Richard Petty Motorsports Richmond Race Recap

MARCOS AMBROSE

No. 9 Stanley Ford Fusion

·         Marcos Ambrose started the race at Richmond International Raceway from the 33rd spot

·         Ambrose finished the 400-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in the 21st position

·         Unofficially, Ambrose sits in 20th position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings

Race Summary: Marcos Ambrose made the most of a rough night and after starting Saturday evening’s Wonderful Pistachios 400 from the 33rd spot and finding himself in the middle of several on-track incidents, the Tasmanian driver brought the Stanley Ford home in 21st position.

Ambrose ran into trouble early and suffered minor damage to the Stanley Ford in a Lap 9 accident. A pit stop on Lap 14 of the 400-lap event enabled the Todd Parrott-led team to call its driver into the pits for fresh tires, fuel and a quick damage check before sending him back out on the track. Ambrose suffered some additional right side damage during a Lap 37 incident, but was, once again, given a clean bill of health after minor repairs several laps later.

Fans attending the last race before the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup saw beating and banging all night and Marcos had additional problems at Lap 52 that resulted in right front fender damage. After taping up the fender and changing tires, the crew sent Ambrose back out on the track for the Lap 62 restart in the 33rd position, one lap in arrears.

Ambrose let the team know that the car was handling tight in the middle of the corners and loose off and he fell another lap down to the leaders just prior to the 100-lap mark. Parrott chose to take the wave around during a restart at Lap 161 and a yellow flag two laps later enabled the team to pick up one of its lost laps. Holding down 30th place, Ambrose picked up the Lucky Dog award during the next caution and the No. 9 Ford lined up for a restart at Lap 179 back on the lead lap.

Ambrose fell a lap down to the leaders near the Lap 250 mark, but the team continued to work hard on the Stanley Ford, which was still a bit tight in the center and loose off. Holding down 24th with 90 laps to go, the No. 9 Ford Fusion was again in the right position to earn the Lucky Dog award thanks to a Lap 310 yellow flag. The crew made additional changes to the car during the ensuing stop and Ambrose lined up for the Lap 314 green in 22nd position. By the time the checkered flag flew, Ambrose had worked his way into 21st position.

Ambrose picked up one position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings and now holds down 20th place.

AJ ALLMENDINGER

No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion

·         AJ Allmendinger started in the 9th position for the 400-lap event at Richmond International Raceway

·         Allmendinger finished the race in the 11th position

·         Unofficially, Allmendinger sits in 13th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings

Race Summary: AJ Allmendinger lined up in the ninth position for the start of Saturday night’s 300-mile event at Richmond International Raceway. He remained inside the Top 10 through the first 50 laps and let Crew Chief Greg Erwin know that the Best Buy Ford was loose in the corners and tight in the center during much of that time.

A Lap 53 caution gave the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team the opportunity to make an air pressure adjustment to the right rear tire when Allmendinger brought the car into the pits for a routine four tire stop at Lap 59. He lined up 19th for the restart. Though he communicated to the team that he was struggling with forward bite, Allmendinger was able to pick up several positions, and by the time another yellow flag was in the air, he had worked his way into 16th place. After a quick pit stop, Allmendinger lined up for the Lap 123 green flag in 14th place.

Richmond’s short track showed no mercy Saturday night and there was hardly a car in the field that didn’t make contact with something or someone. Allmendinger suffered minor fender and splitter damage to the car prior to the lap 200 mark and the crew worked to make quick repairs during subsequent pit stops.

Allmendinger’s Best Buy Ford hovered around the Top 10 until a Lap 243 pit stop for four fresh tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. Several laps after hitting pit road under green flag conditions the caution flag flew and Allmendinger and crew found themselves a lap down to the leaders, who had not yet pitted. Allmendinger let the team know that the last set of changes were a step in the right direction and patiently worked his way into position to be the recipient of the Lucky Dog award. The plan worked and the No. 43 was awarded the Lucky Dog during a Lap 288 caution.

With 100 laps remaining in the Wonderful Pistachios 400, Allmendinger held down the 22nd spot. Able to stay out of trouble in the closing laps, Allmendinger wasted no time making his move to the front of the field. When the checkered flag fell on the event, the No. 43 Ford sat in 11th place.

The Best Buy Racing team’s 11th place effort on Saturday was its fifth consecutive Top-12 result. Allmendinger remains in 13th position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings. Next weekend’s event at Chicagoland Speedway marks the first race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The top 12 drivers will vie for the series championship.

RPM PR