Scott Lagasse Jr.
No. 11 The America’s Incredible Pizza Company Toyota 

Lowes Motor Speedway: post race report

Date: Friday 23, 2009
Event: Carquest Auto Parts 300
Track: Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Concord, NC  
Pole Sitter: Carl Edwards, 29.480 sec.
Lagasse Jr.’s Qualifying Position: 23rd, 30.283 sec.
Race Winner: Mike Bliss
Lagasse Jr. Finishing Position: 32nd  

Rain Shortened Race at Lowe’s Places the America’s Incredible Pizza Company Race Team 32nd

(May 23, 2009) Concord, NC – The NASCAR Nationwide Series headed to their hometown track over the weekend and the America’s Incredible Pizza Company was poised to take on the mile-and-a-half facility. After a series of circumstances, the team did their best to salvage a 32nd place finish at the Carquest Auto Parts 300.

After a week break in the schedule, the America’s Incredible Pizza Company race team was looking forward to getting back to business. With a brand new chassis in tow, Lagasse Jr. hit the race track for the first of two practice sessions on Thursday. Handling concerns became apparent from the initial session and the crew worked feverishly to turn around the race car. At the close of final practice, the No. 11 Toyota Camry was posted in the 30th position with a 30.435 second lap, 177.427 mph.

Teams enjoyed a day off on Friday as Lowe’s Motor Speedway was closed to all track activity. When they entered on Saturday the first item on the agenda was 52 cars qualifying for 43 spots in the field. Lagasse Jr. drew an early qualifying spot and took to the track seventh.

With a new car set-up beneath him, Lagasse Jr. ran a conservative yet solid lap of 30.283 seconds, 178.318 mph. The time placed the No. 11 America’s Incredible Pizza Company Toyota in the 23rd position for the start of the race.

As the day turned into night, Mother Nature came into play. Just prior to driver introductions the sky opened up and the rain began to fall. All activities were temporarily postponed and teams waited out the rain. Fortunately the rain showers subsided and the race began just after the nine o’clock hour.

Under a green/yellow condition the Carquest Auto Parts 300 got underway. By lap 10, 43 cars were given the opportunity to run at full speed. Lagasse Jr. got a feel for the car and reported in a lack of front grip on lap 12.  That was soon followed up with a concern over a tight center and off condition.

The first stop of the evening was made under caution on lap 24 for four fresh tires, fuel, an air pressure and track bar adjustment. The America’s Incredible Pizza Company Toyota restarted the race in the 27th position. A long green flag run followed and the No. 11 would fall victim to the leaders on lap 58 while running in the 25th position.

Three more pit stops were made as the 200-lap event continued. Lagasse Jr. made stops on laps 59, 92, and 151. Changing track conditions and a bout with handling called for adjustments ranging from air pressure to track bar.

The lead pack of cars dominated the field and by the end of the race only 13 cars remained on the lead lap. Any hopes of regaining track position slowly faded as the No. 11 America’s Incredible Pizza Company Toyota was caught on pit road on the final stop when a caution flag waved.

Lagasse Jr. would be displayed in the 32nd position on lap 161 when the final green flag waved that evening. Just seven laps later, rain returned to the area. After a lengthy red flag, NASCAR finally declared that the Carquest Auto Parts 300 would not run in its entirety. The America’s Incredible Pizza Company race team would have to settle for a 32nd place finish.

The race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway marked the first of a 17 week stretch on the Nationwide Series schedule. The America’s Incredible Pizza Company race team will have a chance at redemption at Dover International Speedway on Saturday, May 30th. The Heluva Good 200 will air live on ABC at 2:00 pm (EST).

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