Jimmy Weller and the No. 08 Geneva-Liberty Steel / Engine Parts Plus / Hopek Hardware Plus / Joedance.org team finished 14th at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday evening. For Weller, the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 marked a personal milestone as the 28-year-old made his first start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Ten years ago, Weller sustained critical injuries in a horrific accident at the quarter-mile dirt track that sits in the shadows of Charlotte Motor Speedway. In Friday’s event, Weller avoided several incidents in a race marred with cautions for redemption with a solid top-15 finish.
Weller rolled off 25th for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on Friday night. Initially free in traffic, Weller’s SS Green Light Racing team made a series of adjustments during the opening round of pit stops to tighten the balance of his truck. New to Charlotte Motor Speedway, Weller also worked closely with his spotter throughout the early stages of the race to improve his line around the 1.5-mile speedway.
With nine caution periods spanning nearly 50 laps, many competitors ran into trouble as the race progressed. Weller, however, was able to avoid trouble in his No. 08 Geneva-Liberty Steel / Engine Parts Plus / Hopek Hardware Plus / Joedance.org Chevrolet, and continued a steady pace climbing through the field.
Just past lap 75, Weller called into his crew to report a soft clutch pedal. The issue was a challenge on pit stops and restarts when drivers would usually use their clutch to shift through the gears and regain speed. Weller and his SS Green Light Racing team were able to compensate for the issue and keep Weller on the lead lap of competition. Racing as high as the 10th position during the closing laps, a couple late-race cautions and subsequent challenges coming up to speed left Weller to cross the finish line in the 14th position. The result marks Weller’s second top-15 finish in just three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
“I’m really proud of our effort this week,” commented Weller. “We had great support behind our team from Geneva-Liberty Steel, Engine Parts Plus, Hopek Hardware Plus and Joedance Film Foundation. My SS Green Light Racing team did a great job improving the truck all night and keeping us in contention, and my spotter, Rocky, is awesome–he really helps guide me around the track and keeps us out of trouble. It’s always been a dream of mine to race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and I’m happy that I was able to do it with this team tonight.”
Jimmy Weller PR
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