Mosack’s Top-10 Run Deflates Late at Phoenix

Venue: Phoenix Raceway

FINISH: 26th

Start: 20th

Laps Led: 0

NCTS Point Standings Position: 14th

Connor Mosack pulled the curtain down on his rookie season at Pheonix Raceway by running inside the top 10 before a flat tire relegated him to a 26th-place finish. The driver of the No. 81 NAPA Nightvision Chevrolet Silverado RST closed his rookie NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks Series season 14th in the drivers’ point standings.

Mosack took the green flag in the season finale from 20th position and was on the move once the green flag was unfurled. After an early caution and restart on lap seven, Mosack was consistently one of the quickest trucks on the track in the first stage, advancing to 12th by lap 45.

Under the stage yellow, crew chief Blake Bainbridge armed Mosack with four tires, fuel, and adjustments to assist his free balance. Mosack restarted seventh after quick pit service by the NAPA Nightvision team. As the track temps cooled and rubber continued to build, Mosack’s balance trended significantly tighter during the second green-flag run as he ran 14th at the end of Stage 2 on lap 90.

Another strong stop by the No. 81 team netted Mosack three positions to 11th for the restart on lap 100. Despite briefly falling to 19th, a caution on lap 111 allowed Mosack the opportunity to pit for another set of fresh tires and a wedge adjustment. He was able to hold on to track position inside the top-10 until the tight handling condition intensified. In the final 10 laps, contact from another truck pushed the left fender in on the tire and ultimately blew, sending Mosack into the Turn 3 wall on lap 148. The damage was too severe to repair for the final laps and demoted him to finish 26th.

Connor Mosack Quote:

“Definitely not the way we wanted to finish the year. Our speed on the short run was really good, but the NAPA Nightvision Chevy just trended too tight on the long runs most of the night. Thanks to Blake (Bainbridge), everybody on our team for sticking with it all year long. They kept digging, working hard all year and appreciate every one of them for their effort all year long.”