NASCAR XFINITY Series
O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge
Texas Motor Speedway
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2015
Race Highlights:
Blake Koch qualified 25th for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge, followed by David Starr in 32nd and Eric McClure in 33rd.
The 200-lap race included four cautions for 23 laps and 17 lead changes among seven drivers.
Blake Koch finished the race 21st, followed by David Starr in 25th and Eric McClure in 28th.
Blake Koch Finishes 21st in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge
After overnight rain brought out “weepers” on track Saturday morning, NASCAR XFINITY Series qualifying was cancelled. Blake Koch finished practice in the 25th position and would start the race from that position. Early into the race, Koch reported that his No. 8 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camry was extremely loose. When the competition caution came out on lap 25, Koch brought his Camry to pit road for four tires, fuel, an air pressure adjustment and a track bar adjustment. After restarting from the 23rd position, Koch reported 12 laps later that his Camry was still loose and that he was loosing front grip. With 100 laps to go, Koch was scored in the 23rd position. When the sun began to set over Texas Motor Speedway, it began to make the No. 8 Camry even more free. Koch came to pit road with 28 laps to go for four tires, fuel and adjustments and was scored in the 21st position. With 14 laps to go, Koch was scored in the 22nd position and would advance one position to finish the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge 21st.
Start- 25th Finish- 21st Laps Led- 0 Points- 23 points
Driver QUOTE: “I am extremely proud of my team this weekend. We didn’t start the weekend off good, but my guys never gave up. Nick [Crew Chief] did a great job this weekend. These last two races will be the best of the year.”
David Starr Finishes 25th in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge
Due to extensive rain in the area overnight and into early morning, the track surface at Texas Motor Speedway was not conducive to on-track activity by mid-morning resulting in the cancellation of NASCAR XFINITY Series qualifying for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge. NASCAR set the starting line up based on speeds recorded during Friday’s practice session; placing David Starr, Texas native and driver of the No. 44 Zachry Camry, to roll off the grid in the 32nd position. He advanced to 28th by lap four where he remained consistent within that scoring position until the competition caution on lap 25. He radioed to Crew Chief Matt Lucas stating he was battling a loose condition with the Zachry Camry. Lucas called him to pit road for four tires, fuel and chassis adjustments and rejoined the field to restart in the 31st position. Starr consistently continued to report a loose handling Zachry Camry for the majority of the 200-lap event. Through a series of three additional pit stops, two under caution and one under green, Lucas and the No. 44 team continued to make adjustments to the car. It was near race end when Starr communicated the final adjustments had improved the handling and he concluded the run at his home track, with a 25th place finish.
Start- 32nd Finish- 25th Laps Led -0 Points- 19 points
Eric McClure Finishes 28th in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge
The NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) had a soggy start when arriving to Texas Motor Speedway for the 11th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge. Although drying attempt’s had started bright and early in the morning, NASCAR was forced to cancel qualifying for the 200-lap event. Since the rain out of qualifying the field lined-up by practice times and a not-so-strong practice session from the day before, lead Eric McClure to make his 18th NXS start from the 33rd position. With a competition caution occurring on lap 25, McClure had to hang on to a car that bounced, bobbed and darted. Pitting for a chassis adjustment, four tires and fuel, on the lap 25 caution, the Reynolds Wrap® Camry restarted 31st. As the sun began to set and a long green flag run created a free condition for the No. 24 running in the 31st position. The Reynolds Wrap® team had three more attempts, including a green flag stop with 26-laps to go, to try and find a balance for McClure. Maintaining the 29th position, the final restart commenced with 16-laps to go and McClure managed to gain one position to finish 28th.
Start- 33rd Finish- 28th Laps Led- 0 Points- 16 points
Driver QUOTE: “My guys worked really hard to try and make the Reynolds Wrap® Camry better for me. It was a long day and this is the best group that I’ve been with, who supports me and shares the same goals. We gained some valuable points in the driver standings and I’m looking forward to next weekend in Phoenix.”
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