03/12/2016
Wallace Finishes 12th in Phoenix
AVONDALE, Ariz. (March 12, 2016) – Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 6 Cheez-it Ford Mustang, recorded a 12th-place finish Saturday afternoon in the NASCAR XFINITY Series event at Phoenix International Raceway.
“It was a good day for us, especially after the two weeks we have had,” said Wallace after the race. “To come out of here with a clean race car, just a couple scratches is okay, rather than a destroyed race car. I am proud of the effort from my guys. They worked hard all day long. Just lacked overall grip and we couldn’t seem to find it in the long run. We will build off it and go to California where we were pretty strong last year and have some fun.”
Wallace took the green flag for the 200-Lap race from the ninth position after advancing to the final round of knockout qualifying Saturday morning. In the opening green-flag run Wallace battled for position inside the top 10 before a lack of grip through the corner began to affect the handling of his Cheez-It Mustang.
In an effort to help with grip, crew chief Seth Barbour called Wallace to pit road for four tires and a chassis adjustment in the hopes of alleviating the handling condition. The changes initially helped, but the condition returned over the course of the long run.
In the closing stages of the event, a long green-flag run caused the field to make a round of green-flag pit stops, leading to different pit strategies amongst the race leaders. Wallace received four tires and fuel while some competitors opted for two-tires or fuel only. Due to the different strategies, Wallace was trapped one-lap down and ultimately took the checkered flag in the 12th position.
Next up for the NASCAR XFINITY Series is Fontana, Calif. on Saturday, March 19.
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NEXT UP:
Two-Mile Auto Club Speedway
Fontana, California
Saturday, March 19, 2016
4:00 p.m. ET on FS1 and MRN
RACE SUMMARY
Bubba Wallace
Started: Ninth
Finished: 12th
Complete Race Results:
