Eddie Sharp Racing Post Race Report
RACE: Jeff's Auto Sales 150 "Part Duex" (UARA-STARS Series)
TRACK: Newport (Tenn.) Motor Speedway
DATE: July 14, 2012
LATE-RACE ACCIDENT RESULTS IN A 17TH-PLACE FINISH FOR WILL GALLAHER AT NEWPORT (Tenn.) MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Will Gallaher, driver of the No. 6 ESR Development Chevrolet Impala
DENVER, NC (July 16, 2012) - Will Gallaher and his Eddie Sharp Racing (ESR) team returned to Newport (Tenn.) Motor Speedway this weekend for the United Auto Racing Association (UARA) STARS' Jeff's Auto Sales 150 "Part Duex." Gallaher had a fast car and a strong run, but was caught up in a late-race accident where his No. 6 Chevrolet suffered terminal damage.
The No. 6 ESR team was quick off the hauler with Gallaher's first run three-tenths faster than his qualifying effort during the UARA-STARS last stop at Newport Motor Speedway. The rookie continued to log practice laps re-acclimating himself to the track before the Jeff's Auto Sales 150 "Part Duex" on Saturday night.
Gallaher qualified near the back of the pack, but was able to keep posting strong lap times and held his position on the lead lap. After making contact with another competitor around lap 60, Gallaher spun around on the track and lost a lap. Still early in the race and with minimal damage to his car, Gallaher continued to race hard hoping to secure the free pass to return to the lead lap of competition.
By lap 100, Gallaher was racing inside the top 12 with a top-10 finish well within the realm of possibility for the rookie driver. When a big accident broke out a few cars ahead of him on lap 112, Gallaher was left with nowhere to go. The No. 6 ESR Chevrolet suffered heavy damage in the vicious wreck, which resulted in Gallaher being credited with a 17th-place finish.
"After getting off to a bit of a sluggish start, we made a quick change which made the car really come to life and the team was set for a charge to the front," commented Gallaher. "I really feel bad for the entire No. 6 ESR team because they worked so hard, and in the end we had a car capable of a top 10. We just got caught up in a racing incident and had nowhere to go. I think we are set to have a really strong second half of the season and can't wait to get back on the track."
Gallaher will climb back behind the wheel of his UARA-STARS racecar at Caraway (N.C.) Speedway on Saturday, July 28th.
Eddie Sharp Racing Post Race Report
RACE: Jeff's Auto Sales 150 "Part Duex" (UARA-STARS Series)
TRACK: Newport (Tenn.) Motor Speedway
DATE: July 14, 2012
FLAT TIRE RELEGATES BRANDON JONES TO A 14TH-PLACE FINISH AT NEWPORT (Tenn.) MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Brandon Jones, driver of the No. 33 Chevrolet Impala for Eddie Sharp Racing
DENVER, NC (July 16, 2012) - Brandon Jones and the No. 33 Eddie Sharp Racing (ESR) team had a roller coaster of a weekend at Newport (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. The team overcame motor issues in practice to race inside the top five before ultimately suffering a flat tire that relegated Jones to a 14th-place finish.
The weekend kicked off with a very busy practice session for the No. 33 ESR team. Leading up to the race at Newport Motor Speedway, the team had installed a new motor in Jones' Chevrolet. However once they got on the track, the team had difficulty getting the motor to run clean. The crew methodically worked through the various components that could have been causing the miss and got Jones' motor running smoothly with just enough time to make one practice run. Jones went out on the track and laid down the fastest practice lap of the day to lead the session after having completed only two laps.
With a fast car and a late qualifying draw, the No. 33 team was excited about their chances at a strong starting position. It started to drizzle just as Jones was getting ready to go out for his qualifying run. Despite the track being a bit damp, Jones wheeled the No. 33 Chevrolet around the 4/10-mile oval and recorded the sixth-quickest qualifying effort of the day.
Going into the 150-lap event, Jones and his ESR team laid out their strategy for the night-survive the opening 100 laps, and then go race for the final 50. Throughout the first 100 laps, Jones saved his tires and waited for his opportunity to get up on the wheel and drive forward. Solidly racing inside the top 10, Jones was involved in a multi-car accident that resulted in damage to the right front fender of his car. After a short red-flag period, Jones brought the No. 33 Chevrolet down pit road under caution to have the fender removed. Jones restarted in the back of the pack and had his sights set on moving forward until he had a right front tire go down a few laps after the race restarted.
The incident forced Jones down pit road under green flag conditions, which resulted in him losing four laps on pit road. Consequently, Jones was relegated to a 14th-place finish in the Jeff's Auto Sales 150 "Part Duex" at Newport Motor Speedway.
"My ESR team made several changes to the car including a motor change which resulted in more speed in the car," commented Jones. "I was considerably faster and posted the fastest time in final practice and qualified sixth. The car was excellent in the race and I had moved up to fifth when my right front tire went flat with less than 20 laps to go. It wasn't how we wanted to end the night, but I am confident the changes the team has made to the car will make us much more competitive for the rest of the season. I can't wait to get back in the car for the next UARA race at Caraway (N.C.) on July 28th."
Jones will climb back behind the wheel of his UARA-STARS racecar at Caraway (N.C.) Speedway on Saturday, July 28th.
Media Contact:
Ashleigh Aungst
Public Relations Manager
Eddie Sharp Racing
Office: 704.489.8809
Mobile: 717.222.0664
AAungst@TeamESR.com
Eddie Sharp Racing | 3570 Denver Drive | Denver | NC | 28037
Photos by Drew Heiwarter
