Whitt Brings Home 24th Place Finish in the MOEN No. 72 at Martinsville Speedway

Series: Monster Energy Cup Series
Race: First Data 500
Venue: Martinsville Speedway
Track Length / Configuration:  0.526-mile, paperclip
Race Distance: 500 laps / 263 miles
Race Format: 3 Stages: Stages end on Laps 130 / 260 / 500
Cautions:  8 cautions for 68 yellow flag laps
Lead Changes:  11 among 6 drivers
Started: 28
Finished: 24
Laps Completed: 498
Points Gained: 13
 
 
Stage 1
Cole Whitt rolled off the grid in the 28th position in the MOEN No. 72 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Martinsville Speedway to start the First Data 500. (Whitt qualified 31st. The No. 72 was advanced to start 28th due to other competitors being penalized for tech violations)
 
Lap 2: Running 26th, Whitt relayed the No. 72 was tight through the center and loose forward drive
 
Lap 13: Whitt relayed concerns of potential brake issues
 
Caution Lap 44 (incident): Running 42nd, Whitt had fallen a lap down from the leaders. He was deemed the Free Pass recipient. He pitted for four tires, fuel, a packer added to the left front and removed all tape from the grille of the MOEN No. 72
 
Caution Lap 72 (spin): Whitt stated the MOEN No. 72 was tight in the center and the brake was long. He pitted for four tires, fuel, air pressure adjustment and tape on the grille
 
Stage 1 Completion Caution: Whitt completed the stage 28th. He relayed the MOEN No. 72 was better on the long.  Crew Chief Wally Rogers called for service of four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment
 
 
Stage 2
Whitt took the Stage 2 green flag restart slotted in the 27th position
 
Whitt fell a lap down from the leader but advanced as high as 24th on the leaderboard
 
Stage 2 Completion Caution: Whitt completed the stage 24th, one lap down. He communicated the MOEN No. 72 continued to better on the long runs. The crew serviced the car with four tires and fuel
 
Stage 3
Whitt was scored 24th, one lap down for the start of Stage 3
 
Caution Lap 383 and Lap 398 (both for fluid on the track): Whitt was posted 24th, two laps down on the leaderboard.
 
Caution Lap 458 (spin): Running 24th, two laps down Crew Chief Wally Rogers made the call to keep Whitt out on track to take the wave around
 
Whitt continued to run in the 24th position for the completion of the First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway
 
Martinsville Speedway PR