Daniel Dye came home sixth at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) to tie his best-career result in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS). With finishes in the top-10 in the first two stages, Dye moved into 11th position in the NCTS points standings. This is Dye’s second top-10 result this season and his best career finish at a 1.5-mile track.
Dye began his day at TMS by posting a time of 29.43 seconds in qualifying, which placed him sixth on the starting grid for his fifth top-10 qualifying effort of the season. Dye consistently maintained his sixth position through the first stage. Stage 1 came to an end on lap 40 with Dye running in sixth, which earned him five stage points. Under the stage caution, he made his first pit road appearance.
The Champion Container team gave Dye four tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment to help tighten the grip on his truck. Dye restarted 12th on lap 45 to begin the second stage. and wasted no time with the new adjustments to his truck by gaining four spots within two laps. With a caution-free Stage 2, Dye finished in eighth position earning him three stage points on lap 80.
Dye returned down pit road for four tires, fuel, and another air pressure adjustment, he came out of the pits in 11th to begin the final stage on lap 86. Dye battled with other drivers for a top-10 position until the green flag pit cycle began. Bainbridge called him in to make his final stop of the night on lap 120. With one more air pressure adjustment, four tires, and fuel Dye returned to action in 21st. He was able to move forward through a caution filed final stage and found himself in a race-high fifth place on lap 157. Dye finished his night in sixth position giving him his best result at a 1.5-mile track. Dye also equaled his career-best NCTS finish and now sits 11th in the points standings on sitting five points away from the playoff cutline.
Daniel Dye Quote:
“A good day and good finish, I wanted fifth really bad, I thought we had a truck good enough for the top five. My crew chief Blake Bainbridge brought a really good truck on top of the pit crew helping with good pit stops. Overall, it was a good day and happy to get my second top-10 this season and be able to earn eight stage points to help us move up in the points standings.”
McAnally Hilgemann Racing PR
