Roulette Recap follows a randomly selected driver throughout a race to break down their efforts. There is no telling ahead of time how the race will go. The driver could face calamity on the opening lap or start from the rear and win the race. With that, may the odds be ever in the driver’s favor.
RAPTOR King of Tough 250
The RAPTOR King of Tough 250 marked Dawson Cram’s first NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In 2023, he unfortunately did not qualify for the race while running with a different team.
However, with 2024 comes a new team and new opportunities for the young driver. Despite having zero practice time ahead of qualifying, Cram laid down a lap that would have him line up P29.
Prior to the green flag, it was noted over the radio that Cram would be dropping to the rear, not for penalty reasons, but for learning and strategy purposes.
As he awaited the green, he thanked his team for all the hard work, especially with the quick turnaround after Daytona.
Spotter Brit Anderson replied, “Let’s have a good day. Hang back here and wait for the Big One.”
Stage 1
The race ran two-by-two through the opening laps and Cram was running P34 to pace himself and avoid a wreck. He was running right behind Leland Honeymen, Jr. who was on the same plan as the JD Motorsports driver.
Anderson encouraged Cram, P33, to pick up the pace on Lap 8 to avoid getting lapped. He also told the young driver to “not lose” his group. Cram remained quiet on the radio and held steady through the opening stage, learning as the laps ticked by.
On Lap 26, crew chief Kase Kallenbach noted the leaders were slowing down and Cram’s No. 4 was picking up speed. As those leaders closed in on Cram’s machine, this was very good news to hear.
With six to go (Lap 35), the racing started to pick up between the leaders and Cram was able to get around the No. 78 of BJ McLeod.
With two to go, Cram was lapped on the backstretch, but it worked in his favor as he was the Lucky Dog when the stage ended.
He brought it across the stripe in P32 and was encouraged by Kallenbach for his heads up and good listening to Anderson.
Stage 2
Cram pitted for tires and fuel, opting to avoid any major changes with the setting sun, and ultimately, the changing track conditions. After pitting, he would restart P29 for the Stage 2 restart on Lap 48.
Three laps later, while the front of the field stretched to single file, Cram was sitting P31 and told it was a “good spot.”
The first caution for incident came on Lap 58 as JJ Yeley spun after contact with Kyle Weatherman. Cram was sitting P30. During the yellow, he radioed to his team about a vibration in the corners.
After pitting, he returned to the track to restart P29 on Lap 64. Two laps later, he was sitting P27 and “leading a pack of seven,” according to Anderson.
Kallenbach radioed in regarding the vibration Cram reported and noted it was indeed a loose wheel.
Lap 69 saw John Hunter Nemechek get into the wall. The race remained green and this incident allowed Cram to move up to P26 with 11 to go in the stage.
With five to go, Cram was notified he received a penalty for “racing below the yellow line.” Cram replied, “It was when the 20 wrecked! I was avoiding the wreck.”
Kallenbach radioed back, “Do a pass-through.”
With that, Cram would finish Stage 2 in P32, down a lap. Unfortunately, he was not the Lucky Dog this time. Anderson, Cram, and Kallenbach discussed possible options. Ultimately, Kallenbach said, “Only option – pit. Four tires and fuel.”
Kallenbach noted, “So it looked like we went below the yellow line…” A frustrated Cram responded, “So when they’re all smashing into the wall, hold it straight. Got it.”
Kallenbach radioed back, “I wouldn’t go that extreme…” and left it at that.
Stage 3
The final stage restart came on Lap 88 with Cram sitting P34, down one lap. Cram’s new goal was to beat out the other cars one lap down. This included Kyle Sieg, Patrick Emerling, and Jordan Anderson.
With 67 to go, Cram got around Emerling and set his eyes on K. Sieg. Three laps later, he was sitting in the Lucky Dog spot.
As the laps clicked by, the race remained green and Cram sat P33, the third car a lap down. However, the longer the run went, more cars got lapped. This put the No. 4 team further behind the eight ball.
As drivers took 23 to go, Cram was sitting P31, down two laps, and the radio chatter went to fuel management.
With three to go, cars started dropping like flies as they ran out of fuel. Then, the caution came out as the No. 39 of Ryan Sieg stalled on the backstretch.
NASCAR Overtime
Kallenbach called Cram to the pits for a splash of fuel. However, his restart instructions were to “hang way back” as the crew chief felt “The Big One” would come on the restart.
Cram sat P31 ahead of the chaos. On the restart, numerous cars ran out of fuel immediately after taking the green. However, the remaining laps ran green and Cram brought it home P31.
Kallenbach radioed in, “Great job everybody. Not the result we wanted, but it is what it is.”
Cram said, “I was told success is the car being clean, and it is.”
Sponsor Shoutout + Driver & Team Socials
Finally, NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shoutout to KSDT CPA who played a huge part of the weekend for Dawson and the No. 4 team.
Be sure to give Dawson Cram (Facebook, Instagram, X) and JD Motorsports (Facebook, Instagram, X) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.
