Armstrong Looks to Open Wheel Background for Short Track Success

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In: Xfinity Series News

Dakoda Armstrong goes into this weekend’s race at Phoenix International Raceway with optimism. While the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender only has one start at the one-mile track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), he comes from a long career in open wheel racing. He looks to his success in open wheel, as well as his short track experience in NCWTS and the ARCA Racing Series, to guide him through this weekend. 

Armstrong finished 19th in the NCWTS last year in his only start at Phoenix. Crew Chief Philippe Lopez and the No. 43 WinField team have prepared chassis No. 743 for this weekend. The chassis has been in rotation since the Nationwide team at Richard Petty Motorsports made their debut in 2012 and is a favorite for Lopez due to its success on short tracks with several top-five and top-10 finishes.
 
While NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie @Dakoda Armstrong may not have many starts at @Phoenix International Raceway, he will look to his open wheel experience to guide him around the one-mile track. The chassis the #43 WinField team has prepared for the weekend will also serve as an advantage for Armstrong, bringing the team several top-five and top-10 finishes at short tracks.

“Last weekend didn’t turn out like we expected. We had such a great car all weekend, and we were really looking forward to seeing what we could do at Daytona. But we had damage in qualifying and then received the same damage in the race that we did in qualifying, and it really hurt the way the car drafted. At the same time, I’m ready to put Daytona behind us and look ahead to Phoenix.

“Philippe (Lopez) has a lot of confidence in the team’s short track program, and the chassis that we’re running has had a lot of success on short tracks over the past two years. I grew up open wheel racing, so short tracks really fit my driving style. I’m ready to get to Phoenix and show everyone what we’re really capable of.”

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