TriStar Motorsports Post-Race Report: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

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In: Xfinity Series News
Race Highlights: 
 
Cale Conley qualified 24th for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200, followed by David Starr in 28th, Blake Koch in 30th and Eric McClure in 31st.
 
The 75-lap race included eight cautions for 25 laps and eight lead changes among six drivers.
 
Cale Conley finished the race 20th, followed by Blake Koch in 24th, David Starr in 31st and Eric McClure in 35th.             
Cale Conley Finishes 20th in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200
Cale Conley and the No. 14 IAVA team headed to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with hopes of improving upon their finish at Watkins Glen. Conley took the green flag from the 24th position. He wasted no time breaking into the top 20 by Lap 12. By mid-race, Conley was racing within the top 10, running as high as ninth. A long green flag run saw Conley slip back in position and following a number of late-race cautions, Conley lined up 20th for the last restart of the race. He was able to maintain position and took the checkered flag in the 20th position.
Start- 24th         Finish- 20th      Laps Led- 0      Points- 24 points
                                                   
Driver QUOTE: “I am glad we were able to post another top-20 finish this season. We had a pit strategy a little different than the field, but the caution flags didn’t fly the way we’d hoped and we were unable to capitalize on them. Regardless, it was a pleasure having members of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America join me at the track and I am looking forward to Bristol next weekend.”
 
Blake Koch Finishes 24th in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200
Blake Koch and the No. 8 LeafFilter™ Gutter Protection Camry qualified 30th for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. When an early caution flag waved, Koch came to pit road for fuel only. Six laps later, the caution flag returned and Koch was told to save fuel. Running 16th on lap 17, Koch and the No. 8 LeafFilter™ Camry chose to stay out when the caution was shown on lap 20. On the restart, Koch came on the radio to report that his rear tires didn’t feel right. Crew Chief, Matt Lucas called Koch to pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments. With 46 laps to go, Koch reported grass on the grill, so he came to pit road to wipe the grill and add Sunoco Racing fuel. Running 18th with 25 laps to go, Koch was quiet on the radio. Coming to the checkered flag, Koch was involved in an on track incident that forced him to a 24th place finish.
Start- 30th    Finish- 24th      Laps Led -0      Points- 20 points
                                                   
Driver QUOTE: “We had a really good day going racing inside the top-15. I got shuffled back a little on the last restart, but was trying to finish the race clean and inside the top-20. Coming to the checkered flag, the No. 4 of Ross Chastain wrecked me and ruined our day. He’s got one coming.”
 
David Starr Finishes 31st in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200
His first XFINITY Series race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course proved to be a challenging day for TriStar Motorsports driver David Starr. Qualifying the No. 44 Zachry Camry in the 28th position for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200, Starr was optimistic about navigating the 2.25-mile road course. Soon after the green flag waved, on lap three, Starr radioed the Zachry Camry had a transmission issue and was stuck in fourth gear. As the cars cycled back around the course, he brought the car to the garage, where the team assessed the problem and found rocks in the transmission. By lap eight, Starr was back out on track running in the 38th position and two laps down from the leader. As a caution came out on lap 12, he was the recipient of the lucky dog allowing him to gain a lap, making him one lap down from the leader. Starr reported the Zachry Camry needed more forward bite. He pitted for four tires, fuel, one round down with the track bar. He cycled back to the green flag to restart 38th. Working in his favor, another caution on lap 20, rewarded him with being posted back on the lead lap and he pitted for fuel only. Starr continued to battle and advanced to the 20th position only to have the transmission stick once again in fourth gear. He brought the No. 44 to pit road where the team remedied the gear issue but the Zachry Camry lost power and had to be taken to the garage. It was determined the battery failed. The team quickly replaced the battery and Starr was back out on track on lap 59 scored in 32nd. After a hard fought day, Starr leaves Mid-Ohio with a 31st place finish.
Start- 28th        Finish- 31st      Laps Led- 0     Points- 13 points
                                                   
Eric McClure Finishes 35th in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200
The 3rd Annual Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 was a first for Eric McClure, who had yellow rookie stripes adorn the Reynolds Wrap® Camry for the first time since 2009. Starting from the 31st position, McClure set his sights on the front of the field. An early caution on lap six allowed McClure to stop for fuel only. Pitting while the field went green, McClure fell back to 36th. Knowing they were going to hold off on taking tires until the halfway point, McClure started to pick off positions. As the field crossed the start and finish line to mark lap 52, McClure experienced an unknown explosion in his transmission. Brining the Reynolds Wrap® Camry to the garage, McClure’s team replaced the broken transmission (in 25 minutes) and got the No.24 back on track with eight laps to go. Knowing they had nothing to gain, McClure succumbed to a 35th place finish. 
Start -31st        Finish- 35th     Laps Led- 0      Points- 9 points
                                                   
Driver QUOTE: “I can’t thank my Reynolds Wrap® crew enough. They worked really hard to change transmissions so we could get back out on track. We had a great car and mechanical failures happen, we just had to roll with the punches.”

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