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.
Sunday’s Auto Club 400 from Auto Club Speedway gave the race teams a bit of everything. From wide multiple grooves, violent bumps and that fast 210-mph realm, it was 400 miles of keeping up for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
The guy who came home with a mid-pack finish, and who struggled to get that crucial edge on the competition, was Darrell Wallace Jr. The No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet was this week’s 20th-place finisher and it can be looked at from the guise of either a setback or a step up.
Following his runner-up result at Daytona, the 2018 rookie season hasn’t gone quite to plan with finishes of 32nd, 21st and 28th, respectively. The 32nd was at Atlanta where Wallace was caught up in a crash with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. late.
“Atlanta was bad luck. Vegas, we missed it,” Wallace said. “Phoenix, I thought we were really good. I learned a lot from practice to race.”
Now, with a 20th place following Sunday, Wallace backs to 19th in points exiting the West Coast Swing.
“It was a good, clean day for us,” he said. “It’s a small step forward. It’s a learning curve, that’s what I’ll label it as. We’re just not hitting on all cylinders as a team. It’s going to take us some races. We’re going to have good races and bad races.”
Despite another lukewarm day, the 24-year-old is still appreciating the long-awaited chance to drive in the Cup Series.
“It’s a hell of a ride right now,” he said. “Despite the finishes we’ve had, I’m still keeping a positive mindset, looking forward to every race because it’s a reset.”
The next race brings Wallace to Martinsville Speedway. Here, he scored marvelous performances in the Camping World Truck Series, qualifying no worse than third and finishing no worse than fifth in four total starts. Additionally, he led 261 laps and won twice, including his first career win in 2013.
“[Auto Club] was a tough track for us, but now we get ready for Martinsville,” he said. “I’d love to win the STP 500 for everyone. I love this track. too.”
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.
Racing for 20th: Auto Club
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.
Sunday’s Auto Club 400 from Auto Club Speedway gave the race teams a bit of everything. From wide multiple grooves, violent bumps and that fast 210-mph realm, it was 400 miles of keeping up for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
The guy who came home with a mid-pack finish, and who struggled to get that crucial edge on the competition, was Darrell Wallace Jr. The No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet was this week’s 20th-place finisher and it can be looked at from the guise of either a setback or a step up.
Following his runner-up result at Daytona, the 2018 rookie season hasn’t gone quite to plan with finishes of 32nd, 21st and 28th, respectively. The 32nd was at Atlanta where Wallace was caught up in a crash with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. late.
“Atlanta was bad luck. Vegas, we missed it,” Wallace said. “Phoenix, I thought we were really good. I learned a lot from practice to race.”
Now, with a 20th place following Sunday, Wallace backs to 19th in points exiting the West Coast Swing.
“It was a good, clean day for us,” he said. “It’s a small step forward. It’s a learning curve, that’s what I’ll label it as. We’re just not hitting on all cylinders as a team. It’s going to take us some races. We’re going to have good races and bad races.”
Despite another lukewarm day, the 24-year-old is still appreciating the long-awaited chance to drive in the Cup Series.
“It’s a hell of a ride right now,” he said. “Despite the finishes we’ve had, I’m still keeping a positive mindset, looking forward to every race because it’s a reset.”
The next race brings Wallace to Martinsville Speedway. Here, he scored marvelous performances in the Camping World Truck Series, qualifying no worse than third and finishing no worse than fifth in four total starts. Additionally, he led 261 laps and won twice, including his first career win in 2013.
“[Auto Club] was a tough track for us, but now we get ready for Martinsville,” he said. “I’d love to win the STP 500 for everyone. I love this track. too.”
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.