Monday
Kenny Wallace Makes His Mark With Seventh Place Finish At Chicagoland Speedway
Press ReleasePrior to on-track action in Joliet, Illinois, Wallace spent time at Marquis Energy headquarters who served as co-primary sponsor for the first time during the inaugural Nationwide Series spring event at Chicagoland Speedway. Practice speeds proved to be important once again for drivers as inclement weather canceled the scheduled Saturday morning NNS qualifying session. Wallace took the green flag from the 15th position on the starting grid when the STP 300 got underway under the lights Saturday night.
During the opening laps, Wallace and Crew Chief Scott Zipadelli communicated via the team radio about the handling of the No. 09 Marquis Energy / Family Farmers Toyota Camry. When the NASCAR-mandated competition caution flew at lap 27, Wallace and the RAB Racing team took the opportunity to make adjustments to the Toyota-powered machine. By lap 100, Wallace was running consistently in the 12th spot.
When the third caution came out on lap 121 for an accident in turn 3, Wallace was scored on the lead lap in the 16th position. Prior to the caution, Wallace was scored as the race leader when Zipadelli made the call to stay out in order to lead laps and collect bonus points. As the laps began winding down in the “Windy City,” fuel mileage became increasingly important. While several competitors coasted to the checkered on fumes, Wallace solidly held on to the seventh position, earning RAB Racing its first top-10 finish at Chicagoland Speedway.
Wallace, who has five top-10’s and nine top-15 finishes in only 14 NNS starts this season, closed the gap in the driver point standings but remains 20 points outside of the top-five in seventh. The No. 09 improved one position, to 12th, in the overall NNS car owner point standings.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series will take one weekend off before heading in to the summer season beginning at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, June 18, 2011. Following Michigan, the series will close out the month with road course racing action on June 25th at Road America.
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- RAB Racing with Brack Maggard Press Release
Article Tags: Chicagoland Speedway, Kenny Wallace, Michigan International Speedway, MIS, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NNS, No. 09 Marquis Energy / Family Farmers Toyota Camry, RAB Racing, RAB Racing with Brack Maggard, Road America (Wisc.), Scott Zipadelli, STP 300
