Bayne Records Top-15 Finish in Michigan

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In: NASCAR Cup Series News

Trevor Bayne, driver of the No. 6 AdvoCare Ford Fusion, improved five positions on the final restart of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) event at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday afternoon to earn a 15th-place finish.  

“It feels good to be kind of disappointed with 15th,” said Bayne after the race. “We just fought a loose AdvoCare Ford throughout the day. But I’m proud of the effort my guys gave this weekend to get us another solid finish. We’ll take this into the off-weekend and get ready to do some road racing in Sonoma.”

Bayne began the day from the 13th position after narrowly missing the third round of knockout qualifying on Friday evening. From the drop of the green flag, Bayne reported to crew chief Matt Puccia that the AdvoCare Ford was tight in the middle and loose on the exit of the corners. Despite the handling condition, the Roush Fenway Racing driver maintained his top-15 track position throughout the first half of the 200-Lap event.

Then, an untimely caution during the first round of green flag pit stops on Lap 101 cost Bayne valuable track position as several of the race leaders had yet to make a pit stop. Due to the inopportune caution, Bayne took the ensuing restart from 29th but steadily worked his way forward, rejoining the top-20 just past the three/quarter mark of the event.

The Knoxville, Tenn. native continued to climb forward from there, working his way up to the 13th position before the handling of the AdvoCare Ford drastically shifted toward the loose side. This handling condition ultimately led to Bayne getting shuffled back to 18th before the final caution of the day came out on Lap 188.

Crew chief Puccia decided to take advantage of this caution and brought Bayne to pit road for four tires and a chassis adjustment in the hopes of rectifying the loose-handling condition. Following the stop Bayne took the Lap 193 restart from 20th.

In the closing stages Bayne improved five positions to bring the AdvoCare Ford home in the 15th position.

With the result, Bayne trails the 16th and final position in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship standings by 19 points.

RFR PR

Speedway Digest Staff
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