By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Each week, Kickin’ The Tires will highlight the 20th-place finisher from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Standing as the middleman in weekends with 40-car fields, there is sure to be a story behind each one.
Following months of build-up, hype and expectations, the Bank of America ROVAL 400 was finally underway from the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on Sunday. And it landed in the hands of Cole Whitt.
Driving the No. 72 TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet, the part-time driver made his first start since Watkins Glen. In fact, Sunday’s start was his third straight on road courses in 2018, making his last oval start at Pocono in June.
Standing as the team’s “road course guy”, Whitt, 27, was someone who looked forward to the challenge at hand. Similar to other small teams, the unknown could open the door for opportunity to pounce into the top 20.
And that’s what happened to Whitt, who started the 109-lapper from the 33rd spot and drove to finish the race 20th. The advancement through the back half of the field could not have been possible if not for a track capable of passing.
“The ROVAL provided a good race with a descent amount of passing,” Whitt said. “It was way more enjoyable than your typical oval. It took awhile to get used to it as it differs from other road courses.”
Finishing Stage 1 in 28th, Whitt suffered a left-front control arm issue that was discovered during the second stage, where he finished 38th.
Replacing the control arm to start the final stage, Whitt was three laps off the pace in a race that was dominated by green-flag runs.
Fortuantely for Whitt, that trend changed. With five cautions flying in the final 50 laps, Whitt received three free passes, putting the Chevrolet back on the lead lap for the final three-lap run to the checkereds.
The final restart saw Whitt jump to 20th, scoring his second top-20 run of 2018.
“In the end, it worked out well for us,” he said. “These type of races give smaller teams like us a better shot at securing a good finish.”
List of 20th-Place Finishers So Far in 2018
Daytona: Gray Gaulding
Atlanta: Alex Bowman
Las Vegas: Trevor Bayne
ISM: Trevor Bayne (2)
Auto Club: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Martinsville: William Byron
Texas: Gray Gaulding(2)
Bristol: Landon Cassill
Richmond: Ty Dillon
Talladega: DJ Kennington
Dover: Chris Buescher
Kansas: Michael McDowell
Charlotte: Kasey Kahne
Pocono: Clint Bowyer
Michigan: Jimmie Johnson
Sonoma: Kasey Kahne(2)
Chicagoland: William Byron(2)
Daytona: Trevor Bayne(3)
Kentucky: William Byron(3)
New Hampshire: Chris Buescher(2)
Pocono: Jamie McMurray
Watkins Glen: Chris Buescher (3)
Michigan: Chris Buescher (4)
Bristol: Kyle Busch
Darlington: Michael McDowell (2)
Indianapolis: Regan Smith
Las Vegas: Ross Chastain
Richmond: William Byron (4)
Charlotte ROVAL: Cole Whitt
Mid-Pack With Zach: Cole Whitt, TriStar Motorsports
By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Each week, Kickin’ The Tires will highlight the 20th-place finisher from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Standing as the middleman in weekends with 40-car fields, there is sure to be a story behind each one.
Following months of build-up, hype and expectations, the Bank of America ROVAL 400 was finally underway from the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on Sunday. And it landed in the hands of Cole Whitt.
Driving the No. 72 TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet, the part-time driver made his first start since Watkins Glen. In fact, Sunday’s start was his third straight on road courses in 2018, making his last oval start at Pocono in June.
Standing as the team’s “road course guy”, Whitt, 27, was someone who looked forward to the challenge at hand. Similar to other small teams, the unknown could open the door for opportunity to pounce into the top 20.
And that’s what happened to Whitt, who started the 109-lapper from the 33rd spot and drove to finish the race 20th. The advancement through the back half of the field could not have been possible if not for a track capable of passing.
“The ROVAL provided a good race with a descent amount of passing,” Whitt said. “It was way more enjoyable than your typical oval. It took awhile to get used to it as it differs from other road courses.”
Finishing Stage 1 in 28th, Whitt suffered a left-front control arm issue that was discovered during the second stage, where he finished 38th.
Replacing the control arm to start the final stage, Whitt was three laps off the pace in a race that was dominated by green-flag runs.
Fortuantely for Whitt, that trend changed. With five cautions flying in the final 50 laps, Whitt received three free passes, putting the Chevrolet back on the lead lap for the final three-lap run to the checkereds.
The final restart saw Whitt jump to 20th, scoring his second top-20 run of 2018.
“In the end, it worked out well for us,” he said. “These type of races give smaller teams like us a better shot at securing a good finish.”
List of 20th-Place Finishers So Far in 2018
Daytona: Gray Gaulding
Atlanta: Alex Bowman
Las Vegas: Trevor Bayne
ISM: Trevor Bayne (2)
Auto Club: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Martinsville: William Byron
Texas: Gray Gaulding(2)
Bristol: Landon Cassill
Richmond: Ty Dillon
Talladega: DJ Kennington
Dover: Chris Buescher
Kansas: Michael McDowell
Charlotte: Kasey Kahne
Pocono: Clint Bowyer
Michigan: Jimmie Johnson
Sonoma: Kasey Kahne(2)
Chicagoland: William Byron(2)
Daytona: Trevor Bayne(3)
Kentucky: William Byron(3)
New Hampshire: Chris Buescher(2)
Pocono: Jamie McMurray
Watkins Glen: Chris Buescher (3)
Michigan: Chris Buescher (4)
Bristol: Kyle Busch
Darlington: Michael McDowell (2)
Indianapolis: Regan Smith
Las Vegas: Ross Chastain
Richmond: William Byron (4)
Charlotte ROVAL: Cole Whitt