Chastain Fast at Talladega
TALLADEGA, Ala. – Ross Chastain has run only three NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeedway, but he has an interesting history at the track.
Chastain finished third in a Camping World Truck Series race at NASCAR’s biggest track in 2013, showing that he quickly picked up the intricacies of running well in Talladega’s big drafting lines.
That knowledge will be of good use to Chastain Saturday as he drives in the Sparks Energy 300 Xfinity Series race at the fast 2.66-mile track.
“Racing at Talladega is a whole different kind of animal,” Chastain said. “It takes a lot of patience and is really stressful mentally. But if you can hang with the front group there, you have a real chance to do something big.”
Chastain will drive the Flex Seal Chevrolet for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller in Saturday’s race.
Practice sessions are scheduled at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (ET) Friday. Qualifying is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 3 p.m.
Preece Set For Talladega
TALLADEGA, Ala. – Rookie Ryan Preece, riding along 17th in Xfinity Series driver points at this early stage of the season, gets a big new test Saturday.
Preece will race for the first time at super-fast Talladega Superspeedway in Saturday’s Sparks Energy 300 Xfinity race.
Typically, cars circle the 2.66-mile track in giant drafting packs, an art and a science that rewards experience and patience.
“I’m looking forward to getting there and getting adjusted to it all,” Preece said. “The big drafts will take some getting used to, I’m sure. It helps that I’ll have a couple of teammates (Ross Chastain and Garrett Smithley) out there, too.”
Preece will be in the G&K Services Chevy in Saturday’s 113-lap event.
Practice is scheduled at Talladega at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (ET) Friday. Qualifying is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 3 p.m.
Smithley Set For Talladega
TALLADEGA, Ala. – Garrett Smithley will run his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway Saturday, but he won’t start the event with zero experience.
Smithley raced in an Automobile Racing Club of America event in 2014 at the giant 2.66-mile track. He finished 18th.
“At least I know my way around the place well,” Smithley said. “It’s all about getting together with the right drafting partners and being in the right place at the right time. I’m ready for the challenge.”
Smithley finished 20th last week at Richmond in his best run of the season. He jumped two places to 18th in the Xfinity standings.
Smithley, in the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller No. 0 Chevrolet, will be sponsored by Instalco this weekend.
Practice is set for 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Talladega. Qualifying is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, with the race to follow at 3 p.m.
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