Big Night for Fitzpatrick

[Schwartz Fan]

Big Night for Fitzpatrick



Friday the 13th proved to be a very rewarding night for J.R. Fitzpatrick, driver of the No. 7 Mammoet Chevrolet Silverado.

Fitzpatrick finished fourth in Friday night'sseason opening NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

After starting 14th, it didn't take the Cambridge, Ontario, Canada resident long to make his way into the top 10 and then into the top five and eventually the lead. Avoiding a close call on lap 19 when a truck in front got loose and then narrowly missing a big wreck in front of him on lap 47. Following those nervous moments, Fitzpatrick was able to drive his way into the lead on lap 71.

The Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate used the first 71 laps to methodically run in top 10. When the chance to lead presented itself the 20 year old Canadian was up to the task. He took the lead on lap 71 with NASCAR sensation Kyle Busch in his mirror. Unfazed Fitzpatrick led until the lap 88before being shuffled back.

The team saved four sticker tires for the run to the finish which proved to be a good call. Fitzpatrick was able to find his way through the last laps of mayhem to bring the No. 71 Mammoet Chevy home in fourth.

"The truck was really hooked up on the bottom," Fitzpatrick said. "We had really good strategy going at the end, we just ran out of time. I had a heck of time leading. That was a lot of fun. It was my first time here and first time racing with all of these guys. It is pretty sweet; I was getting pushed around by Kyle Busch, which is the coolest thing that has ever happened to me."

"We were working all through practice to get the thing to stay on the bottom. We had it set in our minds that if they were going to pass they were going to pass on the outside. This thing just stuck right at the bottom. For Butch Hylton and the whole crew and Mammoet this is awesome."

"When the six truck got loose I hit my brake and got into him a little. I tried not to turn him and he gathered it back up. It was hard when you are going that fast. Then into turn one - that was crazy, I am not sure how I missed that, it was unbelievable."

"My spotter David (Keith) did a great job. We were working great together. I pulled out a couple of times when I should have stayed at the bottom. I was getting anxious I wanted to get to the front. It was great. The whole group did a fantastic job. The last run on new tires was great. We were a little tight, but we knew we were going to be early and it was going to come to me later. We passed a lot of trucks at the end and it was working great. If we had a little more time we probably could have got them. I was working great underneath."

For Kevin Buckler, TRG Motorsports team owner, this is nice way to leave Daytona.

"We had a tough ARCA race and didn't make the 500, but J.R. really picked up this whole team tonight," Buckler said. "He took great direction all race from David the spotter and Butch in the pits. As the race went on his pit stops got better as he learned from the guys. He went to school on drafting and running with some real veterans and even led the most laps. What a night!"

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