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.
Explore the Pocono Mountains 225
After rain toyed with the emotions of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers on Friday, clear skies were a welcome sight on Saturday. The NASCAR Xfinity Series hit the track for practice where Parker Retzlaff sat P17. For his single-lap qualifying run, he got his No. 31 a starting spot of P13.
The Jordan Anderson Racing crew was ready to get to work for the 90-lap race, led by Crew Chief Chad Kendrick. Spotter Chris Osborne would help Retzlaff navigate the Tricky Triangle.
Kendrick encouraged his driver and said, “Have a nice, smooth race and we’ll get you out of here with a good finish.”
Stage 1
The green flag came with instructions from Osborne to, “Keep the (No.) 48 in your mirror,” as drivers went three- and four-wide.
The first caution came on Lap 2 as Dawson Cram got lose and slammed his bumper into the outside wall. Retzlaff was sitting P14 and, under caution, spoke with his team about the handling of the car.
After a lengthy clean-up, the race resumed on Lap 7. A lap into the run, he was hung out on the inside lane while the outside lane prevailed and took off with momentum. With this, he fell back to P19.
A lap later, he found himself in the middle of three, working hard to hang onto his spot.
Halfway through the 20 lap stage, numerous drivers hit pit road in an attempt to shake up the strategy. Two laps later, he noted his front was tight and the back was “out of the track, free.”
With five to go, Retzlaff was sitting P20. Then, three laps later, Retzlaff radioed in, “I’m losing brakes.”
Fortunately, he made it to the end of the stage, which saw him in P21.
Stage 2
His crew gave him fresh tires as well as some much-needed adjustments, and returned him to the track in P19 with only 15 laps in the stage. He was running P20 when the caution waved after William Byron had a tire issue.
Kendrick kept his driver on track after Retzlaff noted his car was doing better.
The next retstart came with nine to go and Retzlaff in P20. Two laps after restarting, although he maintained P20, he radioed to state he didn’t feel his car had any motor down the straights.
He immediately lost a spot, but gained a few spots back when some leaders took to the pits with two to go in the stage. The stage ended and Retzlaff ran P17.
He noted the changes “helped a little,” and asked for “a little more” of the same. Then, he added, “I need brake help.”
Stage 3
After a lengthy stop for major adjustments, and a second trip to fill it with fuel, Retzlaff lined up P32 for the start of the final stage.
Unfortunately, the caution came out immediately. This time, it was for Retzlaff. He got loose and into Leland Honeyman and Ryan Ellis. After hitting pit road for repairs and a once-over of the Funkaway machine, Retzlaff returned to the track in P33.
He gained a spot when AJ Allmendinger went for a spin, but the race stayed green. Within three laps, Retzlaff had gained 10 spots.
But with hope in sight, Retzlaff had a right front tire go down. He came to the pits for fresh tires and more repairs.
He returned to the track in P35, down two laps, with 35 to go. Two laps later, green flag pit stops began.
With 22 to go, Stephen Mallozzi came to a complete stop in Turn 2, which brought out the next caution.
Problems for Parker
Retzlaff apologized to his team. Kendrick said, “No. We’re trying to come up with a plan here. We’re going to pit when it opens and we’re going to look at what we’ve got…maybe we’ll get another quick caution and then we can put the best set of tires on it.”
The next restart came with 16 to go and Retzlaff found himself in P34, hoping for two more quick cautions.
And sure enough, Jeremy Clements and Mason Massey got into each other and brought out the caution.
Retzlaff radioed in, “One.”
For the next restart, Retzlaff found himself in P33 with 12 to go. Would the No. 31 get number two?
He held his ground but could not get around Patrick Emerling or Jesse Love for the Lucky Dog spot.
Then, with eight to go, Retzlaff got his second much-needed caution. Shane van Gisbergen went spinning after contact from Sam Mayer.
Kendrick brought Retzlaff to the pits for fresh tires, and the No. 31 restarted P33 with four to go. He was racing Emerling for the Lucky Dog.
One lap later, SVG nearly took out part of the field, but kept it clean and the race stayed green.
Retzlaff couldn’t make much more ground and brought it home P32. He radioed another apology to his team, and Osborne said, “You didn’t start the downward spiral for the day. It’s okay.”
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, X) and Jordan Anderson Racing (Facebook, Instagram, X) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.
