Flat-Tire Relegates Bayne to 25th-Place Finish in Kansas

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In: NASCAR Cup Series News

Trevor Bayne, driver of the No. 6 AdvoCare Ford Fusion, sustained a flat left-rear tire following contact that led to an unscheduled green-flag pit stop on Lap 72. Despite the loss of track position, Bayne gained 14 positions throughout the remainder of the race to record a 25th-place finish on Saturday night in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) event at Kansas Speedway.

“Losing the track position was really unfortunate,” said Bayne after the race. “I hate that we lost those laps after having to pit for the flat tire. We had our AdvoCare Ford good there at the end. (Crew chief) Matt (Puccia) made some great adjustments but we just couldn’t regain any of that lost track position. We’ll rebound from this and get after it next week in Dover.”

Bayne took the green-flag for Saturday night’s main event from the 10th position after advancing to the third and final round of knockout qualifying on Friday evening. From the drop of the green flag, Bayne reported to crew chief Matt Puccia that the AdvoCare Ford was extremely tight rolling through the corner. Puccia then utilized an early caution on Lap 22 to bring Bayne to pit road for four tires and a chassis adjustment.

The Knoxville, Tenn. native took the ensuing restart from the 15th position and maintained his top-20 track position until the caution came out on Lap 55. During the caution, Bayne again returned to pit road for four tires and adjustments.

Then, following a Lap 60 restart, Bayne made contact that damaged the left-rear of the AdvoCare Ford while battling four-wide for position. The damage persisted for several laps and ultimately leading to a flat left-rear tire and an unscheduled green-flag pit stop on Lap 72. The unscheduled stop cost Bayne valuable track position as he returned to the track in the 39th position, three laps behind the race leaders.

Although he had lost the track position, Bayne never gave up, narrowly avoiding a multi-car incident coming off of the fourth corner and improving a total of 14 positions throughout the closings stages of the race to record a 25th-place finish.

With the result, Bayne now trails 16th in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship standings by 11 points.  

Next up for the NSCS is Dover International Speedway on Sunday, May 15.

RFR PR

Speedway Digest Staff
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