RAB Racing with Brack Maggard scored their third top-10 finish of the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) season Saturday night at Chicagoland Speedway. Veteran driver Kenny Wallace piloted the No. 09 Marquis Energy/Family Farmers Toyota 300 miles before taking the checkered flag in the seventh position at the conclusion of the STP 300. The finish was a career-best for Wallace in 12 starts at the 1.5-mile “Windy City” track.
Prior to on-track action in Joliet, Illinois, Wallace spent time at Marquis Energy headquarters who served as co-primary sponsor for the first time during the inaugural Nationwide Series spring event at Chicagoland Speedway. Practice speeds proved to be important once again for drivers as inclement weather canceled the scheduled Saturday morning NNS qualifying session. Wallace took the green flag from the 15th position on the starting grid when the STP 300 got underway under the lights Saturday night.
During the opening laps, Wallace and Crew Chief Scott Zipadelli communicated via the team radio about the handling of the No. 09 Marquis Energy/Family Farmers Toyota Camry. When the NASCAR-mandated competition caution flew at lap 27, Wallace and the RAB Racing team took the opportunity to make adjustments to the Toyota-powered machine. By lap 100, Wallace was running consistently in the 12th spot.
When the third caution came out on lap 121 for an accident in turn 3, Wallace was scored on the lead lap in the 16th position. Prior to the caution, Wallace was scored as the race leader when Zipadelli made the call to stay out in order to lead laps and collect bonus points. As the laps began winding down in the “Windy City,” fuel mileage became increasingly important. While several competitors coasted to the checkered on fumes, Wallace solidly held on to the seventh position, earning RAB Racing its first top-10 finish at Chicagoland Speedway.
Wallace, who has five top-10’s and nine top-15 finishes in only 14 NNS starts this season, closed the gap in the driver point standings but remains 20 points outside of the top-five in seventh. The No. 09 improved one position, to 12th, in the overall NNS car owner point standings.
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