Race Highlights:
Brian Scott Earns Fifth Top-Five Finish in 2014 at Richmond International Raceway
Brian Scott and the No. 2 Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff Chevrolet qualified inside the top-10 for the ninth-straight week at Richmond International Raceway in the fifth position. In the opening laps of the 250-lap Virginia 529 College Savings 250, Scott leaned on spotter Chris Lambert to work on defining the best line around the short track. The Smokey Mountain Chevy battled tight-handling conditions in the center of the corner and lacked drive off the corners. The Phil Gould-led team made the correct adjustments to the No. 2 gaining two positions on the final pit stop. Scott brought home a fifth-place finish for the Richard Childress Racing team, his fifth of the season and 15th top-10 of the year.
Start - 5th Finish - 5th Laps Led - N/A Pts - 5th
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTE:
"Our Smokey Mountain team did a great job tonight. We didn't have the best Chevy, but Phil and the team made the right adjustments and the pit crew was there when it counted to give us a few more spots on the final restart. The team fought hard all night long to get us a top-five finish."
Ty Dillon Finishes Ninth at Richmond International Raceway
Ty Dillon drove Richard Childress Racing's No. 3 Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet Camaro to a ninth-place finish Friday night in the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway, recording the team's 18th top-10 finish of the season. Dillon, who qualified eighth in a rain-shortened qualifying session, battled a tight-handling race car for a majority of the 250-lap event. The 22-year-old Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate fell to 13th place on the race's green-flag run from lap seven to 75. Crew chief Danny Stockman made significant adjustments on each of the team's three pit stops to help the No. 3 Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet with its balance through the corners, and forward drive exiting the corners. Dillon continued to battle a tight-handling race car, but managed to cross the finish line ninth. He was the second rookie to cross the finish line and remained third in the driver point standings, 42 points behind the leader.
Start - 8th Finish - 9th Laps Led - 0 Points - 3rd
TY DILLON QUOTE:
"We have some work to do at this track, we can't seem to find the right balance for the race car. It's frustrating because we were very good in both practice sessions yesterday, but not as good tonight. Overall, though, it's a top-10 finish. With eight races to go, we're really going to have to get after it chasing down the point leaders."
Cale Conley Earns a 17th-Place Finish at Richmond International Raceway
Cale Conley earned a 17th-place finish in Friday evening's Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway after fighting a loose-handling condition throughout the 250 lap event. The Vienna, W. Va-native took the green flag in the 19th spot and used the inside lane to advance his position in the running order. As the race quickly set in on a lengthy green-flag run, Conley reported to crew chief Nick Harrison he was fighting lack of grip off the corner. He continued to fight, but fell one lap down to the leader on lap 61. The caution flag flew on lap 72, which put Conley in the lucky dog positon to get back on the lead lap. Harrison called the No. 33 IAVA driver to pit road for four fresh tires, fuel and a air pressure adjustment. Green-flag racing resumed on lap 80 with Conley in the 15th positon. He would climb as high as 11th in the running order, but continued to battle a loose handling condition. The caution flag flew once again on lap 165 which allowed Conley to come to pit road for a four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment for what would be the final pit stop of the evening. The 22-year old driver restarted 16th and fought hard, but was unable to gain much needed track position, thus taking the checkered flag in the 17th position.
Start - 19th Finish - 17th Laps Led - 0 Points - N/A
CALE CONLEY QUOTE:
"Tonight wasn't our night, we struggled throughout the race to find drive off the corner but couldn't make gains. Nick (Harrison) and the guys worked hard all night to improve the handling, and I'm proud of that fact. We'll look at the notes this week and regroup for Kentucky."
Brendan Gaughan Finishes 18th at Richmond International Raceway
The No. 62 Richard Childress Racing team qualified seventh for Friday night's Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway. Brendan Gaughan fought hard throughout the night to maintain track position. On lap 33, the Las Vegas-native began reporting tight-handling conditions in the center of the turns. The Shane Wilson-led team elected to take four tires, fuel and make an air pressure adjustment during the first pit stop of the night on lap 74. The tight-handling conditions of the car continued throughout the 250-lap event. The No. 62 U.S.A.F Combat Controllers Chevrolet crossed the finish line in the 18th position. Brendan Gaughan remains eighth in the driver point standings as the series heads to Chicagoland Speedway next weekend.
Start - 7th Finish - 18th Laps Led - 0 Points - 8th
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:
"It was an honor to have the U.S.A.F Combat Controllers on our No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro tonight at Richmond. We would have loved to have brought home a better finish after our strong qualifying effort. Once again, the guys on pit road did a phenomenal job and gained us positions where they could."
