Race 18 of 33: ROXOR 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Track Details: 1 mile oval / 200 laps
No. 08: Gray Gaulding Result: 17th
No. 07: Ray Black Jr. Result: 18th

Team 08 Panini Chevrolet Camaro: 

Gray Gaulding and his No. 08 team came into New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend with momentum after another top 15 performance at Kentucky Speedway. The 08 team would roll off from the 20th position for the ROXOR 200.

Gaulding gained a handful of positions at the start of the race before settling into the 18th position for the majority of the opening run. On lap 32 the first caution of the day waved after the 23 car made hard contact with the wall. Gaulding radioed in and said he was very tight especially in the center of the corner. Crew Chief Patrick Donahue elected to bring the 08 in for service. Donahue called for four tires, fuel, and adjustments to help free up Gaulding in the corners. Gaulding finished stage one in the 17th position.

The 08 team stayed out after the first stage and restarted in the 12th position. The entire second stage went caution free. Gaulding would be scored as high as the 12th position during the second stage; however, finished the stage in the 18th position.

On lap 141 caution waved after the 9 car got up out of the groove. Gaulding was scored in the 19th position, the first car one lap down. The 08 team was the beneficiary of the lucky dog which put them back on the lead lap. The fifth caution of the day waved on lap 153 after the 12 car made contact with the 18 car. The remaining 42 laps went caution free. Gray Gaulding brought home his No. 08 Panini Chevrolet in the 17th position. With only 8 races remaining until the playoffs, Gaulding remains (13th) the first car below the cut line. Gaulding trails 12th place Brandon Jones by 113 points after New Hampshire.

Gray Gaulding: 

“It was an okay day. It wasn’t what we were looking for. We thought we were going to be a little bit better, but we just struggled being really tight middle all day. My guys worked their tales off. We were in left field car balance wise on Friday and we got it pretty close today. Thanks to Pure and Panini and of course SS Green Light Racing. We’ll just keep digging and do the best we can.” 

Bobby Dotter Thoughts on the 08 Team:

“The 08 team is showing great consistency. I thought they really improved from where they were in practice on Friday. I know they were hoping to get up in that top 15, but it was still a really solid performance overall.”

Team 07 Isokern Fireplaces & Chimneys Chevrolet Camaro: 

Ray Black Jr. and the 07 team brought back the same fast race car they had last weekend at Kentucky Speedway. The 07 once again unloaded with great speed in practice. Ray Black Jr. would roll off from the 25th position for the 200 mile race.

The green flag dropped and Ray Black Jr went to work. When the first caution of the day waved on lap 32, Ray Black Jr had gained five positions since the start of the race. Black reported the car was tight center off. Crew Chief Jason Miller elected to leave his driver on track for the time being. At the end of the first stage Black was scored in the 23rd position.

Miller called Black to pit road for four tires, fuel, and adjustments to the 07 Chevy. Black restarted in the 26th position at the beginning of the second stage. The entire stage went caution free and Black was able to advance up to the 19th position.

Black started the final stage in the 20th position. About half way through the final stage, Ray Black Jr. radioed in to report he was pretty happy with his race car. The 07 restarted in the 17th position with 42 laps remaining in the race. Black maintained the 17th position for the entire run until on the last lap, Black’s left front brake rotor exploded. The mechanical failure sent the 07 car spinning directly in front of his teammate. Fortunately, Black was able to save the car and limp home to finish in the 18th position.

Ray Black Jr: 

“We had such a fast race car today. We were going to finish 17th until our brake rotor exploded in the last corner. Thankfully, I was able to save the car and we still brought it home 18th. Thanks to my guys at SS Green Light Racing for all their hard work.”

Bobby Dotter Thoughts on the 07 Team: 

“The 07 team showed great speed and got better all day as the race went on. I hate we had that left front brake rotor explode on the last lap, but Ray did a great job saving the car. Overall it was a very solid day. On to Iowa.” 

Looking Ahead: 

SS Green Light Racing drivers Gray Gaulding and Ray Black Jr. are currently 13th and 18th respectively in the NASCAR Xfinity Series points standings. The teams will shift their attention to Iowa Speedway. Coverage of the US Cellular 250 from Iowa Speedway will begin Saturday July 27th at 5:00 PM ET on NBCSN.