Waterloo Tool Storage Ford has Short Night at "Silverado
350"
The Waterloo Tool Storage team had high expectations for a good run in the
“Silverado 350” NASCAR Craftsman Truck race at Texas Motor Speedway Friday night
October 5th. They had a new motor producing good horsepower and veteran
crew chief, Gary Showalter, came on board to share his chassis and suspension
expertise.
When the 2-hour practice session ended, the truck was 17th fastest
of 38 trucks entered for the race. The first lap of qualifying produced a speed
of 174.656 mph (30.918 seconds) good enough for 19th starting position.
However, on the second qualifying lap, the right-side exhaust pipe drug on the
racetrack between turns 3 & 4 which caused the truck to slide into the infield
grass and strike the pit wall causing sheet metal damage to the left front and
left rear.
"We were fast when we unloaded the truck from the hauler," commented driver
Larry Gunselman. "We made a few adjustments in practice, but the basic setup
we put in the truck was pretty close. We were happy with the 1st
qualifying lap, but the second lap felt better until the right side exhaust
pipe bottomed on the race track and upset the truck in turn 4, which caused
left side sheet metal damage when we hit the pit wall. The crew did a great
job putting the truck back together.”
Larry started the #63 Ford Truck in 19th position, however, on the
second lap two trucks tangled on the backstretch immediately in front of the
#63 Ford. Larry successfully guided the truck around the accident only to be
hit in the rear, causing the truck to spin and back into the outside wall. The
rear frame and fuel cell were pushed into the rear-end housing, ending the night
in 35th position.
"We truly believed we had at least a top-10 truck tonight, but got hit from
behind just after we cleared the 1st wreck on lap 2 and destroyed
the rear of the truck when we backed into the wall,” stated Larry. “It is a
real shame for this to happen. We had a really good truck tonight.”
The Waterloo Tool Storage #63 Ford Truck will race next at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway Sunday, October 14, 2001 at 3:00 PM (Pacific time). The race will be
broadcast live on ESPN2 television and MRN radio.
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