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

Kentucky Speedway: post race report

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Event: NorthernTool.com 250
Track: The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis.
Pole Sitter: Erik Darnell, 29.513 sec.
Lagasse Jr.’s Qualifying Position: 16th, 29.962 sec.
Race Winner: Carl Edwards
Lagasse Jr. Finishing Position: 16th

Battle for Position Results in a Collision and a 16th-Place Finish for CJM Racing at Kentucky

(June 20, 2009) West Allis, Wis. – The NASCAR Nationwide Series made a stop at the countries oldest operating race track over the weekend. Originally built as a horseracing oval on a West Allis farm, the track started hosting automobile races by 1903. Since its inception, the track has seen some world class racers in victory lane; Parnelli Jones, A.J. Foyt, the Unsers, the Andrettis, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Alan Kulwicki and Matt Kenseth. The America’s Incredible Pizza Company race team had hoped that they could be added to the list of winners but fate had other plans for the team.

The NorthernTool.com 250 marked the 15th race of the 35 races schedule for this season. The points chase is on and the competition to become the next driver in victory lane is fierce. There have been ten different race winners thus far in the season.

The America’s Incredible Pizza Company race team has overcome several obstacles this season but one thing remains the same; the drive to succeed is apparent every weekend.

When the marathon day started early Saturday morning, the concerns over the handling of the race car was immediate. A tight condition was preventing the No. 11 Toyota Camry from producing the results they were hoping for in the first practice session. The team quickly jumped into action and made aggressive adjustments to get the America’s Incredible Pizza Company Toyota back on the right path. By the end of final practice, Lagasse Jr. had gained an incredible amount of speed and found himself in the 15th position on the board.

12 hours after teams entered the garage area to start the day, the green flag waved to start the NorthernTool.com 250 under the lights.

Everyone ran a clean race during the first half of the 250-lap event. Not one caution flag was displayed until lap 125 and that was due to debris on the race track. Leading up to that point, the No. 11 America’s Incredible Pizza Company Toyota was battling a loose in and off handling condition. Lagasse Jr. held strong out on the track until green flag pit stops began to cycle through around lap 73. On lap78 crew chief Paul Wolfe called the No. 11 down pit road for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. When Lagasse Jr. rejoined the field he would be credited with the 14th place position.

As the green flag laps continued, the front pack began placing cars one lap down out on the race track. While running in the 13th position, Lagasse Jr. became one of the statistics.

Four pit stops were made throughout the evening. All but one was for tires, fuel and adjustments to help alleviate the handling concerns. The final stop of the evening, on lap 215, was not a planned stopped and would change the ending result of the race for the America’s Incredible Pizza Company race team.

Lagasse Jr. and fellow rookie of the year contender, Justin Allgaier, were battling side-by-side for position when a slight nudge from the No. 12 sent both of the cars spinning. Both cars sustained damage and were brought down pit road for repairs under caution. The crew quickly made the needed repairs and the America’s Incredible Pizza Company Toyota restarted in the 20th position.

With just 23 laps remaining, Lagasse Jr. made his final charge to the front and was able to gain four valuable positions before the checkered flag waved.  The America’s Incredible Pizza Company race team would be credited with a 16th place finish.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will reunite next weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Camping World RV Sales 200 will air LIVE on ABC next Saturday, June 27th at 2:30 pm (EST).

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