I hope you didn’t miss it, but NASCAR rookie Tayler Malsam of Mill Creek was on track for a great finish before blowing a tire late in last weekend’s Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky. He led his first laps, and spent most of the night in the top five.
Here’s the pre-race preview for this weekend from Randy Moss Motorsports media relations:
Pre-Race Notes and Quotes for O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis
AAA Insurance 200 presented by J.D. Byrider on Friday, July 24, 2009
MALSAM AT ORP: Friday’s race at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis will be Malsam’s first race at the legendary track. Malsam will look to bring home a solid effort in only his fourth short-track race of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season.
MALSAM (On racing at ORP): “Last week at Kentucky was exciting and disappointing at the same time. It was really cool to run up front and lead laps with the veterans in the Truck Series, but to have a cut tire that late in the race while running second was very disappointing. But we have put that race behind us and are looking forward to this weekend at ORP. I’ve never raced there before and I’ve heard it can be challenging to get around. Doug (Wolcott) and the One Eighty guys have been working hard at the shop and I know that our truck is going to be good this weekend. If we can keep our momentum from last week, we should be able to run up front again on Friday.”
CHASSIS CHOICE: This weekend, crew chief Doug Wolcott and the No. 81 One Eighty team will unload Randy Moss Motorsports chassis No. 40. This will be the second time that Malsam has raced this chassis, as he captured a 16th-place finish at Memphis Motorsports Park in June, after spinning late in the race.
FIRST LAPS LED: During last week’s race at Kentucky Speedway, Malsam led once for a total of 12 laps. This marked the first time that the 20-year-old has led laps in NASCAR competition.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR UPDATE: With Malsam’s solid effort at Kentucky, the Seattle, Washington native extended his lead in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Point Standings. Malsam currently leads second-place Johnny Sauter by a total of three points. In addition, Malsam is the highest Raybestos Rookie in the NCWTS Championship Point Standings, as he holds the seventh position.
MAN ON THE GROUND: Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes with Malsam and the No. 81 One Eighty team? Here is your chance to find out. Andrew Hanan, a friend of Malsam, is the “man on the ground” and has a blog on Malsam’s website that anyone can subscribe to and follow Malsam and his team throughout the racing weekends. Hanan posts updates throughout the race, along with videos and quotes from Malsam and other team members. Simply log onto www.taylermalsam.com/blog and stay up to tune with all of the latest happenings.
MOST POPULAR DRIVER: NASCAR has created an online ballot for the fans to vote for their favorite driver for the Most Popular Driver Award. Fans are allowed to vote once a day, until the polls close on October 31, 2009. The results of the balloting will be announced at the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series banquet at the end of the season. Let your voice be heard and vote for your favorite driver!
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Last week in the Bluegrass State, Malsam captured his 10th top-15 finish of the season at Kentucky Speedway, by coming home in the 13th position after competing for the win throughout the entire 150-lap event. Malsam received contact from another competitor with only a handful number of laps left, leaving the rookie with a cut tire and disappointing finish.
CATCH THE ACTION: The AAA Insurance 200 presented by J.D. Byrider from O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis will take the green flag this Friday, July 24th at 5 p.m. Pacific. Race coverage will be televised live on SPEED, beginning at 4:30 p.m., and heard live on select affiliates of MRN Radio and Sirius-XM NASCAR Radio Channel 128, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
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