Grimes, Iowa (May 26, 2010)

Brett Moffitt, the seventeen year old NASCAR K&N Pro Series East competitor and Joe Gibbs Racing development driver, continued to show his talent with another dominating performance last Sunday during the Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 200 at the Iowa Speedway. After biding his time early in the race, Moffitt took the lead on lap 142 and was well-positioned to win his first race of the season in front of huge gathering of his fans at his home track in Newton, Iowa.

The race weekend began on Saturday afternoon, when Moffitt and the JGR team hit the track for practice. The #02 Game Plan for Life / Kum & Go / Hotsy-sponsored Toyota was quick and ended the practice session on Saturday at the top of the speed charts, with a time of 24.355 (129.337mph). During the last practice session before Sunday's qualifying, Moffitt and team made their final adjustments. Moffitt, the 36th car out for qualifying, turned in a time of 24.155 seconds for a lap speed of 130.408 mph, the ninth fastest time overall and a mere 0.405 seconds behind the pole speed of series veteran, David Mayhew.

From the drop of the green, Moffitt maintained his early race strategy. On lap 5, Moffitt moved up to 6th position. For the next 61 laps, he raced smartly, maintaining track position and staying out of trouble through two cautions. When the caution flag flew on lap 75, Moffitt hit pit road for service, along with most of the others. He lined up to restart in 15th on lap 88. By lap 98, Moffitt had moved up to 9th, and just past the half way mark on lap 119, Moffitt reclaimed the 6th position. After caution came out again on lap 128, Moffitt moved up to 2nd, behind his JGR teammate Max Gresham. On the restart, Moffitt was off like a rocket and was already in the lead when the caution came out again just one lap later. After another fantastic restart on lap 147, Moffitt continued to lead and was beginning to put some distance on the second place car of Cory LaJoie. After the caution flag flew again on 180, the track announcers mentioned Moffitt's dominant runs at South Boston and Phoenix and suggested that it looked like he was about to put a "W" in the win column at the Iowa Speedway. The red flag came out on lap 183 for an oil cleanup, but Moffitt got another great jump on the lap 187 restart, and he set sail again.

Moffitt led a total of 54 laps, but the events of lap 194 changed the outcome of the race for Moffitt and the #02 JGR team. LaJoie made contact with Moffitt's left rear as they both exited turn two, sending Moffitt into a spin. Moffitt was able to keep his car out of the wall and untouched by the field as they passed, and with only minor damage on the left rear quarter panel, he was able to restart from the rear of the field on lap 199. With only two laps of racing remaining, Moffitt mounted a charge, but after another dominating run, he had to settle for a 17th place finish.

After the race Moffitt commented, "We are disappointed with the way the race ended. Almost the same thing has happened three races in a row - at South Boston, Phoenix, and now at the Iowa Speedway. On the other hand, I can't say enough about the JGR guys. They have given me the car to beat during our last three races. We have been able to go to the front when we needed to, and I can't ask for any more than that from them. We will keep doing what we do, and sooner or later we will get a win."

Moffitt and team will head to Virginia for the June 6th running of the "UNOH Performance 200" at Martinsville Speedway. After Martinsville, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will stop at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 25th for the "New Hampshire 125". Between his NASCAR K&N Pro Series East events, Moffitt will continue to race his IMCA SportMod at Central Iowa dirt tracks.

For additional information and to follow Moffitt's racing career, visit www.brettmoffittracing.com and for information about Joe Gibbs Racing, visit www.joegibbsracing.com.

For information on sponsorship opportunities with Brett Moffitt Racing, contact Michele Scaglione at: 515.419.8357 or michele@brettmoffitt.com, and Dick Moffitt at: 515.202.2310 or rmoffitt@destinyhomesusa.com.

 

Tags: brett moffitt , joe gibbs racing , nascar , k&n , pro series east , goodyear dealers of iowa 200 , iowa speedway , iowa , newton , ia , cory lajoie , spin , crash

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