Dye Records Top-20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Venue: Charlotte Motor Speedway
FINISH: 19th
Start: 36th
Laps Led: 0
NCTS Point Standings Position: 13th
Daniel Dye finished his Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) in 19th-place. The No. 43 Champion Container Chevrolet Silverado RST driver started in the back of the field after a mechanical issue during qualifying. Dye now sits 13th position in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) points standings.
Dye started his day in 36th position after his throttle got stuck during qualifying leading him to bail out of his timed lap. The start of the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 was great for Dye as he gained 14 positions in the first seven laps. Dye continued his prowess in traffic and gained three more spots giving him 19th-place by the end of Stage 1 on lap 30. Under the stage caution, crew chief Blake Bainbridge brought Dye to pit road to grab four tires, fuel, and a minor air pressure adjustment.
Dye restarted 12th for the second stage on lap 37. After maintaining his position for a caution-free stage, Dye finished Stage 2 on lap 60 in 10th-place earning him one stage point. Dye told his team that he was satisfied the way his truck felt and did not need to make any adjustments to the No. 43. After another stop of four tires and fuel, he returned to action for the final stage on lap 67 in 12th position.
Dye moved up to a race-high sixth position early in the final stage after a caution on lap 69. With a few more green flag laps, another caution appeared and saw Dye come to pit road on lap 83 to get four tires and fuel. Restarting 19th on lap 87, he was caught in traffic and battled with the middle of the pack. Dye was able to get back to 17th-place until lap 111, when he told his team he felt a flat tire. With a caution on lap 119, he returned to pit road for an unscheduled stop to get four tires for the final 10 laps. Dye crossed the line in 20th position but was scored in 19th after a post-race inspection.
Daniel Dye Quote:
“We had a problem during qualifying that resulted in us starting in the back. The first stage we had a really good Champion Container Chevrolet, and we were pushing up quickly. Throughout the night we had a truck good enough to be in the top-10 which we were for a bit. Once we made a change, we got some damage on a restart that took us out of any really contention. My guys were on it during the pit stops and I don’t think this result represented how well we ran tonight. I know what we are capable of, and we will come back stronger and better at Gateway.”