TriStar Motorsports Post-Race Report: Iowa Speedway

Race Highlights: 

   

David Starr qualified 20^th for the 3M 250, followed by Blake Koch in 23^rd, Cale Conley in 24^th and Eric McClure in 27^th. 

 

The 250-lap race included nine cautions for 54 laps and nine lead changes among five driivers.

 

David Starr finished the 250-lap race 16^th, followed by Cale Conley in 19^th, Blake Koch in 22^nd and Eric McClure in 33^rd.                      

David Starr Finishes 16^th in the 3M 250

 

David Starr and the No. 44 Zachry Camry qualified 20^th for his first NASCAR XFINITY Series start at Iowa Speedway. When the competition caution came out at lap 60, Starr brought his Camry to pit road for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. After the team made adjustments on the first stop, Starr reported that his Camry was over rotating, loose on entry and needed to be tightened up. Running 20^th on lap 106, Starr was quiet on the radio. When the caution flag was shown for debris on lap 141, Starr reported that his Camry was tight up top and through the center and that the bumps in turns one and two were hurting his drive in. Crew Chief Greg Conner brought Starr to pit road for four tires and fuel. On lap 202, Starr was running in the 16^th position and would maintain that position at the end of the race.

 

Start- 20^th        Finish- 16^th       Laps Led- 0      Points- 28 points

                                                   

Driver QUOTE: “We came home 16^th and our Zachry Toyota Camry was not bad today. We struggled getting into turns one and two, because it can get really bumpy in the turns. Greg Conner and all of the guys on our Zachry Racing team did a great job today and our pit crew was awesome today. We didn’t have a good car when the race started, but we made some changes to it and it got better at times. Overall, it wasn’t a bad effort today. Leaving here we gave it all we had and we will learn from the race. Hopefully next time we go to a bumpy track, we will have learned how to work the car in the turns. We can leave here with our heads held high and we can take it.”

 

Cale Conley finishes 19^th in the 3M 250

 

The 3M 250 weekend held so much potential as the XFINITY Series traveled to Iowa Speedway and its first stand-alone event of the season. Cale Conley had speeds fast enough to transfer into the second round of qualifying. Unfortunately a late run in the first round left his tires hot in the second round and he qualified in the 24th position. Conley spent the majority of Sunday afternoon battling for the Lucky Dog position after over half of the field was lapped by the leaders by mid-race. Some quick pit stops by the No. 14 IAVA crew helped Conley break into the top 20 and he finished the 250-lap event in the 19th position.

 

Start- 24^th     Finish- 19^th     Laps Led -0      Points- 25 points

                                                   

Driver QUOTE: “It was a frustrating day for how hard we raced. I was expecting a higher result, but we’ll take a top 20. We had good pit stops all day, which gained us spots, we just seemed to lose them under green flag runs. Luck wasn’t in our favor for cautions and the Lucky Dog. But we’ll get them in Charlotte!”

 

Blake Koch Finishes 22^nd in the 3M 250

 

Qualifying 23^rd for the 3M 250, Blake Koch and the No. 8 team were ready to get the 250-lap race underway. Early into the race, Koch reported that his Camry was loose. The team stayed out to maintain track position and when the competition caution came out at lap 60 Koch came to pit road, from the “Lucky Dog” position, for adjustments. The next caution came out soon after the competition caution and Koch returned to pit road for fuel and a left rear adjustment only. Running 24^th on lap 120, the driver was quiet on the radio and maintaining track position. When a late race caution came out for debris, Koch reported continuing loose conditions, so the team made a big swing at adjustments on the next stop. With 27 laps to go, Koch was running in the 23^rd position and would advance one position to finish the 3M 250 22^nd.

 

Start- 23^rd        Finish- 22^nd       Laps Led- 0      Points-22 points

                                                   

Driver QUOTE: “My car wasgood inpractice yesterday, but as soon as the race started my car got loose. The team continued to make adjustments throughout the race, which helped my car. I can’t thank my team enough for their hard work this weekend and we will be ready for Charlotte this week.”

 

Eric McClure Finishes 33rd in the 3M 250

 

Eric McClure and TriStar Motorsports reunited for the 5^th Annual 3M 250 at Iowa Speedway. Out of the gate, McClure and his new team hit it off. Working with former Crew Chief, Wes Ward, McClure started the Sunday matinee from the 27th position. Due to rain from the previous night, NASCAR called for a competition caution on lap 50. Barely completing a lap, the 40-car field fell under caution. With another caution occurring shortly after the first, McClure and the No. 24 Reynolds Wrap team decided to make a few adjustments to a Camry that was lacking front grip. Now pushing the competition caution to lap 60, the field set in for a long green flag run. As the competition caution fell McClure stated his Camry was “free in the center and the higher he tried to run [on the track] the worse it gets.” Taking fresh Goodyears the Reynolds Wrap Camry was set to restart 30th. Upon the restart with 80 laps to go, McClure and the No. 24 were victims of a competitor’s car coming out from under him causing a three-car incident. Deeming their Camry not good enough to race the Reynolds Wrap team brought the car to the garage and finished the event 33rd.

 

Start -27^th       Finish- 33rd      Laps Led- 0      Points- 11 points

                                                   

Driver QUOTE: “That’s certainly not how we wanted to end our day. My guys did a great job in our first outing. It felt great being back with Wes [Ward] and the TriStar Motorsports team. We made some positive changes to the Reynolds Wrap Camry and we’re working on finding the best line for the 24. I can’t thank Reynolds Wrap enough for their support and I look forward to race two with my new team.”

TMI PR