Dustin Delaney (51 Sports Photo).
Delaney Notches Top-10 Finish At Lime Rock Park
Post-Race Report
Delaney Motorsports worked really hard to improve their road course program this season, and the efforts have paid big dividends.
Dustin Delaney, driver of the No. 39 Delaney Infrastructure Chevrolet, posted an eighth place finish in the NASCAR Camping World East Series Mohegan Sun 200 at Lime Rock Park Saturday afternoon. The finish was his fourth top-10 of the season and moves him up to seventh in the point standings with only two races remaining.
“We’re really happy with this finish,” said Delaney. “We had a good car all day and this is our best finish on a road course. We’re headed in the right direction!”
Delaney started 13th after posting a qualifying lap of 55.797
seconds on Friday afternoon. Patience was the order of the day as Delaney took the green flag so maintaining his position while things sorted out was the agenda. After the first lap, the team moved into the 12th position, where they remained for the next 13 laps.
A caution flag tightened the field for a restart at lap 14 with Delaney moving into tenth when racing resumed. The No. 39 moved up closer to the front as the leaders began a round of green flag pit stops at lap 20, but Delaney himself came in at lap 25 to take on fuel. At lap 30, with most pit stops done, Delaney was running 12th.
A long green flag run developed, and with the temperatures soaring at 90 degrees and above, driver stamina became critical. Delaney persevered and continued to move to maintain his position just outside the top-10. The caution finally flew at lap 70.
“I was waiting for a caution every lap,” said Delaney. “It was exhausting and it was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It tired me out pretty good with the heat and all.”
The break was just what the team needed to get refreshed for the final laps of the race.
Though racing only resumed for another lap, Delaney had moved up to eighth for the green at lap 84. The race was extended to a green-white-checker with Delaney holding on to his eighth place position at the checkers.
“I’ve definitely learned to be more patient in the car and to know when to go for it and when to wait for it to come to you,” said Delaney. “We had a good pit stop today and we stayed out of trouble, and we came out of here with a solid finish.”
The NASCAR Camping World Series East hits the track next at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 18th. For more information on Dustin Delaney, visit www.dustindelaney.com.
