Fraley’s Fuel Call Lifts Wright to 17th at Dover
| Venue: Dover Motor Speedway FINISH: 17th Start: 29th NCTS Point Standings Position: 21st |
| Kris Wright and the No. 81 F.N.B. Corporation team turned in their strongest result of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS)season Friday evening at Dover Motor Speedway, earning a season-best 17th-place finish . After qualifying 29th and unloading with handling issues, Wright and the No. 81 group methodically worked through the race to put themselves in position for a late strategy call that paid off when it mattered most. The weekend began with challenges as the team struggled to get the truck planted on corner entry, particularly through the bumps in Turns 3 and 4. Wright fought a loose condition throughout the opening stage and slipped to 30th early while reporting difficulty finding grip. Darren Fraley (crew chief) and the No. 81 crew made adjustments during a lap 40 caution, helping Wright remain in contention long enough to secure the free pass at the end of Stage 1 and begin the climb forward. Wright continued making gains during Stage 2, advancing to 26th while balancing a truck that changed behavior in traffic, alternating between tight and loose conditions. Despite excessive right-side tire wear and continued handling challenges, the No. 81 F.N.B. Corporation team stayed persistent with air pressure and wedge adjustments, keeping Wright in the fight as the race moved into its final segment. The highlight of the night came in the final stage when Fraley (Darren, crew chief) made the strategy call that changed the outcome of the race. After Wright narrowly avoided trouble on lap 118 and earning another free pass, the No. 81 restarted inside the top 25 and steadily improved pace. When the caution flag flew on Lap 129, Fraley elected to bring Wright to pit road for a quick fuel top-off, setting the No. 81 Chevrolet up to make it to the finish without another stop. As competitors peeled onto pit road in the closing laps, Wright stayed on track and capitalized, climbing to a season best 17th-place finish, the highest result of the year so far for the No. 81 team. Kris Wright Quote: “We had a great run in our No. 81 F.N.B. Corporation team tonight. We unloaded a little bit off and those issues continued throughout the race, but Darren (Fraley, crew chief) put got us where we needed with fuel and we capitalized on the day. Really proud of this F.N.B. Corporation group, we’ll get back to it at home (Charlotte) next week.” |