Brooklyn, MI (August 16, 2009)- Struggling with the car’s handling during the Nationwide Series practice sessions on Friday, the Rensi-Hamilton Racing (RHR) team made major adjustments to the Hefty® Odor Block™ Ford prior to qualifying. McClure and the No. 24 team started the CARFAX 250 in the 40th position despite picking up nearly two seconds from their best lap in practice, but continued to struggle with the car’s handling once the race started. Good adjustments made throughout the race allowed the driver to improve his starting position and run his fastest lap of the day near the conclusion of the event to finish in the 28th position, which allowed the RHR team to maintain the 28th position in NASCAR Owner points.
“We had an up and down weekend. We struggled in both practice sessions on Friday so the team basically changed everything under the car for qualifying. Although we were able to pick up a lot of time from practice we were still off, but not as bad as we had been. Once the race started, I was loose off the turn but tight in the center. The team made great adjustments throughout the race and I learned that running the high lane was fastest for my car. From the halfway point on the handling was decent and we were able to pick up some time and improve our position. We just have to not get so far behind so early. When the last caution came out we stayed out to gain one of our laps back which helped us advance our position to 28th. Although it wasn’t the best finish it still kept us in the points and we will move on to Bristol.”
Shortly after the race began, McClure advanced to the 37th position when the first caution of the race occurred. After visiting pit-road for fuel and to remove tape from the grille, the RHR team was shown in the 34th position when the race resumed. Fighting a car that was both tight and loose in different parts of the turns, McClure was shown in the 35th position when teams began to make green flag pit-stops. Since the RHR team topped off their fuel early in the race, they were able to stay on track longer and pit under optimal conditions when the second caution of the race occurred on lap 44. Running in the 24th position, the Virginia native brought his Hefty® Odor Block™ Ford to the attention of his crew where he received four tires with an air-pressure adjustment, a track-bar adjustment and fuel. After returning to the track, the No. 24 was shown in the 27th position.
Over the next several laps McClure fell to the 31st position but the handling of the car was improving. By lap 87 the team had improved to the 29th position and under green conditions a few laps later, the Hefty® Odor Block™ Ford was brought to pit-road to receive tires, fuel, and a track-bar adjustment. After the green flag stops were complete the RHR team had lost a position and an additional lap to the race leader, but the adjustments made allowed McClure to run his fastest lap of the race on lap 97 of the event.
With twenty laps remaining the third caution occurred. As the leaders came to pit-road, crew chief Chris Wright made the call to stay on track. Due to the new double-file restart rule the No. 24 Ford was considered a ‘wave around’ car, allowing McClure to gain one lap to the race leader. As a result, in the closing laps, McClure was able to gain two positions to post a 28th-place finish in the CARFAX 250.
The RHR team returns to action on Friday, August 21 with the running of the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
