{"id":37758,"date":"2022-03-26T16:33:45","date_gmt":"2022-03-26T21:33:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=37758"},"modified":"2022-03-26T16:33:45","modified_gmt":"2022-03-26T21:33:45","slug":"nascar-wire-saturday-circuit-of-the-americas-notebook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2022\/03\/26\/nascar-wire-saturday-circuit-of-the-americas-notebook\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR Wire: Saturday Circuit of The Americas Notebook"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Holly Cain<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/b><\/p>\n

Ryan Blaney wins the pole for the Circuit of The Americas<\/b><\/p>\n

AUSTIN, Texas – Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney will start from pole position in Sunday\u2019s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) \u2013 becoming the first multi-time pole winner of the 2022 season. It\u2019s his second pole this year and eighth in his career.<\/p>\n

Blaney\u2019s lap of 92.759 mph around the 3.41-mile road course in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford held up to a late session charge by Trackhouse Racing\u2019s Daniel Suarez, who edged Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer for the outside of the front row but was still just .026-seconds off Blaney\u2019s fastest lap.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards\/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, drives during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Echopark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on March 26, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t really say I\u2019m a great road course racer by any means, I enjoy road courses a lot but never been in great contention to win one,” Blaney said, adding, \u201cSo I would say I\u2019m an average road course racer. And honestly what made me happy about the pole was that we were fifth in our [first round] group and barely made the Round of 10 and then picked up half a second from first round, so I was as proud we picked up that speed.”<\/p>\n

Custer will start third, lining up alongside Richard Childress Racing\u2019s Tyler Reddick. Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 driver Alex Bowman, Penske\u2019s Joey Logano, Joe Gibbs Racing\u2019s Denny Hamlin, Kaulig Racing\u2019s Justin Haley and Penske rookie Austin Cindric rounded out the Top-10 in final qualifying.<\/p>\n

It was quite the day\u2019s comeback for Blaney, 28, who went off course and hit the soft barriers during opening practice but was able to rebound to the top position when it mattered most.<\/p>\n

\u201cTalk about an up and down day for sure, from putting it in the barriers on my third lap and not knowing if the car was killed, if we would have to go to a back-up, what it was going to take to fix it,” Blaney said, noting the incident with the barriers knocked his left-side mirrors off, preventing him from being able to really see the damage on the left side.<\/p>\n

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Daniel Suarez, driver of the #99 CommScope Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Echopark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on March 26, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Dylan Buell\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI got out of the car and looked at it and it was scuffed up but not too bad,” he said. \u201cThey went through everything thoroughly and nothing was bent so got really lucky, honestly from a mistake of mine. Really lucky we hit those plastic blocks.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then to have speed to put it on the pole, I didn\u2019t even know if we were going to be able to qualify after we wrecked so to come back and have a fast enough car to make it to the second round and then the final round and barely beat Daniel there was fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cUp and down day, glad it ended on a high note.\u201d<\/p>\n

Notably absent from the final 10-car round were defending COTA race winner Chase Elliott, who was 12th fastest in qualifying. His reigning series champion Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson was 13th fastest.<\/p>\n

Kyle Busch, a four-time road course winner, was only 15th fastest qualifying lap and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. \u2013 another four-time road course winner \u2013 was only 17th fastest. Road course ace A.J. Allmendinger was 20th – fast in practice but having a hiccup in qualifying.<\/p>\n

Interview with Ryan Blaney – <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ROAD COURSE RINGERS AT COTA<\/b><\/p>\n

Practice and qualifying proved to be a bit of trouble for some in the road course \u201cringers\u201d group at COTA this week. Former NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year, sports car ace Andy Lally did not get to make a qualifying lap and will have to serve a penalty at the beginning of Sunday\u2019s race because of an inspection violation for his No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Ford. He will start last in the 39-car field.<\/p>\n

Joey Hand, another IMSA standout road course racer, had a tire problem in practice and the crew was unable to repair the No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford in time for him to make a qualifying lap, so he will also start from the rear of the field in 28th place.<\/p>\n

One of the sport\u2019s most popular drivers, Boris Said, is returning to competition \u2013 making his first NASCAR Cup Series start since 2017 at his hometown track, Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Said\u2019s best showing was third at Watkins Glen in 2005. He won a NASCAR Xfinity race in Montreal in 2010.<\/p>\n

Said, who has now been racing for four decades, He will start the No. 66 Motorsports Business Management Ford 37th of the 39 cars.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Interstate Batteries Toyota, poses for photos after winning the pole award
during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pit Boss 250 at Circuit of The Americas on March 25, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Dylan Buell\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

XFINITY SERIES QUALIFYING<\/b><\/p>\n

Nineteen-year-old Ty Gibbs is only making his 24th career start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Saturday afternoon, but the way he\u2019s driving you\u2019d think he\u2019s an aged old veteran. He\u2019s had six wins already and 13 top-10 finishes \u2013 better than 50 percent of every start. His first career series victory was on the Daytona Road Course last year and he also won at Watkins Glen. N.Y.<\/p>\n

