Truex fights handling, finishes 32nd in Pocono

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In: NASCAR Cup Series News

Ryan Truex and the No. 83 Burger King / Dr Pepper Toyota Camry team finished 32nd at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway on Sunday afternoon.  After struggling with the balance of his car early in the event, the BK Racing team was able to improve the handling and utilize pit strategy to gain five positions over the final 30 laps.

 

Hidden in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, Pocono Raceway presents a unique set of challenges to competitors who are used to NASCAR’s four-turn tracks laid out the shape of an oval.  For starters, Pocono Raceway has only three corners, is laid out in the shape of a triangle, and each corner is styled vastly different.  Truex rolled off 41st on Sunday afternoon in his first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the 2.5-mile circuit. 

 

Early in the race, Truex called in to his BK Racing team to report that his car was too tight while traveling through the corners.  Throughout the course of the race, the Burger King / Dr Pepper team worked to dial in the balance and improve Truex’s ability to navigate the turns.  With the changes positively affecting the car throughout the early part of a run, as the green flag conditions continued and tires continued to gain heat, Truex would again experience and tight handling condition. 


A series of late-race caution flags helped Truex improve his position as his tires didn’t gather as much heat, and the Burger King / Dr Pepper Toyota Camry was able to take the wave around to regain track position lost earlier in the event.  By the time the checkered flag waved, Truex was scored in the 32nd position. 

 

“This was my very first race at Pocono Raceway,” commented Truex.  “It’s just such a different track.  I clearly watched videos, talked to people-everything that I would normally do to get ready for a new track-but this one is just different. The corners are nothing alike, so you’re always making a sacrifice somewhere.  Our Burger King / Dr Pepper Toyota Camry wasn’t handling great at the beginning of the race, but we were able to improve quite a bit throughout the race.  We still got tight during the long green flag runs.  When we get back to the shop we’ll talk everything through with the other two BK Racing teams, so hopefully we’re all better when we come back in a few weeks.  We’re a young team with young drivers, so it’s been cool that everyone is willing to work together to get better.” 

 

BK Racing PR

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