Momentum led Reed Sorenson and the Discount Tire team into the Kentucky Speedway this weekend following three straight top-five finishes. Leading the point standings, Sorenson was looking to add to the top five streak.
With experience on the Kentucky track thanks to his days from running in the American Speed Association (which left him third last year), Reed ventured to the ‘Bluegrass State’ knowing he could either duplicate or improve the effort.
“I like Kentucky. It’s a different track. It has a different feel, like you are always turning,” he said.
With two practice runs out of the way early Saturday Sorenson tightened his belts for two quick laps around the 1.5-mile track for qualifying and sailed his No. 41 Dodge Charger to a steady eighth place showing on the grid.
Due to another competitor’s wreck during qualifying, teams then scrambled to get pitroad ready in time for the race. As Sorenson sat in on the driver’s meeting his crew set up the Discount Tire Co. pitstall and as usual, Reed’s always supportive Dad Brad pitched in his helping hand.
With preparations complete it was time to go racing. With less than 20 laps on the board the yellow flag had fallen twice. Sorenson found himself ninth in the rundown.
“Hopefully we’ll get some more green flag laps here and see what this thing does,” he keyed to crew chief Brian Pattie.
As the flashy Charger machine sailed along Pattie called for minor adjustments to remedy the car’s tight condition. On lap 54 the changes turned out to be for the better as Sorenson took the second spot away from Greg Biffle.
“Be smooth, hit your marks. We’re in good shape,” Pattie coached.
The yellow dropped yet again just after lap 70 giving the Discount Tire team another chance to service their Dodge. They did their part and clicked off a strong 17-second stop.
But pulling off of pitroad was another story. Denny Hamlin pulled out and forced the No. 41 into the grass.
“I had to drive out there or I would have hit him and messed the car up,” Sorenson said.
With no damage to the 41 Reed dug in and continued gunning for position.
As the laps clicked down to 90 to go Reed relayed to his crew chief that the tires were wearing thin. “Brian, I killed this right front," he said.
Luckily he had one more pitstop looming and was able to get a fresh set of tires underneath him for his final charge towards the checkered.
“There was just no grip. I lost a few spots there trying to hang on,” Sorenson said.
Running more than the final 50 laps after his pitstop Reed charged on to claim yet another solid top five effort with a fourth place showing for the Discount Tire Co. Dodge.
Also joining Reed in the top four, the guys he is battling in the point standings; Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex, Jr. and Carl Edwards, as he claimed the win.
Reed continues to hold the points lead and next takes his championship charge to Milwaukee. Like Kentucky, Sorenson has experience at Milwaukee from his ASA days. Last season he adapted well to the track and had a stellar qualifying effort in fifth.
Reed races to the outside of Jason Keller at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night. (High Sierra Photos)
