Cut Tire on Last Lap Spoils Rookie Sorenson’s Impressive Run in Daytona 500

Sorenson took the initial green flag in 22nd. Rather than taking any unnecessary risks in the early laps, he stayed in line and raced his way up to 20th before the first of 10 caution periods on lap 16. Sorenson radioed in that the car was “pretty good,” so he entered pit road for four tires and fuel only. The crew performed the service and sent him back on track in 21st.

The field was unleashed again on lap 20 and conditions remained under green until lap 48. Towards the end of the run Sorenson commented that the car was beginning to get “snug.” Crew chief Jimmy Elledge called him onto pit road for four tires, fuel and air pressure adjustments to loosen up the chassis in the corners. After a quick stop by the over the wall crew, Sorenson returned to competition in 13th, ready to take the next green flag on lap 51.

Shortly into the next run Sorenson told Elledge that the car was still tight and to continue freeing it up during each pit stop. The next opportunity to do so came on lap 79 when the third caution flag flew. Sorenson entered pit road running in 23rd, but while entering the pit box the brakes locked up and he slid into pit wall. The car sustained minor fender damage, but the crew took their time and made sure there would be no fender rubs or aerodynamic disadvantages when racing resumed.

Sorenson took the next green flag on lap 84 in 33rd. He raced up to 28th under green and after the call to take only two tires during the fourth caution on lap 90, he found himself running in 19th.

During the next segment of the race, Sorenson and the Target team began to flex some muscle. By lap 116 of the event Sorenson cracked into the top 10 for the first time in the race and prior to the sixth caution on lap 124 he had raced up to eighth. Sorenson pitted during the caution for tires, fuel and a few slight adjustments to loosen up the chassis a little more.

Reed Sorenson and the Target team were sitting pretty as the field readied for a green/white/checkered flag to the finish in the 48th running of the Daytona 500. After methodically working his way in the draft throughout the 200-lap event, Sorenson found himself in 13th as the competitors took the final green flag for a three lap shootout. The stage was set for him to potentially finish in the top 10 or even better, however, a cut tire on the last lap eliminated the possibility for him to do so. Still, he impressed all by running in the lead draft and racing up to as high as sixth place late in the race before taking the checkered flag in 29th.

The No. 41 Target Dodge was positioned in 13th when racing continued on lap 128, and on lap 147 Sorenson motored into sixth place. Unfortunately he was kicked out of line, which is what tends to happens to rookies at restrictor-plate races, and relegated to 16th before the seventh caution on lap 154. Sorenson said the car was good so he pitted for tires and fuel only and exited pit road in 16th.

During the remaining laps of the event Sorenson shuffled around in the top 15, trying to determine which drivers he could work with and which lane was going to be the fastest come crunch time. He had positioned himself in 12th and was making a charge forward when the final caution flag waved with just three laps remaining. Sorenson was poised to bring home a very respectable finish in his first Daytona 500, only to have it snatched away on the final lap.

The 29th-place effort places the Target team 29th in the overall standings heading into the next event at California Speedway on Feb 26, but they are only 58 points out of 10th place. Sorenson currently sits in fifth place in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings with seven points. He is nine points behind leader Clint Boyer. Sorenson’s Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammates Casey Mears and David Stremme finished second and 28th respectively.

“I’m very pleased with our effort today,” said Sorenson. “I didn’t get a whole lot of drafting help out there, but we were able to race our way up front towards the end of the race. The car handled well all day and the guys did an incredible job on pit road. The tire deal was unfortunate because we definitely had a car capable of finishing in the top 10. My hats off to the Target team because they did a great job throughout all of Speedweeks. We’ll put this one behind us and move on to California.”