With limited testing and being so completely new to NASCAR\u2019s top-three series, Gibbs credits the opportunity to work on simulators, run go-karts and watch film with his quick learning curve on these road courses. His qualifying lap Friday was 134.520 mph around the 20-turn, 3.41-mile circuit.<\/p>\n

\u201cOvals are so much, I think, finesse,” Gibbs said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have as much braking markers there. You\u2019re not as focused on that. Road courses are fun. They come in and do something different and focus on just turning right and left and I have a good time, a good flow with it.”<\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series full-timer, Ross Chastain will start on the outside of the front row with Gibbs in the Mario Gosselin-owned No. 92 Chevrolet \u2013 one of three Gosselin team cars that qualified in the Top-10.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Sheldon Creed, driver of the #20 Wiley X Chevrolet, poses for photos with a check after winning the pole award qualifying fir the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Circuit of The Americas on March 25, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Dylan Buell\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES QUALIFYING<\/b><\/p>\n

Former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Sheldon Creed was fastest in Friday\u2019s qualifying session but will start the No. 20 Chevrolet from the rear of the field in Saturday\u2019s XPEL 225 because his crew needed to change the truck\u2019s fuel pump.<\/p>\n

That puts No. 38 Zane Smith \u2013 second fastest in qualifying – on the pole to start the race and he lined up alongside Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman.<\/p>\n

Of note, Creed won a series title (2020) before earning his first pole position in the series this weekend. He is now a fulltime competitor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and had a similarly good outing in the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet \u2013 earning a sixth place start on that grid.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald’s Toyota. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

CATCHING UP WITH BUBBA<\/b><\/p>\n

Bubba Wallace got a huge test of the new Next Gen car last week in an accident at Atlanta Motor Speedway \u2013 and the driver of the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota is giving a big thumbs-up to the durability and safety. It\u2019s been quite a week for the star driver, who covered several topics Saturday with reporters.<\/p>\n

\u201cP1, new track record, hard as hell,” Wallace said of this accident at Atlanta. \u201cIt was a hard hit. Wednesday I was finally good. Main thing I was worried about was my shoulder because I had surgery on it in the offseason, but Wednesday I was feeling good and able to move it easily.<\/p>\n

\u201cAtlanta happened and I\u2019ve got a job to come out here and continue to race. You put that behind you and race.”<\/p>\n

Wallace said he spent some time during the week with former University of North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams and said he received some encouraging and useful tips on dealing with his distractors in NASCAR.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had never met him, I\u2019m not a UNC fan, I\u2019m a Tennessee fan obviously, but I became a fan of him and UNC after that night,” Wallace said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018Hey man, heard a lot about you and one thing I want to leave you with before I go, the dogs are always going to be barking and the caravan is going to continue rolling.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just kind of roll on with it,” Wallace recalled with a smile. \u201cSuper cool. I\u2019d never ever had a conversation with him or even been around him and in that moment, he took the time that night to tell me that.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

To help with his road course skills, Wallace will be competing in both Saturday\u2019s NASCAR Xfinity Series race and Sunday\u2019s NASCAR Cup Series race.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely [I need it],\u201d he said, adding, \u201cOnly been here once, so trying to get another leg up on guys. Nothing but seat time for me so I\u2019m enjoying it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Ethel M Chocolates Toyota. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

KYLE BUSCH LOOKING TO TURN SEASON AROUND<\/b><\/p>\n

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch met with the media on Friday and sounded optimistic that this weekend\u2019s road course race could be a turning point in his up-and-down season. Busch, driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, is ranked 11th in the standings \u2013 only a single point behind 10th place Ross Chastain – coming into the COTA weekend with three top 10 and a single top five in the opening five races of 2022.<\/p>\n

He has four NASCAR Cup Series victories on road courses \u2013 two each at Watkins Glen and Sonoma, Calif. And four in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, including last year here in Austin. He will start 15th Sunday at COTA.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the car is fine,” Busch said of his season. \u201cWe are all trying to figure it out and learn what it potentially is and what it is that makes it go fast, what the knobs are that you need to turn at particular places. I feel like we\u2019ve had decent speed everywhere we\u2019ve been except Phoenix. Phoenix was really bad.<\/p>\n

\u201cVegas, we were fast \u2013 coulda, shoulda, woulda \u2013 California, we were okay, worked on it and came back from five laps down. \u2026 Last week was fast, probably one of the fastest cars in the field and just got caught up in a wreck.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have anything to show of this year, which is disappointing. No stage points. That\u2019s about it.”<\/p>\n

Interview with Kyle Busch – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/BuschNCWTS032522.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Holly Cain NASCAR Wire Service   Ryan Blaney wins the pole for the Circuit of The Americas AUSTIN, Texas – Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney will start from pole position in Sunday\u2019s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) \u2013 becoming the first multi-time pole winner of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":37905,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-37758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/GettyImages-1387838753-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-9P0","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37758"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37912,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37758\/revisions\/37912"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}