Silas definitely found himself in contention for his first career ARCA Racing Series victory at Michigan International Speedway this past Friday in the RainEater Wiper Blades 200. Driving the No. 6 Weaver Media / Rockingham Speedway Toyota Camry for Eddie Sharp Racing, Silas was anxious for a good run at one of his favorite race tracks on the circuit.
Despite struggling to get the speed that they were looking for in practice and qualifying, the 24-year old driver roared to life in the eighth race of the season.
Starting from the 21st position, Silas began working towards the front before the first caution flag of the day waived on lap three. Opting to fall off pit sequence, crew chief Tripp Bruce decided to bring his driver to pit road to fill up the gas tank in-case of a long-green flag run.
Back to racing, Silas quickly and methodically maneuvered his No. 6 Weaver Media / Rockingham Speedway Toyota Camry through the field while also posting some of the fastest lap times on the track. Continuing to climb the leader board, Silas found himself in the 13th position when the caution flag waived on lap 30.
Joining the rest of the competition on pit road, Bruce called for four tires and fuel. Returning the popular ARCA driver back into competition, Silas found himself comfortably in the top-10 hoisting the eighth position.
Two competitors inside the top-10 would fall victim to circumstances which moved Silas to sixth on the scoring pylon when the yellow flag waived again on lap 41.
Continuing to hover inside the top-10 on the restart, Silas would find a comfortable hole before a multi-car incident with 35 laps to go sent the leaders to pit road with Bruce once again electing to use some pit strategy which consisted of staying out on the race track which shot Silas to the leader of the pack.
Silas would hold the top-spot from laps 67 to 72 before Joey Coulter outmuscled Silas for the lead on lap 73. With Silas still holding strong, the competition that comprised the top-five early on would challenge the No. 6 Weaver Media / Rockingham Speedway Toyota Camry shuffling the USARacing Pro Cup Series competitor through the running order.
Silas was able to muscle his Toyota Camry to the sixth position, his second top-10 effort of the year.
“I had a lot of fun out there today,” said Silas. “This is the best I’ve ever run at Michigan. Tripp (Bruce) made some great calls from pit road that allowed me to lead the race which is something I haven’t done in a while. I appreciate the team’s effort and a special thanks to Weaver Media for jumping on-board for this race.”
In 97 ARCA Racing Series events, Silas has delivered two top-fives and 29 top-10 finishes including a career best of fourth at Rockingham Speedway (April 2009) and Salem (Ind.) Speedway (April 2011). Silas has controlled the field seven times for 38 laps. A fourth place qualifying run at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in June 2007 is his best qualifying result to date.
Next up for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards is a return to Winchester (Ind.) Speedway for the running of the Winchester ARCA 200 presented by Federated Auto Parts.
For more on Bryan Silas please visit, BryanSilasRacing.com.
- Bryan Silas Racing Press Release