Gaulding’s Top-10 Run Gets Turned Around Late at CTMP

With two practice sessions on Saturday, August 29 Gaulding and the No. 54 Drink Krispy Kreme Coffee Toyota team led by crew chief Shannon Rursch used this time to fine tune on their Toyota Tundra. Posting the fifth quickest time in the opening 55 minute practice session, Gaulding noted the truck had too much roll in it. In the final 80 minute practice session, Gaulding and team worked on more race runs and ended the session happy with their Drink Krispy Kreme Coffee Toyota Tundra. 

With two knockout qualifying sessions on deck to end the first day at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Gray Gaulding made an initial run posting a time well inside the top-12 and when the 25 minute first round ended Gaulding and the No.54 team transferred into the final 10 minute round of qualifying. With a time of 80.854 second at an average speed of 109.486 mph Gaulding qualified 8th for the third annual Chevrolet Silverado 250. 

Before the green flag dropped on the Chevrolet Silverado 250 crew chief Shannon Rursch had Gaulding start saving fuel. Gaulding got into line in eighth and started working his way towards the top-5. Gaulding had made his way inside the top-5 before pitting for fuel only on lap 14, the first caution flag flew as Gaulding was leaving pit road putting him eighth for the lap 17 restart. Gaulding made his second green flag pit stop on lap 38 for four tires, fuel, and a chassis adjustment after noting his Drink Krispy Kreme Coffee Toyota Tundra was just a little too tight. 

Racing inside the top-10 with less than 10 laps to go, Gaulding was working his way back inside the top-5 before getting turned around and making contact with the tire barriers in turn eight. With only cosmetic damage, Rursch brought Gaulding down pit road for four tires and fuel as the crew pulled away sheet metal clearing the tires from any rubs. 

Setting up for a green, white, checkered restart Gaulding was lined up 17th at the tail of the field with two laps and 4.918-miles of racing to go, he muscled his way back to an 11th place finish. 

From the Driver’s Seat with Gray Gaulding: “I felt like we had a pretty good Drink Krispy Kreme Coffee Toyota Tundra. Shannon (Rursch) and the entire KBM team worked hard to fine tune on the truck and we were in contention for a top-5 finish but unfortunately sometimes things happen and we ended up backwards in the tire barrier. We will move on and get ready for New Hampshire Motor Speedway in a few weeks.”

On top of Box with Crew Chief Shannon Rursch: “I’m proud of the effort Gray and everyone on this Krispy Kreme Tundra team put in this weekend. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but Gray really worked hard those last two laps to get as much track position back as he could. I think we all learned a lot working together for the first time this weekend, and will be even stronger when we race with Gray again at New Hampshire next month.”

KBM PR