Race 19 of 33: U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway
Track Details: 0.875 mile oval / 250 laps
No. 08: Gray Gaulding Result: 14th
Team 08 WALK-ON’s Chevrolet Camaro:
After finishing in the 14th position at Iowa just six short weeks ago, Gaulding was optimistic coming into Iowa Speedway this weekend. Gaulding would roll off from the 19th position for the 250 mile event. The first stage of the race consisted of 60 laps. The first caution of the day waved on lap 45 after the 22 car made contact with the wall. The 08 had just gone a lap down before the caution, but would be the beneficiary of the free pass. At the end of the first stage Gaulding was in the 18th position.
Gaulding started the second stage from the 16th position. On lap 74 the caution waved after the 18 lost control, collecting the 51 car. The 08 would restart from the 13th position, as racing resumed. The remainder of the stage went caution free. Gaulding finished the second stage in the 14th position. The biggest struggle Gaulding told Crew Chief Patrick Donahue was that he felt the car was lacking mechanical grip.
Gaulding would start the final stage from the 12th position. On lap 153 caution would wave after the 52 car stalled on track. The sixth caution of the day would wave on lap 162 after the 00 made hard contact with the wall. On lap 170 Gaulding restarted from the 11th position with eyes set clear on the top 10. On lap 202 the 1 car went spinning, bringing out the seventh caution of the day. Gaulding was sitting in the 10th position at the time of the caution. With no fresh tires remaining, the 08 team stayed out under caution and would restart from the 7th position. With 32 laps remaining, the 86 car blew an engine. After a 20 lap shootout, Gaulding would bring home his No. 08 Walk On’s Chevrolet in the 14th position. With only 7 races remaining until the playoffs, Gaulding remains (13th) the first car below the cut line. Gaulding trails 12th place Brandon Jones by 101 points after Iowa.
Gray Gaulding:
“It was a pretty solid day. Unfortunately that caution came out and killed us. We ran out of tires and had to come put on old scuffs, but that’s just part of it. We just can’t seem to catch any breaks here as of late, but it was still a great points day. I really appreciate Walk On’s being on board. I’m ready to get out of here and go road racing.”
Bobby Dotter Thoughts on the 08 Team:
“The 08 team continues to perform and show great consistency every single week. We were destined for a top 10 finish today if those last couple of cautions didn’t come out. We will take a 14th place finish and move on to the road course. Very proud of everyone’s hard work today.”