JD Motorsports w/ Gary Keller earns top-10 and top-20s at Indy’s NNS race

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It was a commendable showing for the JD Motorsports w/ Gary Keller team in NASCAR’s inaugural Nationwide Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday.

After the two practice sessions on Thursday, Mike Wallace was 19th in the G&K Services Chevrolet and teammate Jeremy Clements was 28th in the No. 4 Tradebank Chevrolet. For the second practice, they reversed positions on the speed chart with Wallace 28th and Clements 20th.

When qualifying ended on Saturday morning, Wallace laid down the 23rd fastest lap and Clements was 16th to line up outside Row 8 for the big event. Wallace said afterwards he gave up too much upon entry into Turn 1 causing him to not have a better lap.

After a group photo along the famous Yard of Bricks on the start/finish line to mark the first NASCAR Nationwide race at IMS, it was time to get down to racing action. Right from the initial green flag, Wallace and Clements settled in to get a feel for how their Chevrolets would handle on the quad oval of Indy.

With a competition caution on lap 16, teams were able to hit pit road for tires, adjustments and fuel. Newt Moore, crew chief for Wallace, and team got their driver in and out in good time.

During the race, four more cautions slowed the pace and allowed for more stops. With fresh tires, topped off tanks and adjustments for handling, Wallace and Clements raced their way up the scoring pylon.

However, on the second last pit stop, the fate of the race changed for Wallace and the No. 01 G&K Services team. As he was coming into his pit stall while running 14th, the rear tire carrier for the No. 70 pitted one stall ahead made contact with Wallace’s Chevrolet. The carrier was uninjured, but when he moved around the tire he was carrying hit the left front fender on Wallace’s car.

The fender was damaged from the center of the wheel well back. This forced extensive repairs for the No. 01 Chevrolet and forfeiting of many spots on pit road. They weren’t able to get back out until the field was in Turn 3 coming for the green.

While Wallace was able to battle back into the top-20, his car started to get very loose at the end. In turn, this caused him to lose three positions in the last 10 laps.

With the checkered flag looming, both drivers were vying for all they could get out of their Chevrolets for a great finish. Clements was making the best of it by breaking into the top-15 then top-10 as the race neared an end.

Wallace did his best with the damaged car and finished in the top-20, on the lead lap, for a commendable result. Once again, the “never-say-quit” attitude of JD Motorsports w/ Gary Keller comes through.

This weekend, the NASCAR Nationwide Series returns to Iowa Speedway for their second visit of the season.

Mike Wallace Quotes: “We had a great car there in the beginning and we were running better and better the longer we went. Once we got into that deal on pit road, the car was just way too loose to try and return to where we were in the top-15.

“I’m glad the tire carrier was okay, that’s important to me and the team. There towards the end, I just did all I could to get the best finish as possible from Indy. It was great to run on the historic track.”

Jeremy Clements Quotes: “This was a great run for this No. 4 Tradebank Chevrolet team. Our car got better and better through the weekend and the race. Once we settled into a good rhythm, we were able to hold our own out there and race faster.

“A top-10 finish for the first Nationwide Series race at the famed Brickyard is great. I can’t thank Johnny Davis and the entire team for a great run – can’t wait to race with them again.”

Speedway Digest Staff
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