Daytona: Tim George Jr. race report

Bad Luck Prevails in Closing Laps of Season Opener for George Jr.

After posting quick laps in practice sessions and qualifying ninth for the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway, Tim George Jr. and the No. 31 Gere Kennon-led Richard Childress Racing team suffered a couple of setbacks in the closing stages of the 80-lap ARCA race that resulted in a 27th-place result. Although the finish doesn't reflect how the New York, N.Y., native ran in the beginning and middle stages of the showdown, drafting between the eighth and 26th spots, contact made to the left-rear quarter panel of the No. 31 Chevrolet during a multi-car incident left George Jr. with a tire rub when the field returned to green-flag racing on lap 70. The unfortunate circumstance forced him to visit pit road a couple laps later and, upon exiting, ARCA officials penalized George Jr. for speeding. The punishment was in the form of a pass-thru penalty that returned the 30-year-old driver to competition two laps down where he finished 27th in the rundown.

TIM GEORGE JR: "Our strategy was to hold back and push Ty (Dillon) up to the front late then battle for the lead. With 10 laps to go or so, I got tapped trying to avoid a multi-car spin. The RCR Chevrolet had a tire rub and I had to pit under green (flag conditions) but had to return a lap later to serve a speeding penalty, even though I saw all green on my tachometer. It was unfortunate. That car could have won. The No. 31 RCR crew did a great job preparing the car for drafting and I was turning 46's (seconds) while most were running in the 47's. Plate racing for Richard Childress is a great experience. It just didn't work out for us this time, but we are going to be a contender at Talladega."

-source: rcr