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.
Focused Health 250
In the Spring 2024 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Anthony Alfredo completed a career-best at the track and finished P7. With just three races left in the regular season, he looked to jump above the cutoff line and make some noise at the track that races like a superspeedway.
After taking one lap for qualifying, the Our Motorsports driver lined up P15. During pace laps, crew chief Josh Graham reminded his driver of last-minute details. Spotter Keith Barnwell reminded his driver, “Just like Daytona. We’ll pick ’em off one by one.”
Before rolling off, Alfredo thanked his team and stated, “We’ve had lots of speed lately. Let’s put it all together, execute, and be there at the end.”
Stage 1
A clean two laps to open the race saw Alfredo immediately in the middle of a three-wide situation. He fell to P19, but Barnwell said, “Keep it smooth here. We’ll run ’em back down.”
On Lap 8, Alfredo radioed in, “A little bit free in traffic. I think we’re going to be pretty good today.” He had gained a spot in recent laps, and Graham said, “We’ll pick them off.”
Lap 11 saw Ryan Sieg slow on track. But suddenly, Alfredo slammed the wall and came to pit road with a flat tire. Sieg stalled on track and brought out the caution. Alfredo returned to the pits with “a slight vibration” and to repair the damage.
Sitting a lap down, the No. 5 team had a new game plan: Don’t get lapped and be in position to gain the lap back on the next caution.
Running P35, down a lap, Alfredo noted he still had a vibration. He finished the stage in the same position but was able to get back on the lead lap.
Stage 2
Graham brought his driver in to assess the vibration and look things over. Always looking for the positive, Alfredo encouraged his team, “Let’s get back in this thing.”
Graham fell in line, “Let’s refocus. New race.”
Within 10 laps of the restart, Alfredo was running P25 and noted, “I think you brought this thing to life, Josh!”
After that, Alfredo took “one at a time” to heart. Eleven laps later, he had moved up to P21 and was on a mission to claim more spots with 18 to go in the stage.
With 13 to go, he broke into the top 20 and noted, “I feel like I’m getting a little bit freer here.” Six laps later, he gained one more spot and was sitting P19.
With three to go, Sam Mayer hit the wall and his No. 1 Chevrolet went up in flames. This caution ended the stage and Alfredo was scored P18.
Alfredo gave an update on the handling of his car and Graham came up with a game plan for the final stage.
Stage 3
Alfredo’s team got him back on track in P20 with a mission to “run hard and make up some track position.” After a stack-up on the restart, he was worried he had some damage, but he was sitting P17.
Within the blink of an eye, Alfredo had worked up to P10 and aggressively held his own on the bottom line.
He fell back to P12, but then the caution came out as Shane Van Gisbergen got loose and hit the wall. Alfredo said, “I’m edgy, but everyone else is too.”
Graham opted to stay on track during the caution, and as most leaders took to pit road, he said, “Ahhhh, I wonder if I’ll kick myself for that later.”
Sitting P8, Alfredo restarted on the bottom lane behind Riley Herbst and Cole Custer. He held his own in the subsequent laps but was on an island alone.
With 54 to go, the fifth caution came out as Jeb Burton had trouble. Alfredo was sitting P6 and very happy with his car.
Cautions Breed Cautions
Awaiting the restart, Barnwell and Graham discussed when to make the big moves to be in contention at the end.
The next restart came with 48 to go and Alfredo opted for the inside lane again. He took the green from P6 and was “two-by-two tight” through the opening lap.
On the next lap, he shot down to make it three wide but fell back to P7.
The top lane was running single file back to P8 and Alfredo was a lone duck on the bottom lane. As soon as Barnwell saw an opening in the top lane, he got his driver tucked in with the momentum. In the chaos, Alfredo fell to P15.
With about 23 to go, the intensity had ramped up and drivers were getting more aggressive with each lap. Four laps later, Alfredo had gained two spots, and suddenly the caution was out as Justin Allgaier wrecked and took out Sieg, Custer, Herbst, Jesse Love, and more.
Alfredo missed the carnage and jumped to P8.
Graham noted that was the good news.
The bad news? They were not coming in for fresh tires.
NASCAR threw the red flag for a lengthy clean-up which saved laps, fuel, and Alfredo’s very old tires.
13 to Go
Alfredo took the green with 13 to go in P7 on the preferred bottom lane. However, he was left hanging and did not receive any help from drivers around or behind him.
With nine to go, he tucked in behind Lawless Alan. Then, a lap later, he went back to the bottom between Josh Williams and Jesse Love and the inside lane lost their run.
Three laps later, Alfredo fell to P14 and was working to “fight off anyone” behind him.
Unfortunately, with no help, Alfredo finished in the same position. He crossed the line and yelled, “This package sucks! I did everything I could! I’m so sorry guys. It’s not racing when you can’t RACE and you can only stay in line. Stupidest thing ever.”
I think it’s safe to say, many fans would agree with that statement.
Sponsor Shout Out + Driver & Team Socials
NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shout-out to Beyond Type 1 who played a huge part of the weekend for Anthony Alfredo and the No. 5 team.
Be sure to give Anthony (Facebook, Instagram, X) and Our Motorsports (Facebook, Instagram, X) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.
