REED SORENSON CLAIMS A TOP-15 FINISH AT AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
Reed Sorenson jumped back into the driver’s seat of the No. 30 Rexall Chevrolet this weekend as the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) headed back to the west coast. Over the unusually rainy weekend in southern Calif., the No. 30 team worked hard on the handling of the Rexall machine before the 150-lap Royal Purple 300. From the drop of the green flag, Sorenson reported a free condition that plagued the race car the entire event. Taking the checkered flag in the 14th position, Sorenson currently sits fifth in the Nationwide Series driver point standings.
Starting from the 14th position, Sorenson wheeled his No. 30 Chevy into the 11th spot by lap two. When the caution flag was displayed for the first time on lap eight for debris, crew chief Stewart Cooper made the call to follow the leaders to pit road. Sorenson slid the Rexall Chevy into his pit stall for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment, before returning to the track in the 20th spot.
By lap 14, Sorenson was listed inside the top-15, where he would remain a majority of the afternoon. Unfortunately, while marred back in traffic after his first pit stop, Sorenson made contact with another competitor and sustained minor front end damage.
The day’s second caution flag was displayed on lap 20. Under caution, Sorenson reported he was free on the exit of the corner, and Cooper called his driver to pit road for fuel and a wedge adjustment. When the race restarted on lap 23, the No. 30 was riding in the second position. Over the next 30 laps, Sorenson continued to race solidly inside the top-15, weathering one more caution period.
On lap 62, Cooper called the No. 30 to pit road under green-flag conditions for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment, after his driver asked to be tightened up slightly. As he drove away from his pit stall, the yellow flag was displayed to the field. Fortunately, Sorenson beat the leaders to the line, leaving him only one lap down. Opting to take the wave-around under caution, the No. 30 was back on the lead lap for the restart.
Sorenson raced the remainder of the afternoon inside the top-15. After continuing to report on the persistent loose-handling condition, he made his final pit stop under green-flag conditions. As the field took the checkers after 150 hard-fought laps, the No. 30 Rexall Chevrolet was listed in the 14th position. Sorenson will return to the seat of the No. 32 Dollar General Chevrolet when the Nationwide Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway in two weeks and will jump back into the No. 30 Rexall Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway in June.
“This is obviously not the day we were looking for, but I am really proud of all these guys on the No. 30,” said Sorenson after the race. “They worked hard all day to try to fix the loose condition. We just never got this Rexall Chevy dialed in today, but I am excited to have another chance to get Rexall to victory lane at Michigan this summer!”
Next Stop: The NASCAR Nationwide Series teams will enjoy a weekend off before heading to Texas Motor Speedway for racing under the lights on Friday, April 8th. The O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN2 and on PRN Radio affiliates. LIVE coverage begins at 8:30 p.m. EST.
Reed Sorenson -Auto Club Speedway
Race Report
#30 Rexall Chevrolet
