Late spin costs Malsam top 10 at Memphis

  • Scott Whitmore
  • Monday, June 29, 2009 5:25pm
  • Sports

From Randy Moss Motorsports:

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (June 29, 2009) – Sometimes things just don’t go as planned. Tayler Malsam’s first trip to Memphis Motorsports Park wasn’t exactly ideal, as temperatures ranged over 100 degrees at the drop of the green-flag for the 11th race of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season.

Before the 20-year-old’s qualifying effort Saturday afternoon, the No. 81 One Eighty Toyota Tundra had no brake pressure, but the Randy Moss Motorsports team was able to get the problem resolved enough for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender to make a run. Unfortunately, the trucks were under an impound situation after qualifying, which meant that Malsam and the One Eighty team would have to start at the rear of the field for the start of the 200-lap event.

Malsam quickly moved his way toward the front of the field and was running in the 26th position by lap five. As the second caution of the race came out on lap 52, Malsam was posted in the 17th position. Crew chief Doug Wolcott called his driver to the attention of his One Eighty pit crew on lap 53 for two right side tires, a strategy used to gain track position. The following lap, the No. 81 Toyota returned to pit road for fuel. The Seattle, Washington native was in the seventh position for the restart on lap 58. Fighting a loose handling condition at the halfway point on lap 100, the rookie dropped to the ninth position.

A caution on lap 110 allowed Malsam to make his final pit stop of the race. Wolcott once again called Malsam to pit road on lap 111 for four fresh tires, followed by another stop the next lap for fuel and a track bar adjustment. Various pit strategies were played out on pit road forcing Malsam to restart on lap 117 from 14th-place. Gaining three positions by lap 150, the No. 81 One Eighty Toyota was battling for a spot in the top-10. It was in the final five laps of the race while battling for a top-10 finish that Malsam and another competitor made contact, spinning both trucks out and bringing out a caution. This late race spin caused Malsam to finish in the 16th position, recording only his second finish outside the top-15 all season.

“Our One Eighty Toyota Tundra was good for most of the day,” said Malsam. “We had brake problems during qualifying which put us to the back for the start of the race. Doug (Wolcott, crew chief) and all of these guys worked really hard this weekend and it sucks when you have something go wrong there in the final 10 laps of the race. But we will put this one behind us and move forward.”

With his 16th-place finish at the Home of the Blues, Malsam dropped one position to seventh-place in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship point standings. He currently sits 64 points behind fifth-place David Starr and only 50 points behind sixth-place Brian Scott.

Malsam and the No. 81 One Eighty Toyota Tundra team will take a well-deserved two week break, but will return to racing action at Kentucky Speedway on July 18, 2009 for the running of the Built Ford Tough 225 presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers. The green flag will drop at the 1.5-mile track shortly after 7 P.M. Eastern. SPEED will have live coverage of the 150-lap race with pre-race coverage, beginning at 6:30 P.M. Eastern. Select affiliates of MRN Radio and Sirius-XM NASCAR Radio Channel 128 will also have the live radio broadcast, beginning at 6:30 P.M. Eastern.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Storm suffocates Valkyries late to knock off rivals

The Storm allowed just six points in the final six minutes to defeat Golden State 67-58.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks during a news conference following a meeting of the NBA's board of governors at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens / Las Vegas Review-Journal / Tribune News Services)
NBA to conduct ‘in-depth analysis’ of possible expansion

The owners do not have timetable for potential return of Sonics

Seahawks rookie safety Nick Emmanwori (3) practices at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton on May 20, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks draft pick at the center of NFL contract intrigue

Nick Emmanwori is poised to be dynamic. Right away. He’s on his… Continue reading

Kyle Schwarber (12) of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after hitting three home runs in the swing-off to decide the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Atlanta. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/TNS)
MLB All-Star Game features a first-of-its-kind finish

Technically, by the time the clock hit midnight here in… Continue reading

Cal Raleigh wins 2025 MLB Home Run Derby

Cal Raleigh called his shot years ago. In a childhood video spreading… Continue reading

Silvertips forward Shea Busch participates in the Florida Panthers development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 1, 2025. Florida selected Busch in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 28. (Photo courtesy Shea Busch)
Shea Busch experiences whirlwind NHL Draft week

The Florida Panthers selected the Silvertips forward in the fourth round on June 28.

Portland Fire unveil name, branding as WNBA’s 15th team

A flame is being reignited for Portland’s new WNBA franchise. On Tuesday,… Continue reading

Late Mystics surge dooms Storm as stars struggle

Seattle dropped to 13-9 after shooting 36.2% from the field.

Jorge Polanco (7), right, of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his ninth inning home run with J.P. Crawford (3) while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Detroit. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Mariners sweep Tigers on way to All-Star break

The Detroit Tigers still have the best record in baseball,… Continue reading

Mariners select LSU pitcher with No. 3 pick in MLB draft

College baseball’s best pitcher is coming to the Emerald City. The Seattle… Continue reading

Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates winning championship point against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the Gentlemen's Singles Final on day 14 of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in London. (Julian Finney / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Sinner conquers Alcaraz for his first Wimbledon title

The vision of Jannik Sinner covered in sweat and… Continue reading

Rome Odunze scans the field in a scrimmage at his youth football camp at Archbishop Murphy High School on July 10, 2025. The former University of Washington star is entering his second NFL season with the Chicago Bears. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Odunze ‘gives back’ in Everett youth football camp

The former University of Washington star hosts a single-day camp at Archbishop Murphy on Thursday.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.