Roulette Recap follows a randomly-selected NASCAR Xfinity Series driver throughout a race and recaps their efforts. The driver could face calamity on lap one or start from the rear and win the race – there is no telling ahead of time. With that, may the odds be ever in the driver’s favor.
Toyota 200
Facing his first visit to World Wide Technology Raceway, Bayley Currey was hot in practice with a P5 effort. He was also ninth on the 10-lap averages chart. Following the quick practice session, Currey qualified his No. 41 Niece Motorsports machine P11.
Coming to the green flag, crew chief Mike Hillman encouraged his driver, declaring, “I believe we built a hot rod!”
Spotter Stevie Reeves hyped Currey up, saying, “Pull ’em tight and go have some fun!”
Stage 1
As soon as the green flag waved, the caution was out as Brett Holmes and Clay Greenfield wrecked. Currey had lost two positions, and it took a frustrating seven laps of caution to go back green.
After making it through a mess of trucks, Currey was scored in P10. Three laps later, he was in a three-wide battle and was cleared to settle in at P14.
At this time, Currey was able to update his team on how his truck was handling, stating, “Real tight center, especially in (Turns) 1 and 2.”
With seven to go in the opening stage, the caution waved again as the No. 34 of Stephen Mallozzi had trouble. Hillman told Currey a “pretty big swing” was coming his way and he called his driver to the pits.
The stage end came after a one-lap shootout where Currey restarted P16 and finished in the same position.
Stage 2
Currey kept his truck on track and started the second stage from P13. Hillman told him, “Get aggressive and go get ’em.”
As a three-wide battle raged in front of him, Currey stalked the Nos. 4, 15, and 17, awaiting one of the drivers to make a mistake so he could take advantage.
After getting around Tanner Gray, he claimed P11 on lap 52. Currey was sitting P12 when the fourth caution flew – this time for Jack Wood with a spin and hard hit.
Currey’s trip to pit road for another “big swing” faced a mishap with some miscommunication, forcing him to restart P26.
He gained six spots before the next caution came with four laps remaining in Stage 2. This caution would end the stage with Currey in P20.
Stage 3
The late-stage pit stop allowed Currey to start the opening stage P9, but yet another caution came just three laps later with Currey in P10.
It was the same deal following the lap 86 restart – Currey restarted P10 and wound up there after a spin from another trucker.
With 67 laps remaining, Currey restarted P9 but he was nearing his fuel window. He settled in at P15Â and with 50 to go, was told to go, “easy in, hard off.”
Suddenly, Currey was on the radio yelling, “Running out of gas!” Hillman responded that he wanted him to stay on track as long as possible so they would not face another fuel issue in the closing laps.
He finally came in for fuel with 40 to go, pitting from P17. Unfortunately, the long-awaited caution came once he returned to the track, trapping Currey a lap down with 35 laps remaining.
At this point, Currey was now racing for the Lucky Dog and hoping for a quick caution. As luck would have it, the caution came with 25 to go, just three laps after the restart, but in an unlucky turn of events, Currey was the cause for the caution.
He came to his crew for fresh tires, fuel, and repairs and was told he only had minor right rear damage. He came back on track P26, down one lap, with 20 to go – and a lead-lap finish in sight.
Currey worked his way to P24 within five laps, and he was in that same spot when the caution flew with 11 to go.
With six to go, he was sitting in the Lucky Dog spot in P24. This time, Currey would indeed be lucky! The leaders wrecked battling for the lead, putting him back on the lead lap.
Currey restarted P22 and in NASCAR Overtime, worked his way out of the top 20.
When the checkered flag waved, the Texan was scored P17.
He thanked his team and apologized for the wreck, saying, “I tried way too —-ing hard to get that Lucky Dog!”
Hillman said, “We learned and we’ll go get ’em in Nashville!”
Sponsor Shoutout
As NASCAR fans know, sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shoutout to a few that were a huge part of the weekend for Bayley Currey and the No. 41 team:
Be sure to give Bayley Currey (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and Niece Motorsports (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.
