ISM Raceway (March 11, 2019)
Race 4 of 33: IK9 Service Dog 200 at ISM Raceway
Track Details: 1-mile oval / 200 laps
No. 08: Gray Gaulding Result: 16th
No. 07: Ray Black Jr. Result: 18th
Team 08 Flywheel Taxi Chevrolet Camaro:
After a career best NASCAR Xfinity Series finish of twelfth last week in Las Vegas, Gray Gaudling and his No. 08 Flywheel Taxi team were determined to carry that momentum into Phoenix. For the first time in three weeks mother nature cooperated and allowed the teams to qualify. Gaulding advanced to the second round of qualifying and would roll off from the seventeenth position.
The green flag dropped and Gaulding immediately fought the handling of the car. Although Gaulding was fighting a very loose race car, he really did not go anywhere. The first stage was relatively uneventful and Gaulding finished right where he started in seventeenth.
Crew Chief Patrick Donahue made track bar and air pressure adjustments to help Gaulding for the second stage. Despite several adjustments, Gaulding radioed he was doing all he could to “hang on” to his race car. At the end of the second stage Gaulding found himself in the nineteenth position. Donahue continued making adjustments to the 08 Flywheel Taxi Camaro during the course of the final stage. When the checkered flag fell Gaulding brought home another solid sixteenth place finish for Bobby Dotter and SS GreenLight Racing. This was the 08 team’s third top twenty finish in a row.
Gray Gaulding:
“We had another solid run in Phoenix. We battled all day trying to get the balance of the car better every opportunity we could. My crew chief Patrick did a great job on the adjustments for the last run and we managed to grab a few more spots to finish P16. We have a lot of solid momentum on our side after three really great runs. I can’t thank everyone enough at Flywheel Taxi and SS Green Light Racing for the support and hard work. On to Cali!”
Bobby Dotter Thoughts on the 08 Team:
“The 08 started off the race really loose, but Patrick and the crew did a great job making positive adjustments, especially before that last run. Really proud of Gray and everyone for another solid finish.”
Team 07 Isokern Fireplaces & Chimneys Chevrolet Camaro:
Like his teammate, Ray Black Jr. came into Phoenix with his head held high. Black also had his career best NASCAR Xfinity Series result last week in Las Vegas, finishing eleventh. Black advanced to the second round of qualifying and would start the race from the eighteenth position.
Ray Black Jr. also fought the handling of his car at the beginning of the race. Black battled a tight handling condition, especially on the long runs. After stage one was complete, Black found himself in the twentieth position.
Crew Chief Jason Miller went to work, making adjustments to free up the 07 Isokern Fireplaces & Chimneys Camaro. By the end of the second stage, Black advanced a few positions to the eighteenth position. After a fairly uneventful final stage for the 07 team, Ray Black Jr. finished in the eighteenth position. This was the 07 team’s second top twenty finish in a row.
Ray Black Jr:
“Our day was pretty uneventful. We ran right around where we qualified all day. We battled a really tight handling car, especially on the long run, but the guys did a great job making positive adjustments. It’s been a solid couple of weeks for us, so hopefully we can finish this West Coast Swing strong next week in California.”
Bobby Dotter Thoughts on the 07 Team:
“The 07 showed great speed all weekend again. They’ve done a great job unloading fast and continuing to make solid adjustments in the race. It’s great to see them put together another solid race. I’m really proud of both our teams. SS Green Light Racing is off to our best start ever since entering the Xfinity Series. I am looking forward to carrying this momentum into California”
Looking Ahead:
After another solid weekend, SS Green Light Racing drivers Gray Gaulding and Ray Black Jr. move up to sixteenth and eighteenth respectively in the NASCAR Xfinity Series points standings. With Phoenix in the rear view, the team will make it’s final stop of the ‘West Coast Swing” in California. Coverage of the Production Alliance Group 300 from California will begin Saturday March 16th at 5:00 PM ET on FS1.
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