Food City 300
Facing a home race, Chad Finchum lined up P18 for the Food City 300. The NASCAR Xfinity Series veteran has eight starts at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile, but looked to better his average finish of 27.5 at the track.
Starting his fifth NXS race of the season, the Knoxville, TN native took to the track with Crew Chief Jason Miller calling the shots and Spotter Brit Anderson helping to navigate him around the track.
Stage 1
With the green flag in the air, drivers only made it three laps before the caution waved as the No. 00 was slow on track.
However, Finchum had gained two spots and told his team he was pretty happy with the car. The team briefly discussed anticipated changes and lined up to try it again. Lap 10 saw the green flag with Finchum opting for the bottom lane.
In the opening lap, he lost a position but was able to maintain P18 through Lap 22 when Matt DiBenedetto got around him.
After that, a gaggle of cars were battling him, three-wide, and Finchum fell to P25.
A handful of laps later, he had lost four more spots. With about 38 remaining in the opening stage, leader Justin Allgaier worked his way around Finchum.
Five laps later, Allgaier ran into trouble as he and Austin Green collided, taking Parker Retzlaff with them. However, this caution allowed Finchum to gain two spots. He told Miller, “A little snug in the center,” and the team worked out some pit strategy.
Finchum came to his team for adjustments and returned to track in P28 to restart on Lap 66. As the stage came to a close, Finchum crossed the line P29, down a lap.
Anderson also noted, “The 97 crinkled our bumper.”
From there, the No. 14 team discussed some options heading into the second stage.
Stage 2
Finchum came to his pit stall for adjustments and returned to the track in P31, down one lap, to take the green on Lap 96.
Over the next 10 laps, he lost one more spot and then held his ground. However, when DiBenedetto took to the pits five laps later, he was able to regain a position.
With 50 to go in the stage, the caution waved as Parker Kligerman slowed with trouble. Finchum noted, “After it got going and got some heat in the tire, it felt good.”
Miller opted for adjustments and fuel for the No. 14 machine. This stop had Finchum restart in P30 with 44 to go in the stage.
Ten laps later, Anderson was coaching Finchum through the turns and changing track conditions.
With 31 to go, Finchum came to the pits with damage. This was after getting into the wall following contact with Blaine Perkins.
His team got him back on track, and Anderson immediately radioed, “We’re sparking real bad.” He was saved by Allgaier having trouble.
Finchum said, “Something is wrong. This thing will not turn.” With a break in the action, Finchum returned to his team for more repairs.
With nine to go, Finchum returned to track with a goal of finishing out the race. As he took the green-white-checkered, Finchum noted, “It’s not driving very good.” However, Miller noted he was only a tenth off his fastest lap.
Stage 3
The final stage began with Finchum in P33, down 10 laps, and a reminder to not overdrive it, just bring it home.
With 100 laps remaining, Allgaier brought out yet another caution. Finchum had maintained P33 and Miller opted to top off on fuel to make it the rest of the race without a fuel stop.
A spot was gained and Finchum maintained his P32 position as the laps ticked by.
With 15 to go, Finchum radioed in, “I’ve got a bad vibration.” But with seven to go, Miller brought his driver in for fresh tires.
The final three laps saw him return to the track, still in P32 and that’s where he would end a long night.
Sponsor Shout Out + Driver & Team Socials
NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shout-out to Elite Petroleum who played a huge part of the weekend for Chad Finchum and the No. 14 team.
Be sure to give Chad Finchum (Facebook, Instagram, X) and SS GreenLight Racing (Facebook, Instagram, X) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.
