Gray Gaulding | Pitt Lite 125 Race Recap

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An electrical malfunction during qualifying forces Gray Gaulding and the No. 12 Drink Krispy Kreme Coffee Toyota team to start at the tail end of the field and race his way to an eleventh place finish. Gaulding posted the ninth and fifteenth fastest times in Thursday’s dual forty-five minute practice sessions. 

 

With a quick turnaround from final practice to qualifying, Gaulding posted the nineteenth quick time and pulled down pit road with a cockpit full of smoke. After a quick diagnosis, crew chief Charles Denike noticed an electrical issue and the team opted to make the necessary adjustments and fix the wiring harness forcing Gaulding to start Saturday’s Pitt Lite 125 from the tail end of the field. 

 

When the green flag dropped shortly after the concluding on the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, Gaulding used his experience along with the leadership from spotter Jason White and crew chief Charles Denike to quickly move through the field and came knocking on the door of the top-10 before the halfway break at lap sixty-five. With slight chassis adjustments to help his corner entry and center, Gaulding moved as high as seventh during the second half but would come home with an eleventh place finish.

 

From the Driver’s Seat with Gray Gaulding: “The track didn’t free up as much as we had planned for and it kept us too tight during the race. I was as good as anyone on short runs but after five laps it was a handful. We’ve built a pretty good program in a short amount of time and will be in good shape heading to Iowa.”

 

On top of Box with Crew Chief Charles Denike: “After having to start at the rear of the field due to a problem with the wiring harness in qualifying, Gray did an excellent job patiently working his way forward to the top 10. By the end of the race we were too tight in the center and finished 11th. We were very strong after restarts and on the short runs, but were too tight on the long runs.”

WGP PR

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