MARTINSVILLE, Virginia.- Scott Lynch successfully raced his way into the Kroger 200 this past weekend at Martinsville Speedway, putting the No. 29 Jasper Engines and Transmissions-Intertech Dodge in the 28th starting position.
Despite qualifying toward the rear of the pack, of the “go-or-go-home trucks,” Lynch was second in speed only to Nextel Cup Series Chase Contender Clint Bowyer. After spending the first several laps getting the feel for what adjustments needed to be made, pit strategy had Lynch running in the second position- a far cry from where he started.
“We were concerned about getting into the race, so we set the truck up accordingly,” says Lynch. “But just like in the Cup Series, setting up to qualify well usually leads to multiple adjustments once the race gets going.”
Although the No. 29 Dodge was up and down the board through the early stages, the right adjustments and a determined driver paid off with a gain of almost 20 positions. Lap 192 rolled around showing Lynch in 13th when a wreck occurred, leaving him with no choice but to head for an opening that closed before he could get through.
“We were really moving there at the end of the race,” explained Lynch. “But when that wreck happened, I had nowhere to go. I tried to get through the gap and just didn’t make it in time.”
“It was still a great run for Windward Racing and it shows that we’re making the changes we need to get things done on the track.”
Lynch’s next scheduled appearance in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is at Phoenix International Raceway in November.
