Author Topic: Fitzpatrick Qualifies Sixth but Falls Victim to First Lap Crash in Phoenix (Read 4334 times)

CanadianRacingOnline · « **on:** November 10, 2008, 10:31:09 PM »

Fitzpatrick Qualifies Sixth but Falls Victim to First Lap Crash in Phoenix

Avondale, Az. (November 10, 2008) – J.R. Fitzpatrick made his second-career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start on Friday night at Phoenix International Raceway and the Canadian stock car champion proved to have what it takes to race against the Truck Series stars after qualifying the No. 71 Mammoet Chevrolet in sixth position for the 150-lap Lucas Oil 150. But Fitzpatrick’s top-10 run ended early after the leaders spun in front of the field on the very first lap, collecting the Mammoet Chevrolet and sending Fitzpatrick to the garage for repairs. After sixty laps behind the wall, Fitzpatrick returned to the track making 45 more circuits around the speedway before calling it a night and being credited with a 30th place finish.

“On Friday, we laid down an awesome qualifying lap, and I believe we could have got a solid top-10 if we didn't get tangled up on the first lap wreck,” explained Fitzpatrick. “We just had nowhere to go once the smoke cleared.” Fitzpatrick was happy even though they didn’t get the finish they deserved. “The No. 71 team did an awesome job getting the truck to work great after we struggled a bit in the practice sessions,” he explained. “I believe it had more to do with me getting seat time at a track because that was the biggest I have ever been on.”

With Fitzpatrick making his first start on a one-mile oval, he sought advice from fellow Chevrolet driver, Kevin Harvick, which paid off. “After getting some strong advice from Kevin Harvick, I picked up on a lot of errors I was making,” said Fitzpatrick. “Also the team thought of a lot of changes to make the truck better for the race.” It was the team’s first return to the track after skipping Atlanta and Texas.

“Missing Atlanta and Texas seemed like we had been put in detention,” said Crew Chief, Jon Wolfe. “The sad part was that we traveled 2500 miles to only run ¾ of a lap in the race, but that is the way it works sometimes. The team put together an awesome truck for J.R. and we went out and qualified 6th. All was good until a bonehead move by the leaders on the first lap ended our night. J.R. just had nowhere to go and heavily damaged our truck. After some major repairs, we returned to the track 60 laps later, just so J.R. could get some seat time.”

Fitzpatrick will take the No. 71 Mammoet Chevrolet to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ford 200 on Friday, November 14th. Live television coverage will begin on the SPEED Channel at 7:30 p.m. ET with radio coverage coming to you live courtesy of MRN Radio.

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CanadianRacingOnline.com · « **on:** November 10, 2008, 10:31:09 PM »

Thayne · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2008, 07:14:41 PM »

JR is practising on speed...just got some mad TV time for the wrong reasons..he looped her but hot damn did he ever do a hell of a job keeping outta the fence!

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2wheeler · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2008, 07:55:40 PM »

He's running mid pack in practice. Hopefully he gets to show what he can do tomorrow night .

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CanadianRacingOnline.com · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2008, 07:55:40 PM »

Thayne · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2008, 08:17:47 PM »

yea, he was in the later 20's last week and put her up in 6th so we will see.

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MoeskerRacing · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2008, 10:46:11 PM »

He made a nice save after the loop. It was all positive things said when it happened, so it wasn't necessarily such a bad thing. Now he knows the limit at that track. Hope he has better luck this weekend and gets to show what he can do.

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Thayne · « **Reply #5 on:** November 14, 2008, 06:43:55 AM »

oh 100% it was a great save! ?I just meant he didnt want TV time for a spin out....

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AutoAssembler · « **Reply #6 on:** November 14, 2008, 08:42:49 AM »

All said, JR had a pretty decent day. "15th before qualfying trim and 21st in qualfying trim" He says he has a decent truck. He was ahead of some pretty good drivers & equipment in practice times too.

As for the TV thing, I don't know, I think any time you can get some press, it's got to be good, no? He's got lots of air time for his sponsor the past few weeks, they should be happy?

Anyway JR, get er done!

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Thayne · « **Reply #7 on:** November 14, 2008, 05:59:34 PM »

JR is about to qually, tune into speed now.

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kcbc · « **Reply #8 on:** November 14, 2008, 06:14:15 PM »

19th quick on first lap spun 2nd lap stayed off wall... way to go J.R

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B.A.R. · « **Reply #9 on:** November 14, 2008, 06:21:08 PM »

The kid is doing what he needs to do...run fast.....make people notice him, and spin on purpose so he can get more air time !!!

Hire that Man !!!

For most of you everyone thinks J.R. stands for John Ryan.... It doesn't !!

IT STANDS FOR....... JUST RACIN FITZPATRICK..... Canada's answer to awesome.

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Thayne · « **Reply #10 on:** November 14, 2008, 07:00:55 PM »

haha nicely said BAR....Mickey was pumped on that save he was like..."you can't teach that in any school, he was born able to drive likew that." He seems to really be impressing....

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DWfan4ever · « **Reply #11 on:** November 14, 2008, 10:06:21 PM »

Great work by JR to run the full race tonight and thank goodness he didn't get messed up like last week when he had a strong truck also. Again got air time which is always a plus when trying to impress sponsors for the upcoming season, wherever he races. Mikey was a bit shocked when he found out the sponsor on the truck was Dutch.LOL

Congrats to Johnny Benson for winning the championship this year, definitely another great race in the truck series.

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Thayne · « **Reply #12 on:** November 14, 2008, 10:30:39 PM »

what happened to him...he was running like 20th then i come back to the TV and he is 31st 6 laps down....?? any1?

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AutoAssembler · « **Reply #13 on:** November 14, 2008, 10:33:12 PM »

JR had a good clean run, awesome job bud! That should get him all his NASCAR certifications now! Congratulations!

Man, he almost gave me a couple of heart attacks, in practice and qualifying, but what an awesome job driving!

I was wondering before the race, just how many tires he had left to race on?

Got lots of air time too!

I think something went sour with the truck near the end, as he was holding his own, around P23, then the truck just started to fade??? Tires perhaps, loose a cylinder maybe???

At any rate, we should all be proud, I know I am!

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Thayne · « **Reply #14 on:** November 14, 2008, 10:44:17 PM »

Quote from: AutoAssembler on November 14, 2008, 10:33:12 PM

We should all be proud, I know I am!

+1

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