Mike Wallace and No. 01 I Hate Steven Singer team close season with another top 20
GAFFNEY, S.C. (November 20, 2011) – Mike Wallace and the No. 01 IHateStevenSinger.com Chevrolet team of JD Motorsports closed out their 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season with another top-20 finish in Saturday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The teams only had one practice session on Friday as rains washed out their final one. The lack of the extra track time wasn’t in the JD Motorsports favor when qualifying took place on Saturday. Thus, Wallace didn’t get the lap he was seeking and lined up 31st for the start of the 200-lap race later that afternoon on the 1.5-mile oval. Once that first green flag fell, the St. Louis native hit the gas and started his trek forward in the running order.
The first real caution to hit pit road for fuel, tires and adjustments took place during a pre-determined competition caution on lap 35. This allowed Wallace to come down pit road for service from the IHateStevenSinger.com Chevrolet crew. Back into action he went after battling a slight handling problem through the turns. With this now attended to, Wallace was able to gain more positions on the pylon and maintain a lead lap run.
By the time the fifth caution waved on lap 136, Wallace knew he could run in the top-20 positions and set his sights for that goal. A spin by a competitor on lap 147 allowed the red No. 01 Chevrolet to pit road for the last pit stop for tires, fuel and adjustments. At this time, Wallace was running 22rdfor the restart on lap 152 with fuel and tires to go the distance. From there, the team was aided by three more cautions to slow the pace race of the race and keep many competitors on the lead lap.
Using determination and car handling more to his liking in the last 40 laps, Wallace was able to pick up two more positions to earn another top 20 finish and close out the 2011 season on a commendable note. Wallace finishes out the campaign 13thin the Driver’s Standings and said he will be back driving for JD Motorsports for the 2012 season.
Mike Wallace Quotes: “Nothing too exciting for us out there today. We had some minor handling problems and were able to get a handle on that to stay competitive all day.”
“We got down a lap, raced our way back onto the lead lap, had good pit stops, didn’t get caught up in anyone else’s mess and bring the IHateStevenSinger.com Chevrolet home in one piece. That’s a pretty good day for a team like ours in the independent ranks.”
“I worked things out with Johnny Davis and am happy to announce we will be racing the No. 01 Chevrolet for him again next year in the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series. So, that’s some good news to close out the year.”
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