Fuel gamble results in 16th place finish for Hayley in Chicago

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In: NASCAR Truck Series News
Making his first-career start at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Hayley got off to a fast pace during the lone NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) practice Friday morning, posting the seventh-fastest time. However, heavy rain moved into the area, washing out qualifying and postponing the American Ethanol 225 until Saturday morning.
 
When racing resumed Saturday, Hayley would start the 150-lap race from the seventh position, per the NCWTS rule book. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender quickly settled into the top-10 with his No. 13 Carolina Nut Co. Toyota Tundra. Within the initial laps, Hayley reported that his ThorSport Racing machine was “a little free, but beginning to come to him.” Holding on until the competition caution waved on lap 30, crew chief Jeff Hensley brought the Canada native down pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment to aid in his handling issues.
 
When the race resumed on lap 37, Hayley restarted in the 12th position but was back into the top-10 by lap 41. The 19-year-old driver hit pit road under the next caution, on lap 83, for four tires and fuel. Looking to make it the last 67 laps of the race on one tank of gas, Hayley came up five laps short of the finish. Forced to pit for a splash of gas on lap 145, Hayley was relinquished to a 16th-place finishing spot, four laps down to race winner, John Hunter Nemechek.
 
Quote:
“The No. 13 Carolina Nut Co. Toyota Tundra was pretty good throughout the morning at Chicago. We ran inside the top-10 and should’ve finished there honestly. Unfortunately, our strategy didn’t work out the way we hoped at the end, and it hurt our overall result. Either way, I’m looking forward to getting back to a short-track next weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and hopefully we can put forth a strong run.”  

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