No. 60 Finishes 31st at Inaugural Mid-Ohio Race

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In: Xfinity Series News

Roush Fenway Racing’s Travis Pastrana and the No. 60 Ford Mustang finished 31stat the inaugural Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200, Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. 

“The goal was to take it easy and avoid the carnage,” Pastrana said.  “I didn’t flat spot one tire and didn’t have a scratch on the car until just past the halfway mark.  I made a mistake, put a tire in the grass and spun into a bridge.  The guys did a great job getting the car back going, but my day was effectively over.”

The NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) traveled to the title sponsor’s home state of Ohio, for the first ever NNS race from Mid-Ohio.  The teams were allowed an extra day of practice on Thursday to learn the new course.

Pastrana went out with the fifth qualifying group on Saturday morning, putting the No. 60 in 18th for the start of the 200-mile race on the 2.4-mile road course.  The race took the green flag shortly after 2 p.m. ET.  Pastrana settled into the top-20, radioing that the car did not have enough forward drive on the opening run.

A caution on Lap 19 brought the No. 60 Ford Mustang down pit road for the first time of the day on Lap 21.  The team took four tires and fuel, along with air pressure and track bar adjustments.  Pastrana took the restart in 19th, radioing to the crew shortly thereafter that the adjustment did not go in the right direction.

Pastrana and the No. 60 Ford Mustang maintained position in the top-15 throughout the middle portion of the race.  Shortly after the halfway point, Pastrana made contact with the wall, forcing the No. 60 down pit road for damage repair on Lap 55.  Pastrana returned to the course, but the damage was too severe to continue.

He made his way down pit road again on Lap 58.  After surveying the car again, the team decided to take the No. 60 back into the garage to complete the repairs.  Pastrana returned to the course on Lap 63 in 35th, eight laps down.

Pastrana gained four more positions through attrition, ultimately crossing the finish line in 31st, nine laps down.

RFR PR

Speedway Digest Staff
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