Mosack Runs Up Front at Watkins Glen, Finishes 16th
Venue: Watkins Glen International
FINISH: 16th
Start: 10th
Stage 1: 10th
Stage 2: 10th
Laps Led: 0
NCTS Point Standings Position: 15th
Connor Mosack collected a 16th-place finish as a result of multiple chaotic overtime restarts at Watkins Glen International. Mosack scored stage points in both segments on Friday evening, ran inside the top-five, and was in contention for the victory in the waning laps. The driver of the No. 81 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Chevrolet Silverado RST remains 15th in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks Series standings entering next week’s season finale.
Mosack qualified 10th after displaying great race pace in the morning practice session. That speed was on full display at the drop of the green flag as he quickly jumped to sixth by lap two. A caution on lap 12 allowed Mosack to make his first four-tire pit stop of the event and ran 10th at the end of Stage 1 on lap 20.
Crew chief Blake Bainbridge kept Mosack on track during the stage caution and restarted the second stage in eighth on lap 25. He visited pit road again under a lap 37 caution for tires, fuel, and a wedge adjustment to free up his balance. Mosack put on a spirited drive from 17th to 10th on a one-lap sprint to close Stage 2 on lap 40.
He commenced the final segment of the evening from ninth after pitting to top off the fuel tank to ensure he could reach the scheduled distance. The ensuing 16-lap run saw Mosack showcase his speed by advancing from ninth to fifth and into legitimate contention for the victory. He ran third for the first overtime restart on lap 73, but spun in the inner loop after contact, yet avoided damage and continued in 10th position. Unfortunately, he wasn’t as lucky on the second overtime restart as trouble struck again in the inner loop, causing significant damage to his Chevrolet and relegated him to a 16th-place finish.
Connor Mosack Quote:
“We had a really fast Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Chevrolet today, and everyone on this No. 81 should be proud of that and the effort. We fired off fast in practice and carried that into the race. We got tight about halfway through each run and had some tire chatter, but were pretty happy with our speed. Blake managed the fuel strategy well for us and put us in a really good spot for those overtime restarts. There’s a lot of contact on those late restarts, just like Lime Rock, and unfortunately came out on the wrong end of it.”
