Annett Gateway Race Recap
Race Release posted on 12/03/2008
Michael Annett - Pilot Travel Centers
Post Race Report
Race: Camping World 200 (Race 17 of 25)
Track: Gateway International Raceway
Date: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
Started: Ninth
Finish: 24th
Laps Completed: 157
Total Laps: 160
NCTS Points Position 12th
The No. 22 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Tundra team went to Gateway International Raceway with high expectations. Driver Michael Annett had a leg up on the rest of the rookie class, as the 22-year-old standout spent two days at the 1.25-mile track three weeks ago testing the No. 22 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Camry. Annett spent hours making laps and trying different lines while behind the wheel of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry. He knew the test session would give him an advantage when returning to the St. Louis-area track as the driver of the Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Tundra.
Annett was pleased with the way his Tundra was handling during both practice sessions Friday. He explained to his crew that the truck handled a little tight in the center of the corners, but it had really good forward bite off the corners. The No. 22 Toyota Tundra team made minor changes to the front end geometry, trying to work out the tight condition. By the end of the final practice session, Annett’s Toyota Tundra was third on the speed chart, and the No. 22 team was looking forward to the race.
Annett went out early in Saturday morning's qualifying session, which the team felt would play to its advantage; as the sun beat down on the track, the slicker the surface would become. Annett’s time of 34.162 seconds put him ninth on the starting grid for the 160-lap event. He told his team the truck was really stable.
Annett took the green flag on a perfect Midwestern afternoon and was hoping for a perfect race. On lap 18, he told the team the balance of the truck was good. He could really get into the corners and back to the gas early, which helped pull him down the straightaways.
On lap 22, Annett rolled down the pit lane for service under yellow-flag conditions. The team filled the truck with fuel and sent its Toyota back onto the track. Crew chief Doug Wolcott wanted to reserve the tires until the end of the race in order to make a final run to the checkered flag.
The race restarted on lap 25 with Annett in the eighth spot. On lap 38, Annett explaining to the crew that he had a terrible vibration, and he thought the right front tire was going flat. Not wanting to take any chances, the team called its driver to pit road on lap 40. The team changed right side tires and filled the truck with racing
fuel. Annett returned to the track two laps down to the leader, as the stop was made under green flag conditions.
Annett reported to his team two laps later that the wheels were really vibrating through the corners. After another pit stop, the team found it had a bad right-front wheel. The four-tire stop under green flag conditions caused Annett to lose another lap to the leader.
Annett battled throughout the remaining laps and picked up eight spots before finishing 24th.
The No. 22 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Tundra team returns to action Saturday at [Loudon] New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The race can be seen live on the Speed Channel. Check local listings for start time.
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