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.
Call Before You Dig 200
A one-day show was on tap for the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Phoenix Raceway. Parker Retzlaff ran a lap that was 24th fastest. Then, in qualifying his lap had him sitting P18 for the Call811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200.
Retzlaff started the 2024 season with two top-ten finishes. However, an early wreck and a fuel pump issue forced a DNF at Las Vegas. The driver of the No. 31 Jordan Anderson Racing machine was ready to put the bad luck behind him.
Stage 1
The opening stage was a quiet one for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin driver. After a three-wide battle at the green flag, Retzlaff fell to P18. When an early caution came on Lap 6 when Jeremy Clements got into Josh Williams, collecting Dawson Cram in the chaos, he was sitting P20.
Retzlaff restarted P19 on Lap 11 and was battling NASCAR Cup Series driver, William Byron. Seven laps later, the field stretched to nearly single file and it was time to pick off drivers one-by-one.
The first driver Retzlaff passed was Sammy Smith on Lap 21. Then with 16 to go, he got around Anthony Alfredo.
Four laps later, crew chief Chad Kendrick said, “Stay in your rhythm. You’re faster than the next five when you hit your marks.”
With two to go, he got around teammate, Jeb Burton and finished the opening stage in P17.
He radioed to his crew, “I’m off the gauge on water and a three or four tight.” He also indicated he needed help in the center of the turns.
Kendrick said, “We got some help coming your way,” and brought his driver to pit road.
Stage 2
The team lost three spots on the stop, but Kendrick encouraged the No. 31 team, “We got that out of the way. We’ll go make it up on the restart.”
Retzlaff returned to the track in P20 for the Lap 55 restart. Immediately, he took it three wide into Turn 2. This move gave him the momentum to work to P18. However, after drivers settled down, Retzlaff sat P19.
Two laps later, Alfredo worked his way back around Retzlaff bumping the No. 31 to P20.
While Retzlaff maintained P20, spotter Chris Osborne kept his driver updated on where the leaders were running.
With 18 to go in the stage, he was in a heated battle with the other Parker in the field – Parker Kligerman. The two swapped spots in the subsequent laps.
As Retzlaff took 11 to go, he, in P18, had a mirror full of Alfredo and Shane Van Gisbergen. The second stage ended quietly and without caution, with Retzlaff still in P18.
He informed his team that the last changes “didn’t change anything.” Kendrick responded, “Every lap, you’re sixth or seventh quickest, we just need track position.”
Stage 3
For the start of the final stage on Lap 101, Retzlaff lined up P18. Ahead of him, drivers were going three- and four-wide. He returned to P20 by Lap 103. It took eight laps, but he finally got around Alfredo to claim P19, with much encouragement from Osborne.
A lap later, he was middle of three and worked his way to P18. It only took another lap for him to secure P17, and two more to work to P16.
It appeared as if the No. 31 team was finally dialed in, but now he had to battle with his teammate who wasn’t giving an inch.
With 72 laps remaining, Retzlaff sat P15. However, a lap later, Kendrick started giving a heads up on green flag stop plans.
However, before those plans could come to fruition, the caution was out as Hailie Deegan got loose and nicked the wall on Lap 138.
Retzlaff radioed in and asked for just a little more of the previous changes. Kendrick said they would make those changes and noted that he wished he could give his driver track position. Retzlaff came to his pit stall from P14 and returned P15.
Kendrick asked his driver to “maintain” for the first six or seven laps until his car came in, then he could work his way forward and into the top 10.
With 58 to go, Retzlaff was confident he could do just that, stating, “I’ll do everything I can!”
As soon as drivers took the green flag, the caution was back out for a Big One at Phoenix.
Trouble at the front of the field collects multiple cars! pic.twitter.com/MwO8vuTj4m
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 9, 2024
Unfortunately, Retzlaff was caught in it and the day ended early for the JAR driver. Once the checkered flag waved, he was scored P35.
For a full recap of the Call811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200, click here.
Sponsor Shoutout + Driver & Team Socials
NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shoutout to FunkAway who played a huge part of the weekend for Parker and the No. 31 team.
Be sure to give Parker Retzlaff (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and Jordan Anderson Racing (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.
