Mike Wallace and the No. 01 G&K Services Chevrolet team rolled into Dover International Raceway ready to take on the Monster Mile for Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.
After the lone practice session on Friday, Wallace and the Newt Moore-led team posted the 26th-fastest time, of 43 drivers. When qualifying ended on Saturday morning, their combined effort put them 27th on the starting grid.
Once the green flag waved over the one-mile, high-banked oval to start off the 200-lap race, Wallace did what he does best and settled into a steady routine in his Chevrolet. While other cars were falling off the pace, losing grip or battling competitors; Moore and team held on looking to stay consistent as the laps ticked off the scoring pylon.
With all teams knowing there was a competition caution coming on lap 40, because of heavy rains that fell Friday evening, Moore and team were hoping to use some pit strategy to their favor. On lap 28, the second – of six – caution flags waved, but teams could not take any fuel if they pitted – just tires.
Wallace pulled the No. 01 G&K Services Chevrolet down pit road and the team headed back out for the lap 32 restart with four fresh Goodyears. On lap 40, the competition caution waved and Moore called Wallace down for fuel only.
This would give them excellent track position for the restart. However, the gas can did not get free from the fill hole in time and came free after the Chevrolet left the pit stall. This called for a stop-and-go penalty, which fortunately came under caution. Unfortunately, it sent Wallace from a top-10 position to 38th for the restart.
From there, it was a battle of wills to get back through the field into a great position. Through several more pit stops, Wallace and team were able to make some needed adjustments with the car getting loose just after the halfway point.
With 43 laps remaining, the JD Motorsports No. 01 team was lined up 20th for a restart. From there, they worked their way up two positions to finish in 18th place, as only one of four cars on the same lap at the end.
The result puts Wallace 13th in Driver’s Standings trailing 12th by just eight markers, with 24 points separating them from the top-10 in points.
Mike Wallace Quotes: “We had a really good car there in the beginning and had a great pit strategy that actually worked in our favor. When I heard we had to take that stop-and-go for the gas can leaving the pit box it really took the wind out of my sails.
“I know these guys all work hard to do what they do, and I appreciate it. When something like that happens, instead of an on-track deal, it just makes racing for a good finish that much harder.
“We were able to work our way back through the field and get a top-20 finish out it of and bring the car home in one piece. I am thankful for that much. Next week, we’re off and I’m going to Lebanon I-44 Speedway back home and see if my son, Matt, can win himself another Late Model race up there and just hang out with friends.”
Brad Teague started 40th in the No. 4 Tradebank Chevrolet for his second start of the 2012 season. Throughout the race, that team was able to work their way up and remain in the action to finish in 25th place.
Next weekend, the NASCAR Nationwide Series will enjoy an off-weekend on their schedule. The following weekend, they’ll race at the two-mile oval of Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, June 16.
JD Motorsports PR
