Big Game Motorsports driver David Gravel rallied for a top-10 result last Saturday at Lincoln Speedway.
Gravel qualified 10 th quickest in his World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series group, which started him on the inside of the third row in a heat race.
“I wasn’t able to overcome going out late in our group and we just weren’t quite good enough in qualifying,” he said. “We paid the price starting fifth. We really needed to start fourth in that heat race or be in a later heat. We fell to sixth on the start and battled back to fifth. I was really close to third and fourth at the end, but ran out of time.”
Gravel lined up on the inside of the 10 th row in the main event, but he was quickly caught up in a crash that occurred in front of him.
“Starting in the back is always a high risk,” he said. “A wreck happened in front of me and I had nowhere to go. Luckily it didn’t tear up the car too bad. We changed the top wing and went back out. It was a long race with a lot of cautions. We were able to pick our way through there and get into the top 10 with 10 laps to go. I got another spot to finish ninth. It definitely could have been worse.”
Gravel’s run from the 19 th starting position to a ninth-place result was tied for the third-most positions gained.
“I learned over the years that you have to maximize every night,” he said. “Some nights that might be a win or 15th. You have to make the most of every opportunity. For the cards we were dealt and where we started in the feature, we did the most we could.”
Gravel leads the World of Outlaws championship standings by 72 points with seven points races remaining.
The team is heading to The Dirt Oval at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., this Friday and Saturday for the Federated Auto Parts Route 66 Showdown. Gravel finished fourth at the track in June 2017 during his lone appearance.
“I feel like I’m not really changing my driving style,” he said. “I push when we need to push and pull back when we need to pull back. That hasn’t really changed. I try not to do anything unnecessary no matter the situation. I feel I’ve been driving the same way, but here lately we haven’t been that stellar in the A Mains. Hopefully we can go out and set a good qualifying time to start each night strong this weekend.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Oct. 12 – Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa. – Qualifying: 10; Heat race: 5 (5); Feature: 9 (19).
SEASON STATS –
64 races, 15 wins, 40 top fives, 57 top 10s, 62 top 15s, 62 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at The Dirt Oval at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., for the Federated Auto Parts Route 66 Showdown with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
ILP PR