ES: Jefferson: Max Gresham race report

JEFFERSON, GA (August 28, 2010) -- Max Gresham felt a little flat Saturday after a bump-up in the final laps cost him a top-five finish in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East American Fence Association 150 Presented By Mayfield Ice Creamier at Gresham Motorsports Park Saturday.

"We thought we had a flat tire after that last incident racing off of Turn 2," said Gresham, who unofficially finished 12th in the 150-lap test. "It just stinks. There's nothing we could do. If we would have stayed out for a couple of more laps, we might have a top-five run. I guess it was better to take the car home in the shape it is than to totally wreck it in the final laps. It is what it is."

Gresham started the first major NASCAR touring race in 23 years at his sparkling new family-owned GMP facility from the 14th position after a qualifying with a lap of 17.556 seconds.

Gresham and the rest of the 23-car field immediately went to work as International Speedway Corporation president Lesa France Kennedy waived the green flag. The 17-year-old Woodward Academy senior high school student quickly worked his way into the top-10 and by Lap 50 and was just outside the top-five in seventh by the halfway mark.

The drive to the front proved to be slow going as Gresham had to endure 12 caution periods -- and four red-flags - that delayed the race. The last of these -- a bump up just five laps from the checkered flag saddled Gresham with a less-than-deserved 12th-place finish.

"We got up to the top-five at one point," said Gresham. "Then we got messed up at the finish. There's only so much I can do. With all the wrecks and cautions that happened tonight, people are going to leave with hurt feelings. That's short track racing for you."

Next up for Max Gresham will be an ARCA start at Toledo (OH) Speedway on Sunday, September 12. Gresham and his No. 71 Gresham Motorsports Toyota already have one ARCA win this season in the Tim Richmond Memorial 200 at Mansfield (OH) Speedway on July 17.

Gresham's next NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race will be at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday, September 17. Last year, Gresham and his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota qualified on the outside pole and finished ninth in Gresham's first big-track race.

-source: www.maxgresham.com