Austin Dillon Consistent in Top-Five Finish at Pocono

In his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) starts for GMS Racing, Austin Dillon piloted the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet to a top-five finish at Pocono Raceway in the Pocono Mountains 150. Dillon and the No. 33 team was fastest in the only NCWTS practice session on Friday and qualified the red, white and black Chevrolet in the fourth position.

Dillon began battling a loose on entry and exit condition by lap five of the race. Crew chief Shane Huffman called Dillon to pit road from the fourth position on lap 30 for his first and only stop of the day. During the green flag stop, the GMS Racing team made air pressure and track bar adjustments to help Dillon with a tight on exit condition that had started to develop. As the field cycled through, the Welcome, N.C., native returned to the fourth position and moved to the third position by lap 50. A series of late-race cautions brought the field back together and gave Dillon a chance to go for the win. Dillon found it tough to get a run on the inside line and looked for help during the three green-white-checkered attempts that stretched the scheduled distance to 69 laps. On the last restart of the afternoon, Dillon once again had trouble getting a run and lost a few spots bringing the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet home in the fifth position. Dillon returns to the seat of the GMS Racing Rheem Chevrolet in two weeks at Michigan International Speedway.  The No. 33 team currently sits eighth in the NCWTS owners points standings, one point out of the seventh position.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
“We had a really great Rheem Chevrolet today. I really needed to be on the outside for those restarts at the end to be able to get enough of a run to get to the front. GMS Racing brought a great truck.  It helps we unloaded fast, but I was really happy with the way we were able to keep digging to find speed. I’m excited to get back in the truck in Michigan and look forward to getting a win with these guys.”

GMS Racing PR