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Gifford Posts Top-10 Finish in Asphalt Debut
22/04/2009
Shell-Pennzoil Racing driver Ryan Gifford made his first career start on an asphalt track last weekend at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C.
If I can stay on the lead lap and stay out of trouble, I think we can come out of there with a top 10 or possibly even a top-five finish.
Despite this being his first time competing on this type of racing surface, Gifford performed like a veteran in his Team Dillon Racing-prepared entry, qualifying third and finishing sixth in the 50-lap feature event at the .4-mile track on Friday, April 17.
Gifford maintained his position near the front of the field throughout the first half of the event, but a caution flag midway through the race slowed the field, allowing his tires to cool down. When racing resumed, the colder tires resulted in a loose handling condition on Gifford's Shell-Pennzoil machine, which caused him to lose a couple of positions as the race wore on.
It appeared Gifford would hang on to a top-five finish until he was passed on the very last lap, dropping him to sixth as the checkered flag was displayed. Still, the young talent was pleased with his asphalt debut.
"I was really happy with how it went," Gifford said. "I felt comfortable out there. Some of the cars were really good, so to be able to keep up with them gave me a lot of confidence. I think it will take me a few more times of being on the track, but I believe we can run up front and maybe win a race or two pretty soon.
This weekend marks another first for the 20 year-old. On Saturday, April 25, he'll make his debut in the NASCAR Camping World East Series at Tri-County.
This regional stock car racing series is used by many drivers as a developmental series, with the hope of eventually moving up to one of NASCAR's three national series -
the Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series or Sprint Cup Series. In fact, the Camping World East Series uses a similar style cars to those raced in the Nationwide Series.
To prepare for his debut, Gifford and his TDR team tested at Ace Speedway in Elon, N.C., last month, and plan to make laps in a Late Model Stock car at Tri-County Motor Speedway later this week.
As with many young drivers, Gifford says his main objective for the weekend is to gain experience and bring his car home in one piece.
"My goal is just to run all the laps and come out of there without any damage," Gifford said. "If I can stay on the lead lap and stay out of trouble, I think we can come out of there with a top 10 or possibly even a top-five finish."
The 150-lap NASCAR Camping World East Series event is tentatively scheduled to air as a tape-delayed event on SPEED, Thursday, May 7, at 3 p.m. EDT (Check local listings to confirm).