Making his first-career NASCAR Nationwide Series start at Watkins Glen on Saturday afternoon, Dylan Kwasniewski and his No. 31 Rockstar Energy Drink team looked to run consistent lap times and continue to polish their road course racing at the famous 2.45-mile road course in upstate New York. Kwasniewski started the weekend off strong by making it to the final round during NASCAR’s knockout qualifying, placing the Rockstar Energy Drink Chevrolet 11th on the starting grid. Following the drop of the green flag, Kwasniewski settled into the top 10 until the first caution of the afternoon came out on lap 13. During the caution, crew chief Shannon Rursch called Kwasniewski down pit road for four fresh tires, Sunoco Racing fuel and an air-pressure adjustment. After a pit road speeding penalty exiting pit road, Kwasniewski restarted in 31st. Despite the penalty, Kwasniewski wasted no time making his way to the front, cracking the top 15 by lap 19 and the top 10 by lap 20 while green-flag pit stops were underway. Kwasniewski would continue to run consistent top-10 lap times and stay with in the top 15 until having to make an unscheduled pit stop on lap 70 while running in the 12th position due to debris on the grille. Once returning the track on lap 71, another competitor made contact with Kwasniewski, causing him to flat spot his tries and make another unscheduled pit stop on lap 76. Despite having a top-10 run going with 10 laps to go, Kwasniewski crossed the finish line in the 27th position.
Dylan Kwasniewski on Racing at Watkins Glen:
“What a day. We had a great run going and then just couldn’t find any luck for the last ten laps. Shannon [Rursch] and the guys built me such a fast Rockstar Energy Drink Chevy and it looked like we had a top-10 run going. Our luck has to change soon, and I’m really looking forward to getting to Mid-Ohio next weekend where I think we can contend for the win.”.“
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