It took approximately 300 laps to get the handling dialed in on the Target Avenger and a “Lucky Dog” pass to get Sorenson back onto the lead lap with about 125 laps remaining in the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Sorenson and crew capitalized on both to bring home a solid 18th-place effort at one of the toughest short-tracks on the circuit, known for being hard on equipment and patience. Sorenson preserved his brakes and kept the fenders on his Target Avenger, finishing on the lead lap in just the second Car of Tomorrow race. More importantly, the Target team gained valuable positions in the overall series standings (currently 25th).
During the opening laps and for much of the first three-quarters of the event Sorenson battled an extremely tight condition, especially in the center of the corners. Crew chief Jimmy Elledge used many of the 13 caution periods to work on the chassis, beginning with making air pressure and track bar adjustments, then moving on to the wedge bolt. The later adjustment(s) ultimately helped the Target Avenger rotate in the center of the corner, and after heads up pit calls to stay out during a couple of late caution periods and some crafty driving, the Target team positioned themselves back on the lead lap (fell one lap down on 206) on lap 376. Sorenson put forth a valiant effort in the closing laps to bring home his third top-20 finish of the season.
The Target team moved up four positions in the overall standings to 25th at the conclusion of the Martinsville race.
The team is just 75 points out of 20th and only 136 out of the final transfer position (12th) for the Chase.
There were 13 cautions for a total of 93 laps. The Target team pitted eight times, all under caution. The time of race was 3 hrs, 44 mins, 36 secs.
Sorenson and the No. 41 Target team have next weekend
off and then head to Texas Motor Speedway for the
Samsung 500. The race will be broadcast Sunday, April
15, on FOX, PRN radio and Sirius Satellite Radio Channel
128 (LIVE, 1:30 pm ET).
Reed's Martinsville Quotes:
“It was a pretty good day for us. We finished on the lead
lap and moved up in the points, which can be a tall order
at Martinsville. The car was really tight for most of the
race, but Jimmy (Elledge) made some great calls on pit
road and we got it turning pretty good at the end. Track
position is very important here because it is so hard to pass
and we just couldn’t get ourselves in position to make a run
at the top 10. Still, we managed to get our lap back and
finish this thing with all of the fenders on the Target Dodge,
so I’m very happy with our effort today.”
