David Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Starting Position: 42
Finishing Position: 31
David Gilliland and the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports team went into Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 knowing they had their work cut out for them. A super-loose qualifying run had them starting in the back, and the weekend’s practice sessions had shown passing would be difficult.
The team took the green flag in 42nd and was able to move up to 36th as a Lap-3 accident collected a few competitors. But Gilliland began reporting that the front end of the car bounced through the turns and that there was little rear grip, making it difficult to continue advancing.
The team made multiple shock adjustments, plus other chassis changes, to help Gilliland’s Ford Fusion get around the one-mile oval better over the course of the race. The car was performing better as the race went on, and he gained several more positions in the second half of the race to cross the finish line in 31st.
Kasey Kahne took the win, setting up a season-finale showdown at Homestead between Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart, the only two drivers still mathematically eligible for the Sprint Cup.
Comments from Front Row Motorsports Ford driver David Gilliland after the Phoenix race:
“That was a tough race. Starting from the back of the pack, we knew we had to have a pretty good car to be able to move up at this place. But we had some issues with the suspension. The car was bouncing and we were just adjusting on the shocks and stuff all day. I’m really looking forward to going to Homestead, though. I love racing there and we’ll look to end our season on a high note.”
J.J. Yeley, No. 38 Vampt Ford
Starting Position: 41
Finishing Position: 28
J.J. Yeley and the No. 38 Vampt Ford team started Sunday’s race in the 41st position, looking for a solid day in Yeley’s hometown and in front of sponsor Vampt and Scott Bates, the disabled veteran and graphic artist who designed their car’s patriotic paint scheme.
Morning rains had cleaned off the track and left it slick, causing a couple early yellow flags for accidents, so Yeley was able to move up to 33rd by a Lap-10 restart. But he told crew chief Jay Guy that his Ford Fusion was difficult to turn through the corners, preventing him from getting to the gas on exit. The team made some chassis adjustments on their first pit stop, after leading a lap to collect a bonus point.
Despite an afternoon of long green-flag runs and much single-file racing, the Vampt team was able to keep improving their car well enough to allow Yeley to pick off positions when he could. He was in 26th just before his final pit stop of the day, when the team changed only two tires to return him to the track quickly and allow him to finish the race in 28th.
Comments from Vampt Ford team driver J.J. Yeley after the Phoenix race:
“The guys did a good job with our No. 38 Vampt Ford Fusion all day. We had a terrible qualifying run so we had the challenge of starting in the back. And we knew that was going to be tough with the single-file racing that we’ve seen so far here. But the guys kept making it better all day, gave us some good pit stops, and Jay Guy made a good call on two tires at the end.
“We were all really proud to have Scott Bates here with us. It was a really special day for him, seeing the paint scheme that he created, in person, and also being recognized on stage during pre-race ceremonies. We’re all very grateful to veterans like him for their service to our country.”
FRM PR
