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Press Release |
For Immediate Release |
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Front Row Motorsports
Bank of America 500 Race Report
Charlotte Motor Speedway, 1.5-mile oval, Concord, N.C. |
 | | David Gilliland |
David Gilliland, No. 34 Tastykake Ford
Starting Position: 33
Finishing Position: 36
David Gilliland took the green flag Saturday night in 33rd, looking for a solid race in the Tastykake Ford at a track where he traditionally runs strong.
Gilliland and the No. 34 team spent the first 150 laps of the 334-lap event trying to finesse the handling of their Ford Fusion, with the car straying between too loose and too tight. Running 32nd, the driver said his machine was the best it had been all night and the team was looking to climb some positions as they approached the race's half-way mark.
But on a Lap 152 restart, the No. 5 car of Mark Martin checked up with a mechanical issue and caused an accordion-like stack-up behind him. Gilliland was at the end of the line and suffered significant damage to the nose of his Fusion. He took the car to the garage for repairs, returning to the track on Lap 202, 44 laps down and in 36th.
The team did not have the opportunity to gain any more positions during the remainder of the race and came home with a 36th-place finish.
Comments from Tastykake Ford driver David Gilliland after the Charlotte race:
"It's obviously disappointing that we didn't really get to race after we suffered the damage on that restart. The 5 car checked up and everyone behind him just wound up in a pile-up. There was nothing we could do. We were just starting to get the Tastykake Ford where we needed it, and then that happened. But Peter (crew chief Peter Sospenzo) and the guys did a good job making our car better all weekend. It's too bad we didn't have the chance to do more with it." | |
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J.J. Yeley |
J.J. Yeley, No. 38 Long John Silver's Ford
Starting Position: 38
Finishing Position: 22
The No. 38 Long John Silver's team started the Bank of America 500 in 38th, looking for a second consecutive week of gaining big points toward the top 35. J.J. Yeley quickly gained five positions in the opening 27 laps but reported that he needed help getting his car to turn through the center of the turns. The team made its first pit stop on Lap 46 after leading a lap to collect a bonus point. Crew chief Jay Guy ordered adjustments to help free up the car, and soon after Yeley described his Ford Fusion's handling as "pretty nice."
By the race's first caution flag on Lap 77 for debris, Yeley was in 31st but a lap down. The team took advantage of the "wave-around" rule, forgoing the chance to pit to return to the lead lap. Unfortunately, several long green-flag runs had the field strung out single file, and Yeley, along with some of the top-12 Chase drivers, found himself a lap down once again.
The team did have some timely caution flags help them out, allowing them to pit under yellow when half the field had already pitted under green. They also earned a Lucky Dog "free pass" to return to the lead lap on Lap 156, and led laps again before pitting on Lap 200.
Yeley looked to be poised for a top-20 finish as he took a Lap-292 restart in 17th. But his Long John Silver's Ford lost some its handling in the final 40 laps of the race. He crossed the finish line in 22nd one lap down. Only 15 cars finished on the lead lap.
The team accomplished what they set out to do -- further close the gap on the TRG Motorsports No. 71 car sitting in 35th in owner points. The No. 38 crew is now just 16 points out of 35th.
Comments from Long John Silver's Ford team driver J.J. Yeley after the Charlotte race:
"It was a pretty good night for the Long John Silver's Ford team. We had a lot of things go right for us with some cautions coming at the right times and a Lucky Dog, and we had a chance to lead some laps. I just wish we had a little bit more for them at the end. Jay Guy and the team did a good job adjusting as the track conditions changed, and the guys did a great job in the pits, too. It was a good points day for us, which is what this 38 team is really working for right now. " | |
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About Front Row Motorsports:
Front Row Motorsports is a Statesville, N.C.-based race team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Formed in 2005 by restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, the team has competed in NASCAR racing in each year since its inception, expanding full-time to the premier Sprint Cup Series in 2009. The team partners with Ford Racing and Roush-Yates Racing Engines to field the No. 34 Taco Bell Ford driven by David Gilliland, the No. 38 Long John Silver's Ford driven by Travis Kvapil and the No. 55 Front Row Motorsports Ford driven by J.J. Yeley.
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