Gray Gaulding and the No.20 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts team showed they had the patience and strength in their equipment Saturday night in the JEGS 150 at Columbus Motor Speedway.
Gray Gaulding posted the third quickest time after turning 50 laps in Saturday’s final practice session after opening practice was canceled when morning rain showers kept the track from being suitable for race condition.
Gaulding would go out 15th of 23 cars to attempt two lap qualifying. With a time of 14.732, Gaulding would line his Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Chevrolet up 16th for the evenings main event.
When the green flag dropped Gaulding knew he needed to make his way towards the top-10 but be conservative in saving his tires and equipment. At lap 10 Gaulding had moved into 12th and running time equivalent to the leaders. When the first caution flag flew at lap 28 Gaulding was scored running 11th.
The green flag was once again displayed at lap 31. Gaulding was able to make some up some positions after starting on the inside line before the second caution flag flew at lap 42 which saw him just inside the top-10 in 9th. The green flag was again displayed at lap 47, Gaulding once again on the inside line was able to charge during the first few laps and cracked inside the top-15 at lap 57.
At the halfway point, Gaulding running 7th protecting his equipment and saving his tires for a late race caution. The third caution came at lap 112 with Gaulding running 5th. With 31 laps remaining the green flag was once again displayed, as the leaders raced three-wide Gaulding took advantage of the situation and moved into 2nd at lap 122. On lap 127 Gaulding gets lifted down the back straight-a-way and when the field enters back into turn one Gaulding’s maintained ground as his right front gets drove over.
Gaulding would serve a one lap, aggressive driving penalty as the car went spinning bringing out the caution. The field went back green with less then 15 laps remaining. Gaulding scored in 17th and racing for a lucky dog. A late race caution at lap 140 saw Gaulding in contention for the lucky dog but would not receive it. On a green white checkered restart, Gaulding drove back into the top-15 for a 15th place finish.
The next race for Gray Gaulding and the No.20 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Chevrolet team will be the NASCAR K&N Pro series East and West combo race at Iowa Speedway on August 1st.
NTS Motorsports PR
