The first trip to the “Music City” was not especially kind to Miguel Paludo and the No. 7 Stemco/Duroline team. However, after the first race at Nashville in April the team regrouped and came back to Nashville with a new set-up package. All the hard work paid off. Paludo ran in the top-15 for the duration of the 150-lap event and crossed the finish line in the 14th position
Paludo started the 150-lap showdown from the 10th starting position. As the green flag flew, Paludo settled in to the 11th position. The first caution of the night waved on lap three. The team chose not to come to pit road that early and give up valuable track position. The No. 7 truck developed a tight condition through the center of the corner making it impossible for Paludo to hold to the bottom of the track.
On lap 58, crew chief Rick Gay called Paludo to pit road under green for a scheduled pit stop to take on four tires, fuel and make an air-pressure adjustment. Paludo continued to fight a tight condition through the center of the corner even after the change was made. Holding on to the 14th position by the half-way point on lap 75, Paludo began to search around for lines where the condition of his truck would not hurt his speed and forward progression. Paludo settled into the 14th position until the second caution of the night waved on lap 102. Paludo came to pit road for four tires, fuel and another chassis adjustment. Quick work by the No. 7 team moved Paludo to the eighth position for the restart. Paludo battled to the end of the 150-lap showdown, but his truck was too tight to allow him to stay in the top-10 crossing, the finish line in the 14th position.
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