive driver. I think I definitely did that. Plus, the #50 team did an awesome job making changes to the setup during practice – they all came out here in their hometown to show that they too were a competitive race team. I’m glad that I can be a part of an ‘underdog’ campaign like this for them.

Are you frustrated with your finish?

Of course I would have liked a top 15 – we raced a clean race with a great truck all night, despite all the cautions flying. Our pits were on point, everyone was doing their job, I was consistent in my driving & not leaving anything on the track position-wise; and I had good communication with my spotter and crew chief. I was ready to rally for that top 15 spot in those last 14 laps, so absolutely it’s frustrating…but that’s racing.

If you don’t take the learning experiences with the good, you’ll never become a better driver or teammate. I would have liked to have brought it home though, I was having a great run. The #50 team owners, Tracy Lowe and Mark Beaver, deserved to have that truck come back in with a clean finish – they’ve done so much this year to start their team, and they have a lot of heart. You’ve just got to keep digging, we did our best.

Was it a long day for you and the crew?

Wow, long day YES. Again, that’s racing. It’s a long day to begin with in Charlotte, with qualifying, driver meetings and race all in the same day. Add rain to that mix, plus some All-Star qualifying, and you’ve got yourself a full 17 hours. It gave me a great chance to get to know my teammates better, work on the setups with crew chief Scott Weaver, and talk to some of my old friends and press in the garage. So in the end, it’s a great day. After all, any day in the garage, hauler and on the track is a GREAT day.

What’s next for you and the #50 team?

I know the no. 50 truck is still working on sponsor partners, with some great news to come, for additional races this year. They plan to come back in Nashville for the August 7th race, plus Darlington, Kentucky and Talladega (all the Super Speedways). I’d like to continue working with them, and you’ll be the first to hear on www.tj-bell.com. Thanks to all my fans on Facebook and Twitter who have been awesome this week, giving me great encouragement at being back in the seat. That’s what it’s all about, the fans and the Series. Thanks to everyone!

- MAKE Motorsports Press Release