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Runner-up Finish at South Boston
31/05/2009
Richard Childress Racing developmental driver Ryan Gifford posted an impressive second-place finish in Saturday's Camping World 150 at South Boston (Va.) Speedway).
The car was really fast right off the truck...
Making just his second career start in the NASCAR Camping World Series East, Gifford methodically worked his way through the field in his No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil-sponsored entry to take over second position from polesitter Ryan Truex with around 15 laps remaining in the 150-lap event.
While he was unable to mount a charge on race winner Brett Moffitt, Gifford and his Team Dillon Racing crew felt confident they were a caution flag away from a potential win.
"If we had gotten a caution and a double-file restart, I'm pretty sure I could have passed (Moffitt) on the outside," Gifford said. "The race went green there at the end and we just weren't able to get into the lead."
Saturday's event was only the sixth time Gifford had competed on an asphalt track. In spite of his lack of experience on the unfamiliar surface, the 20 year-old Winchester, Tenn., native posted the third-fastest lap times in both practice sessions, then backed up those results by qualifying 10th out of the 23 drivers who made up the field.
"The car was really fast right off the truck," Gifford said. "It was a lot of fun knowing you've got a car capable of winning the race. I have to thank all the Team Dillon Racing guys and especially Shell and Pennzoil for giving me the opportunity. I can't wait to do it again."
Fellow RCR developmental drivers Sean Caisse and Ty Dillon also competed in the event and finished seventh and eighth, respectively.
While Gifford is quite a wheelman, this week will find him turning wrenches on the No. 29 entry as he and members of TDR join RCR driver Kevin Harvick at Eldora Speedway in Indiana. Harvick will drive a No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil entry in the "Prelude to a Dream" all-star dirt Late Model charity race on Wednesday, June 3. The race, which will benefit several military-themed charities, features a number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars including the owner of Eldora Speedway, Tony Stewart.
Given all the work and travel that will go into making the Eldora trip, the team is undecided on whether or not they'll compete in any other races this week.
The Camping World Series 150 NCWSE race will air on a tape-delayed basis on SPEED, Thursday, June 4 at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.