Kaz Grala No. 33 15-40 Connection Chevrolet Silverado Kentucky Recap

With a condensed practice schedule Wednesday and the threat of rain on Thursday at Kentucky Speedway, Kaz and the No. 33 team wanted to get the most information out of the two NCWTS practice sessions as they could. Finishing 10th-fastest in first practice and third in final practice, Kaz was overall happy with his 15-40 Connection Chevrolet Silverado.

However, rain throughout the day Thursday cancelled qualifying and delayed the start of the Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 until late into the night. Starting 12th for the 150-lap event, Kaz was able to work his way through the field during the first stage, making his way up to seventh place just before the stage break on lap 35. Coming to pit road under caution, Kaz got four tires, fuel, and both a track bar and air pressure adjustment to try loosen up his 15-40 Connection Chevy. Restarting 18th for stage two, Kaz methodically worked the traffic in front of him while running his best laps of the race to finish the second stage ninth.

Crew chief Jerry Baxter made the call for two tires, fuel and another round of adjustments to aid in a now “plowing tight” Chevrolet. Restarting sixth, Kaz tried to continue his march to the front but had to avoid a couple of accidents, costing him track position. Scored back in 15th when the caution came out on lap 108, Kaz came down pit road one final time for four tires and fuel, lining him up ninth for the restart. Trying to make up track position as the laps began to wind down, Kaz went to make a pass on another competitor when his No. 33 15-40 Connection Chevrolet came out from underneath him, collecting the No. 16 as well on lap 115. With severe damage, Kaz was unable to finish the race and was credited with a 24th-place finish.

Quote

“I just really hate how this night ended for us. Our 15-40 Connection Chevy was really fast tonight but unfortunately our night ended too early. I feel like I really learned a lot throughout the first stages of the race that I can apply to other mile-and-a-half tracks, at least. We just need to regroup and get ready for Eldora now.”

GMS Racing PR