FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NASCAR XFINITY Series
DAV 200
Phoenix International Raceway
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2015
Race Highlights:
Blake Koch qualified 26th for the DAV 200, followed by David Starr in 28th and Eric McClure in 34th.
The 200-lap race included three cautions for 18 laps and five lead changes among three drivers.
Blake Koch finished the race 20th, followed by David Starr in 21st and Eric McClure in 26th.
Blake Koch Finishes 20th in the DAV 200
Blake Koch qualified 26th for the DAV 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday morning. When the first caution flag was shown early on, Koch reported that his Camry was loose. The team chose to stay out on track under the first caution, but came to pit road when the second caution flag was shown. Koch brought his Camry to pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments. On lap 106, Koch was scored in the 21st position and quiet on the radio. When the caution flag was shown on lap 112, Koch reported that his Camry was still tight. He reported that the adjustments that were made on the last stop were going in the right direction. Koch restarted 19th and with 54 laps to go, he reported that his Camry was tight. With 19 laps to go, Koch was running in the 21st position and would advance one position to finish 20th.
Start- 26th Finish- 20th Laps Led- 0 Points- 24 points
Driver QUOTE: “We got behind due to qualifying back in the 26th position, but Nick made some good adjustments during the race to get a top-20 finish. We really needed that and we have high expectations heading into Homestead.”
David Starr Finishes 21st in the DAV 200
Under the desert sun at Phoenix International Raceway, David Starr concluded the DAV 200 Honoring America’s Veterans NASCAR XFINITY Series race in 21st position. Earlier in the day, Starr qualified 28th in the No. 44 Zachry Camry. As the first caution flag was displayed on lap 16, Starr reported the Toyota was a little tight in turns three and four but good overall. Crew Chief Matt Lucas made the call to keep the Zachry Camry out on track. Forty-seven laps later, with a caution on lap 58, the No. 44 had become “big time tight” according to Starr. Maintaining a 22nd to 25th place position for the majority of the 200 lap event, the Zachry Camry showed some positive improvement on track with a series of pit stop adjustments which enabled Starr to run his fastest laps of the day. As the race was nearing end, tight handling became the challenge once again for Starr. He held a 22nd place position until the final laps where he advanced to 21st finishing out the 32nd race of the 2015 season.
Start- 28th Finish- 21st Laps Led -0 Points- 23 points
Eric McClure Finishes 26th in the DAV 200
In his 17th start at Phoenix International Raceway, Eric McClure started the 17th Annual DAV 200 Honoring America’s Veterans from the 34th position. Out of the gate, McClure gained four positions by lap two. The No. 24 Reynolds Wrap® Camry began to experience multiple handling issues, when the first caution fell on lap 18. Bringing the blue and silver Camry to pit road for fuel and a track bar adjustment, McClure restarted 32nd when the field took the green flag on lap 21. Narrowing down the conditions of their Camry, Crew Chief Rick Ren called McClure to pit road when second caution fell on lap 58. Restarting 30th McClure immediately jumped a position to hold on to the 29th spot and stayed there until the final caution fell on lap 114. As the field settled in to a long green flag run and the sun began to set between turns one and two, McClure became silent over the radio. Rounding out the 200-mile event at Phoenix International Raceway, McClure finished 26th.
Start- 34th Finish- 26th Laps Led- 0 Points- 18 points
Driver QUOTE: “Today was challenging and we did what we could to earn a respectable finish. We gained some positions late in the race and that helped us in the Driver Point Standings. Knowing the objective for our team is to close out the year on a positive note, we continue to push forward and try to fight for that next spot in the points standings.”
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