By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Following an early departure from JGL Racing, who closed the No. 24 team due to lack of funding, Kaz Grala was back in business quick in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.
In fact, it took just 11 days to go from no ride to finishing top 10 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he took 10th place for the new Fury Race Cars No. 61 team.
The new-found home may be new and short (with only four races planned in 2018) they kicked it off strong last week. The 10th-place result was only Grala’s second of his rookie XFINITY campaign and first on a 1.5-mile track.
“I definitely didn’t expect it in our debut,” Grala said of the finish. “I knew everybody at the team was capable of that and that at some point we would be able to run in the top 10. It surprised even us that our first race out of the gates and we were able to do that.”
Though delightfully surprised at the end result, the final 100 laps saw Grala improve to climb to the top 12.
“Not only finish but the whole Stage 3 we ran between ninth and 11th,” he said. “We were right there on legitimate speed. That was cool for us.”
Following a brief period of an unknown, Grala feels he has landed in a solid place for the next three races. Grala had a run of five finishes of 20th or worse with JGL entering Charlotte. So, starting the relationship off running with Fury Race Cars was crucial for the 19-year-old.
“It’s a good boost of confidence and momentum for the whole group going forward,” he said.
The next two races — including Saturdays Pocono Green 250 from Pocono Raceway — will compete under the restrictor plate aero package similar to that of the Monster Energy All-Star Race. The impending unknown makes Grala thankful to have a strong result already in his back pocket.
“We don’t know what to expect this weekend and next,” he said. “We’re digging as hard as we can trying to figure this package out. But at least we have some positive vibes on our side.”
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