GRIDLEY, California — 21 year-old Quintin Crye of Gridley, Calif. completed his first career 100 lap event in Saturday’s “Toyota/TRD 100” at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif.
Crye finished 13th out of 19 starters in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Western Late Model event. The race was slowed by just two cautions throughout the event. Despite Crye being just three tenths of a second a lap slower than the leaders, he was lapped three times during the event.
“It was a long race but a good experience in the Rueda Racing Chevrolet,” Crye said. “We made an adjustment under caution that really tightened the car up and it responded well after that.”
Crye clicked off his best laps in the race in the second half of the feature, allowing him to drive away from several top drivers in the field, despite them being two laps ahead.
The Cherokee Indian racer put down his best lap of the race at lap 84 with a 14.516.
His qualifying effort was his most competitive so far in his young Late Model career, as he was just fourth tenths of a second off of pole pace in his fifth career start. Qualifying placed him 12th out of 19 entrants.
“We’re going in the right direction, just the timing of the cautions in the feature hurt us with track position,” Crye said. “I’m really starting to get into this asphalt stuff.”
After a successful dirt career, which saw Crye earn a BCRA Midget feature win in 2008 and USAC Western Rookie of the Year in 2007, Crye has set forth on a path towards NASCAR.
His next start in the Western Late Models is to be determined by sponsorship. Crye is looking forward to more competitive runs this season as he is also in the midst of applying for the NASCAR Drive for Diversity in 2010.
Crye’s efforts on Saturday were supported by Rueda Racing, Hybrid Haven, Blakesley Sports Media, Turtle Wax, NGK Spark Plugs / Art of Fast, K&N Filters, JE Pistons, JAZ Products, Gary Morgan Graphics, Tires Les Schwab, Oakley, ISC Racer’s Tape, Butlerbuilt seats, Pioneer Auto Body, and JME Motorsports.
Additional sponsorship and marketing opportunities are available by contacting Steven Blakesley at (916) 316-4854.
Quintin Crye Racing is online at www.cryeracing.com
