Pistone Fights Handling, Settles for a 20th-Place Finish at Kentucky

In his third and final race with Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season, Chase Pistone brought home a 20th-place finish after fighting the handling of his racecar in the VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 at Kentucky Speedway.

 

Pistone started the weekend off by posting top-15 lap times in the weekend’s two practice sessions. The 31-year-old followed that up by qualifying 17th for the 200-lap event.  As the race began, Pistone settled into the 20th position before the first caution on lap 25, which allowed crew chief Shannon Rursch to bring the No. 31 Chevrolet down pit road for four tires and fuel, along with a track-bar adjustment. When the race resumed, Pistone settled into the 21st position, hoping to utilize the changes made to drive through the field. By lap 60, Pistone was up to 18th and looking to work his way into the top 15 when the second caution flag was displayed. After receiving four tires and fuel on pit road, Pistone moved up to the 17th position before slipping back to the 21st position on lap 95. On lap 100, Pistone fell a lap down to the race leaders. Fortunately, a caution on lap 115 allowed Rursch to take a big swing at the car’s handling on pit road. Pistone continued to fight hard, gaining some positions and moving up to 19th by lap 165. The caution flag was once again displayed on lap 169, which allowed the No. 31 TSM team to make some final adjustments while giving Pistone four tires and fuel. Unable to gain his lap back, however, Pistone fought similar handling issues the remaining 31 laps and withstood multiple late-race cautions to ultimately bring home a 20th-place finish.

 

 

Chase Pistone on Racing at Kentucky Speedway:

“This was a tough night for our Turner Scott Motorsports team. Kentucky Speedway hasn’t been all that kind to me in 2014, but the guys worked hard all weekend long; we just couldn’t find the right setup needed to get into the top 15. While we didn’t necessarily get the result we were looking for, I think we gained some valuable experience and I learned a lot for the next time I come back here. Unfortunately, this is my last race with TSM this season, but I’m glad I’ve had an opportunity to work with these guys in 2014.”

 

TSM PR