04/16/2016
Flat Tire Leads to 25th-Place Finish for Wallace in Bristol
BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 16, 2016) – Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 6 Ford EcoBoost Ford Mustang, was running inside the top 15 before a flat right-front tire on Lap 112 damaged the right-side of his Roush Fenway Ford. The damage forced an unscheduled green-flag pit stop and ultimately led to a 25th-place finish on Saturday afternoon in the NASCAR XFINITY Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“We’ll get them next week,” said Wallace after the race. “I really hate that we ran that debris over and lost our right-front tire. This wasn’t the day we were looking for but this team is tough and we will rebound next week in Richmond.”
Wallace took the green flag for the 200-Lap main event from the 13th position after finishing seventh in the 50-Lap heat race that took place earlier in the afternoon. From the drop of the green flag, Wallace reported to crew chief Seth Barbour that his Ford EcoBoost Ford was tight throughout the corner. Barbour then utilized a Lap 38 caution period to bring the Roush Fenway driver to pit road for two tires and a chassis adjustment.
Unfortunately, a speeding penalty canceled out the track position gained by the strategy call on pit road and Wallace was forced to restart at the rear of the field. Despite the setback Wallace charged forward, improving 16 positions to 14th before a flat right-front tire sent the Ford EcoBoost Ford into the outside retaining wall on Lap 112. The damage caused Wallace to make an unscheduled green-flag pit stop, losing several laps to the race leaders.
In the closing stages, Wallace would never give up and improve six positions to cross the finish line for the final time in 25th.
Next up for the NASCAR XFINITY Series is Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, April 23.
