Scott’s Dollar General posts top-five finish in Kentucky 201

Brian Scott started the Kentucky 201 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta from the 10th position and by lap 21 had worked his way to the front of the field. The Dollar General Tundra would pace the field twice for 14 laps in the early stages and remained inside the top 10 for all 134 laps. The Idaho native was scored in the sixth position for the final restart on lap 111 and one lap later had worked his way into the fifth position, where he remained for the final 25 laps. The result marked the 50th top-10 finish for Kyle Busch Motorsports’ (KBM) No. 18 Toyota since joining the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2010, including 11 by six different drivers this season.

 

“It was fun to come out here and represent Dollar General, Flexco, M&M’s, everybody — and just have the opportunity to run the Truck Series here in Kentucky,” said Scott, who collected his 10th top-five finish in 60 career starts in NASCAR’s third division. “Track position was everything.  When we were out front, we were able to run pretty good.  We just had to overcome too many positions on the last run to get up there and really challenge for the win.  Congratulations to James (Buescher).  I wish we could’ve gone up there and battled him, but hopefully we learned how to improve this mile-and-half program.  Because I finished in the top-10, Dollar General will give 10 percent off Monday on online purchases, so remember to go online and buy some stuff.”

 

Out of the gates, Scott reported that his Dollar General Tundra was a little too tight, but he was able to improve one position by the time the first caution of the race occurred on lap 15. In an effort to improve the team’s track position, crew chief Eric Phillips called for a fuel-only stop and returned his driver to the track scored in the third position for the lap-20 restart. The 24-year-old driver took advantage of the clean air and was able to work his way to the front of the field before another caution slowed the field just one lap later.

 

The No. 18 Toyota remained on point until lap 33, when eventual-race winner James Buescher worked his way around Scott. The Nationwide Series regular, making just his third Truck Series start this season, settled in behind the Truck Series championship contender until the next caution. Off a lap-42 restart, Scott was able to return to the lead for one lap before the No. 31 truck once again worked his way back to the point.

 

When the third caution of the field slowed the field on lap 46, Scott surrendered his runner-up spot to come down pit road for a four-tire stop with an air pressure adjustment. He restarted from the eighth position on lap 51, but by the time the next caution occurred on 54 he had improved two positions. When the field went back green, the Dollar General Tundra returned to the top five, where it remained for the next 25 laps.

 

A Parker Kligerman spin on the frontstretch slowed the field on lap 80. Phillips ordered his driver down pit road four a four-tire stop and made another air pressure adjustment to try and give his driver more stability on entry and forward drive off the corners. KBM’s flagship Tundra returned to the track scored in the seventh position for the lap-84 restart.

 

Scott fell back to eighth on the restart, but by the time the final caution of the race occurred on lap 106 he had maneuvered his way back into the seventh spot. With one truck scored in front of him visiting pit road, the No. 18 Dollar General Tundra advanced to the sixth position for what turned out to be the final restart of the race. When the field went back green, Scott was able to improve to the fifth position, where he remained until the field took the checkered flag.  

 

James Buescher completed the season sweep at Kentucky and recorded his fourth Truck Series win of 2012, all on mile-and-a-half tracks. Parker Kligerman finished 1.292 seconds behind him in the runner-up spot. Teammates Ty Dillon and Joey Coulter finished third and fourth, respectively, and Scott rounded out the top-five finishers.

 

There were seven caution periods for 42 laps.  Half of the field, 18 drivers, failed to finish the race.

 

Scott’s top-five finish helped the No. 18 Tundra team improve one position in the Truck Series Owner’s point standings. The team ranks eighth, 77 points behind the series leading No. 3 truck, with 16 of 22 races complete. With 14 laps led, the team has now led double-digit laps in four of the last five races.

 

David Mayhew makes his KBM debut next Saturday, Sept. 29, driving the Dollar General Tundra in the Smith’s 350 at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway. The race begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, with SPEED’s live coverage commencing with the NCWTS Setup Show at 7 p.m. ET.

 

KBM PR