Tuesday, November 14, 2017

JR Motorsports Phoenix Race Recap

JR Motorsports Phoenix Race Recap

Byron Wins at Phoenix; Allgaier, Sadler Join Him in Xfinity Championship 4

  • Race 32 of 33: Ticket Galaxy 200 at Phoenix Raceway  
  • Track Specs: 1-mile oval / 200 laps  
  • Weather: Sunny; 86 degrees  
  • Race Winner: William Byron  

  • Byron's Finish: 1st  
  • Allgaier’s Finish: 10th  
  • Annett’s Finish: 16th  
  • Sadler’s Finish: 18th

 

For the fourth time this season, William Byron brought home the NASCAR Xfinity Series race victory on Saturday afternoon in the Ticket Galaxy 200.
William Byron, driver of the #9 Liberty University Chevrolet, celebrates after
winning NASCAR XFINITY Series Ticket Galaxy 200 at Phoenix
International Raceway on November 11, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona.

William Byron

For the fourth time this season, William Byron brought home the NASCAR Xfinity Series race victory on Saturday afternoon in the Ticket Galaxy 200. This win gives Byron the most wins in a single season by a JR Motorsports rookie, besting Chase Elliott’s previous record of three. The Charlotte-native secured his spot in the championship 4 and will compete for the NXS Championship next weekend in Miami.

The Liberty University Chevrolet was fast off the truck in practice on Friday afternoon and the team knew they would have a good car come race day. Byron qualified second for the 200-lap event after a fast qualifying lap. The No. 9 machine was running in second when the No. 22 of Ryan Blaney got by him on lap 17. Byron radioed to the team that his car was good in Turns 1 and 2, but a little tight off in Turns 3 and 4. When the caution flag waved on lap 24, the driver reported that he was a little free during the first five laps and the team elected to stay out on track.

Byron restarted from the third position on lap 30 and just seven laps later relayed to the team that his car was too tight overall. At the conclusion of Stage One, Byron was scored in the sixth position and he asked the team to free up his machine. The team brought the Liberty University Chevy to pit road for four tires, fuel and a track-bar adjustment. After a slight delay on the left side, Byron restarted 14th on lap 68.

Within 15 laps, Byron was scored in the seventh position and told the team he needed some help on the exit of the corners. Stage Two went caution free and Byron was able to pick off one additional position to finish the stage sixth. Following the stage, the driver reported that his Chevrolet was building tighter and he needed to get off the corner better. The team came to pit road for four tires and fuel and restarted eighth on lap 128.

Byron worked his way up to the third position by lap 146 and on lap 152 the team relayed that they were going to be approximately three laps short on fuel. While running third on lap 182, the caution was shown giving the Liberty University team the break they needed. The team came to pit road for right-side tires and fuel. After a quick two-tire stop, the team was set to restart from the first position on lap 188. Byron would continue to lead the field until taking the checkered flag on lap 200.

This is Byron’s first NXS victory at Phoenix Raceway and his fourth overall victory this season. He was followed to the line by Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, Christopher Bell and Daniel Hemric rounding out the top five.

William Byron, driver No. 9 Liberty University team

“We have been building on the year and we had a great summer. This Liberty University team has been working non-stop and we are extremely lucky to be able to go after a championship next week in Homestead. Dave (Elenz, crew chief) made a gutsy call at the end, but it was exactly what we needed to be able to get out front. This victory definitely gives our team some good momentum going into the championship race next weekend and hopefully we can bring home a victory for JR Motorsports.”

Justin Allgaier and the BRANDT Professional Agriculture team secured a spot in the Championship 4 following their 10th-place finish in Saturday’s Ticket Galaxy 200 at Phoenix Raceway.
Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet,
leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ticket Galaxy 200 at
Phoenix International Raceway on November 11, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona.

Justin Allgaier

Justin Allgaier and the BRANDT Professional Agriculture team secured a spot in the Championship 4 following their 10th-place finish in Saturday’s Ticket Galaxy 200 at Phoenix Raceway. This marks the second consecutive season that Allgaier will compete for the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Justin Allgaier, driver No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture team

“When you start the season in Daytona, this is the ultimate goal. I’m really proud of our guys. We knew that we had put enough points in the bank today that we needed to have two really good stages. We weren’t sure if that would put us in the position to make the Championship 4, but ultimately that was the case. We had a solid BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevy all day. We did what we needed to do and unfortunately had a rough pit stop at the end there and had to go quite a ways further back than where we felt we could have finished. I’m really proud of William. To have a JR Motorsports sweep here this year, it’s pretty incredible. We feel like we bring quality race cars to the track every week and that’s what we’ve got to do next week too, to battle it out with this guy (Daniel Hemric) and my two teammates for a championship.”

Michael Annett with Team Owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. #NASCAR
Michael Annett with Team Owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Michael Annett

All during the 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, Michael Annett and his No. 5 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet team have focused on putting a complete race weekend together, and on Saturday at Phoenix Raceway, they put another one in the books. Annett qualified 12th and finished 16th in the Ticket Galaxy 200 on the 1-mile oval, and is just two points out of ninth place in the points heading into the season finale next weekend

Michael Annett, driver No. 5 Pilot Flying J team

“We qualified better than we have lately, and that was a good start today. We were able to stay strong throughout the longer runs, and when we made changes they made the car better. The last run, on that late caution flag, we just got too tight to move up. The car would start out a run really, really free and then it would tighten up and we could make time. Our team has one more shot at it this year next weekend, and we’re going to go down to Miami and do even better.” 



Elliott Sadler - Regular Season Championship Winner #NASCAR
Elliott Sadler - Regular Season Championship Winner

Elliott Sadler

Elliott Sadler and the Textron Aviation team took the checkered flag in 18th place Saturday afternoon at Phoenix Raceway in the Ticket Galaxy 200. Through points, Sadler secured his place in the Championship 4 and will drive for the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship title next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Elliott Sadler, driver No. 1 Textron Aviation team

“I’m so proud of this team and all of their hard work week-in and week-out. We’ve had one goal all season long and that was to compete in Homestead as part of the final four. Now, it’s time to add to our regular season champion title and win the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship.”



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