Flat tire sidelines Weller at Kansas Speedway

immy Weller and the No. 07 Geneva-Liberty Steel / Polaris / MotoPlex of Norfolk Chevrolet Silverado team finished 25th at Kansas Speedway on Friday evening.  After qualifying and racing inside the top 20, Weller cut a left rear tire on lap 48 and was sent spinning into the outside retaining wall.  With significant damage to the rear end of his truck, Weller and his SS Green Light Racing team were forced to retire from the event. 

 

Competing for the first time at Kansas Speedway, Weller had a busy week leading up to the SFP 250.  Prior to his arrival in Kansas City, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender made a pit stop at the MotoPlex of Norfolk in Norfolk, Neb., for the Polaris dealership’s Spring Open House event.  Once he arrived at the track, it was all business as Weller worked closely with his SS Green Light Racing team throughout back-to-back Thursday practice sessions fine-tuning the handling of their Chevrolet Silverado. 

 

On Friday afternoon, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series took to the track for knockout qualifying.  Finishing inside the top-24 in the opening round, Weller progressed to the second round of qualifying where he secured the 20th starting position for the SFP 250. 

 

When the green flag waved, the No. 07 Geneva-Liberty Steel / Polaris / MotoPlex of Norfolk Chevrolet immediately began moving through the field.  Despite a slight tight condition when entering the corners, Weller was able to maintain his position inside the top 20, and was credited as the race leader during the opening round of pit stops. 

 

Driving through turn two on lap 48, the back end of Weller’s truck stepped out on him causing the machine to spin into the outside retaining wall.  With heavy damage to the rear end, Weller brought the No. 07 Silverado to the garage area where the Geneva-Liberty Steel / Polaris / MotoPlex of Norfolk team determined that a flat left rear was the culprit for the spin.  Unable to continue, Weller was scored with a 25th-place finish. 

 

“We had a fun week in the Midwest, so it’s disappointing that it ended the way that it did,” commented Weller.  “We had great support on our truck from Geneva-Liberty Steel, Polaris and MotoPlex of Norfolk, and our SS Green Light Racing team did a great job all weekend.  We picked up quite a bit of speed throughout the weekend, and I think we had a truck capable of finishing inside the top 15 if everything had gone our way.  While it’s disappointing to not have that finish this week, it’s promising for some of the races that we have coming up.  I’m happy that we’ll finally have some back-to-back races in the truck, and I’m looking forward to racing at Charlotte [N.C.] Motor Speedway next week.”

 

A2B PR