RACE: The Whelen Trusted to Perform 200
TRACK: ISM Raceway
START: 5th
FINISH: 5th
LAPS: 200/200
Preece would take the checkered flag from the fifth position, gaining one spot over the last green flag run.
Ryan Preece Comes Home Fifth at ISM Raceway
The Whelen Trusted to Perform 200 took place at ISM Raceway on Saturday November 10th at 3:30pm EST. Ryan Preece qualified his No. 18 Rheem Toyota in the fifth position. The team worked diligently on Friday to make sure that the Rheem Camry had good speed to hang around up front during the race.
Throughout the first run, Preece came over the radio multiple times telling the team that he had no right side security and that the car lacked drive through the center of the corners. Preece also reported that the car needed a lot of grip to maintain speed to keep up with the leaders.
Stage one came to a close on lap 45 with Preece taking the green/checkered flag from the eighth position. Eric Phillips, crew chief, told Preece that he would give him an air pressure adjustment along with four tires and fuel to see if the car will tighten up on the long run. Preece would start the second stage on lap 53 from the 10th position.
The second stage came to a conclusion on lap 90 with Preece recorded in the eighth position. Preece told the team that the previous adjustment only stuck for a few laps and that it went back loose as the run progressed. This time Phillips made a track bar adjustment to give the car a different feel. Preece would start the last stage from 11th.
Caution flew on lap 136 with Preece running in ninth. Preece was not happy with the previous adjustment and told Phillips to revert to what was previously used. Preece would receive another track bar and air pressure adjustment under the caution to reset the Rheem Camry in hopes of a better handling car.
The last caution of the day flew on lap 154 with Preece advancing to sixth. Preece said the car felt better but that it was just lacking something. Phillips told Preece to give it all he had, that there was no opportunity to pit before the end of the race. The race would resume with 38 laps to go.
Preece would take the checkered flag from the fifth position, gaining one spot over the last green flag run. The No. 18 Rheem Toyota team was in a must win position, therefore knocking them out of contention for the owner’s points championship. The team will look to win the last race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway next week.
What was your take on the day?
“Disappointed to say the least. I am here to race for wins and we came up short on that. The car wasn’t quite where it needed to be to start racing for the lead. I really appreciate everything this team does, they have worked really hard on getting us a fast racecar. Looking forward to Homestead where we can finish the season strong with Rheem.”
