In his debut race with the Ricky Benton Racing No. 92 BTS Tire & Wheel team, Ross Chastain had his sights set on a solid finish to kick off the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) season. Comfortable and fast in the draft during all three NCWTS practice sessions; Chastain posted the eighth-fastest time in combined practice speeds. The performance put him on the outside of the fourth row to start the NextEra Energy Resources 250 after qualifying was canceled due to rain.
Maintaining an average running position of eighth throughout the first half of the race, Chastain reported to crew chief Trip Bruce that his Ford F-150 was just a tick tight off of the corners, but was way too loose when pushed by another truck. Working with his spotter to get lined up in format to push another truck, Chastain was helping the top lane move forward to compete with the low lane. After he gave a bump to the rear bumper of the competitor in front of him, he backed off to head into the corner. Unfortunately, he was caught up in the “Big One” just seconds later as the truck in front of him lost control and spun in front of the field. The No. 92 BTS Tire & Wheel Ford was damaged beyond repair and ended the night in the garage, serving Chastain with a 30th-place finish.
Quote:
“We had a strong night going up front and I was trying to get back to the bottom because our truck worked much better down there. We were racing hard and trying to get the high line to move again. I gave the truck in front of me a bump to get ahead, and then backed off to stay close to him into the corner; but he just went around.
I hate it for our BTS Tire & Wheel team and for everyone else involved in the incident. I should’ve been less aggressive with the bump drafting in hindsight because I know how loose these trucks can get. But we’ll learn from it and rebound for Martinsville.”
Edgehill Management PR
