Catchfence

Brian Scott Post-Race Recap

Feed the Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway

July 9, 2011

Race Highlights:

- Brian Scott picked up the seventh starting spot for the start of Friday night’s Feed the Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway. Scott’s No. 11 Shore Lodge Toyota was among the fastest cars on the track during Thursday evening’s practice and Friday morning’s rain-shortened practice. It was evident early in the race that Scott had one of the fastest cars on the track.

- Throughout the early stages of the race Scott told the crew that the car was handling really well but that he felt like he was getting beat as the car rolled onto the straightaways. During the first pit stop at lap 42, the team changed four tires and made a slight air pressure adjustment to compensate for anticipated tight conditions with the new, sticker tires. Scott was in sixth place when racing resumed on lap 47.

- Scott got aggressive on the restart and muscled his way into the top five and competed in the fourth position during the next handful of circuits around the track until the caution waved on lap 64.

- Varying pit strategies started taking shape during the second caution as teams elected to take no, two or four tires during the stop. The No. 11 Shore Lodge Toyota team elected to go with a four-tire stop. Scott was in the ninth position when racing resumed.

- Less than 30 laps later Scott’s lap times started slowing. The cause was discovered on lap 99 when Scott spun and hit the inside wall with the back right side of the No. 11 Shore Lodge Toyota. The team figured out that Scott had a tire going down which caused the spin. After making several trips to pit road for new tires and repairs, Scott returned to the race in 22nd position but on the lead lap.

- Despite the damage Scott still had a very fast race car and patiently started climbing back into the top 15. Scott was back up to the 13th position by lap 160.

- Due to the sequence of pit stops, fuel mileage became a determining factor in the end of the 300-mile race. The No. 11 Shore Lodge Team elected to play it safe and came in for a splash of gas on lap 190. Scott was able to race back to the 15th position before the checkered flag waved for driver Brad Keselowski.

- Scott is now tied for the ninth spot in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver point standings. He shares the ninth position with driver Michael Annett. They are seven points out of eighth place behind Steven Wallace. Elliott Sadler took over the top spot in the point standings as a result of his fifth-place finish.

- Joe Gibbs Racing Press Release