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.
For the second time in just seven races, Gray Gaulding and BK Racing survived attrition to come away with a 20th-place finish in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Though 20th wasn’t much — in fact disappointing — for the likes of William Byron, Trevor Bayne and others this year, the result is precisely what fuels the fire for a small team.
Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 from Texas Motor Speedway featured eight cautions, which included a seven-car wreck and multiple tire failures. Each one crossing a big name off the board.
In the meantime, Gaulding and other small teams drove toward the top 20 and beyond, seeing the checkered flag in positions higher than realistically expected.
“A super good day for us being a small team,” Gaulding told Kickin’ The Tires. “Obviously, there’s a lot going on behind the name and whats been going on with the team. To get a top 20 is super, super big for our momentum.”
Indeed, BK has seen tough times off the track in 2018, having filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February. Kicking the year off with a 20th in the Daytona 500, back-to-back DNFs, however, led the No. 23 Toyota to what was five finishes of 32nd or worse.
So, Sunday was a long time coming for the organization. For Gaulding, the 20-year-old feels he could have gotten even more if not for a crew member error and an untimely caution flag.
“If we wouldn’t have been stuck a lap down, we could’ve been a threat for 17th or 18th,” he said. “Like I said, being a smaller low-budget team, all our guys work super hard and it showed. We ran 500 miles, made no mistakes.
“To salvage, and tie our best finish of the year, [it’s] cool to do that in front of the Earthwater folks.”
Team owner Ron Devine was thrilled to have his young driver back up near the top half of the field following the team’s issues during the 500-miler.
“Let me tell you what, Gray Gaulding drove a great race,” Devine told Kickin’ The Tires. “We had a lot of trouble out there, the caution came out — as soon as the leader passed us, the caution came out. It’s unbelievable, we found out how to do that again.”
First-year crew chief Rick Bourgeois was happy exiting Texas and continues to work off advice from Devine.
“We had a car all weekend that could run with our end of the pack,” Bourgeois said. “As the cards fell, we got a good finish for BK Racing. Everything that’s going on with Ron, it’s a trying time but a good time. Talking with Ron, he always says to keep believing and that better days are coming. A work in process.”
Despite the back luck not only Sunday but throughout the 2018 season, team owner Devine tipped his hat to Bourgeois, Gaulding and the No. 23 crew for perseverance during the tough times.
“They kept their heads in the game, that’s why I’m proud of,” he said. “These guys, they work hard through all the controversy and they put together a good car.
“I love this attitude of this team, they’ve got this ‘we’re going to do this ourselves, we don’t need anybody’ attitude and it’s working. I think you will see more. I’ll see you in Homestead.”
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)
Mid-Pack with Zach: Gray Gaulding, BK Racing
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.
For the second time in just seven races, Gray Gaulding and BK Racing survived attrition to come away with a 20th-place finish in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Though 20th wasn’t much — in fact disappointing — for the likes of William Byron, Trevor Bayne and others this year, the result is precisely what fuels the fire for a small team.
Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 from Texas Motor Speedway featured eight cautions, which included a seven-car wreck and multiple tire failures. Each one crossing a big name off the board.
In the meantime, Gaulding and other small teams drove toward the top 20 and beyond, seeing the checkered flag in positions higher than realistically expected.
“A super good day for us being a small team,” Gaulding told Kickin’ The Tires. “Obviously, there’s a lot going on behind the name and whats been going on with the team. To get a top 20 is super, super big for our momentum.”
Indeed, BK has seen tough times off the track in 2018, having filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February. Kicking the year off with a 20th in the Daytona 500, back-to-back DNFs, however, led the No. 23 Toyota to what was five finishes of 32nd or worse.
So, Sunday was a long time coming for the organization. For Gaulding, the 20-year-old feels he could have gotten even more if not for a crew member error and an untimely caution flag.
“If we wouldn’t have been stuck a lap down, we could’ve been a threat for 17th or 18th,” he said. “Like I said, being a smaller low-budget team, all our guys work super hard and it showed. We ran 500 miles, made no mistakes.
“To salvage, and tie our best finish of the year, [it’s] cool to do that in front of the Earthwater folks.”
Team owner Ron Devine was thrilled to have his young driver back up near the top half of the field following the team’s issues during the 500-miler.
“Let me tell you what, Gray Gaulding drove a great race,” Devine told Kickin’ The Tires. “We had a lot of trouble out there, the caution came out — as soon as the leader passed us, the caution came out. It’s unbelievable, we found out how to do that again.”
First-year crew chief Rick Bourgeois was happy exiting Texas and continues to work off advice from Devine.
“We had a car all weekend that could run with our end of the pack,” Bourgeois said. “As the cards fell, we got a good finish for BK Racing. Everything that’s going on with Ron, it’s a trying time but a good time. Talking with Ron, he always says to keep believing and that better days are coming. A work in process.”
Despite the back luck not only Sunday but throughout the 2018 season, team owner Devine tipped his hat to Bourgeois, Gaulding and the No. 23 crew for perseverance during the tough times.
“They kept their heads in the game, that’s why I’m proud of,” he said. “These guys, they work hard through all the controversy and they put together a good car.
“I love this attitude of this team, they’ve got this ‘we’re going to do this ourselves, we don’t need anybody’ attitude and it’s working. I think you will see more. I’ll see you in Homestead.”
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)