Not even becoming a victim in the dreaded “big one” at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in Saturday afternoon’s fred’s 250 could stop Tyler Young from earning his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) top-10 of the season in the final restrictor plate race of the year.
A strong No. 02 Young’s Building Systems / Randco. Industries Chevrolet Silverado prepared by veteran crew chief Chad Kendrick was a factor for the entire 95-lap race and even though the team’s strategy to pit before the end of Stage 2 backfired on the Mooresville, N.C.-team, a relentless effort by Young kept the team apart of the mix.
“We had a really good day,” said Young. “It’s a shame that our truck got banged up in that last lap crash, but I’m proud of Chad and the Young’s Motorsports team. Our truck was really on point.
“We started 19th, but we didn’t stay there and I’m really content with the progress we’ve made with our superspeedway program. We just need to keep tweaking on it and hope we’re better for Daytona in February.”
With an emphasis on solo-truck runs during practice, the team produced the 19th quickest lap in qualifying early Saturday morning, but once the green flag fell, Young quickly showed what his Young’s Motorsports machine was capable of.
While doing a masterful job to avoid the chaos in the first two stages of the 19th race of the season, Young drafted to as high as fifth – but while running in the top-10 during NASCAR overtime, the Midland, Texas native found himself at the wrong place at the wrong time and contact from another truck sent Young into the Turn 1 wall.
Able to drive away from the scene of the multi-truck crash, Young maneuvered his battered machine back to the start / finish line where NASCAR deemed that the No. 02 claimed 10th overall – the same finish the Texan claimed in his most recent appearance at the 2.66-mile superspeedway in 2015.
“For the most part, I could do whatever I needed to do with our No. 02 Young’s Building Systems / Randco Industries Chevrolet,” added Young. “We destroyed our truck at Daytona in February, so the guys worked hard all year to make sure we had something competitive for my return to Talladega.
“This finish is a great momentum boost for us heading into our final off weekend of the season. Hopefully, Austin (Hill) and Jeb (Burton) can keep us pointed in the right direction at Martinsville Speedway in a couple weeks.”
In 77 career NCWTS starts, Young holds five top-10 finishes to his credit with a career-best sixth at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February 2016. A sixth-place qualifying effort at Eldora Speedway in July 2015 is his best time trials effort to date. Young’s Motorsports has competed on the tour since 2012.
Unofficially with four races remaining on the 2017 NCWTS schedule, truck owner Randy Young sits 15th in the owner standings.
Young’s Motorsports PR
