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.
Ambetter Health 200
Blaine Perkins headed to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the first time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Ahead of Saturday’s action at The Magic Mile, Perkins ran 34th in practice and qualified P32.
The young racer would have some work to do, but without a doubt, his summer-splashin’ paint scheme would turn heads as Perkins prepared to work through the field. He was able to roll off P28 after multiple cars were sent to the rear.
Stage 1
As the green flag dropped, 45 laps of learning started for Perkins. As spotter Eric Holmes coached him through the laps, Perkins was quiet on the radio as he battled the track and surrounding drivers throughout the opening laps.
He was encouraged that Turns 3 and 4 were “really good,” and to work a bit on braking and turning in Turns 2 and 3.
Despite sitting P28, he was in a bubble of his own with a few seconds separating him from the cars ahead of and behind him. This space gave him the opportunity to work on those turns.
With 20 to go in the stage, the leaders were closing in. But fortunately for Perkins, five laps later, those same leaders were battling lapped traffic, slowing their pursuit.
As Perkins took seven to go, he was lapped by the leader. Holmes encouraged him to “stay with the leader” – not just for track position, but also for the opportunity to learn from the No. 7 of Justin Allgaier.
It was also a mission to stay ahead of the No. 44 of Rajah Caruth for the Lucky Dog position. The plan worked as Greg Van Alst wrecked with four to go, bringing out the caution.
Perkins took the opportunity to update crew chief, Dan Stillman, on the handling of his car ahead of the stage break. He would finish the stage P27.
Stage 2
Under caution, Perkins came to his crew for fresh tires, fuel, and adjustments. The green flag for stage two was delayed due to Caruth leaking oil all over the track prior to the stage break, forcing a lengthy cleanup.
Once the action got rolling on Lap 55, Perkins was sitting P23, and back on the lead lap thanks to Van Alst’s misfortune.
Perkins was warned that numerous penalty cars (Nos. 7, 18, and 19) would be coming fast. And indeed, they did. After those cars passed, Perkins was scored P27.
On Lap 60, he was surrounded by lapped traffic and was told by Holmes, “Get a good run and get by all these guys.”
He was making ground when the next caution came on Lap 66. This incident saw the No. 66 of Chad Finchum stalled on pit road.
The Big One
Lap 70 brought the restart with Perkins in P27 but before any ground was made, the caution was out for a huge stack-up.
WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED?!
A HUGE WRECK on the restart! #NASCAR
đź“ş : @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/vGKqthF5GA
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 15, 2023
Perkins was caught in the melee and was pinned against the inside wall with significant, but semi-repairable damage. Stillman called his driver to pit road and said, “We’re going to fix this. We’re not going a lap down for this!”
After multiple trips down pit road for repairs, Stillman’s solid calls, the No. 02 team’s quick work, and multiple cars crashing out, Perkins sat P23 – still on the lead lap.
Stillman told his driver, “We have no right front fender, so it’s probably not going to drive real good. We’re just going to have to manage here.”
Essentially, “We’re down, but not out!”
Nine-Lap Shoot-Out
Before going back to green, pit road opened for the field. Perkins stayed out, but many of the leaders pitted. Facing a nine-lap shoot-out, Perkins lined up P22, following a pit road penalty.
Stillman said, “Heads up on the restart. Same clowns leading it.” Fortunately, it started clean, however, three laps later, the No. 24 of Connor Mosack spun out and slammed the wall.
Under caution, Perkins told his team, “It’s bottoming out.”
Stillman responded, “Yeh, the splitter bar is all bent, so…”
There was a quick discussion on if this could be fixed, but Stillman opted to stay out until the stage break. This had Perkins restarting P10 with two to go. On old tires and with no fender, he finished the stage P22.
Stage 3
Big changes were coming for the No. 02 team during this break, including multiple repairs on top of the usuals. Perkins lined up to restart P24 on Lap 98. He held steady through the opening laps of the final stage.
Lap 102 brought the next caution as the No. 98 of Riley Herbst got spun by the No. 10 of Austin Dillon and slammed the wall.
Perkins was sitting P23 and told Stillman, “Still tight, but not hitting the track as hard.”
Stillman said, “I’d like to stay out if you can manage.” And it was agreed they would continue to battle.
Lap 108 brought the next restart with the No. 02 in P22. Perkins fell back to P27 as he battled the ill-handling car.
On lap 130, Perkins fell down a lap. Sixteen laps later, green flag pit stops began and a few short laps after, Perkins had a tire go down.
Cautions Breed Cautions
With 40 to go, the caution once again waved as the No. 28 of Kyle Sieg went for a spin. Perkins told his crew chief, “I’m getting tighter and tighter. I just can’t manage the corner.”
Stillman told his driver they planned to stay out and encouraged him to do what he could do in these final laps.
Perkins took the wave around and restarted P28, down two laps. Drivers took it four-wide at the front but kept the race clean.
With 30 to go, Perkins was racing with the No. 6 of Brennan Poole, the only other car two laps down.
Then, as soon as Holmes said, “10 to go,” the caution waved as the No. 31 of Parker Retzlaff spun and slammed the wall.
Stillman asked for some updates on the car and responded by saying, “There’s going to be about five to go. We’re going to stay out. You’re doing a great job. Just do what you can do.”
The restart would come with four to go and Perkins sitting P27. Holmes reminded his driver, “We’re just racing the (No.) 24 here.” There was a bit of a stack-up on the green flag that led to several cars wrecking. As luck would have it for Perkins, the No. 24 was involved.
NASCAR Overtime
Facing NASCAR Overtime, Perkins took the green flag in P25. He went into Turn 2 three-wide but stayed clean.
As soon as John Hunter Nemechek took the white flag, chaos ensued as a multi-car pile-up occurred.
After the pandemonium was sorted out, Perkins brought home his No. 02 Wicked Waves Water Park | Cape Cod Inflatable Park car home P25.
A hard-fought top 25 for the underdog team on a very difficult track.
Sponsor Shoutout
As NASCAR fans know, sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shoutout to one that was a huge part of the weekend for Blaine Perkins and the No. 02 team:
Wicked Waves Water Park | Cape Cod Inflatable Park
Be sure to give Blaine Perkins (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and Our Motorsports (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.
This just proves you have to keep chugging along and you will come out alright. Great story!