Catchfence

Avondale, AZ (November 12, 2011) – With just two races remaining in the 2011 Nationwide Series season, the TriStar Motorsports team knew a solid result at the newly configured and resurfaced Phoenix International Raceway would be a boost for the team in its battle for a top 20 position in NASCAR Driver Standings. In spite of being one of several cars that suffered near accidents during time trials, the veteran driver was able to rebound from his 38th starting position to post a track-best 19th-place finish. As a result, McClure advanced to 19th in NASCAR Driver Standings.

“I am very pleased with how we ended up this weekend. We made some major adjustments prior to qualifying, and with the changes in the track conditions, we got ourselves in a bit of trouble for qualifying. However, the guys continued to work on it and we were able to run some competitive lap times as the race went on. We kept the car out of trouble and were able to get a respectable finish. It seems that the better we have run this season, the more things happen to us. This race was the total opposite, but I’m not going to complain.”

As the racetrack had become a tricky, one-groove racing surface following reconfiguration, it wasn’t long before the teams could see what was in store for the 200-lap event as the first caution flag was displayed on lap one for a multi-car accident. Although the Virginia driver had advanced to the 30th position at the time of the caution, there had not been enough green flag racing for him to assess his car’s drivability so, as a result, the Hefty® BlackOut™/Reynolds™ Chevrolet remained on track and was able to restart the event from the 27th position. McClure, however, wasn’t able to maintain the position as his car was “extremely loose on entry and tight through the center and exit of the turns.” Running in the 29th position when the event’s second caution flag was displayed on lap 32, the team took the opportunity to bring the car to pit road for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment. Following the service, the TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet returned to the track in the 28th position for the lap 43 restart.

Becoming trapped in the outside lane on the restart, McClure slipped to the 31st position where he maintained until the third caution flag waved on lap 84. Although the car was still tight on the exit of the turns, crew chief Gary Cogswell decided to take a gamble and remain on track to receive the wave around. Restarting the event in the 26th position, the orange and black Chevrolet was able to maintain the position until finally being forced to pit road, under green conditions, on lap 122 for four tires with an air-pressure adjustment and fuel. Once the stop was complete, McClure returned to the track in the 31st position.

On lap 130, just a few laps after the car returned to the track, the caution flag was displayed. As the Hefty Racing® team had just visited pit road, the team remained on track to take the wave around and was able to gain back one of the two laps lost on pit road. As the race continued, the car’s handling continued to show improvement as McClure was not only able to advance to the 23rd position by lap 164, but also run his fastest lap of the race on lap 169. Six laps later, the event’s final caution flag waved for a multi-car accident that ultimately forced a red flag condition. While slowing to miss the accident, McClure ran through some debris, so rather than risk a tire failure the call was made to bring the car to pit road for four tires. Crew chief Gary Cogswell added an air-pressure adjustment as McClure felt the car needed more grip on exit of the turns. Following the service, the Hefty® BlackOut™/Reynolds™ Chevrolet was scored in the 19th position where it remained for the final 19 laps of the WYPALL 200.

Up next for the Hefty Racing® team is the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 19. Catch all of the action live on ESPN2 at 4:00pm (ET).

- Team McClure Inc. Press Release