EASLEY, S.C. — Friday’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East practice session at Greenville-Pickens Speedway saw an unusual issue result in damage and problems for several teams ahead of the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150.
As Rev Racing driver Collin Cabre went out on track for his opening run, a right side weight came loose out of his No. 2 UTI/NTI Toyota and landed on the track in the center of turns three and four, where it was struck by several cars getting up to speed.
Cabre was apologetic about the incident on Saturday morning, knowing that several cars were caught up because of the miscue.
“I wish that’d happened with more cars on the track,” he joked. “No, in all seriousness, I hate that we had that happen, because you never want to have anyone’s equipment torn up like that. We all work hard to get here, so it’s a shame. Just thankful everyone’s back here today and we’ll go out and hopefully have a great race here at Greenville.”
Fellow K&N East regular John Holleman was originally going to go out in the first group with Cabre, but elected to wait and was thankful he made the call to do so, after seeing how things ultimately played out.
“We were going to head out early with those guys, but I’m glad we didn’t,” he said. “Saved our guys a lot of trouble and kept us from having any issues, which is always good.”
The worst damage from the piece of lead was sustained by Chase Purdy’s No. 17 Bama Buggies/Polaris Toyota, which hit the block nearly head on and ended the day with frame and engine damage as a result of the contact.
David Gilliland Racing pulled out a backup car for Purdy, and the Mississippi teenager told Race Chaser Online he is confident about contending for a top finishing position as the day progresses.
“We’ll be alright,” Purdy said. “Yeah, it’s a setback, but it’s nothing these guys can’t overcome. We’ll get the feel under the car in practice … and I think by the time we get to the race, we’ll be good.”
Tyler Dippel’s No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford and Jay Beasley’s No. 42 Rev Racing Toyota were also caught up by the wayward weight, with Dippel’s car having slight trackbar damage and a dinged piston, while Beasley’s team had to replace the truck arm and fix the truck arm mount on his car.
“We didn’t get it nearly as bad as a few of the other guys did,” Dippel admitted. “Our car’s ready to go and we’ll be alright. I was worried until we got it back to the pits yesterday, but we’ve done a good job to repair the piece and I’m excited for our chances tonight.”
“It was just in a really bad spot, there in the corner. Where (the weight) dropped, it was in a place where you really couldn’t see it until it was too late. Just thankful we were able to make repairs.”
The Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 is slated for a 7 p.m. start time on Saturday night.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: [email protected]
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