Roulette Recap follows a randomly-selected 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.
Worldwide Express 250
Saturday night’s race at Richmond Raceway marked the end of the regular season for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. While Spencer Boyd was not in the Playoff hunt, it was still an important race day, as they all are, for the Young’s Motorsports driver. Boyd would line up P32 for the Saturday night short-track race.
Before drivers could get comfortable in their trucks, they were climbing back out as lightning was in the area. After an hour-long delay, it was finally time to go racing. Encouragement was delivered over the radio, and Boyd and the No. 12 team went to work.
Stage 1
Drivers took their trucks three-wide throughout the field to start the race and while Boyd moved up to P30, he settled into P32 after some to-the-rear trucks got around him.
Lap 8 saw the field shuffled to mostly single file with Boyd in P33. Boyd was encouraged that his lap times were solid, and spotter Frankie Kimmel gave him some advice on wrapping the bottom line.
By Lap 25, Boyd was passed by the leader and fell in behind the second-place driver, Ben Rhodes. He used the opportunity to learn from the previous Truck Series champion.
Lap 31 saw him in the middle of a gaggle of lead lap and lapped traffic trucks. One lap later, the No. 15 of Tanner Gray was slowing on track as he fell from P6, but the race stayed green. Meanwhile, Boyd had lost a position to the Truck rookie, Christian Rose.
As the laps ticked by, Boyd maintained his position and continued to learn. With only 21 trucks on the lead lap, and leader Ty Majeski with a five-second lead, Boyd fell one more lap with 20 to go in the opening stage.
Boyd used the opportunity of a relatively clean track to radio his team and say he was, “Loose in, tight in the middle,” and requested some changes on the upcoming pit stop.
With concerns of tire cording, Boyd fell to P36 and was told to, “Just hang on to it for four more laps.”
He did that and the stage finally ended with a P36 finish, with Boyd down two laps.
Stage 2
The discussion immediately started on what Boyd was feeling and what changes would come his way. Following a solid stop from the No. 12 team, it was time to reset and prepare for the next 65-lap run.
Stage two started with Boyd in P34 on Lap 80, down two laps. Boyd took it three-wide in an attempt to gain some much-needed track position, but once everything shook out, he held the same spot.
Within five laps, Boyd lost a spot as Derek Lemke got around him. However, it was worth noting, only 17 trucks were on the lead lap thanks to the ThorSport dominance.
Boyd radioed his team and said, “Something doesn’t feel right.” As his spotter and crew chief worked to diagnose what he was feeling, Boyd kept on keeping on. Majeski continued putting on a clinic and lapped the No. 12 once again – leaving only 16 trucks on the lead lap.
Boyd was encouraged regarding his middle-turn speed and was told to work on his entrance and exits.
Cautions Breed Cautions?
Lap 111 brought out the caution as the No. 5 of Dean Thompson went for a spin. Quickly, the discussion started about whether or not to pit. Ultimately, the No. 12 team opted to hit the pits for fresh tires.
After a lengthy stop and a speeding penalty, Boyd returned to the track in P36 for a Lap 117 restart.
Boyd was reminded by his spotter that he would be “way faster” with fresh tires, but he needed to “be smart and take care of the stuff.”
Two laps later, the No. 90 of Justin Carroll went for a spin, which resulted in another caution. Boyd had not made any ground, but that gave them options – pit to top off on fuel, take the wave around, or stay on track.
The decision was made to pit for fuel, and of course, keep taking care of the tires. This stop put Boyd in P36, down four laps, with 16 to go in the second stage. He was instructed to “just ride around and save the tires.”
The remainder of the stage stayed green and Boyd did what he was instructed to do. He finished the stage in P36 and did not lose another lap, allowing him to take the wave around and gain back a lap.
This would put him short about two dozen laps on fuel, but would also put him in a more fortunate position if the aggression picked up.
Stage 3
After waving, Boyd was informed he would be racing the Nos. 22 (Christian Rose) and 20 (Mason Massey) on his lap. With that, he would restart P34, down three laps, with 101 laps to go.
Over the next 34 laps, Boyd held his ground and position as the race ran green. With 66 to go, he lost another lap as the new leader, Carson Hocevar, began a tear around the track with a 3.5-second lead on the field.
With 54 to go, Boyd was sitting P34 on a lap of his own, five laps down.
The “pit under green” discussion started while Boyd radioed in with a tire vibration. Boyd eventually came to pit road with 48 to go as he could no longer run with the tire issue.
This would set him down more laps. However, many lead lap trucks were pitting at the same time. Boyd faced a lengthy stop and returned to the track P34, down nine laps.
Following a long green-flag run to end the night, the checkered flag waved with only seven trucks on the lead lap. Boyd finished the Worldwide Express 250 in P35.
Sponsor Shoutout
As NASCAR fans know, sponsors make the sport go ’round. Give Spencer’s primary sponsor, Latitude Aero, a follow and thank them for sponsoring the Young’s Motorsports driver!
Be sure to give Spencer Boyd (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and Young’s Motorsports (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.
