Full Team Effort for Wright in Upstate New York
| Venue: Watkins Glen International FINISH: 31st Start: 34th NCTS Point Standings Position: 21st |
| Kris Wright and the No. 81 Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Chevrolet Silverado RST team battled through adversity throughout Friday evening’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) race at Watkins Glen International (WGI) before a late incident ended their day in the 29th position. After qualifying 26th, Wright dropped to the rear of the field before the start because of a flat spotted tire sustained during qualifying. The McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (MHR) team steadily worked forward through the opening stage despite handling challenges and limited forward drive in the No. 81 Chevrolet Silverado RST. Wright posted top-20 lap times during the run and improved from 34th to 22nd by the end of Stage 1. The team continued to fight through setbacks in Stage two. Wright avoided trouble on a restart and moved into the top-20 before contact from another truck in Turn 10 sent the No. 81 AHN Chevrolet Silverado RST spinning on lap 33. Wright recovered to finish stage two in 22nd, but the incident caused left rear damage and forced the team to make repairs and a chassis adjustment during the stage break. Strategy from crew chief Darren Fraley and strong work on pit road kept the team in contention entering the final stage. Wright reported a tight handling condition through the high speed esses, but the No. 81 crew gained 13 positions on pit road throughout the race and moved into the top-15 during the lap 61 restart with several trucks gambling on fuel mileage. Following a restart with nine laps remaining, Wright restarted 13th before being collected in a multi-truck incident entering Turn 1. Contact ahead forced the No. 81 up the racetrack and into the temporary tire barriers, ending the team’s night short of the finish. Wright was credited with a 29th place result in his third career Watkins Glen start. Kris Wright Quote: “I can’t thank this AHN team enough for all of their hard work today. Our pit crew was on it today when we really needed the track position and they played a huge role in us restarting 13th there with less than 10 to go. This result hurts, but our road course stuff is good and we’re even more excited to get out to our next road course at San Diego.” |