By Seth Eggert, Associate Editor
A combination of pit road strategy and race pace earned Taylor Gray top-five finishes in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series races at Pocono Raceway.
In the Truck Series CRC Brakleen 175, the TRICON Garage driver was running inside the top-10 prior to the end of the second Stage. His team opted to have the Toyota Racing driver pit prior to the end of the Stage to get track position for the final run to the finish. A caution about 15 laps into the final Stage negated the strategy Gray’s No. 17 Place for Hope Toyota Tundra TRD Pro team had.
Despite the strategy hiccup, the Denver N.C. native maintained his top-10 position until a caution for rain late in the race. After the rain showers and briefly delay Gray drove forward. He took the checkered flag in fourth as his teammate, Corey Heim, took the victory.
“We really had the truck to do it all day,” Gray said after the Truck race. “Got caught up with some strategy stuff. We were really on target to just go for a race win and had some troubles on pit road, so got a little behind. But, have to thank my TRICON guys for bringing me a fast Toyota Tundra TRD Pro.
“(I) feel like if we could’ve gotten some clean air and a little more track position there, we would’ve finished a little better. But good job to Corey. They were really fast all day. Just have to keep working and get back on track.”
The Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 saw the 19-year-old qualify fourth but started from the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments. Much like the Truck race the day before, Gray played the strategy game to move through the field. The speed on his Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra put the up-and-coming driver inside the top-10 in the final stage. A late-race caution for an accident set up another four-lap run to the finish. In the typical chaotic Pocono restarts, Gray climbed into fifth by the time the checkered flag waved.
“Honestly, just managed the day and executed the day,” Gray said post-race on Saturday. “It stunk having to start in the back. I think we had better than a fifth-place car, truthfully. Just kind of stuck in the back, couldn’t really go anywhere, and trapped for a while.
“Once we got some clean air there at the end, felt we were pretty good there. Can’t think my Joe Gibbs Racing guys enough. They brought me a really fast GR Supra, almost as fast as Xfinity internet, and just need a little more and mostly just track position.”
The top-five finish in the Truck Series marked a single-season career high four top-fives for Gray. It was his seventh top-five finish in the Truck Series. The Xfinity top-five was his second career top-five finish in eight series starts.
Despite the top-five finish in the Truck race, Gray slipped from seventh to eighth in the points standings. He is 214-points behind leader Christian Eckes and 38-points above the playoff cutline currently held by Daniel Dye.
Next for Gray is the TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. In two starts at the short track he has a best finish of 20th last year. Gray led late in 2022 before he was spun with two laps to go.
The TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is scheduled for Friday, July 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1. The race will also be broadcast on both the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.