Mid-Race incident leads to a long day for Max Gresham

Race Recap:

Max Gresham, who made his debut at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), was off to a solid start in Saturday’s SFP 250, until contact with another competitor on lap 57 handicapped the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender to a 22nd-place finish in the fourth event on the 2012 schedule.

Starting 23rd, Gresham fought a free on entry Chevrolet Silverado in the opening laps of the 167-lap event. However, the 18-year-old rookie would slowly make his way up the leader board.

When the second caution flag was displayed for debris in turn-four, the No. 24 team would bring Gresham down pit road for four tires, including an air pressure adjustment and fuel. When racing resumed on lap 40, Gresham was scored 19th.

Just 17 laps later, running 17th, Gresham made contact with the No. 33 of Cale Gale resulting in heavy damage on the right rear quarter panel and spoiler of the No. 24 Made In USA Brand machine.

Limping around the track, complaining of being wicked loose, Gresham took every opportunity to come down pit road to repair the damage to his aerodynamically-challenged Chevrolet. Despite his best efforts, Gresham would hold on to finish 22nd, two laps down to race winner James Buescher.

Max Gresham Quotes:

“It was another tough day for everyone on this No. 24 Made In USA Brand team. I was really pumped about this weekend; we had a solid truck in practice and just missed it in qualifying. We started out a little free at the beginning of the race but we were making ground. I had a run going on the 33 and he kept pinching me down, not giving me any room. When my left side tires hit the apron, I just lost it. We had a lot of damage on the right rear causing us to be extremely loose the rest of the day. I really hate it for my guys. Everyone works so hard and we just can’t catch a break.”

JDM PR