Moffitt Delivers Strong Top-FIve Performance at Martinsville
Event: Texas Roadhouse 200
Date: October 27th
Start: 17th
Finish: 2nd
Laps Led: 0
Driver Playoff Position: 3rd
Brett Moffitt began the Round of Six in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Playoffs with a runner-up finish at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday afternoon. The second-place effort is Moffitt’s career-best at the “Paperclip” in three career NCWTS starts and his tenth top-five finish of the 2018 campaign.
After both practice sessions were washed out on Friday afternoon, the driver of the No. 16 AISIN Group, AW North Carolina Toyota Tundra rolled straight into the second round of qualifying and started the 200-lap event from 17th spot. Moffitt made steady progression during Stage 1 until a caution on lap 36 when he came to pit road for four tires and an air pressure adjustment for a tight balance on corner exit. Moffitt only gave up two positions for four fresh tires and restarted 16th on lap 44. At the end of Stage 1 on lap 50, Moffitt ran 14th, but stayed on track to gain track position under the caution.
When the event resumed on lap 61, Moffitt restarted ninth and finished the stage in the same position, which earned him two championship points. Moffitt returned to pit road under the stage caution for another batch of four tires, fuel, and a right-rear wedge adjustment to alleviate his tight condition on throttle and corner exit. Crew chief Scott Zipadelli’s adjustments bore fruit as Moffitt wasted no time knifing through the field. He restarted ninth on lap 111 and entered the top five on lap 145. A restart on lap 160 delivered chaos among the top contenders in Turn 1 and allowed Moffitt to pick up two positions and moved into third for the subsequent restart.
Moffitt restarted third on the race’s final restart on lap 168 and valiantly fought to maintain his position among the top trio. He chased down the No. 13 truck for the second position with less than 20 laps to go, and secured the runner-up spot on lap 187. Moffitt ran out of laps to make a charge for the lead and took the checkered flag in second, his second top-five result of the NCWTS Playoffs. He and the No. 16 AISIN Group, AW North Carolina team head to Texas Motor Speedway with a 15-point cushion on the cut line.
Brett Moffitt Quote:
"From where we started the day, I thought we were really good. We didn’t unload the best, we didn’t qualify the best, but we got better by the end. It’s a bummer that we didn’t get a bunch of stage points like we needed to, but we got a second-place finish. The guys work hard at HRE and I have to thank Toyota and TRD for always going to bat for us. And Mark Cronquist (JGR engine builder) and these Joe Gibbs engines. We’ve had badass tools all year long and I’m just thankful that they let us use them. Also thank AISIN and AW North Carolina for everything they do in making this race team happen.”
AWNC is a North American automotive component and automatic transmission manufacturing Company dedicated to providing products that completely satisfy our customers in all respects.
AWNC shares the basic values of the management philosophy of Aisin AW Co., Ltd (AW), our parent Company, while giving due respect and recognition to its operations in the U.S. to be a good corporate citizen. Fulfillment of this mission depends on the development and appreciation of Team Members.
AWNC, as the first overseas production facility of its Japanese parent Company, will work to play a key role in AW’s global growth.
About Hattori Racing Enterprises
Hattori Racing Enterprises (HRE) was founded in 2008 by Shigeaki Hattori and since then the team has fielded entries in a variety of different series, including the NASCAR XFINITY Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, and ARCA. As a former driver, Hattori captured the Japan Formula Toyota championship in 1994 and moved to the United States the following year to race open-wheel cars. He competed in the Toyota Atlantic Series, Indy Lights and IndyCar. He won a pair of Indy Lights races in 1998 and made two starts in the Indianapolis 500. In 2005, Hattori made the transition to stock cars and drove a Toyota in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series before moving into team ownership. HRE's race shop is located in Mooresville, N.C.
Tags: martinsville speedway , awnc , aisin , hattori racing enterprises , nascar , playoffs , camping world truck series
« Back
