Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, Brennan Newberry had a good solid run going in the No. 14 Hy-Vee Silverado with a new sponsor and special message #PrayersforBoston on board as he raced with a heavy heart for the people of Boston. After starting from the 17th spot in the SFP 250 at Kansas Speedway, Newberry had a fast handling truck and worked his way up into the 9th position, before a late race incident ended his day early and he posted a 20th place finish.
With a newly paved track, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) officials scheduled a longer practice for drivers to gain a better feel for the track and the handling of their trucks on this new surface. Under cloudy skies and 36-degree weather, Newberry in the Hy-Vee Silverado took to the track for the first practice and posted the fastest time on the track during his third run. He worked with spotter Rick Carelli to find the best line around the mile-and-a-half oval, as he worked on running laps in clean air and in traffic. Newberry ended first practice 11th after running 59 laps.
The temperature warmed up a little for second practice. Newberry drove only a few laps before getting into the marbles and slapping the right side of the truck against the wall in the middle of turns three and four. The No. 14 Hy-Vee crew, with the help of the No. 9 (teammate) crewmembers went to work repairing the truck. The NTS teams were able to get the No. 14 fixed and back on track with 15 minutes left in final practice. Newberry immediately radioed the crew that everything felt good with the truck and it was ready to qualify.
The trucks qualified under conditions unlike what they practiced in as they had sunny skies and warmer temperatures. Newberry took the No. 14 Hy-Vee Chevrolet out 21st for his qualifying lap and laid down a lap of 30.812, securing him a Top 20 starting position.
Newberry strapped into the No. 14 Hy-Vee Chevrolet and took the green flag from the 17th position. Immediately, Carelli called to his driver to keep the momentum going, as Newberry had a good fast truck. However, that run slowed, as the first of 11 cautions came out on Lap 15. Newberry radioed to crew chief, Eddie Pardue that the truck was free. Pardue called him down pit road for fuel only and a quick track bar adjustment. The trucks made only five more laps before the second caution flag flew. Newberry restarted in the 12th position after the third caution and began a good run when another caution flag few for an accident in turn 4.
During this caution, Newberry stacked up and bumped the right rear of the truck in front of him. Worried about the damage, Pardue called Newbery down pit road where the Hy-Vee crew surveyed the damage of the left front fender, filled the No. 14 full of fuel and sent him back out. Newberry restarted 20th but had to serve a pass through penalty for passing to the left on the restart, which then put him a lap down.
On lap 92, Newberry came back down pit road during a caution for four tires and fuel. When he returned to the track however, he felt like he had a loose wheel and had to bring the No. 14 back down pit road for four new tires.
The Hy-Vee team would endure approximately 50 laps and another caution before getting to return to the lead lap with the “lucky dog” pass. Once he was back on the lead lap, Newberry began driving back through the field and broke into the top ten before making a quick stop for fuel only.
Newberry’s strong Top 10 day would take a turn for the worse, when the No. 13 of Todd Bodine would use the side draft to send Newberry and the No. 14 Hy-Vee truck spinning. Newberry collected Bodine in the accident, damaging both trucks beyond repair and would finish in the 20th position.
Newberry Knowledge:
“Honestly I can’t believe how great this NTS crew is, so first off, I have to thank them for all of their hard work. We have had to battle through some adversity this week, as we had a fast truck, hit the wall in practice and repaired the right side. During the race, we got a penalty for a re-start and lost a lap, had moved back into the top ten, and then got involved in a late race incident. It’s racing, but man it’s tough when we want to be competitive and do well every race.”
“This was one of my best races on a mile and a half track. Every week I keep learning and keep doing the best I can. We’ll take a few weeks off then come back and continue to build on our mile and a half program at Charlotte.”
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