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Steven Blakesley/ RTD Motorsports, Inc.
Sonoma,
Calif.
–
A
solid run for RTD Motorsports, Inc. and driver Mike
Gallegos of Wheat Ridge, CO yielded a 22nd
place finish at Infineon Raceway.
The
NASCAR Camping World Series West event, the Bennett Lane
Winery 200, was run in conjunction with the NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series activities at the 1.99 mile
road course in the
Sonoma Valley.
The
run to 22nd was relatively clean despite the
crash-filled nature of the event. For the one car team
coming off four straight top-ten finishes on the oval,
Infineon Raceway was an event that Gallegos wanted to just
finish on the lead-lap.
“We
survived and it was a good points day,” Gallegos said. “We
just needed to finish the race and not get real stupid.
The pressure is off and we can focus on Irwindale.”
Gallegos suffered a broken transmission in the first
practice session on Friday, and with limited practice time
qualified 31st.
Unexpected car woes continued as Gallegos finished the
race with a right rear shock mount broken.
The
25 year-old Drive for Diversity participant picked up two
positions on the opening lap and pitted on lap two when
the caution flag flew.
Team
owner and crew chief Rob Dixon scheduled a fuel-only stop
for Gallegos. Gallegos returned to the pits under the same
caution to top-off.
On
lap 35 Gallegos was forced to take evasive action with
Jason Patison blew in an engine in the tricky turn 10.
Gallegos spun and pit for repairs on the left-rear.
A
problem with the left-rear shock mount was fixed and
Gallegos returned to action.
“The
car had a few small issues,” Gallegos said. “By the
caution the left-rear shock mount had broken and we were
also bottoming out so we had to raise the car up.”
By
lap 52, Gallegos cracked the top-20. Gallegos moved up
further before a red flag on lap 55.
Two
laps later on the restart, Gallegos spun after contact
from Johnny Borneman in turn eight.
A
green-white checkered restart saw Gallegos lined up near
the rear of the field due to a scoring miscue, forcing him
to come home to a 22nd place amongst several
lapped cars.
“Now
we can get back to the high expectations again,” Gallegos
said. “Everybody worked hard this weekend and now we can
try to get a top-five at Irwindale.”
Gallegos and RTD Motorsports, Inc. will carry an eighth
place standing in the points to Irwindale Speedway on July
4. The event will be covered live on HDNET.
Race
fans can learn more about RTD Motorsports, Inc. by
visiting
www.rtdmotorsportsinc.com
RTD
Motorsports is presented by these fine sponsors: Service
Plus, TriCo
Welding Supplies, Inventory Sales Company, Gone Racin’,
TCS Adwear, PCB Solutions, PVC Specialties, JDA, Longacre,
Steve’s Transmissions, Carmichael
Towing, DC Racing Engines, and Blakesley Sports Media.
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