Quiroga’s engine expires near halfway mark of Winstar World Casino 350

After recording his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series top-10 finish in his 2012 series debut, three-time Mexico Series champion Germán Quiroga had high hopes of another strong run in his inaugural visit to Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Unfortunately, the engine expired on the NET10 Wireless Tundra after completing just 64 of the race’s 147 laps and Quiroga was relegated to a disappointing 28th-place finish.

 

“I was really hoping that we would be able to post another top-10 finish for everyone on this team that has been working hard and for our sponsor, NET10 Wireless,” said Quiroga, who was making his fourth career series start. “We didn’t qualify as well as we needed to, but I was starting to get a feel for the track as the race went along and I think we would have continued to pass some trucks and move forward in the second half of the race. I’m looking forward to a quick turnaround and getting right back on the track next week in Phoenix.”

 

After qualifying 24th for the 147-lap event, the 32-year-old driver ran just outside the top 20 as he familiarized himself with the blistering fast 1.5-mile oval. He communicated to veteran crew chief Rick Ren that his NET10 Wireless Tundra was “loose in turns 1 and 2.” When the first caution of the race occurred on lap 30, Ren summoned his driver to pit road and the over-the-wall crew made a four-tire stop with an air pressure adjustment in an effort to stabilize the handling.

 

Quiroga returned to the track scored in the 20th position for the lap-36 restart. As the race approached the halfway mark, a big puff of smoke came out from underneath the back of the truck, forcing the 32-year-old driver to bring it down pit road. After looking underneath the hood of the No. 51 Toyota, the over-the-wall crew quickly determined that the problem was terminal and pushed the truck back to the garage.

 

Johnny Sauter completed the 2012 Texas Motor Speedway sweep, finishing 2.199 seconds ahead of Parker Kligerman. Pole sitter Nelson Piquet Jr. came home in the third spot, followed by Busch in fourth. Ty Dillon rounded out the top-five finishers.

 

There were two caution periods for eight laps. Nine different drivers led, exchanging the lead 10 times. Ten drivers failed to finish the 147-lap race.

 

KBM PR