Gray Gaulding and the No.20 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Chevrolet team ended their NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) season with a top-10 finish at The Monster Mile (Dover International Speedway).
With continuous rain showers moving through the Delaware area forcing NASCAR to cancel both scheduled NKNPSE practice sessions on Thursday, September 25th. NASCAR officials reschedule one final practice session for 75 minutes on Friday morning. Gaulding posted the 23rd quickest time after turning 45 laps. Gaulding would go out 7th of the 32 cars scheduled to qualify and with a fast lap time of 23.877 which would line his No. 20 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Chevrolet up on the inside of row 9.
When the green flag dropped for the Drive Sober 150, Gaulding started working his way towards the front of the field, and at lap 20 Gaulding reported his Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Chevrolet to be free after it lands. The first caution flag waved at lap 52 with Gaulding running just inside the top-15. The green flag waved once again at lap 59, with just 16 laps from the halfway break and Gaulding had made a good charge in to the top-10. When the caution flag waved for the second time at lap 70, NASCAR deemed this the halfway break, and Gaulding pitted for four tires, fuel, and a chassis adjustment.
The green flag dropped after the halfway break at lap 73, and Gaulding moved inside the top-5 just before the caution flag waved once again at lap 79. The green flag waved again at lap 84, Gaulding running 5th got singe file with the leaders. The caution flag waved once again at lap 87, and Gaulding slipped back to 6th. Another caution came out and when the green flag waved once again Gaulding would additional positions, as one of the leaders spun his tires forcing him to check up. Gaulding would fall back to 10th, but would be able to drive his Krispy Kreme Chevrolet Impala back into the 8th spot to finish his final NKNPSE race of 2014 at The Monster Mile.
From the Driver’s Seat with Gray Gaulding: “It wasn’t the win we were hoping for, but a solid top-10 finish after struggling in practice makes for a pretty decent day. Doug and all the guys on this Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Chevrolet team worked hard from the time practice started ’til the checkered flag flew. It’s great to finish 3rd in points and gives us something to build on during the off season.”
On top of Box with Crew Chief Doug Howe: “I know Gray wanted to end the KNPSE season off with a win, and I did too. Gray did a great job all day long and continues to impress me every time he is in a race car. He is still only sixteen years old and continues to learn and improve week in and week out. I’m proud of all the guys on this team and everyone at NTS Motorsports for never giving up and building great race cars every week.”
NTS Motorsports PR
